St. Louis Cardinals 2022

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#1,376      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Gordo: Retooled Cardinals pitching staff could deliver collective success

The Cardinals have upgraded their arms supply through trades and promotions, so a strong collective effort could earn them the division title and another ticket to postseason play.
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Jeff Gordon

The Cardinals don’t feature a dominant starter like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer or Sandy Alcantara in their rotation.
Beyond Ryan Helsley, there hasn’t been much consistent swing-and-miss muscle in their bullpen either.
But the Cardinals have upgraded their arms supply through trades and promotions, so a strong collective effort could earn them the division title and another ticket to postseason play.
While Albert Pujols’ bid for 700 homers and the MVP-caliber play of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado will rightfully command our attention, what happens on the mound will decide this team’s fate.
Manager Oliver Marmol must play the matchup game while seeking winning performances from as many hurlers as possible. This appears more doable than it did a month ago.
Injury-plagued Jack Flaherty will get a final rehabilitation start Wednesday before rejoining the rotation. All signs have been positive on his latest comeback bid, so he could still make a difference this season.

Don’t forget how good Flaherty can be when healthy.
Dakota Hudson has held his starting spot, temporarily, with the Cardinals carrying a six-man rotation to cover a looming doubleheader. Hudson finally looked like his old self while beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field, then he relapsed against the Reds on Tuesday. So he still needs work.
 
#1,377      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Tipsheet Sputtering Brewers still seeking much-needed relief

The Brewers still haven't resolved their bullpen issues -- and that cost them another game Tuesday night.
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Jeff Gordon

In their latest bullpen failure, the Milwaukee Brewers wasted an excellent spot start from Jason Alexander while falling 4-2 to the tanking Pittsburgh Pirates at home.
So the Brewers missed a chance to chip a game off of their six-game deficit in the National League Central while the Cardinals were falling flat against the Reds in Cincinnati Tuesday.
Alexander allowed just one run in five innings, then Hoby Milner blanked the Pirates for an inning before the trouble started.
Matt Bush allowed a Michael Chavis homer in the seventh inning. Brad Boxberger walked three batters, forcing home a run in the eighth inning.
“None of is liked the walks tonight for sure,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve relied on Box and we’re going to have to continue relying on him and (have) no problem with relying on him.”
Peter Strzelecki yielded Oneil Cruz’s RBI double in the ninth inning. Cruz, one of the game’s elite prospects, has six homers and 16 RBIs in 46 at-bats against the Brewers in his young career.

“Clearly, we’ve got to figure something out because we’re not doing a good enough job,” Counsell said. “I don’t think there’s any question about that. We all know he’s a talented player, but we’ve got to do better.”
 
#1,378      
the juiceman cometh
I wonder what's going to happen with the rotation next season.

I know the conventional wisdom is that Waino retires after this season. I have a gut feeling he comes back. He's pitching extremely well and he's just 7 wins away from 200. He's almost certain to get there with one more season, and I think that'd give him an outside chance at making the HoF.

If he comes back you've got him, Mikolas, and Montgomery as sure things in the rotation. With the money being paid to Matz you'd expect him to be a frontrunner for a spot, as well as Flaherty.

Then you've got Hudson, Liberatore, Pallante, Woodford and Thompson who will compete for a spot at Spring Training as well as Graceffo, Hjerpe and McGreevy who could debut next season as well.

I'd like to see a lot more swing and miss in that rotation. I could see the Cards go after a front of rotation type arm, even if Waino comes back. If Waino retires, then they absolutely have to go after someone like that. I also do think they need to trade some of the MLB ready arms (like Hudson, Libby, Woodford) that aren't going to make the rotation, maybe for some younger prospects to replenish the lower ranks. I'd love to move Matz and roll with Monty as our rotation lefty, but I don't know what you'd get for Matz on the trade market at this point. You almost need to plug him into the rotation and hope he does ok to have a chance to trade him with the 3 years he has left on his contract.
 
#1,379      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Jake Woodford asserts his place as Cardinals pitching staff takes shape for playoff push

CINCINNATI — After demoting Jake Woodford to Class AAA Memphis for the fourth time in seven weeks, Cardinals officials, including manager Oliver Marmol, met with the right-hander to detail what
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Derrick Goold

CINCINNATI — After demoting Jake Woodford to Class AAA Memphis for the fourth time in seven weeks, Cardinals officials, including manager Oliver Marmol, met with the right-hander to detail what they saw beneath his sturdy performances and needed to see for him to stay up.
The conversation bent around his pitches, specifically the consistency and usage of a relatively new slider that would give Woodford a different look for the same hitters. He went to Memphis — again and again, it seemed — with a clear task and, this time, a compass to find his way back. The breaking ball would point the way.
“Yeah, I definitely knew what they were looking for,” Woodford said Tuesday evening at Great American Ball Park. “I knew what they wanted out of me.”

This.
This is what they wanted.
In relief of Dakota Hudson, Woodford made his latest and perhaps most convincing bid to play a larger role in the playoff race for the Cardinals, as he did a year ago. Woodford pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings, slinging zero after zero and buying time for an offense that never arrived in a 5-1 loss Cincinnati. The same Reds lineup that zapped Hudson with five runs on nine hits in his 4⅔ innings had limited success against Woodford, who faced 12 batters and allowed only one ball to reach the outfield. The Cardinals rotation is about to shift around Jack Flaherty’s return Monday from injury, and even as it does, Woodford will remain prominent.
 
#1,380      
pruman91
stlpinchhits.com

Minor-league report: Rookie Matthew Liberatore delivers quality start for Memphis

Matthew Liberatore’s six innings of one-run ball on Tuesday gave him his sixth quality start of the MiLB season.
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Daniel Guerrero
In his first start back in the minors after he was called-up as the 27th man for the Cardinals' doubleheader against the Cubs on Aug. 23, Matthew Liberatore on Tuesday spun six innings of one-run ball for Class AAA Memphis.
The performance marked the southpaw’s sixth quality start of the minor-league season. It also gave him a high note to end a stretch of inconsistency through August.
Along with Liberatore’s six-innings against Nashville, these are some of the notable performances by Cardinals minor-leaguers:
Hits

Left-handed pitcher Matthew Liberatore, Class AAA Memphis: The six innings Liberatore provided for the Redbirds in their 5-3 loss to the Sounds made it the third time in his last seven starts that he completed six or more innings. Liberatore struck out six and kept the Sounds to five hits and a walk.
Liberatore logged 23 1/3 innings and posted a 6.75 ERA in his last five starts. He allowed a .297 average to hitters and walked 12 batters while striking out 20 since the start of August.
 
#1,381      
DReq
I know this is a bit off the current set of topics but I had to look up just how impressive the 450 different pitchers that Pujols has hit for the HR is. Just to put it into perspective there are only 40 players ever in MLB history to hit 450 home runs. I know the 450 pitchers is a MLB record but that says a lot about how far ahead of historical performance Albert is with that stat. That was just mind blowing for me. So glad he came back to STL for this year and is collecting records as fast as he is. Certainly one of my all-time favs.
 
#1,382      
GILL-INOIS
the juiceman cometh said:
I wonder what's going to happen with the rotation next season.

I know the conventional wisdom is that Waino retires after this season. I have a gut feeling he comes back. He's pitching extremely well and he's just 7 wins away from 200. He's almost certain to get there with one more season, and I think that'd give him an outside chance at making the HoF.

If he comes back you've got him, Mikolas, and Montgomery as sure things in the rotation. With the money being paid to Matz you'd expect him to be a frontrunner for a spot, as well as Flaherty.

Then you've got Hudson, Liberatore, Pallante, Woodford and Thompson who will compete for a spot at Spring Training as well as Graceffo, Hjerpe and McGreevy who could debut next season as well.

I'd like to see a lot more swing and miss in that rotation. I could see the Cards go after a front of rotation type arm, even if Waino comes back. If Waino retires, then they absolutely have to go after someone like that. I also do think they need to trade some of the MLB ready arms (like Hudson, Libby, Woodford) that aren't going to make the rotation, maybe for some younger prospects to replenish the lower ranks. I'd love to move Matz and roll with Monty as our rotation lefty, but I don't know what you'd get for Matz on the trade market at this point. You almost need to plug him into the rotation and hope he does ok to have a chance to trade him with the 3 years he has left on his contract.
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Mo and the Cards run a tight ship. Like you mentioned it will come down to how all the dominos fall mainly with Waino. I don't think there will be that many moves on the pitching staff outside of the organization.

Mikolas and Matz have contracts for next season. Ton of the other guys have arbitration unless something else gets worked out. I would like to see how this staff works out healthy. If anything we might have an abundance of starters on the roster IF they can ever stay healthy. If they would sign the arbitration guys that contributed this year we would have Mikolas, Matz, Montgomery and Hudson. Quintana could be resigned cheap or be FA. There will be a ton of 30 something pitching free agents if need a guy for a year. Throw in this doesn't include Pallante(who I think has been real good), Liberatore and other young guns. Just so hard to keep pitchers healthy.


I am interested to see how this year plays out first. They are gearing things up for the playoffs or Flaherty would be up already. Chance Matz could see some playoff reliever role if everything works out. Playoff baseball is a little different and don't need a full starting rotation. I like Waino, Mikolas and Montgomery as our 3 guys. Plenty of guys to platoon if need the 4th slot plus always see starters in the bullpen.

You mentioned the starting lineup for next season. I will say I want to see what they do at Catcher next season. Knizner will be up but who else with him. Doubt they let Herrera come up and ride the pine. Knizner with a vet for a year and than bring up Herrera. More for fun since know some Cub fans will read...sign Contreras and keep Knizner up :LOL:
 
#1,383      
pruman91
DReq said:
I know this is a bit off the current set of topics but I had to look up just how impressive the 450 different pitchers that Pujols has hit for the HR is. Just to put it into perspective there are only 40 players ever in MLB history to hit 450 home runs. I know the 450 pitchers is a MLB record but that says a lot about how far ahead of historical performance Albert is with that stat. That was just mind blowing for me. So glad he came back to STL for this year and is collecting records as fast as he is. Certainly one of my all-time favs.
Click to expand...
I remember growing up and marveling at Hank Aaron , Willie Mays , Roberto Clemente and many others.............But , in my opinion , Albert is best right handed hitter I have ever seen......His stats stand up against all others , and being a Cardinals fan some would say I'm biased , and to an extent , I might agree with them ......But when you analyze the numbers that Albert's put up over a 22 year career , I think his place is solidified as the best right handed hitter of all time........

JMHO.....................
 
#1,384      
the juiceman cometh
GILL-INOIS said:
Mo and the Cards run a tight ship. Like you mentioned it will come down to how all the dominos fall mainly with Waino. I don't think there will be that many moves on the pitching staff outside of the organization.

Mikolas and Matz have contracts for next season. Ton of the other guys have arbitration unless something else gets worked out. I would like to see how this staff works out healthy. If anything we might have an abundance of starters on the roster IF they can ever stay healthy. If they would sign the arbitration guys that contributed this year we would have Mikolas, Matz, Montgomery and Hudson. Quintana could be resigned cheap or be FA. There will be a ton of 30 something pitching free agents if need a guy for a year. Throw in this doesn't include Pallante(who I think has been real good), Liberatore and other young guns. Just so hard to keep pitchers healthy.


I am interested to see how this year plays out first. They are gearing things up for the playoffs or Flaherty would be up already. Chance Matz could see some playoff reliever role if everything works out. Playoff baseball is a little different and don't need a full starting rotation. I like Waino, Mikolas and Montgomery as our 3 guys. Plenty of guys to platoon if need the 4th slot plus always see starters in the bullpen.

You mentioned the starting lineup for next season. I will say I want to see what they do at Catcher next season. Knizner will be up but who else with him. Doubt they let Herrera come up and ride the pine. Knizner with a vet for a year and than bring up Herrera. More for fun since know some Cub fans will read...sign Contreras and keep Knizner up :LOL:
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Yeah, for this year it's pretty obvious that the playoff rotation is going to be the three you mentioned and probably either Quintana or Flahety as a 4th starter as needed. Don't really see a role for Matz in the playoffs. Would only be comfortable with him on mop up duty and I don't think you waste a playoff roster spot for that.

I'd be surprised if they re-sign Quintana unless they're giving up on Matz (which I don't think they'd do). No need for another lefty with Montgomery, Matz and Liberatore all available. Better idea to use that money for a bench bat or reliever. Given the depth of mid to late rotation arms in the organization at this point I think the front office should really only target high impact front of rotation type guys, especially if Waino doesn't come back. He's making $17 mil so that would free up a significant amount of payroll.

For catcher my ideal would be to sign an experienced catcher and bring up Herrera, and trade Knizner. He's really not good. Bad pitch framing, bad hitting. The catcher position has been a complete black hole this season. Signing Contreras would be amazing but I'd be shocked if we spent that kind of money, though we can certainly afford to.
 
#1,385      
GILL-INOIS
Mo has made some great trades but he always makes some questionable contract offers(Matt Carpenter extension). I don't mind Matz since he has been hurt, but no way they are dumping him with 3 years left on contract. I feel like the Cardinals just make it work or bench the player if they have a year left on contract. DeJong goes from $6M this year to $9M next year. He goes $12M and $15M two years after but the team controls the options and they are cheap buyouts. I almost hope they can trade him in offseason or the writing is on the wall of one more year and than buyout option unless he can hit 25 HRs.

Know some aren't big on Hudson but he makes barely over a $1M this season. He is a bargain at the production you are getting from him. Main thing is if the arbitration numbers jump up dramatically. Same goes with Knizner as he makes just over $700k and solid piece that is cheap and younger than the 30+ year olds on the market. I don't think he is full season starter material at catcher but brings some flexibility plus could play 1B/DH if guys need random days off. Not saying we get him but Contreras is the only FA Catcher available that halfway deserves a long term contract. JMO but I don't see the Cardinals bringing up Herrera as a full time starter next season with such an experienced team. No knock on Herrera because I hope he is a stud, but the Cards have had a number of good catching prospects that haven't lived up to the hype.

Talking about prospects....I think Jordan Walker can only be left down so long and he is a baby. Be interested to see if he gets called up soon.
 
#1,386      
GILL-INOIS
I should clarify...depends how high the Cardinals regard Herrera and others. Herrera is 22 and getting a lot of hype. Cards have a catching prospect named Leonardo Bernal who is 18 that I am keeping an eye on. If they would sign Contreras for example they don't lose a step for future years plus gives Bernal time to develop and either keeps Herrera in the system or in a trade. (To much time on my hands today but I have heard good things about Bernal)
 
#1,387      
pruman91
GILL-INOIS said:
I should clarify...depends how high the Cardinals regard Herrera and others. Herrera is 22 and getting a lot of hype. Cards have a catching prospect named Leonardo Bernal who is 18 that I am keeping an eye on. If they would sign Contreras for example they don't lose a step for future years plus gives Bernal time to develop and either keeps Herrera in the system or in a trade. (To much time on my hands today but I have heard good things about Bernal)
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it will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with Austin Allen , the catcher they got in a deadline trade with the A's........he's 28 years old , so that factors in big time.....This was in the post earlier about the minor league's........................

Catcher Austin Allen, Class AAA Memphis: The St. Louis native provided the Redbirds with two of their three runs on Tuesday when he connected on a two-RBI, two-out single in the fourth inning against Nashville. Allen, who was acquired by the Cardinals at the trade deadline in a deal with Oakland, has produced in limited opportunities since joining the St. Louis farm system at the start of August. Across his first 10 games as a Cardinals minor-leaguer, the 28-year-old is batting .313 and posted an .889.
----------------------------------------------

No clue how he handles a pitching staff and I haven't looked up his career stats while with the A''s or whoever else he has played for......................
 
#1,388      
GILL-INOIS
pruman91 said:
it will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with Austin Allen , the catcher they got in a deadline trade with the A's........he's 28 years old , so that factors in big time.....This was in the post earlier about the minor league's........................

Catcher Austin Allen, Class AAA Memphis: The St. Louis native provided the Redbirds with two of their three runs on Tuesday when he connected on a two-RBI, two-out single in the fourth inning against Nashville. Allen, who was acquired by the Cardinals at the trade deadline in a deal with Oakland, has produced in limited opportunities since joining the St. Louis farm system at the start of August. Across his first 10 games as a Cardinals minor-leaguer, the 28-year-old is batting .313 and posted an .889.
----------------------------------------------

No clue how he handles a pitching staff and I haven't looked up his career stats while with the A''s or whoever else he has played for......................
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Yeah they picked him up I think the same day they traded C Austin Romine to the Reds. Romine is 33 and Allen is 28. Wonder if the move is more for next year but I don't look for Allen to have a meaningful role in the majors. Be more for fill in, injuries, etc. Only way he would see more time is if A) Cardinals want to bring Herrera up but not beginning of next season and B)make no moves at Catcher in offseason. Both of those would have to happen.

Romine and Allen are Mendoza level type hitters and Romine is better defensively. I do like the STL connection though.
 
#1,389      
pruman91
Arenado with a 2 run homer to knot the game up 2-2 going into the bottom of the 4th...............
 
#1,390      
the juiceman cometh
GILL-INOIS said:
Mo has made some great trades but he always makes some questionable contract offers(Matt Carpenter extension). I don't mind Matz since he has been hurt, but no way they are dumping him with 3 years left on contract. I feel like the Cardinals just make it work or bench the player if they have a year left on contract. DeJong goes from $6M this year to $9M next year. He goes $12M and $15M two years after but the team controls the options and they are cheap buyouts. I almost hope they can trade him in offseason or the writing is on the wall of one more year and than buyout option unless he can hit 25 HRs.

Know some aren't big on Hudson but he makes barely over a $1M this season. He is a bargain at the production you are getting from him. Main thing is if the arbitration numbers jump up dramatically. Same goes with Knizner as he makes just over $700k and solid piece that is cheap and younger than the 30+ year olds on the market. I don't think he is full season starter material at catcher but brings some flexibility plus could play 1B/DH if guys need random days off. Not saying we get him but Contreras is the only FA Catcher available that halfway deserves a long term contract. JMO but I don't see the Cardinals bringing up Herrera as a full time starter next season with such an experienced team. No knock on Herrera because I hope he is a stud, but the Cards have had a number of good catching prospects that haven't lived up to the hype.

Talking about prospects....I think Jordan Walker can only be left down so long and he is a baby. Be interested to see if he gets called up soon.
Click to expand...
Matz and DeJong will both be on the roster to start the season next year, I have no doubt. Nobody is taking DeJong from us unless we pay most of his salary and that's not a thing this front office does very often.

Hudson and Knizner are cheap and provide value to the right team. That team is a team that has no hopes of making the playoffs and needs serviceable bodies. For a team in contention, those are players that make winning games harder, not easier.

Herrera could be good. He could be bad. Cards need to have someone else at catcher and even if Herrera is on the roster. If that someone is Knizner catcher is a wasted position again next season. It's like playing 8 vs. 9 against good teams.

I think Walker makes it up some point next season. He won't make it up this year. He hasn't even played any AAA yet. Maybe he gets called up to AAA soon, but not the majors. There's such a logjam of outfielders amd corner infielders right now even Burleson, who's been mashing AAA, hasn't gotten a chance.
 
#1,391      
GILL-INOIS
Yeah am glad you brought Burleson up. Interested to see what he can do.

Interested to see what final position Walker ends up at. Know he isn't playing 3B up here :ROFLMAO: If you look at his game logs they just transitioned him mainly to the OF only in the last month or so now.

With DeJong he is only owed $9M for next season...other 2 years are cheap buyout. 2024 is when he would $12M and 2025 $15M. They can buy him out after 2023 for $2M or if exercise 2024, can do $1M on last season. Another thing that plays into that is you have Wynn who is 20 now and wouldn't be ready until 2024-2025 area.

Yeah have mentioned with Mo around likely only reason he is around next year is for that and than buy him out unless has a tremendous season out of the blue.
 
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#1,394      
GILL-INOIS
Edmonds on broadcast and Ankiel post game harping on bunting the runner over to 3rd with no outs. That is the main difference between old school and the game today. Dan McLaughlin kind of worded it along the lines of he doesn't know how many guys actually can bunt these days. Incredible athletes but lacking some basic fundamentals.
 
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#1,395      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Quick hits: Albert Pujols, Lars Nootbaar deliver in 13th after Cardinals dazzle on defense

In 5-3 win, Cardinals go zero-for-17 with runners in scoring position, but two outs at the plate created by a five-infielder defense buys time for final rally.
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Derrick Goold
CINCINNATI — It twice took five infielders and two outs at home plate in extra innings for the Cardinals to flaunt their stellar defense and give their offense opportunity after opportunity to do something, anything. It didn’t even have to be stellar, just substantive.
The Cardinals were hitless in 17 at-bats with a runner in scoring position when, in the 13th inning, Albert Pujols’ final swing in Cincinnati lofted a fly ball deep enough to score a runner from third base. Pujols’ sacrifice fly brought home Paul Goldschmidt and gave the Cardinals their first lead of a long, maddening night at the plate, except for when they were tagging out Reds there.
Lars Nootbaar gave the game one grin with a two-run homer that sent the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory against the Reds in the 13th inning at Great American Ball Park.

Andre Pallante dealt with the tying run on base in the bottom of the 13th before getting a strikeout and groundout to end the game. The extra-inning victory cinched the series for the Cardinals despite scoring only three runs for a 21-inning stretch against the last place Reds and their patchwork pitching staff. A two-run homer by Nolan Arenado in the fourth inning tied the game, and there it remained through 11 innings as neither team scored in extras, even with the benefit of a runner starting at second.
The Cardinals could not get past their at-bats.
Cincinnati could not get past their gloves.
The offense would have never had another chance in the 11th or 12th innings if not for golden infield defense, highlighted by each catcher making a tag at the plate.

With no outs in the 11th and two on base, the Cardinals crowded the infield to try and stymie the Reds from getting the one ball in play that would win the game.
 
#1,396      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Cardinals notebook: Jack Flaherty zips toward return as other roles under review

CINCINNATI — The start the Cardinals wanted to see slingshot Jack Flaherty back to the majors ended with the right-hander shouting to himself after not finishing the seventh inning of
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Derrick Goold
CINCINNATI — The start the Cardinals wanted to see slingshot Jack Flaherty back to the majors ended with the right-hander shouting to himself after not finishing the seventh inning of what otherwise was a commanding blitz through a Class AA lineup.
Now the decisions begin.
With Class AA Springfield, Flaherty struck out six of the first 10 batters he faced Wednesday night in his fifth and final rehab start in the minors. The Cardinals dropped all limits and expectations from Flaherty’s outing and tasked the right-hander with pitching as deep into a game as his performance demanded. He threw 102 pitches, did not allow a run until the seventh inning and schooled the Wichita Wind Surge with his slider and curveball on the way to nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals have already announced that Flaherty, if he recovers well from the longest outing of this season, will start Monday against Washington. That lines him up for starts against the Nationals, Pirates and possibly Reds as he makes his return from shoulder soreness that twice interrupted his season. The Cardinals have discussed internally the benefit of shifting to a six-man rotation once Flaherty returns, or having a long reliever available to shadow the initial return.
In the coming days, the Cardinals will discuss where Jake Woodford and Dakota Hudson fit into a 14-man pitching staff. Their most recent pitching performances will shape those choices.
When Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol welcomed writers into his office for the daily pregame questions, he was in the process of reviewing Hudson’s start in Tuesday night’s 5-1 loss to the Reds. The right-hander pitched 4 2/3 innings, had two singles slip through against the shift, and another grounder clipped third base to cause him troubles.
 
#1,397      
pruman91
www.stltoday.com

Tony La Russa out indefinitely as White Sox manager with heart issue

Current Chicago manager Tony La Russa accomplished big things while leading the St. Louis Cardinals.
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By Rick Hummel St. Louis Post-Dispatch


Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who went to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix to be treated for a case of shingles that sidelined him for a week during the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series championship season, has left the Chicago White Sox to go back to the same clinic to be treated for an unspecified heart ailment, according to a USA Today report.
The report was corroborated by a second source. The 77-year-old La Russa missed the first game of the White Sox’s series in Chicago with Kansas City and, before the second game started, traveled to Arizona on Wednesday night to undergo tests on Thursday, USA Today said, citing a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“But I think he’s going to be OK,” said one person familiar with the situation. “Tony says he feels great.”

And Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, who played 11 seasons for La Russa in St. Louis, told Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold in Cincinnati that he had spoken to La Russa on Wednesday and that his former manager appeared in good spirits.
La Russa, under fire in Chicago during his second season as manager as his team has drifted under .500, will be out indefinitely, according to the White Sox. According to the USA Today report, La Russa underwent further tests Wednesday in Chicago and it was advised that he see heart specialists in Arizona. La Russa, the major leagues’ oldest manager, has one more year remaining on his three-year contract.
 
#1,398      
wpr
It's sad.

Carlos Martinez suspended 85 games for violating domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse policy​


Major League Baseball has suspended free agent pitcher Carlos Martinez for 85 games for violating its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

MLB said Thursday the punishment is retroactive to June 19. Under the policy, Martinez will participate in a confidential evaluation and treatment program supervised by the league's joint policy board.

The 30-year-old Martinez also was suspended for 80 games in May under baseball's minor league drug program after he tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Ibutamoren, which increases human growth hormone.

The right-hander signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on March 19. He was released and signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on May 7.

Martinez made a pair of starts for Triple-A Worcester, at Toledo on May 8 and against Rochester on May 14, going 0-2 with a 20.77 ERA in 4 1/3 innings. He was released on May 17.

He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013 to 2021, going 62-52 with a 3.74 ERA in 139 starts and 135 relief appearances. He was an All-Star in 2015 and 2017 and made five relief appearances in the 2013 World Series loss to the Red Sox.

Martinez was 4-9 with a 6.23 ERA in 16 starts for the Cardinals last season.
 
#1,399      
Nuke Dukem
pruman91 said:
I remember growing up and marveling at Hank Aaron , Willie Mays , Roberto Clemente and many others.............But , in my opinion , Albert is best right handed hitter I have ever seen......His stats stand up against all others , and being a Cardinals fan some would say I'm biased , and to an extent , I might agree with them ......But when you analyze the numbers that Albert's put up over a 22 year career , I think his place is solidified as the best right handed hitter of all time........

JMHO.....................
Click to expand...
My baseball memory only goes back to the end of Aaron, Mays and Clemente’s careers therefore it is hard for me to compare Albert to those legends. He is the best right-handed hitter I ever saw but when I look at the numbers it seems to me Albert is chasing Aaron on most of the records. I have long wondered if Aaron wasn’t the greatest hitter of all-time. Right-handed or left-handed. I guess there is no definitive answer but it makes for interesting debate.
 
#1,400      
dgcrow
Nuke Dukem said:
My baseball memory only goes back to the end of Aaron, Mays and Clemente’s careers therefore it is hard for me to compare Albert to those legends. He is the best right-handed hitter I ever saw but when I look at the numbers it seems to me Albert is chasing Aaron on most of the records. I have long wondered if Aaron wasn’t the greatest hitter of all-time. Right-handed or left-handed. I guess there is no definitive answer but it makes for interesting debate.
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I'm old enough to remember Aaron, Mays, Clemente, and many other greats. The best all-around player, (hitting, fielding, base running) in all the years I've followed baseball is, IMO, Willie Mays. No question.
 
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