photo: Harrison Bader (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
The 7-5 St. Louis Cardinals near the end of camp with the 28-man roster almost complete. Harrison Bader is under contract for two more years and Yadier Molina takes a winter managing job. Our history feature highlights Mark McGwire’s 70-home-run season of 1998.
Spring game recaps
Monday, March 28 – Cardinals 1, Astros 2
The Cardinals began the second full week of spring games with a contest against the Astros in Jupiter. Adam Wainwright got the start and pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and fanning three. The right hander took the loss, his second of the spring. Jordan Hicks, Ryan Helsley, Nick Wittgren and Giovanny Gallegos followed Wainwright with one scoreless inning each.
The Cardinals’ lone run came in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Juan Yepez. The offense managed only three hits off Houston’s pitching staff, a double by Paul DeJong and a single by Noah Mendlinger, who entered to relieve Tommy Edman at second base.
Dylan Carlson had an outfield assist, throwing out Korey Lee at third base.
Tuesday, March 29 – Off day
Wednesday, March 30 – Cardinals 29, at Nationals 8
There was no mercy rule to prevent the massacre that occurred in Palm Beach on Wednesday. Whether the Cardinals have an adequate offense is up in the air, but there was no lack of offense in this game.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the first inning on an Albert Pujols double play, a Paul DeJong single, a Yadier Molina single, and a Harrison Bader double. Four additional runs came home in the second on a force out by Tyler O’Neill and a three-run home run by DeJong.
In the fourth, Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run and DeJong doubled to score another run. Bader singled in the third run in the inning. Molina hit a solo home run in the sixth.
In the eighth inning, the Redbirds offense put 15 runs on the board. Corey Dickerson drove in two runs on a double and a single. Edmundo Sosa plated two runs on a single and a hit by pitch. Conner Capel’s two singles scored three runs. Two runs scored on a single and a force out by Brendan Donovan. Three runs came home on a double and sac fly by Alec Burleson. Ali Sanchez drove in a run on a single and Corey Spangenburg plated a run on a walk. A final run scored on a passed ball.
The offense put one more run on the board in the ninth on a single by Capel.
Miles Mikolas got the start for the Cardinals. The right hander pitched five innings and gave up one run on four hits while striking out two. T.J McFarland followed Mikolas and surrendered three runs. Connor Thomas threw a scoreless seventh. Jacob Bosiokovic and Cory Thompson pitched the eighth. Bosiokovic allowed four runs. Jake Walsh hurled a scoreless ninth. Mikolas earned the win, his second of the spring.
Thursday, March 31 – Cardinals 4 at Marlins 7
The Cardinals were defeated by the Marlins in a Thursday contest at Roger Dean Stadium. Drew VerHagen took the mound for the Cardinals and struggled, giving up seven runs in three innings pitched. The right hander struck out four and walked three. Kodi Whitley, Jordan Hicks, Andre Pallante, and Ryan Helsley combined to pitch the remaining five scoreless innings. VerHagen took the loss.
Paul DeJong hit a three-run home run in the third inning to tie the game at 3-3. The Marlins put up four runs in the bottom of that inning to regain the lead. The Cardinals’ fourth and final run was scored on a sac fly by Andrew Knizner in the fifth inning. DeJong and Tyler O’Neill were both 2-for-3 in the game.
Friday, April 1 – Cardinals 7, Mets 2
The Cardinals won their second game of the week in a 7-2 contest over the Mets in Jupiter. The lineup was composed entirely of minor leaguers as the afternoon threatened rain and the game was interrupted for a rain delay.
The offense scored three runs in the second inning on a wild pitch, a Kramer Robertson single and a ground out by Julio Rodriguez. A solo home run by Luken Baker and an RBI single by Rodriguez in the fourth added two runs to the lead.
The Cardinals topped the scoring off with two runs in the eighth on a Robertson double and a single by Mike Antico. Cory Spangenberg went 3-for-4 and Brendan Donovan, Baker and Robertson each had two hits.
Connor Thomas took the mound for St. Louis to start and pitched two scoreless innings. Jake Walsh started the third and got the first out before the rain delay. When the game resumed Blake Parker took the mound and finished the third with one run given up on two hits. Nick Wittgren pitched a scoreless fourth. Aaron Brooks surrendered one run in two innings pitched. Matthew Liberatore and Cory Thompson combined to throw the final three scoreless innings. Thomas earned the win.
Saturday, April 2 – Cardinals at Astros (canceled due to rain)
Sunday, April 3 – Off day
Bader agrees to two-year deal
The Cardinals and their Gold Glove Award center fielder reached an agreement on a two-year deal that covers Bader’s final two years of arbitration. The deal was announced on Saturday and finalized on Sunday.
The deal pays Bader $4.7 million for the 2022 and 2023 seasons and includes a $1 million signing bonus. The deal reportedly contains escalators that can increase his 2023 salary an additional $2.3 million. The deal comes eight days after the two sides failed to come to an agreement by the March 22 deadline.
Bader, 27, had a career year in 2021, both with the bat and with the glove. Bader slashed .267/.324/.460 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI. So far in spring games Bader is excelling with a slash line of .348/.375/.435 in 24 plate appearances.
Defensively, the center fielder won his first Gold Glove Award in 2021, leading all NL center fielders with 14 Outs Above Average and also all NL center fielders with 15 Defensive Runs Saved.
The deal makes fellow outfielder Tyler O’Neill the only remaining unsigned arbitration player. It was reported that the parties are making progress on a deal with the two-time Gold Glove left fielder.
LeBlanc announces retirement
Jon Morosi of MLB Network announced in a Sunday tweet that former Cardinals pitcher Wade LeBlanc has decided to retire. The 37-year-old left-handed pitcher was a mid-season free agent signing by the Cardinals in 2021. He was signed one day after being released by the Texas Rangers.
LeBlanc appeared in 12 games for St. Louis in 2021, eight as a starter. He posted an ERA of 3.61 in 42.1 innings as a Cardinal. His half season in St. Louis was cut short by an elbow injury in August and he missed the remainder of the season.
LeBlanc started his major league career in 2008 in San Diego, where he played for four seasons. He pitched for seven other teams before closing his career with St. Louis.
Molina takes on winter managing job
In an Instagram Live post by the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League, it was revealed that Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will be the new manager of that team after he retires at the end of this season.
The Magallanes are the current Venezuelan Winter League Champions and were defeated in the semifinals of the 2022 Caribbean Series by the Caimanes de Baranquilla, the eventual winners of the Series.
Yadier #Molina será el nuevo mánager del #Magallanes – https://t.co/aUwGqY3Dbx#SoyNuevaPrensa #Lvbp #Manager #Navegantes #Béisbol #Deportes #Featured pic.twitter.com/S7xdzGSSME
— Nueva Prensa de Guayana (@SoyNuevaPrensa) April 3, 2022
In addition to the managerial gig, Molina has confirmed that he is available to lead the Puerto Rican team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Molina is expected to retire from the Cardinals and MLB at the end of the current season and is a favorite to be selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he is eligible. Molina is one of a very few modern players to play his entire career with one team. His teammate Adam Wainwright could join him in that exclusive club when he retires, though he has made no decision on potential retirement at this time.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 3/28 The Cardinals optioned RHPs Johan Oviedo, Freddy Pacheco, and Junior Fernandez to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 3/28 The Cardinals designated RHP Johan Quezada for assignment.
- 3/28 The Cardinals signed free agent 1B Albert Pujols.
- 3/30 The Cardinals sent RHP Johan Quezada outright to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 3/31 The Cardinals optioned 1B Juan Yepez and C Ali Sanchez to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/1 The Cardinals optioned C Ivan Herrera to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/3 The Cardinals optioned IF Brendan Donovan to the Memphis Redbirds.
Roster Update
Though the Cardinals still have 33 players in camp, the Opening Day 28-man roster is almost set. The team will go with 15 pitchers. The fifth starter appears to be between Jake Woodford and Drew VerHagen, but both will make the team.
The final relief spot battle is between rookies Jake Walsh, Andre Pallante and Connor Thomas. Walsh is the only one of the trio with a 40-man roster spot. The five position player reserves/designated hitter choices are Albert Pujols, Corey Dickerson, Edmundo Sosa, Lars Nootbaar and Andrew Knizner.
Update: On Monday morning, Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch reports that Thomas made the team as the third lefty in the pen. That means a 40-man roster spot is also needed.
Rookie Thomas will be third left-hander in Cardinals' bullpen https://t.co/bT6JV8D5YM
— STL Cardinals News (@STLCardsNews) April 4, 2022
Update no. 2: The P-D report was incorrect. It is Pallante, not Thomas, who made the roster. The 40-man move is TBA.
To see all players remaining in camp by position, check out the always-free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation.
St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix – 2022 Spring Training
Injury Report
- RHP Alex Reyes (frayed right labrum) has been shut down from throwing for four weeks and has received a stem cell injection in his shoulder. Reyes was placed on the 60-day injured list and will be unavailable until June.
- RHP Jack Flaherty (right shoulder) had imaging done on his shoulder which revealed inflammation as well as a small tear called a SLAP tear (superior labrum and posterior). Flaherty told the media the tear has been there for several years and is unrelated to the inflammation. Flaherty received a PRP injection in the shoulder and will be shut down for two weeks. Like Reyes, Flaherty will start the season on the injured list. The length of his stay is undetermined at this time.
Looking Ahead
Spring Training games are winding down. The Cardinals’ final game of Week 3 on Saturday was not held due to rain. There was no game on Sunday. The Cardinals will play their final two games on Monday at home against the Nationals, and Tuesday against the Marlins with the Cardinals as the visiting team.
The regular season begins with Opening Day at home against the Pirates on Thursday, April 7. After a Friday off day, the Cardinals will finish the four-game series with Pittsburgh on Monday, April 11.
The homestand continues when the Royals come to town for a two-game set on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Cardinals will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in a four-game series beginning Thursday, April 14.
The regular season schedule can be found here.
Blast from the Past
In this week’s Blast, we remember a historic season for one Cardinal hitter that kept fans riveted to games to see if a 37-year-old MLB record would be broken.
Mark McGwire came to the Cardinals in a July 31, 1997, trade from the Oakland Athletics. McGwire’s former manager in Oakland, Tony La Russa, was the manager of the Cardinals. In 1996, McGwire had led baseball in single season home runs with 52. His combined total of home runs in 1997 between the Athletics and the Cardinals was 58.
At the time, former Cardinal Roger Maris held the MLB record for single season home runs with 61. Coming into St. Louis, McGwire and the Cardinals were eyeing this record and the possibility that McGwire could break it. McGwire did in fact set a new record in this first full season in St. Louis in 1998, by hitting his 62nd home run on September 8, 1998.
The following is a day by day and month by month accounting of McGwire’s journey to 70 home runs in his record-breaking 1998 season.
April 1998 – McGwire hit 11 home runs in the month of April. His first home run of the season was on March 31, 1998, in a 6-0 win over the Dodgers. The list of the next ten are:
- April 2 – One HR in 8-5 win over the Dodgers
- April 3 – One HR in 13-5 loss to the Padres.
- April 4 – One HR in 8-6 win over the Padres
- April 14 – Three HRs in 15-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
- April 17 – One HR in 8-5 win over the Phillies
- April 21 – One HR in 5-3 win over the Expos.
- April 25 – One HR in 8-5 win over the Phillies
- April 30 – One HR in 8-3 loss to the Cubs
May 1998 – McGwire hit 16 home runs in May.
- May 1 – One HR in 6-5 loss to the Cubs
- May 8 – One HR in 9-2 loss to the Mets
- May 12 – One HR in 6-5 win over the Brewers
- May 14 – One HR in a 7-3 loss to the Braves
- May 16 – One HR in a 5-4 win over the Marlins
- May 18 – One HR in a 7-3 loss to the Marlins
- May 19 – Three HRs in a 10-8 win over the Phillies
- May 22 – One HR in a 4-3 win over the Giants
- May 23 – Two HRs in an 11-10 win over the Giants
- May 24 – One HR in a 6-1 loss to the Rockies
- May 29 – One HR in an 8-3 win over the Padres
- May 30 – One HR in a 3-2 loss to the Padres
June 1998 – McGwire hit 10 home runs in June.
- June 5 – One HR in a 3-2 loss to the Giants
- June 8 – One HR in an 8-6 loss to the White Sox
- June 10 – One HR in a 10-5 loss to the White Sox
- June 12 – One HR in a 9-4 win over the Diamondbacks
- June 17 – One HR in a 6-5 loss to the Astros
- June 18 – One HR in a 7-6 win over the Astros
- June 24 – One HR in a 13-3 loss to Cleveland
- June 25 – One HR in an 8-2 loss to Cleveland
- June 27 – One HR in a 7-2 win over the Twins
- June 30 – One HR in a 6-1 loss to the Royals
July 1998 – McGwire hit eight home runs in July.
- July 11 – One HR in a 4-3 win over the Astros
- July 12 – Two HRs in a 6-4 win over the Astros
- July 17 – Two HRs in a 4-1 win over the Dodgers
- July 20 – One HR in a 13-1 over the Padres
- July 26 – One HR in a 3-1 win over the Rockies
- July 28 – One HR in a 13-10 loss to the Brewers
August 1998 – McGwire hit 10 home runs in August.
- Aug 8 – One HR in a 9-8 win over the Cubs
- Aug 11 – One HR in an 8-3 loss to the Mets
- Aug 19 – Two HRs in an 8-6 win over the Cubs
- Aug 20 – One HR in each game of a doubleheader against the Mets; a 2-0 win and a 5-4 loss
- Aug 22 – One HR in a 14-4 loss to the Pirates
- Aug 23 – One HR in a 4-3 loss to the Pirates
- Aug 26 – One HR in a 7-6 loss to the Marlins
- Aug 30 – One HR in an 8-7 win over the Braves
Sept 1998- McGwire hit 15 home runs in September.
- Sept 1 – Two HRs in a 7-1 win over the Marlins
- Sept 2 – Two HRs in a 14-4 win over the Marlins
- Sept 5 – One HR in a 7-0 win over the Reds
- Sept 7 – One HR in a 3-2 win over the Cubs (tied the record)
- Sept 8 – One HR in a 6-3 win over the Cubs (broke the record)
- Sept 15 – One HR in the first game of a doubleheader, 8-6 loss to the Pirates
- Sept 18 – One HR in a 5-2 win over the Brewers
- Sept 20 – One HR in a 11-6 win over the Brewers
- Sept 25 – One HR in a 6-5 win over the Expos
- Sept 26 – Two HRs in a 7-6 loss to the Expos
- Sept 27 – Two HRs in a 6-3 win over the Expos
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