Kuzul

In a repeat performance of the 2009 NLDS, the Los Angeles Dodgers out-hit the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game sweep at home. 

The very same factors that led to the September playoff pounding—an aggressive one-two in Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez, and a lack of response in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday—not only kept the Cardinals from West Coast redemption, but also kept them from keeping their lead of the NL Central. 

Pujols and Holliday hit one single each in the entire series.  Additionally unsettling for Cardinal fans, young hitters David Freese and Colby Rasmus, who earned the NL Player of the Week award last week, played very little.  Freese had a few unsuccessful pinch-hitting appearances; Rasmus did not play at all because of a strained calf. 

Fortunately for the Cards, the sweep is nothing detrimental. 

The Redbirds are one game behind the Cincinnati Reds, and the better part of the season is still in front of them.

The Cards do, however, have an important issue to deal with:

Where is Brad Penny?

Although he had a losing record before his injury, Penny was a promising pitcher for the Cardinals—certainly a lot better than the $9.2 million waste in Kyle Lohse. 

The timeline for Penny’s return has been just about as cohesive as the timeline for the repair and cleanup of the Gulf Coast oil spill. 

As soon as Penny returns, Cardinal fans can stop writing off every fourth game as a loss.

Jaime Garcia will start Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.  There, the Cardinals will look to shake off their losses to the Dodgers.  

Can the Cardinals come back from losing hard to a division-leading team on the road?  It’s hard to say, but a sweep of the pitching-weak Diamondbacks would certainly diminish the blow.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

I think we can all agree when I say that adding depth to your lineup is a key factor to a winning team. Actually, several people overlook the fact that having a good bench is almost mandatory in a sports team where injuries frequently occur, and players go through slumps from time to time. Finally, a team that is in the National League, where pinch hitting is almost automatic and the double switch is seen a lot more often, needs to rely on someone with a good bat (and maybe some decent speed from time to time).

That’s why I believe the St. Louis Cardinals signing outfielder Randy Winn on Saturday was a great idea.

After the 35-year old switch-hitter got designated for assignment last month, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak wanted to get a hold of him as soon as possible.

“He is a veteran outfielder who we think will help improve our depth,” the GM stated. “His versatility and experience should be a real nice fit for our roster.”

The twelve-year veteran has struggled this year, playing 29 games for the Yankees and hitting a mere .213 batting average with one home run, eight RBI, and one stolen base; he only started 16 of those games.

As you may see just by looking at his statistics, Winn’s career numbers are dwindling. However, the acquisition of Winn wasn’t to get better numbers for the Cardinals; St. Louis’s three starting outfielders in Matt Holliday; Colby Rasmus; and Ryan Ludwick have already compiled 22 home runs and driven in 79 RBI, along with a nice combined .296 average.

In contrast, they Cardinals’ management decides to move Jon Jay back down to AAA, where he can spend more valuable time and experience there and collect more quality at-bats. This doesn’t even account for the fact that they just sent down Joe Mather down to AAA, as well.

Randy Winn has had his fair share of games in all three positions of the outfield. With Felipe Lopez, the two of them definitely give LaRussa a lot more options to work with.

His veteran presence on the bench, along with his flexibility on the offensive and defensive end, will contribute a great deal in the long run for St. Louis.

I have nothing but good things to say about this move, and all the respect for Randy Winn. Whether it’s in the eyes of the general manager, Randy Winn, Jon Jay, or Tony LaRussa, this move benefits everyone. It’s quite ironic how a solid move to improve the future of the franchise can be signing a 12-year vet like Winn.

Props to John Mozeliak for being on the ball about this move. Let’s see how it plays out.

On one final note: In his first at-bat as a Cardinal, Winn pinch-hit for Kyle McClellan in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In a five-pitch at-bat, starting pitcher Chris Narveson was able to get Randy Winn to ground out to shortstop with a runner or first.

On another note: Winn turns 36 in three days. Happy early birthday, Randy!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The St. Louis Cardinals are the most successful baseball franchise in National League history. Second only to the New York Yankees, the Cardinals have won 10 World Series titles.

The consistent presence of great athletes and coaches is hugely responsible for the club’s success. Each great Red Birds team has seen one or more Hall of Fame caliber players.

Breaking down the greats and creating a top 10 was no easy feat. With so many great players, the list is open for debate.

Let’s take a look at the 10 best players to ever wear a Cardinal uniform.

Begin Slideshow

After Albert Pujols punished the Chicago Cubs with three home runs at Wrigley Field on Sunday, the Cardinal lineup took its aggression home in a 12-4 destruction of the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on Monday. 

The strong performance at the plate was timely for the Cardinals, whose rookie right-hander, Jaime Garcia, pitched the worst home game of his career. 

And by that, I mean he struck out six batters and gave up only three runs in six innings, increasing his ERA to a mere 1.32, second in the MLB only to the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez, who already has 10 wins. 

If he can preserve his skills on the hill, Garcia may contend for Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season.  His competition will most likely be Atlanta Braves’ Jason Heyward and teammate David Freese.

The Cards’ victory earned them a tie for first place in the NL Central with the Reds, who had had control of the division after two winning series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros. 

If the Cardinals sweep the Reds, they will have a two-game command of their division when they host the pitching-weak Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. 

To earn the first place cushion they enjoyed early in the season, the Cardinals have to keep intact their prowess at the plate and their dominance on the mound. 

Rookie right-hander P.J. Walters will give his second start this year on Tuesday against the Reds’ Johnny Cueto.  In his last appearance, the 25-year-old Walters gave up only two runs to the NL West leading San Diego Padres. 

Although Cardinal pitching has been consistent in 2010, Cardinal hitting has been uncharacteristically streaky, at least at the heart of the lineup.  But Pujols’ resurgence has revived Cardinal fans’ big picture positivity. 

For now, Cardinal fans can rejoice in the comeback of their poster boy and the development of its lineup. A questionable Mark McGwire, a lukewarm Matt Holliday and an injured and underwhelming Kyle Lohse are subjects for another day.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It’s no secret that Dontrelle Willis is struggling. That’s why it came as no surprise when the Detroit Tigers decided that he wasn’t worth what they were spending on him—they designated him for assignment on May 30th.

However, there may be a perfect situation for him in St. Louis.

The Cardinals, who through Sunday were 29-22, could be looking for some pitching help, with starters Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse on the disabled list.

The biggest reason the Cardinals and Dontrelle could have mutual interest is the Cardinals’ famed pitching coach, Dave Duncan.

The Willis case could be seen as similar to that of another former Detroit Tiger, 2006 reclamation project Jeff Weaver. After posting a 3-10 record with a 6.29 ERA in Anaheim, he was designated for assignment on June 30.

Weaver won important games to help the Cardinals win the National League Central Division, and then was a rock in the playoffs, helping to deliver the Cardinals a World Series Championship.

However, Dontrelle Willis is even more promising than Jeff Weaver was. Willis has gobs of talent, which he proved during his years in Florida, where he won the 2003 Rookie of the Year and finished second in 2005 National League Cy Young Award voting behind Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter.

Willis would be one of the most talented pitchers ever to play for Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan, so he should be an easier reclamation project than say, Joel Piñeiro.

Another reason to pounce on Dontrelle is that he could come very cheaply. Now that he has been designated for assignment, the Tigers have three options. They can trade him, pass him through waivers, or, if he isn’t picked up by another team, give him his outright release. With Willis’s recent performance, the Tigers might be willing to part with him for chump change.

However, his salary for the upcoming season is $12 million. That’s an issue for the Cardinals, who are already strapped for cash. So for a trade scenario, the Cardinals would need money to cover Willis’s salary. It’s hard to imagine that scenario.

It’s more likely that Dontrelle will pass through waivers and be released, where the Cardinals can sign him to a cheap deal and the Tigers will be forced to cover the rest of his salary.

Picking up Willis could give the Cardinals options with the starting rotation. If Willis performs anywhere near his 2003 Rookie of the Year form under Duncan’s tutelage, they could plug him into the rotation, and shop around Kyle Lohse, whose 4-year/$40 million dollar deal is the only black spot on the Cardinals’ payroll.

If Willis continues his dismal performance, St. Louis could trade Willis, simply cut ties with the erstwhile southpaw, or put him in the bullpen, where he could be very effective as a reliever.

Whatever the Cardinals decide to do, they should remember one of baseball’s most consistent truths: One team’s trash is Dave Duncan’s treasure.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Due to lackadaisical hitting, the St. Louis Cardinals went down for a second straight night to the San Diego Padres in an extra inning, late night thriller.

The Red Birds lineup managed to get 16 men on base by way of 10 hits and six walks. With that amount of production, it is a wonder how the Cardinals only had one man swipe home plate. 

While getting 16 base runners, the struggling lineup also managed to strikeout 16 times, including four from David Freese. Jaime Garcia didn’t strikeout once at the plate and posted a hit while pitching six scoreless from the mound.

The top of the 11th inning was a perfect showcase of the Cardinals’ struggles over the past month. The inning began with a Colby Rasmus single. After Rasmus stole second, Yadier Molina smacked another single to right field, advancing Rasmus to third. 

Men on first and third with no outs in the top of the 11th. This is a situation where the St. Louis Cardinals we know, the Birds’ we were expecting to see, would have scored at least one run and finished the game out in the bottom of the inning. 

Instead, Skip Schumaker managed to ground into a double play, getting out both Rasums at home and Yadier Molina advancing to third. The inning drastically changed as the Cardinals had a man on first with two outs. 

This is a model for our season so far. Poor hitting that contradicts stellar pitching. A night after Adam Wainwright received the loss while posting 13 Ks and allowing just one run, Jaime Garcia’s campaign was cut short after six scoreless innings. 

The St. Louis Cardinals have serious issues. It is no longer players going through slumps. It is time for Tony La Russa to sacrifice some sleep and figure this thing out.

Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus have struggled as much as anybody in the month of May. Holliday’s struggles are the most concerning, having just five HR and under 30 RBI. However, this is Pujols’ team. Without an run batted in in the last 12 games, Big Albert needs to step up and help his team get out of the “funk”. 

After tonight’s game in San Diego, the Cardinals head to Chicago to take on their division rival Cubs. The month of June will begin with a series against first place Cincinnati, followed by a stint against the Brewers. 

NOW, is the time to wake up.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

When a Cy Young Award candidate hangs a curveball and a sixth position hitter is there to see it, does it make a run? 

Well, not usually. But at PETCO Park Tuesday night, the San Diego Padres nabbed a win from one of baseball’s finest starters when Jerry Hairston Jr. turned a pitch by Adam Wainwright into a solo home run and a 1-0 win for the NL West Division leaders.

Using a deadly arsenal of pitches, Wainwright struck out 12 and gave up only four hits and one earned run in seven innings. Wainwright’s Excalibur—the sharply breaking curveball—caused the most damage.

But one curve failed to perform its ravenous duty, and that made all the difference.

Cardinal batters could not cover for Wainwright’s one mistake, as the Padres’ pitcher put on a show of his own.

Veteran right-hander Jon Garland earned his sixth win this season, giving up six hits and striking out seven in seven innings. 

Although Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with three singles after a hitless series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Cardinals did nothing more than hit singles, stranding a handful of base runners and hitting into multiple double plays.

On Wednesday night, the Cardinals will rely on rookie Jaime Garcia, whose strong numbers (a 4-2 record and 1.28 ERA) may give the quiet Cardinal bats the confidence to get loud again.

Perhaps the most desired spectacle for Cardinal fans would be a home run by Pujols or Matt Holliday. The two sluggers have hit only one homer each this month, leaving their fans anxious for an offensive revival of their highly touted bats. 

The remaining two games in San Diego and a first series in Chicago later this week will give Cardinal fans an idea as to whether the backbone of their 2010 team will be its pitching or its hitting.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

So this is what it comes to.

An American athlete adopts the Mustached American lifestyle, enjoys the warmth and attention it brings to his upper lip, and then decides to abandon it, shaving his lower nose forestation, which, of course, kills an angel in heaven (as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Leviticus, and the Book of Mormon suggest).

After abandoning said lip garment, his athletic prowess—once bold, powerful, and ruggedly attractive while living lipfuriously—takes a precipitous plunge.

This is a trend the research department at the American Mustache Institute has seen, very sadly, hundreds of times.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs,” said Dr. Dan Callahan, AMI director of research. “At some point Americans must realize that our lust for performance cannot be periodic or fleeting, but consistent and unflinching.”

Thus the case of St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan.

Last year, long after the rest of his team shaved off their unity mustaches, Ryan’s labia sebucula (Latin for “lip sweater”) remained and thus fueled a breakout year for the former utility also-ran.

Flash-forward one year, after an offseason during which he had wrist surgery due to his penchant for self-pleasure, and even more concerning, he forcibly removed his upper mouth carnival.

So it stands to reason that Ryan, as first reported by R.B. Fallstrom of the Associated Press, decided to try facial hair again in an attempt to recapture his previous superiority as he struggles along.

“I’m doing anything possible to make some good things happen,” Ryan told Fallstrom. “Whatever it takes.”

It appears that “anything possible” refers to the same path that catapulted Ryan’s batting average near .300 in 2009, raised former teammate Rick Ankiel’s batting average 70 points last year, and pushed Jason Giambi near All-Star status while with the Yankees in 2007.

Minus his dental curtain, Ryan landed on the bench Sunday with just a .167 batting average and only six RBI, combined with erratic play in the field that included consecutive two-error games during the last home stand.

Ryan first tried to revive his swing by shaving his head, but clearly, he now plans to dig deep and bring back “the closer”—his mustache.

“We’ll go with the ’stache,” he said after last Thursday’s game while wearing the “Respect the Stache’” T-shirt.

Ryan should do more than just respect his ’stache. He should indeed embrace it, as history and statistical analysis have demonstrated there is no greater performance-enhancing instrument of destruction in the world of athletic performance.

Carry on.

Subscribe (for free!!) to our weekly sports podcast, deemed “incredible” by two out of three of our moms.

© JoeSportsFan.com, 2010. | Permalink | Tweet This

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Heading out to the ballpark with a buddy can be a liberating experience, figuratively speaking.  Then again, for some, it can literally be liberating.

Take, for instance, the gentleman below who is proudly sporting a parole ankle bracelet around Busch Stadium this past week.  Nice.  Pre or post-incarceration, best fans in baseball, baby.

Truth be told, we were really hoping to find *some* morsel of the color blue on this fellow, so we could predictably accuse him of being a Cub fans.  Throw in the added possibility of “crossing state borders while on parole”, and there’s a strong possibility that JoeSportsFan racks up our first fan-hunting sting.  That would have been resume-worthy.

Alas, given that miscreant’s compadre is wearing red, we’re pegging him as a Cardinal fan.  Who the hell knows though, really.  At this stage in his life, he’s probably less concerned with team allegiance and more excited about showers without presumed sodomy.

It’s tough to say.

Special thanks to local fan hunter, Jimmy D, for sending this puppy in.  He could have been killed.

Subscribe (for free!!) to our weekly sports podcast, deemed “incredible” by two out of three of our moms.

© JoeSportsFan.com , 2010. | Permalink | Tweet This

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It took an offensive blackout and countless griping from fans, but St. Louis skipper Tony LaRussa has finally made the move.

Monday night against the Washington Nationals, Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols found himself batting cleanup. It was the first time Pujols batted outside of the third spot since May 30, 2003, when he hit fourth against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Matt Holliday will now bat third.

“It’s a couple things,” La Russa said. “No. 1, Matt is feeling O.K., but he’s a major impact guy for us and we’ve got to get him going to where he’s more like himself. Two, hitting him in front of Albert should be a plus, but hitting him second, I didn’t really like that too much.”

One reason for making this move was Holliday’s struggles with runners in scoring position. This season, he’s eight-for-47 in those high pressure situations. Otherwise, he is having a fine year at the dish. By moving him to third, St. Louis optimizes RBI opportunities for Pujols, while lessening the chance of Holliday coming up with runners on.

Another way it helps the Cardinals is by simpling shaking things up. It’s no secret that most of the St. Louis lineup has been under-producing, and this move returns Holliday to a place he is familiar with from his years with the Colorado Rockies. Pujols, meanwhile, will be able to hit with more runners on, because Holliday is a high average, high on-base percentage guy who can come up with two-out hits if necessary.

“We’ll see,” the manager said. “We’ve still got to make it work, but Matt’s been a third-place hitter. He likes hitting third. We need to be more productive. So you identify, there’s things we can work on, there’s things we can improve, which we will improve. And there’s other things like this that maybe there’s a spark there for us. and getting Matt going would be a spark.”

Holliday didn’t say he would change his approach at the plate, but he did acknowledge he likes coming up in the first inning.

“But with Albert,” he said, “you usually hit in the first inning [anyway].”

Although LaRussa said Albert approved of the move, the St. Louis star didn’t have much to say about the switch.

“I don’t care where I hit,” Pujols said. “I’m just glad to be in the lineup.”

In a related story, Cardinals shortstop Felipe Lopez rejoined the team from the disabled list, and led off in last night’s contest.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com