I don't know about the mud application these days. But, often, the clubhouse attendants did it.
Before Sunday's game, Cardinals had 3.38 ERA in Molina-started games. Knizner's was 4.11. I don't have winning percentage breakdown.
I would like to see this experimented with in spring training before I would pass judgment but it is intriguing. I don't want to lose the human element of the home-plate umpire, though. I like on-field arguments and balls and strikes are about the only things you really can debate these days.
The San Diego Padres would be the third wild-card team and would oppose the NL Central champions. But the Milwaukee Brewers are even with the Padres on the loss side now so it could be either of them coming here in October.
Good for Albert to salute Albert. The hitting coach has been a target for several years here.
Management and manager Marmol really want to see Gorman succeed at second base. They know Donovan can play there and really anywhere but Gorman's positions are limited right now, especially with Pujols and even Dickerson as DH candidates every day.
One of the worst, although Gallen didn't really establish himself until he was dealt by Miami to Arizona. And, Ozuna did help the Cardinals win the division title in 2019. .
The Cardinals still would prefer to have their best defense on the field and that would include Paul DeJong at shortstop. But it's hard to play him when he's two for 36 with 18 strikeouts, especially when Molina, who isn't hitting much better, is in the lineup, too.
Helsley was granted permission to be away until tests were concluded on their infant daughter. Nothing wrong with her, thankfully. And Cardinals didn't lose any games because Helsley was gone. Nobody is upset, similar to when Molina took off and when Goldschmidt and Arenado weren't allowed to go to Toronto because they weren't vaccinated for COVID.
JoJo Romero will get a crack and so will right-hander Andre Pallante, who has been much better against left-handed batters.
There's an excellent chance Cabrera will be back for the playoffs and perhaps Naughton, too. Rosters can change from round to round in the postseason.
As long as the club is winning, Molina is going to play but he will share time with Knizner, who likely will catch Mikolas tonight. It would help if Molina could contribute something at bat but that may not happen.
O'Neill, who hadn't played center field since 2019 in the minors, has seemed slow to react on some balls, especially those hit in front of him, when he's been in center. The angles are totally different than playing corner outfield. You might see him the rest of the way mostly in left, where he is outstanding, and Carlson in center with Dickerson, as long he stays hot, taking some time in left. But Carlson will have to hit better for this to work. The Cardinals can't have outs at catcher, shortstop (DeJong) and center field at the same time.
I trust Bob Brenly's judgment. Knizner has improved defensively and in calling a game and he's starting to hit with authority, too.
You make a good point here although we don't really know how much else Washington would have wanted besides Carlson.
Albert has 17 home games left and six in his home-away-from-home in Pittsburgh, so there's a chance for 700. But he would have to hit one homer every five games. So far, on average, he has hit one every 9.5 games.
I see your point but Marmol isn't going to mess with Nootbaar and Donovan as the Nos. 1-2 hitters until they aren't getting on any more. He's been searching for the right combination against right-handed pitching all season and now he may have found it. And, the Cardinals almost never face left-handed starters.
In a short series, the Cardinals would have the most trouble against teams that have two top-shelf starters. The team with the best top two is New York with Scherzer and deGrom. Next are Philadelphia with Wheeler (currently injured) and Nola and Milwaukee with Burnes and Woodruff. The Dodgers have several good starters, but those aforementioned teams have the top twosomes.
Donovan could be a much better version of Descalso because he has more speed, more power, hit for a higher average and achieve a higher on-base percentage, where Donovan ranks among the top players in the league. I don't see him "selling out" because his main job now is to get on base for the big boys.
DeJong probably would be better off somewhere else next season but he might still have something to offer power-wise this year when the Cardinals face a left-hander.
We don't know if they're a World Series contender or not until the playoffs start. After they're over, then the Cardinals can survey what they need. Their first need would be for Arenado to opt in, which is expected.
Hey Rick: We know the Upms are responsible for putting the old Mississippi mud on the baseballs. But who really does it i.e. clubhouse attendee, etc.? Also, since a lot a pitchers complain about the 'slick' balls why aren't Umps being held responsible for it? Of course we know Umps aren't really held responsible for anything anymore