July 1, 2002 featuring The Book On Jim Edmonds

TEAM NEWS 43-36 (T-1st NL Central)

The Cardinals have had a rather disappointing start to their 13 game homestand, winning just 3 of the first 7. The pitchers seem to be getting the job done for the most part, but the bats have slumbered. On the positive side, the offense may be starting to click, as they've put up 15 runs in the last 2 games, equalling their output in the previous 6.

Rotation

Ace Matt Morris struggled in his last outing, allowing 5 runs in 5 innings against the Reds on Sunday. The problem? He was staked to a 6-0 lead in the first inning! All season long, Morris has had a ton of pressure on him, mainly due to a lot of the injuries that have plagued the staff. That pressure had subsided a bit, but now that they've lost another key member in the rotation, it seems to be back.
Next start: 7/5 vs. LA

Bizarre fact - Manager Tony Larussa's pitch counts for Morris seem to fluctuate in three game spans. From May 3 through May 13, he averaged 117+ pitches a start. May 18-May 28? 92. This was immediately followed by an average of 114 pitches in his next 3, and now he's back down to 95 over his last 3 starts. If this trend holds, Morris will be throwing some huge pitch counts over his next 3 starts, which could be an area of concern. Because of his injury history, Larussa may be wise to limit Morris to 105 pitches/start at the most.

While Morris has struggled in the leadership role, Woody Williams continues to show that GM Walt Jocketty was a genius when he acquired him last August. Williams allowed 3 runs through 8 innings in his most recent start against the Padres, notching his sixth victory of the season. What's the strangest thing about this? The 3 runs match the most he has given up in a game all season long. Williams has been brilliant over his last 5 starts, allowing just 9 runs in 38.2 innings. Even allowing for a slight dropoff, he's a solid #2 starter in just about any fantasy league right now.
Next start: 7/6 vs. LA

Woody has clearly established himself as the leader of this rotation, even though he'll never be labeled the ace. After Padres hurler Kevin Pickford hit two Cardinals in the bottom of the 7th inning, Williams made sure to send a message in the top of the 8th, throwing a fastball way high and tight to Bubba Trammell before making him his 7th strikeout victim 2 pitches later. Williams struck out 7, including the last 2 batters that he faced.

28-year-old rookie Jason Simontacchi rebounded nicely from a poor start his last time out. Simontacchi eclipsed the 100 pitch mark for the first time in his big league career, holding the Reds to just 2 runs in 7 innings. He continues to be a solid four category contributor, but won't carry anyone in strikeouts.
Next start: 7/3 vs. SD

Simontacchi continues to silence the critics. With all due respect to the Cubbies, no pitcher should ever have to pitch in a situation like he had to last Sunday night, and he certainly looked more like himself this weekend.

Bud Smith is technically coming off of his two best starts of the year. The 22-year-old lefty has experienced some expected growing pains this season. While the fact that he's given up just 2 runs in his last 9.2 innings (over 2 starts) is a start, he's still allowing almost 2 base-runners an inning. This is bound to catch up with him eventually. Smith, who was known as a control pitcher at every level in the minors, can't seem to find the plate so far this season. He walked 4 in his last start. If he can start to spot his pitches on the corners a little easier, look for him to have a nice second half.
Next start: 7/2 vs. SD

This could be interesting. The Padres are the team that Smith no-hit last season... If his season is going to turn around, look for it to start right here.

Rookie Travis Smith made an interesting splash upon returning to the big league club. Smith was demoted after getting rocked by Cincinnati on May 28, allowing 8 runs in just 1 inning, but came back to face those same Reds on Saturday afternoon. Showing them what he learned back in AAA Memphis, Smith limited the Reds to just 2 runs (1 earned) over 6.1 solid innings, but watched the bullpen blow it for him in a 4-2 loss.
Next start: 7/4 vs. LA

Travis Smith is a short-term option. The Cards are actively looking for a fifth starter through trade.

Bullpen

It finally happenned! Closer Jason Isringhausen has been known as a streaky pitcher for much of his career. This week, we saw the down side of that, as he blew 2 of 3 save opportunities, allowing 5 runs in just two-thirds of an inning to Cincinnati in his last outing on Sunday. This was bound to happen sooner or later, and closers' numbers often look ugly if they've blown a save, primarily because of how short their outings normally are. Let's hope this doesn't develop into a trend through July. Expect Izzy to return to form.

Regardless of the two blown saves this past week, nobody in the 'pen stands a chance of supplanting Izzy as the closer. Steve Kline would be the likely answer there if it gets totally out of control. For now, consider Kline as a top option in holds leagues. He finally seems to have recovered from a bout with Gout, and is starting to lower his ERA back to the stratosphere. Kline remains the primary setup man, both against righties and lefties.

Yes, you have heard your Cardinals Correspondent go off on Mike Timlin (1-3, 2.93, 7 holds) once or twice this season. Still, he's put together a fine campaign overall, and he actually hasn't allowed a homer in over two weeks. Look for his ERA and his incredible 0.93 WHIP to rise a little bit the rest of the way, but he should continue to see some more holds come his way, and is a quality option; this is, of course, assuming that he can keep the ball in the yard (8 HR in 46 IP).

Dave Veres seems to have that sinker working again, and has allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and a walk in his last 8.1 innings. His hold in Sunday's 12-8 loss to Cincinnati (BS for Izzy) was his 9th this season, teaming him with Kline (8) and Timlin (7) as three decent middle relievers that the Cardinals have to help out in leagues with holds.

Infield

Tino Martinez was given a routine day off Monday, as the Cards were facing rookie lefty Oliver Perez of the Padres. Martinez has once again shown signs that he'll pull out of the funk he's been in all year. After a woeful 1-19 stretch, Tino has gone 5 out of 8 in his last 2 games, blasting his 9th homer of the year on Sunday. He always starts heating up come July, so keep an eye on him.

Leadoff man Fernando Vina also took the day off on Monday for just the third time this season. The scrappy 2b has seen his numbers drop bigtime in recent weeks, and Tony Larussa said before the game that Vina just seemed "gassed." Let's hope that a little rest will help him start getting on base a little more often, and he should continue to score a lot of runs the rest of the way. Don't count on a repeat of his first half RBI production though.

SS Edgar Renteria is starting to turn it up a bit. While he still has yet to flash his power this season, Edgar is starting to run. Through the first two months of the season, Renteria had stolen just 5 bases, a figure which he matched in June. He started to go a little nuts around this time last year, picking himself up from a disgusting .236 before the break by following it with a .283 average after the break. While he's continued to hit in the .280s this year, he's capable of raising the bar another 15-20 points to challenge .300 with another hot second half.

3b Placido Polanco has been muy caliente lately. After seeing his 13-game hit streak end last week against Milwaukee, Polanco has responded by hitting in his last 5 games, hitting a blistering .363 (8-22) in that span, and even hitting his third homer in two weeks. Polanco has recovered from his woeful start, raising his average from .249 (June 7) to .270. Look for his average to continue to rise, but don't count on his recent power surge to become a trend.

Outfield

Albert Pujols is starting to zero in at the plate. After going 2-4 with a homer against the Padres earlier tonight, Pujols is 7 for his last 18 (.389) over his own 5-game hitting streak with a homer and 6 RBI. He hasn't yet shown the form that made him a .330 hitter last year, but his power numbers are right about where they were last season, and he should continue to hit the ball well the rest of the way.

Jim Edmonds is on fire. It took him a couple of weeks to get his timing back, but Edmonds has gone 8 for his last 17, blasting 2 homers with 3 RBI. He's not the .340 hitter that he was before his injury, but expect Edmonds to stabilize his average around .310. His power numbers should continue at their current pace, possibly even rising a bit (15 HR/40 RBI).

While he's struggled lately, manager Tony Larussa should thank his lucky stars for Eli Marrero's presence on the Cardinals roster everyday. Marrero filled in admirably while CF Jim Edmonds spent time on the DL earlier this season, and is expected to do so while RF J.D. Drew takes the first of his usual two or three annual stints on the DL right now. Marrero does have fantasy value, as he's eligible at Catcher. He has solid power and great speed, and can be a real sparkplug to the team at times. However, he's batting a woeful .150 (3-20) since Drew headed to the DL last week.

Local Perspective/Rumorama

The fans continue to turn out in drones, cheering on their first place Cards. Much of the buzz is about making a deal for a fifth starter, which seems to be primarily focused on the Tigers Jeff Weaver. Most fans around here aren't sure that Travis Smith can get the job done in the long run, though he did leave the field to a standing ovation for his performance against the Reds on Saturday night. The fear is that the Cards may have to deal top prospect Jimmy Journell to get Weaver, as one GM was quoted that the Tigers weren't just asking for the moon, but "the sun, too."

There are also factions around St. Louis that think that it's about time that Rick Ankiel should get his head out of his rectum and return to the big league level, as well as those who think that Journell may be ready to come up. However, Ankiel doesn't seem to be nearly done rehabbing, and Journell was just recently called up to AAA for the first time. Neither is expected to contribute this season.

The Book On:

Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds, 32, broke out as a bigtime player in his second full season with the Angels in 1995, finishing second on the Angels in homers (34) and leading the club in RBI (107) while batting .290. Always touted as a fair prospect, Edmonds was more known for his flashy defense, as he could cover as much ground as Devon White, constantly made highlight-reel diving catches, and had a cannon of an arm in CF. He played all-out on every play, which certainly keeps fans in the game, but can unfortunately have a down side.

The down side? Injuries. While Edmonds turned in a remarkable follow up season, it was limited to 114 games the next year. He hit the DL twice in 1996, once with a strained groin and abdomen, and another with a sprained MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) in his wrist. Still, his 114 production (.304-27-66) showed the league that he could become a star who would be reckoned with for years to come. Unfortunately, injury marred seasons in 1997 and 1999 surrounding a mediocre 1998 campaign kept him from stepping to the next level. Edmonds played just 55 games in 1999, which would be his last season with the Angels.

Heading into the 2000 season, nobody knew where Edmonds place was with the Angels. RF Tim Salmon and LF Garrett Anderson were firmly entrenched as the corner outfielders, and former 1b Darin Erstad had moved to CF while Edmonds was out. Somebody had to go, and Edmonds was the one. He was dealt to the Cardinals in the offseason for 2b Adam Kennedy and SP Kent Bottenfield.

In 2000, his first season with the Cardinals, Edmonds established himself as a leader and a fan favorite, continuing to make his flashy plays in the outfield, and blasting a career high 42 homers. He led the team in HR, Runs (129), RBI (108), and BB's (103). Along with Mark McGwire, who missed almost half the season, Edmonds led the Cardinals to their first division title since 1996. He would follow this up with another fine .304-30-110 year in 2001, when he would win his fourth Gold Glove in the outfield. Edmonds batted a scorching .373-14-46 with 15 doubles in his last 46 games, setting the tone for 2002.

Edmonds started off the 2002 season on a tear, batting .341 with 12 homers and 36 RBI in the first two months, but hit the DL at the beginning of June with a sprained wrist. He struggled upon his return, but should start to lock in over the second half. The Cards would be lost without Edmonds patrolling CF, and he should continue to be a great leader in their clubhouse for at least five more years.

The Walking Wounded

J.D. Drew - Yes, he is, in fact, made of glass. Drew had avoided the DL for almost three months this season, but his gimpy knee has finally landed him there.

Spin - He's expected to be gone for 2-3 weeks, and the rest now could be better for later. Larussa said that Drew doesn't blame his constant nagging injuries for his poor performance at the plate this year, but we'll have to see if/when he ever returns to the lineup.

Andy Benes - Benes and his arthritic knee are progressing nicely in his rehab starts at AAA Memphis, and he seems to be ready to join the big league club if they need him.

Spin - (cough) Benes is just not a major league starter anymore. For a while, it seemed that he would do the classy thing and step away, but he rescinded his statement that he planned on retiring, and is now relegated to being a $6,000,000 AAA pitcher until his contract expires. And people think that we shouldn't hate the players union as much as we hate the owners??????

Garrett Stephenson - The most optomistic date set for Stephenson's return from hamstring surgery is August.

Spin - He has no value, healthy or not.

Quick View

Add/Acquire

Eli Marrero - The early season hype has faded. He's not an everyday starter when the lineup is healthy. However, he is the starter until Drew comes back, and puts up solid #4/#5 outfielder numbers as a Catcher. If you're hurting behind the plate, he's worth a gamble.

Bud Smith - His recent stretch might mean that he's turning the corner a bit. While he's still getting into trouble, he's finding ways out of jams now as well. This can only help the youngster's confidence, and he does have the stuff to win 8 to 10 the rest of the way.

J.D. Drew - Many a fantasy owner (including myself) are just ready to give him up for nothing. He's had an awful start; he's constantly complaining of some wussy nagging injury; he's on the DL as we speak. Now's the time to see if you can get him cheap. Drew is still a guy who's capable of being a .300-35-110 guy with 30 steals, and that has to count for something.

Jason Isringhausen - He just showed us a little of what he did last April with the A's. I had him last year in a league and gave up on him, and boy, did I kick myself the rest of the way. Izzy is a frontline closer, but he missed 2 weeks and has actually blown as many saves as he has converted since his return (2/2). Some jittery managers may be scared off by this, but it's not a trend that will likely continue.

Woody Williams - OK.... If you've read the first 7 Cardinals reports (dating back to early March), you'll be well aware that Woody has been on this list every week. Until he proves me wrong, no matter how many leagues he's gone in (which better be every fantasy league known to man), he will continue to appear on this list.

Drop/Deal

Placido Polanco - He should be dropped only if you have some strange belief that you can count on his recent power surge. His versatility and average skills still make him a decent filler at 3 pretty thin positions in fantasy baseball (2b, SS, 3b), but he brings little to the table outside of his batting average.

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