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Crazy Day In Cardinal Nation

Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Filed Under: Chicago Cubs | Heroes and Goats | St. Louis Cardinals
Lots of stuff floating around today, as the Cards made some moves on the field and off of them.  Let's hit the game first, followed by the cavalry.

Sometimes I think Kyle Lohse just shouldn't be allowed to pitch against the Cubs.  I've noted before that he seems to get beat around by them in our UCB Progressive Game Blog days.  Today wasn't much different, at least to start with.  The error by Daniel Descalso to start the game didn't help, of course, save that it kept Lohse from getting any earned runs.  We pointed out that Alfonso Soriano had done well against him in the past and that showed again today with the big three-run bomb.

Something funny happened on the way to that rout, though.  Lohse settled down and kept the Cubs off the scoreboard while the Cardinal bats started to come alive.  They got two quick ones back, then they blew up in the fifth.

Which is why I'm giving the Hero tag to Matt Holliday for his takeout slide at second, knocking Starlin Castro not only to his knees, but also rattling him enough that an extra run scored on the play.  Watching it live, I thought it was a perfectly clean slide, aggressive to be sure, but clean.  He didn't go out of the baseline, going straight to second base with his hands going over it after the slide.  He dropped down late, sure, and threw his legs out, but that's the way you are taught to go into second, isn't it?  He didn't chase Castro down to get in his way.

Everything went south from there for the Cubs and the Cards put on a trouncing.  A win tomorrow and they can have that 5-2 homestand that I thought was the minimum they had to do against the Astros and Cubs.

Other positives: Being that his job was in jeopardy (and more on that in a bit) it was good to see Ryan Theriot 1) start at second base (where he should have been all year) and 2) get a couple of big hits in his 4-5 day.  He looked a lot better and could be on the rebound after his terrible stretch.  That said, if he plans to play he better get happy at second.

Also, Albert Pujols went 2-4 with a home run.  I can take days like that, can't you?

Lohse's line was pretty good all the way around.  For the second straight start, though, he had to be pinch-hit for in the fifth with a great scoring opportunity.  This time, Tony Cruz came through and kept the inning going and the runs flowing.  It'd still be nice to see if Lohse could keep his good starts past the fifth, though.

Not sure why Tony La Russa feels the need to throw Octavio Dotel every single day.  He's gone three in a row, which should mean he's unavailable tomorrow night.  As long as we get him ready for Milwaukee, though, that'll be OK.  Bullpen all around was solid with Lance Lynn and Fernando Salas also throwing scoreless and efficient frames.

Looking for a Goat and I guess it has to be Daniel Descalso.  No hits, two strikeouts and that error in the first.  Did score a run after an intentional walk, though, so it wasn't completely wasted, just not that good in comparison to pretty much everyone else.

Then, late tonight, the Cards finalized a deal with the Dodgers that is sending Rafael Furcal here to lead off and play shortstop.  Like I said this morning, it looks like he's got a good case for a rebound and has been hitting much better of late.  He should be able to catch what comes to him and give the team a bit of a different look in the leadoff slot.  Apparently the cost was pretty cheap--a minor league outfielder not on the 40-man roster (name still not identified, though it's been confirmed it's not Thomas Pham) and the Dodgers are even kicking in some cash.

I like the deal.  Seems like it's a low-risk way to improve a pretty glaring hole.  At worst, it's a Mark DeRosa-type deal with less of a cost in players.  (Much less of a cost in players!)  At best, it revitalizes the top of the lineup and gives another dimension to this offense.  It looks like Furcal should make it to St. Louis in time for tomorrow night's game against the Cubs, so we won't have to wait long to see what he can do in Cardinal red.

According to the rumor mill, the Cards are still in the picture for Heath Bell as well.  I'm not so excited about that, due to Bell's declining production and the fact that the bullpen has already been made over.  Texas looked like the sure-fire winner in that derby, though, but they traded for Koji Uehara and are reportedly not close to any other deal.  If that's true, San Diego might have to drop their asking price and maybe the Cards could meet it.  Then again, it seems just as likely that the Padres would keep Bell and get the two picks when he walks in the offseason, but sometimes getting sure things is better than the gambles two picks could be.  I don't think the Cards will do it, but you never know.

All of this activity this week has reminded me of the 2000 trading deadline.  I think that might have been the first time the deadline was moved to 3 PM Central rather than 11 PM.  Anyway, I remember being at work monitoring the deals and it seemed like Walt Jocketty was making a ton of them.  First Will Clark, then Carlos Hernandez.  Seems like there was at least one other move as well.  It's always fun to see the Cardinals not only tied to rumors but actively doing some work as well.  Even if they are done, it's been a fun week and will give Bill and I plenty to talk about on tomorrow's Gateway to Baseball Heaven.

Let's preview the Sunday night ESPN game.  Jake Westbrook tries to keep his current run going.  What's he done against the Cubbies in the past?

PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS IBB HBP GDP
Carlos Pena 38 33 11 6 0 4 10 4 10 .333 .395 .879 1.274 0 0 0
Alfonso Soriano 23 22 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .136 .174 .136 .310 0 0 2
Marlon Byrd 8 7 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 .143 .250 .143 .393 0 1 0
Starlin Castro 7 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 .286 .286 .571 0 0 0
Reed Johnson 7 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 .286 .286 .286 .571 0 0 0
Blake DeWitt 6 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333 .333 .500 .833 0 0 0
Darwin Barney 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 .200 .200 .400 0 0 0
Aramis Ramirez 4 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 1
Koyie Hill 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 .333 .333 .667 0 0 0
Matt Garza 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0
Jeff Samardzija 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.000 0 0 0
Total 103 95 25 7 0 4 16 6 16 .263 .311 .463 .774 0 1 3
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 7/30/2011.

I hate to mention it, seeing as how pointing out Soriano's numbers this morning didn't work out well, but Carlos Pena has owned Westbrook. I didn't know it was possible for Pena to hit anyone for a high average, but he's done it against Westbrook. Some intentional walks may be in order. 

Ryan Dempster for the little bears. His numbers:
 
PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS IBB HBP GDP
Lance Berkman 72 58 16 1 0 5 12 14 17 .276 .417 .552 .968 0 0 1
Albert Pujols 61 49 16 2 0 7 14 11 1 .327 .443 .796 1.239 2 0 2
Skip Schumaker 44 43 18 3 0 0 5 1 7 .419 .432 .488 .920 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 38 31 10 2 0 0 0 5 1 .323 .417 .387 .804 1 0 3
Matt Holliday 18 18 6 0 0 0 1 0 1 .333 .333 .333 .667 0 0 1
Corey Patterson 17 17 5 2 0 0 1 0 1 .294 .294 .412 .706 0 0 1
Chris Carpenter 13 12 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 .167 .167 .250 .417 0 0 0
Jon Jay 12 10 2 0 1 0 0 1 4 .200 .273 .400 .673 0 0 0
Kyle Lohse 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0
David Freese 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333 .333 .333 .667 0 0 0
Ryan Theriot 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .333 .667 1.000 0 0 0
Daniel Descalso 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 0
Octavio Dotel 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 .000 .500 .000 .500 0 0 0
Jaime Garcia 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0
Edwin Jackson 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 0
Gerald Laird 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0
Total 295 256 79 12 1 12 35 33 42 .309 .386 .504 .890 3 0 8
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 7/30/2011.

It'd be really nice if Lance Berkman could get back out there for this one. He and Pujols have done quite well against the Cubbie pitcher.  Then again, looks like a lot of the team has, which is funny, because I had it in my head Dempster gave the Cardinals some trouble.

Break out the brooms and get out the welcome mat, tomorrow night should be a lot of fun!

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1 Comment | Leave a comment

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Jon L. | July 31, 2011 12:19 PM | Reply

I like the acquistion of Furcal. He brings the Cardinals good experience and solid play at shortstop.

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Heroes
Carlos Beltran (5)
Matt Carpenter (3)
Jaime Garcia (3)
Matt Holliday (3)
Shelby Miller (3)
Yadier Molina (3)
Adam Wainwright (3)
Allen Craig (2)
Daniel Descalso (2)
Jon Jay (2)
Lance Lynn (2)
Edward Mujica (2)
Jake Westbrook (2)
Joe Kelly (1)
Pete Kozma (1)
Seth Maness (1)
Trevor Rosenthal (1)
Ty Wigginton (1)

2012 Top Hero: Matt Holliday (17)
2011 Top Hero: Lance Berkman (24)
2010 Top Heroes: Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (24)
2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
David Freese (5)
Jon Jay (4)
Mitchell Boggs (3)
Matt Carpenter (3)
Allen Craig (3)
Daniel Descalso (3)
Joe Kelly (3)
Pete Kozma (3)
Jaime Garcia (2)
Lance Lynn (2)
Yadier Molina (2)
Carlos Beltran (1)
Matt Carpenter (1)
Matt Holliday (1)
Seth Maness (1)
Shane Robinson (1)
Adam Wainwright (1)
Jake Westbrook (1)

2012 Top Goat: Rafael Furcal (11)
2011 Top Goat: Ryan Theriot (12)
2010 Top Goat: Brendan Ryan (14)
2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2013)
Yadier Molina 96.2% (up 8.8%)
Chris Carpenter 89.8% (down 0.3%)
Derrick Goold 89.1% (up 6.3%)
Matt Holliday 88.4% (up 0.9%)
Allen Craig 88.3%
Adam Wainwright 88.2% (down 3.7%)
Jose Oquendo 87.1% (up 2.4%)
Jason Motte 86.9%
John Mozeliak 86.5% (up 1.1%)
United Cardinal Bloggers 85.2% (up 6.3%)
Bill DeWitt 85.1% (up 5.3%)
Mike Shannon 85.1% (down 0.2%)
John Rooney 84.5% (up 3.0%)
Mike Matheny 84.4% (up 3.3%)
David Freese 82.9% (down 2.6%)
Jon Jay 81.8% (up 10.7%)
Lance Berkman 80.6% (down 8.0%)
Jenifer Langosch 79.5%
Lance Lynn 79.5%
Dan McLaughlin 76.0% (up 8.0%)
Jim Hayes 73.0% (up 1.1%)
Ricky Horton 65.5% (down 2.0%)
Jaime Garcia 64.1%
Albert Pujols 59.2% (up 4.3%)
Ballpark Village 58.3%
Joe Strauss 54.3% (down 13.4%)

2012
Tony La Russa 88.2% (up 17.4%)
Mark McGwire 82.6% (up 20.1%)
Skip Schumaker 73.3% (up 9.2%)
B.J. Rains 69.5% (down 0.9%)
Kyle Lohse 68.9% (up 13.8%)
Al Hrabosky 66.4% (up 3.2%)
Colby Rasmus 46.5% (down 35.3%)

2011
Dave Duncan 87.9% (up 0.9%)
Matthew Leach 85.5%
Pop Warner 76.7%
Ryan Franklin 72.8% (up 3.1%)
John Vuch 68.9%
Jeff Luhnow 66.4%
Dan Lozano 58.7%

2009
Rick Ankiel 83.9%
Chris Duncan 69.1%


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