Bumps and Bruises

Team News: 9-8, 2nd place NL Central (2 games behind Chicago)

Since their six game homestand to start the year, the Redbirds have been touring the U.S. early on this season. As always, Houston was kind to the Cardinals, as they took two out of three from the division rival Astros deep in the heart of Texas. Last year, beating up on the Astros was crucial to the Cardinals' division championship, as the difference in the season series provided the final margin for the NL Central. The two teams will meet again twice in late May, in what could be a couple of crucial series to the outcome in the division.

Trips to those other stadiums named after breweries led to a 3-3 split, as the Cardinals lost two out of three in Coors Field, where they traditionally struggle, before heading to Miller Park and taking two out of three from the upstart Brewers. The Birds returned to Busch to renew their budding rivalry with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who they've split two postseason series with in the past two seasons. More on that in a bit.

Some Things Never Change

Tony Larussa still loves that micromanagement, but his failure to micromanage a game in Houston earned mixed reviews. After ace Matt Morris had pitched brilliantly a week earlier at home against the Astros, only to see the bullpen (read: not the closer) blow a one run lead for him in the ninth inning in a 2-1 loss, Larussa decided to try and make it up to him a week later. Morris was, again, brilliant against the Astros, but he was flat out of gas when Larussa stuck with him. On his 122nd pitch of the game (aside - remember, this was his third start of the season), Morris hung a curveball to Jeff Kent which ended up in the centerfield bleachers, driving in Lance Berkman and giving the Astros a 3-2 victory.

This was a frequent topic in the report last season, and several other managers, specifically Jeff Torborg, were criticized throughout our message boards, but Larussa's abuse of Matt Morris' arm will become a regular feature on our report. In four starts this season, Morris has thrown 100+ pitches every time out.... even in his blowout 15-2 victory in Milwaukee.

Chuck Who?

Many of the fans around here seemed to moan and groan a bit when the Redbirds put forth a stronger effort to re-sign Woody Williams than they did to re-sign Chuck Finley. Through three starts, Woody seems to have scared all of his critics into hiding, as he's been the most dominant hurler in the majors. After blanking the Diamondbacks for seven innings on Friday night, Williams is 3-0 with a 0.00 (yes, you're reading that right) ERA and a 0.71 WHIP. He's fanned thirteen against just three walks in 19.2 innings, and seems to be improving on his stamina with each start. There have been no indications that the strained oblique muscle that forced him to the disabled list twice last season have had any long-term effect.

After disappointing in his first two starts, Brett Tomko stepped up and had a phenomenal start in the Diamondbacks series, lasting eight innings and allowing just one run. The Cardinals will have to count on him to chew up a lot of innings to keep the bullpen fresh between Jason Simontacchi, who has looked awful in building his stamina, (he hasn't pitched past the fifth inning once in three starts) and Garrett Stephenson, who is a constant injury risk.

Bullpen Still a Mess

This club needs Jason Isringhausen back in a bad way. By no means has Steve Kline (0-1, 3 SV, 1.13 ERA) been bad as the main closer in the bullpen, but the entire 'pen seems to have no identity without Izzy. Ideally, Kline will be the go-to-guy in the eighth inning when Isringhausen's back, and the team is having trouble finding someone who will get games to Kline for the time being. The bullpen surrounding Kline has allowed 10 homers and 23 earned runs in just 40.1 innings so far this season for a ghastly 5.13 ERA. Jeff Fassero and Dustin Hermanson are the primary candidates to step into a late-inning relief roles, but neither has really been overpowering so far this season.

Gold Glovers on a Tear

With the exception of Fernando Vina, all of the Cardinals' current (2002) and former Gold Glovers are off to stunning starts at the plate. Excluding Vina's numbers, the tandem of Mike Matheny, Tino Martinez, Edgar Renteria, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds is collectively batting .343 (107/312) with 15 homers and 61 RBI. Edmonds (.444/4/14) and Matheny (.358/1/12) have gotten off to especially scorching starts, while Renteria and Rolen seem well on their way to consecutive silver slugger awards.

On the subject of Vina, he's up to his old tricks. He remains fantastic with the glove, but seems right on track with the trend that he's had the past couple of years. His on-base-percentage is taking a forty point hit from last season so far, and has slipped about twenty-five points three years running. What's more, he's one for three in stolen base attempts. At some point, Larussa just may have to bite the bullett and realize that Vina may not be the best leadoff man for this club, and would be better suited in the two-hole, where he does all of the little things to move runners over, and always makes contact.

Blues Having an Influence?

As the St. Louis Blues prepared for Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals (which they would eventually lose to the Canucks, sending the series back to Vancouver for a mutual elimination game), the Redbirds brought the rink to Sunday's game with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being hit by a pitch from Miguel Batista in the fifth inning, Tino Martinez took his free pass relatively quietly. When he was erased on a force play at second and Batista decided to do a little jawing on Tino's jog to the dugout, things changed pretty quickly. Martinez charged the mound and avoided the second ball that the D-Backs hurler threw at him in the inning before clocking Batista and emptying the dugouts. Both were ejected, and both can probably expect suspension notices in the next few days.

Cardinals reliever Jeff Fassero retaliated in the ninth inning, plunking the Diamondbacks Luis Gonzalez on the ribcage and drew an immediate ejection of his own. The ball didn't initially look like it was thrown at Gonzalez intentionally, but Fassero had no arguments. "You guys saw the game, that's old baseball," Fassero said. "I play old baseball, I don't play this new style of baseball. I still believe in the old ways, settling scores for teams and stuff like that, protect your guys."

Matt Mantei would later blast J.D. Drew on the arm with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to load the bases, but the benches stayed quiet and Mantei was not ejected. Mike Matheny stepped up next and fanned on three pitches, as the Redbirds fell to the Diamondbacks 1-0.

The Prodigal Son Returns

Yes... that's right. "The Gimp", as your Cardinals Correspondent so loves to call him, has returned from his latest hiatus. The "next Mickey Mantle" will soon try and avoid having batteries thrown at him in a city near you. J.D. Drew returned to the lineup Saturday night, and it was just in the nick of time. Surprisingly Drew, who was supposed to be out until early to mid May, actually hurried back from the disabled list for once and will have to fill an important role right away as he pushes the Marrero/Palmeiro platoon over to left field. It's about time for the Cardinals to see Drew cash in on his world of potential as someone will need to pick up the pace with Albert Pujols limited to pinch-hitting duty for the next few weeks.

The Walking Wounded

Albert Pujols - With the hamstring issue seemingly behind him, Pujols injured his hand and his elbow throwing the ball and will be limited to pinch-hitting duties for the next two to three weeks.

J.D. Drew - What? You thought the report said he's back? Drew is always injured, so the Cardinals will nurse him back by giving him more than the occasional day off. Expect Drew to play every other day for a while. He's returning from arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason.

Jason Isringhausen - Izzy continues to complain of discomfort in his throwing shoulder and has had a couple of recent setbacks in his rehab. Expect him to be gone until early-mid May at the earliest.

Chris Carpenter - Carpenter won't likely be ready to return to the big leagues until late in the season after shoulder surgery late last season.

Joe Girardi - The Cardinals are still without a backup catcher other than super-utility man Eli Marrero on their roster, and there's no indication as to whether or not Girardi will retire or return. He's still sufferring from multiple pains in his neck, upper back, and ribs.

Mike Crudale - As if the Cardinals bullpen situation could get any worse, Crudale was expected to re-join the team once he'd gotten his confidence back pitching for AAA Memphis, but has since broken his left pinky toe after slipping on a carpet.

Quick View

Add/Acquire

J.D. Drew
Tino Martinez
Brett Tomko
Orlando Palmeiro

Drop/Deal

Mike Matheny
Fernando Vina

Hold

Edgar Renteria
Scott Rolen
Jim Edmonds
Albert Pujols
Matt Morris
Woody Williams
Steve Kline

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Feel free to send me any specific questions or comments at royalcards@fantasyinfocentral.com or post your questions in the Cardinals Forum.