By JP
A motto of many Fortune 500 companies is "continual improvement" or a variation thereof. That is exactly what the Cardinals are doing right now. Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, and Kolten Wong are heating up at the plate and I think Jhonny Peralta will be coming around soon. Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte have returned from injuries and helped a struggling pitching staff. And, of course, the St. Louis Cardinals are only a game and a half out of first place. They have made this turn around (albeit a small one) but taking two steps forward every time they are forced to take a step back.
They have accomplished this in many ways. First of all, taking at least two of three games during their last four series is a key factor. The Cards lose Joe Kelley to injury but get Jaime back and he seems to be pitching well enough right now. They have a team right now capable of competing for a Wild Card spot, but what do they need to win the division or go deep into the post season?
To win the division, the Cardinals need to improve their offense. Right now they may be able to do that with minor leaguers. Since being sent back down to the minors, Randal Grichuk has been hitting the cover off of the ball and both Oscar Taveras and Stephen Piscotty have been hitting very well. It is unlikely we will see all three this season and given Mike Matheny's LaRussa-esque seeming dislike for rookies or very young players, we may not see them get much playing time at all. In several games, Matheny has opted to go with veteran player Mark Ellis at second base over Kolten Wong, who has shown marked improvement. Because of this, I don't expect to see someone like Taveras coming in and sparking the offense like Yasiel Puig did for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
To go deep into the playoffs the Cardinals need a third starting pitcher, at least in the opinion of this highly uncredentialed little blogger. But what about Shelby Miller, Jaime Garcia, Lance Lynn, or even Joe Kelley you ask? Miller faded down the stretch last year which is a big reason that he wasn't used much in the post season. That doesn't mean he won't be successful this year, but, while he does have a 6-3 record, he hasn't really showed the lights out stuff that Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha have. Garcia can't be counted on for a full season even if he does seem healthy right now and Lance Lynn, while a good first half of the season pitcher, seems to have used all of his good stuff by the All-Star break. So, what does that leave?
The Cardinals really have no Major league ready pitching in the minors right now and the free agents that are still on the market are not the third dominant pitcher that the Cardinals need for the post season. John Mozeliak is unlikely to make any trades until very close to the non-waiver trade deadline and if he does, it likely won't be splashy. He hasn't made a big trade since acquiring Matt Holliday in 2009. I wouldn't mind having someone like Cliff Lee (who wouldn't?) even though he will be 36 at the end of August. He's a left handed pitcher which was one of the Cardinals biggest problems in the World Series. Had they had a good left handed pitcher to throw two games, that pitcher likely would have cooled David Ortiz and maybe would have given the Cards another ring. That is, of course, all speculation. Lee is 4-4 this season with a respectable 3.18 ERA, but went on the DL five days ago with an elbow strain, so I am guessing that Mozeliak will shy away from him.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
A Broom, a Foul, and a New Lease
By JP
There was a look of horror on the faces of Cardinals fans everywhere Wednesday night that had nothing (probably) to do with Michael Jackson's posthumous Billboard Music Awards performance four days earler; it was because a Matt Adams' foul ball found its way into the Cards dugout and hit Michael Wacha just above his right elbow. We can all breathe a sigh of relief, however, because it sounds like Wacha will make his next sttart. But that isn't the only good news.
The Cardinals swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three game series. Wainwright was his usual dominant self and Allen Craig's bat is waking up and Jhonny Peralta seems to be hitting a little better now. Shane Robinson went 3-4 at the plate after a short stint in the minors. But the take away is that MAYBE the offense is starting to get going. Let's see what happens in Cincy this weekend.
Lastly, the Cards are 8-2 in their last 10 games while the Milwaukee Brewers are 4-6 which has allowed the Cards to climb to within 1.5 games of the division league. So, here's to at least taking two of three of from Cincy. Cheers!
There was a look of horror on the faces of Cardinals fans everywhere Wednesday night that had nothing (probably) to do with Michael Jackson's posthumous Billboard Music Awards performance four days earler; it was because a Matt Adams' foul ball found its way into the Cards dugout and hit Michael Wacha just above his right elbow. We can all breathe a sigh of relief, however, because it sounds like Wacha will make his next sttart. But that isn't the only good news.
The Cardinals swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three game series. Wainwright was his usual dominant self and Allen Craig's bat is waking up and Jhonny Peralta seems to be hitting a little better now. Shane Robinson went 3-4 at the plate after a short stint in the minors. But the take away is that MAYBE the offense is starting to get going. Let's see what happens in Cincy this weekend.
Lastly, the Cards are 8-2 in their last 10 games while the Milwaukee Brewers are 4-6 which has allowed the Cards to climb to within 1.5 games of the division league. So, here's to at least taking two of three of from Cincy. Cheers!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
We've Only Just Begun
By JP
The Cardinals just got done taking two of three games from the Cubs and Braves, respectively, over the last two series and next up are the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-bags, er, D-Backs have a better record than the Cubs and the same amount of wins as the Pirates. So what does that mean?
Not a damn things. The Cardinals have been so wishy washy this season that it's hard to tell how they will fare against Arizona. From here, the Cardinals look in great shape with Wainwright, Wacha, and Lynn thowing the next three games. Allen Craig may be heating up and Kolten Wong looks like his stint in the minors did him a world of good, ala Micheal Wacha last season. But what is St. Louis's real problem?
It kind of looks like relievers. The Cards had a 4-2 lead against the Atlanta Braves, but the bullpen let that slip away. Jaime Garcia pitched decently, which is a pleasant surprise since he hasn't pitched since, um 2008? I didn't fact check that, but it's probably right.
Tony La Russa was fond of saying (or may never have said, again, I don't do a lot of fact checking) that the first goal is to get to 5 games over .500. A sweep of the D-Bags...dammit I did it again...D-Backs would put the Cardinals at 5 gamse over. That is, at least, a starting point. They have to get to five over before they can get to twenty (yay math!).
Sure, it would be nice to have the Cardinals be at 30-10 or something like that, but what matters isn't having a great record in the regular season it's making the post season. Exibit A:2006. Exhibit 2-ish: 2011. In 2006 the Cardinals won their division ata record of 83-78, a mere five games over .500. They, of course, won the World Series that year. They were a Wild Card team in 2011 and again won the World Series. Cardinals fans don't have to look very far back in team history for evidence that the regular season doesn't mean much as long as they make the playoffs.
The Cardinals just got done taking two of three games from the Cubs and Braves, respectively, over the last two series and next up are the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-bags, er, D-Backs have a better record than the Cubs and the same amount of wins as the Pirates. So what does that mean?
Not a damn things. The Cardinals have been so wishy washy this season that it's hard to tell how they will fare against Arizona. From here, the Cardinals look in great shape with Wainwright, Wacha, and Lynn thowing the next three games. Allen Craig may be heating up and Kolten Wong looks like his stint in the minors did him a world of good, ala Micheal Wacha last season. But what is St. Louis's real problem?
It kind of looks like relievers. The Cards had a 4-2 lead against the Atlanta Braves, but the bullpen let that slip away. Jaime Garcia pitched decently, which is a pleasant surprise since he hasn't pitched since, um 2008? I didn't fact check that, but it's probably right.
Tony La Russa was fond of saying (or may never have said, again, I don't do a lot of fact checking) that the first goal is to get to 5 games over .500. A sweep of the D-Bags...dammit I did it again...D-Backs would put the Cardinals at 5 gamse over. That is, at least, a starting point. They have to get to five over before they can get to twenty (yay math!).
Sure, it would be nice to have the Cardinals be at 30-10 or something like that, but what matters isn't having a great record in the regular season it's making the post season. Exibit A:2006. Exhibit 2-ish: 2011. In 2006 the Cardinals won their division ata record of 83-78, a mere five games over .500. They, of course, won the World Series that year. They were a Wild Card team in 2011 and again won the World Series. Cardinals fans don't have to look very far back in team history for evidence that the regular season doesn't mean much as long as they make the playoffs.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Don't Worry...Yet
By JP
Yep, the Cardinals are not looking good. At 19-19 (.500) the Cards are second in the division and 5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. They aren't hitting and their bullpen has been suspect. But there is one number to keep in mind before getting worried: 124.
There are 124 games left this season. That is 76% of the season remaining. But what does that mean? Does that mean that fans have to suffer through another four and a half months of .500 baseball? Perhaps, but more likely there is plenty of time to right the ship. Rmember last season (2013) when the Dodgers were 10-15 games below .500 at the all-star break? They ended up with one of the best records in baseball and played the Cardinals for a chance to go to the World Series. 2006 should prove that all the Cardinals need to do is make the playoffs.
Sure, right now the fact that Peter Borjous, Jhonny Peralta, and Allen Craig are not hitting well at all right now and Trevor Rosenthall and Shane Mannes are both struggling a little in the bullpen and the Cards aren't getting much production out 2nd, but there is plenty of time to get things going. Have faith in Matheny. He will get things going.
Yep, the Cardinals are not looking good. At 19-19 (.500) the Cards are second in the division and 5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. They aren't hitting and their bullpen has been suspect. But there is one number to keep in mind before getting worried: 124.
There are 124 games left this season. That is 76% of the season remaining. But what does that mean? Does that mean that fans have to suffer through another four and a half months of .500 baseball? Perhaps, but more likely there is plenty of time to right the ship. Rmember last season (2013) when the Dodgers were 10-15 games below .500 at the all-star break? They ended up with one of the best records in baseball and played the Cardinals for a chance to go to the World Series. 2006 should prove that all the Cardinals need to do is make the playoffs.
Sure, right now the fact that Peter Borjous, Jhonny Peralta, and Allen Craig are not hitting well at all right now and Trevor Rosenthall and Shane Mannes are both struggling a little in the bullpen and the Cards aren't getting much production out 2nd, but there is plenty of time to get things going. Have faith in Matheny. He will get things going.
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