Every December you will see various publications posting their Top 10 lists relating to the concluding year, whether it be top news stories, top sports moments, best defensive plays, etc...
This year CFCL, as part of the United Cardinals Bloggers December project, is joining the fray with the top 5 Cardinals stories for the 2013 season.
My criteria for the top stories are those that I feel impacted the Cardinals the most in their run to the World Series.
So, without further ado, here are my picks for the top 5 Cardinals stories of the year, in countdown order:
5. Edward Mujica steps up
After losing Jason Motte to Tommy John surgery and fill-in closer Mitchell Boggs to ineptitude, the Cardinals were desperate for someone to step up and fill the closer role.
Enter Edward Mujica. After taking over the closer role in mid-April, Mujica saved 35 out of 37 games before tiring down the stretch and losing the closer role to Trevor Rosenthal.
However, make no mistake about it, the Cardinals would not have reached the playoffs without Mujica's quiet efficiency as closer from April to August.
4. Cardinals redefine the term "clutch"
When it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP), no one did it better than the Cardinals in 2013. As a team, they hit .330 with RISP, nearly 50 points higher than the second place team, the Tigers, who hit .282 with RISP.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Allen Craig who hit an insane .454 with RISP. In 130 at bats with RISP, Craig had 84 rbi's, despite just 4 homers.
In addition to Craig, Matt Holliday was 4th with RISP with a .390 average, Matt Carpenter was 5th with .388 average and Carlos Beltran 8th with a .374 average.
3. Cardinals rookie pitchers come up big
Due to an seemingly endless string of injuries and ineffectiveness, the Cardinals relied on their rookie pitchers early and often during the 2013 season.
It started with Shelby Miller, who won the 5th starter spot in spring training and finished the season with a 15-9 record, a 3.06 ERA and a third place finish in the ROY voting.
Second on the list was Trevor Rosenthal who absolutely dominated in the setup role, posting a 2.63 ERA and 108 K's in 75.1 innings. He took over the closer role late in the season and locked up the 2014 closer role with 11.2 scoreless innings in the 2013 postseason.
Other key rookie arms were Seth Maness (2.32 ERA and an incredible 4.40 GO/FO ratio), Kevin Siegrist (0.45 ERA in 39.2 innings), Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78 ERA) and Carlos Martinez (5.08 ERA in the regular season, but a 3.55 ERA as the primary setup man in the playoffs).
2. Adam Wainwright returns to form
After shaking off the rust from Tommy John surgery during an up-and-down 2012 season, Adam Wainwright showed he was back as the Cardinals ace in 2013.
Wainwright was among the top 5 in ERA for most of the season, holding a 2.58 ERA through August 23, before back-to-back poor outings against the Reds ballooned his ERA up to 3.14. He settled down after that to lower his ERA to 2.94, good for 7th in the league while tying for the league lead with 19 wins.
Add to that his leadership and dancing ability, and its easy to see why Waino is a fan favorite.
1. Michael Wacha dominates the postseason
In all my years of watching and following the Cardinals, I am hard-pressed to think of any pitcher, let alone a rookie, who had a better stretch of starts than Michael Wacha did in his first 4 postseason starts.
It started with game 4 of the NLDS against the Pirates. Facing elimination, Wacha no-hit the Buccos through 7.1 innings before allowing a homer against Cardinal killer Pedro Alvarez.
He followed that up by throwing 13.2 scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS, including 7 innings of 2 hit ball in the decisive 6th game, earning the NLCS MVP award.
He then went on to win game 2 of the World Series, allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits.
All told, Wacha went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his first 4 postseason games.
That he ended up losing the decisive game 6 of the World Series does not diminish his heroics as the Cardinals certainly would not have even made the World Series without him.
I'm sure there are other key moments that I probably have forgotten about, but those are the ones that stood out to me. What's yours?
Showing posts with label Edward Mujica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edward Mujica. Show all posts
Monday, December 30, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Annual United Cardinals Bloggers Awards
Since its the end of November, its time for the annual United Cardinals Bloggers awards. This is my first year running a Cardinals blog and thus my first year voting. Below you can find the official ballot and my selections for each. To check out the other bloggers' ballots, go to unitedcardinalsbloggers.com.
Team Awards
1) Cardinal Position Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Allen Craig
–Yadier Molina
–Write-in: ___________
To me, this was a no-brainer. Not only did Yadi have another fine offensive year, but he was another pitching coach on the field and the Cardinals went through a seemingly endless supply of rookie pitchers. Without him, I do not think we would have made the playoffs.
2) Cardinal Pitcher of the Year
–Edward Mujica
–Trevor Rosenthal
–Adam Wainwright
–Write-in: ___________
Another no-brainer. Adam Wainwright was the best starter and returned to his proper place as ace of the Cardinals staff.
3) Game of the Year
–May 10 vs. Colorado (Miller’s almost-perfecto)
–May 11 vs. Colorado (Wainwright’s no-hitter into 8th)
–August 26 vs. Cincinnati (comeback capped by Craig slam)
–September 4 at Cincinnati (Adams 2 extra-inning HR)
–September 24 vs. Nationals (Wacha near no-no)
–Game 4, NLDS
–Write-in: ____________
I went with Game 4 of the NLDS. Facing elimination, Michael Wacha pitched a 1 hitter through 7.1 innings, giving up only a solo homer to Cardinals killer Pedro Alvarez in the 8th, before fellow rookies Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal shut the door.
4) Surprise Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Joe Kelly
–Edward Mujica
–Kevin Siegrist
–Write-in: ______________
Mujica stepped up big time this year, becoming the Cardinals closer after Jason Motte was lost to injury and Mitchell Boggs fell apart. It was a huge leap for a career middle reliever and he took to his new role well.
5) Disappointing Player of the Year
–David Freese
–Pete Kozma
–Fernando Salas
–Write-in: _______________
Freese's lack of production in 2013 was surprising after a very good year in 2012 and may open the door for Kolten Wong (and an offseason trade for Freese).
6) Rookie of the Year
–Matt Adams
–Carlos Martinez
–Shelby Miller
–Michael Wacha
–Write-in: ______________
While Wacha was outstanding in the postseason, there would have been no postseason if not for the excellent work turned in by Miller. His 15 wins and 3.09 ERA were second to Adam Wainwright among the Cardinals regular starters.
7) Acquisition of the Year
–John Axford
–Randy Choate
–Write-in: ______________
I'm sure most of you would pick Ty Wigginton for acqusition of the year (just kidding), but considering how few moves the Cardinals made, Choate was just what the Cards needed. The epitome of a LOOGY, Choate only pitched 35.1, but had a 2.29 ERA and held lefties to a .176 average.
8) Most Anticipated Cardinal
–Stephen Piscotty
–Lee Stoppleman
–Oscar Taveras
–Write-in: ______________
Injuries derailed Taveras' season, but they did not diminish his top prospect status.
Blog Awards
9) Best Individual Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: _Retro Simba
Like most baseball fans, I get caught up in the history of the game and Retro Simba provides a unique perspective on the history of the Cardinals.
10) Best Team Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: Viva el Birdos
There is no surprise that VeB has been around for so long.
*–Individual means the blog was written mainly by one person, while a team blog is composed usually by two or more. For classification’s sake, each blog under The Cardinal Conclave label are considered separate entities and should be considered in either team (Pitchers Hit Eighth) or individual (everyone else).
11) Best Media Coverage
–Derrick Goold
–Jenifer Langosch
–Stan McNeal
–Bernie Miklasz
–Joe Strauss
–Write-in: ____________
Langosch has proven time and again that she belongs with the big boys.
12) Best Rookie Cardinal Blog
–CardinalsFarm
–Dose of Buffa
–stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page
–The View From Here
–Write-in: ____________
Good writing and analysis.
13) Post of the Year
Bad Body Language Has No Place In Baseball (Cardinals Fan in Cubs Land)
Closing The Book On The John Axford Trade (On The Outside Corner)
Doors Close On The Cardinals In 2013 (Dose of Buffa)
How A B-17 Nearly Clipped Cardinals In World Series (RetroSimba)
Matt Holliday: One Of The Most Cost Effective Players In Baseball (stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page)
Memories Help Come To Terms With The Season’s End (Aaron Miles’ Fastball)
RIP Stan The Man (Women Who Love Cardinal Baseball)
Time For The Relievers (The View From Here)
What Does Your Cardinals Jersey Say About You? (C70 At The Bat)
–Write-in: _______________
I voted for the "RIP Stan The Man" piece. It was a fine tribute to "The Man".
14) Best UCB Project
–Cardinal HOF Inductees
–Cardinal HOF Memorabilia
–Roundtables
–Top 7 Prospects
–Write-in: ____________
I like doing the roundtables with everyone and getting their perspective on the Cardinals.
15) Best UCB Podcast
–Conversations With C70
–Gateway To Baseball Heaven
–UCB Radio Hour
–Write-in: _None-I don't follow podcasts
16) Best UCB Twitterer
–Write-in: None - I don't follow twitter much
So, those are my picks. Who or what would you have picked differently?
Team Awards
1) Cardinal Position Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Allen Craig
–Yadier Molina
–Write-in: ___________
To me, this was a no-brainer. Not only did Yadi have another fine offensive year, but he was another pitching coach on the field and the Cardinals went through a seemingly endless supply of rookie pitchers. Without him, I do not think we would have made the playoffs.
2) Cardinal Pitcher of the Year
–Edward Mujica
–Trevor Rosenthal
–Adam Wainwright
–Write-in: ___________
Another no-brainer. Adam Wainwright was the best starter and returned to his proper place as ace of the Cardinals staff.
3) Game of the Year
–May 10 vs. Colorado (Miller’s almost-perfecto)
–May 11 vs. Colorado (Wainwright’s no-hitter into 8th)
–August 26 vs. Cincinnati (comeback capped by Craig slam)
–September 4 at Cincinnati (Adams 2 extra-inning HR)
–September 24 vs. Nationals (Wacha near no-no)
–Game 4, NLDS
–Write-in: ____________
I went with Game 4 of the NLDS. Facing elimination, Michael Wacha pitched a 1 hitter through 7.1 innings, giving up only a solo homer to Cardinals killer Pedro Alvarez in the 8th, before fellow rookies Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal shut the door.
4) Surprise Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Joe Kelly
–Edward Mujica
–Kevin Siegrist
–Write-in: ______________
Mujica stepped up big time this year, becoming the Cardinals closer after Jason Motte was lost to injury and Mitchell Boggs fell apart. It was a huge leap for a career middle reliever and he took to his new role well.
5) Disappointing Player of the Year
–David Freese
–Pete Kozma
–Fernando Salas
–Write-in: _______________
Freese's lack of production in 2013 was surprising after a very good year in 2012 and may open the door for Kolten Wong (and an offseason trade for Freese).
6) Rookie of the Year
–Matt Adams
–Carlos Martinez
–Shelby Miller
–Michael Wacha
–Write-in: ______________
While Wacha was outstanding in the postseason, there would have been no postseason if not for the excellent work turned in by Miller. His 15 wins and 3.09 ERA were second to Adam Wainwright among the Cardinals regular starters.
7) Acquisition of the Year
–John Axford
–Randy Choate
–Write-in: ______________
I'm sure most of you would pick Ty Wigginton for acqusition of the year (just kidding), but considering how few moves the Cardinals made, Choate was just what the Cards needed. The epitome of a LOOGY, Choate only pitched 35.1, but had a 2.29 ERA and held lefties to a .176 average.
8) Most Anticipated Cardinal
–Stephen Piscotty
–Lee Stoppleman
–Oscar Taveras
–Write-in: ______________
Injuries derailed Taveras' season, but they did not diminish his top prospect status.
Blog Awards
9) Best Individual Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: _Retro Simba
Like most baseball fans, I get caught up in the history of the game and Retro Simba provides a unique perspective on the history of the Cardinals.
10) Best Team Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: Viva el Birdos
There is no surprise that VeB has been around for so long.
*–Individual means the blog was written mainly by one person, while a team blog is composed usually by two or more. For classification’s sake, each blog under The Cardinal Conclave label are considered separate entities and should be considered in either team (Pitchers Hit Eighth) or individual (everyone else).
11) Best Media Coverage
–Derrick Goold
–Jenifer Langosch
–Stan McNeal
–Bernie Miklasz
–Joe Strauss
–Write-in: ____________
Langosch has proven time and again that she belongs with the big boys.
12) Best Rookie Cardinal Blog
–CardinalsFarm
–Dose of Buffa
–stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page
–The View From Here
–Write-in: ____________
Good writing and analysis.
13) Post of the Year
Bad Body Language Has No Place In Baseball (Cardinals Fan in Cubs Land)
Closing The Book On The John Axford Trade (On The Outside Corner)
Doors Close On The Cardinals In 2013 (Dose of Buffa)
How A B-17 Nearly Clipped Cardinals In World Series (RetroSimba)
Matt Holliday: One Of The Most Cost Effective Players In Baseball (stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page)
Memories Help Come To Terms With The Season’s End (Aaron Miles’ Fastball)
RIP Stan The Man (Women Who Love Cardinal Baseball)
Time For The Relievers (The View From Here)
What Does Your Cardinals Jersey Say About You? (C70 At The Bat)
–Write-in: _______________
I voted for the "RIP Stan The Man" piece. It was a fine tribute to "The Man".
14) Best UCB Project
–Cardinal HOF Inductees
–Cardinal HOF Memorabilia
–Roundtables
–Top 7 Prospects
–Write-in: ____________
I like doing the roundtables with everyone and getting their perspective on the Cardinals.
15) Best UCB Podcast
–Conversations With C70
–Gateway To Baseball Heaven
–UCB Radio Hour
–Write-in: _None-I don't follow podcasts
16) Best UCB Twitterer
–Write-in: None - I don't follow twitter much
So, those are my picks. Who or what would you have picked differently?
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Is Trevor Rosenthal following Jason Motte's career path?
Stop me if you've heard this one before--guy spends most of the season as a setup man, then the incumbent closer struggles, opening the door for him to take over.
Back in 2011, that guy was Jason Motte. This year, that guy appears to be Trevor Rosenthal.
First, a bit of history. Back in 2011, the Cardinals were struggling to find a closer after incumbent Ryan Franklin imploded in April. The Cardinals tried a few different guys, such as Mitchell Boggs and Eduardo Sanchez, before Fernando Salas stepped up and took hold of the job.
Salas was very good as the Cards closer, with only 3 blown saves in 25 tries through August 11th. However, a couple blown saves in a row and some excellent pitching by Motte, who threw 33 consecutive scoreless innings, led manager Tony Larussa to make the change.
Motte earned his first save on August 28th. He finished the season with 9 and was the Cardinals closer throughout the playoffs and World Series.
Fast forward to 2013 and it appears that Rosenthal is in the same boat.
The Cardinals lost Motte to TJ surgery in April and scrambled to find a replacement. They tried Mitchell Boggs (again) before Edward Mujica stepped up and claimed the role.
Mujica was excellent for the Cards for most of the season, saving 35 games with only two blown saves through the end of August. However, general fatigue has led to general ineffectiveness for Mujica and he has blown 2 of 4 saves in September, leading Matheny to indicate that he would go with a closer by committee.
Enter Rosenthal, who came on last night to record a 2-out save, the first of his career, and has the stuff to take hold of the role and never let go.
Although Matheny is saying that he is going with a committee approach, I would be shocked if Rosenthal is not "the guy".
The last 5 games of the season could be his trial period and, if he succeeds, look for Rosenthal to be closing in the postseason.
Back in 2011, that guy was Jason Motte. This year, that guy appears to be Trevor Rosenthal.
First, a bit of history. Back in 2011, the Cardinals were struggling to find a closer after incumbent Ryan Franklin imploded in April. The Cardinals tried a few different guys, such as Mitchell Boggs and Eduardo Sanchez, before Fernando Salas stepped up and took hold of the job.
Salas was very good as the Cards closer, with only 3 blown saves in 25 tries through August 11th. However, a couple blown saves in a row and some excellent pitching by Motte, who threw 33 consecutive scoreless innings, led manager Tony Larussa to make the change.
Motte earned his first save on August 28th. He finished the season with 9 and was the Cardinals closer throughout the playoffs and World Series.
Fast forward to 2013 and it appears that Rosenthal is in the same boat.
The Cardinals lost Motte to TJ surgery in April and scrambled to find a replacement. They tried Mitchell Boggs (again) before Edward Mujica stepped up and claimed the role.
Mujica was excellent for the Cards for most of the season, saving 35 games with only two blown saves through the end of August. However, general fatigue has led to general ineffectiveness for Mujica and he has blown 2 of 4 saves in September, leading Matheny to indicate that he would go with a closer by committee.
Enter Rosenthal, who came on last night to record a 2-out save, the first of his career, and has the stuff to take hold of the role and never let go.
Although Matheny is saying that he is going with a committee approach, I would be shocked if Rosenthal is not "the guy".
The last 5 games of the season could be his trial period and, if he succeeds, look for Rosenthal to be closing in the postseason.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Edward Mujica out as Cardinals closer?
After blowing another save last night, the Cardinals appear to be removing Edward Mujica from the closer role going forward.
Per Jennifer Langosch, the Cards will not use Mujica tonight and the closer spot will be "fluid going forward". There are various candidates to fill the closer role (e.g. Trevor Rosenthal, Kevin Siegrist) and game situations may determine who gets the call.
This news comes on the heels of Mujica's admission that he is experiencing "overall fatigue".
After being lights out for the first 5 months of the season, its obvious that something was wrong with Mujica as he has posted a 9.45 ERA in September and blown 2 out of 4 save chances. In 6.2 innings over 8 appearances, he has given up 15 hits, 2 walks and 2 homers.
The Cardinals will likely try to give him a breather for a few days and then put him in some low pressure situations to see how he responds. At this point, its about getting him back on track in time for the playoffs.
Although the Cardinals say that they will determine the closer based on game situation, Rosenthal is the logical choice to replace Mujica. This final week may be Rosenthal's audition for the 2014 closer role (and beyond).
I think he will do just fine.
Per Jennifer Langosch, the Cards will not use Mujica tonight and the closer spot will be "fluid going forward". There are various candidates to fill the closer role (e.g. Trevor Rosenthal, Kevin Siegrist) and game situations may determine who gets the call.
This news comes on the heels of Mujica's admission that he is experiencing "overall fatigue".
After being lights out for the first 5 months of the season, its obvious that something was wrong with Mujica as he has posted a 9.45 ERA in September and blown 2 out of 4 save chances. In 6.2 innings over 8 appearances, he has given up 15 hits, 2 walks and 2 homers.
The Cardinals will likely try to give him a breather for a few days and then put him in some low pressure situations to see how he responds. At this point, its about getting him back on track in time for the playoffs.
Although the Cardinals say that they will determine the closer based on game situation, Rosenthal is the logical choice to replace Mujica. This final week may be Rosenthal's audition for the 2014 closer role (and beyond).
I think he will do just fine.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Are the Cardinals pursuing Jonathan Papelbon?
We're not even to July yet and the rumors are already flying around the Cardinals.
The latest involves Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
According to Nick Cafardo, the Phillies believe there are at least 3 teams--the Red Sox, Cardinals and Tigers--that may have some interest in their closer.
From a purely "win now" standpoint, Papelbon would make sense for the Cardinals. He is having an excellent season, with a 1.46 ERA in 24.2 innings to go along with 13 saves. He would definitely help shore up the back end of the Cardinals bullpen and likely push Edward Mujica back to his 7th inning role from the beginning of the season.
However, there is some baggage that comes with Papelbon. Namely he is owed another $26 million on his contract for 2014-2015, plus a potential vesting option for 2016 for another $13 million. A pretty steep price for a pitcher on the wrong side of 30.
Ever since Jason Isringhausen and the Cards parted ways after the 2008 season, the Cardinals have been very frugal when it comes to finding their closer, typically filling the position from within. That's not to say that they definitely wouldn't pursue Papelbon, but it seems to go against their philisophy.
In addition, you have to consider the cost in terms of the prospects it would take to land Papelbon. I'm guessing the Cardinals might have to part with one of their top prospects, such as Kolten Wong.
Finally, Mujica has been perfect in his save chances so far this season. If it ain't broken, why fix it?
Add it all up and I think its highly unlikely that the Cards will pursue Papelbon. If the Cardinals are going to part with one of the top prospects, I think its more likely that they will pursue an upgrade to their starting rotation. Otherwise, they will probably target a lesser reliever that will not cost as much.
The latest involves Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
According to Nick Cafardo, the Phillies believe there are at least 3 teams--the Red Sox, Cardinals and Tigers--that may have some interest in their closer.
From a purely "win now" standpoint, Papelbon would make sense for the Cardinals. He is having an excellent season, with a 1.46 ERA in 24.2 innings to go along with 13 saves. He would definitely help shore up the back end of the Cardinals bullpen and likely push Edward Mujica back to his 7th inning role from the beginning of the season.
However, there is some baggage that comes with Papelbon. Namely he is owed another $26 million on his contract for 2014-2015, plus a potential vesting option for 2016 for another $13 million. A pretty steep price for a pitcher on the wrong side of 30.
Ever since Jason Isringhausen and the Cards parted ways after the 2008 season, the Cardinals have been very frugal when it comes to finding their closer, typically filling the position from within. That's not to say that they definitely wouldn't pursue Papelbon, but it seems to go against their philisophy.
In addition, you have to consider the cost in terms of the prospects it would take to land Papelbon. I'm guessing the Cardinals might have to part with one of their top prospects, such as Kolten Wong.
Finally, Mujica has been perfect in his save chances so far this season. If it ain't broken, why fix it?
Add it all up and I think its highly unlikely that the Cards will pursue Papelbon. If the Cardinals are going to part with one of the top prospects, I think its more likely that they will pursue an upgrade to their starting rotation. Otherwise, they will probably target a lesser reliever that will not cost as much.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Cardinals bullpen in danger of being overworked
After yesterday's 14 inning affair that saw the Cardinals use 5 relievers, including 4 (Seth Maness, Trevor Rosenthal, Edward Mujica and Keith Butler) for 2 or more innings, the Cards bullpen is in serious danger of being overworked.
Tonight, the Cardinals plan on using Joe Kelly to start against the Diamondbacks, in what will likely be another bullpen affair. Kelly, who has not been stretched out since beginning the season as the Cards long reliever, is unlikely to last more than 4-5 innings, meaning the bullpen will have to be relied upon heavily again.
For teams with a lot of bullpen depth, both at the major and minor league level, this is not an issue. But for a team like the Cardinals, who have had bullpen issues all season, this could spell trouble with a capital "T".
The Cards have tried to alleviate this problem by recalling Maikel Cleto from AAA and sending Victor Marte down. However, Cleto's track record doesn't inspire confidence and its unlikely that Mike Matheny would use him in a pressure situation.
So, if its a tight game tonight, who will Matheny turn to? Trevor Rosenthal, who has been used heavily all season, including pitching 3 innings the last two days? Edward Mujica, who was extended to two innings last night instead of his normal one inning save duties.
Only Randy Choate and Cleto are "fresh" and ready to go for tonight's game. Beyond that, its anybody's guess as to who will get the call.
One thing is for sure, the Cardinals better hope that Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright can give the at least 7 innings the next two nights so the bullpen can get some much needed rest.
Tonight, the Cardinals plan on using Joe Kelly to start against the Diamondbacks, in what will likely be another bullpen affair. Kelly, who has not been stretched out since beginning the season as the Cards long reliever, is unlikely to last more than 4-5 innings, meaning the bullpen will have to be relied upon heavily again.
For teams with a lot of bullpen depth, both at the major and minor league level, this is not an issue. But for a team like the Cardinals, who have had bullpen issues all season, this could spell trouble with a capital "T".
The Cards have tried to alleviate this problem by recalling Maikel Cleto from AAA and sending Victor Marte down. However, Cleto's track record doesn't inspire confidence and its unlikely that Mike Matheny would use him in a pressure situation.
So, if its a tight game tonight, who will Matheny turn to? Trevor Rosenthal, who has been used heavily all season, including pitching 3 innings the last two days? Edward Mujica, who was extended to two innings last night instead of his normal one inning save duties.
Only Randy Choate and Cleto are "fresh" and ready to go for tonight's game. Beyond that, its anybody's guess as to who will get the call.
One thing is for sure, the Cardinals better hope that Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright can give the at least 7 innings the next two nights so the bullpen can get some much needed rest.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Injuries have Cardinals shifting focus from bullpen to rotation
After spending over a month trying to sort out their bullpen, the Cardinals now face new problems with a starting rotation that has been beset by injuries.
The bullpen issues stemmed from an season-ending injury to closer Jason Motte, which caused bullpen roles to shift--a shift that some, like Mitchell Boggs, were not ready for. The Cardinals solved their problems by shifting Edward Mujica to closer and calling up Carlos Martinez and Seth Maness to shore up the back end of the pen.
Now, a rash of injuries to the Cardinals rotation has the Cardinals scrambling again.
First, Jake Westbrook went on the DL with an elbow injury. Then Jaime Garcia was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. As if that wasn't enough, Westbrook's replacement, John Gast, was removed from his last start with shoulder tightness.
Thus, the Cardinals are making changes on the fly again.
First, Michael Wacha, the Cardinals best pitching prospect still in the minors, was pulled from his start Monday and is probably option #1 to replace Gast in the rotation. Nothing has been announced yet and, as Bernie Miklasz points out, there are still reasons why the Cardinals wouldn't call on Wacha, but it appears that he is likely replacement for Gast.
In addition, the Cardinals have sent Carlos Martinez down to AAA to stretch him out as a starter again. With all the injuries to starting pitching, the Cardinals now need Martinez as a starter more than they do as a (little used) reliever. While it probably won't take him long to ramp up, Martinez still has work to do on his secondary pitches before he can be considered for a starting role.
Finally, Victor Marte was recalled to fill Martinez' role in the pen. Marte had a 4.91 ERA in 40.1 IP last year for the Cardinals, but considering that Martinez only pitched 9.1 innings in the 21 days he was up with the club, its unlikely that Marte will be used in high leverage situations.
So the Cards are shuffling the deck again and the fans are hoping that the magic continues.
The bullpen issues stemmed from an season-ending injury to closer Jason Motte, which caused bullpen roles to shift--a shift that some, like Mitchell Boggs, were not ready for. The Cardinals solved their problems by shifting Edward Mujica to closer and calling up Carlos Martinez and Seth Maness to shore up the back end of the pen.
Now, a rash of injuries to the Cardinals rotation has the Cardinals scrambling again.
First, Jake Westbrook went on the DL with an elbow injury. Then Jaime Garcia was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. As if that wasn't enough, Westbrook's replacement, John Gast, was removed from his last start with shoulder tightness.
Thus, the Cardinals are making changes on the fly again.
First, Michael Wacha, the Cardinals best pitching prospect still in the minors, was pulled from his start Monday and is probably option #1 to replace Gast in the rotation. Nothing has been announced yet and, as Bernie Miklasz points out, there are still reasons why the Cardinals wouldn't call on Wacha, but it appears that he is likely replacement for Gast.
In addition, the Cardinals have sent Carlos Martinez down to AAA to stretch him out as a starter again. With all the injuries to starting pitching, the Cardinals now need Martinez as a starter more than they do as a (little used) reliever. While it probably won't take him long to ramp up, Martinez still has work to do on his secondary pitches before he can be considered for a starting role.
Finally, Victor Marte was recalled to fill Martinez' role in the pen. Marte had a 4.91 ERA in 40.1 IP last year for the Cardinals, but considering that Martinez only pitched 9.1 innings in the 21 days he was up with the club, its unlikely that Marte will be used in high leverage situations.
So the Cards are shuffling the deck again and the fans are hoping that the magic continues.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Could Trevor Rosenthal or Carlos Martinez be the Cardinals long-term solution at closer?
Jason Motte's injury this spring left the Cardinals scrambling to find a replacement at closer. Edward Mujica has filled in admirably so far, but he is set to become a free agent after this season and, with Motte likely starting next year on the DL, the Cards will likely face the same closer issues next year.
The question then is who will become the Cardinals next great closer? The guy that Mike Matheny can hand the ball to in the 9th inning for the next several years and not have to worry (or at least not too much).
Based on the evidence so far, it seems likely that either Trevor Rosenthal or Carlos Martinez will take over the closer role, either by the end of this year or via a spring training battle next year.
Rosenthal would seem to be the logical choice to take over as closer. Despite spending most of his minor league career as a starter, the Cardinals used him as a reliever down the stretch last season. In addition, after stating that he would compete for the 5th starter role in the spring, the Cards barely gave him a chance before moving him back to the pen.
Thus, it appears that the Cardinals have already made up their minds that Rosenthal is best used as a reliever. His high 90's fastball, hard curveball and solid change give him three weapons to use late in games and, after struggling early in the season, he appears to have hit his stride.
As for Carlos Martinez, he too spent all of his time in the minors as a starter. However, when the Cards needed to shore up their bullpen recently, they bypassed AAA options such as Victor Marte and Eric Fornataro and chose Martinez from AA. After missing the start of the season due to visa issues, Martinez had only pitched 11.2 IP prior to his callup. If the Cardinals were content with developing him as a starter, they would have left him at AA.
What's even more telling for both Martinez and Rosenthal is that the Cards are going to need another starter next year. Jake Westbrook is set to become a free agent after this year and its unlikely that the team will offer him an extension.
However, with Michael Wacha pitching well at AAA and the emergence of John Gast as a legitimate top 10 prospect for the Cards, the team must feel confident that one of those two can take over for Westbrook next year, giving them the luxury of developing Rosenthal and Martinez as relievers.
Normally I do not like when a team takes a pitcher who could develop into a frontline starter and convert him into a reliever, but with the Cardinals pitching depth, the team appears to be trying to find spots for all their young guns.
The question then is who will become the Cardinals next great closer? The guy that Mike Matheny can hand the ball to in the 9th inning for the next several years and not have to worry (or at least not too much).
Based on the evidence so far, it seems likely that either Trevor Rosenthal or Carlos Martinez will take over the closer role, either by the end of this year or via a spring training battle next year.
Rosenthal would seem to be the logical choice to take over as closer. Despite spending most of his minor league career as a starter, the Cardinals used him as a reliever down the stretch last season. In addition, after stating that he would compete for the 5th starter role in the spring, the Cards barely gave him a chance before moving him back to the pen.
Thus, it appears that the Cardinals have already made up their minds that Rosenthal is best used as a reliever. His high 90's fastball, hard curveball and solid change give him three weapons to use late in games and, after struggling early in the season, he appears to have hit his stride.
As for Carlos Martinez, he too spent all of his time in the minors as a starter. However, when the Cards needed to shore up their bullpen recently, they bypassed AAA options such as Victor Marte and Eric Fornataro and chose Martinez from AA. After missing the start of the season due to visa issues, Martinez had only pitched 11.2 IP prior to his callup. If the Cardinals were content with developing him as a starter, they would have left him at AA.
What's even more telling for both Martinez and Rosenthal is that the Cards are going to need another starter next year. Jake Westbrook is set to become a free agent after this year and its unlikely that the team will offer him an extension.
However, with Michael Wacha pitching well at AAA and the emergence of John Gast as a legitimate top 10 prospect for the Cards, the team must feel confident that one of those two can take over for Westbrook next year, giving them the luxury of developing Rosenthal and Martinez as relievers.
Normally I do not like when a team takes a pitcher who could develop into a frontline starter and convert him into a reliever, but with the Cardinals pitching depth, the team appears to be trying to find spots for all their young guns.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Cardinals continue bullpen overhaul: Mitchell Boggs optioned, Carlos Martinez called up
After yesterday's outing in which he gave up two walks without retiring a batter, the Cardinals had seen enough of Mitchell Boggs and demoted him to AAA to sort out his issues.
To take his place, the Cardinals called up another one of their flame throwing prospects, Carlos Martinez, from AA Springfield. Martinez, who had the start of his season delayed by visa issues, has only pitched 11.2 innings this season, posting a 2.31 ERA.
Martinez, who can reach 100 mph with his fastball, will be following Trevor Rosenthal's career path. After working as a starter throughout his minor league career, he will get his first taste of the big leagues as a reliever.
It appears that the plan is for Martinez to be the 7th inning guy for the Cards, bridging the gap between the starters and the Trevor Rosenthal/Edward Mujica finishing combo. If he succeeds in that role, it will hopefully allow Mike Matheny to reduce the workload on Rosenthal, who is on pace to pitch in 92 games.
Martinez certainly has the stuff to succeed in the pen. In their 2012 Prospect Handbook, Baseball America stated that Martinez has the "ingredients to become a frontline starter or a closer."
The concern here is that, like Rosenthal, Martinez could get pigeonholed into a relief role. While not necessarily a bad thing, pitchers were their kind of stuff are generally more valuable if properly devloped as starters.
That said, this should be only a temporary role for Martinez, who could return to the minors to continue his development, once Boggs gets things sorted out.
In related bullpen news, it was announced today that Jason Motte will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Motte had been progressing with his throwing program before experiencing discomfort after throwing Friday. I, for one, wish him a speedy recovery.
To take his place, the Cardinals called up another one of their flame throwing prospects, Carlos Martinez, from AA Springfield. Martinez, who had the start of his season delayed by visa issues, has only pitched 11.2 innings this season, posting a 2.31 ERA.
Martinez, who can reach 100 mph with his fastball, will be following Trevor Rosenthal's career path. After working as a starter throughout his minor league career, he will get his first taste of the big leagues as a reliever.
It appears that the plan is for Martinez to be the 7th inning guy for the Cards, bridging the gap between the starters and the Trevor Rosenthal/Edward Mujica finishing combo. If he succeeds in that role, it will hopefully allow Mike Matheny to reduce the workload on Rosenthal, who is on pace to pitch in 92 games.
Martinez certainly has the stuff to succeed in the pen. In their 2012 Prospect Handbook, Baseball America stated that Martinez has the "ingredients to become a frontline starter or a closer."
The concern here is that, like Rosenthal, Martinez could get pigeonholed into a relief role. While not necessarily a bad thing, pitchers were their kind of stuff are generally more valuable if properly devloped as starters.
That said, this should be only a temporary role for Martinez, who could return to the minors to continue his development, once Boggs gets things sorted out.
In related bullpen news, it was announced today that Jason Motte will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Motte had been progressing with his throwing program before experiencing discomfort after throwing Friday. I, for one, wish him a speedy recovery.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With bullpen struggling, Cardinals are starting to consider other (internal) options.
With the Cardinals closer questions apparently being answered by Edward Mujica, who has converted all 3 of his save chances, the Cards are still looking to shore up the rest of their bullpen.
As of today, the Cardinals have a bullpen ERA of 5.37, last in the majors. Most of this can be attributed to Mitchell Boggs, who struggled when placed in the closer role and has yet to sort things out. If you remove his 12.46 ERA in 8.2 IP, the Cardinals bullpen ERA is a more respectable 3.74.
However, the problem is that Boggs was expected to play a major role in the Cards pen. He was the main setup guy last season and, before Jason Motte's injury, he was expected to fill that role again this year.
With his struggles, Trevor Rosenthal has had to step up into the setup role, a role that he finally appears to be getting use to. After, blowing two saves a little over a week into the season, Rosenthal has managed 5 holds since then. He is still trying to find himself, as he hasn't been as dominant as he was last year (15 hits allowed in 11.2 IP), but he seems to be acclimating to his new role.
But, with Mujica moved to the closer role and Rosenthal handling the 8th innning duties, the Cards are still looking for a 7th inning guy. Boggs could be that guy, if he gets things sorted out, but if he doesn't, the Cardinals will look at other options.
One such option, as Bernie Miklasz points out, it to swap the roles of Joe Kelly and Boggs, make Kelly the 7th inning setup guy and move Boggs to the long-relief role. This would give Boggs time to sort out his issues while giving Kelly a chance to show what he can do in a more prominent role.
Another option that Miklasz discussed would be to move Lance Lynn to the pen and call up a starter from AAA (Michael Wacha or John Gast). However, the Cardinals starters have been just fine, posting a 2.38 ERA (tops in the majors), so its unlikely that Mike Matheny would want to mess with his rotation. If it ain't broke....
Finally, the Cardinals could call up Carlos Martinez to fill a setup role. Joe Strauss speculated that this could happen in a recent interview. Martinez has closer type stuff, but just recently made his first start of the minor league season after arriving in the U.S. late due to visa issues.
My feeling is that the Cardinals should try Kelly in a setup role and move Boggs to long relief. I think this is the best option at the current time, as it gives Boggs time to sort out his issues while giving Kelly a bigger role. If things don't work out, then Plan B should be to give Carlos Martinez a try.
In any case, there is still work to be done to sort this all out. The Cardinals could always shock the world and pull off a trade. Strauss tweeted recently of a possible April/May trade (please, anyone but Carlos Marmol!!!). But, until that happens, the Cards will have to make due with what they've got.
As of today, the Cardinals have a bullpen ERA of 5.37, last in the majors. Most of this can be attributed to Mitchell Boggs, who struggled when placed in the closer role and has yet to sort things out. If you remove his 12.46 ERA in 8.2 IP, the Cardinals bullpen ERA is a more respectable 3.74.
However, the problem is that Boggs was expected to play a major role in the Cards pen. He was the main setup guy last season and, before Jason Motte's injury, he was expected to fill that role again this year.
With his struggles, Trevor Rosenthal has had to step up into the setup role, a role that he finally appears to be getting use to. After, blowing two saves a little over a week into the season, Rosenthal has managed 5 holds since then. He is still trying to find himself, as he hasn't been as dominant as he was last year (15 hits allowed in 11.2 IP), but he seems to be acclimating to his new role.
But, with Mujica moved to the closer role and Rosenthal handling the 8th innning duties, the Cards are still looking for a 7th inning guy. Boggs could be that guy, if he gets things sorted out, but if he doesn't, the Cardinals will look at other options.
One such option, as Bernie Miklasz points out, it to swap the roles of Joe Kelly and Boggs, make Kelly the 7th inning setup guy and move Boggs to the long-relief role. This would give Boggs time to sort out his issues while giving Kelly a chance to show what he can do in a more prominent role.
Another option that Miklasz discussed would be to move Lance Lynn to the pen and call up a starter from AAA (Michael Wacha or John Gast). However, the Cardinals starters have been just fine, posting a 2.38 ERA (tops in the majors), so its unlikely that Mike Matheny would want to mess with his rotation. If it ain't broke....
Finally, the Cardinals could call up Carlos Martinez to fill a setup role. Joe Strauss speculated that this could happen in a recent interview. Martinez has closer type stuff, but just recently made his first start of the minor league season after arriving in the U.S. late due to visa issues.
My feeling is that the Cardinals should try Kelly in a setup role and move Boggs to long relief. I think this is the best option at the current time, as it gives Boggs time to sort out his issues while giving Kelly a bigger role. If things don't work out, then Plan B should be to give Carlos Martinez a try.
In any case, there is still work to be done to sort this all out. The Cardinals could always shock the world and pull off a trade. Strauss tweeted recently of a possible April/May trade (please, anyone but Carlos Marmol!!!). But, until that happens, the Cards will have to make due with what they've got.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Can Edward Mujica succeed as the Cardinals closer?
It appears that, with Mitchell Boggs' struggles continuing last night (0.1 IP, 4 ER) and the Cardinals not ready to turn the reigns over to rookie Trevor Rosenthal, who has struggled too, Edward Mujica is the Cards closer, as least for now.
But can he succeed in that role?
Mujica has been nothing short of spectacular in his short career with the Cardinals. Since being acquired from the Marlins last July for Zack Cox, Mujica has posted a 1.10 ERA in 32.2 IP, with an incredible 28/4 BB/K ratio.
After struggling with home runs early in his career, Mujica has reinvented himself the last few years, relying more on a sinking fastball to go with his splitter/change, which has increased his ground ball rate from 39% in 2009 to 50.5% last year.
As a result, his HR/9 has dropped from 1.81 in 2010 to below 1.0 the last two years.
So, he appears to have the tools to succeed, but does he have the "closer mentality" to succeed?
If Thursday's game is any indication, then I think the answer is a resounding yes.
After coming into the game with two on in the bottom of the 8th, Mujica struck out Laynce Nix to end the inning. Then, after giving up consecutive hits to put runners on first and third with no one out in the 9th, Mujica induced Kevin Frandsen to ground out, with the infield in, before striking out Jimmy Rollins and ending the inning with a Freddy Galvis groundout.
That's two pressure situations in consecutive innings from which Mujica was able to escape unscathed.
Thus, while the Cardinals continue to look for ways to shore up the rest of their bullpen, it appears that the closer role will belong to Mujica and, if the early results are any indication, he should hold the job for a while.
But can he succeed in that role?
Mujica has been nothing short of spectacular in his short career with the Cardinals. Since being acquired from the Marlins last July for Zack Cox, Mujica has posted a 1.10 ERA in 32.2 IP, with an incredible 28/4 BB/K ratio.
After struggling with home runs early in his career, Mujica has reinvented himself the last few years, relying more on a sinking fastball to go with his splitter/change, which has increased his ground ball rate from 39% in 2009 to 50.5% last year.
As a result, his HR/9 has dropped from 1.81 in 2010 to below 1.0 the last two years.
So, he appears to have the tools to succeed, but does he have the "closer mentality" to succeed?
If Thursday's game is any indication, then I think the answer is a resounding yes.
After coming into the game with two on in the bottom of the 8th, Mujica struck out Laynce Nix to end the inning. Then, after giving up consecutive hits to put runners on first and third with no one out in the 9th, Mujica induced Kevin Frandsen to ground out, with the infield in, before striking out Jimmy Rollins and ending the inning with a Freddy Galvis groundout.
That's two pressure situations in consecutive innings from which Mujica was able to escape unscathed.
Thus, while the Cardinals continue to look for ways to shore up the rest of their bullpen, it appears that the closer role will belong to Mujica and, if the early results are any indication, he should hold the job for a while.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Jason Motte has torn UCL. Could Michael Wacha be an option as closer?
According to Jennifer Langosch, an MRI on Jason Motte's arm today revealed a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. He will be shut down until May 1st and then checked again for any improvement. If none, he will likely undergo Tommy John surgery.
This is a big blow for a Cardinals bullpen that has struggled so far this year.
With their closer likely out for the year and Trevor Rosenthal (2 blown saves) and Mitchell Boggs (1 blown save, 14.54 ERA) struggling, the Cardinals could look to other options to fill the closer role.
Here are some possibilities:
Edward Mujica
Mujica has been very effective since the Cards acquired him from the Marlins last summer, posting a 1.21 ERA in 29.2 IP. He main asset is his control, allowing only 1.2 BB/9 with the Cards and 1.5 BB/9 for his career. However, he only has 4 saves in his career.
Fernando Salas
Salas closed for the Cardinals in 2011, compiling 24 saves and a sparkling 2.28 ERA, but struggled last year (4.30 ERA) and hasn't fared much better in the early going this year 8.10 ERA.
Eduardo Sanchez
Sanchez is another former closer for the Cards, having saved 5 games in 2011. However, he struggled with his command last year (34 walks in 42.2 IP) and, although he has shown better form this year, the Cardinals will likely want him to prove himself in a lesser role before handing the closer reigns over to him.
Carlos Martinez
Martinez has the 2 pitch arsenal to be a good closer in the majors, with a blazing fastball that sits in the high 90's and a biting curveball. However, visa issues delayed his start to the season and he is currently in extended spring training.
Michael Wacha
Wacha surprised many with a strong spring this year and showed last year that he is comfortable pitching out of the pen, posting a 0.86 ERA in 21 IP (mostly in relief). However, the Cardinals would probably prefer to keep him as a starter to help him develop his pitches.
Overall, the Cardinals will probably give Boggs and/or Rosenthal a long leash, but beyond Boggs and Rosenthal, the best bet for saves would probably be Mujica. Wacha could be a possibility, but the Cards would have to be desperate to turn to him (which just might happen, the way things are going).
This is a big blow for a Cardinals bullpen that has struggled so far this year.
With their closer likely out for the year and Trevor Rosenthal (2 blown saves) and Mitchell Boggs (1 blown save, 14.54 ERA) struggling, the Cardinals could look to other options to fill the closer role.
Here are some possibilities:
Edward Mujica
Mujica has been very effective since the Cards acquired him from the Marlins last summer, posting a 1.21 ERA in 29.2 IP. He main asset is his control, allowing only 1.2 BB/9 with the Cards and 1.5 BB/9 for his career. However, he only has 4 saves in his career.
Fernando Salas
Salas closed for the Cardinals in 2011, compiling 24 saves and a sparkling 2.28 ERA, but struggled last year (4.30 ERA) and hasn't fared much better in the early going this year 8.10 ERA.
Eduardo Sanchez
Sanchez is another former closer for the Cards, having saved 5 games in 2011. However, he struggled with his command last year (34 walks in 42.2 IP) and, although he has shown better form this year, the Cardinals will likely want him to prove himself in a lesser role before handing the closer reigns over to him.
Carlos Martinez
Martinez has the 2 pitch arsenal to be a good closer in the majors, with a blazing fastball that sits in the high 90's and a biting curveball. However, visa issues delayed his start to the season and he is currently in extended spring training.
Michael Wacha
Wacha surprised many with a strong spring this year and showed last year that he is comfortable pitching out of the pen, posting a 0.86 ERA in 21 IP (mostly in relief). However, the Cardinals would probably prefer to keep him as a starter to help him develop his pitches.
Overall, the Cardinals will probably give Boggs and/or Rosenthal a long leash, but beyond Boggs and Rosenthal, the best bet for saves would probably be Mujica. Wacha could be a possibility, but the Cards would have to be desperate to turn to him (which just might happen, the way things are going).
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