Greetings, chatters. Coming to you live from Busch Stadium today. Let’s take in a game together. Mike Matheny is set to chat at 11 or so. I’ll have some updates from there. Lineup is as follows.
Carp, 2B
DeJong
J Martinez, 1B
Ozuna
Fowler
Bader CF
Garcia 3B
Pena
C Martinez
I’ll plan on keeping the chat rolling through the game — if there is an audience for it. Reminder: We don’t have to stick to Cardinals baseball. Away we go ...
A pitcher is going to have the advantage when he has never faced a lineup before. That Cards have a pretty predictable pattern of struggling against new-ish arms. Sometimes I wonder if less might be more. Instead of trying to find out what a guy has, when evidence is thin, go find out. That is the approach Paul DeJong used against Kingham in Pitt. Kingham was recently sent down, by the way. It’s a bit baffling how cool the bats get against the relative unknowns. Yesterday’s starter is a good pitcher though. Don’t take that away from the discussion.
Mozeliak explained it as they were wary of getting caught thin when it came to available arms. A pitcher has to stay in the minors 10 days when he is sent out. Sending out Gant might have left them thin since Flaherty starts in the minors tomorrow. Gant could pitch in relief Friday. He’s dual purpose guy. The Cards are choosing protecting accessible pitching depth over prioritizing offense off the bench.
An org that prioritizes finding internal solutions might not prioritize a trade that adds another option at their greatest position of depth.
I’m not sure what his approach was last night. In Pittsburgh, he skipped the thin film evidence and went on the fly, and hit better than his teammates, though that wasn’t saying much. Might be something others should consider, sure. Why not try?
Update: As of now, it still sounds like Tommy Pham will avoid a DL stint. Matheny compliments Bader for his play on both sides of the ball. He’s increased his stock, even when Pham comes back.
If he doesn’t have a recruit he thinks can help his team, he will leave spots open for transfers or late opportunities. Playing a bit thin is not ideal. Giving 4 years of scholarship to players who are not deserving is always worse
One second. Need to relocate to press box from field, then will really get rolling.
Pham’s close. Be patient.
Yes, he was wearing a cup. It would be, by definition, insane for him to not be wearing a cup. I know he was wearing a cup, because I asked his brother Bengie if the throw broke his cup. Bengie did not know, but was interested in the same. Bengie said he had multiple cups broken, yes, broken, during his career. Some guys don't wear cups. It's wild when you hear of a third baseman who declines. But catchers wear cups. It's like a helmet and a mitt.
He did. Things could still change, but I would not be surprised to see him start this weekend. Saturday would make sense.
Surgery went well in that he was up and walking around the next day. The players' FaceTimed him from the clubhouse after the 14-inning thriller against the Cubs. He's been told to shut things down for a while, to rest. But I don't imagine he will be away from the ballpark for long. He would be valuable in the dugout as catcher's coach for Pena and Kelly until he is cleared.
If this suggests that Wainwright had ulterior motives when he pitched without a previous rehab stint before, that's wrong. Players want to play. Doctors give green or red lights. Players who hold themselves back when doctors say go don't build careers like Wainwright's.
Kolten Wong doesn't read the chats. He's too busy creating chatter from Cubs fans, and loving every minute of it.
Knizner is not on the 40-man. And Kelly is the heir apparent until he is not. Mozeliak was asked if the club considered calling up any catcher not named Kelly. He said, flatly, no.
Agreed. I told him it was one of my all-time favorites. I thought it was exactly what this fan base needed to hear, and it came at the right time, when he had a window of opportunity: after a sweep of the rivals. This wasn't Blues fans whining about Jake Allen receiving Bronx cheers. It was a, hey, let's get in this all together rallying cry. Thought he nailed it.
He's the best fit. Too bad the National League doesn't have that role.
Greetings, chatters. Coming to you live from Busch Stadium today. Let’s take in a game together. Mike Matheny is set to chat at 11 or so. I’ll have some updates from there. Lineup is as follows.