Archive for the ‘St. Louis Cardinals’ Category

Breaking: A Baseball Game Just Ended

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Kansas City Royals, News And Notes, St. Louis Cardinals on May 31, 2013

Well, not just ended. But the latest finish in Busch Stadium history is the delightful by-prouduct of the weird and wonderful interleague schedule, a game won the Kansas City Royals 4-2 after more than five hours of rain delays. Turns out the weather in St. Louis was less than cooperative last night. The game began with an hour-plus delay. Then Michael Wacha bamboozled the Royals for a while, then the Cardinals bullpen aired the Cards dirty laundry for all to see (their bullpen is kind of bad) and then the rains came again.

And, because this is the final matchup between these two teams this season, they waited. And waited. And then they finally were able to play but they had to wait for the field to be rendered playable. So they waited some more.

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Fogging the Measure: The Exoteric Heresy and Esoteric Wisdom of the Cardinals’ Batting Order

Posted by Matt Klaassen under Carlos Beltran, Fogging The Measure, St. Louis Cardinals on May 30, 2013

Kansas City Royals v St. Louis Cardinals

The 35-17 St. Louis Cardinals are currently on top of all of baseball with a .673 winning percentage. They are only one game ahead of their run differential. They lead the National League in runs scored per game. They allow the fewest runs per game. They currently project to end the year as the team with the most wins in baseball. They are tied for first in the National League in wRC+, and are first or tied for first in the NL in ERA-, FIP-, and xFIP-. Just in case this is your first time reading Getting Blanked: the 2013 Cardinals are pretty good.

It certainly isn’t because of their manager, though. Sure, the Cardinals made the playoffs last year and looks like the best team in baseball so far this year, but I’m not sure how much credit should go to Mike Matheny. Even if he wasn’t the successor to the Great Mind of Tony LaRussa, one would have questions about his decisions — particularly his batting order. At least on the surface, exoteric level, it seems, well, blasphemous and heretical.

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Movin’ on Up – Cardinals Promote Carlos Martinez, Are Just Trolling Now

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Movin' On Up, St. Louis Cardinals on May 03, 2013

Courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Cardinals organization has the greatest collection of talent in the league. There, I said it. Not to suggest they are the perfect team and sure-fire bet to win the World Series, but the talent on their big league roster is enviable and their minor league pipeline is stuff.

If the 2013 Cardinals have a weakness, it is the performance of their bullpen through the first month of the season. Just like last season (in which they lost in the National League Championship Series) and the season before (in which they won the World Series.) Before the Cardinals make their requisite sneaky trade to bolster their relief corps, they first must call up one of their ridiculous arms from the minor leagues.

Today is that day, as the Cardinals announced former fill-in closer Mitchell Boggs was demoted to AAA and 21 year-old pitching prospect Carlos Martinez will take his place, making the jump from double-A to the show.

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Cardinals Expected To Place Jason Motte on DL

Posted by Darren Kritzer under News And Notes, St. Louis Cardinals on Mar 23, 2013

San Francisco Giants v St Louis Cardinals - Game Three

The St. Louis Cardinals have been dealing with a case of the injury bug for most of spring training, and the news keeps getting worse. Before spring started, they learned they would be without starter Chris Carpenter for the season, and just as spring was getting underway, learned starting shortstop Rafael Furcal would miss the year after needing Tommy John surgery. Today, the Cardinals announced closer Jason Motte will likely begin the year on the Disabled List.

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2013 St. Louis Cardinals: No Ebbs, Only Flows

Posted by Travis Reitsma under Preview, St. Louis Cardinals on Mar 22, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals v Philadelphia Phillies

2012 Record: 88-74, 2nd NL Central
2012 Pythagorean Record: 93-69
Impact Player: C Yadier Molina
Impact Pitcher: RHP Adam Wainwright
Top Prospect: RF Oscar Taveras 

Significant Acquisitions: CP Ty Wigginton, LHP Randy Choate

Significant Departures: 1B Lance Berkman, RHP Kyle Lohse, 2B/OF Skip Schumaker, RHP Kyle McClellan

The St. Louis Cardinals have been arguably the most successful franchise in baseball over the last ten years or so. Two world titles and numerous playoff appearances have been the result of one of the most thoroughly homegrown rosters in baseball. With the help of former farm director and current Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow and an otherwise terrific scouting and development staff, GM John Mozeliak and his crew have assembled a team that should be contending year in, year out for the foreseeable future.

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St. Louis Extends Allen Craig

Posted by Drew Fairservice under St. Louis Cardinals, Trades And Signings on Mar 08, 2013

2011 World Series Game 7 - Texas Rangers v St Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are just rubbing it in now. As if compiling oodles of young talent to go with the bevy of established stars on their roster isn’t enough, now the Cardinals feel the need to buy off the free agency years of said talented young players.

Allen Craig is the latest Cardinals player to sign a long-term contract extension, inking a five-year deal worth $31 million with an option for a sixth, keeping Craig in St. Louis until 2017. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Craig will make $1.75 million this year, $2.75 million in 2014, $5.5 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016 and $11 million in 2017. The 2018 option is $13M with a $1MM buyout.

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Gather ’round and Pay Deference to the Cardinals Farm System

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Prospectin', St. Louis Cardinals on Feb 04, 2013

The St. Louis Cardinals farm system is getting a lot of attention right now. The prospect rankings of the world are slowly rolling out, each one offering more breathless praise for the unbelievable assortment of talent compiled by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Keith Law unveiled his ESPN In$ider organizational rankings today and the Cardinals top the list. The combination of high ceiling talent, most of which is close to the big leagues, makes the Cardinals current prospect collection the mother lode.

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