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First Test Passed

Posted on May 4, 2010 at 7:49 AM
Filed Under: Heroes and Goats | Philadelphia Phillies | St. Louis Cardinals
There were a couple of things that Cardinal fans wanted to see when the Redbirds got to Philadelphia.  One, if this Cardinal team was legitimately able to claim the title as one of the best in the National League and two, how real was Jaime Garcia.

After last night, a couple of affirmatives for both.

The Cardinals were able to best the two-time NL champs in their own ballpark, starting the four game series off on the right foot.  As for Garcia, all he did was throw six innings of one run ball against a fearsome lineup in their cozy ballpark.  That's all.

While the overall tag may go to Garcia in this one, there were heroes up and down the lineup.  David Freese, the reigning NL Player of the Week, continued his hot hitting with a three-run double that put the game away.  Nick Stavinoha pinch-hit a home run that gave Garcia a win.  Yadier Molina started two double plays--on bunts.  (How often do you see one DP, much less two, off a bunt?)  Colby Rasmus had three hits and a sac fly.  There was not a weak spot in the lineup, something that other National League teams are starting to figure out at their peril.

The only downside to the lineup last night was Ryan Ludwick, who went 0-5 in the second slot. He was the only starter that didn't have at least one hit and most of them wound up with two or more.

You know a lineup is good when Tony La Russa keeps running out the same one night after night.  This team really has the feel of something special.  Right now, they are on a pace for 112 wins and, while they probably won't get that, you don't get the feeling that it's completely unreasonable.  Without a major change (as in injury), it seems like the NL Central, at least, is getting close to over.

Another tough test tonight as the Phillies send out Cole Hamels to the mound.  The past meetings with Mr. Hamels have not gone pleasantly for the Cardinals.

PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP
Felipe Lopez 22 20 3 1 0 0 2 2 7 .150 .227 .200 .427 0 0 0 0 0
Albert Pujols 14 13 3 1 0 1 2 0 1 .231 .214 .538 .753 0 1 0 0 0
Yadier Molina 10 9 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 .111 .100 .222 .322 0 1 0 0 0
Ryan Ludwick 8 8 4 0 0 2 2 0 1 .500 .500 1.250 1.750 0 0 0 0 0
Skip Schumaker 4 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .250 .250 .250 .500 0 0 0 0 0
Joe Mather 3 3 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 .667 .667 1.667 2.333 0 0 0 0 0
Kyle Lohse 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Brendan Ryan 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Total 65 61 14 3 0 4 12 2 13 .230 .246 .475 .722 0 2 0 0 0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/4/2010.

As you can see, only Ludwick has had a whole lot of success with him, though Joe Mather did take him deep in a start against him.  Could be a low scoring game from the St. Louis side.

Which means it's a darn good thing Adam Wainwright is available for tonight's contest.  Here's what he's done against the current Phillies.

PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP
Jimmy Rollins 15 15 5 2 0 0 1 0 4 .333 .333 .467 .800 0 0 0 0 0
Ryan Howard 14 8 2 0 0 0 1 6 3 .250 .571 .250 .821 0 0 1 0 0
Chase Utley 12 10 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .200 .333 .400 .733 0 0 0 1 1
Shane Victorino 10 10 4 1 0 1 3 0 1 .400 .400 .800 1.200 0 0 0 0 1
Greg Dobbs 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Carlos Ruiz 6 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .200 .333 .200 .533 0 0 0 0 0
Jayson Werth 6 5 1 0 0 1 4 0 3 .200 .167 .800 .967 0 1 0 0 0
Placido Polanco 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .200 .200 .200 .400 0 0 0 0 0
Juan Castro 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Raul Ibanez 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .333 .333 .667 0 0 0 0 0
Ross Gload 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 0 0 0
Jamie Moyer 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Brian Schneider 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
Total 86 76 18 3 1 2 9 8 17 .237 .314 .382 .696 0 1 1 1 2
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/4/2010.

Jimmy Rollins is still on the disabled list, which is good for Waino.  Shane Victorino went 3-3 against Wainwright in a game last year with a home run and a double, accounting for most of the damage.  If Wainwright can keep him in check, he may match zeros with Hamels for a long while.

If you are interested, you can catch me tonight hosting BBA Baseball Talk.  I'll be joined by Christine from Boston Red Thoughts and Peter from Baseball Reflections.  It's a half-hour earlier than normal (9:30 Central) and I'm sure we'll talk a little Cardinals on the show as well, so listen in and call in if you want!


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Heroes
Lance Berkman (24)
Albert Pujols (19)
Matt Holliday (15)
Chris Carpenter (10)
Kyle Lohse (9)
Yadier Molina (9)
Ryan Theriot (8)
David Freese (7)
Jaime Garcia (7)
Jon Jay (7)
Jake Westbrook (6)
Allen Craig (5)
Kyle McClellan (5)
Colby Rasmus (5)
Edwin Jackson (4)
Skip Schumaker (4)
Daniel Descalso (3)
Rafael Furcal (2)
Gerald Laird (2)
Nick Punto (2)
Marc Rzepczynski (2)
Fernando Salas (2)
Mitchell Boggs (1)
Daniel Descalso (1)
Lance Lynn (1)

2010 Top Heroes: Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (24)
2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats
Ryan Theriot (12)
Albert Pujols (11)
Jake Westbrook (10)
David Freese (8)
Ryan Franklin (7)
Jaime Garcia (7)
Fernando Salas (7)
Kyle Lohse (6)
Kyle McClellan (6)
Colby Rasmus (6)
Skip Schumaker (6)
Miguel Batista (5)
Chris Carpenter (5)
Daniel Descalso (5)
Matt Holliday (5)
Jon Jay (5)
Jason Motte (5)
Allen Craig (4)
Rafael Furcal (4)
Tyler Greene (4)
Yadier Molina (4)
Lance Berkman (3)
Mitchell Boggs (3)
Gerald Laird (3)
Edwin Jackson (2)
Trever Miller (2)
Corey Patterson (2)
Marc Rzepczynski (2)
Matt Carpenter (1)
Maikel Cleto (1)
Tony Cruz (1)
Octavio Dotel (1)
Mark Hamilton (1)
Lance Lynn (1)
Nick Punto (1)
Arthur Rhodes (1)
Eduardo Sanchez (1)
Raul Valdes (1)
PJ Walters (1)

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 2011)
    Adam Wainwright 94.7% (down 0.9%)
    Matt Holliday 91.1% (up 6.6%)
    Albert Pujols 90.4% (down 8.3%)
    Dave Duncan 87.9% (up 0.9%)
    Derrick Goold 87.8%
    Chris Carpenter 86.9% (down 6.7%)
    Matthew Leach 85.5%
    Mike Shannon 84.9% (down 4.6%)
    John Rooney 84.3% (up 8.1%)
    Yadier Molina 83.7% (down 8.3%)
    Colby Rasmus 81.8% (up 5.0%)
    Pop Warner 76.7%
    Jim Hayes 76.1%
    John Mozeliak 74.1% (down 12.0%)
    Ryan Franklin 72.8% (up 3.1%)
    Bill Dewitt 71.0% (down 12.0%)
    Tony La Russa 70.8% (down 10.2%)
    BJ Rains 70.4%
    Ricky Horton 69.1%
    John Vuch 68.9%
    Jeff Luhnow 66.4%
    Skip Schumaker 64.1% (down 17.0%)
    Al Hrabosky 63.2% (up 19.0%)
    Mark McGwire 62.5% (down 10.7%)
    Dan Lozano 58.7%
    Joe Strauss 57.5%
    Kyle Lohse 55.1% (down 11.7%)

    2009
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%


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