After being expected to ride in on a white horse and save his team, the St. Louis Cardinals, Chris Carpenter found out that he would be doing anything but.
It was announced on Thursday that Carpenter, the Cardinals ace and former Cy Young winner would be missing the rest of the season and a hearty chunk of next year as well as he will be undergoing Tommy John surgery.
You can now officially blow the Cardinals extraordinarily thin playoff hopes out the window. Whatever shot they had will now rest squarely on the shoulders of Kip Wells’ and his 5.75 ERA (although it should be said that Wells went 8 and only allowed 2 hits in his last start).
Tony LaRussa is in some serious trouble and should start praying to whomever he prays to that Adam Wainwright and the rest of the thrown together starting staff can equal Caprenter’s production and the bullpen’s efficiency.
Good luck.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Four Team Race
The division race in the National League West is one of the most interesting and entertaining at this point in the season and promises to be through the remainder. At 48-46 and only 5 ½ games back of division leader Los Angeles, the Colorado Rockies are intent on playing a major role.
After dropping 8 games at the end of June, the Rockies have gone 10-4 since, thrusting themselves back into the NL West picture. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 on Wednesday on the back of Jeff Francis who threw down another strong outing.
Francis went 7, allowing only two runs on six hits with 6 k’s for good measure. Francis also helped out on offense, knocking in Troy Tulowitzki in the 3rd to tie the game up at one. He had hit a bit of a rough patch before the All-Star break and in his first start after so maybe this effort will help get him back on track.
The Rockies real strength though is their offense and their big-time hitters came through again for manager Clint Hurdle. Against the offensively poor Pirates, the Rockies needed only 5 runs today. After the RBI single from Francis, a 2 run homer by Brad Hawpe and a 2 run homer by Todd Helton was all Francis, Jorge Julio and Manual Corpas needed to shut the door and send the Pirates home with their sixth loss in a row, the longest current streak after the A’s snapped their dreadful 8 game slide.
Pittsburgh is just scuffling right now and they can’t seem to produce anything beyond 3 runs, but then the few times that they do? Well, their pitching staff lets them down.
Despite having a very good season, Wednesday was not starter Ian Snell’s day. He gave up two home runs, pushing his season’s total to 15, and got little help from his teammates. After the game, Snell was very adamant about the Rockies stealing signs and even threatened retaliation the next time the two teams meet, which will take place in Colorado in late August.
While not an advocate of sign stealing, I do believe it is a part of the game and pitchers just need to deal with it and compensate in other ways. Getting angry, rather than adjusting your stuff or talking to the catcher about it is stupid and foolhardy. This should make the showdown in the Rockies quite interesting though if Snell is indeed involved in the four game set.
After dropping 8 games at the end of June, the Rockies have gone 10-4 since, thrusting themselves back into the NL West picture. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 on Wednesday on the back of Jeff Francis who threw down another strong outing.
Francis went 7, allowing only two runs on six hits with 6 k’s for good measure. Francis also helped out on offense, knocking in Troy Tulowitzki in the 3rd to tie the game up at one. He had hit a bit of a rough patch before the All-Star break and in his first start after so maybe this effort will help get him back on track.
The Rockies real strength though is their offense and their big-time hitters came through again for manager Clint Hurdle. Against the offensively poor Pirates, the Rockies needed only 5 runs today. After the RBI single from Francis, a 2 run homer by Brad Hawpe and a 2 run homer by Todd Helton was all Francis, Jorge Julio and Manual Corpas needed to shut the door and send the Pirates home with their sixth loss in a row, the longest current streak after the A’s snapped their dreadful 8 game slide.
Pittsburgh is just scuffling right now and they can’t seem to produce anything beyond 3 runs, but then the few times that they do? Well, their pitching staff lets them down.
Despite having a very good season, Wednesday was not starter Ian Snell’s day. He gave up two home runs, pushing his season’s total to 15, and got little help from his teammates. After the game, Snell was very adamant about the Rockies stealing signs and even threatened retaliation the next time the two teams meet, which will take place in Colorado in late August.
While not an advocate of sign stealing, I do believe it is a part of the game and pitchers just need to deal with it and compensate in other ways. Getting angry, rather than adjusting your stuff or talking to the catcher about it is stupid and foolhardy. This should make the showdown in the Rockies quite interesting though if Snell is indeed involved in the four game set.
Going Down
No one really knows what’s going on with Ervin Santana. Whatever it is, the Angels are hoping that he can figure it out in triple-A.
On Wednesday the Los Angeles Angels sent Santana down to triple-A Salt Lake to straighten himself out and calm his nerves, at least for hi starts away from home. The dichotomy of Santana’s season has been remarkable to say the least.
Many players will do better on the road or vice versa. However, for Santana, the discrepancy between the two was cavernous. Santana posted a respectable 3.42 ERA in Los Angeles over 52.2 innings, pitching in the friendly confines of Angel Stadium. He started 8 games and allowed 52 hits, 20 earned runs, only 14 walks and 38 strikeouts and in the process went 4-2. As a member of the visiting team, things were vastly different.
While on the road, Santana started 11 games. He pitched 57.1 innings, only 4.2 more than at home, allowed 84 hits, 32 more than at home and had an ERA of 8.79. I genuinely do not understand how one man can be so good at home and so unspeakably and unfathomably terrible on the road.
The likely replacement for Santana in Joe Saunders. Saunders has been struggling some in Triple-A but was stellar in his infrequent starts in the Majors. It should be interesting to keep an eye on this Santana situation though as he was so good last year and looked to form one of the best young pitching tandems in baseball alongside Jered Weaver. Now, the Angels are just hoping he can become a productive member of their team again as they prepare to enter the playoffs.
On Wednesday the Los Angeles Angels sent Santana down to triple-A Salt Lake to straighten himself out and calm his nerves, at least for hi starts away from home. The dichotomy of Santana’s season has been remarkable to say the least.
Many players will do better on the road or vice versa. However, for Santana, the discrepancy between the two was cavernous. Santana posted a respectable 3.42 ERA in Los Angeles over 52.2 innings, pitching in the friendly confines of Angel Stadium. He started 8 games and allowed 52 hits, 20 earned runs, only 14 walks and 38 strikeouts and in the process went 4-2. As a member of the visiting team, things were vastly different.
While on the road, Santana started 11 games. He pitched 57.1 innings, only 4.2 more than at home, allowed 84 hits, 32 more than at home and had an ERA of 8.79. I genuinely do not understand how one man can be so good at home and so unspeakably and unfathomably terrible on the road.
The likely replacement for Santana in Joe Saunders. Saunders has been struggling some in Triple-A but was stellar in his infrequent starts in the Majors. It should be interesting to keep an eye on this Santana situation though as he was so good last year and looked to form one of the best young pitching tandems in baseball alongside Jered Weaver. Now, the Angels are just hoping he can become a productive member of their team again as they prepare to enter the playoffs.
Precipice
One of the worst losing streaks in baseball this season ended on Wednesday when Lenny DiNardo pitched a gem of a game and shut down the Texas Rangers as the Oakland Athletics picked up their first win in 9 games, stopping an 8 game slide.
It took a combined effort from DiNardo, who pitched a strong 7 innings of 3 hit ball and Santiago Casilla who finished the Rangers off with 2 shutdown innings for the A’s to kick the losing skid. DiNardo has had an up and down season for Oakland but he has come up big for a spot starter/long relief guy. DiNardo is cruising along with a nice 2.51 ERA and is becoming very appealing in the eyes of opposing GM’s looking for a little pitching help for the stretch drive, as the A’s were virtually eliminated with their recent crash.
The Athletics got solid offensive support in the 6-0 game, helping them buck their losing skid. The A’s had scored only 20 runs over their 8 losses, and had not hit the 6 runs scored plateau since July 2nd against Toronto. The team has been offensively inept all season which has been crippling their solid pitching staff.
With another game against Texas than three vs. Baltimore before a trip to face division leader Los Angeles and Wild Card contender Seattle the A’s need to get their offense rolling and use today’s victory as a turning point. If not, expect Billy Beane to start the sale, auctioning players like DiNardo, fellow pitcher Joe Kennedy, Shannon Stewart and perhaps even Mike Piazza, if he’s back in time. Beane has never been overly hesitant to sell the old and bring in the new.
It took a combined effort from DiNardo, who pitched a strong 7 innings of 3 hit ball and Santiago Casilla who finished the Rangers off with 2 shutdown innings for the A’s to kick the losing skid. DiNardo has had an up and down season for Oakland but he has come up big for a spot starter/long relief guy. DiNardo is cruising along with a nice 2.51 ERA and is becoming very appealing in the eyes of opposing GM’s looking for a little pitching help for the stretch drive, as the A’s were virtually eliminated with their recent crash.
The Athletics got solid offensive support in the 6-0 game, helping them buck their losing skid. The A’s had scored only 20 runs over their 8 losses, and had not hit the 6 runs scored plateau since July 2nd against Toronto. The team has been offensively inept all season which has been crippling their solid pitching staff.
With another game against Texas than three vs. Baltimore before a trip to face division leader Los Angeles and Wild Card contender Seattle the A’s need to get their offense rolling and use today’s victory as a turning point. If not, expect Billy Beane to start the sale, auctioning players like DiNardo, fellow pitcher Joe Kennedy, Shannon Stewart and perhaps even Mike Piazza, if he’s back in time. Beane has never been overly hesitant to sell the old and bring in the new.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Great Expectations
The Oakland Athletics have Kurt Suzuki lined up to take over as the everyday catcher and they have been prepping him for this role for the past month or two. The Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, had their catcher of the future on Geovany Soto at the Major League level, but only allowed him 7 AB’s before dispatching him back to triple –A Iowa. Something seems a little off here.
Soto has been a dynamic force in the minor leagues with his bat and given the time in Chicago, he had the potential to be a nice piece of the puzzle for the Cubs this season and beyond. Instead, Chicago sent down the young stud and made the foolhardy deal to acquire Jason Kendall.
So while the Cubs paid next to nothing for him, they’re also getting next to nothing in return, at least on the offensive side of things. Kendall has been an utter failure as an offensive threat for the A’s this year and has never been the type of produce that the Cubs need. His offensive numbers are just brutal though and far below what he used to amass. Kendall is 33 years old and has brought in all of 2 home runs and 22 RBI in 292 AB’s. That is not a stat you as a GM want to see, and that doesn’t even include his .226 average.
Chicago, when they dealt away Michael Barrett for Rob Bowen, knew they were getting rid of a strong bat in Barrett but his clubhouse antics and fiery temper got him replaced. They paid for a calm demeanor and some veteran leadership and they did get some by acquiring Kendall.
Now, if only they can get Kendall to double his atrocious production thus far, they may be ok in Chicago.
Soto has been a dynamic force in the minor leagues with his bat and given the time in Chicago, he had the potential to be a nice piece of the puzzle for the Cubs this season and beyond. Instead, Chicago sent down the young stud and made the foolhardy deal to acquire Jason Kendall.
So while the Cubs paid next to nothing for him, they’re also getting next to nothing in return, at least on the offensive side of things. Kendall has been an utter failure as an offensive threat for the A’s this year and has never been the type of produce that the Cubs need. His offensive numbers are just brutal though and far below what he used to amass. Kendall is 33 years old and has brought in all of 2 home runs and 22 RBI in 292 AB’s. That is not a stat you as a GM want to see, and that doesn’t even include his .226 average.
Chicago, when they dealt away Michael Barrett for Rob Bowen, knew they were getting rid of a strong bat in Barrett but his clubhouse antics and fiery temper got him replaced. They paid for a calm demeanor and some veteran leadership and they did get some by acquiring Kendall.
Now, if only they can get Kendall to double his atrocious production thus far, they may be ok in Chicago.
What's Wrong With Jason?
What is wrong with Jason Bay? The Pittsburgh Pirates slugger is in a lengthy and abhorrent slump that has killed whatever slim chances the Pirates had at making the playoffs this season. With the starters pitching well and the relievers holding their own, the Pirates just needed an offensive star to keep them relevant but for whatever reason Bay has been unable to pull his weight lately.
Bay has decent numbers on the year thus far, but he as tailed off dramatically since June 4th. On June 4th, Bay’s batting average was a respectable .312. Since that day, up to and including last night, Bay is now hitting .249. The problem being that to drop his average to a meager .249, Bay has hit .142 since early June and he has seen his power numbers disappear as well.
Before June 4th Bay had 10 home runs and 42 RBI, and since? Well, the Pirates star has knocked out an insufficient 3 homers and a brutal 15 RBI. With such sluggers as Xavier Nady and Adam LaRoche (who for much of the season was locked in a slump far worse than Bay’s) as the secondary power sources behind Bay, is it any wonder the team is struggling?
Hopefully for Pirates fans and management Jason Bay can turn it around because he is talented and is the future of the Pittsburgh franchise. With Bay back on track and the young and talented infield of the future soon to arrive in Pittsburgh, the future is looking bright. Until then, Jason Bay is still in one of the worst slumps for a player of his quality that I’ve seen in a long time.
Bay has decent numbers on the year thus far, but he as tailed off dramatically since June 4th. On June 4th, Bay’s batting average was a respectable .312. Since that day, up to and including last night, Bay is now hitting .249. The problem being that to drop his average to a meager .249, Bay has hit .142 since early June and he has seen his power numbers disappear as well.
Before June 4th Bay had 10 home runs and 42 RBI, and since? Well, the Pirates star has knocked out an insufficient 3 homers and a brutal 15 RBI. With such sluggers as Xavier Nady and Adam LaRoche (who for much of the season was locked in a slump far worse than Bay’s) as the secondary power sources behind Bay, is it any wonder the team is struggling?
Hopefully for Pirates fans and management Jason Bay can turn it around because he is talented and is the future of the Pittsburgh franchise. With Bay back on track and the young and talented infield of the future soon to arrive in Pittsburgh, the future is looking bright. Until then, Jason Bay is still in one of the worst slumps for a player of his quality that I’ve seen in a long time.
Filling Gaps
Two top notch prospects got called up to the Major’s on Tuesday. Colorado recalled Ubaldo Jimenez from triple-A and Florida did the same with prospect Rick Vanden Hurk. Vanden Hurk will be pressed into starting duty for the Marlins tonight as the Marlins take on the St. Louis Cardinals, while Colorado has decided to bring up Jimenez for bullpen relief work.
Vanden Hurk was up earlier this season but struggled and got sent down with an 8.38 ERA to his name. He had some serious success in the minors and did well in the Future’s Game so the Marlins brought him up. With Josh Johnson on the disabled list there is a spot open for Vanden Hurk if he can lower his ERA some. If you can, check out Vanden Hurk tonight when he and the Marlins face St. Louis.
Jimenez, meanwhile, has not dominated triple-A like expected but he was still very highly regarded in the Rockies organization. He really struggled to start the season but has had much more success in recent outings. He had his Major League debut last fall for the Rockies and had moderate success. The Rockies bullpen has sustained some injuries lately, including closer, Brian Fuentes so instead of starting, which is where Rockies management would prefer Jimenez to be, his primary workload will stem from the bullpen for the time being and the foreseeable future.
Vanden Hurk was up earlier this season but struggled and got sent down with an 8.38 ERA to his name. He had some serious success in the minors and did well in the Future’s Game so the Marlins brought him up. With Josh Johnson on the disabled list there is a spot open for Vanden Hurk if he can lower his ERA some. If you can, check out Vanden Hurk tonight when he and the Marlins face St. Louis.
Jimenez, meanwhile, has not dominated triple-A like expected but he was still very highly regarded in the Rockies organization. He really struggled to start the season but has had much more success in recent outings. He had his Major League debut last fall for the Rockies and had moderate success. The Rockies bullpen has sustained some injuries lately, including closer, Brian Fuentes so instead of starting, which is where Rockies management would prefer Jimenez to be, his primary workload will stem from the bullpen for the time being and the foreseeable future.
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