With the home team hosting the All-Star Game this season, I expected to experience a Renaissance of sorts. You see, the All-Star Game and its surrounding Festivities have not really captivated me for years. Sure, I saw the Ted Williams tribute a few years ago. I watched them close old Yankee Stadium down last season.

Sort of.

I find myself unable to “get caught up in” the game. Yeah, now it counts, great. What has that changed? A few less players skip the game each year after being voted in by the folks who pay their salaries?

Clearly the home-field advantage in the World Series for the winning league being a stake has made somewhat of a difference, but why should a game otherwise treated as an exhibition by MLB have so much on the line? Particularly when the game, as played under current A-S protocol doesn’t resemble anything any normal manager or team would do with so much on the line?

Let’s assume that the “it counts” thing isn’t going away anytime soon. A few simple tweaks could make this game a heck of a lot more interesting.

1. Reduce roster sizes to match that of all regular season MLB rosters, 25. I know in today’s format the expanded rosters are necessary, but I’m getting to that. There is no reason why these teams need so many players, other than to keep up with the “everyone’s a winner generation.” If everyone makes the roster and gets a trophy, then everyone is happy, right?
2. No more taking one player per team. Sorry Pittsburgh and Washington. If you don’t have a player that is either voted in, or that the manager thinks will help the team win, tough luck. This will help to reduce the roster sizes.
3. Have a starting pitcher ready to go five innings. The game, while counting for a lot, isn’t managed that way because players and pitchers must be protected. Wouldn’t you think Joe Torre would be willing to let one of his top starting pitchers go a few more innings if it meant his team could possibly have home-field advantage in the World Series? Maybe it’s too much of a long shot, but I bet he’d go for it.
4. The players need to suck it up, just like bench guys on their own teams, and realize they will not play if they are not the best option. Take it as your compliment and recognition to be named to the team, but you might not play. Since the stakes have been raised, your league needs to win.

Radical? Sure. Unreasonable? I don’t think so. The outcome is very important, whether folks want to admit it or not. Strangely, it’s only at the time of the All-Star Game itself or during the World Series that National League fans are reminded how badly they’ve been beaten around by the Junior Circuit in this game. Home field advantage for the NL, for a change, would be welcome.

Ok, with that out of the way, let’s work on the Home Run Derby.

1. Home runs do not carry over from round one to round two. You’re getting the same amount of swings, just reset. Or make round two fingers worth more. As the pressure increases (along with fatigue), make it more worth the hitters while to summon one last blast.
2. Start calling balls and strikes. For each pitch you watch sail by that was in the zone, but not in your wheelhouse, you get to take one less pitch in that “out”. Three strikes takes away one of your ten outs.
3. Perhaps don’t even use “outs” as they are in the current system. Give each player 20 pitches. Each home run hit is plus one. Each ball hit that doesn’t clear the fence in fair territory is minus one. Reduce field in the current manner and by the end, the most homers in sixty pitches wins.
4. Make it into a team event, almost like a best-ball or scramble setup in golf. Three rounds for each league, so many pitches/hitters per round, and a manager or coach gets to choose who hits when. Then “MAKE IT COUNT” by awarding home field advantage for the All-Star Game itself to the winning league. After all, the host city is just happy to have the game, right? Either NL or AL could be “home” for game purposes without upsetting the grand scheme of things.

Mix and match any or all of the above to make your favorite All-Star Extravaganza.

What would you suggest to improve the Break? Would you leave it alone? Hit the comments below with your ideas.

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Categories: All-Star Game, American League, MLB Home Run Derby, National League, World Series

As the last few moments of the All-Star Wednesday black hole tick away, I wanted to throw some odds and ends at you.

• Josh from Redbirds Row did an interview with Memphis farmhand Pete Parise on Monday.  Check it out at Blog Talk Radio, or by using the handy new iTunes link image at the top right there.
• Josh and I hosted the regular Wednesday UCB Radio Hour show tonight.
• We made our semi-regular appearance on the Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove this past weekend.
• Finally, Bernie Miklasz and Joe Posnanski (twice, kind of – seems Joe has his stories conflicting a little between blog and print) summed up all the things I admire about Stan Musial and some of the disappointment I felt in his seemingly limited role Tuesday night.  All in all, a great night to be a Cardinal fan.

Friday we’re back to business – Chris Carpenter versus Arizona’s Jon Garland.  I know who I’ll be rooting for…

UPDATE: Heh.  Apparently either Joe reads this blog and/or others sniffed out his double-dip on the 2008 blog post and his article in the KC Star.  Blog post appears to have been deleted, so I changed the link above to go to Google’s cached page of it.  Thanks Google!  Also, here’s a new one from Poz at his blog.

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Categories: All-Star Game, Baseball Writers, Chris Carpenter, Fantasy Baseball, Media Appearances, Pete Parise, Stan Musial, UCB Radio, United Cardinal Bloggers

[Ed. note - I know it's July.  I know I'm about four-ish weeks late with this post.  Sue me.  Better late than never, right?]

I was lucky growing up where I did, about a half-hour east of St Louis – “on the Illinois side.” I was able to attend Cardinal games fairly regularly, thanks to the generous companies that employed my parents. My father and his friends, relatives, and neighbors had been going to games for years, when they could, and I was always regaled with stories about the kind gentleman across the street who would bet on anything while at a Cards game – “Bet ya a dollar the next pitch is a strike!” It was this same fellow who gave my dad his extra ticket to a game at the 1982 World Series. My memory doesn’t recall a lot of those early years, but I still have the game program from the ‘82 Series proudly displayed on my bookshelf. It’s right next to the Busch II lithos that my old roommate produced for me, which are surrounding the Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols signed baseball in its case, that sits next to the Danbury Mint scale model of Busch Stadium III that I received as a gift for being in a friend’s wedding. Of course, these are all above the stacks and stacks of old St Louis Post-Dispatch copies that chronicle my current obsession with the Cardinals…

(in no particular order)

08.05.1999 – Mark McGwire hits career home runs number 500 and 501

As is the case with many folks I imagine (at least the number of us who aren’t fortunate enough to have season tickets), this game for me was another last minute phone call from a friend.

“Hey, I’ve got an extra ticket to the game tonight, do you want to go?”

“Well, let’s see. McGwire is about to hit his 500th home run, and Tony Gwynn is in town just a few hits shy of 3000. Yes, I will go.”

Gwynn was two hits shy of 3000, to be exact. And, in St Louis fashion, he was cheered on lustily during each at-bat. Alas, Gwynn failed on that day to reach his milestone. His first hit didn’t come until the top of the ninth, and with San Diego leading, it was a pretty safe bet he wouldn’t bat again. 3000 would come just one day later in Montreal.

McGwire was not to be denied his 500th long ball, however. As he did on many occasions at the plate in St Louis, McGwire stirred up “that feeling” in me, if not the entire crowd. He was going to hit a home run. He hadn’t done it yet, but it was coming, no doubt.

As sure as the day is long and Cardinal fans wear red, McGwire did hit that 500th home run. Then just for good measure, he added 501 before the game was over.

Of course, the Cardinals finished the season below .500. Controversy has shrouded McGwire since his retirement in 2001. That day none of that mattered. McGwire was the Cardinals’ meal ticket then, and he earned his keep on this night.

04.03.2006 – Opening Day of the 2006 season, Opening Day of Busch Stadium III

Again, another “I’ve got extras” situation.  My buddy Jason and I took to the streets (Paddy O’s, Hrabosky’s) outside the new, yet-unfinished Busch III on a still-chilly April day.

From our seats in the right-field upper deck, we saw the parade of players, we saw the Clydesdales, we saw Chris Carpenter accept his Cy Young Award from 2005 and Albert Pujols accept his Most Valuable Player Award from 2005.  Little did we know the roller-coaster of a season this team would take us on.

This game was a walk-over, with Pujols hitting two home runs and Scott Rolen chipped in with one of his own.  I’m finally just now able to admit that I miss Scotty Rolen.  Troy Glaus helped last season, but this year I’m feeling something missing.  It has less to do with the Cards’ struggles at third base and more to do with an appreciation for the way the guy plays the game and disappointment that he and TLR couldn’t be bigger men and put their petty spat aside.  But I digress…

Not to get too cliche or metaphorical on you, but it seemed that the 2006 Cardinals were much like the left-field stands on that Opening Day.  Incomplete for much of the season.

But boy what a pretty park it was…

10.27.2006 – Cardinals win Game 5 to win the 2006 World Series

As much as I would’ve liked to be in St Louis again for this – how many times do you get to see a World Series game live – I was still stuck in Chicago-land.

With the (soon-to-be) wife in bed, I stayed up to watch the end of this game on Fox in my living room.  In my opinion, the outcome had long been decided.  Karma was paying the Cardinals back for 2004.  The clear favorite Detroit Tigers had fallen apart, much like the Cardinals in 2004.  It was destiny.

Wainwright closed things out again.  They did it at home, in the stadium they had opened just a little over six months earlier.

I’m not afraid to admit that I sat on my couch, watching the final pitches, eyes welling up.  When the victory celebration started, the welling became full-fledged tears.  I woke my (soon-to-be) wife up, explained to her that part of her training as a Cardinal fan, she needed to watch.

I love this team.

10.19.2006 – Yadier Molina homers in the top of the ninth of Game 7, 2006 NLCS

Between Opening Day 2006 and the playoffs, I moved further north, this time into enemy territory.  By the time the NLCS rolled around, with the Cubs having missed the playoffs *yet again*, folks were none too pleased when I would walk into a bar with my home Rolen jersey on (complete with “Inaugural Season” patch for the new stadium) and make sure they had Fox’s broadcast on before deciding to order a drink.

My die-hard Cubs fan friend (he knows I’m up against it, and tags along for moral support, but still won’t root for the ‘Birds) and I watched this game intently.  Obviously a win-and-in scenario, the Cardinals were not expected to make it even this far, but here they were, on the precipice of their second World Series appearance within three years.

Several patrons had already proceeded to “give me the business” throughout the night, as is typically the case with a Cards fan in the Chicago area, squarely throwing their support behind the Mets.  Then came the top of the ninth.

I certainly didn’t expect it, but when Yadier Molina hit his home run, almost the entire bar focused on me, by this time smiling from ear to ear and cheering wildly, not caring who was around – I turn to see the guy who had exclaimed to me earlier, “Your boys shouldn’t even be in this game!” laughing and pointing at me.  Not in the “ha ha, look at him act like a fool” way, but more in the “hey, those are your boys, congrats” way.  Make sense?  Guess you had to be there.

In true 2006 Cardinals style, this couldn’t be the end of the drama.  Adam Wainwright proceeded to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, two outs, and Karlos Beltran (if you’re confused about the spelling, check this out) at the plate.  As he had admirably done throughout the 2006 postseason, the rookie Wainwright, in the closer role he was forced into because of injuries, struck out Beltran with one of the most memorable 12-to-6 breaking balls in Cardinals history.  Don’t believe me?  Ask any Cardinal fan if they’ve seen the pitch, or a replay of the pitch, or heard someone tell them a five-minute story about it.  Go ahead.  Ask.

10.27.2004 – Cardinals lose Game 4 of the 2004 World Series to the Boston Red Sox

Strange thing, choosing a loss as a favorite memory?  Let me explain.

Enthusiasm was high for this Cardinal team, one of the best in recent memory going into the playoffs.  World Series aspirations were not unfounded, and in fact, were the expectation.

The Cards did not disappoint, and neither did the curse-chasing Red Sox.

I was one of the lucky few to win World Series tickets via the online lottery operated by the team.  Having moved away from the St Louis area by this time, this was a true treat for me, being able to drive in that afternoon, meet my aforementioned father at the Stan Musial statue, and head into the stadium.

I will cherish that game forever, for more reason than one.  There’s the photo of Dad and I in the upper deck, overlooking the field, in several layers – the top one red, and me with my rally cap on (that I will spare you all from here).  There’s the chatter that we carry on that makes these occasions so much more than a baseball game.  Finally, this is one of the last memories I have of attending games at the “old” Busch.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the new yard, but there was something magical about that old cookie cutter that still gives me the tingles.  One of the reasons is this game.

Naturally, it only took until about the third inning before Dad leaned over and said,

“Bet ya a dollar the next pitch is a strike.”

Many more to come…

Pujols’ 500th home run?  Carpenter winning more Cy Youngs?  Certainly we all hope for more rings.  What about Colby Rasmus and the promise he holds for the future?  It’s good to be a Cardinal fan.

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Categories: Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Busch Stadium, Chris Carpenter, Colby Rasmus, Former Cardinals, NL Awards, Non-Cardinals, St Louis Post-Dispatch, Tony LaRussa, Troy Glaus, United Cardinal Bloggers, World Series, Yadier Molina

Well, ok, we’re slightly late, since the American League has already triumphed 4-3 tonight in St Louis.

Nevertheless, we’re quite pleased to present the spanking new Pitchers Hit Eighth.

We hope you like the new look, and are very anxious to get your feedback and suggestions.

Some items of note:

Removed

• We deleted some blogroll links that have gone dead or are no longer relevant.  If this deletion wrongly included your site, please leave a note in the comments below.

Moved

• You’ll note that there is a second sidebar, so things over there have been rearranged.
• The link to the UCB Radio Hour on iTunes is still here, click on that big ole red tune image in the upper right.
• If for some reason, you feel the need to register or log in, the link is all the way at the bottom right.

NEW!!!

• Easy links to Twitter, Facebook, and UCB Radio via iTunes by clicking on the handy image links at top right.
• We’re getting more information into the same space.  The content window hasn’t changed, just shifted left slightly.  We hope that it’s still as clean as you found the original design, easy to read, easy to locate what you’re looking for.
• Replies in comment threads now work, which make discussion on posts far easier to follow.  Perhaps most excited about this upgrade.

Now, we’re not done by any means – there are still some tweaks and adjustments necessary.

That being said, if you have any feedback at all on the new design, please leave it below in the comments – things broken, things that look out of sorts, upgrades or new features you would like to see, etc.  Nothing is off limits.

Thanks for reading for the last year plus, and we hope you’ll stick around with us for a while longer.

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Categories: PHE Ramblings, Site Updates

It’s time.  Several years in the making, a few days in the spotlight.  You earned it, St Louis Cardinals and Cardinal fans.

Enjoy.

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Categories: All-Star Game, St Louis

Take part in the United Cardinal Bloggers’ July project… Join us all day Sunday for the Cardinals vs Cubs day-night doubleheader!

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Categories: Live Blog, United Cardinal Bloggers

I learned a new baseball term (or maybe just a local one) on Thursday night, when Derrick Goold Twittered back at yours truly explaining that Adam Wainwright’s getting out of another bases loaded situation on Tuesday night in Milwaukee was known as a ‘Houdini’.  (Get it?  Escape?  Good.)

Well, of course, the Play Index at Baseball-Reference.com will allow us to drill down and find some numbers to see how often Cardinal pitchers have pulled off their own Houdini this season.

Opposing teams have had 74 plate appearances against Cards pitchers this season with the bases loaded.

Wainwright ranks first (or worst, depending on your flavor) among those pitchers with 15 plate appearances against him with the sacks jammed, with Todd Wellemeyer a close second with 12.

Since we’re looking for escapes with no runs scored, just counting plate appearances won’t do.  Several PA’s have resulted in outs, only for the inning to continue and a run to score.

Counting through the individual instances, we can determine how many times the Cardinal pitchers loaded the bases yet the situation resulted in no runs scored by the opponent.

Wainwright is the undoubted leader of that bunch as well, escaping scoreless seven times.  Two of those escapes were a ‘Twodini’ – Waino got two outs with the bases loaded to escape the situation.

Chris Perez is still the Cardinal bullpen leader in Houdinis, with four.

The list, separated into starters and relievers (with Twodini instances in parentheses):

Wainwright – 7 (2)
Lohse – 1
Thompson – 1
Wellemeyer – 1

Perez – 4
McClellan – 3
Miller – 2.5 (1) *
Franklin – 2
Motte – 0.5 *

* Miller and Motte combined for a Twodini.

Wainwright has been able to repeatedly bear down and get himself out of jams, while Wellemeyer has been decidedly poor at escaping.

The bullpen has been seemed particularly adept at escaping these situations, perhaps even more impressive since they’re often cleaning up someone else’s mess.

That begs the question…which would be more difficult to complete?  A Houdini when you’re fixing self-inflicted wounds, or one that closes out an inherited situation?

This also confirms my earlier musings that Wainwright has created a lot of these bases loaded jams for himself this season, particularly earlier in the year when he was struggling with his command and arm slot – but he’s quite often been able to reach back and find the goods he needed to get back to the dugout unharmed.

Some other random information from the Play Index…

- Two of the bases loaded situations have been game ending.  Contrary to what you might think, they’ve both resulted in wins for the Cardinals.  One by Perez and one by Ryan Franklin.

- The Brewers have had 17 plate appearances against Cardinal pitching with the bases loaded.  That number is almost more than twice the second most, the Chicago Cubs with 9.

- Jason Kendall is the only hitter to have more than one bases loaded appearance against the Cards.  He is 2-2 with two singles and three runs batted in.

- 21 games have featured at least one plate appearance against with the bases loaded.  One game has featured seven appearances with the bags juiced.

- On an inning by inning basis, three innings have seen double-digit bases loaded situations.  The second, seventh, and eighth.  Not sure what to make of the second – perhaps the first time facing the heart of the opposition’s batting order?  And what to make of the seventh and eighth?  Starters staying in the game too long?  Bad bullpen?

Finally, in a bit of a circumstantial evidence that the Cardinal pitching staff has been pretty dang good comparatively this season, the number of plate appearances allowed with the bases loaded for NL Central teams this season:

Cardinals – 74
Pirates – 77
Cubs – 91
Brewers – 92
Astros – 101
Reds – 103

Put into that perspective, I’ll take what the Cardinals have done.  Although it’d be better if they just didn’t allow baserunners at all, right?

4 comments | Permalink | Share on Twitter | © Pitchers Hit Eighth, 2008-2009

Categories: Adam Wainwright, B-R Play Index, Baseball Writers, Brad Thompson, Former Cardinals, Jason Motte, Kyle Lohse, Kyle McClellan, Non-Cardinals, Ryan Franklin, Todd Wellemeyer, Trever Miller

This post has taken a complete 180 degree turn from what I was preparing to write.

I said it on Twitter earlier, and I’ll say it again here.

I’m not one typically prone to exaggeration, but that 8th inning may have been a critical turning point not only in the game, but the season

What an effort put forth by the Cardinal hitters today, once they were able to get past Manny Parra.

As has been the case, the Redbird bats struggled with a much-maligned left-handed starter, only to awaken in the eighth against the Brewers’ bullpen.

Parra wound up eventually throwing 110 pitches in seven solid innings of work, but it seemed that it wasn’t until Yadier Molina strung him out for an eleven-pitch at-bat in the fifth inning that he really had to labor.  He worked quickly through the Cardinal lineup, and the ‘Birds only touched him for three hits.

Thankfully, Joel Pineiro was just as masterful.  No walks, a pleasant sight after last night’s debacle, and only a few scattered hits to the Brewers, only allowing them one run.

Pineiro went nine again, his third complete game of the season, and got the win in a great testament to “keeping it close”.

The lineup finally broke through off of Carlos Villanueva in the top of the eighth.  Skip Schumaker led off with a pinch-hit double.  Brendan Ryan tripled into the left-center field gap with the hit-and-run on, scoring Schumaker.  Jason LaRue walked pinch-hitting for Colby Rasmus after the Brewers brought in their only left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter.  Albert Pujols doubled down the third base line (a welcome sight, given his “struggles” in the series) to score Ryan.  That left Ryan Ludwick to deliver the big blow, a three-run home run to make it 5-1 Cards.  All with no one out.  Heck, even Rick Ankiel singled following the Luddy homer.

The Cards only scored runs in the eighth today, but they made that one inning count.

This win marks only the third win for the Cardinals when they’ve started the eighth inning trailing their opponent.  Let’s hope it wasn’t the last.

Random

Pineiro hasn’t needed more than 100 pitches in any of his three complete games this season.

He is tied for the National League lead in complete games, and trails only Zack Greinke in MLB.

—–

Brendan Ryan was as good today in the field as he was hitting that triple in the eighth.

Ryan made two outstanding plays deep in the hole to his right, getting runners at first base both times.

Have the Cards found a guy to solidfy the shortstop position for a few seasons?

Ryan has come a long way from his early stints with the Cardinals.  He’s almost become the calming influence of that infield, and who would’ve expected that?  From him?

—–

The Brewer bullpen surrendered a cycle in the eighth inning to Cardinal hitters.

Single (Ankiel), double (Schumaker, Pujols), triple (Ryan), home run (Ludwick).

—–

Milwaukee manager Ken Macha made some controversial moves in the series, some worked and some didn’t.

Today he got played in the eighth inning.  Tony LaRussa had LaRue jog in from the bullpen before Ryan batted, knowing Macha would bring in Stetter to face Rasmus.  Macha, perhaps trying to call Tony’s bluff on using his backup catcher as a pinch hitter, brought in Stetter right away.  LaRussa proceeded to pinch-hit LaRue, who walked.  Stetter, Milwaukee’s only lefty in the ‘pen then had to be removed before Pujols’ at-bat.

Lesson learned?  Don’t call Tony’s bluff.  Because chances are good he didn’t have a plan until you made your move.  Besides, have you seen those sunglasses?

Tomorrow

Now EVEN MORE day baseball!

Cards start a four-game set, by way of rain makeup, with the Chicago Cubs.

LaRussa and Lou Pineilla have already started their games of cat and mouse, so I’m not entirely positive who will be starting tomorrow.  It seems Chris Carpenter will likely go on regular rest for the ‘Birds and Rich Harden is on the schedule for the Cubs.

Let’s extend that lead boys!

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Categories: 2009 Cardinal Game Notes

Trying to overcome nine walks from your pitching staff in one game is pretty difficult, yet there the Cardinals were, with the bases loaded and Yadier Molina at the plate.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

As Brewers beat-man Tom Haudricourt Twittered during the game:

Brewers-Cards, 4-4 in the 8th. If Brewers win, they pull within one. If they lose, they fall three back. Pretty big difference.

Indeed, it is a big difference.  Cards could’ve headed into tomorrow with a start on a big time lead, and a chance to go into Chicago with a full four games on the Brewers.  Instead, they’ll have to pull it together tomorrow to leave Milwaukee still alone at the top.

Colby Rasmus wouldn’t have been bunting with Skip Schumaker on second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, if I were manager.

Look at it this way.  The Brewers are going to walk Albert Pujols whether you sacrifice Skip to third or not.  He’s not going to be forced into an out.  Why not let arguably your hottest hitter right now have a crack at Trevor Hoffman?

As it turned out, nothing productive came of Colby’s at-bat, and they found themselves with Pujols walked anyway and one less out.

Hey Joe Thurston – I’m really happy you got that bunt single to extend your hitting streak to four games tonight.

Unfortunately, it was just another in a long line of plays indicating that you do not know and will not learn, the game of baseball.  Physical talent?  Sure, enough to hang around professional ball for a while.  Smarts and a know how for the way the game is played?  None.

I’m flabbergasted.  No idea how this guy sticks on this team with this manager in this divisional race.

Random

Lots of ‘Houdinis’ for Cardinal pitchers tonight.  More on that tomorrow.  (Hat tip to @dgoold for the vocabulary lesson )

—–

The UCB Radio Hour was busy again this week.  Mike from Stan Musial’s Stance interviewed former Cardinal great Lou Brock on Tuesday and the regular Wednesday show was recorded live as well.  Get them on iTunes via the UCB logo link in the top right here, or via the BlogTalkRadio player on the United Cardinal Bloggers homepage.

—–

Still lots of chatter about Roy Halladay and whether the Cards could come up with enough capital to land him via trade.  I don’t see it happening, but I’d love to be pleasantly surprised.  Would that be enough to put the FO-haters out to pasture?

—–

So let’s start a PH8 poll…

Tomorrow

Day baseball!  1:05p CT first pitch, Joel Pineiro versus Manny Parra.

Parra is returning from a “get your stuff straight” stint at AAA.  Of course, he’s left-handed, which could cause problems.

While I’d love to see Mark DeRosa at third base tomorrow night, I’d settle for a Brian Barden.  Please, Tony?

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Categories: 2009 Cardinal Game Notes

I thought it appropriate to break out this video.

Fireworks, a typical symbol of the Fourth.

Just so happens that these fireworks were going off in October… here’s hoping there are more to come.

Happy Fourth of July.

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Categories: Fun, World Series

Wa-hey!  That’s a winner!

After another frustrating night on offense from the Cardinals (don’t know about you, but I find it virtually impossible to tell anymore if the Cardinal lineup is that bad, or if we are just seeing great pitching each night – let’s call it both), the Cards finally were able to make good against a pitcher, this time Matt Cain who had *it* working.

Entering tonight’s game, the Cardinals in walk-off decisions: 0-4

After tonight’s game, the Cardinals in walk-off decisions: 1-4

Colby Rasmus hit a bomb into the right-center field bleachers leading off the bottom of the tenth inning, precluding another intentional walk to Albert Pujols.

Adam Wainwright was just as fearsome as Cain tonight, striking out twelve in nine innings, and really only getting himself into trouble in the eighth inning.  In fact, no San Francisco runner had reached second base in the game prior to that inning.  Waino, in true 2006 fashion, loaded the bases with no one out, then proceeded to allow only one run.  Not too shabby.

Random

Pujols stole his tenth base tonight, putting him into double digits prior to the halfway mark.  Is a 60/20 season in the making?

—–

Daniel of C70 at the Bat correctly predicted Colby’s walk-off home run on tonight’s UCB Radio Hour.  His bet would’ve paid off far more than mine in Vegas, I took the easy odds with Pujols not seeing a pitch to hit.  Good for Daniel.

—–

Is there a good argument for Ryan Franklin *not* making the All-Star team?

—–

They finally caved.

Joe Strauss and Rick Hummel have taken the Twitter plunge.  Following much harrassment by Miklasz, Leach, and Goold – you can now follow 140 or less characters worth of @JoeStrauss and @cmshhummel.  Enjoy!

Tomorrow

Todd Wellemeyer versus Barry Zito.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have Mark DeRosa in the lineup versus the lefty Zito?  Ah, wishful thinking.  Let’s just get DeRo back before the break, eh?

6:15p CT first pitch, as the Cards look to even the series.

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Categories: 2009 Cardinal Game Notes

Joe Thurston has cost the Cardinals several outs on the bases (and thus himself as a baserunner and potential run, obviously) this season.  And when I say several, I mean a glaring amount, in comparison.

This subject was first broached on Twitter by Matthew Leach, the answer to which I was quickly able to find on Baseball-Reference.com, and Leach revisited yesterday afternoon after another transgression.

Let’s take a look at the damage, shall we?

5 outs on base

Explanation: Runner is put out while making a baserunning play.  Example plays: out advancing on a fly ball, out attempting to reach another base on a hit, doubled off on a line drive, or out attempting to advance on a wild pitch or passed ball.  Does not include pickoffs, caught stealing, or force plays.

This is the most egregious of all of these numbers, particularly for a player on a Tony LaRussa managed ballclub.  Thurston has run into outs on ground balls when he wasn’t forced, been doubled off while straying too far off of the bag, and the latest – on Sunday – was rounding second base too far with the not-so-fleet-footed Jason LaRue ahead of him (and don’t try to blame it on a late stop sign from Jose Oquendo).

Simply unacceptable baserunning at the Major League level, particularly when we find that Thurston’s OOB number represents 23% (5 of 22 total) of the baserunning mistakes made by the Cardinals this season.  That is a large number for one person to rack up.  Thurston is handicapping an already struggling offense.

2 pickoffs

Explanation: Runner picked off a base.  May include cases they were safe on an error.  Also includes Pickoff Caught Stealing plays.

For a guy with only three stolen bases, you would think that he wouldn’t be venturing far off of his current station, right?  Wrong.  Thurston certainly doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) have the green light from the manager, so why the big leads?  Perhaps the better question, why all the leaning?  Is he really reading pitchers that horribly?  Is Dave McKay failing in his “BACK!” duties?

Obviously there’s a bit of kidding in that, but really Joe?  Really?  (Cue Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler.)

2 caught stealing

Explanation: Well, this one speaks for itself, I hope.

Everyone gets caught sometimes and Thurston has swiped three bases versus his two times caught.  Let’s just say Thurston’s times caught are a bit amplified by all of his other shenanigans on the basepaths.

So enough about the baserunning gaffes, surely he’s making up for it with the leather?

9 errors – 7 at 3B, 2 at 2B

Give Joey Outs some credit here, as third base is not his “natural” position.  But second base is not Skip Schumaker’s “natural” position either, and he’s committed only 5 errors there this season, including one in last night’s game.  (And at least Skip’s hitting.)

For my money, if you’re going to be living in the .230/.341/.371 ‘hood at the plate, you better be a serious glove-man in the other half-innings (I know, I know – what are the other Cardinals’ excuses then, eh?).

It appears that for the near future, a perfect storm of sorts is keeping Thurston on the roster now and in the foreseeable future.  He provides the ability to play multiple positions (some better than others).  He is a left-handed hitting option off of the bench when necessary, which has to be the determining factor at this point.

Surely Brian Barden would be a preferable option in the field in late innings, no?  It seems he certainly couldn’t be any worse in the baserunning department.  They seem to provide similar production at the plate.

If only Barden could switch-hit, this would be an open and shut case, wouldn’t it?

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Categories: Baseball Writers, Brian Barden, Dave McKay, Jason LaRue, Joe Thurston, Jose Oquendo, Skip Schumaker, Tony LaRussa, Twitter

On Tuesday, June 30 we will have the pleasure of hosting another Special Edition of the UCB Radio Hour podcast, speaking with former Cardinal and current Fox Sports Midwest broadcaster Al Hrabosky.

Hrabosky will be joining us as part of a promotional appearance day for Bank of America’s MLB checking and Mastercard promotion.

Join us at 12:15p 1:30pm CT on Tuesday sometime, maybe (?) and listen in on the discussion!

UPDATE: Due to issues with the Blog Talk Radio switchboard, we were unable to connect with Mr Hrabosky at our originally scheduled time.  I will be reconnecting with them at 1:30p CT.  Please join us then.

UPDATE #2: We were unfortunately unable to make contact with Mr Hrabosky today because of issues with our switchboard at Blog Talk Radio.  I am attempting to make contact to reschedule for another time, but I have no guarantees.  My apologies to the listeners following along with my rambling for hours and to Mr Hrabosky for missing our scheduled interview.

4 comments | Permalink | Share on Twitter | © Pitchers Hit Eighth, 2008-2009

Categories: Al Hrabosky, UCB Radio, United Cardinal Bloggers

More on the DeRosa trade…

Speculation is already running rampant on the name of the remaining player the Cardinals will send to the Cleveland Indians by September 1st to complete the Mark DeRosa trade.

We’ll know the answer to that question soon enough.

But what about the other potential player to be named later in this trade?

There are plenty of Cardinal fans on both sides of evaluating this trade, whether Cards GM John Mozeliak did well or not, and whether DeRosa should be resigned beyond this season or not (he is a free agent following 2009).

It stands to be seen how DeRo will perform in his remaining games of 2009 with the Cardinals, and that performance will likely decide his fate with the Cardinals beyond the end of the season.

But if the Cardinals do not resign him, they almost certainly stand to receive at least one compensatory draft pick, perhaps two.  Compensation will require the Cardinals to offer DeRosa arbitration, which is a safe assumption.

In a really brief, really abridged version of the free agency ranking system, I pulled this explanation from Jim Callis at Baseball America:

Players who rate in the top 20 percent of their position group (catchers; first basemen, outfielders and DHs; second basemen, third basemen and shortstops; starting pitchers; and relief pitchers) are designated as Type A. Players who rank in the 21-40 percent bracket are designated as Type B.

If a Type A or B free agent’s former club offers him arbitration, then it will receive compensation if he signs elsewhere. Type A free agents yield the signing team’s first-round choice and a supplemental first-rounder, while Type Bs return only the sandwich-rounder. Clubs who finished in the bottom half of the major league standings can’t surrender their first-round selection, and compensation picks for failure to sign draftees from the previous year can’t change hands either.

At the end of the 2008 season, DeRosa ranked 17th, good for the last ‘Type A’ slot in the 2B/3B/SS grouping.

Being that the Elias rankings take multiple seasons into account (I am unable to dig up information clarifying whether it is now two or three years worth of stats), DeRosa would have to continue to perform solidly the remainder of this season to keep his Elias ranking up.

So assume for a second that the Cardinals can’t come to an agreement with DeRosa on a multi-season extension beyond this season.  Then assume that they offer DeRosa arbitration, but he figures to receive a lucrative offer from another team.  The Cardinals would then receive either the first-round pick of that team (if it’s not protected) and a supplemental sandwich round pick between the first and second or second and third rounds, if DeRosa can maintain his Type A ranking.  If he slipped to a Type B, they would receive only the sandwich-round pick.

So then the trade becomes Chris Perez and the yet-to-be-named second player for DeRosa and the yet-to-be-drafted compensatory pick.

Make sense?  I’m sure someone will correct me on facts that I have incorrect about the process, but for the most part, the premise is accurate.

So a couple of things can happen:

1.  Cardinals resign DeRosa beyond this season and get another couple/few seasons of production and clubhouse leadership out of him.

2.  Cards utilize DeRosa to hopefully help them into the playoffs this season and then receive compensatory picks for him and further bolster the minor leagues.

I’m really fine with either of these outcomes, particularly when you take into account how common right-handed relievers (such as Perez) are, and how available they can be in the draft.

So who could the Cardinals expect to get out of such a compensatory choice?  I’m glad you asked.  Chris Perez was a supplemental round pick by the Cards in 2006.  The team received the additional choice as compensation for the Giants signing Matt Morris prior to that season.

Recognize the player chosen just before Perez?  Joba Chamberlain is now plying his trade in the Bronx as a member of the New York Yankees starting rotation.

Clay Buchholz and Jed Lowrie of the Red Sox were both compensatory picks in the 2005 draft.

Recently promoted Cardinal Clayton Mortensen was selected in the sandwich round with a pick gained when the Milwaukee Brewers signed Jeff Suppan before the 2007 season.

Seeing my point?

The Cardinals stand to either gain a long-term, versatile solution for both their defense and their lineup – OR – they stand to have an opportunity to replenish the missing player(s) in the farm system via the choices received as compensation if DeRosa goes elsewhere following this season.

I’m still not wild about some of the names being floated as the possible players that may still find their way to Cleveland, but at this relatively early point before the trade deadline, I think the Cards did just fine in getting value – one way or another.

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Categories: Baseball Writers, Former Cardinals, John Mozeliak, Mark DeRosa, Non-Cardinals

Saturday brought not only a much needed win for the St. Louis Cardinals, but also another bat for their sometimes slumping offense.

Many Cardinal fans had been clamoring for weeks for Cards GM John Mozeliak to acquire the versatile Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians, and the deal was made late Saturday night for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later.

Versatile is the word most often used to describe DeRosa, not only for the many positions he can play defensively, but also for the flexibility in where his bat can be used in the lineup, and his leadership and teammate qualities in the clubhouse.

DeRosa commands a respect from his peers that is demanded not necessarily by his words or actions off the field, but by those on the field.  Always considered the consummate pro, Cubs and Indians fans alike have lamented their club’s loss after DeRosa’s departure this season.

For the Cardinals on the field, this move represents a bolstering of their team in several ways.

DeRosa is a much needed right-handed bat in a lineup that has struggled versus left-handed pitching.  Hitting a stout .339/.409/.661 versus lefties at the time of the trade, DeRosa gives the Cards another hitter that can capably handle any spot in the lineup versus a southpaw.

His experience defensively is the perfect fit for a Tony LaRussa managed ballclub, bringing both infield and outfield gloves to St. Louis, and already flashing the leather in left field on Sunday.  DeRosa’s ability to play either left or right outfield positions will allow LaRussa to play the splits, as he so often does, and the Cards can now line up two right-handed hitters in their outfield, something not possible without someone playing horribly out of position.

Perhaps most importantly, DeRosa can play a very capable third base.  A position in flux all season with Troy Glaus on the shelf, DeRosa should hopefully bring some stability to the position as he settles in with the club.

DeRosa spent most of his at-bats with the Indians in the second or fifth positions in the lineup, but he will figure to see plenty of time in the clean-up role with the Cardinals, as he did on Sunday.  A prime candidate for the second slot in a LaRussa-made lineup, a split of at-bats between second and fourth the rest of the season would not surprise.

Early indications are that eventual evaluations this trade will hinge on the player to be named and/or the Cardinals’ ability to reach the post-season.  If the Cardinals win the NL Central Division and DeRosa had a hand in that, it’s an undoubted success.  If they miss the playoffs, and Chris Perez can find the command he’s lacked to fulfill his “closer of the future” promise in Cleveland, the trade may start to lean in Cleveland’s favor.  Many have noted that Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro is a shrewd executive, having plucked gems from other teams in similar trades, and this one may not be different.

Many assume that the quality of the player to be named later is contingent upon either the Cardinals making the playoffs, the Cardinals’ ability to resign DeRosa beyond the end of his current contract that expires after this season, or both.  JP Morosi at FoxSports.com has reported that Cardinal farmhand relievers Jess Todd and Francisco Samuel are on the shortlist, either of which, along with Perez,  would represent a fairly significant haul for an Indians team that has watched their bullpen implode and cause much of their struggle this season.

Time will tell on this deal and this may not be the end of the trading deadline season for Mozeliak.

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Categories: Baseball Writers, Central Division, Chris Perez, Francisco Samuel, Jess Todd, John Mozeliak, Mark DeRosa, National League, Tony LaRussa, Troy Glaus

Another day in New York, more of the same.

What is there to be said about this game?  The Cardinals apparently can’t handle the motivation (they can stick the pressure) of facing a former Cy Young winner.

Last time it was Cliff Lee doing damage versus the Cardinal lineup, and today, save for a couple of rough innings early and a lot of pitches, Johan Santana was almost as in control as Lee versus our Redbirds.

Albert Pujols came to bat with the bases loaded again, only this time he was finally retired, the first such occasion in the 2009 season.  His belt to left field was contained by the massive confines of Citi Field (it wouldn’t have gone anywhere in any park, but folks talk about the size of Citi – why not monopolize that?).

Random

Happy to see the Cardinals actually see a lot of pitches versus Santana today.  The Cardinal lineup forced the Mets’ starting pitcher into many pitches early, which likely could’ve chased him in the fifth or sixth inning, had Santana not settled down and the Cardinals not settled back into their routine of swinging early and often in counts.

I know Hal McRae preaches that the first strike may be the only one you see in the at-bat.  I understand the philosophy and greater approach.  I just don’t agree with it.  Take a pitch.  Once.  RYAN LUDWICK – I am looking at you.  Want to get your swing on track?  Maybe see some pitches.  Maybe you should’ve gone on that rehab assignment that you reportedly refused.  Maybe you should swing at three straight (arguably) chump breaking balls outside of the zone.

—–

Ludwick reached base again tonight on catcher’s interference.  That’s the third time this season (for three in his career).  Two have come against the Mets.  Is Ludwick in the wrong spot in the batter’s box, or do the Met catchers love to crowd the backside of the plate?

—–

Hitters are successful at a .167 rate versus Chris Carpenter after he has thrown a first strike.  19 of 26 first pitches thrown by Carp today found the strike zone.

Tomorrow

Things don’t get any easier with the Minnesota Twins coming to town.  The Twins are fresh off of taking two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee.  We’ll see Adam Wainwright versus Glen Perkins tomorrow night at 7:15p CT.

The Twins have beaten up the NL Central in Interleague play, while the Cardinals have ensured themselves the first  winning Interleague record since 2005 with 8 wins logged already.

Go Cards!

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Categories: 2009 Cardinal Game Notes

I’m trying to get myself into a regular habit of writing again, so I decided yesterday (with credit due to a lot of other blogs that do this and inspired me a bit) to start writing quick game recaps – just a few things from each day’s post-game thoughts.

Unfortunately, I picked a bad day to start doing this.

The Cardinals did very little to cheer about save for Brendan Ryan and Skip Schumaker continuing to do well at the plate.  Trever Miller was the bright spot on the mound, which is telling, since he only pitcher to one batter.

Seemingly everything went wrong in this game, with errors, pitchers forgetting to cover first base, even the entire Redbird team apparently forgetting how many outs there were at one point.  Best to get it all out of the way in one game fellas.

Random

Matthew Leach noted on Twitter that Schumaker has reached base 21 times in the last 9 games.  Not bad for a guy expected to be the table setter.  Now if only someone would clean the table behind him…

Joe Thurston continued to give away outs, no matter the side of the inning.  More on that tomorrow.

David Wright is good.  Can he expect to see some intentional walk treatment if the Mets lineup continues to be injury-riddled?

With Kyle Lohse’s return from the disabled list looming, Brad Thompson did little tonight to make a play to stay in the rotation.

Tomorrow

Day baseball!  Cards and Mets finish off their four-game set at Citi Field with a 12:10pm CT start.  Chris Carpenter versus Johan Santana.  Who will flinch first?

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Categories: 2009 Cardinal Game Notes

Former Cardinal and Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter was a guest on a special UCB Radio Hour with Mike of Stan Musial’s Stance this morning.

Mike talked with the former Cardinal closer about his career, his take on baseball today, and about the Bank of America MLB promotion that is going on in advance of the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St Louis.

Take a listen via the BlogTalkRadio player at the United Cardinal Bloggers website or via iTunes by clicking on the large UCB logo at the top right here.

Thanks to Bruce Sutter for spending some time with the UCB!

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Categories: All-Star Game, Former Cardinals, St Louis, UCB Radio, United Cardinal Bloggers

I had to laugh at the headline link on ESPN.com (that’s the Eastern Seaboard Promotion Network, for those of us in the Midwest) after Tuesday night’s Cardinals – Tigers game.

The Cards exploded on offense, plating all eleven of their runs by the end of the sixth inning.

Albert Pujols had a fine game by all accounts, considering Jim Leyland took the bat out of his hands twice.  The one pitch Albert did put in play was well-struck to say the least, landing an estimated 446 feet from its launching point.  So 1-2, 2 IBB, a HR and a strikeout (that he looked pretty bad on, actually).

What’s ESPN’s link to their story Tuesday night say about the game?

Cards roll on another Pujols HR

Um, really?  Because Albert’s home run was the difference maker in the nine-run blowout?

The article begins:

ST. LOUIS — After Adam Wainwright escaped a first-inning mess, the St. Louis Cardinals made Justin Verlander pay.

Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run in five games — and the longest homer at Busch Stadium this season — to lead a 14-hit barrage. Wainwright righted himself to work seven strong innings in an 11-2 rout over the Tigers and their ace Tuesday night.

“You can’t figure this game at all,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “We haven’t been scoring in bunches.”

Pujols drew his major league-leading 19th and 20th intentional walks in only semi-threatening situations before lining his 23rd homer an estimated 446 feet over the left field wall off Ryan Perry to start the sixth. Chris Duncan followed with a 418-foot shot that gave the light-hitting Cardinals back-to-back homers for the first time all season.

So Albert’s home run “led the barrage?”  Again, as prodigious a bomb as it was, I’d say maybe Skip Schumaker, Chris Duncan, Yadier Molina, or Brendan Ryan played a more key role with their great at-bats.  What about Adam Wainwright’s solid start (to be fair, he did at least rank mention in the early paragraphs).

I understand the overall impact Pujols’ bat has on the lineup and more importantly the opposing pitcher.  When they pitch around AP, it creates great opportunity for the hitters around and behind him.  Indeed, Pujols scored a run one of the times he was intentionally passed.

Nevertheless, as Pujols nears the end of his current contract with the Cardinals, speculation is already beginning to run rampant that the Cards must start making moves to secure Albert’s future and perhaps the near future of the franchise.  Bernie Miklasz has written about it at the Post-Dispatch.  Will Leitch wrote about his concern over losing both Pujols and Tony LaRussa at Deadspin.  Heck, the subject was broached here already last season.

Nevermind shuddering at the thought of seeing Pujols in a Cubs uniform.  I shudder at the thought of Pujols wearing anything but the Birds-on-the-Bat.

So, as I mentioned, I had to laugh at ESPN’s headline for Tuesday night’s game.  As Cardinal Nation clamors for an upgrade to the offensive lineup, as phone lines burn up with angry calls for Bill DeWitt’s head on local sports radio – the rest of the Cardinal lineup produced, they won this game around Albert Pujols.  For one night Albert didn’t have to carry the burden himself.

And what does ESPN do?  Plays up Pujols and his home run.  Don’t they realize that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets probably already know Albert is a good player?  He doesn’t need the hype… 

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Categories: Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Baseball Writers, Brendan Ryan, Chris Duncan, Skip Schumaker, St Louis Post-Dispatch, Tony LaRussa, Yadier Molina

In one of those rare, unimagineable moments for a fan who decides to start up a site like this one – former Cardinal and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith will be a guest on the UCB Radio Hour podcast tomorrow (o6.16.09) at 1:30pm CT.

Daniel from C70 at the Bat will be hosting the special half-hour version of the Radio Hour, and will be joined by The Wizard for hopefully about half of that time.

Ozzie is joining us to talk baseball (obviously) and promote Bank of America’s MLB Checking and Credit Card programs.

Needless to say, this is exciting for the United Cardinal Bloggers, and especially for our lucky host Daniel!

Listen live tomorrow afternoon at the UCB’s home on Blog Talk Radio, or you can listen to the archive of the show at any time via that same link or iTunes.

5 comments | Permalink | Share on Twitter | © Pitchers Hit Eighth, 2008-2009

Categories: Cardinal Blogs, Former Cardinals, UCB Radio, United Cardinal Bloggers