I'm excited going forward...I think we're ahead of the Padres and Phillies/barely but...there's a lot of games left...like the boost with the new pitching and timely at bats also...
St. Louis Cardinals 2022
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Quick hits: Jordan Montgomery wins third in succession as Cardinals beat Rockies again
Two new left-handers have made six starts, and the Cardinals have won all six. Gorman knocked in three runs and Donovan had three hits in 5-1 victory.
Rick Hummel
An update on the Cardinals’ two deadline-day trades completed Aug. 2 reveals the following: Jose Quintana and Jordan Montgomery, both left-handers, have made six starts. The Cardinals have won all six games, with Montgomery, who came from the New York Yankees, receiving credit for three wins in his three outings.
Including the Cardinals’ 5-1 triumph over Colorado at Busch Stadium Wednesday night, the two newcomers have combined for 33 2/3 innings pitched and six earned runs allowed for an ERA of 1.60.
Meanwhile, of the players given up in those trades with the Yankees and Pittsburgh, none is active in the majors.
Nolan Gorman, who had two hits, knocked in three of the Cardinals’ runs. Fellow rookie Brendan Donovan had three hits and drove in another run as the Cardinals won for the 11th time in 14 games this month, starting from the date the two trades were made, and beat Colorado for the 11th consecutive time at Busch Stadium since 2018.
Over their past seven games, Cardinals starting pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in all of them.
A former starting pitcher, rookie Andre Pallante, faced seven men in relief. He retired all of them.
Carlson prevents extra-base hit
Montgomery fanned the first two Colorado hitters on fastballs in the first inning but needed a little help for the third out. Brendan Rodgers sent a drive headed for the right-center-field wall, but center fielder Dylan Carlson backtracked and made a jumping catch just before he got to the wall.--------------------------------------------------
the highlighted sentence above is awesome....Mo might know something after all..........he really really might................
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Hochman: Nolan Arenado epitomizes Cardinals’ defensive excellence, yet again
“I’ve told him,” Jim Kaat said of Nolan Arenado, “‘you need to be considered one of the best all-around players in baseball.’”
The gloves in St. Louis are glazed with gold.
Heck, you could make a sensible argument that the greatest defender to ever play shortstop, third base, catcher and first base all were Cardinals — Ozzie Smith, Nolan Arenado, Yadier Molina and Keith Hernandez. And then consider that St. Louis also fielded the likes of Jim Edmonds and Curt Flood, Scott Rolen and Ken Boyer, Red Schoendienst and Kolten Wong.
It’s expected excellence. For some players, “The Cardinal Way” can weigh, but the 2022 club is living up this — and they’re stealing outs and because of it, this leather-laced larceny. In August alone, we’ve seen two game-saving plays in right field by Lars Nootbaar, an implausible backward “basket” grab by Arenado (and perfect throw to keep the runner from advancing) and, while writing this column Wednesday at Busch Stadium, a galloping grab by Dylan Carlson in center.
We talk often about offense. But sometimes, it’s defense that determines the difference in the final score — trajectory-altering plays that keep the divide between the two-run totals.
“It’s unbelievable — we just talked about it in our meeting, as far as the level of defense that we’ve been playing is truly darn good,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday afternoon. “There is just solid defense all the way around. And we have to remind ourselves with that because we get used to it here. But then you see some other clubs and the way they play defense — and there’s a big difference.”
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Cardinals notebook: Usage of closer Ryan Helsley is done with one eye on postseason
Manager Marmol is unlikely to go with right-hander on back-to-back days if the first one involves two innings.
Rick Hummel
There is method to the madness, said Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, about manager Oliver Marmol’s hesitance to use the right-hander on back-to-back days — especially if he had pitched two innings the first day.
It has to do with keeping Helsley, in his first season as the last bastion in the bullpen, fresh for the postseason. He more likely would be used on consecutive days then, notably if he pitches just one inning per outing.
“For sure,” said Helsley on Wednesday night before the second game of the Cardinals’ three-game set here with Colorado. “It’s easier to go back to back when you only throw one inning. It’s harder when you have the ‘up-downs.’ Going multiple innings puts more stress on your body, and it’s harder to bounce back from.
“But yeah, I’m definitely trying to build and stay strong for a postseason run.”
There have been several times this season, including last Saturday, when Helsley would answer, “No,” when asked before a game if he was available. Sometimes it hasn’t turned out well for the team, as on Saturday when Giovanny Gallegos was touched for two runs in the 10th inning of a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.
“You’ve got to try not to be the hero,” said Helsley, 28, who has 12 saves, a 0.91 ERA and a .120 opponents’ batting average against him. “You’ve got to be a good self-evaluator and know you’re more valuable healthy rather than trying to push through one extra inning.”
They're a game up on the Phillies and a game and a half up on the Padres at the moment. Padres have also played 4 more games than the Cardinals.
BillyBob1
- Champaign
Go to page 27 and read some comments about Albert! I’m critical about some players, so I’m not innocent!
Well I got a real shock when I got back to the office.
I opened up ESPN Gamecast. It showed Gomber vs Molina. For a moment I forgot he had been traded. (duh)
My mind said Waino went 3.0 innings and Gomber/Molina was the new battery. I thought, "WHAT HAPPENED TO WAINWRIGHT???" and how serious is it?
So I looked and looked at the page. I was going to jump on here to see if I could find out the preliminary details.
I saw Gomber already had .1 inning pitched but it didn't register in my mind.
I looked at the screen some more. It may have only been 30 seconds (But seemed like an hour.) when I noticed Gomber's photo and his cap and it was blue with the "CR". I looked again and realized Molina wasn't his catcher. He was the batter. (Duh again.)
Slowly the adrenaline stopped pouring out. My heart stopped racing.
Runners at 1st and 3rd. Molina strikes out. Carlson steals 2nd. (That's better than a DP.)
Edman strikes out too. (Rats) Noot walks. Bases loaded and Donovan coming up. (Maybe a single and 2 runs will score. They have a pretty big lead so I'd be happy with that.)
ALBERT is going to PH for Donovan. (NICE!)
Grand slam EVEN BETTER!
Time to get back to work.
I opened up ESPN Gamecast. It showed Gomber vs Molina. For a moment I forgot he had been traded. (duh)
My mind said Waino went 3.0 innings and Gomber/Molina was the new battery. I thought, "WHAT HAPPENED TO WAINWRIGHT???" and how serious is it?
So I looked and looked at the page. I was going to jump on here to see if I could find out the preliminary details.
I saw Gomber already had .1 inning pitched but it didn't register in my mind.
I looked at the screen some more. It may have only been 30 seconds (But seemed like an hour.) when I noticed Gomber's photo and his cap and it was blue with the "CR". I looked again and realized Molina wasn't his catcher. He was the batter. (Duh again.)
Slowly the adrenaline stopped pouring out. My heart stopped racing.
Runners at 1st and 3rd. Molina strikes out. Carlson steals 2nd. (That's better than a DP.)
Edman strikes out too. (Rats) Noot walks. Bases loaded and Donovan coming up. (Maybe a single and 2 runs will score. They have a pretty big lead so I'd be happy with that.)
ALBERT is going to PH for Donovan. (NICE!)
Grand slam EVEN BETTER!
Time to get back to work.
Haha, I certainly was critical. To excuse myself a little, my main frustration was that he was playing so much against righties, and he still sucks against righties! Since the break it seems Oli has been more disciplined about using him strictly against LHP, and it's worked! Albert is basically two batters in one body. Against lefties he's prime, MVP Albert. Against righties he's 42 year old Albert.
I'll tell you what though, 20 years in and there's still nothing in baseball as magical as Albert launching a baseball.
BillyBob1
- Champaign
I was having fun. I never expected this kind of output! I knew there was some chatter about his lack of production. Up now with two on against a right hander.
Being back in St. Louis has revialized him. From 2017 through 2021 Albert was worth -1.8 bWAR. It's hard to overstate how much worse the post STL half if his career was in comparison to his Cardinal years. Going by ops+ he's having his best season since 2012! Makes you wonder if his output would have been better, maybe much much better, if he'd stayed.
Really it just comes down to Oliver Marmol using him correctly. Pujols even in his decline has smashed left hand pitching and struggled mightily against right hand pitching. Totally night and day with those stats and discussed before the season. Main reason Pujols has gotten more at bats vs righties is because Dickerson is having one of his worst hitting seasons in awhile.
Pujols vs righties PA 126 At Bats 110 HR 4 RBI 14 BATTING AVG .182
Pujols vs lefties PA 92 At Bats 80 HR 7 RBI 21 BATTING AVG ..363
Pujols vs righties PA 126 At Bats 110 HR 4 RBI 14 BATTING AVG .182
Pujols vs lefties PA 92 At Bats 80 HR 7 RBI 21 BATTING AVG ..363
What's really interesting is that his stats against lefties right this season easily outpace his stats against lefties for his career. Career wRC+ against lefties is 148. This season it's 185. That's actually not that far off from where he was at in his best season (2009) when his wRC+ against lefties was 193. He used to hit pretty close to even against lefties and righties but as his career has progressed he's become more of a specialist against lefties. His wRC+ for his career against righties is 137. This season it is 76.
Albert needs 7 homers to get past A-Rod and move into 4th all time. There are 45 games left. Needs an average of 1 every 6.5 games.
Since the all star break, Albert has hit 5 home runs in 23 games....which is a pace of 1 homer every 4.5 games. So he is on track.
Keep going Albert!
Since the all star break, Albert has hit 5 home runs in 23 games....which is a pace of 1 homer every 4.5 games. So he is on track.
Keep going Albert!
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Why stop there? I'd love to see him get 10 more and retire with 700. It's a longshot and probably not the best thing to happen in the homestretch toward the playoffs, but I'd still love to see it.
NEIlliniFan
- No longer in New England
I am savoring Albert's recent performance. I've been a Cardinals fan for 55 years. He's the greatest player to wear the Birds on the Bat I've seen. (Missed The Man's years.) I'm so happy he's having a well-deserved time in the limelight while propelling St Louis towards the postseason.
It works for multiple nights
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
In sync, dynamic duo Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt spur Cardinals' 'big Cowboy energy'
Corner infielders provide all five runs in 5-1 victory at Arizona, continuing their harmonized MVP claims with 35 RBIs, .803 slugging since Aug. 2.
Derrick Goold
PHOENIX — On the list of things Nolan Arenado has eagerly and urgently wanted to experience for the first time in his career, from winning a division crown to playing alongside Albert Pujols and succeeding in sync with Paul Goldschmidt, add one he did not know he was missing.
The fit of that first cowboy hat.
“I’d never worn a cowboy hat,” he admitted Friday.
Teammate Miles Mikolas remedied that before the charter flight Thursday night. The right-hander suggested the team dress with a western flair for the trip to Arizona, and his teammates were all a-boot that. Out came the patterned button downs, jeans, big belt buckles, and bigger belt buckles. Realizing the last-minute nature of his idea, Mikolas rushed to a store in St. Louis and purchased black cowboy hats for Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Stetson rookie Arenado.
The infielder, who played eight years in Colorado without a cowboy hat or a division title, liked it enough to pay Mikolas back. Another life experience checked off. He's herding them all together.
Arenado had four hits, including three doubles, as the Cardinals outran Arizona, 5-1, and opened a four-game lead in the National League Central. With a head start on that division title, Arenado had his hits at cleanup, one spot ahead of Pujols, and one spot behind Goldschmidt, who homered as one of his three hits. About a year after Arenado mused about what could happen if he and Goldschmidt were both on a hot streak, he no longer has to wonder.
Wins.
Wins happen.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Cardinals notebook: Greeted by 'MVP!' chants, Paul Goldschmidt strengthens his claim
Cardinals first baseman is in the midst of the finest offensive season in the majors and one of the best, by an advanced metric, in club history.
PHOENIX — Several weeks ago, several hours before game time, Paul Goldschmidt stepped out of the Cardinals’ dugout and into the Saran Wrap-like humidity of a broiling St. Louis afternoon, ready to take dozens of groundballs hit right at him.
In the midst of the one of the best seasons of his career, one of the best all-around years in the majors this summer, he felt he had lost his timing — with his glove. For whatever reason he felt late on some hops, early on others, and he mentioned two specific plays where the baseball slipped loose from his glove. He still got the outs. But he had work. Coach Stubby Clapp, a former infielder, gave him advice he’d never heard and a challenge to charge a bunch of grounders, aggressively, just to reset his timing.
So, Goldschmidt did.
Bench coach Skip Schumaker hit grounder after grounder and Goldschmidt rushed forward over and over and over. As many as it took to feel right, and then a few more.
“This is a perfect example of a guy who is at the top of his career and he’s still looking for ways to improve, whether that’s changing his bat or the way he trains — always being comfortable with knowing, ‘I am good right now, but what’s next?’” manager Oliver Marmol said. “If you consistently just try to revert back to what gave you success, I think the game passes you, but when you’re constantly looking for ways to improve then you’re able to extend that. This is a guy who is completely comfortable seeking what’s next for him.”
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
First Pitch: Cardinals promote lefty JoJo Romero for peek at relief he could provide
Arizona rookie Tommy Henry, in his fourth major-league appearance, will face to of the top hitters against lefties in the majors, Goldschmidt (.430) and Pujols (.363).
y Derrick Goold and Carter Chapley St. Louis Post-Dispatch
PHOENIX — The Cardinals are using a brief opening in their bullpen to get a look at a recent acquisition they think may be able to provide some relief during the playoff chase and possibly certain playoff matchups.
JoJo Romero, the lefty the Cardinals acquired from Philadelphia for shortstop Edmundo Sosa, will join the team at Chase Field on Friday as the team opens a three-game visit to Arizona. Closer Ryan Helsley went on paternity leave Friday afternoon to open up a spot on the active roster. He is expected to rejoin the team in Chicago on Monday.
The Cardinals also optioned Juan Yepez to Class AAA Memphis, where he will continue his recovery from an arm injury.
The Cardinals brought catcher Ivan Herrera to Arizona to serve on the taxi squad as they begin an eight-game, seven-day road trip.
Romero, 25, made three appearances for Triple-A Memphis after coming to the Cardinals near the trade deadline. He struck out five in three innings and allowed one hit. The Redbirds had him finish two games. Overall this season in the minors, he's done what the Cardinals continue to see from the left side of the bullpen. To paraphrase manager Oliver Marmol, he misses bats.
In 15 innings total, Romero has 20 strikeouts in 15 innings against two walks.
In brief cameo in the majors with the Phillies this season did not go as well. He allowed half of the 10 batters he faced to reach base, three of them scored, and in two innings he had a 13.50 ERA.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
" Walker "Hudson has walked 2 batters in the bottom of the first.............1 has already scored and another who got a hit has scored also.................2-0 AZ....
What else is new ?? ..............rinse , repeat .........when is enough gonna be enough for Oli and staff ????
edit : Albert with a bomb to left center ..................# 691 .........................2-1 AZ , top of the third...................
What else is new ?? ..............rinse , repeat .........when is enough gonna be enough for Oli and staff ????
edit : Albert with a bomb to left center ..................# 691 .........................2-1 AZ , top of the third...................
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