Until last season, the Cardinals had never reached the postseason four consecutive years. As the 2015 season is about to unfold, the Cardinals appear to have the talent to extend their postseason streak to five straight years.
Final Standings for NL Central in 2015 should look like this:
St Louis 93-69
Pittsburgh 88-74
Cincinnati 83-79
Chicago 82-80
Milwaukee 74-88
Pittsburgh will put a very good lineup on the field, but their starting rotation is suspect.
Cincinnati will be vastly improved, offensively, but their starting rotation is even more suspect.
Chicago should finish over .500 - not quite the World Series champions their delusional fan base is expecting, but they're improving.
Milwaukee spent most of last season in first place before collapsing in September. Their collapse should occur by May this time around.
Showing posts with label chicago cubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicago cubs. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Ranking NL Central Starting Rotations
Now that free agent pitcher James Shields is officially off the market (signing a four-year deal with the San Diego Padres), we now have a clearer picture of how the starting rotations of the five NL Central teams will be staffed - at least for now. Once the season begins, there may be some changes - particularly at the lower end of the rotations, where the competition for the fifth spot usually has a good number of candidates - from aging veterans to unproven rookies.
For rating purposes, we'll compare each team's Number One Starter, their Number Twos, and so on and so forth. Included will be a brief picture of last season's performance and any significant issues that may be pertinent, such as the relative risk for arm/shoulder/elbow trouble.
Here we go:
NUMBER ONE
1 - Cueto (CIN) 20-9 - 2.25 ERA - 243.2 IP - 160 ERA+ (Age 28) - After an injury-plagued 2013 season, he was the second-best pitcher in the NL last season.
2 - Wainwright (STL) 20-9 - 2.38 ERA - 227.0 IP - 154 ERA+ (Age 32) - Had a "dead arm" phase in the second half - Had minor off season elbow surgery which is a concern heading into the new season. When healthy, he's among the top 4 or 5 pitchers in MLB.
3 - Lester (CHI) 16-11 - 2.46 ERA - 219.2 IP - 155 ERA + (Age 30) - Had his finest season in 2014, but pitching for Oakland, inexplicably failed to hold the Royals at bay in the AL Wild Card game. Not a good way to end a season.
4 - Liriano (PIT) 7-10 - 3.38 ERA - 162.1 IP - 117 ERA+ (Age 30) - Health issues last year - could be a problem again in 2015.
5 - Garza (MIL) 8-8 - 3.64 ERA - 163.1 IP - 104 ERA+ (Age 30) - Durability and a volatile demeanor could be troublesome in 2015.
NUMBER TWO
1 - Lynn (STL) 15-10 - 2.74 ERA - 203.2 IP - 134 ERA+ (Age 27) - Had his finest season, by far, in 2014, although pitching with low run support cost him some wins - Should be just as good - if not better - in 2015.
2 - Arrieta (CHI) 10-5 - 2.53 ERA - 156.2 IP - 151 ERA+ (Age 28) - Pitched extremely well last season with a relatively light workload - Will need to post similar results while eclipsing 200 IP to give team a reasonable shot at postseason play.
3 - Peralta (MIL) 17-11 - 3.53 ERA - 198.2 IP - 107 ERA+ (Age 25) - Thanks to getting a lot of run support, actually won more games than any NL Central pitcher not named Cueto or Wainwright in 2014 - Will he be so fortunate in 2015?
4 - Bailey (CIN) 9-5 - 3.71 ERA - 145.2 IP - 97 ERA+ (Age 28) - Will need to bounce back from a mediocre 2014 - Lower the ERA, increase the workload - Otherwise, it could be another painful season for the Reds.
5 - Cole (PIT) 11-5 - 3.65 ERA - 138.0 IP - 98 ERA+ (Age 23) - Has potential to have breakout season in 2015, but needs to work more than 200 IP to give Pirates a reasonable shot at a division title.
NUMBER THREE
1 - Wacha (STL) 5-6 - 3.20 ERA - 107.0 IP - 115 ERA+ (Age 22) - If he's fully recovered from his shoulder problems, he should be able to dominate opposing lineups like he did late in the 2013 season (and postseason) - His workload will probably be limited by a cautious brain trust - still, 150+ IP would be a welcome asset to the pitching staff.
2 - Lohse (MIL) 13-9 - 3.54 ERA - 198.1 IP - 107 ERA+ (Age 35) - Not overpowering, but reliable - Age may start becoming a bit of a factor, especially if his not-so-fast-fastball loses some velocity in 2015.
3 - Leake (CIN) 11-13 - 3.70 ERA - 214.1 IP - 97 ERA+ (Age 26) - A steady workhorse - Should give Reds another 200+ IP in 2015.
4 - Hammel (CHI) 8-5 - 2.58 ERA - 108.2 IP - 128 ERA+ (Age 31) - Pitched well with a limited workload last season - Needs to double the output in 2015 to give Cubs any postseason hopes.
5 - Burnett (PIT) 8-18 - 4.59 ERA - 213.2 IP - 81 ERA+ (Age 37) - Pitching for a miserable Phillies team last season - Still durable after all those years, but age-related decline likely to continue - Probably should retire - Would be no surprise to see him released by the All Star break.
NUMBER FOUR
1 - Worley (PIT) 8-4 - 2.85 ERA - 110.2 IP - 125 ERA+ (Age 26) - Good numbers in limited action last season - It may not take long for this guy to supplant Burnett in the number three slot in the rotation.
2 - Fiers (MIL) 6-5 - 2.13 ERA - 71.2 IP - 178 ERA+ (Age 29) - Had the highest ERA+ in the division last season - but needs to at least double his innings pitched in 2015 to give rotation the necessary boost to stay in the race.
3 - Lackey (STL) 3-3 - 4.30 ERA - 60.2 IP - 86 ERA+ (Age 35) - Acquired from Boston prior to the trade deadline last season - Struggled in limited action - Whether or not he can bounce back in 2015 remains to be seen.
4 - Wood (CHI) 8-13 - 5.03 ERA - 173.2 IP - 76 ERA+ (Age 27) - Durable, but ineffective last season - He may not be able to improve in 2015 - The Cubs will be in trouble if he doesn't pitch more effectively this season.
5 - Cingrani (CIN) 2-8 - 4.55 ERA - 63.1 IP - 79 ERA+ (Age 24) - After showing flashes of brilliance when first called up in 2013, regressed significantly last season - Without vast improvement this season, the Reds will have serious issues.
NUMBER FIVE
1 - Hendricks (CHI) 7-2 - 2.46 ERA - 80.1 IP - 155 ERA+ (Age 24) - Encouraging results in limited exposure last season - If he can come close to duplicating this performance with 160+ IP, Cubs should easily escape the cellar.
2 - Locke (PIT) 7-6 - 3.91 ERA - 131.1 IP - 91 ERA+ (Age 26) - Assuming Burnett flops for the Pirates in 2015, the team will desperately need this guy to pitch better than last year - and work closer to 200 IP.
3 - Martinez (STL) 2-4 - 4.03 ERA - 89.1 IP - 91 ERA+ (Age 22) - Has the raw talent to develop into a top end of the rotation starter - If he does, Cards could run away with division title.
4 - Nelson (MIL) 2-9 - 4.83 ERA - 69.1 IP - 77 ERA+ (Age 25) - Expected to improve this season - Nowhere to go but up.
5 - Desclafani (CIN) 2-2 - 6.27 ERA - 33.0 IP - 61 ERA+ (Age 24) - Posted a decent 3.78 ERA in the minors last season - Significant improvement is critical in the fifth spot in the rotation if the Reds hope to have any chance at all in the division race.
OVERALL ROTATION RANKINGS
1 - St Louis Cardinals - The combination of Wainwright, Lynn and Wacha should be dominant in 2015.
2 - Chicago Cubs - The addition of Lester and the continued development of their younger talent brings some measure of credibility to a franchise desperate to win.
3 - Milwaukee Brewers - Lacking a true "ace", but still capable of keeping their team in most games.
4 - Pittsburgh Pirates - A shaky rotation with the potential to be a total disaster.
5 - Cincinnati Reds - After Cueto, a lot of question marks.
For rating purposes, we'll compare each team's Number One Starter, their Number Twos, and so on and so forth. Included will be a brief picture of last season's performance and any significant issues that may be pertinent, such as the relative risk for arm/shoulder/elbow trouble.
Here we go:
NUMBER ONE
1 - Cueto (CIN) 20-9 - 2.25 ERA - 243.2 IP - 160 ERA+ (Age 28) - After an injury-plagued 2013 season, he was the second-best pitcher in the NL last season.
2 - Wainwright (STL) 20-9 - 2.38 ERA - 227.0 IP - 154 ERA+ (Age 32) - Had a "dead arm" phase in the second half - Had minor off season elbow surgery which is a concern heading into the new season. When healthy, he's among the top 4 or 5 pitchers in MLB.
3 - Lester (CHI) 16-11 - 2.46 ERA - 219.2 IP - 155 ERA + (Age 30) - Had his finest season in 2014, but pitching for Oakland, inexplicably failed to hold the Royals at bay in the AL Wild Card game. Not a good way to end a season.
4 - Liriano (PIT) 7-10 - 3.38 ERA - 162.1 IP - 117 ERA+ (Age 30) - Health issues last year - could be a problem again in 2015.
5 - Garza (MIL) 8-8 - 3.64 ERA - 163.1 IP - 104 ERA+ (Age 30) - Durability and a volatile demeanor could be troublesome in 2015.
NUMBER TWO
1 - Lynn (STL) 15-10 - 2.74 ERA - 203.2 IP - 134 ERA+ (Age 27) - Had his finest season, by far, in 2014, although pitching with low run support cost him some wins - Should be just as good - if not better - in 2015.
2 - Arrieta (CHI) 10-5 - 2.53 ERA - 156.2 IP - 151 ERA+ (Age 28) - Pitched extremely well last season with a relatively light workload - Will need to post similar results while eclipsing 200 IP to give team a reasonable shot at postseason play.
3 - Peralta (MIL) 17-11 - 3.53 ERA - 198.2 IP - 107 ERA+ (Age 25) - Thanks to getting a lot of run support, actually won more games than any NL Central pitcher not named Cueto or Wainwright in 2014 - Will he be so fortunate in 2015?
4 - Bailey (CIN) 9-5 - 3.71 ERA - 145.2 IP - 97 ERA+ (Age 28) - Will need to bounce back from a mediocre 2014 - Lower the ERA, increase the workload - Otherwise, it could be another painful season for the Reds.
5 - Cole (PIT) 11-5 - 3.65 ERA - 138.0 IP - 98 ERA+ (Age 23) - Has potential to have breakout season in 2015, but needs to work more than 200 IP to give Pirates a reasonable shot at a division title.
NUMBER THREE
1 - Wacha (STL) 5-6 - 3.20 ERA - 107.0 IP - 115 ERA+ (Age 22) - If he's fully recovered from his shoulder problems, he should be able to dominate opposing lineups like he did late in the 2013 season (and postseason) - His workload will probably be limited by a cautious brain trust - still, 150+ IP would be a welcome asset to the pitching staff.
2 - Lohse (MIL) 13-9 - 3.54 ERA - 198.1 IP - 107 ERA+ (Age 35) - Not overpowering, but reliable - Age may start becoming a bit of a factor, especially if his not-so-fast-fastball loses some velocity in 2015.
3 - Leake (CIN) 11-13 - 3.70 ERA - 214.1 IP - 97 ERA+ (Age 26) - A steady workhorse - Should give Reds another 200+ IP in 2015.
4 - Hammel (CHI) 8-5 - 2.58 ERA - 108.2 IP - 128 ERA+ (Age 31) - Pitched well with a limited workload last season - Needs to double the output in 2015 to give Cubs any postseason hopes.
5 - Burnett (PIT) 8-18 - 4.59 ERA - 213.2 IP - 81 ERA+ (Age 37) - Pitching for a miserable Phillies team last season - Still durable after all those years, but age-related decline likely to continue - Probably should retire - Would be no surprise to see him released by the All Star break.
NUMBER FOUR
1 - Worley (PIT) 8-4 - 2.85 ERA - 110.2 IP - 125 ERA+ (Age 26) - Good numbers in limited action last season - It may not take long for this guy to supplant Burnett in the number three slot in the rotation.
2 - Fiers (MIL) 6-5 - 2.13 ERA - 71.2 IP - 178 ERA+ (Age 29) - Had the highest ERA+ in the division last season - but needs to at least double his innings pitched in 2015 to give rotation the necessary boost to stay in the race.
3 - Lackey (STL) 3-3 - 4.30 ERA - 60.2 IP - 86 ERA+ (Age 35) - Acquired from Boston prior to the trade deadline last season - Struggled in limited action - Whether or not he can bounce back in 2015 remains to be seen.
4 - Wood (CHI) 8-13 - 5.03 ERA - 173.2 IP - 76 ERA+ (Age 27) - Durable, but ineffective last season - He may not be able to improve in 2015 - The Cubs will be in trouble if he doesn't pitch more effectively this season.
5 - Cingrani (CIN) 2-8 - 4.55 ERA - 63.1 IP - 79 ERA+ (Age 24) - After showing flashes of brilliance when first called up in 2013, regressed significantly last season - Without vast improvement this season, the Reds will have serious issues.
NUMBER FIVE
1 - Hendricks (CHI) 7-2 - 2.46 ERA - 80.1 IP - 155 ERA+ (Age 24) - Encouraging results in limited exposure last season - If he can come close to duplicating this performance with 160+ IP, Cubs should easily escape the cellar.
2 - Locke (PIT) 7-6 - 3.91 ERA - 131.1 IP - 91 ERA+ (Age 26) - Assuming Burnett flops for the Pirates in 2015, the team will desperately need this guy to pitch better than last year - and work closer to 200 IP.
3 - Martinez (STL) 2-4 - 4.03 ERA - 89.1 IP - 91 ERA+ (Age 22) - Has the raw talent to develop into a top end of the rotation starter - If he does, Cards could run away with division title.
4 - Nelson (MIL) 2-9 - 4.83 ERA - 69.1 IP - 77 ERA+ (Age 25) - Expected to improve this season - Nowhere to go but up.
5 - Desclafani (CIN) 2-2 - 6.27 ERA - 33.0 IP - 61 ERA+ (Age 24) - Posted a decent 3.78 ERA in the minors last season - Significant improvement is critical in the fifth spot in the rotation if the Reds hope to have any chance at all in the division race.
OVERALL ROTATION RANKINGS
1 - St Louis Cardinals - The combination of Wainwright, Lynn and Wacha should be dominant in 2015.
2 - Chicago Cubs - The addition of Lester and the continued development of their younger talent brings some measure of credibility to a franchise desperate to win.
3 - Milwaukee Brewers - Lacking a true "ace", but still capable of keeping their team in most games.
4 - Pittsburgh Pirates - A shaky rotation with the potential to be a total disaster.
5 - Cincinnati Reds - After Cueto, a lot of question marks.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Ranking NL Central Position Players
After months of careful study and analysis, using advanced metrics and common sense, I've ranked all the position players in the NL Central who are most likely to be in the starting lineup on a regular basis - at least, at the beginning of the season.
However, there could be significant changes as early as May - at least for one team: The Chicago Cubs. Around that time, their highly touted third base prospect - Kris Bryant - will probably be called up from the minors to add much needed offensive firepower for a team expected to contend for a division title (Las Vegas odds makers list them at 12 to 1 to win the World Series; along with the Cardinals!). One thing is certain: The Cubs will not win the NL Central - let alone even qualify for a wild card berth with their current projected lineup (even with five Jon Lesters in the starting rotation).
A comparison of the five NL Central teams' primary position players sheds some light on who are legitimate contenders - and who are the pretenders:
Catcher
In the wake of an injury-plagued season in '14 (only 110 games played), the Cardinals' Yadier Molina has reportedly shed twenty pounds, hoping to take some pressure off a bum knee. If he can stay reasonably healthy this season, he should be able to outperform Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy (#2) who had his best season last year (.301/.373/.465 with a NL-most 53 doubles).
Cincinnati's Devin Mesoraco (#3) who hit 25 HR (most by any MLB catcher) in just 114 games appears to be a rising star.
Pittsburgh is going to miss Russell Martin (now with Toronto), although his replacement - Francisco Cervelli (#4) - should be adequate. Unfortunately for the Pirates, "adequate" may not be good enough to help nurture a mediocre pitching staff through a challenging season.
The Cubs acquired Miguel Montero (#5) from Arizona for his "pitch framing" ability; somehow overlooking his sharp offensive decline in the past two seasons - a trend that will likely continue in 2015. As far as "pitch framing" goes, it didn't really help the D-Backs' atrocious pitching staff last year (4.26 ERA was 2nd-worst in the league, behind Colorado's 4.86 ERA).
First Base
Chicago's Anthony Rizzo, after a breakout season, appears to have overtaken the Reds' Joey Votto (#2), who will be trying to return to form after a couple of seasons of nagging injuries which dramatically hurt his production (only 62 games played last season).
The Cardinals are hoping Matt Adams (#3) will regain that power stroke he had in '13 when he hit 17 HR in 319 PA. If he does, he could surpass Votto and possibly Rizzo.
Milwaukee's newest addition - Adam Lind (#4) - could be an offensive weapon (.321/.381/.479 in 96 games) - although somewhat of a defensive liability.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are desperately hoping Pedro Alvarez (#5) rebounds after a disappointing '14 - when he hit just 18 HR - half the total from '13.
Second Base
Pittsburgh's Neil Walker (.271/.342/.467 with 23 HR) is an All Star caliber player who is just entering his prime. If anyone's going to challenge him, it could well be the Cardinals' Kolten Wong (#2), who not only has excellent defensive skills, his hitting should be greatly improved in '14.
Third ranked Scooter Gennett (.289/.320/.434) of Milwaukee has a decent bat but needs work on the defense to reach All Star status.
The Reds' fourth ranked Brandon Phillips (.266/.306/.372) nearly punched out a Cincinnati beat reporter a couple of years ago for noticing his OBP sucked. It still does, and his defensive skills are slipping for the aging hot dog, as well.
The Cubs are praying that fifth ranked Javier Baez (.164/.227/.324) will cut down on his strikeouts (95 in 229 PA). Otherwise their postseason hopes get very dim.
Third Base
The Reds' Todd Frazier had a breakout season in '14 (.273/.336/.458 with 29 HR) - and he's good with the glove to rank a notch ahead of the Redbirds' Matt Carpenter (NL-most 95 BB), who displayed remarkable postseason power (4 HR in 39 PA) after hitting just 8 HR in the regular season.
Pittsburgh's third ranked Josh Harrison (.315/.347/.490) had a career year in '14 - will likely regress a bit in '15.
Aging Aramis Ramirez (#4) of Milwaukee (.285/.330/.427) posted his lowest SLG since '02 - and his glove is suspect at the hot corner, as well.
Either Mike Olt or Tommy La Stella (#5 & 5A) will likely be in the lineup for the Cubs on Opening Day - and neither one is going to do much to enhance Chicago's postseason dream. Maybe rookie Kris Bryant will get called up by May and have a monster season - because that's what they need to be competitive.
Shortstop
Jhonny Peralta (club record 21 HR for SS) was better than expected last year for St Louis, when he was arguably, the best shortstop in either league. He'll likely regress a bit in '15, but should still be better than Starlin Castro (#2) who hit well (.272/.339/.438) but still has defensive issues.
Pittsburgh's Jordy Mercer (#3) is a solid defensive player with a decent bat, while the Reds' Zack Cozart (#4) is a very good defensive player with a weak bat (.221/.268/.300).
The Brewers' Jean Segura (#5) is a good defensive player whose production fell off considerably in '14 (.246/.289/.326) compared to '13 (.274/.329/.423) when he was an All Star. If he doesn't improve this season, the Brewers could be in serious trouble, along with the Cubs.
Left Field
Pittsburgh's Starling Marte (.291/.356/.453) is a five tool player who will only get better in '15 and beyond. Matt Holldiay (#2) is starting to show some age-related regression, with a career low .441 SLG last season. If he can hit 20 HR and drive in 90 again, the Cards should return to the postseason for a record fifth straight season.
The Brewers' third ranked Khris Davis (.244/.299/.457 with 22 HR) should post better offensive numbers in '15, but his defense is still suspect.
Marlon Byrd (#4) - the new addition to the Reds' lineup - hit a career high 25 HR with the Phillies last season, but at the age of 37, may show some regression this season.
The Cubs' Chris Coghlan (#5) is a pretty good hitter (.283/.352/.452) but an atrocious defensive player.
Center Field
Andrew McCutchen (.314/.410/.542) is the best player on an improving Pirates' franchise, although he's overrated, defensively. Two seasons ago, Milwaukee's Carlos Gomez (#2) played a spectacular defensive CF, regressing slightly last year, but his hitting was nearly a carbon copy (.284/.356/.477 with 23 HR).
After a lackluster '13, third ranked Jon Jay (.295/.359/.396) rebounded nicely for the Cardinals in '14 - especially defensively.
Cincinnati's speedy Billy Hamilton (.250/.292/.355) is ranked at #4, but will likely show overall improvement as his career progresses.
Dexter Fowler's (#5) ability to get on base (.375 last season) will help the Cubs' offense this season, but defensively, he's a liability. In other words, he's got lots of company in Chicago.
Right Field
The Cardinals' big acquisition this off season - Jason Heyward - will solve the team's biggest weakness last season - although duplicating a 7.0 WAR may be a difficult assignment. However, if he can find his niche in the St Louis lineup, he could have his best offensive season in '15 - and the Cards should cruise to another division title.
The Brewers' injury-plagued Ryan Braun (#2) discovered that playing without his special vitamins wasn't so easy last year - posting career lows in his entire slash line (.266/.324/.453). He's bound to improve on those numbers in '15, but he'll never get back to that PED-enhanced production from a few years ago. Defensively, a liability.
The Cubs' hot rookie sensation - third ranked Jorge Soler (.292/.330/.573 in 97 PA) - may continue where he left off last season - or he may find out that big league pitching isn't so easy to hit this year. If he flops, more trauma at Wrigley Field for another painful year.
The Pirates are counting on rookie Gregory Polanco (#4) to improve on last season's 89 game introduction to the major leagues (.235/.307/.343). If he struggles once again, it's going to be tough for Pittsburgh to reach the postseason for a third straight year.
How bad was Jay Bruce (.217/.281/.373) last season for the Reds? So bad, that even a couple of relatively untested rookies from Chicago and Pittsburgh are already ranked ahead of him. He's got to get better in '15. There's nowhere to go but up from a negative 1.1 WAR.
SUMMARY
The Cardinals and Pirates - with three players each ranked number one at their positions - figure to have the best overall lineups in the NL Central. The difference between those two teams seems to be pitching - the Cardinals have the advantage - barring any significant injuries.
It would be a mistake to count any team out of the race for the division title (even the Cubs). If Votto returns to form this season, the Reds could be much better. The same goes for the Brewers with their former golden boy, Braunie.
For the Cubs, they need three relatively unproven rookies to rise to the occasion, if they hope to rise in the standings - which may be asking too much, too soon.
PROJECTIONS
St Louis should win division title again
Second place could be a tight race between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati - even Milwaukee or Chicago could sneak up there if all their pieces fall into place
In other words, second through fifth place is almost a toss up between four teams
However, there could be significant changes as early as May - at least for one team: The Chicago Cubs. Around that time, their highly touted third base prospect - Kris Bryant - will probably be called up from the minors to add much needed offensive firepower for a team expected to contend for a division title (Las Vegas odds makers list them at 12 to 1 to win the World Series; along with the Cardinals!). One thing is certain: The Cubs will not win the NL Central - let alone even qualify for a wild card berth with their current projected lineup (even with five Jon Lesters in the starting rotation).
A comparison of the five NL Central teams' primary position players sheds some light on who are legitimate contenders - and who are the pretenders:
Catcher
In the wake of an injury-plagued season in '14 (only 110 games played), the Cardinals' Yadier Molina has reportedly shed twenty pounds, hoping to take some pressure off a bum knee. If he can stay reasonably healthy this season, he should be able to outperform Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy (#2) who had his best season last year (.301/.373/.465 with a NL-most 53 doubles).
Cincinnati's Devin Mesoraco (#3) who hit 25 HR (most by any MLB catcher) in just 114 games appears to be a rising star.
Pittsburgh is going to miss Russell Martin (now with Toronto), although his replacement - Francisco Cervelli (#4) - should be adequate. Unfortunately for the Pirates, "adequate" may not be good enough to help nurture a mediocre pitching staff through a challenging season.
The Cubs acquired Miguel Montero (#5) from Arizona for his "pitch framing" ability; somehow overlooking his sharp offensive decline in the past two seasons - a trend that will likely continue in 2015. As far as "pitch framing" goes, it didn't really help the D-Backs' atrocious pitching staff last year (4.26 ERA was 2nd-worst in the league, behind Colorado's 4.86 ERA).
First Base
Chicago's Anthony Rizzo, after a breakout season, appears to have overtaken the Reds' Joey Votto (#2), who will be trying to return to form after a couple of seasons of nagging injuries which dramatically hurt his production (only 62 games played last season).
The Cardinals are hoping Matt Adams (#3) will regain that power stroke he had in '13 when he hit 17 HR in 319 PA. If he does, he could surpass Votto and possibly Rizzo.
Milwaukee's newest addition - Adam Lind (#4) - could be an offensive weapon (.321/.381/.479 in 96 games) - although somewhat of a defensive liability.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are desperately hoping Pedro Alvarez (#5) rebounds after a disappointing '14 - when he hit just 18 HR - half the total from '13.
Second Base
Pittsburgh's Neil Walker (.271/.342/.467 with 23 HR) is an All Star caliber player who is just entering his prime. If anyone's going to challenge him, it could well be the Cardinals' Kolten Wong (#2), who not only has excellent defensive skills, his hitting should be greatly improved in '14.
Third ranked Scooter Gennett (.289/.320/.434) of Milwaukee has a decent bat but needs work on the defense to reach All Star status.
The Reds' fourth ranked Brandon Phillips (.266/.306/.372) nearly punched out a Cincinnati beat reporter a couple of years ago for noticing his OBP sucked. It still does, and his defensive skills are slipping for the aging hot dog, as well.
The Cubs are praying that fifth ranked Javier Baez (.164/.227/.324) will cut down on his strikeouts (95 in 229 PA). Otherwise their postseason hopes get very dim.
Third Base
The Reds' Todd Frazier had a breakout season in '14 (.273/.336/.458 with 29 HR) - and he's good with the glove to rank a notch ahead of the Redbirds' Matt Carpenter (NL-most 95 BB), who displayed remarkable postseason power (4 HR in 39 PA) after hitting just 8 HR in the regular season.
Pittsburgh's third ranked Josh Harrison (.315/.347/.490) had a career year in '14 - will likely regress a bit in '15.
Aging Aramis Ramirez (#4) of Milwaukee (.285/.330/.427) posted his lowest SLG since '02 - and his glove is suspect at the hot corner, as well.
Either Mike Olt or Tommy La Stella (#5 & 5A) will likely be in the lineup for the Cubs on Opening Day - and neither one is going to do much to enhance Chicago's postseason dream. Maybe rookie Kris Bryant will get called up by May and have a monster season - because that's what they need to be competitive.
Shortstop
Jhonny Peralta (club record 21 HR for SS) was better than expected last year for St Louis, when he was arguably, the best shortstop in either league. He'll likely regress a bit in '15, but should still be better than Starlin Castro (#2) who hit well (.272/.339/.438) but still has defensive issues.
Pittsburgh's Jordy Mercer (#3) is a solid defensive player with a decent bat, while the Reds' Zack Cozart (#4) is a very good defensive player with a weak bat (.221/.268/.300).
The Brewers' Jean Segura (#5) is a good defensive player whose production fell off considerably in '14 (.246/.289/.326) compared to '13 (.274/.329/.423) when he was an All Star. If he doesn't improve this season, the Brewers could be in serious trouble, along with the Cubs.
Left Field
Pittsburgh's Starling Marte (.291/.356/.453) is a five tool player who will only get better in '15 and beyond. Matt Holldiay (#2) is starting to show some age-related regression, with a career low .441 SLG last season. If he can hit 20 HR and drive in 90 again, the Cards should return to the postseason for a record fifth straight season.
The Brewers' third ranked Khris Davis (.244/.299/.457 with 22 HR) should post better offensive numbers in '15, but his defense is still suspect.
Marlon Byrd (#4) - the new addition to the Reds' lineup - hit a career high 25 HR with the Phillies last season, but at the age of 37, may show some regression this season.
The Cubs' Chris Coghlan (#5) is a pretty good hitter (.283/.352/.452) but an atrocious defensive player.
Center Field
Andrew McCutchen (.314/.410/.542) is the best player on an improving Pirates' franchise, although he's overrated, defensively. Two seasons ago, Milwaukee's Carlos Gomez (#2) played a spectacular defensive CF, regressing slightly last year, but his hitting was nearly a carbon copy (.284/.356/.477 with 23 HR).
After a lackluster '13, third ranked Jon Jay (.295/.359/.396) rebounded nicely for the Cardinals in '14 - especially defensively.
Cincinnati's speedy Billy Hamilton (.250/.292/.355) is ranked at #4, but will likely show overall improvement as his career progresses.
Dexter Fowler's (#5) ability to get on base (.375 last season) will help the Cubs' offense this season, but defensively, he's a liability. In other words, he's got lots of company in Chicago.
Right Field
The Cardinals' big acquisition this off season - Jason Heyward - will solve the team's biggest weakness last season - although duplicating a 7.0 WAR may be a difficult assignment. However, if he can find his niche in the St Louis lineup, he could have his best offensive season in '15 - and the Cards should cruise to another division title.
The Brewers' injury-plagued Ryan Braun (#2) discovered that playing without his special vitamins wasn't so easy last year - posting career lows in his entire slash line (.266/.324/.453). He's bound to improve on those numbers in '15, but he'll never get back to that PED-enhanced production from a few years ago. Defensively, a liability.
The Cubs' hot rookie sensation - third ranked Jorge Soler (.292/.330/.573 in 97 PA) - may continue where he left off last season - or he may find out that big league pitching isn't so easy to hit this year. If he flops, more trauma at Wrigley Field for another painful year.
The Pirates are counting on rookie Gregory Polanco (#4) to improve on last season's 89 game introduction to the major leagues (.235/.307/.343). If he struggles once again, it's going to be tough for Pittsburgh to reach the postseason for a third straight year.
How bad was Jay Bruce (.217/.281/.373) last season for the Reds? So bad, that even a couple of relatively untested rookies from Chicago and Pittsburgh are already ranked ahead of him. He's got to get better in '15. There's nowhere to go but up from a negative 1.1 WAR.
SUMMARY
The Cardinals and Pirates - with three players each ranked number one at their positions - figure to have the best overall lineups in the NL Central. The difference between those two teams seems to be pitching - the Cardinals have the advantage - barring any significant injuries.
It would be a mistake to count any team out of the race for the division title (even the Cubs). If Votto returns to form this season, the Reds could be much better. The same goes for the Brewers with their former golden boy, Braunie.
For the Cubs, they need three relatively unproven rookies to rise to the occasion, if they hope to rise in the standings - which may be asking too much, too soon.
PROJECTIONS
St Louis should win division title again
Second place could be a tight race between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati - even Milwaukee or Chicago could sneak up there if all their pieces fall into place
In other words, second through fifth place is almost a toss up between four teams
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Are the Cubs Really Going to Challenge the Cardinals?
Apparently, the Las Vegas odds makers believe the Chicago Cubs are for real - giving the franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 106 years a legitimate shot to win it all in 2015 (12 to 1). Only the Washington Nationals (11 to 2) and Los Angeles Dodgers (8 to 1) are considered to have a better shot at becoming World Champions.
Joining the Cubs at 12 to 1 are the Boston Red Sox, LA Angels of Anaheim and the St Louis Cardinals. In other words, the Cubs have made such an off-season splash, they're perceived to be on equal footing with the Cardinals, heading into the new season. Technically, they will be tied for first place prior to Opening Day. That's the good news. The bad news: They have to play 162 games.
I'm not just mocking the Cubs because of their past history of ineptitude. Actually, their immediate future - this season - is destined to disappoint their delusional fan base for the 107th consecutive year; but who's counting?
Here's a comparison of each team's anticipated lineups for the upcoming season. These are the position players expected to start most of the games (along with last season's WAR & projected WAR for this season):
Here's a comparison of each team's anticipated lineups for the upcoming season. These are the position players expected to start most of the games (along with last season's WAR & projected WAR for this season):
C Yadier Molina (2.3 WAR - Projected 5.5) Miguel Montero (0.6 WAR - Projected 1.5)
1B Matt Adams (2.2 WAR - Projected 3.5) Anthony Rizzo (4.9 WAR - Projected 5.5)
2B Kolten Wong (2.1 WAR - Projected 4.5) Javier Baez (-1.1 WAR - Projected 1.5)
3B Matt Carpenter (2.8 WAR - Projected 3.5) Tommy La Stella (-0.4 WAR - Projected 1.5)
SS Jhonny Peralta (5.7 WAR - Projected 3.5) Starlin Castro (1.9 WAR - Projected 3.5)
LF Matt Holliday (4.0 WAR - Projected 4.5) Chris Coghlan (0.6 WAR - Projected 1.0)
CF Jon Jay (2.8 WAR - Projected 2.5) Dexter Fowler (1.5 WAR - Projected 2.5)
RF Jason Heyward (7.0 WAR - Projected 5.5) Jorge Soler (1.1 WAR - Projected 3.5)
Total Cardinals (28.9 WAR - Projected 33.0) Total Cubs (9.1 WAR - Projected 20.5)
For the Cubs, their third baseman of the future - Kris Bryant - may be called up early enough in the season to have a positive impact on the team's fortunes. There is very little doubt he'll be an elite player - possibly near "Mike Trout" levels of performance, once he gets acclimated to the major leagues. Let's say he's called up early enough and performs at a ridiculously high rate to produce a 10.0 WAR. We'll remove La Stella's projected 1.5 WAR and insert Bryant's projected 10.0 WAR to change the team projection to a 29.0 WAR. Even then, it's probably not going to be enough to catch the Cardinals - who also have better pitching than their arch-rivals.
The bottom line: Those 12 to 1 odds may be appropriate for the Cardinals. But it's a sucker bet for the Cubs.
For the Cubs, their third baseman of the future - Kris Bryant - may be called up early enough in the season to have a positive impact on the team's fortunes. There is very little doubt he'll be an elite player - possibly near "Mike Trout" levels of performance, once he gets acclimated to the major leagues. Let's say he's called up early enough and performs at a ridiculously high rate to produce a 10.0 WAR. We'll remove La Stella's projected 1.5 WAR and insert Bryant's projected 10.0 WAR to change the team projection to a 29.0 WAR. Even then, it's probably not going to be enough to catch the Cardinals - who also have better pitching than their arch-rivals.
The bottom line: Those 12 to 1 odds may be appropriate for the Cardinals. But it's a sucker bet for the Cubs.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
2015 NL Central Projections: Cardinals Overwhelming Favorite?
With all the recent hype surrounding the Chicago Cubs (new manager, new left-handed pitching ace, new center fielder, bold new prediction from first baseman to "win the NL Central"), the Las Vegas odds makers have given the lovable losers a legitimate shot to win the World Series (around 12 to 1?).
At the same time, unimpressed with the off-season moves of the St Louis Cardinals, those same odds-makers have downgraded last year's division champions - giving them about the same chance of winning the World Series as last year's cellar-dwelling Cubs.
That's just f***ing ridiculous.
Assuming WAR actually means something (generally speaking, it does), let's take a look at the entire NL Central's off-season moves, from a Wins Above Replacement perspective. This will tell us if a team's additions, along with their subtractions actually figures to help them win more games in 2015.
Obviously, there are still some free agents floating around out there that could alter these projections; not to mention a few blockbuster trades that may happen before the season begins. For now, here's the way things have gone for each team:
CARDINALS - 16 players that spent all or part of the 2014 season on the roster are gone. The most notable subtractions are reliever Pat Neshek (2.3 WAR) and starter Shelby Miller (1.7 WAR). Neshek - a free agent who had a career year in '14 - signed with the Houston Astros; Miller was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right fielder Jason Heyward (7.0 WAR) - who becomes a free agent at the end of this season; so this deal is a long term risk, but a short term bonanza.
All of the remaining 14 players that are gone had slightly negative WARs. In fact, the grand total of the 16 subtractions is NEGATIVE 1.2 WAR. Branch Rickey used to call the act of dumping a player with declining skills "Addition by Subtraction" - and that concept seems to apply here.
Obviously, the Heyward acquisition is the most significant of the front office's additions during the off-season, but there were four others: Jordan Walden (0.9 WAR), Mark Reynolds (0.6 WAR), Dean Anna (0.2 WAR) and Matt Belisle (0.1 WAR).
Total WAR for additions: 8.8 - Add in 1.2 WAR from subtractions - NET GAIN: 10.0 WAR
CUBS - 8 players that spent all or part of the 2014 season on the roster are gone. The most notable subtractions: Jeff Samardzija (1.8 WAR - now a starting pitcher for the White Sox) and former third baseman Luis Valbuena (1.4 WAR) who was traded to the Houston Astros for center fielder Dexter Fowler (1.8 WAR). All told, the Cubs gave up a total WAR of 1.8 in their subtractions.
Additions: The biggest coup in the free agent market - left-handed ace Jon Lester (5.2 WAR) was a step in the right direction for the franchise with the worst pitching in the division last season (707 runs allowed). They also signed former Cards closer Jason Motte (-0.1 WAR) - trying to make a comeback after TJS - and reacquired starting pitcher Jason Hammel (3.1 WAR) - However, the Hammel signing doesn't add to the team's total WAR since his contribution was already factored in from last season. Along with the previously mentioned Fowler, the other additions include catcher Miguel Montero (0.6 WAR) and utility outfielder Chris Denorfia (0.1 WAR).
Total WAR for additions: 7.6 - Lost 1.8 WAR from subtractions - NET GAIN: 5.8 WAR
The rest of the NL Central have either regressed or improved only slightly:
REDS - 11 subtractions and 4 additions equals 1.1 WAR
PIRATES - 11 subtractions and 5 additions equals NEGATIVE 3.9 WAR
BREWERS - 13 subtractions and 4 additions equals NEGATIVE 4.3 WAR
NL Central Projections for 2015 - The "Starting Point" for each team is their Pythagorean Winning Percentage from 2014 (Based on Run Differential). As we can see, four out of the five NL Central teams won more games than their run differential would normally produce (especially the Cardinals):
Team W-L in '14 vs Pythagorean - 2015 W-L Projection
Cardinals 90-72 83-79 93-69
Pirates 88-74 87-75 83-79
Reds 76-86 79-83 80-82
Cubs 73-89 71-91 77-85
Brewers 82-80 80-82 76-86
It looks like it's going to be a tight race for last place in the NL Central in 2015. It seems as though the Cubbies might be able to escape the cellar; but just by the slimmest of margins. Certainly, this isn't what all those delusional Cubs fans are expecting for the upcoming season - not to mention those Las Vegas odds-makers. Sorry. Please accept my condolences for another season of futility.
Maybe 2016 will be better. But don't count on it.
At the same time, unimpressed with the off-season moves of the St Louis Cardinals, those same odds-makers have downgraded last year's division champions - giving them about the same chance of winning the World Series as last year's cellar-dwelling Cubs.
That's just f***ing ridiculous.
Assuming WAR actually means something (generally speaking, it does), let's take a look at the entire NL Central's off-season moves, from a Wins Above Replacement perspective. This will tell us if a team's additions, along with their subtractions actually figures to help them win more games in 2015.
Obviously, there are still some free agents floating around out there that could alter these projections; not to mention a few blockbuster trades that may happen before the season begins. For now, here's the way things have gone for each team:
CARDINALS - 16 players that spent all or part of the 2014 season on the roster are gone. The most notable subtractions are reliever Pat Neshek (2.3 WAR) and starter Shelby Miller (1.7 WAR). Neshek - a free agent who had a career year in '14 - signed with the Houston Astros; Miller was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right fielder Jason Heyward (7.0 WAR) - who becomes a free agent at the end of this season; so this deal is a long term risk, but a short term bonanza.
All of the remaining 14 players that are gone had slightly negative WARs. In fact, the grand total of the 16 subtractions is NEGATIVE 1.2 WAR. Branch Rickey used to call the act of dumping a player with declining skills "Addition by Subtraction" - and that concept seems to apply here.
Obviously, the Heyward acquisition is the most significant of the front office's additions during the off-season, but there were four others: Jordan Walden (0.9 WAR), Mark Reynolds (0.6 WAR), Dean Anna (0.2 WAR) and Matt Belisle (0.1 WAR).
Total WAR for additions: 8.8 - Add in 1.2 WAR from subtractions - NET GAIN: 10.0 WAR
CUBS - 8 players that spent all or part of the 2014 season on the roster are gone. The most notable subtractions: Jeff Samardzija (1.8 WAR - now a starting pitcher for the White Sox) and former third baseman Luis Valbuena (1.4 WAR) who was traded to the Houston Astros for center fielder Dexter Fowler (1.8 WAR). All told, the Cubs gave up a total WAR of 1.8 in their subtractions.
Additions: The biggest coup in the free agent market - left-handed ace Jon Lester (5.2 WAR) was a step in the right direction for the franchise with the worst pitching in the division last season (707 runs allowed). They also signed former Cards closer Jason Motte (-0.1 WAR) - trying to make a comeback after TJS - and reacquired starting pitcher Jason Hammel (3.1 WAR) - However, the Hammel signing doesn't add to the team's total WAR since his contribution was already factored in from last season. Along with the previously mentioned Fowler, the other additions include catcher Miguel Montero (0.6 WAR) and utility outfielder Chris Denorfia (0.1 WAR).
Total WAR for additions: 7.6 - Lost 1.8 WAR from subtractions - NET GAIN: 5.8 WAR
The rest of the NL Central have either regressed or improved only slightly:
REDS - 11 subtractions and 4 additions equals 1.1 WAR
PIRATES - 11 subtractions and 5 additions equals NEGATIVE 3.9 WAR
BREWERS - 13 subtractions and 4 additions equals NEGATIVE 4.3 WAR
NL Central Projections for 2015 - The "Starting Point" for each team is their Pythagorean Winning Percentage from 2014 (Based on Run Differential). As we can see, four out of the five NL Central teams won more games than their run differential would normally produce (especially the Cardinals):
Team W-L in '14 vs Pythagorean - 2015 W-L Projection
Cardinals 90-72 83-79 93-69
Pirates 88-74 87-75 83-79
Reds 76-86 79-83 80-82
Cubs 73-89 71-91 77-85
Brewers 82-80 80-82 76-86
It looks like it's going to be a tight race for last place in the NL Central in 2015. It seems as though the Cubbies might be able to escape the cellar; but just by the slimmest of margins. Certainly, this isn't what all those delusional Cubs fans are expecting for the upcoming season - not to mention those Las Vegas odds-makers. Sorry. Please accept my condolences for another season of futility.
Maybe 2016 will be better. But don't count on it.
Monday, September 22, 2014
September 22, 1974 - Simmons Slugs Cubs with Fists & His Bat in Wild Walk-Off Win
Sunday, September 22, 1974 - At Busch Stadium II (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Steve Stone - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 43,267
Ted Simmons - who had four RBI on the day - delivered a two-out ninth-inning single, scoring Lou Brock from second base, to give the Cardinals a wild, brawl-enlivened 6-5 walk-off win over the Cubs.
It was a fitting ending for Simmons, who had been right in the middle of a benches-clearing brawl that began in the top of the ninth when Cubs batter Bill Madlock became irritated with the antics of Cards' closer - Al Hrabosky - who would step off the mound with his back to home plate, to psyche himself up prior to working to the batters. No sooner had The Mad Hungarian positioned himself to begin his work, Madlock stepped out of the batter's box and began wandering towards the on-deck circle. After this little cat and mouse game went on for a couple of minutes, home plate umpire Shag Crawford tried to get Madlock back in the batter's box - and when he was still wandering around, Crawford motioned to Hrabosky to begin pitching. Al's first hurried throw in the direction of home plate was immediately called a strike.
At this point, Cubs manager Jim Marshall and the on deck hitter, Jose Cardenal got involved in the brewing melee - which eventually reached total pandemonium when Madlock and Simmons exchanged a few choice words - quickly followed by a strong right hook by Simba into the jaw of the previously jawing Cub third baseman. By this time, both benches were in the donnybrook, and by the time order was restored, only one participant was ejected - Cubs manager Marshall.
Madlock finally stepped into the box and struck out - and then Simmons ended it with another knockout punch - but this one came with a bat in his hands.
This wild, wild win, coupled with Pittsburgh's 4-0 loss to the Mets, increased the first-place Cardinals' lead over the Pirates to 1.5 games, heading into a most bizarre final week of the season.
Back to the actual game.
Bob Gibson, nearing the end of a legendary career, had a bit of a rough start in this one, as former teammate Jose Cardenal greeted him with a first-inning RBI single - to stake Cub starter Steve Stone to a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals struck back in the bottom half of the first, with some two-out thunder. Reggie Smith doubled - giving cleanup hitter Ted Simmons a chance to bat with a runner in scoring position - and he cashed in, with a home run deep to right field, as the Cards grabbed a 2-1 lead.
St Louis padded that lead with a pair of third inning runs. Brock, on his way to a major league record 118 stolen bases (since broken) - started the rally with a lead-off walk, stole second, then advanced to third when Ted Sizemore laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Next up - Reggie Smith - tripled deep to right field, scoring Brock - then came in to score when Simmons got his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly deep to right field.
Trailing 4-1, the Cubs scored four sixth-inning runs off a tiring Gibson, who had long since intimidated manager Red Schoendienst with a menacing glare that precluded any pitching changes - at least while Gibby was still on the mound. Consequently, Gibson bore the full brunt of the three hits, two walks, an error, three stolen bases and a sacrifice fly that gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead.
The Redbirds tied it off Cubs reliever Oscar Zamora in their half of the sixth, when Ken Reitz - batting with runners on first and third and nobody out - grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The rally was squashed, Reitz was not credited with an RBI - but at least a run was in.
With the scored knotted at five runs apiece, Gibson had apparently convinced his manager to keep him in the game for just one more inning - and he pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to maintain that tie, to put himself in position for the "win" if his teammates could rally in the bottom of the seventh.
However, pinch hitter Jim Dwyer - batting for Gibson - failed to reach base. With one out, Brock singled, stole second, but was eventually forced out at third when Simmons - after a walk to Reggie Smith - grounded one right at third baseman Bill Madlock, who stepped on the bag to end the threat.
Al Hrabosky - the eccentric southpaw whose pre-pitch ritual got on the nerves of Madlock aka Mad Dog - took over the pitching chores in the eighth-inning, and continued in the ninth - retiring all six batters he faced - two on strikes - including Mad Dog himself. Imagine that. The Mad Hungarian striking out the Mad Dog. Such madness.
Reliever Dave LaRoche - who stayed out of harm's way when all the punches were being throw in the top half of the ninth - was on the mound when the Cardinals took their turn at bat in the bottom half. Leading-off was the irrepressible Hrabosky - who was going to be in this one for the long haul, if necessary - and he flew out to right.
Then Brock singled again, as the chants of "Lou, Lou" reverberated through the stadium. With Sizemore batting, Lou took off for second - but the hit & run was on - unsuccessfully, as Sizemore flew out to right - as Brock scrambled back to first.
Next up - Reggie Smith - capped off his perfect day at the plate by drawing his second walk of the game - to go with two triples and a double in five plate appearances. That allowed Simmons with yet another RBI opportunity - and Simba delivered another knock-out punch - the walk-off single to center field, scoring Brock for the 6-5 win.
It was another exciting, nearly insane victory for the over-achieving Cardinals, as they tried to win their first-ever NL East title. But there were also behind the scenes distractions - that ultimately may have prevented the postseason party for St Louis.
This game? It was nothing - just good clean fun.
Ted Simmons - who had four RBI on the day - delivered a two-out ninth-inning single, scoring Lou Brock from second base, to give the Cardinals a wild, brawl-enlivened 6-5 walk-off win over the Cubs.
It was a fitting ending for Simmons, who had been right in the middle of a benches-clearing brawl that began in the top of the ninth when Cubs batter Bill Madlock became irritated with the antics of Cards' closer - Al Hrabosky - who would step off the mound with his back to home plate, to psyche himself up prior to working to the batters. No sooner had The Mad Hungarian positioned himself to begin his work, Madlock stepped out of the batter's box and began wandering towards the on-deck circle. After this little cat and mouse game went on for a couple of minutes, home plate umpire Shag Crawford tried to get Madlock back in the batter's box - and when he was still wandering around, Crawford motioned to Hrabosky to begin pitching. Al's first hurried throw in the direction of home plate was immediately called a strike.
At this point, Cubs manager Jim Marshall and the on deck hitter, Jose Cardenal got involved in the brewing melee - which eventually reached total pandemonium when Madlock and Simmons exchanged a few choice words - quickly followed by a strong right hook by Simba into the jaw of the previously jawing Cub third baseman. By this time, both benches were in the donnybrook, and by the time order was restored, only one participant was ejected - Cubs manager Marshall.
Madlock finally stepped into the box and struck out - and then Simmons ended it with another knockout punch - but this one came with a bat in his hands.
This wild, wild win, coupled with Pittsburgh's 4-0 loss to the Mets, increased the first-place Cardinals' lead over the Pirates to 1.5 games, heading into a most bizarre final week of the season.
Back to the actual game.
Bob Gibson, nearing the end of a legendary career, had a bit of a rough start in this one, as former teammate Jose Cardenal greeted him with a first-inning RBI single - to stake Cub starter Steve Stone to a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals struck back in the bottom half of the first, with some two-out thunder. Reggie Smith doubled - giving cleanup hitter Ted Simmons a chance to bat with a runner in scoring position - and he cashed in, with a home run deep to right field, as the Cards grabbed a 2-1 lead.
St Louis padded that lead with a pair of third inning runs. Brock, on his way to a major league record 118 stolen bases (since broken) - started the rally with a lead-off walk, stole second, then advanced to third when Ted Sizemore laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Next up - Reggie Smith - tripled deep to right field, scoring Brock - then came in to score when Simmons got his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly deep to right field.
Trailing 4-1, the Cubs scored four sixth-inning runs off a tiring Gibson, who had long since intimidated manager Red Schoendienst with a menacing glare that precluded any pitching changes - at least while Gibby was still on the mound. Consequently, Gibson bore the full brunt of the three hits, two walks, an error, three stolen bases and a sacrifice fly that gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead.
The Redbirds tied it off Cubs reliever Oscar Zamora in their half of the sixth, when Ken Reitz - batting with runners on first and third and nobody out - grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The rally was squashed, Reitz was not credited with an RBI - but at least a run was in.
With the scored knotted at five runs apiece, Gibson had apparently convinced his manager to keep him in the game for just one more inning - and he pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to maintain that tie, to put himself in position for the "win" if his teammates could rally in the bottom of the seventh.
However, pinch hitter Jim Dwyer - batting for Gibson - failed to reach base. With one out, Brock singled, stole second, but was eventually forced out at third when Simmons - after a walk to Reggie Smith - grounded one right at third baseman Bill Madlock, who stepped on the bag to end the threat.
Al Hrabosky - the eccentric southpaw whose pre-pitch ritual got on the nerves of Madlock aka Mad Dog - took over the pitching chores in the eighth-inning, and continued in the ninth - retiring all six batters he faced - two on strikes - including Mad Dog himself. Imagine that. The Mad Hungarian striking out the Mad Dog. Such madness.
Reliever Dave LaRoche - who stayed out of harm's way when all the punches were being throw in the top half of the ninth - was on the mound when the Cardinals took their turn at bat in the bottom half. Leading-off was the irrepressible Hrabosky - who was going to be in this one for the long haul, if necessary - and he flew out to right.
Then Brock singled again, as the chants of "Lou, Lou" reverberated through the stadium. With Sizemore batting, Lou took off for second - but the hit & run was on - unsuccessfully, as Sizemore flew out to right - as Brock scrambled back to first.
Next up - Reggie Smith - capped off his perfect day at the plate by drawing his second walk of the game - to go with two triples and a double in five plate appearances. That allowed Simmons with yet another RBI opportunity - and Simba delivered another knock-out punch - the walk-off single to center field, scoring Brock for the 6-5 win.
It was another exciting, nearly insane victory for the over-achieving Cardinals, as they tried to win their first-ever NL East title. But there were also behind the scenes distractions - that ultimately may have prevented the postseason party for St Louis.
This game? It was nothing - just good clean fun.
Friday, September 19, 2014
September 19, 1996 - Cards Walk-Off Cubs in 13-Innings, 5-4
Thursday, September 19, 1996 - At Busch Stadium II (Andy Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Jaime Navarro - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 34,923
Tom Pagnozzi's one-out thirteenth-inning infield single scored pinch runner Miguel Mejia from third base - giving the NL Central division-leading Cardinals a 5-4 walk-off win over the Cubs. Cory Bailey (4-2) - the seventh St Louis pitcher employed by manager Tony LaRussa in this game - worked the final two scoreless innings of relief for the win.
Basking in the glory of this extra-inning victory made it easier to forget the blown save the Cardinal bullpen was responsible for - when Chicago pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, to forge a 4-4 tie - and send the game into a few extra innings of free entertainment for the fans.
This one began with a bang, when the first hitter of the game - Chicago's Brian McRae hit the second pitch Andy Benes delivered over the left field wall, to give the Cubs a quick 1-0 lead.
Cubs starter Jaime Navarro had some first-inning trouble of his own, however. Ozzie Smith - nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career - led-off with a double into the left-center field gap. Next up - Ray Lankford walked on four straight pitches - as "ball four" was a wild one - allowing Ozzie to move up to third.
Ron Gant also walked (the first of four free passes he would receive in this game) - loading the bases for fan-favorite Willie McGee - who struck out swinging - eliciting the usual words of encouragement from sympathetic fans knew how badly he felt whenever he failed to deliver in situations like this.
Future hitting coach John No Gloves Mabry made contact with a Navarro pitch, but it produced no positive results, either. His little dribbler to the left of the pitcher's mound was pounced on by the agile Cubs hurler - who got the force out at home for out number two.
The inning, which had begun so full of promise, was on the verge of despair. Next up - former Minnesota Twin-World Series champion and Cardinal nemesis - Gary Gaetti - delivered a bases-clearing double to suddenly give the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.
The Cubs cut the lead down to 3-2 in the third-inning. Luis Gonzalez scored McRae from second with a base hit to center.
St Louis again loaded the bases with nobody out in their half of the third. A walk to Lankford, a stolen base, another walk to Gant, and a hit batsman - McGee - once again brought Mabry to the plate in an ideal RBI situation. Instead, Mabry grounded one to third baseman Dave Magadan - who fielded the ball, stepped on third and fired a strike to first for the double play. A run scored on the play - but of course, Mabry was not credited with an RBI - and the Cards had to settle for just that one run.
Mabry's frustration intensified when the Cubs took their turn at bat in the seventh. Ryne Sandberg opened with a single to center. After he was forced out at second on Tyler Houston's infield grounder, Rey Sanchez grounded one to Gaetti at third, whose only play was to get the runner at first. But when Mabry tried to catch Sanchez rounding the second base bag a bit too far - his throw went into left field - allowing Sanchez to score. The score was now 4-3, in favor of St Louis - and that lead seemed awfully precarious.
Meanwhile, after Navarro exited the game after six innings - allowing four earned runs - his immediate replacements prevented any further Cardinal scoring for another six innings.
Benes was removed after seven innings with a 4-3 lead. Marc Petkovsek - the first of six Cardinal relievers - got the first two outs in the eighth - then LaRussa brought in southpaw Tony Fossas to get the final out - before sending him back to the mound to start the ninth.
Dave Magadan - a good left-handed hitter - started the inning with a single to center.
Exit Fossas - enter T.J. Mathews to face Sandberg - who forced the runner at second on an infield grounder. But then, trouble ensued. Tyler Houston ripped a double down the left field line - advancing Sandberg to third. After pinch hitter Brent Brown was intentionally walked to load the bases - pinch hitter Brooks Kieschnick hit a slow roller to Ozzie - whose only play was to get the runner at first, as Sandberg scored the tying run.
After the Cardinals failed to score in their half of the ninth, Dennis Eckersley - the fifth pitcher to appear in the game for the Redbirds - got into an immediate jam, when Mark Grace opened the tenth-inning with a double. Eck then struck out Doug Glanville - but the next batter - Jose Hernandez - singled to left, as Grace stopped at third.
Next up - Ryne Sandberg - who became a notorious Cardinal killer back in '84 - most notably, at Bruce Sutter's expense in one particular game - which literally, made Sandberg a household name. But that was then - this is now. Ryno lined one to Gant in left field - not particularly deep - just hit hard. Grace gambled, trying to tag up from third - and lost. Gant's throw to Pagnozzi nailed Gracie - for an inning-ending double play. The Cardinals had dodged a bullet - but could they take advantage of this break?
They finally cashed in - in the thirteenth-inning. Mike Campbell - beginning his third inning of work, was greeted by John Mabry's double down the right field line. Redemption, at last. Pinch runner Miguel Mejia was then moved up to third on Gaetti's sacrifice bunt.
Tom Pagnozzi finally ended it with a base hit deep in the hole at shortstop, which Jose Hernandez could do nothing with - as the speedy Mejia streaked in from third with the walk-off run.
The Cardinals (83-70) were now five games up, with just nine to play.
Tom Pagnozzi's one-out thirteenth-inning infield single scored pinch runner Miguel Mejia from third base - giving the NL Central division-leading Cardinals a 5-4 walk-off win over the Cubs. Cory Bailey (4-2) - the seventh St Louis pitcher employed by manager Tony LaRussa in this game - worked the final two scoreless innings of relief for the win.
Basking in the glory of this extra-inning victory made it easier to forget the blown save the Cardinal bullpen was responsible for - when Chicago pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, to forge a 4-4 tie - and send the game into a few extra innings of free entertainment for the fans.
This one began with a bang, when the first hitter of the game - Chicago's Brian McRae hit the second pitch Andy Benes delivered over the left field wall, to give the Cubs a quick 1-0 lead.
Cubs starter Jaime Navarro had some first-inning trouble of his own, however. Ozzie Smith - nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career - led-off with a double into the left-center field gap. Next up - Ray Lankford walked on four straight pitches - as "ball four" was a wild one - allowing Ozzie to move up to third.
Ron Gant also walked (the first of four free passes he would receive in this game) - loading the bases for fan-favorite Willie McGee - who struck out swinging - eliciting the usual words of encouragement from sympathetic fans knew how badly he felt whenever he failed to deliver in situations like this.
Future hitting coach John No Gloves Mabry made contact with a Navarro pitch, but it produced no positive results, either. His little dribbler to the left of the pitcher's mound was pounced on by the agile Cubs hurler - who got the force out at home for out number two.
The inning, which had begun so full of promise, was on the verge of despair. Next up - former Minnesota Twin-World Series champion and Cardinal nemesis - Gary Gaetti - delivered a bases-clearing double to suddenly give the Redbirds a 3-1 lead.
The Cubs cut the lead down to 3-2 in the third-inning. Luis Gonzalez scored McRae from second with a base hit to center.
St Louis again loaded the bases with nobody out in their half of the third. A walk to Lankford, a stolen base, another walk to Gant, and a hit batsman - McGee - once again brought Mabry to the plate in an ideal RBI situation. Instead, Mabry grounded one to third baseman Dave Magadan - who fielded the ball, stepped on third and fired a strike to first for the double play. A run scored on the play - but of course, Mabry was not credited with an RBI - and the Cards had to settle for just that one run.
Mabry's frustration intensified when the Cubs took their turn at bat in the seventh. Ryne Sandberg opened with a single to center. After he was forced out at second on Tyler Houston's infield grounder, Rey Sanchez grounded one to Gaetti at third, whose only play was to get the runner at first. But when Mabry tried to catch Sanchez rounding the second base bag a bit too far - his throw went into left field - allowing Sanchez to score. The score was now 4-3, in favor of St Louis - and that lead seemed awfully precarious.
Meanwhile, after Navarro exited the game after six innings - allowing four earned runs - his immediate replacements prevented any further Cardinal scoring for another six innings.
Benes was removed after seven innings with a 4-3 lead. Marc Petkovsek - the first of six Cardinal relievers - got the first two outs in the eighth - then LaRussa brought in southpaw Tony Fossas to get the final out - before sending him back to the mound to start the ninth.
Dave Magadan - a good left-handed hitter - started the inning with a single to center.
Exit Fossas - enter T.J. Mathews to face Sandberg - who forced the runner at second on an infield grounder. But then, trouble ensued. Tyler Houston ripped a double down the left field line - advancing Sandberg to third. After pinch hitter Brent Brown was intentionally walked to load the bases - pinch hitter Brooks Kieschnick hit a slow roller to Ozzie - whose only play was to get the runner at first, as Sandberg scored the tying run.
After the Cardinals failed to score in their half of the ninth, Dennis Eckersley - the fifth pitcher to appear in the game for the Redbirds - got into an immediate jam, when Mark Grace opened the tenth-inning with a double. Eck then struck out Doug Glanville - but the next batter - Jose Hernandez - singled to left, as Grace stopped at third.
Next up - Ryne Sandberg - who became a notorious Cardinal killer back in '84 - most notably, at Bruce Sutter's expense in one particular game - which literally, made Sandberg a household name. But that was then - this is now. Ryno lined one to Gant in left field - not particularly deep - just hit hard. Grace gambled, trying to tag up from third - and lost. Gant's throw to Pagnozzi nailed Gracie - for an inning-ending double play. The Cardinals had dodged a bullet - but could they take advantage of this break?
They finally cashed in - in the thirteenth-inning. Mike Campbell - beginning his third inning of work, was greeted by John Mabry's double down the right field line. Redemption, at last. Pinch runner Miguel Mejia was then moved up to third on Gaetti's sacrifice bunt.
Tom Pagnozzi finally ended it with a base hit deep in the hole at shortstop, which Jose Hernandez could do nothing with - as the speedy Mejia streaked in from third with the walk-off run.
The Cardinals (83-70) were now five games up, with just nine to play.
Friday, September 12, 2014
September 13, 1964 - Cards Equal MLB Record in 15-2 Runaway Win at Wrigley
Sunday, September 13, 1964 - At Wrigley Field (Curt Simmons - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Dick Ellsworth - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 11,606
On June 1, 1923, the New York Giants became the first team in major league history to score at least one run in all nine innings of a game - en route to clobbering the Philadelphia Phillies, 22-8.
Forty-one years, three months and twelve days later, the St Louis Cardinals equaled that record en route to a 15-2 whipping of the Cubs - at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The Cards had some help from a sloppy Cubs' defense that committed a mind-boggling seven errors - allowing St Louis to score two unearned runs in the fifth-inning and another in the ninth - to keep the streak alive.
The only other time this freak occurrence took place was nearly thirty-five years later - on May 5, 1999 - when the Colorado Rockies did it to the Cubbies at Wrigley Field once again - en route to a 13-6 pasting. (Please note: "Clobbering" is more severe than a "whipping", which in turn is a bit more severe than a "pasting".)
It's interesting to note - no American League team has ever scored in nine consecutive innings - but on six different occasions, they have scored in all eight innings played - because they were the home team and the game ended without requiring another turn at bat. The most recent such occurrence took place on April 29, 2006 - when the New York Yankees lambasted the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, 17-6.
Returning to 1964, here's what scoring at least one run in all nine innings looks like:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
St Louis 2 1 2 2 2 1 3 1 1 15 - 18 - 1
Chicago 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 - 8 - 7 (and what it doesn't look like)
As you might suspect, every St Louis player in the starting lineup scored at least one run (even Bob Uecker - although Uecker, along with starting pitcher Curt Simmons were the only players in the starting lineup to fail to record at least one RBI).
Three Cardinal players hit home runs: Lou Brock, Julian Javier and Mike Shannon.
RBI leaders: Shannon (4), Dick Groat (3), and Ken Boyer (2).
Hits leaders: Groat (4), Curt Flood (3), Javier (3), Brock (2), Boyer (2) and Shannon (2).
Pitching Summary:
Curt Simmons (15-9): 8 IP - 8 H - 2 R - 5 BB - 7 SO
Ray Washburn was credited with a SAVE (2) for doing this: 1 IP - 0 H - 0 R - 1 BB - 0 SO
A save? For protecting a precarious 13-run lead?
Meanwhile, Cubs starter Dick Ellsworth was relieved of his duties after 3.2 innings. Five relievers were used in this game, and for the most part, they didn't pitch so well.
One young rookie - Sterling Slaughter - who made his major league debut on April 19 - faced four batters in the sixth-inning, and all four got base hits (Flood, Brock, Groat and Boyer) - and all four scored. That would be his last appearance in a major league game (He no doubt told his grandchildren, the last batter he faced in a major league game went on to win the NL MVP Award that season).
After this narrow victory, the Cardinals (80-63) kept pace with the Phillies (86-57) - 4-1 winners over the Giants at Candlestick Park. Still six games back, with only nineteen to play. It would take a monumental collapse on the part of the Phillies to have them blow this lead. And of course, it would happen, but not until they returned from their successful west coast road trip. Their meltdown would be taking place at home, for their fans to witness, first-hand.
Ray Washburn saved this game?
On June 1, 1923, the New York Giants became the first team in major league history to score at least one run in all nine innings of a game - en route to clobbering the Philadelphia Phillies, 22-8.
Forty-one years, three months and twelve days later, the St Louis Cardinals equaled that record en route to a 15-2 whipping of the Cubs - at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The Cards had some help from a sloppy Cubs' defense that committed a mind-boggling seven errors - allowing St Louis to score two unearned runs in the fifth-inning and another in the ninth - to keep the streak alive.
The only other time this freak occurrence took place was nearly thirty-five years later - on May 5, 1999 - when the Colorado Rockies did it to the Cubbies at Wrigley Field once again - en route to a 13-6 pasting. (Please note: "Clobbering" is more severe than a "whipping", which in turn is a bit more severe than a "pasting".)
It's interesting to note - no American League team has ever scored in nine consecutive innings - but on six different occasions, they have scored in all eight innings played - because they were the home team and the game ended without requiring another turn at bat. The most recent such occurrence took place on April 29, 2006 - when the New York Yankees lambasted the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, 17-6.
Returning to 1964, here's what scoring at least one run in all nine innings looks like:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
St Louis 2 1 2 2 2 1 3 1 1 15 - 18 - 1
Chicago 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 - 8 - 7 (and what it doesn't look like)
As you might suspect, every St Louis player in the starting lineup scored at least one run (even Bob Uecker - although Uecker, along with starting pitcher Curt Simmons were the only players in the starting lineup to fail to record at least one RBI).
Three Cardinal players hit home runs: Lou Brock, Julian Javier and Mike Shannon.
RBI leaders: Shannon (4), Dick Groat (3), and Ken Boyer (2).
Hits leaders: Groat (4), Curt Flood (3), Javier (3), Brock (2), Boyer (2) and Shannon (2).
Pitching Summary:
Curt Simmons (15-9): 8 IP - 8 H - 2 R - 5 BB - 7 SO
Ray Washburn was credited with a SAVE (2) for doing this: 1 IP - 0 H - 0 R - 1 BB - 0 SO
A save? For protecting a precarious 13-run lead?
Meanwhile, Cubs starter Dick Ellsworth was relieved of his duties after 3.2 innings. Five relievers were used in this game, and for the most part, they didn't pitch so well.
One young rookie - Sterling Slaughter - who made his major league debut on April 19 - faced four batters in the sixth-inning, and all four got base hits (Flood, Brock, Groat and Boyer) - and all four scored. That would be his last appearance in a major league game (He no doubt told his grandchildren, the last batter he faced in a major league game went on to win the NL MVP Award that season).
After this narrow victory, the Cardinals (80-63) kept pace with the Phillies (86-57) - 4-1 winners over the Giants at Candlestick Park. Still six games back, with only nineteen to play. It would take a monumental collapse on the part of the Phillies to have them blow this lead. And of course, it would happen, but not until they returned from their successful west coast road trip. Their meltdown would be taking place at home, for their fans to witness, first-hand.
Ray Washburn saved this game?
Monday, September 8, 2014
September 8, 1998 - Where Were You When McGwire Hit Number 62?
Tuesday, September 8, 1998 - At Busch Stadium II (Kent Mercker - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Steve Trachsel - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 43,688
Mark McGwire became the first player in major league history to hit 62 home runs in a single season - and he did it tonight, in a nationally televised game between the Cards and Cubs. Oh yeah - the Cardinals won the game by a score of 6-3, to improve to 71-73 on the season. Not exactly in contention for postseason play - but the story of the year - especially for Cardinal Nation - was the quest for 62.
Not since 1961 - when both Maris and Mantle were in hot pursuit of Babe Ruth's 60 - had two players seriously challenged for the new and improved record - in the same season. Of course, it just so happened that the other guy in hot pursuit of the record - Sammy Sosa - was stationed out in right field when McGwire's hot shot cleared the left field wall. He even jogged in from his post to offer awkward hugs and forearm bashes to his friendly rival - as the nation collectively sighed.
So this was a big deal. People who weren't really that interested in baseball found the pursuit of 62 home runs a fascinating subject. The two rivals seemed to embrace the challenge of breaking the record - and the surviving Maris family members were gracious enough to be on hand for handshakes and hugs when Big Mac smacked Number 61 on Monday - and Number 62 tonight. He would go on to hit an unfathomable total of 70 - a record certain to last - possibly forever - until it was broken in 2001, that is.
In the wake of the Steroids Scandal, along with the new Barry Bonds home run record of 73 - McGwire's accomplishment has diminished in the eyes of many of the fans and media that originally lauded him, along with Sosa - for "saving baseball".
Those who claim McGwire "cheated" by taking performance enhancing drugs seem to forget that the substance he used - referred to as "Andro" - was legal. There's no telling how many major league players were using some form of PEDs at the time - but I'd venture to guess it was over half of them.
McGwire, Sosa and Bonds are being singled out because they were far more successful than the other guys. They were also more entertaining - which is why this otherwise meaningless game was televised for the world to witness. I know I saw it - and so did you. What other games do you remember watching on television that year? Aside from the game on Monday.
Meanwhile, after all the hoopla with the McGwire home run subsided, the Cardinals put together a five-run sixth-inning to take control of the game. Back-to-back home runs by Ray Lankford - a three-run shot - and Ron Gant were also featured - but few remember.
Strangely enough, the Cardinals closed out the '98 season with a 12-6 record - so they actually had a respectable 83 win season. In 2006, that would've won the NL Central!
Mark McGwire became the first player in major league history to hit 62 home runs in a single season - and he did it tonight, in a nationally televised game between the Cards and Cubs. Oh yeah - the Cardinals won the game by a score of 6-3, to improve to 71-73 on the season. Not exactly in contention for postseason play - but the story of the year - especially for Cardinal Nation - was the quest for 62.
Not since 1961 - when both Maris and Mantle were in hot pursuit of Babe Ruth's 60 - had two players seriously challenged for the new and improved record - in the same season. Of course, it just so happened that the other guy in hot pursuit of the record - Sammy Sosa - was stationed out in right field when McGwire's hot shot cleared the left field wall. He even jogged in from his post to offer awkward hugs and forearm bashes to his friendly rival - as the nation collectively sighed.
So this was a big deal. People who weren't really that interested in baseball found the pursuit of 62 home runs a fascinating subject. The two rivals seemed to embrace the challenge of breaking the record - and the surviving Maris family members were gracious enough to be on hand for handshakes and hugs when Big Mac smacked Number 61 on Monday - and Number 62 tonight. He would go on to hit an unfathomable total of 70 - a record certain to last - possibly forever - until it was broken in 2001, that is.
In the wake of the Steroids Scandal, along with the new Barry Bonds home run record of 73 - McGwire's accomplishment has diminished in the eyes of many of the fans and media that originally lauded him, along with Sosa - for "saving baseball".
Those who claim McGwire "cheated" by taking performance enhancing drugs seem to forget that the substance he used - referred to as "Andro" - was legal. There's no telling how many major league players were using some form of PEDs at the time - but I'd venture to guess it was over half of them.
McGwire, Sosa and Bonds are being singled out because they were far more successful than the other guys. They were also more entertaining - which is why this otherwise meaningless game was televised for the world to witness. I know I saw it - and so did you. What other games do you remember watching on television that year? Aside from the game on Monday.
Meanwhile, after all the hoopla with the McGwire home run subsided, the Cardinals put together a five-run sixth-inning to take control of the game. Back-to-back home runs by Ray Lankford - a three-run shot - and Ron Gant were also featured - but few remember.
Strangely enough, the Cardinals closed out the '98 season with a 12-6 record - so they actually had a respectable 83 win season. In 2006, that would've won the NL Central!
Friday, September 5, 2014
September 6, 2002 - Cards' 11-Run Inning Almost a Franchise Record
Friday, September 6, 2002 - At Busch Stadium II (Andy Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Alan Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 38,661
In a rare brother vs brother pitching match-up, older brother Andy got the better of his younger sibling - on the mound and even in the batter's box. Andy's third-inning lead-off single off his kid brother started an amazing eleven-run rally - and just to prove it was no fluke - Andy did it again, with two out, to drive in the sixth run of the inning - which also ended Alan's night. When the dust had settled, the younger Benes (1-1) was charged with eight runs in 2.2 innings - not to mention, his first loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Andy (5-4) pitched the only complete game he'd log in seventeen starts in '02 - allowing two meaningless runs in the last two innings - good for an easy 11-2 win over the Cubs.
The eleven run outburst was just one run shy of tying the franchise record for most runs in an inning - which was tied on July 21, 2012 - in a game at Busch Stadium III against - who else? - the Cubs.
What made this big inning especially unusual - aside from having an opposing pitcher get two base hits off his brother - was the fact that Scott Rolen made the first and last outs - striking out both times. Go figure. Mike Matheny had the distinction of making out number two in the third, when he flew out to right field. Strangely enough, Rolen and Matheny were a combined 0 for 8 in the game, and were the only players in the starting lineup without scoring at least one run - but I'm sure none of their teammates brought up that embarrassing fact in the post game revelry.
Here's what the rest of the lineup did:
Benes - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Vina - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Marrero - 1 single, 1 base on balls - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Edmonds - 1 base on balls, 1 double - 2 runs scored - 2 RBI
Pujols - 1 single, 1 double - 1 run scored - 4 RBI
Martinez - 1 double - 1 run scored - 2 RBI
Renteria - 1 base on balls (intentional) - 1 run scored
With this win, the Cardinals improved to 79-61 on the season - 5.5 games ahead of the second-place Houston Astros. They would complete a three-game sweep of the Cubs en route to closing out the season with a NL-best 18-4 record, before sweeping the Diamondbacks in three straight NLDS games.
Alas, they may have been too hot for their own good - cooling off quickly in the NLCS loss to the Giants in five games.
In a rare brother vs brother pitching match-up, older brother Andy got the better of his younger sibling - on the mound and even in the batter's box. Andy's third-inning lead-off single off his kid brother started an amazing eleven-run rally - and just to prove it was no fluke - Andy did it again, with two out, to drive in the sixth run of the inning - which also ended Alan's night. When the dust had settled, the younger Benes (1-1) was charged with eight runs in 2.2 innings - not to mention, his first loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Andy (5-4) pitched the only complete game he'd log in seventeen starts in '02 - allowing two meaningless runs in the last two innings - good for an easy 11-2 win over the Cubs.
The eleven run outburst was just one run shy of tying the franchise record for most runs in an inning - which was tied on July 21, 2012 - in a game at Busch Stadium III against - who else? - the Cubs.
What made this big inning especially unusual - aside from having an opposing pitcher get two base hits off his brother - was the fact that Scott Rolen made the first and last outs - striking out both times. Go figure. Mike Matheny had the distinction of making out number two in the third, when he flew out to right field. Strangely enough, Rolen and Matheny were a combined 0 for 8 in the game, and were the only players in the starting lineup without scoring at least one run - but I'm sure none of their teammates brought up that embarrassing fact in the post game revelry.
Here's what the rest of the lineup did:
Benes - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Vina - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Marrero - 1 single, 1 base on balls - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Edmonds - 1 base on balls, 1 double - 2 runs scored - 2 RBI
Pujols - 1 single, 1 double - 1 run scored - 4 RBI
Martinez - 1 double - 1 run scored - 2 RBI
Renteria - 1 base on balls (intentional) - 1 run scored
With this win, the Cardinals improved to 79-61 on the season - 5.5 games ahead of the second-place Houston Astros. They would complete a three-game sweep of the Cubs en route to closing out the season with a NL-best 18-4 record, before sweeping the Diamondbacks in three straight NLDS games.
Alas, they may have been too hot for their own good - cooling off quickly in the NLCS loss to the Giants in five games.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
September 4, 1964 - Boyer's Walk-Off HR Keeps Pennant Hopes Alive
Friday, September 4, 1964 - At Busch Stadium I (Curt Simmons - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Dick Elsworth - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 10,220
Ken Boyer was having a bad night - going 0 for 4, which included a rally-killing double play earlier in this game. Yet, as he came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth - with two on and two out - in a 5-5 tie with the Cubs - he knew he could find redemption with one swing of the bat. Before you could say "walk-off home run", Boyer connected on a Freddie Burdette fastball lifting the Cardinals to a dramatic 8-5 win - to keep their slim pennant hopes alive.
The third-place Cardinals remained 7.5 games behind the first-place Phillies, who also won tonight - but Philly would soon be finding themselves in a surrealistic downward spiral that was perpetuated by a paranoid manager - Gene Mauch - who started messing around with the starting rotation in an attempt to speed up the process of clinching the pennant. All he succeeded in doing was wear down his top starters to the point they were useless. Essentially, he panicked, causing his team to lose its confidence - making it difficult to execute even the most basic fundamentals of the game.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, had nothing to lose, since they had long been counted out of this race - which explains why the ballpark was two-thirds vacant tonight. However, this team was playing with confidence, they were playing well - and they were putting the "fun" back in fundamentals.
The Cubs were having fun, too - especially in the first-inning - when they quickly broke on top, 2-0 - on an RBI double by Ellis Burton - who later scored on an RBI single off the bat of Ron Santo.
The Cardinals came charging back right away - scoring two first-inning runs of their own. A one-out single by Lou Brock, a stolen base - then an RBI single from Dick Groat plated the first run. After advancing to second when Boyer grounded out to the second baseman, Bill White chased Groat home with a double to right center.
St Louis scored two more runs in the third, but no doubt came away feeling they should have had a bigger inning. Consecutive singles by Flood, Brock and Groat had one run in and runners on first and third for cleanup hitter Boyer - who grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Brock scored on the play, but the Cubs no doubt felt lucky to have escaped with just a two-run deficit to overcome.
Meanwhile, Cardinal starter Curt Simmons seemed to settle down after that shaky two-run first-inning - but suddenly ran afoul with two out in the sixth, with St Louis still holding a 4-2 lead. Jimmie Schaffer lined a single to left, then Ron Campbell brought him home with a double to right.
Manager Johnny Keane then brought in Ron Taylor from the bullpen to face pinch hitter Len Gabrielson, who promptly singled to left - scoring Campbell with the tying run. Taylor avoided further scoring in the seventh, but the Cubs were at it again in the eighth.
Burton started eighth-inning trouble with a lead-off triple to right field. Next up - Billy Williams - drove in the go-ahead run with a single. Again, Taylor was able to avoid further damage, but the Cardinals had not only relinquished the lead - they were down by a run, heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Reliever Lindy McDaniel quickly retired Boyer and White - but Mike Shannon kept the inning alive with a two-out single to right. Pinch hitter Bob Skinner - batting for Javier - also singled to right field, advancing Shannon to third. His work done, pinch runner Dal Maxvill replaced Skinner at first base, as another pinch hitter - Tim McCarver (for Uecker) - was stepping into the batter's box.
What happened next caught everyone by surprise.
McDaniel, intent on retiring McCarver, paid little attention to the runners on first and third. As McDaniel was delivering a pitch to McCarver, Maxvill suddenly broke for second - as Shannon waited for the throw from the catcher to second base before breaking for home. Shannon timed it perfectly. Maxvill easily stole second - and Shannon beat the relay from second back to the plate - sliding home with the tying run. The double steal worked to perfection - and it's a good thing, because McCarver grounded out to end the inning.
Taylor was still pitching for St Louis, as the Cubs took their turn at bat in the ninth. However, one out walks to Lee Gregory - pinch hitting for McDaniel - and Jimmy Stewart, from Bedford Falls, Ohio - prompted Keane to bring in another reliever - Gordie Richardson - to face the dangerous Ellis Burton - who already had two extra base hits in the game. This time, Richardson coaxed Burton to ground one to Groat at shortstop, who flipped to Maxvill at second, who completed the double play relay to White at first - to suddenly end the threat.
Leading off the bottom of the ninth - pinch hitter Carl Warwick (for Richardson) lined a single to center off reliever Don Elston. Flood then advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Exit Elston - enter reliever John Flavin - summoned to face Lou Brock, who singled to center - advancing Warwick to third.
Flavin was then relieved of his duties, as Freddie Burdette became the third Cubs' pitcher in the ninth - the fifth, overall. The first batter he faced - Dick Groat - hit a ground ball to Ron Santo at third base - who nailed Warwick at the plate, tying to score the winning run.
With two on and two out in a tie ballgame - a game the Cardinals could ill-afford to lose - Ken Boyer made certain of that. His three-run home run sent the handful of fans in attendance home happy - and it suddenly made him the guest of honor on Harry Caray's notorious Star of the Game program. An excited and inebriated Harry gurgled an inquiry to the happy Cardinal third baseman: "Kenny, do you think the Cardinals really have a chance of catching the Phillies?"
Boyer gave the patented response, which in this case was prescient: "I sure do, Harry. There's plenty of baseball to be played (28 games), and we're playing well; so you never know. We'll just take it one day at a time."
A 19-9 St Louis finish, coupled with an 11-18 Phillies' collapse, did the trick. Incredibly, ten of those eleven losses were consecutive losses. And that just doesn't happen very often.
Ken Boyer was having a bad night - going 0 for 4, which included a rally-killing double play earlier in this game. Yet, as he came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth - with two on and two out - in a 5-5 tie with the Cubs - he knew he could find redemption with one swing of the bat. Before you could say "walk-off home run", Boyer connected on a Freddie Burdette fastball lifting the Cardinals to a dramatic 8-5 win - to keep their slim pennant hopes alive.
The third-place Cardinals remained 7.5 games behind the first-place Phillies, who also won tonight - but Philly would soon be finding themselves in a surrealistic downward spiral that was perpetuated by a paranoid manager - Gene Mauch - who started messing around with the starting rotation in an attempt to speed up the process of clinching the pennant. All he succeeded in doing was wear down his top starters to the point they were useless. Essentially, he panicked, causing his team to lose its confidence - making it difficult to execute even the most basic fundamentals of the game.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, had nothing to lose, since they had long been counted out of this race - which explains why the ballpark was two-thirds vacant tonight. However, this team was playing with confidence, they were playing well - and they were putting the "fun" back in fundamentals.
The Cubs were having fun, too - especially in the first-inning - when they quickly broke on top, 2-0 - on an RBI double by Ellis Burton - who later scored on an RBI single off the bat of Ron Santo.
The Cardinals came charging back right away - scoring two first-inning runs of their own. A one-out single by Lou Brock, a stolen base - then an RBI single from Dick Groat plated the first run. After advancing to second when Boyer grounded out to the second baseman, Bill White chased Groat home with a double to right center.
St Louis scored two more runs in the third, but no doubt came away feeling they should have had a bigger inning. Consecutive singles by Flood, Brock and Groat had one run in and runners on first and third for cleanup hitter Boyer - who grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Brock scored on the play, but the Cubs no doubt felt lucky to have escaped with just a two-run deficit to overcome.
Meanwhile, Cardinal starter Curt Simmons seemed to settle down after that shaky two-run first-inning - but suddenly ran afoul with two out in the sixth, with St Louis still holding a 4-2 lead. Jimmie Schaffer lined a single to left, then Ron Campbell brought him home with a double to right.
Manager Johnny Keane then brought in Ron Taylor from the bullpen to face pinch hitter Len Gabrielson, who promptly singled to left - scoring Campbell with the tying run. Taylor avoided further scoring in the seventh, but the Cubs were at it again in the eighth.
Burton started eighth-inning trouble with a lead-off triple to right field. Next up - Billy Williams - drove in the go-ahead run with a single. Again, Taylor was able to avoid further damage, but the Cardinals had not only relinquished the lead - they were down by a run, heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Reliever Lindy McDaniel quickly retired Boyer and White - but Mike Shannon kept the inning alive with a two-out single to right. Pinch hitter Bob Skinner - batting for Javier - also singled to right field, advancing Shannon to third. His work done, pinch runner Dal Maxvill replaced Skinner at first base, as another pinch hitter - Tim McCarver (for Uecker) - was stepping into the batter's box.
What happened next caught everyone by surprise.
McDaniel, intent on retiring McCarver, paid little attention to the runners on first and third. As McDaniel was delivering a pitch to McCarver, Maxvill suddenly broke for second - as Shannon waited for the throw from the catcher to second base before breaking for home. Shannon timed it perfectly. Maxvill easily stole second - and Shannon beat the relay from second back to the plate - sliding home with the tying run. The double steal worked to perfection - and it's a good thing, because McCarver grounded out to end the inning.
Taylor was still pitching for St Louis, as the Cubs took their turn at bat in the ninth. However, one out walks to Lee Gregory - pinch hitting for McDaniel - and Jimmy Stewart, from Bedford Falls, Ohio - prompted Keane to bring in another reliever - Gordie Richardson - to face the dangerous Ellis Burton - who already had two extra base hits in the game. This time, Richardson coaxed Burton to ground one to Groat at shortstop, who flipped to Maxvill at second, who completed the double play relay to White at first - to suddenly end the threat.
Leading off the bottom of the ninth - pinch hitter Carl Warwick (for Richardson) lined a single to center off reliever Don Elston. Flood then advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Exit Elston - enter reliever John Flavin - summoned to face Lou Brock, who singled to center - advancing Warwick to third.
Flavin was then relieved of his duties, as Freddie Burdette became the third Cubs' pitcher in the ninth - the fifth, overall. The first batter he faced - Dick Groat - hit a ground ball to Ron Santo at third base - who nailed Warwick at the plate, tying to score the winning run.
With two on and two out in a tie ballgame - a game the Cardinals could ill-afford to lose - Ken Boyer made certain of that. His three-run home run sent the handful of fans in attendance home happy - and it suddenly made him the guest of honor on Harry Caray's notorious Star of the Game program. An excited and inebriated Harry gurgled an inquiry to the happy Cardinal third baseman: "Kenny, do you think the Cardinals really have a chance of catching the Phillies?"
Boyer gave the patented response, which in this case was prescient: "I sure do, Harry. There's plenty of baseball to be played (28 games), and we're playing well; so you never know. We'll just take it one day at a time."
A 19-9 St Louis finish, coupled with an 11-18 Phillies' collapse, did the trick. Incredibly, ten of those eleven losses were consecutive losses. And that just doesn't happen very often.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
August 31, 2002 - Cards Sweep Doubleheader - Hammer Cubs at Wrigley
Saturday, August 31, 2002 - At Wrigley Field (Game One Starting Pitcher - Luther Hackman - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Game One Starting Pitcher - Mark Prior) - Attendance: 37,639
On paper, the pitching match-up in the first game of this doubleheader between the Cards and Cubs would seem to favor the Cubs - with their up-and-coming young starter - Mark Prior (6-6) - going up against a guy who is normally used in relief - Luther Hackman (4-4). Although Prior pitched well - allowing just two runs in five innings - Hackman was a little better - yielding no runs in his five innings of work.
The big difference was in the quality of work performed by bullpens over the final four innings. The Cubs could only score once - on an eighth-inning solo home run by Mark Bellhorn off Jeff Fassero - while the Cardinals scored a pair of sixth-inning runs (one unearned run) off Joe Borowski - then really teed off on Francis Beltran, who gave up a solo home run to Eli Marrero in the eighth, then a three-run bomb to Eduardo Perez in the ninth.
Along with Marrero and Perez, Albert Pujols also went deep - connecting on a solo shot off Prior in the fifth - one of three hits the sophomore slugger would tally in this rout - a decisive 8-1 drubbing of the Cubbies.
Game Two Starting Pitchers - Andy Benes vs Jason Bere
Even though Benes (4-4) was in the twilight of his career, this pitching match-up clearly favored the Cardinals - on paper and where it counts - on the playing field. The Redbirds torched Bere (1-10) for eight runs (seven earned runs) in just four innings of work - four of those runs scoring on Eli Marrero's grand slam home run in the third. Even pitcher Andy Benes got into the home run derby act today - hitting a solo blast off the battered Bere in the fifth. It would be the only home run for Benes in 2002 - and it would be the last home run he'd ever hit (8 career home runs in 14 seasons).
While St Louis nicked three Chicago relievers for one run apiece over the final five innings (including a seventh-inning home run by Jim Edmonds) - the only serious chink in the armor for the Cardinal bullpen was the three runs Steve Kline coughed up in the sixth-inning. It didn't matter - the Cardinals cruised to an easy 10-4 win, to complete the doubleheader sweep.
After today's action, the first-place Cardinals had improved to 76-59 on the season - and they would finish with a NL-best 21-6 record over the final month - and manager Tony LaRussa would later be named NL Manager of the Year - in what was certainly his most trying season as a major league manager.
After the tragic death of pitcher Darryl Kile, LaRussa guided his team through a period of profound sorrow. Undoubtedly, their fallen teammate was on the minds of the Cardinal players throughout the day. After all, the reason they were playing a doubleheader was to make up the game that had been cancelled in June - in the wake of Kile's passing.
On paper, the pitching match-up in the first game of this doubleheader between the Cards and Cubs would seem to favor the Cubs - with their up-and-coming young starter - Mark Prior (6-6) - going up against a guy who is normally used in relief - Luther Hackman (4-4). Although Prior pitched well - allowing just two runs in five innings - Hackman was a little better - yielding no runs in his five innings of work.
The big difference was in the quality of work performed by bullpens over the final four innings. The Cubs could only score once - on an eighth-inning solo home run by Mark Bellhorn off Jeff Fassero - while the Cardinals scored a pair of sixth-inning runs (one unearned run) off Joe Borowski - then really teed off on Francis Beltran, who gave up a solo home run to Eli Marrero in the eighth, then a three-run bomb to Eduardo Perez in the ninth.
Along with Marrero and Perez, Albert Pujols also went deep - connecting on a solo shot off Prior in the fifth - one of three hits the sophomore slugger would tally in this rout - a decisive 8-1 drubbing of the Cubbies.
Game Two Starting Pitchers - Andy Benes vs Jason Bere
Even though Benes (4-4) was in the twilight of his career, this pitching match-up clearly favored the Cardinals - on paper and where it counts - on the playing field. The Redbirds torched Bere (1-10) for eight runs (seven earned runs) in just four innings of work - four of those runs scoring on Eli Marrero's grand slam home run in the third. Even pitcher Andy Benes got into the home run derby act today - hitting a solo blast off the battered Bere in the fifth. It would be the only home run for Benes in 2002 - and it would be the last home run he'd ever hit (8 career home runs in 14 seasons).
While St Louis nicked three Chicago relievers for one run apiece over the final five innings (including a seventh-inning home run by Jim Edmonds) - the only serious chink in the armor for the Cardinal bullpen was the three runs Steve Kline coughed up in the sixth-inning. It didn't matter - the Cardinals cruised to an easy 10-4 win, to complete the doubleheader sweep.
After today's action, the first-place Cardinals had improved to 76-59 on the season - and they would finish with a NL-best 21-6 record over the final month - and manager Tony LaRussa would later be named NL Manager of the Year - in what was certainly his most trying season as a major league manager.
After the tragic death of pitcher Darryl Kile, LaRussa guided his team through a period of profound sorrow. Undoubtedly, their fallen teammate was on the minds of the Cardinal players throughout the day. After all, the reason they were playing a doubleheader was to make up the game that had been cancelled in June - in the wake of Kile's passing.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
August 20, 2006 - Cards' 4-Run 1st-Inning Sinks Cubs
Sunday, August 20, 2006 - At Wrigley Field (Chris Carpenter - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Juan Mateo - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 40,485
The Cardinals jumped on Cubs rookie pitcher Juan Mateo for four first-inning runs - featuring a solo home run by Chris Duncan and the big blow - a three-run job by Juan Encarnacion. That was enough run support for Chris Carpenter (8 IP - 7 H - 2 R - 0 BB - 7 SO) - although they added a ninth-inning insurance run for good measure. When closer Jason Isringhausen gave up a lead-off home run to Aramis Ramirez in the bottom half of the ninth, the St Louis lead was trimmed to two again - but nobody else reached base. The 5-3 final improved Carpenter's season record to 12-6 - as the Cardinals (66-57) maintained a two and a half game lead on Cincinnati in the NL Central.
For Mateo, who recovered after that horrendous first inning to throw zeros for the next six innings - the damage had been done. He would suffer his first major league loss, after winning in his August 3 debut - allowing two earned runs in five innings of work to beat the D-backs. He would continue to struggle for the remainder of the season - finishing with a 1-3 record in ten starts - and an ERA close to 6.00. That was it. His big-league career would be over, at the tender age of twenty-three.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals - beset by injuries - were barely able to reach the postseason dance. They put together an improbable championship run with well-timed peak performances from several key players to win it all. But the team was in transition - slipping to a sub-.500 season the following year. But a few key trades and development of new talent would bring the franchise new life. By 2011, they would be back on top of the baseball world again.
The Cardinals jumped on Cubs rookie pitcher Juan Mateo for four first-inning runs - featuring a solo home run by Chris Duncan and the big blow - a three-run job by Juan Encarnacion. That was enough run support for Chris Carpenter (8 IP - 7 H - 2 R - 0 BB - 7 SO) - although they added a ninth-inning insurance run for good measure. When closer Jason Isringhausen gave up a lead-off home run to Aramis Ramirez in the bottom half of the ninth, the St Louis lead was trimmed to two again - but nobody else reached base. The 5-3 final improved Carpenter's season record to 12-6 - as the Cardinals (66-57) maintained a two and a half game lead on Cincinnati in the NL Central.
For Mateo, who recovered after that horrendous first inning to throw zeros for the next six innings - the damage had been done. He would suffer his first major league loss, after winning in his August 3 debut - allowing two earned runs in five innings of work to beat the D-backs. He would continue to struggle for the remainder of the season - finishing with a 1-3 record in ten starts - and an ERA close to 6.00. That was it. His big-league career would be over, at the tender age of twenty-three.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals - beset by injuries - were barely able to reach the postseason dance. They put together an improbable championship run with well-timed peak performances from several key players to win it all. But the team was in transition - slipping to a sub-.500 season the following year. But a few key trades and development of new talent would bring the franchise new life. By 2011, they would be back on top of the baseball world again.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
August 16, 1967 - Errors & Ejections Highlight Walk-Off Win Over Cubs
Wednesday, August 16, 1967 - At Busch Stadium II (Nelson Briles - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Joe Niekro - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 42,228
The Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a frenetic 4-3 walk-off win - scoring a pair of unearned runs in a ninth-inning that featured three Cubs' ejections stemming from three separate controversial calls - from three separate umpires. Ah, those were the good old days - before the technological advances enabled instant replay to settle disputes - because watching Leo Durocher go ballistic was generally quite entertaining.
Prior to the ninth-inning Chicago meltdown, the game began with a rare base running blunder featuring the game's premier stolen base artist - Lou Brock. The Cards' lead-off hitter singled off Cubs starter Joe Niekro to open the first-inning for St Louis - then with Curt Flood batting - Brock stole second. When Flood also lined a single to center, third base coach Joe Schultz gave Lou the "stop" sign as the throw from center fielder Adolfo Phillips was cut off by second baseman Glen Beckert - Brock, who had rounded third expecting to be waved home, looked back at Beckert, then decided to keep running for home. Unfortunately, the brief pause at third was costly, as Beckert made a perfect throw to catcher John Stephenson just in time to nail Brock.
Meanwhile, Flood was able to advance to second while all this was going on - and later scored when Orlando Cepeda lined another single to center. The Cardinals had a 1-0 lead, but may well have run themselves out of a big inning.
The Cubs tied it in the second-inning, although they also missed out on a big inning. Ron Santo led-off with a single off Cards starter Nelson Briles - then after Ernie Banks struck out, Clarence Jones singled - putting runners on first and second for Stephenson - who doubled to score Santo, as Jones stopped at third. Adolfo Phillips was intentionally walked to load the bases, hoping to induce a double play ground ball from the light-hitting pitcher - Joe Niekro. Niekro complied, hitting it to third baseman Mike Shannon, who quickly threw to catcher Tim McCarver for the force out at home - who in turn, had plenty of time to retire Niekro lumbering down to first.
In the fourth-inning, McCarver broke the 1-1 tie with a lead-off home run.
With the score still 2-1 in favor of St Louis as the Cubs hit in the seventh-inning, Briles retired the first two batters, but Don Kessinger kept the inning alive with a single - for Glen Beckert - who established a career high with five home runs in 1967. He got one of them here to suddenly give the Cubs a 3-2 lead - silencing the Cardinal fans - while the Cub fans became quite a bit more vociferous. In the stands, a few isolated fisticuffs broke out - but the real action happened on the field, as the Cardinals hit in the bottom of the ninth, still down by a run.
Bill Hands, who was brought in to relieve Niekro to start the seventh-inning, was still on the mound for Chicago to work the bottom of the ninth. He retired the first batter - Roger Maris - on a fly ball to right field - but Cepeda got a rare infield hit when his ground ball to shortstop Kessinger was too hot to handle. Next up - McCarver hit a ground ball to Ernie Banks at first base - and in his haste to try to turn the double play - booted the ball instead. McCarver was safe at first as Cepeda now occupied second.
As tensions rose, Shannon lined a bullet to Kessinger at short, who quickly threw to Beckert covering second to double up Cepeda - but Beckert dropped the ball. Cepeda was safe on the error, but Beckert was livid, insisting he had possession long enough to be ruled a catch. Second base umpire Augie Donatelli steadfastly disagreed, explaining the way it was - by this time - to the entire Cubs infield, along with their fiery manager - Leo Durocher. After several minutes of jawing back and forth, Donatelli decided to give Leo the Lip the rest of the night off - which further incensed Durocher for a few extra minutes of profanity and dirt kicking.
Meanwhile, there was still a baseball game to be decided - and more controversy to unfold. Next up - Julian Javier - grounded one in the hole at shortstop. As Kessinger fielded the ball, his only play was to attempt a force out of Cepeda at third - but somehow, Cepeda was ruled safe at third by third base umpire Stan Landis. It's not clear whether Landis ruled that Cepeda beat the throw, or whether Santo missed the bag or missed the tag. But what is clear is Santo thought Landis should have his eyes examined, and discussed the issue - vehemently - for several minutes. He too, was given the rest of the night off by Landis, as Paul Popovich was brought in to stand at third base for a few more minutes.
With the bases loaded - and the Cardinals down to their last out - Phil Gagliano managed to draw a game-tying base on balls - on four borderline pitches that drew the ire of Bill Hands - who vented his frustration with home plate umpire Al Barlick. He too, was given the rest of the night off, as Cepeda performed his patented "Cha cha" dance moves all over home plate - much to the delight of the Cardinal fans and much to the chagrin of the downtrodden Cub fans.
Chuck Hartenstein was the new pitcher - taking over for the ejected and dejected Hands - as pinch hitter Alex Johnson finished 'em off with a ground ball up the middle. Beckert managed to get a glove on the ball but had no play - everybody was safe - as McCarver raced home with the winning run.
Both runs the Cardinals scored - thanks to two errors - were unearned. There have probably been other games in major league history that featured back-to-back-to-back ejections - but this was the only time I can remember seeing it.
After this devastating series sweep, the Cubs were now twelve games behind the Cardinals - but the good news for Chicago - they were only a game and a half out of second place - although they never quite made it there.
The Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a frenetic 4-3 walk-off win - scoring a pair of unearned runs in a ninth-inning that featured three Cubs' ejections stemming from three separate controversial calls - from three separate umpires. Ah, those were the good old days - before the technological advances enabled instant replay to settle disputes - because watching Leo Durocher go ballistic was generally quite entertaining.
Prior to the ninth-inning Chicago meltdown, the game began with a rare base running blunder featuring the game's premier stolen base artist - Lou Brock. The Cards' lead-off hitter singled off Cubs starter Joe Niekro to open the first-inning for St Louis - then with Curt Flood batting - Brock stole second. When Flood also lined a single to center, third base coach Joe Schultz gave Lou the "stop" sign as the throw from center fielder Adolfo Phillips was cut off by second baseman Glen Beckert - Brock, who had rounded third expecting to be waved home, looked back at Beckert, then decided to keep running for home. Unfortunately, the brief pause at third was costly, as Beckert made a perfect throw to catcher John Stephenson just in time to nail Brock.
Meanwhile, Flood was able to advance to second while all this was going on - and later scored when Orlando Cepeda lined another single to center. The Cardinals had a 1-0 lead, but may well have run themselves out of a big inning.
The Cubs tied it in the second-inning, although they also missed out on a big inning. Ron Santo led-off with a single off Cards starter Nelson Briles - then after Ernie Banks struck out, Clarence Jones singled - putting runners on first and second for Stephenson - who doubled to score Santo, as Jones stopped at third. Adolfo Phillips was intentionally walked to load the bases, hoping to induce a double play ground ball from the light-hitting pitcher - Joe Niekro. Niekro complied, hitting it to third baseman Mike Shannon, who quickly threw to catcher Tim McCarver for the force out at home - who in turn, had plenty of time to retire Niekro lumbering down to first.
In the fourth-inning, McCarver broke the 1-1 tie with a lead-off home run.
With the score still 2-1 in favor of St Louis as the Cubs hit in the seventh-inning, Briles retired the first two batters, but Don Kessinger kept the inning alive with a single - for Glen Beckert - who established a career high with five home runs in 1967. He got one of them here to suddenly give the Cubs a 3-2 lead - silencing the Cardinal fans - while the Cub fans became quite a bit more vociferous. In the stands, a few isolated fisticuffs broke out - but the real action happened on the field, as the Cardinals hit in the bottom of the ninth, still down by a run.
Bill Hands, who was brought in to relieve Niekro to start the seventh-inning, was still on the mound for Chicago to work the bottom of the ninth. He retired the first batter - Roger Maris - on a fly ball to right field - but Cepeda got a rare infield hit when his ground ball to shortstop Kessinger was too hot to handle. Next up - McCarver hit a ground ball to Ernie Banks at first base - and in his haste to try to turn the double play - booted the ball instead. McCarver was safe at first as Cepeda now occupied second.
As tensions rose, Shannon lined a bullet to Kessinger at short, who quickly threw to Beckert covering second to double up Cepeda - but Beckert dropped the ball. Cepeda was safe on the error, but Beckert was livid, insisting he had possession long enough to be ruled a catch. Second base umpire Augie Donatelli steadfastly disagreed, explaining the way it was - by this time - to the entire Cubs infield, along with their fiery manager - Leo Durocher. After several minutes of jawing back and forth, Donatelli decided to give Leo the Lip the rest of the night off - which further incensed Durocher for a few extra minutes of profanity and dirt kicking.
Meanwhile, there was still a baseball game to be decided - and more controversy to unfold. Next up - Julian Javier - grounded one in the hole at shortstop. As Kessinger fielded the ball, his only play was to attempt a force out of Cepeda at third - but somehow, Cepeda was ruled safe at third by third base umpire Stan Landis. It's not clear whether Landis ruled that Cepeda beat the throw, or whether Santo missed the bag or missed the tag. But what is clear is Santo thought Landis should have his eyes examined, and discussed the issue - vehemently - for several minutes. He too, was given the rest of the night off by Landis, as Paul Popovich was brought in to stand at third base for a few more minutes.
With the bases loaded - and the Cardinals down to their last out - Phil Gagliano managed to draw a game-tying base on balls - on four borderline pitches that drew the ire of Bill Hands - who vented his frustration with home plate umpire Al Barlick. He too, was given the rest of the night off, as Cepeda performed his patented "Cha cha" dance moves all over home plate - much to the delight of the Cardinal fans and much to the chagrin of the downtrodden Cub fans.
Chuck Hartenstein was the new pitcher - taking over for the ejected and dejected Hands - as pinch hitter Alex Johnson finished 'em off with a ground ball up the middle. Beckert managed to get a glove on the ball but had no play - everybody was safe - as McCarver raced home with the winning run.
Both runs the Cardinals scored - thanks to two errors - were unearned. There have probably been other games in major league history that featured back-to-back-to-back ejections - but this was the only time I can remember seeing it.
After this devastating series sweep, the Cubs were now twelve games behind the Cardinals - but the good news for Chicago - they were only a game and a half out of second place - although they never quite made it there.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
August 8, 1985 - Tudor Blanks Cubs on One Hit
Thursday, August 8, 1985 - At Busch Stadium II (John Tudor - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Scott Sanderson - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 39,203
John Tudor pitched the finest game of his major league career - a one-hit shutout of the Chicago Cubs - and got more than enough offensive support, as the Cardinals cruised to an easy 8-0 win. Tudor (14-8) allowed just two base runners all night - a two-out fourth-inning walk to Gary Matthews, and a one-out fifth-inning single off the bat of Leon Durham - while striking out six.
In essence, the game was decided just two batters into the game - when Vince Coleman doubled off Cubs starter Scott Sanderson (5-5) - advanced to third when right fielder Keith Moreland misplayed the ball - then scored when Willie McGee singled.
But the Cardinals were far from finished plating first-inning runs. Tommy Herr then scored McGee with a double to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead. After Jack Clark flew out to left field, Andy Van Slyke hit one out to right - the two-run shot gave St Louis a 4-0 lead. Terry Pendleton then made it 5-0 with another home run - a rare back-to-back power display from a team known for its base stealing prowess - not the long ball.
The Cardinals knocked Sanderson out of the game in the fifth-inning - when Tudor led-off with a triple, then scored on Coleman's single. The relentless Vincent Van Go immediately stole second, then scored on McGee's single. That was it for Sanderson - as reliever Warren Brustar came in to pitch to Herr - who singled McGee over to third. Clark then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it an 8-0 game. At that point, the Cardinal offense took the rest of the night off - joining the Cubs in that capacity - at least for their final three at bats.
The Cardinal win enabled them to remain just a half-game behind the first-place New York Mets - who had already clobbered Montreal by a 14-7 score. The NL East would be a two-team race for the remainder of the season, as the Cards and Mets jockeyed for the top spot in the division, almost on a daily basis. In the end, St Louis would prevail, thanks in large part to the exceptional work from their left-handed ace - John Tudor - who had a few more sensational outings in his bag of tricks - although none would quite measure up to the performance he came up with on August 8.
John Tudor pitched the finest game of his major league career - a one-hit shutout of the Chicago Cubs - and got more than enough offensive support, as the Cardinals cruised to an easy 8-0 win. Tudor (14-8) allowed just two base runners all night - a two-out fourth-inning walk to Gary Matthews, and a one-out fifth-inning single off the bat of Leon Durham - while striking out six.
In essence, the game was decided just two batters into the game - when Vince Coleman doubled off Cubs starter Scott Sanderson (5-5) - advanced to third when right fielder Keith Moreland misplayed the ball - then scored when Willie McGee singled.
But the Cardinals were far from finished plating first-inning runs. Tommy Herr then scored McGee with a double to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead. After Jack Clark flew out to left field, Andy Van Slyke hit one out to right - the two-run shot gave St Louis a 4-0 lead. Terry Pendleton then made it 5-0 with another home run - a rare back-to-back power display from a team known for its base stealing prowess - not the long ball.
The Cardinals knocked Sanderson out of the game in the fifth-inning - when Tudor led-off with a triple, then scored on Coleman's single. The relentless Vincent Van Go immediately stole second, then scored on McGee's single. That was it for Sanderson - as reliever Warren Brustar came in to pitch to Herr - who singled McGee over to third. Clark then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it an 8-0 game. At that point, the Cardinal offense took the rest of the night off - joining the Cubs in that capacity - at least for their final three at bats.
The Cardinal win enabled them to remain just a half-game behind the first-place New York Mets - who had already clobbered Montreal by a 14-7 score. The NL East would be a two-team race for the remainder of the season, as the Cards and Mets jockeyed for the top spot in the division, almost on a daily basis. In the end, St Louis would prevail, thanks in large part to the exceptional work from their left-handed ace - John Tudor - who had a few more sensational outings in his bag of tricks - although none would quite measure up to the performance he came up with on August 8.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
August 5, 1964 & 1967 - Two For Tuesday
Wednesday, August 5, 1964 - At Busch Stadium I (Gordie Richardson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Bob Buhl - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 11,614
Even the most die-hard of Cardinal fans old enough to remember much about the '64 season, probably don't remember a 25-year old rookie left-handed pitcher by the name of Gordie Richardson - who made his major league debut on July 26, 1964 - getting a complete game victory (6-1) over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of a double-header at Connie Mack Stadium. The Cardinals would also win the second game to inch closer to the top of the standings - although few really considered them a legitimate contender at the time.
Hindsight tells us that every single game the Cardinals somehow managed to win that year was absolutely necessary in their quest for the NL pennant. Richardson certainly did his part by starting six games for St Louis late that season, and was used for relief duty, as well. It's highly unlikely the Cardinals would have made it to the top of the National League without his contributions - a 4-2 record with a stellar 2.30 ERA in 47 IP. His reward for his efforts was to be traded to the lowly New York Mets in the off season - and after two unsuccessful seasons, Richardson's career was over before his 28th birthday. That's the harsh reality of the vast majority of major league baseball careers - they usually don't last very long. Of course, many players never get the chance to be part of a world championship team - especially in their rookie year. I'm pretty sure this rookie enjoyed the brief time in the limelight.
Of course, there wasn't much limelight for young Gordie to deal with as he took the mound against the visiting Cubs on this hot August night. Less than 12,000 fans bothered to attend this game - an obvious indication that pennant fever hadn't infected Cardinal Nation. That would change in a few weeks.
For now, the rookie was just trying to survive a shaky start to this game. After issuing a lead-off walk to Joe Amalfitano, the next Cubs batter - Leo Burke - hit a ground ball to third baseman Ken Boyer. Instead of turning two, Boyer bobbled the ball - allowing Burke to reach first safely as Amalfitano advanced to second. Richardson struck out the next batter - Billy Williams - but Ron Santo drove in the first run with a single, then Ernie Banks singled in another run - an unearned run - to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals got one run back in their first trip to the plate. After Cubs starter Bob Buhl struck out Julian Javier, then Lou Brock to start the bottom of the first - Bill White singled - and so did Ken Boyer - to put runners on first and second for Curt Flood, who scored White with a base hit of his own, as Boyer advanced to third.
Then, with Mike Shannon batting, Boyer tried to steal home - unsuccessfully. I'll bet Harry Caray went nuts in the KMOX broadcast booth on that one. Time for another ice-cold Busch.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of Chicago when the Cardinals came to bat in the fifth-inning. Javier coaxed a one-out walk off a tiring Buhl, then Brock lined a single to left - putting runners on first and second for Bill White - who promptly hit one on the pavilion roof for a three-run home run, to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead they would never relinquish - but things got a bit dicey the next time the Cubs came to bat.
Richardson had some trouble of his own in the sixth-inning. Santo led-off with a single to left field, then Banks walked - putting two on and nobody out. Manager Johnny Keane wisely decided to bring in a fresh arm - replacing his starter with reliever Bob Humphreys - yet another unsung hero for the Redbirds in '64.
The veteran reliever had a stellar '64 season for St Louis - going 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA in 42.2 IP. He also had two saves - and got one of them in this game. Humphreys not only got out of the sixth-inning unscathed, he also kept the Cubs off the board for the balance of the game. All told, he allowed just two hits in four innings - walking none and striking out three. Now that's a save!
As a footnote to the July 26 arrival of Gordie Richardson - at the time, the Cards were just a .500 ball-club (48-48). However, they would finish with a NL-best 45-21 record with more than just a little help from guys like Gordie and Humpreys - to catapult them into the World Series.
Saturday, August 5, 1967 - At Busch Stadium II (Ray Washburn - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Cincinnati Reds (Mel Queen - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 48,019
Exactly three years after the now-retired Gordie Richardson defeated the Cubs in front of a sparse gathering at the old ballpark on Grand and Dodier - the Cardinals played a twelve-inning marathon at their new downtown ballpark which nearly 50,000 fans turned out to witness. It was worth the wait, as the Cards walked-off with the win, thanks to a pinch hit single from an unlikely player - backup catcher Dave Ricketts.
The Cardinals scored first in this game, when back-to-back doubles by Lou Brock and Curt Flood staked Ray Washburn to an early 1-0 lead. Reds starter Mel Queen retired the next three batters after Flood's two-base hit - to keep it just a one run deficit.
It was still a 1-0 ballgame when the Reds came to bat in the sixth-inning. A lead-off double by Tommy Harper was followed by Vada Pinson's two-run blast - to give Cincinnati its first lead of the game: 2-1.
However, the Redbirds quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, off a tiring Mel Queen. With one out, Brock tripled - then Flood doubled, to tie the game. After Roger Maris walked, Orlando Cepeda hit one deep to center - but Pinson tracked it down for the out. After the catch, Flood tagged up and advanced to third.
At this point, Reds manager Dave Bristol brought Cool Billy McCool in from the bullpen to pitch to Tim McCarver - but the strategy was foiled when McCarver lined a single to right - scoring Flood with the go-ahead run. It was now a 3-2 St Louis lead - but not for long.
After Washburn walked Harper to start the eighth-inning for the Reds, manager Red Schoendienst brought in Joe Hoerner from the Cards' bullpen to face Pinson - who moved Harper to second with a sacrifice bunt. Next up - the relentless Pete Rose - he tied the game once again with a base hit - but Hoerner was able to escape further damage in the inning - and through the tenth-inning, as well.
Ron Willis then relieved Hoerner to start the eleventh - holding Cincinnati scoreless for the next couple of innings. He would be the winning pitcher - improving to 4-3 after his nice work.
The fifth pitcher of the game for the Reds - Don Nottebart - retired the first batter he faced in the bottom of the twelvth - Tim McCarver - on a ground ball right back from where it came. Mike Shannon then singled to start a one-out rally. Phil Gagliano followed that with an infield hit down the third base line, to put runners on first and second. Dal Maxvill then grounded one to shortstop Tommy Helms, which should have been an inning-ending double play. Instead, Helms booted it - loading the bases for pinch hitter Dave Ricketts.
Ricketts had seven pinch hits in '67 - and this one was his most significant - a line drive base hit to center field to score Shannon with the extra-inning walk-off winning run. It was a long night for the Cardinals, but for the fans who stuck around past their bedtimes, it was worth the wait.
Even the most die-hard of Cardinal fans old enough to remember much about the '64 season, probably don't remember a 25-year old rookie left-handed pitcher by the name of Gordie Richardson - who made his major league debut on July 26, 1964 - getting a complete game victory (6-1) over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of a double-header at Connie Mack Stadium. The Cardinals would also win the second game to inch closer to the top of the standings - although few really considered them a legitimate contender at the time.
Hindsight tells us that every single game the Cardinals somehow managed to win that year was absolutely necessary in their quest for the NL pennant. Richardson certainly did his part by starting six games for St Louis late that season, and was used for relief duty, as well. It's highly unlikely the Cardinals would have made it to the top of the National League without his contributions - a 4-2 record with a stellar 2.30 ERA in 47 IP. His reward for his efforts was to be traded to the lowly New York Mets in the off season - and after two unsuccessful seasons, Richardson's career was over before his 28th birthday. That's the harsh reality of the vast majority of major league baseball careers - they usually don't last very long. Of course, many players never get the chance to be part of a world championship team - especially in their rookie year. I'm pretty sure this rookie enjoyed the brief time in the limelight.
Of course, there wasn't much limelight for young Gordie to deal with as he took the mound against the visiting Cubs on this hot August night. Less than 12,000 fans bothered to attend this game - an obvious indication that pennant fever hadn't infected Cardinal Nation. That would change in a few weeks.
For now, the rookie was just trying to survive a shaky start to this game. After issuing a lead-off walk to Joe Amalfitano, the next Cubs batter - Leo Burke - hit a ground ball to third baseman Ken Boyer. Instead of turning two, Boyer bobbled the ball - allowing Burke to reach first safely as Amalfitano advanced to second. Richardson struck out the next batter - Billy Williams - but Ron Santo drove in the first run with a single, then Ernie Banks singled in another run - an unearned run - to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals got one run back in their first trip to the plate. After Cubs starter Bob Buhl struck out Julian Javier, then Lou Brock to start the bottom of the first - Bill White singled - and so did Ken Boyer - to put runners on first and second for Curt Flood, who scored White with a base hit of his own, as Boyer advanced to third.
Then, with Mike Shannon batting, Boyer tried to steal home - unsuccessfully. I'll bet Harry Caray went nuts in the KMOX broadcast booth on that one. Time for another ice-cold Busch.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of Chicago when the Cardinals came to bat in the fifth-inning. Javier coaxed a one-out walk off a tiring Buhl, then Brock lined a single to left - putting runners on first and second for Bill White - who promptly hit one on the pavilion roof for a three-run home run, to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead they would never relinquish - but things got a bit dicey the next time the Cubs came to bat.
Richardson had some trouble of his own in the sixth-inning. Santo led-off with a single to left field, then Banks walked - putting two on and nobody out. Manager Johnny Keane wisely decided to bring in a fresh arm - replacing his starter with reliever Bob Humphreys - yet another unsung hero for the Redbirds in '64.
The veteran reliever had a stellar '64 season for St Louis - going 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA in 42.2 IP. He also had two saves - and got one of them in this game. Humphreys not only got out of the sixth-inning unscathed, he also kept the Cubs off the board for the balance of the game. All told, he allowed just two hits in four innings - walking none and striking out three. Now that's a save!
As a footnote to the July 26 arrival of Gordie Richardson - at the time, the Cards were just a .500 ball-club (48-48). However, they would finish with a NL-best 45-21 record with more than just a little help from guys like Gordie and Humpreys - to catapult them into the World Series.
Saturday, August 5, 1967 - At Busch Stadium II (Ray Washburn - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Cincinnati Reds (Mel Queen - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 48,019
Exactly three years after the now-retired Gordie Richardson defeated the Cubs in front of a sparse gathering at the old ballpark on Grand and Dodier - the Cardinals played a twelve-inning marathon at their new downtown ballpark which nearly 50,000 fans turned out to witness. It was worth the wait, as the Cards walked-off with the win, thanks to a pinch hit single from an unlikely player - backup catcher Dave Ricketts.
The Cardinals scored first in this game, when back-to-back doubles by Lou Brock and Curt Flood staked Ray Washburn to an early 1-0 lead. Reds starter Mel Queen retired the next three batters after Flood's two-base hit - to keep it just a one run deficit.
It was still a 1-0 ballgame when the Reds came to bat in the sixth-inning. A lead-off double by Tommy Harper was followed by Vada Pinson's two-run blast - to give Cincinnati its first lead of the game: 2-1.
However, the Redbirds quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, off a tiring Mel Queen. With one out, Brock tripled - then Flood doubled, to tie the game. After Roger Maris walked, Orlando Cepeda hit one deep to center - but Pinson tracked it down for the out. After the catch, Flood tagged up and advanced to third.
At this point, Reds manager Dave Bristol brought Cool Billy McCool in from the bullpen to pitch to Tim McCarver - but the strategy was foiled when McCarver lined a single to right - scoring Flood with the go-ahead run. It was now a 3-2 St Louis lead - but not for long.
After Washburn walked Harper to start the eighth-inning for the Reds, manager Red Schoendienst brought in Joe Hoerner from the Cards' bullpen to face Pinson - who moved Harper to second with a sacrifice bunt. Next up - the relentless Pete Rose - he tied the game once again with a base hit - but Hoerner was able to escape further damage in the inning - and through the tenth-inning, as well.
Ron Willis then relieved Hoerner to start the eleventh - holding Cincinnati scoreless for the next couple of innings. He would be the winning pitcher - improving to 4-3 after his nice work.
The fifth pitcher of the game for the Reds - Don Nottebart - retired the first batter he faced in the bottom of the twelvth - Tim McCarver - on a ground ball right back from where it came. Mike Shannon then singled to start a one-out rally. Phil Gagliano followed that with an infield hit down the third base line, to put runners on first and second. Dal Maxvill then grounded one to shortstop Tommy Helms, which should have been an inning-ending double play. Instead, Helms booted it - loading the bases for pinch hitter Dave Ricketts.
Ricketts had seven pinch hits in '67 - and this one was his most significant - a line drive base hit to center field to score Shannon with the extra-inning walk-off winning run. It was a long night for the Cardinals, but for the fans who stuck around past their bedtimes, it was worth the wait.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
July 29, 2011 - Pujols Joins 2000 Hit Club in 9-2 Clubbing of Cubs
Friday, July 29, 2011 - At Busch Stadium III (Edwin Jackson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Matt Garza - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 42,042
Recently acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson (8-7) was making his St Louis Cardinals debut - and it was a good one - allowing just one run in seven innings, as the Cardinals cruised to a convincing 9-2 win over the Cubs.
After David Freese's three-run fourth-inning home run off Matt Garza (4-8) erased an early 1-0 deficit, the focus of the fans' attention was definitely centered on Albert Pujols and his quest for career hit number 2000. Pujols started the fourth-inning rally with hit number 1999 - a double - which was immediately followed by Matt Holliday's infield single, then the Freese blast to left center field.
The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the sixth to build a comfortable 6-1 lead, as Jackson, who escaped from a second-inning bases-loaded-no-out jam with just one run allowed - settled down to blank the Cubs over his final five innings of work. He turned the ball over to the guy he displaced in the starting rotation - Kyle McClellan - to start the eighth-inning. Kyle then proceeded to demonstrate why he became the odd-man out, after giving up one run on a pair of hits and a walk, while getting just one batter out.
Jason Motte then came in from the bullpen to record the final two outs of the inning - minimizing the damage to just a single run. In the process, he gave a nice demonstration of the type of quality pitching the Cardinals were looking for in the back-end of the bullpen, as he eventually became the unofficial closer for Tony LaRussa all the way through Game Seven of the World Series.
With Carlos Marmol now pitching for the Cubs in the eighth-inning, the Cardinals put another three spot on the board - but the scoring was incidental to the historical milestone that occurred. With two runs already in and Ryan Theriot on second base with two out, Albert Pujols lined his second double of the game to score Theriot. It was career hit number 2000 for Albert - a milestone that had previously been reached just three times in franchise history - by Hornsby, Musial and Brock. For the 42,042 fans now giving their hero a standing ovation, the possibility that Pujols would actually be leaving them at the conclusion of this season - was unthinkable.
For the fans still bitter about that - get over it. Think about the eleven Hall of Fame-caliber seasons Albert Pujols produced with the Cardinals. The eight postseason appearances. The three National League championships. The two World Series championships. Sure, he has a large ego and felt slighted when he didn't think the front office really wanted him to stay. So he left for more money and more perceived recognition. That was his decision.
But in reality, the front office didn't want him to stay. Not at that price, anyway. And that was a good business decision.
Recently acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson (8-7) was making his St Louis Cardinals debut - and it was a good one - allowing just one run in seven innings, as the Cardinals cruised to a convincing 9-2 win over the Cubs.
After David Freese's three-run fourth-inning home run off Matt Garza (4-8) erased an early 1-0 deficit, the focus of the fans' attention was definitely centered on Albert Pujols and his quest for career hit number 2000. Pujols started the fourth-inning rally with hit number 1999 - a double - which was immediately followed by Matt Holliday's infield single, then the Freese blast to left center field.
The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the sixth to build a comfortable 6-1 lead, as Jackson, who escaped from a second-inning bases-loaded-no-out jam with just one run allowed - settled down to blank the Cubs over his final five innings of work. He turned the ball over to the guy he displaced in the starting rotation - Kyle McClellan - to start the eighth-inning. Kyle then proceeded to demonstrate why he became the odd-man out, after giving up one run on a pair of hits and a walk, while getting just one batter out.
Jason Motte then came in from the bullpen to record the final two outs of the inning - minimizing the damage to just a single run. In the process, he gave a nice demonstration of the type of quality pitching the Cardinals were looking for in the back-end of the bullpen, as he eventually became the unofficial closer for Tony LaRussa all the way through Game Seven of the World Series.
With Carlos Marmol now pitching for the Cubs in the eighth-inning, the Cardinals put another three spot on the board - but the scoring was incidental to the historical milestone that occurred. With two runs already in and Ryan Theriot on second base with two out, Albert Pujols lined his second double of the game to score Theriot. It was career hit number 2000 for Albert - a milestone that had previously been reached just three times in franchise history - by Hornsby, Musial and Brock. For the 42,042 fans now giving their hero a standing ovation, the possibility that Pujols would actually be leaving them at the conclusion of this season - was unthinkable.
For the fans still bitter about that - get over it. Think about the eleven Hall of Fame-caliber seasons Albert Pujols produced with the Cardinals. The eight postseason appearances. The three National League championships. The two World Series championships. Sure, he has a large ego and felt slighted when he didn't think the front office really wanted him to stay. So he left for more money and more perceived recognition. That was his decision.
But in reality, the front office didn't want him to stay. Not at that price, anyway. And that was a good business decision.
Monday, July 28, 2014
July 28, 2002 - The Edgar Renteria Game: 10-9 Walk-Off Winner Over Cubs
In the past fifty years of Cardinal baseball, there have been some memorable games played on July 28. Here's a sample:
1964 - At Wrigley Field - The Cards come-from-behind to send the game into extra innings - Score 5 runs in the 10th to beat the Cubs, 12-7. White, McCarver & Shannon homer for St Louis.
2001 - At Wrigley Field - The Cards break a 4-4 tie with 3 runs in the 8th to beat the Cubs, 7-4. Pujols, McGwire & Paquette homer for St Louis.
2004 - At Great American Ballpark - The Cards out-slug the Reds, 11-10. Rolen hits 2 home runs - Womack & Edmonds add one apiece for St Louis.
2007 - At Busch Stadium III - In an otherwise dismal season, the Cards sweep a double-header over the Brewers - Scoring three 9th-inning runs for a 7-6 walk-off win in the first game. St Louis wins the second game, 5-2 - as '06 World Series hero Anthony Reyes gets his first win of the season - to go with 10 losses.
2009 - At Busch Stadium III - The Cards score six runs in the 6th - then four runs in the 8th - in a decisive 10-0 win over the Dodgers. Strangely enough, LA out hit St Louis - 9 to 8 in the game.
2010 - At Citi Field - The Cards score six runs in the first-inning - but the Mets score four runs in the eighth to send game into extra innings, tied 7-7. The Redbirds finally win it in the 13th-inning - when Pujols singles in Schumaker with the game-wining run. Final score: St Louis 8 - New York 7.
All very exciting games - but the most memorable game happened exactly twelve years ago. I like to call it The Edgar Renteria Game:
Sunday, July 28, 2002 - At Busch Stadium II (Matt Morris - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Matt Clement - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 47,583
It was a hot and muggy evening in St Louis. The game time temperature was 95 degrees, with a nine mph wind blowing from right to left, as Jon Miller and Joe Morgan welcomed the ESPN viewing audience to another edition of Sunday Night Baseball.
Things didn't start out so well for the home team. Matt Morris struck out the first two batters he faced, but had trouble getting that third out. A walk to Sammy Sosa, then a single by Fred McGriff preceded a two-run double off the bat of Moises Alou.
The 2-0 Chicago lead quickly became 6-0 in the third-inning. Once again, Sosa drew a two-out walk, followed by a McGriff single. Alou drove in the first run with a single, then Corey Patterson shocked everybody with a three-run bomb.
The score remained 6-0 until the Cardinals finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth-inning - aided by a defensive miscue, along with a questionable managerial decision.
Jim Edmonds began the inning with a single to right field. Albert Pujols then grounded one to shortstop Mark Bellhorn, whose only play was at first base - however, he threw wildly - very wildly - allowing Edmonds to score and Pujols to ramble into third. At this point in the game, Cubs starter Matt Clement had been in total control - but manager Bruce Kimm decided to yank him - hoping the bullpen could navigate through the final four innings and protect what was currently a five-run lead. In other words, Kimm panicked.
Jeff Fassero was the first of four Cub relievers to enter the game. The first batter he faced - JD Drew - doubled, scoring Pujols. After Drew advanced to third on a Tino Martinez infield ground out, Edgar Renteria picked up his first RBI of the game with a single to center field. The next batter - Mike Difelice - doubled to left, advancing Renteria to third.
Kyle Farnsworth was then summoned in from the Cubs bullpen to face pinch hitter Kerry Robinson - who walked, to load the bases. Then, lead-off hitter Fernando Vina singled to right field, scoring Renteria, as Difelice had to stop at third. The rally came to an abrupt halt when Eduardo Perez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play - but at least the Cardinals were back in the game - trailing 6-4.
The Cubs were relentless, however. With Steve Kline now pitching for the Cardinals, Corey Patterson's one-out seventh-inning double was followed by a Delino DeShields walk, a Todd Hundley RBI single and a Kyle Farnsworth sacrifice fly - to give Chicago a secure 8-4 lead - which became an even more secure 9-4 lead after Bill Mueller's solo eighth-inning home run off Dave Veres.
Farnsworth completed his 2.2 scoreless inning stint in the bottom of the eighth-inning, as Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were chatting about Jon's poor taste in neck ties, how the NL Central race was still up for grabs, and a reminder to stay tuned - Sports Center is coming up next.
Statistically speaking, the Cardinals had a one percent chance of winning this game - entering the home half of the ninth-inning, trailing 9-4. Tom Gordon was the new Cubs pitcher - and much to Bruce Kimm's chagrin - three straight Cardinal batters reached base: Vina singled, pinch hitter Miguel Cairo doubled him in, then Edmonds singled Cairo in. It was now a 9-6 ballgame - and St Louis now had an eight percent chance of winning this game.
Time to bring in the closer - Atonio Alfonseca - to close this one out. In a sense, that's exactly what happened. The first batter - Albert Pujols - patiently worked the count full, then walked on the seventh pitch of the at bat - bringing the tying run to the plate, in the person of JD Drew - who struck out on a called third strike. But then Tino Martinez - less than a year removed from his World Series heroics with the Yankees - stroked a single to right field - scoring Edmonds to make it a 9-7 game.
This brought the winning run to the plate - in the person of Edgar Renteria. After Alfonseca missed with the first pitch, Edgar was anticipating a fastball - in the strike zone - and he got it. And he got all of it - sending the ball on its merry way over the left field wall, for a dramatic three-run walk-off home run.
It was a classic moment that many Cardinal fans no doubt had the foresight to record on their now-antiquated VCR's - to play back from time to time, for posterity's sake.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
July 27, 2012 - Homer-Happy Cards Make History in Win Over Cubs
Friday, July 27, 2012 - At Wrigley Field (Lance Lynn - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Travis Wood - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 40,778
Just six days after scoring twelve runs in a single inning - equaling a franchise record - the Cardinals were at it again - making history against Chicago Cubs pitching. This time, it was an obscure home run record that was established - in a see-saw battle that was eventually won by the Cardinals - 9-6.
It all started with two outs in the top of the first - when Matt Holliday homered deep to left center field (his 18th) off Cubs starter Travis Wood - to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Cardinal starter Lance Lynn is used to getting a lot of run support in his outings - and after giving up a lead-off triple to David DeJesus, a run-scoring single to Starlin Castro, and then a two-run home run to Anthony Rizzo - it was apparent the Redbirds would have to step up the offensive production if they expected to win this one.
With the Cardinals now trailing 3-1, Lance Berkman led-off the second-inning with a single, which was immediately followed by a game-tying Yadier Molina home run (his 16th) - which landed on Waveland Avenue. The Redbirds weren't through. Matt Carpenter drew a base on balls, then scored on Daniel Descalso's triple. Next up - Lance Lynn - knew a 4-3 lead was not going to hold up today - so he helped himself out with a sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a precarious 5-3 lead.
After the Cubs failed to score in the bottom of the second, Berkman got into the act with a two-out home run (his 2nd) in the third-inning, to build the lead to 6-3. For Lance, in an injury-plagued final season as a member of the Cardinals - this would prove to be his last home run wearing a St Louis uniform. The previous year, a healthy Berkman hit 31 home runs - and became an immediate fan-favorite in Cardinal Nation.
Meanwhile, the Cubs quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third - after a lead-off triple by Castro, an RBI single by Rizzo, an RBI double by Alfonso Soriano and an RBI single by Geovany Soto.
Matt Carpenter untied it, leading off the fourth-inning with another St Louis home run (his 4th - and the fourth in as many innings for the Cardinals). This one almost - but not quite - made it onto Sheffield Avenue - landing high off the back wall in right field.
After Lynn kept the Cubs scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Allen Craig made St Louis Cardinals history by hitting the fifth home run in as many innings - another solo shot, which landed in the fourth row of the left field bleachers - to give the Cardinals an 8-6 lead. It was the first time in franchise history the team had ever homered in five consecutive innings. Now, the all-time franchise record for home runs in a single game (7) seemed feasible (last accomplished on July 12, 1996 - against the Cubs - who else?).
Alas, the Redbirds had no more home runs in their bag of tricks today. However, center fielder Jon Jay had a circus catch in his bag of tricks today - robbing Rizzo of extra bases with an absolutely ridiculous leaping grab of his fifth-inning smash to center field - to protect that slim two-run lead.
After getting through the fifth, unscathed, manager Mike Matheny gave his starter the rest of the day off. Five St Louis relievers - Fuentes, Browning, Salas, Rzepczynski and Motte (who got his 23rd save) - kept Chicago off the board over the final four innings - giving Lynn his rather fortuitous 13th win - with only 4 losses.
The Redbirds scored a final insurance run in the seventh - when Jay was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, then scored on Holliday's single to center.
Coincidentally, the Cardinals won yesterday's game (from 2004) by that same 9-6 score - although it took 11 innings to score that many runs, and they only hit three home runs. Weaklings.
Just six days after scoring twelve runs in a single inning - equaling a franchise record - the Cardinals were at it again - making history against Chicago Cubs pitching. This time, it was an obscure home run record that was established - in a see-saw battle that was eventually won by the Cardinals - 9-6.
It all started with two outs in the top of the first - when Matt Holliday homered deep to left center field (his 18th) off Cubs starter Travis Wood - to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Cardinal starter Lance Lynn is used to getting a lot of run support in his outings - and after giving up a lead-off triple to David DeJesus, a run-scoring single to Starlin Castro, and then a two-run home run to Anthony Rizzo - it was apparent the Redbirds would have to step up the offensive production if they expected to win this one.
With the Cardinals now trailing 3-1, Lance Berkman led-off the second-inning with a single, which was immediately followed by a game-tying Yadier Molina home run (his 16th) - which landed on Waveland Avenue. The Redbirds weren't through. Matt Carpenter drew a base on balls, then scored on Daniel Descalso's triple. Next up - Lance Lynn - knew a 4-3 lead was not going to hold up today - so he helped himself out with a sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a precarious 5-3 lead.
After the Cubs failed to score in the bottom of the second, Berkman got into the act with a two-out home run (his 2nd) in the third-inning, to build the lead to 6-3. For Lance, in an injury-plagued final season as a member of the Cardinals - this would prove to be his last home run wearing a St Louis uniform. The previous year, a healthy Berkman hit 31 home runs - and became an immediate fan-favorite in Cardinal Nation.
Meanwhile, the Cubs quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third - after a lead-off triple by Castro, an RBI single by Rizzo, an RBI double by Alfonso Soriano and an RBI single by Geovany Soto.
Matt Carpenter untied it, leading off the fourth-inning with another St Louis home run (his 4th - and the fourth in as many innings for the Cardinals). This one almost - but not quite - made it onto Sheffield Avenue - landing high off the back wall in right field.
After Lynn kept the Cubs scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Allen Craig made St Louis Cardinals history by hitting the fifth home run in as many innings - another solo shot, which landed in the fourth row of the left field bleachers - to give the Cardinals an 8-6 lead. It was the first time in franchise history the team had ever homered in five consecutive innings. Now, the all-time franchise record for home runs in a single game (7) seemed feasible (last accomplished on July 12, 1996 - against the Cubs - who else?).
Alas, the Redbirds had no more home runs in their bag of tricks today. However, center fielder Jon Jay had a circus catch in his bag of tricks today - robbing Rizzo of extra bases with an absolutely ridiculous leaping grab of his fifth-inning smash to center field - to protect that slim two-run lead.
After getting through the fifth, unscathed, manager Mike Matheny gave his starter the rest of the day off. Five St Louis relievers - Fuentes, Browning, Salas, Rzepczynski and Motte (who got his 23rd save) - kept Chicago off the board over the final four innings - giving Lynn his rather fortuitous 13th win - with only 4 losses.
The Redbirds scored a final insurance run in the seventh - when Jay was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, then scored on Holliday's single to center.
Coincidentally, the Cardinals won yesterday's game (from 2004) by that same 9-6 score - although it took 11 innings to score that many runs, and they only hit three home runs. Weaklings.
Monday, July 21, 2014
July 21, 2012 - Cards Tie Franchise Record - 12 Runs in the 7th-Inning
Saturday, July 21, 2012 - At Busch Stadium III (Jake Westbrook - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Matt Garza - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 43,424
On September 16, 1926 - at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia - the Cardinals won both games of a double-header against the Phillies, by scores of 23-3 and 10-2. In that first game, the Redbirds established a franchise record by scoring twelve runs in a single inning. The details of that big third inning are not known, but we do know that for the full nine innings, the Cardinals amassed 22 hits, walked eight times, reached base on four Philadelphia errors, and stole seven bases. Of the 22 hits, the Cardinals had just four extra base hits - all doubles.
It would take another 13,475 regular season games for the Cardinals to score a dozen runs in a single inning again. And we do know all the details for this one.
Both starting pitchers - Jake Westbrook and Matt Garza - allowed nary a run. However, Garza made an early exit - leaving the game after just three innings pitched - apparently, some physical discomfort caused his removal. At any rate, reliever Justin Germano worked the next three innings, unscathed. His undoing would prove to be a slow roller down the third base line off the bat of David Freese - leading-off the bottom of the seventh-inning. Freese beat it out for a rare infield single - the first of ten hits the Cardinals would tally - and the only one allowed by the unfortunate Germano.
James Russell then came in from the Cubs' bullpen to face Jon Jay - who was retired on a botched bunt attempt. But then, pinch hitter Allen Craig (batting for Jake Westbrook, who improved to 8-8 after this win) hit the first of seven doubles the Redbirds would notch in the lucky seventh - a total that tied a major league record for two-base hits in a single inning.
With runners on second and third, Rafael Furcal drove in the first run of the game with a ground ball single into left field.
Skip Schumaker followed that up with a triple, to make it a 3-0 lead.
After Matt Holliday walked, Carlos Beltran scored Skip with a ground rule double down the right field line, which bounced into the stands, causing some poor guy to spill his beer all over himself - and he didn't even get the souvenir. It's now 4-0.
After Yadier Molina was intentionally walked to load the bases (sure, why not?), Russell got the second out of the inning when he induced Lance Berkman to popup to the second baseman.
Suddenly, another pitcher was summoned from the Cubs' bullpen - Manny Corpas - who would face four batters in rapid succession: Freese - a two-run double (6-0 now) - Jay - another two-run double (8-0) - Craig - his second double of the inning, which scored the last guy who doubled, to make it 9-0.
After Furcal walked, Rafael Dolis came in out of the pen, and held Schumaker to a single - although it did drive in another run (10-0).
The scoring concluded after Matt Holliday hit the record-tying seventh double - scoring Furcal and Schumaker with the 11th and 12th runs of the inning.
Although the scoring would end, the hilarity continued when Dolis struck out Beltran on a wild pitch - as Beltran reached first base, and Holliday ambled into third.
With a chance to re-write the record book, Matheny decided to give Molina the rest of the night off - sending Tony Cruz in to pinch hit - and he struck out on a non-wild pitch.
The inning was finally over - 17 batters and 37 minutes after it started.
The Cardinals finished with nine doubles - four shy of their own major league record for most two-base hits in a single game. It happened in the second game of a double header between the Cardinals and Cubs on July 12, 1931 - St Louis had 13 doubles - Chicago 10 doubles - the 23 combined doubles is also a major league record in a single game. The two teams combined for nine doubles in the first game of the double-header. The 32 doubles between two teams in a double-header also happens to be a major league record.
No other major league team had even hit as many as nine doubles in a single game since - until the historic night of July 21, 2012.
On September 16, 1926 - at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia - the Cardinals won both games of a double-header against the Phillies, by scores of 23-3 and 10-2. In that first game, the Redbirds established a franchise record by scoring twelve runs in a single inning. The details of that big third inning are not known, but we do know that for the full nine innings, the Cardinals amassed 22 hits, walked eight times, reached base on four Philadelphia errors, and stole seven bases. Of the 22 hits, the Cardinals had just four extra base hits - all doubles.
It would take another 13,475 regular season games for the Cardinals to score a dozen runs in a single inning again. And we do know all the details for this one.
Both starting pitchers - Jake Westbrook and Matt Garza - allowed nary a run. However, Garza made an early exit - leaving the game after just three innings pitched - apparently, some physical discomfort caused his removal. At any rate, reliever Justin Germano worked the next three innings, unscathed. His undoing would prove to be a slow roller down the third base line off the bat of David Freese - leading-off the bottom of the seventh-inning. Freese beat it out for a rare infield single - the first of ten hits the Cardinals would tally - and the only one allowed by the unfortunate Germano.
James Russell then came in from the Cubs' bullpen to face Jon Jay - who was retired on a botched bunt attempt. But then, pinch hitter Allen Craig (batting for Jake Westbrook, who improved to 8-8 after this win) hit the first of seven doubles the Redbirds would notch in the lucky seventh - a total that tied a major league record for two-base hits in a single inning.
With runners on second and third, Rafael Furcal drove in the first run of the game with a ground ball single into left field.
Skip Schumaker followed that up with a triple, to make it a 3-0 lead.
After Matt Holliday walked, Carlos Beltran scored Skip with a ground rule double down the right field line, which bounced into the stands, causing some poor guy to spill his beer all over himself - and he didn't even get the souvenir. It's now 4-0.
After Yadier Molina was intentionally walked to load the bases (sure, why not?), Russell got the second out of the inning when he induced Lance Berkman to popup to the second baseman.
Suddenly, another pitcher was summoned from the Cubs' bullpen - Manny Corpas - who would face four batters in rapid succession: Freese - a two-run double (6-0 now) - Jay - another two-run double (8-0) - Craig - his second double of the inning, which scored the last guy who doubled, to make it 9-0.
After Furcal walked, Rafael Dolis came in out of the pen, and held Schumaker to a single - although it did drive in another run (10-0).
The scoring concluded after Matt Holliday hit the record-tying seventh double - scoring Furcal and Schumaker with the 11th and 12th runs of the inning.
Although the scoring would end, the hilarity continued when Dolis struck out Beltran on a wild pitch - as Beltran reached first base, and Holliday ambled into third.
With a chance to re-write the record book, Matheny decided to give Molina the rest of the night off - sending Tony Cruz in to pinch hit - and he struck out on a non-wild pitch.
The inning was finally over - 17 batters and 37 minutes after it started.
The Cardinals finished with nine doubles - four shy of their own major league record for most two-base hits in a single game. It happened in the second game of a double header between the Cardinals and Cubs on July 12, 1931 - St Louis had 13 doubles - Chicago 10 doubles - the 23 combined doubles is also a major league record in a single game. The two teams combined for nine doubles in the first game of the double-header. The 32 doubles between two teams in a double-header also happens to be a major league record.
No other major league team had even hit as many as nine doubles in a single game since - until the historic night of July 21, 2012.
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