photo: Paul Goldschmidt (Joe Puetz/Imagn)
The St. Louis Cardinals lost both series this past week as their National League Central lead slipped to two games. Paul Goldschmidt won Friday’s game almost single-handedly. Our weekly history feature looks back at the Cardinals career of retiring field coordinator Mark DeJohn.
Game recaps
Monday, Sept 9 – Off day
Tuesday, Sept 10 – Cardinals 1 at Rockies 2
The Cardinals played three at Coors Field, and the first game ended in a one run loss to the Rockies. The Cardinal offense was sparse, and the only run the team could scratch across came on a ground out by Paul Goldschmidt following a Dexter Fowler double and a Kolten Wong ground out. The offense managed six hits, with no Cardinal having multiple hits.
Starter Michael Wacha pitched four innings and gave up two runs on five hits. The right hander struck out three and walked one. Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos each tossed two scoreless innings of relief.
On the base paths, Marcell Ozuna was caught stealing for the second time.
Wednesday, Sept 11 – Cardinals 1 at Rockies 2
The Cardinals take a second 2-1 loss against the Brewers on Wednesday. Offense was again virtually non-existent, and again it was Paul Goldschmidt who drove in the lone Cardinal run, this time on a double. The double was Goldschmidt’s only hit. Dexter Fowler and Paul DeJong were both 2-for-4.
Starter Dakota Hudson pitched six innings and gave up two runs on five hits. The right hander struck out seven and walked five. John Gant, Tyler Webb, and John Brebbia combined to toss the final two scoreless innings of relief.
Thursday, Sept 12 – Cardinals 10 at Rockies 3
The Cardinals salvaged one game of the three game series in Denver with a 10-3 win over the Rockies. The long ball was featured prominently in the win, with five Cardinals hitting one out of the park. First it was Dexter Fowler with a solo home run in the first inning, followed immediately with a solo shot by Kolten Wong. Rangel Ravelo, playing first base on a day with a rare Paul Goldschmidt day off, hit a solo home run in the second inning. Also hitting solo home runs were Marcell Ozuna in the third inning, and Harrison Bader in the fourth. A sac fly by Wong, a two run double by Matt Carpenter, an Andrew Knizner single, and a balk with a runner on third, were the ways the remaining five runs came home. Fowler was 2-for-3, Wong was 2-for-4 and Knizner was 2-for-5.
Starter Miles Mikolas pitched five innings and gave up three runs on five hits. The right hander struck out five and walked one. Tyler Webb, Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Miller, and Carlos Martinez combined to pitch the next three scoreless innings. John Brebbia tossed a scoreless ninth. Mikolas earned his ninth win.
On the base paths, Paul DeJong and Kolten Wong each stole two bases.
Friday, Sept 13 – Cardinals 10, Brewers 0
The Cardinals began a crucial three game series with the Brewers over the weekend, and the first game was an offensive outburst for the Cardinals. Two home runs by Paul Goldschmidt, a grand slam and a three run shot, went a long way toward victory for the Redbirds. A sac fly by Matt Carpenter and a two run single by Kolten Wong rounded out the Cardinal scoring. Wong went 3-for-4 in the game, and Goldschmidt was 2-for-4
Starter Adam Wainwright kept the Brewers off the board with a six inning scoreless outing. Wainwright allowed only two hits, fanned seven, and walked three. Ryan Helsley, Dominic Leone, and Giovanny Gallegos finished the game with a scoreless inning each. Wainwright earned his 12th win.
On the base paths, Tommy Edman and Harrison Bader each stole a base. Dexter Fowler was caught stealing.
Saturday, Sept 14 – Cardinals 2, Brewers 5
The second game of this crucial series did not end well for the St. Louis team. Starter Jack Flaherty, whose has had a brilliant second half on the mound, faltered somewhat in this start. Flaherty pitched a quality start, however, going six innings and giving up three runs on five hits. The right hander fanned 10 and walked two. It was a decent start for Flaherty, but his usual brilliance was dimmed a little. John Gant followed with a scoreless seventh. Tyler Webb started the eighth but couldn’t record an out while also surrendering the winning two runs for the Brewers. John Brebbia and Junior Fernandez followed with a scoreless inning each.
The offense put up two runs in the second inning on a solo home run by Tommy Edman, and a throwing error on a steal of third base by Harrison Bader. The Cardinals would not score again in the game. Edman and Kolten Wong both went 2-for-4.
On the base paths, Bader stole his 10th base of the season.
Sunday, Sept 15 – Cardinals 6, Brewers 7
The Cardinals suffered a brutal loss to the Brewers in the final game of the series. Two home runs by Harrison Bader plus home runs by Paul DeJong and Tommy Edman were not enough to stave off a hot Brewers team fighting for a postseason spot. The first of Bader’s home runs was a solo shot in the third inning to give the Cardinals the 1-0 lead. Though the Brewers would take the lead in the seventh inning, the Cardinals fought back with three runs in the bottom half of the seventh on home runs by Bader and DeJong. Milwaukee would make it closer in the eighth following a defensive miscue in the outfield. The blow for the Cardinals came in the ninth. John Gant pitched the ninth due to an ill Carlos Martinez, and Gant was not sharp, walking the bases loaded and setting the stage for the grand slam by Ryan Braun that came off Cardinal reliever Junior Fernandez. Tommy Edman hit a two run home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally ended there. Bader was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
Starter Michael Wacha pitched five scoreless innings, allowed five hits and struck out one. Genesis Cabrera surrendered one run in the sixth. Ryan Helsley allowed one run in the seventh and Giovanny Gallegos finished the inning without further damage. Andrew Miller gave up one run in the eighth. John Gant, Tyler Webb, and Junior Fernandez combined to pitch the ninth. Three runs of the grand slam by Braun were charged to Gant, and one to Fernandez. Gant took the loss.
In the field, the miscue in the outfield was charged to Bader.
The Big Picture
It was not a good week for the Cardinals, as they lost 2 of 3 to the Rockies, and 2 of 3 to the Brewers to end the week 2-4. The losses cut St. Louis’ lead over the Cubs in the NL Central from four games to two. The remainder of the Cardinals schedule is brutal, as they play three games with the Nationals, three games with Diamondbacks and seven games against the Cubs.
The offense was scarce in two of the three games in Denver. The inconsistent offense has been the major issue all season with the Cardinals. Middle of the order bats have been the most inconsistent. Paul Goldschmidt goes long periods without producing much, then has outbursts of offense like the one on Friday against the Brewers. This is not a good formula for winning. Marcell Ozuna and Paul DeJong have been similarly inconsistent. When you have to rely on your bottom of the order hitters for your offense, something is wrong with the picture. Goldschmidt’s Friday offensive surge put him in the top five for OPS on the team for the week, but it is small consolation when the inability to consistently do that results in four losses in six games. Tommy Edman and Dexter Fowler have been very good, and Matt Carpenter has mostly come through in a small amount of playing time. Bader hit three home runs in his last four games and has produced with his legs as well. Kolten Wong continues to be good at the plate and with the glove as well.
Starting pitching has been fine to very good. The bullpen has been fine sans the meltdown on Sunday.
The defense continues to be a plus despite the unfortunate miscommunication between Bader and Fowler in the outfield on Sunday that resulted in a routine fly ball not being caught. That error was the only one recorded by the Cardinal defense during the week.
The Cardinals have three games with the Nationals and four games with the Cubs this coming week. The four losses this last week have given the Cardinals little wiggle room in these upcoming seven games. Winning against the Cubs in these last couple of weeks may be the difference between a postseason berth or a couch in front of the television in October.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | E# |
| St. Louis | 83 | 66 | 0.557 | ||
| Chicago | 81 | 68 | 0.544 | 2 | 12 |
| Milwaukee | 80 | 69 | 0.537 | 3 | 11 |
| Cincinnati | 70 | 80 | 0.467 | 11.5 | E |
| Pittsburgh | 62 | 81 | 0.434 | 16.5 | E |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
There are no transactions to report.
Injury Report
- RHP Carlos Martinez had to spend Saturday night in the hospital due to a respiratory illness. He was released on Sunday, but was not at the ballpark. Update: Martinez has been diagnosed with asthma for the first time in his life, aggravated by allergies, and with treatment, was cleared to pitch on Monday.
- LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had begun a throwing program but had a setback. He is unlikely to return to the roster this season.
- RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
- LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder labrum surgery) was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31. Cingrani is out for the season and will become a free agent at the end of the season. Cingrani will likely never throw a pitch for the Cardinals.
- OF Lane Thomas (right wrist) was placed on the 10 day injured list retroactive to August 28 for a right wrist fracture suffered when he was hit by a pitch. Thomas was transferred to the 60 day injured list on Sept 1 to make room on the roster for C Joe Hudson. Thomas is out for the season.
- C Matt Wieters (left calf) continues on the 10 day injured list. The catcher has been engaging in baseball activities and a return to the roster is coming soon.
Looking Ahead
The Nationals come to Busch Stadium for a three-game series. Dakota Hudson is scheduled to make the Monday start, followed by Miles Mikolas on Tuesday, and Adam Wainwright on Wednesday.
The Cardinals then travel to Chicago to play the Cubs in a four game series beginning Sept. 19. Jack Flaherty will make the first start of the series on Thursday.
The team leaves Chicago to travel to Arizona for a three-game set. After a travel day on Thursday, Sept 26, the Cardinals return home to play the final series of the regular season against the Cubs.
The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.
Blast from the Past
On Monday night during St. Louis’ game with the Nationals, the Cardinals will honor Mark DeJohn, Minor League Field Coordinator, for his 33 years of service with the organization, which ended with his retirement last month. This week’s Blast from the Past looks at the career of DeJohn, known as “DJ”.
Mark Stephen DeJohn was born on September 18, 1953 in Middletown, Connecticut. The infielder’s professional baseball career began when he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 23rd round of the 1971 MLB draft. DeJohn spent 10+ years toiling in the minor leagues for the Mets, and then with the Detroit Tigers who signed him as a free agent in 1978. DeJohn finally made his major league debut on April 28, 1982 at the age of 28. DeJohn played in only 24 games with the Tigers that year, eight as the starting shortstop. DeJohn returned to the minor leagues for 88 games in 1983 with the Tigers Triple-A team before ending his baseball playing career.
DeJohn began his coaching career with Detroit following the end of his playing days and was one of four managers to manage Detroit’s Double-A affiliate in 1985.
DeJohn left the Detroit organization in 1986 to take a position with the Cardinals as a minor league manager. His career with the Cardinals began with being a minor league manager from 1986 to 1991, at Savannah, Springfield, Johnson City and Louisville, then as Field Coordinator of instruction from 1993-1995. DeJohn became a member of Tony La Russa’s major league staff from 1996-2001. He returned to manage in the minor leagues, with the organization’s New York-Penn League affiliate, and assumed his previous position of Field Coordinator in 2010, the position he held at the time of his retirement.
DJ is a two-time winner of the George Kissell Award, the prestigious annual honor voted-upon by the entire player development staff. He won as manager of Double-A Tennessee in 2004 and short-season Class-A Batavia in 2008. Both teams were league champions. Among the many he mentored was Mike Shildt, who began his professional coaching career under DeJohn at New Jersey in 2005.
DeJohn will be missed by all those who benefited from his expertise and his commitment to the game, and especially development of youngsters. Players, coaches, managers, and all who have come in contact with him will miss him, and his retirement leaves a void in the Cardinals’ organization.
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