It was last June 29 that Al Hrabosky let slip during a Cardinals-Reds game that Walt Jocketty's friendship with Reds owner Bob Castellini might translate into Jocko succeeding Wayne Krivsky as Reds general manager.
The Slightly Irritable Hungarian received a quick trip to the broadcast woodshed, where he was admonished for saying something so speculative, so irresponsible and, as events have proven, so absolutely true.
Krivsky may well have been the only person in Cincinnati surprised by Jocketty succeeding him Wednesday. After all, in baseball oftentimes the only thing stronger than two confirmations of a rumor is 10 denials. Jocketty's sudden installation didn't represent a beginning as much as an end to six months of intrigue.
Jocketty responded last June to Hrabosky's comments by downplaying his relationship with Castellini, insisting he only planned to return as Cardinals general manager since the club had picked up the option on his contract for 2008.
"I was told that, but it's not accurate," Jocketty said one day after Hrabosky's double sin of not just reporting edgy news, but making it.
"I haven't spoken to Castellini in over a year. I don't know how people are making that connection."
Here's how: Hrabosky and the entire baseball universe knew Jocketty was unhappy about the club's fiscal constraints and a new front-office model imposed by ownership.
After word reached Bill DeWitt that Jocketty had laid his angst on the street, the October "hit" carried out at the chairman's Clayton residence became inevitable. Jocketty realized he was a goner when he entered an open front door to find team president Mark Lamping seated in the living room.
The three-time major league executive of the year later confided he had perhaps made mistakes of his own, experienced relief from his Oct. 3 ouster and was unsure he wanted a similar position with another club.
Still, friends who commiserated with Jocketty at his West County home that night (his son Joe's birthday) saw a proud man crushed by his first firing. They were not surprised when Jocketty spoke at Wednesday's press conference of a "vendetta" against his former employer.
Castellini, a minority partner with the Cardinals before heading a group that purchased the Reds, considered Jocketty largely responsible for the franchise's turnaround from a neglected brewery toy to an industry gem.
All sides denied a report in December that Castellini had approached Jocketty about a position. Of course, on Jan. 11 the Reds announced Jocketty's hiring as special assistant to the owner, an "extra set of eyes" and not a challenger to Krivsky's job. Those listening knew better when Castellini referred to his GM as "a plugger."
Barely scratch the surface and there is irony all around.
Krivsky, a former assistant to Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan who regularly scouted the Cardinals, increasingly isolated himself, according to some of those around him. Jocketty's arrival initiated a self-fulfilling prophecy Krivsky recognized but was powerless to avoid.
In his final year in St. Louis, Jocketty likewise grew more irritable to some, even paranoid, while fulminating over Jeff Luhnow's rise and perceived lack of accountability. Left to dangle for several months without a contract after the 2004 World Series, the situation cemented Jocketty's sense that he was little appreciated by higher-ups smitten with new-wave scouting, quantitative analysis and Ivy League outsiders.
Krivsky, a personable baseball man as assistant general manager, tried to control so tightly his first chance as a GM that it squirted from his grasp.
The imminently qualified Jocketty now holds a position he insisted last July was irrelevant. His break from the Cardinals and its aftermath strained or severed numerous once fast relationships. His current manager, Dusty Baker, in September 2003 glared across Wrigley Field, pointed at Jocketty ally Tony La Russa and promised to "(mess) you up."
The Reds and their new general manager hit town Monday for a three-game series at new Busch. One only wonders what Hungo says next.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Pineiro has a hand — and leg — in victory
PITTSBURGH — Two starts after returning to the Cardinals' rotation from a rehab assignment, Joel Pineiro finally arrived.
In a win that hinged offensively on his unexpected walk and peaked defensively by a ballet-like kick of a lined shot that is destined for highlight immortality, Pineiro also did a little of what he's paid for Thursday night.
"The pitching," manager Tony La Russa said. "Don't forget about the pitching. Of all of them, the pitching was the most important."
The righthander worked a superb seven innings, held Pittsburgh to one run and threw the Cardinals to a 6-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though he came two innings shy of qualifying statistically, Pineiro — by arm, by kick and by not swinging his bat — defined his own complete game.
Pity more people didn't see it in person.
The victory split the series at Pittsburgh, which attracted a two-day total of 20,031 fans to PNC Park, sinking the Pirates below attendance sea level (aka the Florida Marlins) and making them now the lowest draw in baseball. Few were there to see several firsts for the Cardinals and more of the same from Albert Pujols.
Pujols reached base in all five of his plate appearances and drove in what would prove to be the game-winning run with a single in the fifth. He raised his major-league-leading on-base percentage to a gaudy .525, but he also had help. In his first game since returning from a rehab assignment, shortstop Brendan Ryan scored twice and singled twice. In his first start in right field, rookie Brian Barton drove in the Cardinals first runs.
All those firsts took second to Pineiro's first win.
The righthander was not only able to pitch deeper into the game than he had this season, but he also pitched better throughout the game than he had this season. Pineiro (1-2) missed most of spring training with shoulder soreness. When he surfaced quickly from a minor-league rehab assignment, he pitched like he needed refinement somewhere other than the majors.
On Thursday, his performance caught up to his level.
"I think it was just a matter of getting out there and pitching," said pitching coach Dave Duncan. "He had to get in the rhythm of pitching. I think physically he was fine, he just wasn't sharp."
Pineiro did not strike out a batter in his previous two starts, and he walked only one. Even if he got ahead of hitters, he didn't have the feel or the strength to put the at-bat away. Too often his pitch would veer up or over the middle of the plate. Or both. Against the Pirates, Pineiro was able to tap his full complement of pitches. He threw his fastball to both sides of the plate, and his breaking pitch set up six strikeouts.
Of the 26 batters Pineiro faced, 11 took a called Strike 1.
"Especially when I had them 0-1, 1-2 (in the count), I had a better pitch to finish them off," Pineiro said. "Whereas in the starts before they'd stay in the middle of the plate and they hurt me."
Said Pirates manager John Russell: "He wasn't missing."
After Adam LaRoche belted a run-scoring double to the left-center gap in the fourth inning, Pineiro retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced. That includes the one he did with cleat-kicking panache.
Freddy Sanchez led off the sixth inning with a line drive back at Pineiro. The righthander often kicks at grounders as if to make a lucky play, and this time … he did. The ball glanced off his right calf, arched into the air and dropped a few strides from the mound. Pineiro scampered to it, caught it on the fly and his throw beat Sanchez to first.
"The key was the luck," Pineiro said.
For style, he had the kick save. For substance, there was the pitching. Don't forget the pitching.
For surprise, he had the walk.
Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny went twice through the Cardinals batting order and into the fifth inning without allowing a hit. Pineiro had pitched far more effectively, even allowed fewer base runners and, yet, was trailing 1-0 to a four-inning no-hitter. Karma had his back.
Pineiro was the fifth batter of the game Gorzelanny (1-3) walked, and the most inexcusable. Pineiro had struck out in five previous at-bats this season. Gorzelanny walked him on four pitches. The lefty then walked Ryan and Skip Schumaker to load the bases. Barton then stung a line drive over a leaping second baseman to score two runs and give Pineiro the deserved lead.
Pujols followed with his RBI single and the Cardinals did what they couldn't do in Wednesday's loss — add to their lead. The first of two doubles by Yadier Molina led to a couple runs in the sixth.
Throughout the mini series against Pittsburgh the Cardinals had failed to capitalize with runners on base. After taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning Wednesday, the Cardinals stranded eight base runners, four in scoring position. Gorzelanny's seven walks were the most by a Pirate pitcher since 2006, and he tiptoed out of trouble until Pineiro's walk. The Cardinals did leave the bases loaded in the seventh inning. But that was because Pineiro pitched well enough to stay in the game and take that at-bat.
He struck out, No. 6 in seven plate appearances.
He did enough to compensate.
"I've got to work on a lot of hitting out there, a lot of tee work that I need in the cage or something," Pineiro said. "My job is to go out there and pitch. My job is out on the mound."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cards capitalize on walks, beat Pirates
- St. Louis had 12 hits, yet needed only two to put away the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tom Gorzelanny's wildness gave the Cardinals all the offense they needed on a night their patience was as important as their production.
Brian Barton's two-run single in the fifth inning gave St. Louis the lead on its first hit off the erratic Gorzelanny, and the Cardinals beat the Pirates 6-2 on Thursday night behind Joel Pineiro's seven effective innings.
The Cardinals avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season, putting nine runners on base -- seven on walks from Gorzelanny -- before finally getting a hit.
Albert Pujols followed Barton's single with an RBI single that made it 3-1, and Brendan Ryan and Skip Schumaker drove in runs against Phil Dumatrait during a two-run sixth.
Gorzelanny walked at least four in each of his last three starts, so the Cardinals talked about the importance of not swinging at bad pitches.
"When the guy doesn't have the control he may normally have, it works to your advantage to get a good pitch. If you don't get it, you're still on base," Barton said. "In my case, I felt if I didn't get something right down the plate, let it go."
The ever-patient Pujols went 2-for-2 and reached base in all five plate appearances, walking twice and getting hit with a pitch. He has reached base in all 23 games and has an on-base percentage of .525.
Gorzelanny (1-3) took a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the fifth despite allowing baserunners in all but one inning, only to walk the bases full ahead of Barton's single. Gorzelanny threw only 49 of 94 pitches for strikes, with the wildness forcing him out of the game even though he gave up only the two singles in five innings.
"I couldn't find the zone. ... I don't know what it is," said Gorzelanny, a 14-game winner last season. "The ball's not doing what I want it to do. I'm not happy with what's going on."
Gorzelanny has walked 22 in five starts -- compared to 13 strikeouts -- and has an 8.46 ERA.
"When he gets his pitches over the plate, guys have a tough time hitting it," catcher Ryan Doumit said. "Walks just killed him."
Pineiro (1-2), winning for the first time since beating the New York Mets 3-0 on Sept. 27, was the opposite. He came into the game with an opponents' batting average of .391 and an 8.10 ERA, only to limit Pittsburgh to one run and four hits, striking out six and walking one. He is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in four career appearances against the Pirates.
Pineiro didn't have a strikeout while allowing nine runs in 10 innings during his previous two starts this season.
"I don't go out looking for strikeouts, I'm a guy who wants to make them put it in play in the first three or four pitches," he said. "The strikeouts will come when you make good pitches down in the zone 0-and-2 and 1-and-2."
Yadier Molina doubled twice for the Cardinals among his three hits and scored, while Barton had two hits and reached base four times. The three Pirates pitchers gave up 12 hits and walked eight, although the Cardinals stranded 11 runners.
Pineiro stayed in the game despite being struck in the back of the left thigh by Freddy Sanchez's hard-hit ball up the middle in the sixth. The pitcher grabbed the ball in midair after it struck him and, turning sharply while throwing, retired Sanchez at first. Pineiro was checked by a trainer before staying in the game.
"Once it hit my leg and I was able to look up, I just happened to see the ball," Pineiro said. "I grabbed it and turned around and threw it, but the luck was I found the ball right away."
Jason Isringhausen got the final two outs for his eighth save in nine opportunities after the Pirates scored once against reliever Russ Springer.
Notes: Pirates RF Xavier Nady singled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (17-for-46, .370). ... St. Louis had lost four of five. ... The Pirates lost their seventh in nine games despite winning their previous two. ... The Cardinals are 42-18 in PNC Park. ... The attendance was 9,544, the Pirates' fourth consecutive home game with a crowd of less than 11,000. ... Pirates CF Nate McLouth is 0-for-10 in three games since ending a 19-game hitting streak. ... Pirates 1B Adam LaRoche, 2-for-21 in his previous six games, had an RBI double among two hits.
Brian Barton's two-run single in the fifth inning gave St. Louis the lead on its first hit off the erratic Gorzelanny, and the Cardinals beat the Pirates 6-2 on Thursday night behind Joel Pineiro's seven effective innings.
The Cardinals avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season, putting nine runners on base -- seven on walks from Gorzelanny -- before finally getting a hit.
Albert Pujols followed Barton's single with an RBI single that made it 3-1, and Brendan Ryan and Skip Schumaker drove in runs against Phil Dumatrait during a two-run sixth.
Gorzelanny walked at least four in each of his last three starts, so the Cardinals talked about the importance of not swinging at bad pitches.
"When the guy doesn't have the control he may normally have, it works to your advantage to get a good pitch. If you don't get it, you're still on base," Barton said. "In my case, I felt if I didn't get something right down the plate, let it go."
The ever-patient Pujols went 2-for-2 and reached base in all five plate appearances, walking twice and getting hit with a pitch. He has reached base in all 23 games and has an on-base percentage of .525.
Gorzelanny (1-3) took a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the fifth despite allowing baserunners in all but one inning, only to walk the bases full ahead of Barton's single. Gorzelanny threw only 49 of 94 pitches for strikes, with the wildness forcing him out of the game even though he gave up only the two singles in five innings.
"I couldn't find the zone. ... I don't know what it is," said Gorzelanny, a 14-game winner last season. "The ball's not doing what I want it to do. I'm not happy with what's going on."
Gorzelanny has walked 22 in five starts -- compared to 13 strikeouts -- and has an 8.46 ERA.
"When he gets his pitches over the plate, guys have a tough time hitting it," catcher Ryan Doumit said. "Walks just killed him."
Pineiro (1-2), winning for the first time since beating the New York Mets 3-0 on Sept. 27, was the opposite. He came into the game with an opponents' batting average of .391 and an 8.10 ERA, only to limit Pittsburgh to one run and four hits, striking out six and walking one. He is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in four career appearances against the Pirates.
Pineiro didn't have a strikeout while allowing nine runs in 10 innings during his previous two starts this season.
"I don't go out looking for strikeouts, I'm a guy who wants to make them put it in play in the first three or four pitches," he said. "The strikeouts will come when you make good pitches down in the zone 0-and-2 and 1-and-2."
Yadier Molina doubled twice for the Cardinals among his three hits and scored, while Barton had two hits and reached base four times. The three Pirates pitchers gave up 12 hits and walked eight, although the Cardinals stranded 11 runners.
Pineiro stayed in the game despite being struck in the back of the left thigh by Freddy Sanchez's hard-hit ball up the middle in the sixth. The pitcher grabbed the ball in midair after it struck him and, turning sharply while throwing, retired Sanchez at first. Pineiro was checked by a trainer before staying in the game.
"Once it hit my leg and I was able to look up, I just happened to see the ball," Pineiro said. "I grabbed it and turned around and threw it, but the luck was I found the ball right away."
Jason Isringhausen got the final two outs for his eighth save in nine opportunities after the Pirates scored once against reliever Russ Springer.
Notes: Pirates RF Xavier Nady singled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (17-for-46, .370). ... St. Louis had lost four of five. ... The Pirates lost their seventh in nine games despite winning their previous two. ... The Cardinals are 42-18 in PNC Park. ... The attendance was 9,544, the Pirates' fourth consecutive home game with a crowd of less than 11,000. ... Pirates CF Nate McLouth is 0-for-10 in three games since ending a 19-game hitting streak. ... Pirates 1B Adam LaRoche, 2-for-21 in his previous six games, had an RBI double among two hits.
Glaus seeing doubles
PITTSBURGH • Troy Glaus is still looking for his first home run as a Cardinal, but it’s not for a lack of power. The new third baseman ripped a two-run double in the first inning Wednesday, giving him four doubles in four games and a share of the league lead with 10 doubles this season.
"He’s not hitting the home runs yet, so you look at the doubles," manager Tony La Russa said. "He’s making good contact. One just hasn’t left the park yet."
After taking a .218 average into the Cardinals’ home series against San Francisco, Glaus had eight hits in his next 20 at-bats, and five of those hits were doubles. A couple landed in the deepest gaps of the ballparks — a sign that as his timing has returned, so has his gap power.
Glaus has five seasons with at least 25 doubles. He took a .297 road average into Thursday’s game at PNC Park and "isn’t 100 percent good as he can be, but he’s a tougher and tougher at-bat," La Russa said.
"To me, they’re good swings," Glaus said of the doubles. "They’re good, solid swings. That they didn’t go three feet farther, whatever. But it’s a good baseline to start from. If you’re hitting the balls in the gap, then it’s a good, solid swing."
IZTURIS SWINGS AND THROWS
Shortstop Cesar Izturis took infield with no limitations Thursday and took cuts in the cage, swinging at balls on a tee. Izturis said he feels "weakness" in his right hand, but the numbness that followed being hit near the arm with a pitch Tuesday is clearing. Izturis plans to take batting practice today and could return to the lineup by the start of next week. La Russa said he’d like to avoid using Izturis in the field or as a pinch hitter for a few days, but he wouldn’t hesitate to trot him out as a pinch runner.
MORRIS SEARCHES
When Matt Morris came to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline line last season, he knew he was moving into a different role, but now he’s learning how to be a different pitcher. Arm surgeries and mileage have reduced his ability to burn hitters with fastballs and then "drop that yawker" in there, he said, referring to the curve he bent for 22 wins as a 27-year-old Cardinal in 2001.
"In the past, my arm would catch up to a lot of the mistakes (in mechanics)," Morris said. "Now the mistakes show. I really have to concentrate on allowing my arm to do the right thing."
Morris, 33, called his last start one of the worst of his career. He allowed eight runs in four innings against Florida. He has a 9.15 ERA in four starts this season, and in losing three consecutive he’s allowed 18 earned runs and 27 hits in 152⁄3 innings. His velocity is sitting in the mid-80s and he has had lapses of control. Making about $10 million this season, he remains in the Pirates’ rotation, set to start Saturday and feeling better after a recent bullpen session.
"Velocity allows you to get away with mistakes," Morris said. "Right now I’ve got to be as perfect as I can be as far as confidence."
BARTON IS RIGHT
Rookie Brian Barton made his first career start in right field Thursday, as La Russa put Ryan Ludwick in left and Skip Schumaker in center. All 12 of Ludwick’s previous starts this season had been in right field. La Russa opted to swap the two because of the ballpark, not because of the players. PNC Park’s right field features a two-story-high scoreboard that is 320 feet down the line from home plate. Left has a tricky notch where the bullpens meet the field at its deepest point, 410 feet. "Tougher to play left here," La Russa said. "Go with the more experienced guy."
EXTRA BASES
Mark Mulder will start tonight, as scheduled, for the Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate, the Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said the lefty will target 85-plus pitches for his third rehab start. Mulder is returning from a second shoulder surgery in as many seasons. … Albert Pujols’ walk in the first inning Thursday meant he reached base for the 23rd consecutive game to start the season, and it jumped his on-base percentage to better than .500. His best streak to start a season is 33 games, but his personal record is 48 — and that came in his rookie season, 2001.
"He’s not hitting the home runs yet, so you look at the doubles," manager Tony La Russa said. "He’s making good contact. One just hasn’t left the park yet."
After taking a .218 average into the Cardinals’ home series against San Francisco, Glaus had eight hits in his next 20 at-bats, and five of those hits were doubles. A couple landed in the deepest gaps of the ballparks — a sign that as his timing has returned, so has his gap power.
Glaus has five seasons with at least 25 doubles. He took a .297 road average into Thursday’s game at PNC Park and "isn’t 100 percent good as he can be, but he’s a tougher and tougher at-bat," La Russa said.
"To me, they’re good swings," Glaus said of the doubles. "They’re good, solid swings. That they didn’t go three feet farther, whatever. But it’s a good baseline to start from. If you’re hitting the balls in the gap, then it’s a good, solid swing."
IZTURIS SWINGS AND THROWS
Shortstop Cesar Izturis took infield with no limitations Thursday and took cuts in the cage, swinging at balls on a tee. Izturis said he feels "weakness" in his right hand, but the numbness that followed being hit near the arm with a pitch Tuesday is clearing. Izturis plans to take batting practice today and could return to the lineup by the start of next week. La Russa said he’d like to avoid using Izturis in the field or as a pinch hitter for a few days, but he wouldn’t hesitate to trot him out as a pinch runner.
MORRIS SEARCHES
When Matt Morris came to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline line last season, he knew he was moving into a different role, but now he’s learning how to be a different pitcher. Arm surgeries and mileage have reduced his ability to burn hitters with fastballs and then "drop that yawker" in there, he said, referring to the curve he bent for 22 wins as a 27-year-old Cardinal in 2001.
"In the past, my arm would catch up to a lot of the mistakes (in mechanics)," Morris said. "Now the mistakes show. I really have to concentrate on allowing my arm to do the right thing."
Morris, 33, called his last start one of the worst of his career. He allowed eight runs in four innings against Florida. He has a 9.15 ERA in four starts this season, and in losing three consecutive he’s allowed 18 earned runs and 27 hits in 152⁄3 innings. His velocity is sitting in the mid-80s and he has had lapses of control. Making about $10 million this season, he remains in the Pirates’ rotation, set to start Saturday and feeling better after a recent bullpen session.
"Velocity allows you to get away with mistakes," Morris said. "Right now I’ve got to be as perfect as I can be as far as confidence."
BARTON IS RIGHT
Rookie Brian Barton made his first career start in right field Thursday, as La Russa put Ryan Ludwick in left and Skip Schumaker in center. All 12 of Ludwick’s previous starts this season had been in right field. La Russa opted to swap the two because of the ballpark, not because of the players. PNC Park’s right field features a two-story-high scoreboard that is 320 feet down the line from home plate. Left has a tricky notch where the bullpens meet the field at its deepest point, 410 feet. "Tougher to play left here," La Russa said. "Go with the more experienced guy."
EXTRA BASES
Mark Mulder will start tonight, as scheduled, for the Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate, the Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said the lefty will target 85-plus pitches for his third rehab start. Mulder is returning from a second shoulder surgery in as many seasons. … Albert Pujols’ walk in the first inning Thursday meant he reached base for the 23rd consecutive game to start the season, and it jumped his on-base percentage to better than .500. His best streak to start a season is 33 games, but his personal record is 48 — and that came in his rookie season, 2001.
Slipping
By Cardinal 70
When you are faltering, even the teams that you should beat wind up beating you. Which doesn't really bode well for the future of this team. Four runs is nice, but you'd like to see more than that when all four score in the first inning.
You knew that Wellemeyer was playing with fire last night. The first seven outs were in the air, and that's just asking for trouble in a ballpark that's not known to be a pitcher's paradise. Wellemeyer only got 2 outs on the ground, 11 by fly ball and 5 by strikeout. That probably means that he was lucky to get away giving up only the one home run.
I don't think it's too much of a debate to anoint Anthony Reyes as the Goat of last night's game. If he hits Miles with that double-play throw, it's two outs, none on and the .115 hitting Adam LaRoche coming up. Instead, the winning run is at second with one out. Allowing two extra runs just put the icing on the cake, unfortunately.
Kudos to Kennedy for not only backing up the play but having the presence of mind to throw it to first to get at least one out on the play. Ironically, that's something I'd never seen before until my softball game Tuesday night, where the same thing happened (though no throw to first was made). For that and the 2-4, 2 RBI game, Adam Kennedy is the Hero of the game.
It'd been nice if Albert could have come through in the sixth with a couple of runners on, but he was 2-2 with a HBP at that point. While another hit wasn't unlikely, it's still tough to get three hits in a game. And I guess you could say it was about time for Snell to get him out.
If not for Reyes, Chris Duncan might have gotten the goat. Grounding into a big double play didn't help, but it seemed possible that, if he'd taken a better route to Bay's home run ball, he'd have been able to catch it at the wall. Maybe not, but that's the way it looked to the untrained eye.
So now the Cardinals have slipped into third place, 2.5 games behind the apparently-never-losing Cubs. Their 13-9 record, though, would lead the AL Central and West and have them a half game out in the NL East. That said, four of the last five have gone the wrong way and that's a trend that needs reversing.
It might be a tough chore to do that today. Tom Gorzelanny takes the mound, and the Cardinals have traditionally had some struggles against left-handers. Gorzelanny sports a terrible ERA, but it's all based on two games against the Cubs, where he gave up 14 earned runs in 5 innings. In his other two starts, he has an ERA under three. Pujols hasn't hit him all that well, but Aaron Miles has. Most of the other Cardinals haven't faced him much, though it is interesting to see that Ankiel is 3-3 with a HR against him. Being that Gorzelanny is a lefty, I was going to say Ank sits today, but with those numbers, probably not.
Joel Pineiro goes for the Cards this evening. The Pirates that have faced him the most were former American Leaguers, though both Xavier Nady and Jason Bay have home runs off of him in limited action.
This could be a tough one for the Cards, but they really need to get a victory before going back home for a key homestand against the Astros, Reds and Cubs.
When you are faltering, even the teams that you should beat wind up beating you. Which doesn't really bode well for the future of this team. Four runs is nice, but you'd like to see more than that when all four score in the first inning.
You knew that Wellemeyer was playing with fire last night. The first seven outs were in the air, and that's just asking for trouble in a ballpark that's not known to be a pitcher's paradise. Wellemeyer only got 2 outs on the ground, 11 by fly ball and 5 by strikeout. That probably means that he was lucky to get away giving up only the one home run.
I don't think it's too much of a debate to anoint Anthony Reyes as the Goat of last night's game. If he hits Miles with that double-play throw, it's two outs, none on and the .115 hitting Adam LaRoche coming up. Instead, the winning run is at second with one out. Allowing two extra runs just put the icing on the cake, unfortunately.
Kudos to Kennedy for not only backing up the play but having the presence of mind to throw it to first to get at least one out on the play. Ironically, that's something I'd never seen before until my softball game Tuesday night, where the same thing happened (though no throw to first was made). For that and the 2-4, 2 RBI game, Adam Kennedy is the Hero of the game.
It'd been nice if Albert could have come through in the sixth with a couple of runners on, but he was 2-2 with a HBP at that point. While another hit wasn't unlikely, it's still tough to get three hits in a game. And I guess you could say it was about time for Snell to get him out.
If not for Reyes, Chris Duncan might have gotten the goat. Grounding into a big double play didn't help, but it seemed possible that, if he'd taken a better route to Bay's home run ball, he'd have been able to catch it at the wall. Maybe not, but that's the way it looked to the untrained eye.
So now the Cardinals have slipped into third place, 2.5 games behind the apparently-never-losing Cubs. Their 13-9 record, though, would lead the AL Central and West and have them a half game out in the NL East. That said, four of the last five have gone the wrong way and that's a trend that needs reversing.
It might be a tough chore to do that today. Tom Gorzelanny takes the mound, and the Cardinals have traditionally had some struggles against left-handers. Gorzelanny sports a terrible ERA, but it's all based on two games against the Cubs, where he gave up 14 earned runs in 5 innings. In his other two starts, he has an ERA under three. Pujols hasn't hit him all that well, but Aaron Miles has. Most of the other Cardinals haven't faced him much, though it is interesting to see that Ankiel is 3-3 with a HR against him. Being that Gorzelanny is a lefty, I was going to say Ank sits today, but with those numbers, probably not.
Joel Pineiro goes for the Cards this evening. The Pirates that have faced him the most were former American Leaguers, though both Xavier Nady and Jason Bay have home runs off of him in limited action.
This could be a tough one for the Cards, but they really need to get a victory before going back home for a key homestand against the Astros, Reds and Cubs.
What They Were Thinking
By Cardinal John
Here's a snippet from one of favorite Cardinal blogs, Fungoes: "Happily, the team corrected the problem today, but we’re concerned about the thought process that animated such a reckless decision."
This was regarding the decision to option Washington (536 OPS; .158 BA) instead of the expected Brad Thompson. The decision to go short handed in the infield caused some unorthodox moves to say the least. Fungoes does a great job of explaining the potential disaster that could have occurred from having too many pitchers.
The slight injury to Izturis has forced the call-up of Brendan Ryan (SS) and the demotion of Thompson.
However, I offer these thoughts on the aforementioned "thought process".
A. There have been several times that TLR has played his cards differently than the norm. Yet, often times it seems as though those gambles have paid off. No, they don't always work, but when they do they appear as genius.
B. It is clear that no one could have predicted the injury to Izturis. Had TLR et.al. known this, I doubt Washington would have been moved down.
C. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that player options had something to do with it. Washington was a flier and if I am not mistaken has never been called up before. I mean, if you don't want to lose an option on Thompson, who else are you going to send down?
D. TLR was having a tough time fitting Washington into the lineup as it was. And with that anemic OPS who's to blame him? Don't get me wrong, Rico was a feel good story about a guy finally getting his chance (been in the minors from 10+ years). 2/7 of Washington's appearances were in the outfield anyway.
All in all, I agree that sending Rico was prolly the wrong move. However, eating up one of Rico's options (especially if he is eligible for a 4th) is not half as bad as taking ANOTHER of Thompson's. However, the semi-injury to Izturis makes this all moot.
So...now the real question becomes: Why isn't Ludwick starting every game?
Here's a snippet from one of favorite Cardinal blogs, Fungoes: "Happily, the team corrected the problem today, but we’re concerned about the thought process that animated such a reckless decision."
This was regarding the decision to option Washington (536 OPS; .158 BA) instead of the expected Brad Thompson. The decision to go short handed in the infield caused some unorthodox moves to say the least. Fungoes does a great job of explaining the potential disaster that could have occurred from having too many pitchers.
The slight injury to Izturis has forced the call-up of Brendan Ryan (SS) and the demotion of Thompson.
However, I offer these thoughts on the aforementioned "thought process".
A. There have been several times that TLR has played his cards differently than the norm. Yet, often times it seems as though those gambles have paid off. No, they don't always work, but when they do they appear as genius.
B. It is clear that no one could have predicted the injury to Izturis. Had TLR et.al. known this, I doubt Washington would have been moved down.
C. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that player options had something to do with it. Washington was a flier and if I am not mistaken has never been called up before. I mean, if you don't want to lose an option on Thompson, who else are you going to send down?
D. TLR was having a tough time fitting Washington into the lineup as it was. And with that anemic OPS who's to blame him? Don't get me wrong, Rico was a feel good story about a guy finally getting his chance (been in the minors from 10+ years). 2/7 of Washington's appearances were in the outfield anyway.
All in all, I agree that sending Rico was prolly the wrong move. However, eating up one of Rico's options (especially if he is eligible for a 4th) is not half as bad as taking ANOTHER of Thompson's. However, the semi-injury to Izturis makes this all moot.
So...now the real question becomes: Why isn't Ludwick starting every game?
Outlook for Izturis
PITTSBURGH — Although the swelling subsided in his bruised right arm, shortstop Cesar Izturis is not expected to be able to throw at full strength for another five days to a week, the Cardinals said Wednesday. Manager Tony La Russa planned "to try not to play" Izturis until he's at what La Russa described as "100 percent comfortable."
Izturis took a pitch to his upper forearm, near the elbow, in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss at Milwaukee. The blow affected a nerve and left his arm tingly, making it impossible to throw a ball. A large helping of ice on the bruise all night calmed the swelling and had him feeling better Wednesday. He was kept from any baseball activities.
"The hand is still a little numb," Izturis said. "But it was all the way numb, all the way up to the shoulder (on Tuesday)."
RYAN RETURNS
To provide protection at shortstop until Izturis is healthy, the Cardinals recalled infielder Brendan Ryan from his rehab assignment. Ryan joined the team in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and he is expected to be in the lineup today. "We were going to make this move eventually," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We were going to wait until this weekend, but it made sense to do it now."
Ryan spent seven games in the minor leagues getting his timing back after missing the last third of spring training with a muscle strain near his rib cage. Ryan went seven for 13 in four games with the Cardinals' Class AA affiliate, and he played third, second and shortstop on his rehab assignment.
"It felt like it's been Christmas Eve for a long, long while," Ryan said. "I was just waiting to get back here. ... I'm anxious to see (if the timing at the plate is ready). That's one of the things you find out when you're thrown into the fire."
THOMPSON OPTIONED
To make room for Ryan on the active roster, the Cardinals optioned reliever Brad Thompson to Class AAA. The righthander, who opened the season in the Cardinals' starting rotation, allowed four earned runs in his inning of work Tuesday at Milwaukee. Thompson (1-1, 4.58 ERA) will join Memphis' rotation. The jobs relievers have carved out for themselves this season — rookie Kyle McClellan as tight-game middle relief; Anthony Reyes in long relief — made Thompson the righthander removed from the bullpen, Cardinals officials said.
DUNCAN CLEANS UP
Left fielder Chris Duncan made his first start of the season in the cleanup spot, hitting behind Albert Pujols. Duncan had hit .379 with a couple of homers during his 10 games before Wednesday, but it was as much Rick Ankiel's skid as Duncan's surge that prompted the swap of them in the lineup. Ankiel hit No. 2.
La Russa said he might rotate them "like that all season," riding their streaks or priming their swings, depending on need.
WISHING WALT WELL
La Russa figured it was "just a matter of time" before Walt Jocketty was a general manager again. It took just 21 games. Fired in October as general manager of the Cardinals, Jocketty, the architect of one of the finest decades in franchise history, was named GM of division rival Cincinnati on Wednesday. "His track record speaks for itself," La Russa said without listing the two NL pennants and World Series title.
"I wish him well," said Mozeliak, who was hired to the position less than a month after Jocketty's dismissal. "He was my mentor and what he did for me — I have an appreciation for what he did for my career. But now he is in the same division."
Izturis took a pitch to his upper forearm, near the elbow, in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss at Milwaukee. The blow affected a nerve and left his arm tingly, making it impossible to throw a ball. A large helping of ice on the bruise all night calmed the swelling and had him feeling better Wednesday. He was kept from any baseball activities.
"The hand is still a little numb," Izturis said. "But it was all the way numb, all the way up to the shoulder (on Tuesday)."
RYAN RETURNS
To provide protection at shortstop until Izturis is healthy, the Cardinals recalled infielder Brendan Ryan from his rehab assignment. Ryan joined the team in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and he is expected to be in the lineup today. "We were going to make this move eventually," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We were going to wait until this weekend, but it made sense to do it now."
Ryan spent seven games in the minor leagues getting his timing back after missing the last third of spring training with a muscle strain near his rib cage. Ryan went seven for 13 in four games with the Cardinals' Class AA affiliate, and he played third, second and shortstop on his rehab assignment.
"It felt like it's been Christmas Eve for a long, long while," Ryan said. "I was just waiting to get back here. ... I'm anxious to see (if the timing at the plate is ready). That's one of the things you find out when you're thrown into the fire."
THOMPSON OPTIONED
To make room for Ryan on the active roster, the Cardinals optioned reliever Brad Thompson to Class AAA. The righthander, who opened the season in the Cardinals' starting rotation, allowed four earned runs in his inning of work Tuesday at Milwaukee. Thompson (1-1, 4.58 ERA) will join Memphis' rotation. The jobs relievers have carved out for themselves this season — rookie Kyle McClellan as tight-game middle relief; Anthony Reyes in long relief — made Thompson the righthander removed from the bullpen, Cardinals officials said.
DUNCAN CLEANS UP
Left fielder Chris Duncan made his first start of the season in the cleanup spot, hitting behind Albert Pujols. Duncan had hit .379 with a couple of homers during his 10 games before Wednesday, but it was as much Rick Ankiel's skid as Duncan's surge that prompted the swap of them in the lineup. Ankiel hit No. 2.
La Russa said he might rotate them "like that all season," riding their streaks or priming their swings, depending on need.
WISHING WALT WELL
La Russa figured it was "just a matter of time" before Walt Jocketty was a general manager again. It took just 21 games. Fired in October as general manager of the Cardinals, Jocketty, the architect of one of the finest decades in franchise history, was named GM of division rival Cincinnati on Wednesday. "His track record speaks for itself," La Russa said without listing the two NL pennants and World Series title.
"I wish him well," said Mozeliak, who was hired to the position less than a month after Jocketty's dismissal. "He was my mentor and what he did for me — I have an appreciation for what he did for my career. But now he is in the same division."
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