However you slice it, this team seems to be having fun and the manager seems to be having fun.
Jose Oquendo was coaching third in New York when "Pop" Warner was away for a graduation and Packy Elkins coached first in Pittsburgh when Stubby Clapp was away for the same reason.
Pleasantly retied, in Lester's case. Don't know if Happ still wants to pitch or not.
The Cardinals don't need any more outfielders with Juan Yepez here and Alec Burleson tearing up Class AAA. I think Dylan Carlson, among the three regular outfielders has the chance to be the best player.
Money grubbing, sadly, isn't confined to baseball, or even sports.
News of note: Carlson and Matz placed on IL. Rondon optioned to Memphis. Junior Fernandez back from Memphis to help bullpen. Liberatore doesn't go to Memphis, but stays. And Nootbaar replaces Carlson.
Often, Derrick has a game to cover on Monday, as is the case today. I'll try to do the best I can.
The Cardinals do have long-time big leaguer Turner Ward as their other hitting coach.
If you're watching the Cardinals, you just see more right-handed hitters. .
I didn't know Arenado had lost it other than going nothing-for-14 in a recent stretch. He and San Diego's Manny Machado have been the best players in the league for the first two months.
There are more humidors in play. You would think baseball would want more homers than fewer.
I wouldn't say Bader has struggled. He leads the league in stolen bases and I don't think he'll ever be much more than a .260 hitter, but with great defense, speed and a fair amount of power.
I would say that with the lockout over, and perhaps COVID more under control by next season, we will have seen the last of that asinine rule.
The rules stipulate that bunted balls are not eligible to be called infield flies, no matter how high in the air they might be.
Most of the time it is because certain relievers are programmed for later innings and there are others who are up early if there are any problems. They then might sit down if the starters get past the trouble.
He had a good variety of pitches, including a changeup, but he left too many fastballs over the plate.
I will be on hand for about 20 road games.
There's too much other stuff on those sandwiches.
I've never understood why pitchers and catchers throw out balls that have hit the dirt or been in contact with a bat. You would think they would appreciate the scuff on the ball.
Carpenter is a pitching consultant and something of a life coach with the Angels.
I would always side with the veteran catcher.
The extended spring players now often are ones who have been injured and are coming back. Then, after the July draft, there will be extended spring players who might be too raw to put into the system just yet. There are games, mostly on the intra-squad level but some with other teams' organizations in the Jupiter area. But mostly the players are drilling. .
Alex Reyes allowed the game-losing homer but keep in mind the Cardinals had scored only one run and they weren't ahead when Reyes came in. Most managers rest their players after playoff spots are clinched under the theory those players will be fresher for the postseason. The Cardinals had one postseason game. And they lost it--because they didn't hit enough.
No question about best baseball player. Ruth was dominant as a hitter and a pitcher. Not sure about athlete.
If you want Gorman to play second base--and the Cardinals do--then you have to play him at second base. Until he would show otherwise, he is not a utility player.
Mostly those are off-season projects. But I suspect they will resume at some point.
I have always felt the Cardinals were too button downed as a team. I get the need for a professional approach in a 162 plus game season but I felt they were always a bit too tight. This years team is loose and having fun. Reminds me of late 2011 when Jim Edmonds came back and put life into the team. Am I wrong?