When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded oft-injured but talented Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres this past off season, they automatically turned the Pads into a legitimate postseason contender. Acquiring Justin Upton from Atlanta and Will Meyers from Tampa Bay to help Kemp patrol the spacious San Diego outfield further legitimized that franchise's postseason potential. Signing free agent workhorse James Shields to anchor their starting rotation may have been the final piece for San Diego to reach the postseason promised land - probably as a wild card, but that would be a vast improvement over where they've gone the last several years: Nowhere.
Meanwhile, LA also passed on trying to re-sign shortstop Hanley Ramirez (now the Boston Red Sox' new left fielder), then swung a deal acquiring aging shortstop Jimmy Rollins from Philadelphia. J-Rol's career has been in decline for a few years now, but he may have enough in the tank to give the Dodgers some degree of stability at the shortstop position. Meanwhile, LA also dealt speedy second baseman Dee Gordon to Miami, then acquired the underrated Howie Kendrick from the Angels to take his place at second base. The net effect of all these transactions should help the Dodgers, defensively - but it may cost them, offensively. And they may regret trading their former face of the franchise to a division rival. If nothing else, watching the Dodgers and Padres in head-to-head competition this season will be more interesting than it's been in years.
In the meantime, the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants appear to be taking this year off - especially after their popular corpulent third baseman - Pablo Sandoval - left via free agency and landed in Boston. His replacement: Casey McGehee, whose better days are well behind him. Adding to the Giants' woes is having the hyper active Hunter Pence on the DL (broken arm) to start the season, further hindering the San Francisco offense - which will be borderline anemic in 2015.
Neither the Arizona Diamondbacks nor Colorado Rockies appear close to contending in 2015.
Here's how the Final Standings should look:
Los Angeles 93-69
San Diego 87-75
San Francisco 82-80
Arizona 70-92
Colorado 62-100
Could we see another postseason showdown between the Dodgers and Cardinals? It's quite likely. Interestingly, most of the so-called experts are picking the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals in any possible playoff series. Of course, most of them picked the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals in the 2013 NLCS and again in the 2014 NLDS. Go figure. For the record, the Cardinals are 16-9 all-time vs the Dodgers in postseason play.
Showing posts with label Arizona Diamondbacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona Diamondbacks. Show all posts
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Monday, October 13, 2014
Top 6 Cardinal Postseason Games: OCTOBER 13
6 - Saturday, October 13, 2001 - Game 4 - NLDS vs Arizona Diamondbacks - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals evened the NLDS at two games apiece, with a 4-1 win over the D-Backs. Bud Smith pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits - and the St Louis bullpen kept Arizona scoreless over the final four innings to preserve the win for the rookie.
Fernando Vina had three hits - including a home run - scored two runs and drove in two runs to pace the Cards attack. Jim Edmonds also homered in what would prove to be the Cardinals' last home game in 2001.
5 - Tuesday, October 13, 1987 - Game 6 - NLCS vs San Francisco Giants - At Busch Stadium
A misplayed second-inning line drive off the bat of Tony Pena by Giants right fielder Candy Maldonado turned an easy out into a lead-off triple - then Jose Oquendo got the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly - the only run scored in the game - to give the Cardinals a do-or-die 1-0 win over the Giants.
John Tudor blanked the Giants for 7.1 innings - then Todd Worrell and Ken Dayley preserved the win, to even the series at three games apiece.
4 - Sunday, October 13, 1985 - Game 4 - NLCS vs Los Angeles Dodgers - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals scored nine runs in the second-inning to blow the game wide open - en route to a 12-2 drubbing of LA - to even the series at two games apiece. Every player in the St Louis lineup either scored or drove in at least one run. Tito Landrum - playing in place of the injured Vince Coleman - had 3 RBI. Coleman - the fastest player in major league baseball - had been injured earlier in the day by a runaway tarp machine traveling at 1 mph - and would be lost for the remainder of the postseason.
John Tudor breezed through seven innings - allowing one run on three hits, while striking out five - to get the win.
3 - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - Game 1 - NLCS vs Houston Astros - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals managed to overcome four home runs by the visiting Astros, thanks to huge offensive nights from Albert Pujols (two hits - including a home run - two runs scored, two RBI), Jim Edmonds (two hits and three RBI) and Larry Walker (three hits - including a double and triple - three runs scored and one RBI). Final score: St Louis 10 - Houston 7
Woody Williams pitched six innings for the win - allowing four runs on four hits - including two of the four home runs off Cardinal pitching. Connecting for the Astros: Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent, Lance Berkman and Eric Lamb
2 - Wednesday, October 13, 1982 - Game 2 - World Series vs Milwaukee Brewers - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals evened the series at one game apiece with a crucial 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Brewers. Darrell Porter's two-run opposite field game-tying double off Brewers starter Don Sutton was the biggest hit - perhaps of the entire series. The winning run scored when rookie reliever Pete Ladd walked Steve Braun with the bases loaded in the eighth-inning to put the Redbirds on top for the first time in the game.
Bruce Sutter got his first career World Series win with 2.1 innings of scoreless two-hit relief.
1 - Friday, October 13, 2006 - Game 2 - NLCS vs New York Mets - At Shea Stadium
In a game the Cardinals absolutely had to win - pinch hitter So Taguchi's lead-off ninth-inning home run broke a 6-6 tie - then the Cardinals tacked on two more runs to hand the Mets a shocking 9-6 defeat at home - to even the series at one game apiece.
Pacing the well-rounded St Louis attack: Jim Edmonds' two-run home run - Scott Spezio added a double, a triple, two runs scored and three RBI - Yadier Molina had three hits with two RBI - and Albert Pujols had a pair of doubles and scored three runs.
Josh Kinney recorded his first and only career postseason win with an inning of scoreless relief. His total career workload in postseason play would amount to 6.1 IP - allowing just three hits - with a career ERA of 0.00.
After this wild game concluded with a rare postseason Cardinals' road win, you wouldn't blame anyone rooting for the Mets to suddenly have an aversion to any future Friday the 13th's.
But it was a most fortuitous day for Cardinal Nation, as this unlikely World Series championship team was just starting to click on all cylinders.
The Cardinals evened the NLDS at two games apiece, with a 4-1 win over the D-Backs. Bud Smith pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits - and the St Louis bullpen kept Arizona scoreless over the final four innings to preserve the win for the rookie.
Fernando Vina had three hits - including a home run - scored two runs and drove in two runs to pace the Cards attack. Jim Edmonds also homered in what would prove to be the Cardinals' last home game in 2001.
5 - Tuesday, October 13, 1987 - Game 6 - NLCS vs San Francisco Giants - At Busch Stadium
A misplayed second-inning line drive off the bat of Tony Pena by Giants right fielder Candy Maldonado turned an easy out into a lead-off triple - then Jose Oquendo got the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly - the only run scored in the game - to give the Cardinals a do-or-die 1-0 win over the Giants.
John Tudor blanked the Giants for 7.1 innings - then Todd Worrell and Ken Dayley preserved the win, to even the series at three games apiece.
4 - Sunday, October 13, 1985 - Game 4 - NLCS vs Los Angeles Dodgers - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals scored nine runs in the second-inning to blow the game wide open - en route to a 12-2 drubbing of LA - to even the series at two games apiece. Every player in the St Louis lineup either scored or drove in at least one run. Tito Landrum - playing in place of the injured Vince Coleman - had 3 RBI. Coleman - the fastest player in major league baseball - had been injured earlier in the day by a runaway tarp machine traveling at 1 mph - and would be lost for the remainder of the postseason.
John Tudor breezed through seven innings - allowing one run on three hits, while striking out five - to get the win.
3 - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - Game 1 - NLCS vs Houston Astros - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals managed to overcome four home runs by the visiting Astros, thanks to huge offensive nights from Albert Pujols (two hits - including a home run - two runs scored, two RBI), Jim Edmonds (two hits and three RBI) and Larry Walker (three hits - including a double and triple - three runs scored and one RBI). Final score: St Louis 10 - Houston 7
Woody Williams pitched six innings for the win - allowing four runs on four hits - including two of the four home runs off Cardinal pitching. Connecting for the Astros: Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent, Lance Berkman and Eric Lamb
2 - Wednesday, October 13, 1982 - Game 2 - World Series vs Milwaukee Brewers - At Busch Stadium
The Cardinals evened the series at one game apiece with a crucial 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Brewers. Darrell Porter's two-run opposite field game-tying double off Brewers starter Don Sutton was the biggest hit - perhaps of the entire series. The winning run scored when rookie reliever Pete Ladd walked Steve Braun with the bases loaded in the eighth-inning to put the Redbirds on top for the first time in the game.
Bruce Sutter got his first career World Series win with 2.1 innings of scoreless two-hit relief.
1 - Friday, October 13, 2006 - Game 2 - NLCS vs New York Mets - At Shea Stadium
In a game the Cardinals absolutely had to win - pinch hitter So Taguchi's lead-off ninth-inning home run broke a 6-6 tie - then the Cardinals tacked on two more runs to hand the Mets a shocking 9-6 defeat at home - to even the series at one game apiece.
Pacing the well-rounded St Louis attack: Jim Edmonds' two-run home run - Scott Spezio added a double, a triple, two runs scored and three RBI - Yadier Molina had three hits with two RBI - and Albert Pujols had a pair of doubles and scored three runs.
Josh Kinney recorded his first and only career postseason win with an inning of scoreless relief. His total career workload in postseason play would amount to 6.1 IP - allowing just three hits - with a career ERA of 0.00.
After this wild game concluded with a rare postseason Cardinals' road win, you wouldn't blame anyone rooting for the Mets to suddenly have an aversion to any future Friday the 13th's.
But it was a most fortuitous day for Cardinal Nation, as this unlikely World Series championship team was just starting to click on all cylinders.
Friday, June 6, 2014
This Day in St Louis Cardinals History - June 6, 2013 - A 5-Home Run Winner
Thursday, June 6, 2013 - At Busch Stadium III: The Cardinals were hoping Shelby Miller could restore order against an Arizona Diamondbacks lineup that had mauled St Louis pitching for 17 runs in the first two games of the series - both Cardinal losses.
Mission accomplished. Miller even hit his first career home run - one of five the Cardinals would blast in the first five innings - scoring a dozen runs. Good enough for a not-so-comfortable 12-8 win over those pesky D-Backs.
This game began inauspiciously for Miller and the Cards when Arizona used three first-inning hits to score two runs - but that lead was short-lived.
Matt Holiday's two-run first-inning home run (9) tied the score, as Miller recovered from his shaky start to slam the door on Arizona over the next five innings - recording nine strikeouts along the way.
In the meantime, the Cardinals clobbered D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy (3-4) for eight runs in the fourth-inning - featuring a three-run Matt Adams home run (4) and a two-run shot by Daniel Descalso (3) - to build a 10-2 lead.
The fun continued in the fifth-inning with a new pitcher on the hill for Arizona - Matt Reynolds - who had the distinction of serving up Shelby Miller's first career home run - which also happened to be the only home run a St Louis pitcher would hit all season. The team ranked 13th in the NL with 125.
Matt Carpenter followed Miller's act with a home run of his own (5), to give the Redbirds an insurmountable 12-2 lead - and put the crowd of 43,798 in a state of delirium. After a jovial Shelby (7-3) retired the side in the sixth-inning with that ten-run lead intact, he was given the rest of the night off.
Arizona, however, was still working - no doubt happy to see someone other than Miller on the mound. In the seventh-inning, Seth Maness managed to retire just one D-Back hitter in a three-run uprising - forcing manager Mike Matheny to bring in Kevin Siegrist to get the final two outs.
After working a scoreless eighth-inning, Siegrist - who struck out four batters in his 1.2 innings pitched - was also given the rest of the night off, with the Cardinals comfortably ahead, 12-5.
Keith Butler started the ninth-inning for St Louis, but - like Maness - only recorded one out in another three-run Arizona uprising. Edward Mujica got the final two outs for a relatively easy save (18) - but it was a save, nonetheless, as St Louis (39-21) maintained its spot on the top of the NL Central.
The two teams combined for twenty runs on thirty hits - 17 from the Cardinals - who also had the only home runs hit in this game.
The five home runs were the most St Louis would hit in a single game all season. They did it twice in 2012 - on May 7 at Arizona (Furcal, Beltran, Holliday, Craig, Freese) - and again on July 27 at Wrigley Field (Holliday, Craig, Berkman, Molina, Carpenter).
Finally, Ian Kennedy was used to the abuse St Louis dished out on him in tonight's game. In an April 13, 2011 game against the Redbirds, he gave up nine runs in a three inning disaster. But at least he kept it under ten runs.
Mission accomplished. Miller even hit his first career home run - one of five the Cardinals would blast in the first five innings - scoring a dozen runs. Good enough for a not-so-comfortable 12-8 win over those pesky D-Backs.
This game began inauspiciously for Miller and the Cards when Arizona used three first-inning hits to score two runs - but that lead was short-lived.
Matt Holiday's two-run first-inning home run (9) tied the score, as Miller recovered from his shaky start to slam the door on Arizona over the next five innings - recording nine strikeouts along the way.
In the meantime, the Cardinals clobbered D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy (3-4) for eight runs in the fourth-inning - featuring a three-run Matt Adams home run (4) and a two-run shot by Daniel Descalso (3) - to build a 10-2 lead.
The fun continued in the fifth-inning with a new pitcher on the hill for Arizona - Matt Reynolds - who had the distinction of serving up Shelby Miller's first career home run - which also happened to be the only home run a St Louis pitcher would hit all season. The team ranked 13th in the NL with 125.
Matt Carpenter followed Miller's act with a home run of his own (5), to give the Redbirds an insurmountable 12-2 lead - and put the crowd of 43,798 in a state of delirium. After a jovial Shelby (7-3) retired the side in the sixth-inning with that ten-run lead intact, he was given the rest of the night off.
Arizona, however, was still working - no doubt happy to see someone other than Miller on the mound. In the seventh-inning, Seth Maness managed to retire just one D-Back hitter in a three-run uprising - forcing manager Mike Matheny to bring in Kevin Siegrist to get the final two outs.
After working a scoreless eighth-inning, Siegrist - who struck out four batters in his 1.2 innings pitched - was also given the rest of the night off, with the Cardinals comfortably ahead, 12-5.
Keith Butler started the ninth-inning for St Louis, but - like Maness - only recorded one out in another three-run Arizona uprising. Edward Mujica got the final two outs for a relatively easy save (18) - but it was a save, nonetheless, as St Louis (39-21) maintained its spot on the top of the NL Central.
The two teams combined for twenty runs on thirty hits - 17 from the Cardinals - who also had the only home runs hit in this game.
The five home runs were the most St Louis would hit in a single game all season. They did it twice in 2012 - on May 7 at Arizona (Furcal, Beltran, Holliday, Craig, Freese) - and again on July 27 at Wrigley Field (Holliday, Craig, Berkman, Molina, Carpenter).
Finally, Ian Kennedy was used to the abuse St Louis dished out on him in tonight's game. In an April 13, 2011 game against the Redbirds, he gave up nine runs in a three inning disaster. But at least he kept it under ten runs.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Cardinals Playing Like World Champions
The Cardinals have started the 2012 season looking like a team that just won the World Series; not at all like a team in disarray after losing its best player to free agency, its Hall of Fame-bound manager to retirement and its long-time pitching coach tending to family matters; and whose pitching ace is sidelined for an indefinite period of time with an ailing shoulder, just for good measure.
Indeed, even after the Redbirds captured their eleventh World Championship last fall in historic fashion, many skeptics attributed that to just being "hot" at the right time. So, when Albert Pujols, Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan vacated the premises, it was widely assumed the defending champions would stumble out of the gate, ice-cold, dazed and confused; led by a rookie manager - Mike Matheny - who would surely be overwhelmed by his new role.
Well, that scenario hasn't been on the agenda, and it doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon. The Cardinals are a very good team; maybe even a great team. Certainly, the measure of just how good this team really is depends on how well they navigate through the long 162-game grind, and of course, whether or not they reach the postseason. For this bunch of confident Redbirds who are off to a nice 3-1 start to the new season, reaching the postseason seems to be a foregone conclusion; they won't be satisfied with anything less than another World Championship. Even the most impartial observer would have to say the Cardinals' chances are at least as good as anybody's, at this stage of the game.
Meanwhile, MLB's version of Sweeps Week featured some interesting results:
The Tampa Bay Rays swept a three-game series at home vs the New York Yankees. In the Season Opener, the Rays rallied for two runs in the ninth-inning, as Mariano Rivera blew the save and the game for New York. The aging Yankees have widespread issues, but starting pitching is their biggest concern. Will the formerly-retired Andy Pettitte help bolster the rotation? Don't count on it.
Baltimore's three game sweep of Minnesota was impressive; the O's seem to have some quality starting pitching in that rotation. This could be the year Baltimore escapes the AL East cellar, although I'm not sure if the Yankees or Red Sox are ready to take that spot quite yet; but those appear to be the only candidates for that position in 2012.
Poor Boston. They deserved a better fate than the three-game annihilation at the hands of the Detroit Tigers; however, blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning is inexcusable; then, allowing the two-run walk-off bomb to Alex Avilla in the 11th-inning must have Bobby V wishing he was still managing in Japan. If the Red Sox don't solve their back-end bullpen woes very soon, this could be another epic nightmare for Boston; a season-long disaster this time.
Poor Atlanta. Apparently, they haven't recovered from their September swoon, either. The New York Mets, with a healthy Johan Santana back in the starting rotation, and a healthy and confident David Wright swinging a hot bat, may be the surprise team coming out of the NL East this season.
Meanwhile, at Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a six-run deficit to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday to complete a stunning three-game sweep of the 2010 World Champions. The Giants managed to avoid starting the season at 0-4, when Barry Zito, of all people, pitched a four-hit shutout against the Colorado Rockies' - in their Home Opener, no less. This is the first time a Rockies team has ever been shutout in any Home Opener (this was their twentieth); and it was Barry Zito who did it; Barry Zito. It only took six years for that seven-year Zito contract to pay dividends for the Giants.
In other news, both the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs would be 3-0 if their bullpens didn't blow late leads in their first two games of the season; however, they both came away with a Sunday win, and they both appear to have promising arms in the starting rotation. Could this be the year both teams play each other in the World Series? Not with those bullpens!
In the Battle of LA, the upper hand goes to the Dodgers, who just won three out of four games against the Padres in San Diego, while the much-ballyhooed debut of King Albert Pujols of the Angels was a non-event. The KC Royals took two out of three from the Halos in Disneyland, as Albert's bat was a bit dormant. So far, his only RBI of the 2012 season came on an infield ground-out in Sunday's loss to the Royals.
At this stage of the 2012 season, David Freese has driven in eight times (updated) more runs than the $240 Million Man. With teammate Rafael Furcal off to a sizzling start, it's no wonder Freese and Company are getting a lot of RBI opportunities. Despite being shutout in their one loss, the Cards have averaged six runs per game, and hope to improve on that average as they begin a crucial three-game series in Cincinnati.
UPDATE: The Cardinals did improve that six runs per game average (to 6.2), by scoring seven times in their easy win over Cincinnati, 7-1. The Redbirds jumped on Reds pitcher Homer Bailey for four first-inning runs, featuring three "homers" by Matt Holliday, David Freese (two-run job), and Yadier Molina.
One final observation: Less than 17,000 fans were in attendance at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati for the big showdown between the hometown Reds and the World Champion Cardinals. That seems unusually low, in light of the fact that the Reds have won a few games in the early going, including an exciting comeback win over the Marlins on Sunday, and particularly, in light of the front office locking in their big-time slugger, Joey Votto, essentially forever. Apparently, the fans aren't buying the notion that the Reds are legitimate contenders; or, they had a bad feeling about that game with "Homer" pitching?
Game two of the three-game series with the listless Reds featured another outstanding pitching performance from Kyle Lohse (2-0) and more long-ball from the heart of the Cardinal lineup; Carlos Beltran's solo first-inning blast (3) gave St Louis a quick 1-0 lead; David Freese's opposite-field shot (3) in the sixth-inning with Lance Berkman on base, padded the lead to 3-1, and that's how it ended. The Road Warrior Redbirds are now 5-1 on the young season, and now have hit eleven home runs as a team; they're looking forward to their Friday Home Opener, although playing on the road doesn't seem to bother them at all. This is a confident team, and it shows; they know they're good, and seem intent on letting the baseball world know they're for real.
They're certainly convincing folks from Miami to Milwaukee, and over to Cincinnati of that fact; in convincing fashion. Hopefully, the Redbirds will complete the three-game sweep of the Reds on Wednesday, and continue their red-hot play when they finally get to play in front of the home crowd. I know there are thousands of fans who can hardly wait to welcome their heroes home; they'll get their chance on Friday.
Meanwhile, MLB's version of Sweeps Week featured some interesting results:
The Tampa Bay Rays swept a three-game series at home vs the New York Yankees. In the Season Opener, the Rays rallied for two runs in the ninth-inning, as Mariano Rivera blew the save and the game for New York. The aging Yankees have widespread issues, but starting pitching is their biggest concern. Will the formerly-retired Andy Pettitte help bolster the rotation? Don't count on it.
Baltimore's three game sweep of Minnesota was impressive; the O's seem to have some quality starting pitching in that rotation. This could be the year Baltimore escapes the AL East cellar, although I'm not sure if the Yankees or Red Sox are ready to take that spot quite yet; but those appear to be the only candidates for that position in 2012.
Poor Boston. They deserved a better fate than the three-game annihilation at the hands of the Detroit Tigers; however, blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning is inexcusable; then, allowing the two-run walk-off bomb to Alex Avilla in the 11th-inning must have Bobby V wishing he was still managing in Japan. If the Red Sox don't solve their back-end bullpen woes very soon, this could be another epic nightmare for Boston; a season-long disaster this time.
Poor Atlanta. Apparently, they haven't recovered from their September swoon, either. The New York Mets, with a healthy Johan Santana back in the starting rotation, and a healthy and confident David Wright swinging a hot bat, may be the surprise team coming out of the NL East this season.
Meanwhile, at Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a six-run deficit to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday to complete a stunning three-game sweep of the 2010 World Champions. The Giants managed to avoid starting the season at 0-4, when Barry Zito, of all people, pitched a four-hit shutout against the Colorado Rockies' - in their Home Opener, no less. This is the first time a Rockies team has ever been shutout in any Home Opener (this was their twentieth); and it was Barry Zito who did it; Barry Zito. It only took six years for that seven-year Zito contract to pay dividends for the Giants.
In other news, both the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs would be 3-0 if their bullpens didn't blow late leads in their first two games of the season; however, they both came away with a Sunday win, and they both appear to have promising arms in the starting rotation. Could this be the year both teams play each other in the World Series? Not with those bullpens!
In the Battle of LA, the upper hand goes to the Dodgers, who just won three out of four games against the Padres in San Diego, while the much-ballyhooed debut of King Albert Pujols of the Angels was a non-event. The KC Royals took two out of three from the Halos in Disneyland, as Albert's bat was a bit dormant. So far, his only RBI of the 2012 season came on an infield ground-out in Sunday's loss to the Royals.
At this stage of the 2012 season, David Freese has driven in eight times (updated) more runs than the $240 Million Man. With teammate Rafael Furcal off to a sizzling start, it's no wonder Freese and Company are getting a lot of RBI opportunities. Despite being shutout in their one loss, the Cards have averaged six runs per game, and hope to improve on that average as they begin a crucial three-game series in Cincinnati.
UPDATE: The Cardinals did improve that six runs per game average (to 6.2), by scoring seven times in their easy win over Cincinnati, 7-1. The Redbirds jumped on Reds pitcher Homer Bailey for four first-inning runs, featuring three "homers" by Matt Holliday, David Freese (two-run job), and Yadier Molina.
One final observation: Less than 17,000 fans were in attendance at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati for the big showdown between the hometown Reds and the World Champion Cardinals. That seems unusually low, in light of the fact that the Reds have won a few games in the early going, including an exciting comeback win over the Marlins on Sunday, and particularly, in light of the front office locking in their big-time slugger, Joey Votto, essentially forever. Apparently, the fans aren't buying the notion that the Reds are legitimate contenders; or, they had a bad feeling about that game with "Homer" pitching?
Game two of the three-game series with the listless Reds featured another outstanding pitching performance from Kyle Lohse (2-0) and more long-ball from the heart of the Cardinal lineup; Carlos Beltran's solo first-inning blast (3) gave St Louis a quick 1-0 lead; David Freese's opposite-field shot (3) in the sixth-inning with Lance Berkman on base, padded the lead to 3-1, and that's how it ended. The Road Warrior Redbirds are now 5-1 on the young season, and now have hit eleven home runs as a team; they're looking forward to their Friday Home Opener, although playing on the road doesn't seem to bother them at all. This is a confident team, and it shows; they know they're good, and seem intent on letting the baseball world know they're for real.
They're certainly convincing folks from Miami to Milwaukee, and over to Cincinnati of that fact; in convincing fashion. Hopefully, the Redbirds will complete the three-game sweep of the Reds on Wednesday, and continue their red-hot play when they finally get to play in front of the home crowd. I know there are thousands of fans who can hardly wait to welcome their heroes home; they'll get their chance on Friday.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Mariano Rivera: Better Than Necessary for Yankees
Today (March 9, 2013) the New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera officially announced that the upcoming 2013 season - his 18th - would be his last. It's hard to imagine the Sandman will be gone after this year, but as he said in a press conference today, there's really nothing left for him to accomplish on a baseball field. As his old battery-mate Jorge Posada said, there will never be another reliever like him - essentially, a one-pitch closer who was nearly impossible to hit, even though the hitters always knew what was coming; they just never knew where it was going to be located by the time it reached home plate. He probably shattered more bats than any other reliever in MLB history, although there are no official records on that; at least to my knowledge.
I thought this would be a good time to dig into the archives; the following was written about a year ago:
Mariano Rivera is not only the greatest reliever in MLB history, he's the greatest pitcher of any kind, in MLB history. It's not even close. Aside from his record-breaking career saves total of 603, Rivera's 2.06 career ERA has been compiled over a period of time that has been a hitter's era. Perhaps the best measurement of his dominance is reflected in his ERA+ during his seventeen seasons: 206. Nobody else is even in that neighborhood. Pedro Martinez is a distant second with 154. Some guy named Jim Devlin is in third place, with 151. Then comes Lefty Grove's 148 and Walter Johnson's 147.
Cy Young? 138. How about some more contemporary names, like Sandy Koufax? 131. Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver and Curt Schilling? All three tied at 128.
That's how good Mariano Rivera has been; far above any other pitcher in MLB history. In fact, he has been so good, his skills have far exceeded what his team actually needed; at least for the most part.
Yogi Berra once addressed an audience that had assembled to pay tribute to the Yankee great, with these renowned words of wisdom: "Thank you for making this day necessary."
Strangely enough, when the Yankees were going through that incredible World Championship run from 1996 to 2000, winning four out of five times, they really didn't even need a closer. Of course, they happened to have the greatest one who ever lived coming out of their bullpen, so they went to him to close games out, more as a formality than anything else.
Essentially, Mariano Rivera was better than "necessary" since the Yankees were far superior to any other team in baseball, with or without him; especially when they were making mincemeat of their National League challengers in their most recent late-twentieth century World Championship heyday.
It all started when the Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the reigning World Champion Atlanta Braves in the '96 Fall Classic; winning four straight games to complete the remarkable comeback in relative ease; in just six games. Mariano hadn't taken over the closer's role for the Yankees yet, but they didn't need him anyway.
The '98 World Series was a joke. The over-matched Padres had no chance, getting swept in four straight. Of course, Rivera sealed the deal, but there wasn't a closer in baseball who couldn't have secured those easy wins. Mitch Williams could have come out of retirement to do the job and the Yankees still would have prevailed; it may have taken a couple of extra games, but there was no way they could lose.
The '99 rematch against the Atlanta Braves was once again, no contest.
Nor was the 2000 all-New York Fall Classic - the Subway Series - even remotely challenging for the Bronx Bombers.
Of course, Rivera came in; got some easy saves, and was on the mound for each clinching Kodak moment. He had a few dicey moments from time to time, but even if he had failed in some of those instances, it wouldn't have mattered in the long run. The Yankees were going to win, eventually. It just didn't matter what Mariano did.
Using the great Mariano Rivera in those lopsided World Series victories is pretty much equivalent to using an atomic bomb to kill a mosquito. Or like using the Pacific Ocean to douse a cigarette. Like using the sun to light a candle. Overkill, to the max.
Certainly, he's had many moments to shine in the postseason during his illustrious 17-year career; the Yankees have advanced to the ALDS sixteen times, winning nine times to advance to the ALCS; prevailing seven times to advance to the World Series; and coming out on top five different times; most recently, in 2009, when he wasn't really needed to dispose of the Philadelphia Phillies, either.
His career postseason record is almost unbelievable in its excellence: 8 wins - 1 loss, with 42 saves and an ERA of 0.70. Gaudy numbers, indeed.
Ironically, his only postseason loss came in the crucial Game Seven of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Entering the game in the bottom of the ninth-inning in Phoenix, trying to protect a 2-1 lead, Mariano gave up a couple of runs to give the D-Backs their first World Championship. Unbelievably, the greatest pitcher in MLB history - the greatest pitcher in postseason history - failed to record yet another save in what has proved to be the most crucial blown save of his career.
This was the only time his team really needed him, in order to win a World Series. The fact that he didn't get the job done on that one occasion is one of the most shocking things to ever occur in World Series history. The mosquito somehow escaped that nuclear blast; the ocean couldn't douse that cigarette; the sun couldn't light that measly candle.
Mariano Rivera lost the game and the Series for New York; the only time they really needed him in order to win another World Championship. The only time he was really necessary.
All those other times, the greatest pitcher in MLB history was far better than necessary; closing out games for a team that was so good, his services almost became a luxury. Of course, the Yankees were very happy to have him for all those years; especially since Rivera probably would've made a difference for a few other teams that were close to winning a World Series, but came up just a bit short. Maybe the Cleveland Indians ('97) might've been able to prevail over the Marlins with Mo closing out Game Seven. Maybe the Atlanta Braves may have kept the Yankees from rallying in '96 with a young Mariano Rivera working the back-end of their bullpen.
Who knows? He may have been better than necessary for the Yankees, but no need to take any chances with the greatest closer in the history of the game.
I thought this would be a good time to dig into the archives; the following was written about a year ago:
Mariano Rivera is not only the greatest reliever in MLB history, he's the greatest pitcher of any kind, in MLB history. It's not even close. Aside from his record-breaking career saves total of 603, Rivera's 2.06 career ERA has been compiled over a period of time that has been a hitter's era. Perhaps the best measurement of his dominance is reflected in his ERA+ during his seventeen seasons: 206. Nobody else is even in that neighborhood. Pedro Martinez is a distant second with 154. Some guy named Jim Devlin is in third place, with 151. Then comes Lefty Grove's 148 and Walter Johnson's 147.
Cy Young? 138. How about some more contemporary names, like Sandy Koufax? 131. Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver and Curt Schilling? All three tied at 128.
That's how good Mariano Rivera has been; far above any other pitcher in MLB history. In fact, he has been so good, his skills have far exceeded what his team actually needed; at least for the most part.
Yogi Berra once addressed an audience that had assembled to pay tribute to the Yankee great, with these renowned words of wisdom: "Thank you for making this day necessary."
Strangely enough, when the Yankees were going through that incredible World Championship run from 1996 to 2000, winning four out of five times, they really didn't even need a closer. Of course, they happened to have the greatest one who ever lived coming out of their bullpen, so they went to him to close games out, more as a formality than anything else.
Essentially, Mariano Rivera was better than "necessary" since the Yankees were far superior to any other team in baseball, with or without him; especially when they were making mincemeat of their National League challengers in their most recent late-twentieth century World Championship heyday.
It all started when the Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to the reigning World Champion Atlanta Braves in the '96 Fall Classic; winning four straight games to complete the remarkable comeback in relative ease; in just six games. Mariano hadn't taken over the closer's role for the Yankees yet, but they didn't need him anyway.
The '98 World Series was a joke. The over-matched Padres had no chance, getting swept in four straight. Of course, Rivera sealed the deal, but there wasn't a closer in baseball who couldn't have secured those easy wins. Mitch Williams could have come out of retirement to do the job and the Yankees still would have prevailed; it may have taken a couple of extra games, but there was no way they could lose.
The '99 rematch against the Atlanta Braves was once again, no contest.
Nor was the 2000 all-New York Fall Classic - the Subway Series - even remotely challenging for the Bronx Bombers.
Of course, Rivera came in; got some easy saves, and was on the mound for each clinching Kodak moment. He had a few dicey moments from time to time, but even if he had failed in some of those instances, it wouldn't have mattered in the long run. The Yankees were going to win, eventually. It just didn't matter what Mariano did.
Using the great Mariano Rivera in those lopsided World Series victories is pretty much equivalent to using an atomic bomb to kill a mosquito. Or like using the Pacific Ocean to douse a cigarette. Like using the sun to light a candle. Overkill, to the max.
Certainly, he's had many moments to shine in the postseason during his illustrious 17-year career; the Yankees have advanced to the ALDS sixteen times, winning nine times to advance to the ALCS; prevailing seven times to advance to the World Series; and coming out on top five different times; most recently, in 2009, when he wasn't really needed to dispose of the Philadelphia Phillies, either.
His career postseason record is almost unbelievable in its excellence: 8 wins - 1 loss, with 42 saves and an ERA of 0.70. Gaudy numbers, indeed.
Ironically, his only postseason loss came in the crucial Game Seven of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Entering the game in the bottom of the ninth-inning in Phoenix, trying to protect a 2-1 lead, Mariano gave up a couple of runs to give the D-Backs their first World Championship. Unbelievably, the greatest pitcher in MLB history - the greatest pitcher in postseason history - failed to record yet another save in what has proved to be the most crucial blown save of his career.
This was the only time his team really needed him, in order to win a World Series. The fact that he didn't get the job done on that one occasion is one of the most shocking things to ever occur in World Series history. The mosquito somehow escaped that nuclear blast; the ocean couldn't douse that cigarette; the sun couldn't light that measly candle.
Mariano Rivera lost the game and the Series for New York; the only time they really needed him in order to win another World Championship. The only time he was really necessary.
All those other times, the greatest pitcher in MLB history was far better than necessary; closing out games for a team that was so good, his services almost became a luxury. Of course, the Yankees were very happy to have him for all those years; especially since Rivera probably would've made a difference for a few other teams that were close to winning a World Series, but came up just a bit short. Maybe the Cleveland Indians ('97) might've been able to prevail over the Marlins with Mo closing out Game Seven. Maybe the Atlanta Braves may have kept the Yankees from rallying in '96 with a young Mariano Rivera working the back-end of their bullpen.
Who knows? He may have been better than necessary for the Yankees, but no need to take any chances with the greatest closer in the history of the game.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Is Curt Schilling Hall of Fame Material?
A couple of notable players from baseball's Steroids Era - Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens - were at one time considered to be sure-fire-first-ballot Hall of Fame shoe-ins. Next year, their body of work (no pun intended) will be scrutinized by Cooperstown's Hall of Fame voters for the first time, as 2013 marks their first year of eligibility.
Of course, we all know there's no way Bonds nor Clemens stand a chance of sliding into Cooperstown any time soon; certainly not on that first ballot. Despite their remarkable career achievements, Barry and Roger are perceived to be two surly Poster Children for Performance Enhancing Drugs. In time, the voters will gradually parole the pair for their Crimes Against Baseball; after all, both performed at Hall of Fame standards for the bulk of their careers (no pun intended), without the juice. Had their careers ended the day before they began their performance enhancing regimen, they would already be enshrined, and I wouldn't have used this segue to examine the Hall of Fame credentials for Curt Schilling - a former right-handed pitcher who toiled for twenty major league seasons* (and has never been linked to performance enhancing drugs).
*Note: Although Schilling spent the first three years of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles (1988-90), he is still credited with playing for a "major league team" (technically).
Curt Schilling was actually drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the January, 1986 amateur draft. After signing his first professional contract with those Bambino Cursed Bo-Sox on May 30, 1986, the young Schilling no doubt dreamed of joining a rotation featuring the aforementioned Roger Clemens; on a star-studded roster boasting other talented players such as Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, and Bill Buckner (the pre-World Series goat version).
Somehow, Schilling's dream job in Boston took a detour; by the time the hard throwing right-hander was given his shot in The Show late in the '88 season - it was with the hapless Orioles, working out of their hapless bullpen. Schilling's career seemed destined only for obscurity; by the time he was dealt to the Houston Astros after the 1990 season, Schilling had a lifetime 1-6 record, with three saves (only 600 behind Mariano Rivera's current total). He spent the entire '91 season working out of Houston's bullpen, notching eight saves in 56 appearances, with a so-so 3.81 ERA.
Schilling's next stop was to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992, where he was gradually worked into the starting rotation, and flourished, on a team that floundered all season long; winning 14 games with an impressive 2.35 ERA and NL best 0.990 WHIP, Schilling was now a rising star.
The following season - 1993 - the Phillies shocked the baseball world by rising to the top of the National League, en route to their first World Series engagement in a decade; Schilling pitched well in one World Series outing vs the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays, and not so well in the other, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.52 ERA; Philly fell to Toronto in six games, highlighted by Joe Carter's dramatic 9th-inning World Series-winning home run off Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams in Game Six. Philadelphia would have to wait until 2008 to make it all the way back to the Fall Classic; beating Tampa Bay's Rays in convincing fashion - four games to one. Of course, Toronto has long been trying to figure out a way to once again get past the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays; oh my; in its quest to grab Title Number Three.
Meanwhile, Curt Schilling would spend the rest of the '90s pitching well enough, when healthy; but was frequently frustrated by arm troubles, and even more frustrated by his team's inability to reach the post season again. The Atlanta Braves - the National League's Team of the Nineties - virtually owned the East; reaching the post season in Philadelphia simply wasn't going to happen, so Schilling lobbied for a change of venue, which was granted mid-way through the 2000 season. Next stop: The Arizona Diamondbacks.
Schilling's move to the Arizona desert was a fortuitous one; teaming up with the incredible Randy Johnson in 2001 to form one of the most imposing "one-two" pitching tandems in baseball history, the D-Backs captured their first National League pennant, then prevailed over the vaunted New York Yankees in a truly classic Seven Game World Series, as Johnson and Schilling were fittingly named co-MVPs. Curt pitched brilliantly for Arizona in his three World Series starts (1.69 ERA), winning once and getting a no-decision twice.
Schilling's regular season work in '01 was superb, finishing second in the NL Cy Young Award voting to - who else? - Randy Johnson. While Johnson's ERA was roughly half a run lower than Schilling's that season, Curt actually led the league in wins (22), games started (35), complete games (6), and innings pitched (256.2). On top of all that, Schilling's strikeout to walk ratio (7.51) was the best in baseball; a feat he would accomplish in four consecutive seasons.
While his regular season accomplishments are noteworthy, they may fall just a bit short in the voter's eyes when it comes to Cooperstown consideration:
216 wins - 146 losses (.597 winning percentage)
3.46 ERA
3116 strikeouts
128 ERA+
1.137 WHIP
Major League Baseball Network analyst Mitch Williams - a former teammate of Schilling's - contends that Schilling's 216 regular season wins during his 20-year big league career doesn't cut the mustard: "He only averaged about 10 wins per season!" According to the "Wild Thing", a player's post season accomplishments are meaningless; the only "true measurement" of a player's value is derived from regular season play: "It's not the Hall of Post Season Fame", is Williams' perplexing concluding argument in his case against Curt Schilling's Cooperstown credentials.
It should be noted that a line drive once smacked off the "Wild Thing's" skull during one of his (unsuccessful) relief appearances, back in the day. The only reason I know this is because Mitch has proudly repeated this story numerous times on the air, claiming no long-lasting ill-effects from the head whacking. I'm not so sure about that; better get that noggin x-ray-ed again, Mitch; I think they missed something that first time around, old bean.
Perhaps a player's post season accomplishments have no "Hall of Fame" value when they don't help his team win post season games (for example, Game Six of the '93 World Series). However, when a player performs at astounding levels during the post season, helping his team win not one, but three World Championships in seven years; that should count for something. Bonus points should be awarded for helping one of his teams break an 86-year old curse one year, then helping them win the whole she-bang three short years later.
In essence, playing a huge role in a team's successful World Championship run is what matters the most. Repeating that magic on three separate occasions is the stuff of legends. Curt Schilling was at his best when the games mattered the most - on baseball's grandest stage. He was on the winning side in three out of four World Series showdowns. Without his contributions, it is highly unlikely any of those teams would have even made it into the post season; let alone win it all.
In case anyone has forgotten, here's how Curt Schilling performed during his post season career:
11 wins - 2 losses (.846 winning percentage)
2.23 ERA
0.968 WHIP
In seven World Series starts, Schilling was 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 0.896 WHIP.
Curt Schilling belongs in the Hall of Fame. Anyone who thinks otherwise, should have their head examined.
Of course, we all know there's no way Bonds nor Clemens stand a chance of sliding into Cooperstown any time soon; certainly not on that first ballot. Despite their remarkable career achievements, Barry and Roger are perceived to be two surly Poster Children for Performance Enhancing Drugs. In time, the voters will gradually parole the pair for their Crimes Against Baseball; after all, both performed at Hall of Fame standards for the bulk of their careers (no pun intended), without the juice. Had their careers ended the day before they began their performance enhancing regimen, they would already be enshrined, and I wouldn't have used this segue to examine the Hall of Fame credentials for Curt Schilling - a former right-handed pitcher who toiled for twenty major league seasons* (and has never been linked to performance enhancing drugs).
*Note: Although Schilling spent the first three years of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles (1988-90), he is still credited with playing for a "major league team" (technically).
Curt Schilling was actually drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the January, 1986 amateur draft. After signing his first professional contract with those Bambino Cursed Bo-Sox on May 30, 1986, the young Schilling no doubt dreamed of joining a rotation featuring the aforementioned Roger Clemens; on a star-studded roster boasting other talented players such as Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, and Bill Buckner (the pre-World Series goat version).
Somehow, Schilling's dream job in Boston took a detour; by the time the hard throwing right-hander was given his shot in The Show late in the '88 season - it was with the hapless Orioles, working out of their hapless bullpen. Schilling's career seemed destined only for obscurity; by the time he was dealt to the Houston Astros after the 1990 season, Schilling had a lifetime 1-6 record, with three saves (only 600 behind Mariano Rivera's current total). He spent the entire '91 season working out of Houston's bullpen, notching eight saves in 56 appearances, with a so-so 3.81 ERA.
Schilling's next stop was to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992, where he was gradually worked into the starting rotation, and flourished, on a team that floundered all season long; winning 14 games with an impressive 2.35 ERA and NL best 0.990 WHIP, Schilling was now a rising star.
The following season - 1993 - the Phillies shocked the baseball world by rising to the top of the National League, en route to their first World Series engagement in a decade; Schilling pitched well in one World Series outing vs the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays, and not so well in the other, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.52 ERA; Philly fell to Toronto in six games, highlighted by Joe Carter's dramatic 9th-inning World Series-winning home run off Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams in Game Six. Philadelphia would have to wait until 2008 to make it all the way back to the Fall Classic; beating Tampa Bay's Rays in convincing fashion - four games to one. Of course, Toronto has long been trying to figure out a way to once again get past the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays; oh my; in its quest to grab Title Number Three.
Meanwhile, Curt Schilling would spend the rest of the '90s pitching well enough, when healthy; but was frequently frustrated by arm troubles, and even more frustrated by his team's inability to reach the post season again. The Atlanta Braves - the National League's Team of the Nineties - virtually owned the East; reaching the post season in Philadelphia simply wasn't going to happen, so Schilling lobbied for a change of venue, which was granted mid-way through the 2000 season. Next stop: The Arizona Diamondbacks.
Schilling's move to the Arizona desert was a fortuitous one; teaming up with the incredible Randy Johnson in 2001 to form one of the most imposing "one-two" pitching tandems in baseball history, the D-Backs captured their first National League pennant, then prevailed over the vaunted New York Yankees in a truly classic Seven Game World Series, as Johnson and Schilling were fittingly named co-MVPs. Curt pitched brilliantly for Arizona in his three World Series starts (1.69 ERA), winning once and getting a no-decision twice.
Schilling's regular season work in '01 was superb, finishing second in the NL Cy Young Award voting to - who else? - Randy Johnson. While Johnson's ERA was roughly half a run lower than Schilling's that season, Curt actually led the league in wins (22), games started (35), complete games (6), and innings pitched (256.2). On top of all that, Schilling's strikeout to walk ratio (7.51) was the best in baseball; a feat he would accomplish in four consecutive seasons.
While his regular season accomplishments are noteworthy, they may fall just a bit short in the voter's eyes when it comes to Cooperstown consideration:
216 wins - 146 losses (.597 winning percentage)
3.46 ERA
3116 strikeouts
128 ERA+
1.137 WHIP
Major League Baseball Network analyst Mitch Williams - a former teammate of Schilling's - contends that Schilling's 216 regular season wins during his 20-year big league career doesn't cut the mustard: "He only averaged about 10 wins per season!" According to the "Wild Thing", a player's post season accomplishments are meaningless; the only "true measurement" of a player's value is derived from regular season play: "It's not the Hall of Post Season Fame", is Williams' perplexing concluding argument in his case against Curt Schilling's Cooperstown credentials.
It should be noted that a line drive once smacked off the "Wild Thing's" skull during one of his (unsuccessful) relief appearances, back in the day. The only reason I know this is because Mitch has proudly repeated this story numerous times on the air, claiming no long-lasting ill-effects from the head whacking. I'm not so sure about that; better get that noggin x-ray-ed again, Mitch; I think they missed something that first time around, old bean.
Perhaps a player's post season accomplishments have no "Hall of Fame" value when they don't help his team win post season games (for example, Game Six of the '93 World Series). However, when a player performs at astounding levels during the post season, helping his team win not one, but three World Championships in seven years; that should count for something. Bonus points should be awarded for helping one of his teams break an 86-year old curse one year, then helping them win the whole she-bang three short years later.
In essence, playing a huge role in a team's successful World Championship run is what matters the most. Repeating that magic on three separate occasions is the stuff of legends. Curt Schilling was at his best when the games mattered the most - on baseball's grandest stage. He was on the winning side in three out of four World Series showdowns. Without his contributions, it is highly unlikely any of those teams would have even made it into the post season; let alone win it all.
In case anyone has forgotten, here's how Curt Schilling performed during his post season career:
11 wins - 2 losses (.846 winning percentage)
2.23 ERA
0.968 WHIP
In seven World Series starts, Schilling was 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 0.896 WHIP.
Curt Schilling belongs in the Hall of Fame. Anyone who thinks otherwise, should have their head examined.
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