St. Louis Cardinals 2022

#376      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
jezzadownunder said:
Any chance Jordan Walker gets a look this season with the outfield offensive struggles?
Click to expand...
Not a chance. He's been incredible, and is in my mind an even more exciting prospect than Gorman, but we're talking about 500 total PAs in the minors of which 141 are in AA, and the rest are A+ and A. He still needs regular PAs and reps in the field, which he wouldn't get backing up Arenado. He may also need to work on a secondary position to get more opportunities in the majors because Nado has 3B locked up for as long as he wants to stay a Cardinal (Walker has played exclusively at 3B in the minors). I'm thinking the earliest we see Walker is when rosters expand in September...of 2023. That would still be a very rapid progression through the farm system. He'll be in his third professional year and will be just 21.

If the organization decides to shake up the OF we'd see Nootbaar come back up and Alec Burleson probably too.
 
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#377      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Mets maul Cardinals bullpen in 11-4 rout; Sosa, Scherzer leave game with injuries

Thrust into the game by Hicks' inefficient four innings, Cardinals bullpen allows nine runs. Mets win season series for first time since 2014.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Derrick Goold
NEW YORK — However lopsided the scoreboard became by the final out, whatever bruising the Cardinals’ bullpen took to tilt it that way, the bigger question facing both teams Wednesday night was what they lost to injuries — and for how long.
Cardinals shortstop Edmundo Sosa and Mets veteran ace Max Scherzer both signaled to their dugout and abruptly left the field with injuries. Sosa was diagnosed with a mild strain of his left ankle and is considered day-to-day, though the Cardinals’ middle infield depth is too thin to go too many days without a replacement. Sosa is not expected to start Thursday’s afternoon game, the series finale at Citi Field.
Scherzer will undergo scans of his torso and oblique muscle Thursday to determine the cause of discomfort along his left side, Mets officials said.

By the time the three-time Cy Young Award winner left the game during an at-bat by Albert Pujols in the sixth inning, the Mets had already started to squeeze an 11-4 rout from the Cardinals’ bullpen. Rookie Jake Walsh failed to retire any of the four Mets he faced and all four scored to shatter a tie game. Lefty T. J. McFarland allowed five of the nine runs the Mets scored against Cardinals relievers.
“Just a combination of a lot of off nights for a lot of guys,” manager Oliver Marmol said.
Sosa jammed his left foot into the base when trying to steal second after a leadoff single in the fifth. He said he looked briefly back at the batter and then “the base was so close” he slid late. Sosa took the field for the bottom of the inning but felt uncomfortable moving side to side or quickly. He motioned for the trainer and headed to the training room.
 
#378      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Cardinals notebook: Pujols vaults into top 10 for base hits with Nos. 3,313 and 3,314, per researcher

In his first start of his final regular-season visit to Queens, Pujols moves ahead of Eddie Collins, per Elias. He talks about mentoring, memories, and his future.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Derrick Goold
NEW YORK — Although he received a cake and other acknowledgements during his final regular-season series as a player in New York, Albert Pujols joked it’s not like this is final visit ever to the city. If anything, he said, having his summer free will mean more visits.
Asked about his future plans, Pujols said he’s only sure of that one.
Travel.
What else? He wonders, too.
“That’s a great question because that’s a question I don’t even know what’s going to happen,” the three-time MVP said Wednesday afternoon sitting in the visitors’ dugout at Citi Field. “I have the personal service (contract) with the Angels, so I’m going to be active with some baseball stuff. I also am going to take some time. ... First of all, travel — stuff I wasn’t able to do for 22 years. Travel in the summer.”

With singles in his first two at-bats Wednesday, Pujols leapfrogged Eddie Collins into the top 10 for career base hits with 3,314. The Cardinals checked with Elias researchers, who put Collins’ career total at 3,313 hits, though other sources credit him with 3,315. Pujols will force his way into the top 10 either way — another in the many reasons he should keep free several weekends after he retires following the 2022 season. Three years from now he’ll be eligible for the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Five years from now he’ll appear on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Inductions to follow.
Although he has previously said he would decide on the personal services contract following the season, Wednesday was the first time he directly referenced the $10 million, 10-year agreement with the Angels that was part of his free-agent contract. The personal services contract — the last of its kind before Major League Baseball eliminated them — triggers when he retires, regardless of the team he’s last with, and Pujols does have the option to decline it.
 
#382      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
Hmmm, but Gorman's K% is still 34%?

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#386      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Big league bound: Cardinals call on Gorman, Liberatore to revamp roster after late loss to Mets

The win gave the Mets three in the four-game series.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Derrick Goold
NEW YORK — The Cardinals wasted no time Thursday sifting through the rubble from an extra-innings loss at Citi Field before putting pieces together to give them a dramatic new look.
The New York Mets had not yet stopped celebrating their 7-6 victory in the 10th inning when the Cardinals management began revamping the roster in the middle of a road trip. The visitors’ clubhouse remained closed to anyone but team officials for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 26 minutes after the final out — not because of what was being said to the current team after a sour series in Queens, but who was being added to it overnight.
Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore, the Cardinals’ top prospects and friends since their boyhoods in Arizona, will join the club in Pittsburgh for their major-league debuts. Liberatore, a lefty and one of the top pitching prospects in the minors, will start Saturday at PNC Park. Gorman, the game’s leading power prospect with a Triple-A best 15 homers, will take over at second base Friday.

“We have a need,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “So, he’s coming to fill it.”
And more changes could follow.
For the second consecutive game, a short start and overextended innings left the bullpen exposed and then it shattered. After allowing nine runs in a loss Wednesday, Cardinals relievers misplaced a lead in the fifth and 10th innings. Harrison Bader ran the Cardinals back into the game with a steal in the ninth and scored to tie the game, 5-5, on Paul Goldschmidt’s fourth RBI. In the final swing of his career during a regular-season game in Queens, Albert Pujols extended his major-league record for grounding into double plays, but this one scored Corey Dickerson to give the Cardinals 6-5 lead for closer Giovanny Gallegos to hold. Spoiler: He didn’t.
 
#387      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Cardinals notebook: Knizner leaves game due to concussion concern; Sosa's ankle soreness subsides

Backup catcher will be evaluated Friday in Pittsburgh to determine if a roster move is necessary. Also: Mets honor Pujols, Molina in last visits.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com


Derrick Goold
NEW YORK — Unable to continue after taking a second foul ball off the facemask in the game, catcher Andrew Knizner remained under observation and in concussion protocols Thursday evening, though he did travel with the team to Pittsburgh.
Knizner took a foul ball off his mask in the fourth inning, prompting the Cardinals’ trainer to run him through a series of questions and examination on the field. He remained in the game but when he sustained a second blow to the mask from a baseball, the Cardinals replaced him by the sixth inning with veteran Yadier Molina.
The Cardinals will review Knizner on Friday morning to determine if a roster move will be necessary for a backup catcher.

After a 7-6 loss to the Mets in extra innings, the Cardinals left New York with two injury concerns, Knizner, and shortstop Edmundo Sosa, and one injury-related absence after the four-game series. Tyler O’Neill (right shoulder impingement) was placed on the 10-day injured list after the game Thursday. Sosa jammed his left ankle into second base while attempting to steal Wednesday, but had a significant reduction in swelling, tenderness, and pain. He was able to put weight on the ankle but did not test it with a quick, propulsive movement.
Manager Oliver Marmol said that Sosa would only have been used in emergency Thursday. They expect him to be available for full speed Friday.
Marmol talks Game 2 win vs. Metsmenu
 
#388      

jmwillini

J
Tolono, IL
jmwillini
Early mock draft picks for the Cardinals

Just Baseball
22. St. Louis Cardinals: Jett Williams

Height: 5-7 | Weight: 160 lbs. | B-T: S-R | Age: 18 | Commitment: Mississippi State

Scouting Report: Jett Williams is in the conversation for the best overall prep hit tool in this class. Despite his size, many scouts are impressed with his batting practice, and more importantly how that swing translates to games. Williams has always performed well versus high-end velocity with surprising power. The Mississippi State commit is very athletic and quick, making both shortstop and center field end-goal possibilities.

Pick Explanation: The Cardinals are known to go after prep bats with interesting profiles. Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn are two prime examples from the 2020 class. Williams has a ton of athleticism and is one of the best pure hitters in this class, giving St. Louis a fun project.



MLB.COM

22. Cardinals: Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee

Where Tidwell lands could depend on how he finishes up the season. He missed the start of the year with shoulder soreness and while he’s back, he hasn’t really been stretched out. A strong conclusion and good medical reports could allow him to float up.



Bleacher Report

22. St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Cooper Hjerpe, Oregon State

After posting a 4.21 ERA in 77 innings as Oregon State's Saturday starter as a sophomore, Hjerpe has moved into the Friday starter role this year and sent his draft stock soaring with a breakout season. The 6'3" left-hander has gone 9-1 with a 2.42 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 78 innings while showing improved secondary stuff and also trimming his walk rate from 3.2 to 1.8 BB/9.



Throughthefencebaseball.com

22. St. Louis Cardinals: Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeuf Jesuit (IN)

As is the case with all mocks leading up to the draft, insiders like to drool over the new flavor the scouts are raving about. Andrew Dutkanych is the latest flavor. He’s Indiana’s top prep pitcher with two plus pitches. His upper-70s curve needs a little work on its location and consistency, but there are signs of good improvement for that pitch.



Prime Time Sports Talk



22. St. Louis Cardinals – Dylan Beavers, OF, California

Beavers has shown off his power tool this season, smashing 15 homers and putting up a 1.082 OPS so far. He has sported an advanced approach, with a .429 on-base percentage while raising his walk rate. The Cardinals build around their power hitters and Beavers is certainly one they can do the same.



PerfectGame.org

22. St. Louis Cardinals | Walter Ford, RHP, Pace HS (FL)


Ford is a reclassifier from the ’23 class who reaches upper-90s with his fastball and has flashed a 70-grade breaking ball at times. There’s lots of upside in this young arm, and St. Louis has proven to be unafraid at swinging for upside.



ProspectLive

22. St. Louis Cardinals: Tucker Toman, Third Base, Hammond

I’m not sure if there’s a more “Cardinals pick” than Tucker Toman. He’s a power-first infield prospect with an average hit tool and the ability to move around the diamond with traits that fit in a number of places. Toman is a switch-hitter, though he’s far more dangerous from the left side with above average power and plus bat speed. He’s got the tools to be a fringy shortstop, though most think he fits best as a solid average third baseman. The Cardinals have been heavy on a lot of different preps in this class in recent weeks, though we think the buck stops with Toman.



CollegiateBaseballInfo

22) St. Louis Cardinals—Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga: The Cardinals have shown an affinity for HS power hitters and college arms in recent drafts, and in this mock we have them taking Hughes, who’s risen steadily this spring. Heavy hitting HS SS/3B Tucker Toman is an intriguing positional option.
 
#389      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Cardinals, not successful with home runs, play little ball to beat Pirates 5-3

All 10 of their hits are singles as Wainwright raises his career to 23-7 against Pittsburgh.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Rick Hummel
PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals recently had homered in 12 consecutive games and 14 of 15, which netted them only a middling record of 7-8. So they switched gears, hitting 10 singles to account for all their runs Friday night en route to a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“As long as we score more than them, I don’t care how it happens,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.
Of course, more efficient starting pitching had something to do with it, too. Adam Wainwright, chalking up win No. 189 of his career, extended his mastery over the Pirates to 38 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings and wins in 10 successive starts against the Pirates, holding them to three singles before giving up a home run to Michael Chavis in the seventh, his final inning.

Wainwright is 5-3 for the season and has won three in succession, pitching at least six innings in all three. The three previous starters on this trip hadn’t lasted past the fifth.
Wainwright’s streak of scoreless innings against the Pirates is the longest since the expansion era, which began in 1961. But, in this game, the beleaguered bullpen had a large assist as Giovanny Gallegos struck out the final five hitters for his eighth save after suffering a crushing loss in New York on Thursday.
“That,” said Wainwright, “was a big-time save.”
The Cardinals parlayed four of their singles into four game-breaking runs in the sixth inning.
 
#390      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Chasing the dream together, longtime friends Gorman, Liberatore reach it at same time with Cardinals

Top hitter and top pitcher--both Arizona prep standouts-- are called up to majors. Gorman starts first double play and gets first hit.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Rick Hummel
PITTSBURGH — Rookie Nolan Gorman was the Cardinals’ second baseman Friday night in his big-league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said it would stay that way, at least in the fact that the hot-hitting infielder wasn’t brought up to be a designated hitter.
He will be wearing a fielder’s glove on most days.
“Whenever we brought him up, he was going to play second,” said Marmol. “He’s going to play second and Eddie (Tommy Edman) is going to play short.”
Gorman, who had 15 homers, a .308 average, and a 1.044 OPS at Memphis, might DH on occasion, just like any other regular. With left fielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, Marmol said he didn’t envision Gorman seeing any time in the outfield either.

The 22-year-old Gorman was called up along with left-handed pitcher Matthew Liberatore, another Arizona prep standout who was a teammate of Gorman’s on a travel team coached by both of their fathers. Liberatore will make the Saturday start for the Cardinals, with both sets of parents on hand.
That the two longtime friends would be called up to the majors on the same day was one for the books.
“It’s pretty unreal,” said Gorman. “It’s super cool. We always pushed each other when we were younger.”
 
#392      

NEIlliniFan

N
No longer in New England
NEIlliniFan
For those wanting a name to watch in the low minors, St Louis just promoted OF Darlin Moquete from the Complex to Palm Beach. Cardinal Nation's 2019 DSL Cardinals Blue Player of the Year and slashed .329/.417/.384/.801 in 84 plate appearances for the FCL Cardinals last season.
 
#394      

pruman91

pruman91
Paducah, Ky
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Goldschmidt, VerHagen spark yet another Cardinals' win at PNC Park

First baseman has four more hits and knocks in two runs. Seldom-seen reliever protects narrow lead with 2 1/3 hitless innings in 5-4 victory.
www.stltoday.com www.stltoday.com

Rick Hummel
PITTSBURGH — There were four key takeaways Saturday night in the Cardinals’ 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
First was that the Pirates almost never beat the Cardinals at PNC Park. In their past 31 meetings here, the Cardinals have won 26.
Second, the Cardinals obliterate left-handed pitching. They entered the game leading the majors in slugging percentage and OPS against left-handers and they knocked out left-handed starter Jose Quintana in the fourth inning as Paul Goldschmidt, hitting safely in his 14th consecutive game, raked Quintana for three of his four hits.
Goldschmidt raised his own average against left-handers this season to .519. He is 11 for 17 (.647) in his career against Quintana. “We enjoy seeing lefties,” said manager Oliver Marmol.

Goldschmidt said, “I didn’t crush any of those balls, but I found some holes out there.”
Third, the Cardinals may have something after all in right-hander Drew VerHagen, who has pitched little this season because of his time on the injured list after coming over from Japan. Relieving left-handed rookie Matthew Liberatore, who began faltering in the fifth inning in his first big-league game, VerHagen knocked off 2 1/3 hitless innings to get the game to Andre Pallante and Ryan Helsley, recording his first Cardinals win in the process.
“It was good to see him get some meaningful outs,” said Marmol, “because we’re going to need him in some bigger situations. He’s got some swing-and-miss stuff.”

VerHagen had been set back by both a hip impingement and COVID. “It was an unfortunate sequence of events,” he said.
Helsley, who gained his second save, said, “It was kind of a coming-out party for him. We hadn’t gotten to see him pitch a whole lot. He dominated.”
 
#395      

wpr

wpr
wpr
I thought the defense let down Liberatore last night. He will do better when he has the first string defense behind him.