TEAM NEWS: 40-33 (1st place, NL Central, 2 game lead on 2nd place Cincinnati)
It's been a tough week on the field and a tragic week off it for the Cardinals. The Cards have lost 4 in a row, and are 5-5 in their last 10. Understandably, the hearts and minds of the players just don't seem to be in it after the deaths of long-time broadcaster Jack Buck and star RHP Darryl Kile earlier this week. We ask that you join us in remembering them in our humble attempt to pay tribute to their lives.
Rotation
Staff ace Matt Morris continues to pitch brilliantly. In the past week, he's gone 7 innings twice, allowing just 2 runs in each of his starts, going 1-1 in that span and lowering his ERA to 3.03. He's now 10-5 on the year, with 100 K's in 116 innings, and should continue to keep this up the rest of the way.
Next start: June 29 vs. Cin
Veteran righty Woody Williams continues to excel since being traded to the Cardinals last August. While he fell to 4-3 in his last start, Williams held the Cubs to just 3 hits over 7 innings. Unfortunately, two of the hits were solo shots to Fred McGriff, and the Cards gave him just one run of support. The bats have been quiet lately, but should pick up enough to help Woody out a bit.
Next start: June 26 vs. Mil
28 year old rookie Jason Simontacchi had the toughest start he will ever make on Sunday night, pitching in Darryl Kile's spot in the rotation a day after his tragic death. Simontacchi performed valiantly, but surrendered 5 runs in 5 innings, watching his ERA jump from 2.45 to 3.00, and sufferring his first loss in the majors in an 8-3 defeat at the hands of the Cubs. He should be back and ready to go next time out.
Next start: June 28 vs. Cin
22-year-old lefty Bud Smith just can't seem to get it going this season. After a tremendous breakthrough rookie year last season, Smith is getting ripped apart so far this year, and has allowed just under 2 baserunners per inning. His stuff is too good for him to be getting hit this hard, and he just needs to adjust to hitters, since they've adjusted to him. It may take a few more starts, but look for Smith to pick it up a bit in the second half.
Next start: June 27 vs. Mil
Rookie Travis Smith has been called back up to fill the void in the rotation. He's not considered a long-term option to start in the majors, but may be keeping the seat warm for top pitching prospect Jimmy Journell, who was called up to AAA Memphis this past week, or until Rick Ankiel is done rehabbing.
Bullpen
It appears that closer Jason Isringhausen is almost all the way back from his elbow problem which sidelined him for the better part of three weeks. Izzy has pitched pretty well in three outings since his return, allowing just 3 baserunners and 1 run in 3 innings. He's struck out 3 in his last two outings, but hasn't seen a lead get to the 9th for him in a while.
Normally known for being a workhorse, lefty setup man Steve Kline has only appeared 19 times so far this season. Kline spent about a month on the DL earlier this year, but looked to be coming along nicely over a week-long span where he hadn't allowed a baserunner. The problem? Kline hasn't pitched since June 19.
Mike Timlin continues to be the workhorse this year, and has been fantastic with the exception of the long ball. Despite having allowed 8 homers already (his career worst is 9 in a season), Timlin has maintained a solid 2.92 ERA because home runs seem to be all he gives up. His 0.92 WHIP this year has been phenomenal, and he leads the team with 7 holds so far.
Dave Veres has been fantastic lately, allowing just 1 run and 3 hits in his last 7.2 IP. He recorded his second save of the season in that span, but don't expect him to see any more as long as Izzy's healthy.
Infield
1b Tino Martinez has resumed slumping. Honestly, he's just too good to be playing this poorly, but he's hit a putrid .188 over the past week, lowering his average to .236 on the year. Normally, July and August are when he kicks it into high gear, so hopefully he'll provide an infusion for the offense.
2b Fernando Vina had a seven game hit streak snapped last night against Milwaukee. The 33 year old had an amazing start this year, and his power numbers should start to take a hit the rest of the way. However, look for him to continue to get on base, steal a bag here and there, and score a lot of runs in the second half.
SS Edgar Renteria is mired in a 4-14 slump, though he has started running a bit more often when he reaches. He still has the potential to steal 30 bases this season, and, while his power numbers are weak so far, he should start to pick it up a bit in the homer department. His 18 doubles almost match last year's total already, and he's bound to start putting a few of those over the wall at some point.
3b Placido Polanco is seeing less and less action lately, as Eli Marrero seems to be playing a bit more in the outfield lately, which is moving slugger Albert Pujols to 3b. However, Polanco did hit 2 homers in a game, which is usually about half of his total season's production. Don't expect any more of these outbursts, but maybe he'll start picking his average up a bit.
Outfield
LF/3b Albert Pujols has been the team's most productive player over the past week, despite going just 5 for 22. His 2 homers and 4 RBI account for about 1/3 of the team's total run production in the past week. All in all, he continues to live up to the hype that surrounds him after last season, and is batting .288 with 16 homers and 50 RBI so far.
CF Jim Edmonds returned from the DL on June 16, but doesn't seem to have gotten his timing back. A 3 for 21 slump since his return has seen his average drop from .341 to .319, and he's had just 1 RBI over that span. Honestly, he's not a .340 hitter, so it was going to drop off at some point. Let's just hope this tailspin doesn't last much longer, as he's capable of some major production once he gets clicking again.
Disappointment is the only word that can describe the performance of J.D. Drew so far this season. The potential five-tool stud has played (which is rare for him) in most games, but has now found something else to whine about. He apparently recently went to Walt Jocketty and asked for a trade, saying he can't play for Tony Larussa much longer. More on this later.
Eli Marerro filled in so well for Jim Edmonds when he was on the DL that he's seeing a little more playing time in LF. Marerro's .278-6-27 season so far doesn't say much if you want to play him in the outfield, but his eligibility at Catcher still makes him a viable option in deep leagues.
Local Perspective
There has been a tremendous outpouring of emotion all over the St. Louis area about the deaths of Jack Buck and Darryl Kile. A memorial was placed in front of Busch Stadium last Thursday for Buck, and the memorial for Kile was placed right in front of it on Monday afternoon. A memorial service for Kile in Busch Stadium will be held today at 12:30 PM.
While the team hasn't performed well lately, most fans could care less about actual baseball. Most of us just feel a sense of loss throughout the entire community. As the fans embrace the team and the constant media attention begins to ease, the fans realize that the Cardinals should be ok.
The Book On
Matt Morris
Matt Morris, 27, broke into the majors as a 22-year-old starter in 1997 with the Cardinals, posting an amazing rookie year that saw him tie for the team lead in wins (12) while he posted a 3.19 ERA and 149 strikeouts to go along with a team leading 217 IP. His bulldog mentality on the hill earned him accolades as the Cards ace of the future. He missed the first half of his second season in 1998 with a strained shoulder, but came back in the second half to live up to his billing as the ace of the staff. Despite making just 16 starts, Morris finished third on the team in wins (7) and had an amazing 2.53 ERA in his 113+ innings.
Unfortunately, Morris would injure himself in Spring Training the next season, and missed all of 1999 and half of 2000 after having "Tommy John Surgery" on his pitching elbow. Many wondered if he would ever return to full strength, and he pitched out of the bullpen in 2000 upon his return, posting a solid 3-3 record and 3.57 ERA in 53 innings over 31 appearances. His velocity looked to be right on target. His location seemed to be on. But nobody was sure just how deep he could go into games.
In 2001, Morris made the rotation out of Spring Training, primarily being touted as the team's fifth starter before the season. By the time the year was over, it was clear that he had regained his stature as the ace of the staff. Morris posted an amazing 22-8 record, tying for the league lead in wins, and finished second only to Darryl Kile on the team in ERA (3.16). His pre-surgery low-90s fastball had jumped up to the mid-90s, and his curveball was just ungodly, leading to a team high 185 strikeouts.
So far this season, Morris looks to have continued his dominance of the league, as he's gone 10-5 so far with a 3.03 ERA and 100 K's in 116 innings. The bulldog mentality lives on, as he's pitching deeper and deeper into games, though he needs to drop his pitch counts a bit. Pencil him in for anywhere from 16 to 25 wins a season for the next 5 or 6 years, as Morris remains one of the best young pitchers in the league.
Injuries
Jim Edmonds is back after a stint on the DL with a sprained right wrist.
Andy Benes is rehabbing with an arthritic knee in Memphis, and may be with the club soon.
Garrett Stephenson is out until at least August after requiring surgery for a strained hamstring.
Rumor Mill
The Cardinals will likely be looking for a veteran replacement to fill out their vacant spot in the rotation. They could also use a little help either at third base or in left field, which is flexible because of Albert Pujols' versatility.
RF J.D. Drew apparently walked into GM Walt Jocketty's office last week demanding a trade. It's been known throughout St. Louis for some time that Drew and Larussa aren't exactly made to work together, and Drew's constant whining seems to be making both the team and the fans sick of him. Larussa will probably always compare him to Mark McGwire, who usually played through those smaller injuries that always cause Drew to take a lot of days off.
Scott Rolen's name has floated around a bit around here, as the Cardinals have been named on his list of teams that he'd like to be dealt to. He clearly won't be in Philadelphia at the end of the year, but neither will J.D. (see battery incident a few years ago.... lol) after shunning the Phillies when they initially drafted him years ago. Something would likely have to be worked elsewhere, maybe with some prospects.
On the Farm
Jimmy Journell
Journell, widely considered the Cards best prospect, was promoted from AA New Haven to AAA Memphis this past week when the Cardinals called up Travis Smith. The 24-year-old righty was nothing short of amazing for the Ravens so far this season, going 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA. His K/BB ratio is fantastic (66/18) and his WHIP was just 1.02 in 66+ innings in AA. While, ideally, he'd have a little more time at AAA before being promoted to the majors, look for him to be up in early August if he pitches well in Memphis.
Quick View
Add/Acquire
J.D. Drew - I don't know exactly what the situation is here. His battling with Larussa can't be helping as he tries to zone in a bit at the plate, but he's just too good a hitter not to come around, and if he's traded somewhere, it'll surely happen.
Jim Edmonds - Most guys see their value drop when their batting average drops 22 points in a week. Edmonds is no different. However, he'll come around.
Woody Williams - Williams has been and will be on this list all year. Pitching coach Dave Duncan has him throwing his old slider, which he hadn't used for years because he thought it looked too similar to his curveball. The slider has a lot to do with the resurgence that we've seen since he came here, as it's added yet another pitch to his arsenal, and he throws it amazingly well.
Eli Marrero - I have a feeling that, by the end of the season, Marerro will be playing either LF or RF on an everyday basis. Polanco just doesn't bring as much to the table offensively as Marrero, which means Pujols will continue to see a lot of action at 3b. If Drew goes, Eli will be the most likely candidate for the full-time job in RF.
Bud Smith - If you have room for a bench guy right now, he'll be worth it down the line. Trust me.
Jason Isringhausen - He hasn't had a save in almost a month. While this was mainly due to injury, he's been back for over a week. Maybe you can find some sucker who's too freaked out about his lack of recent production.
Drop/Deal
Jason Simontacchi - It may be time to shop him around. While Sunday night's start was a very emotional one, and I'm not sure that this will become a trend, you're likely to see a few more outings that look like that in the near future. So see what you can get for him while his value's this high. Do not drop him outright though.
Fernando Vina - Again, he should be shopped, not dropped. Vina is a very solid option at 2b, but he's not as good overall as he's shown so far this season. Count on a slight dropoff the rest of the way. If you have a solid backup, Vina could fetch you more than you think.
My apologies for not getting this out a little sooner. Along with covering the Cardinals, I'm now doing the Royals report and working with Chris on the Player Rankings. Seeing as how the Player Rankings are a new feature to the site, they took a lot more of my time over the past couple of weeks than they are expected to from now on.
-James Meyerriecks
TEAM NEWS: 35-29 (2nd place NL Central, 1 game back)
Rotation:
Staff ace Matt Morris (8-4, 3.35) will be on the hill when the Cardinals host the Royals Friday night. After struggling through a span of four consecutive tough divisional outings, Morris seems to be rounding the bend a bit. He'd been working deep into counts, and had been losing a lot of hitters (13 BB's in 22 innings). However, he rebounded nicely in his last start in Kansas City. In an 11-3 win over the Royals last Saturday, Morris threw only 102 pitches over his 8 innings of work, allowing just 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 1 walk. Look for him to pick it up the rest of the way.
Next start: 6/14 vs. KC
Update - Morris was on Friday night, as he allowed 0 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in 8 innings. He struck out 7, and threw 119 pitches (73 strikes). While the high pitch count is a bit frightening, Morris looks to be returning to his old dominant self.
Darryl Kile (4-4, 3.97) has struggled again in his last two starts. Though he managed to eek out a 12-6 win on June 7 in Kansas City, he was less than spectacular. Kyle allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks in 5.1 innings, and was tagged for 2 dingers by Royals prospect Brandon Berger. He followed that by getting lit up in SafeCo by the Mariners, allowing 5 runs (all earned) on 7 hits in just 4.1 innings. The lone bright spot in the 5-0 loss was that he did not walk a batter.
Next start: 6/18 @ Cubs
Veteran righthander Woody Williams (3-2, 2.48) continues to shine. Facing a team that he has never handled well in Seattle, Williams gutted out 7 solid innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks. Through 6 starts since his return from the DL in May, Williams has yet to allow more than 3 runs in a game. He has also lasted through the sixth inning in each of those starts.
Next start: 6/16 vs. KC
The contribution that middle-aged rookie Jason Simontacchi (4-0, 2.39) has made to the team is immeasurable. Initially thought to be a filler in the rotation until everyone got healthy, Simontacchi continues to amaze. In Kansas City last week, Simontacchi sufferred his shortest outing of the season, going only 5 innings. He allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks, and failed to record a decision. Scroll down for more on his status in the injury report.
Next start: 6/15 vs. KC
22 year old lefty Bud Smith (0-4, 8.74) just can't seem to regain the form that made him such a hot commodity last season. As he's shuffled back and forth between AAA Memphis and the big club, Smith has yet to find any kind of rhythm to his game, and a possible move to the bullpen seems imminent. In what was actually one of his better outings of the season this weekend, Smith allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings. Eventually, he should straighten out. Right now, he isn't even worth a bench spot.
Next start: Up in the air.... Extra off days have allowed the Cards to skip him in the rotation.
Garrett Stephenson (1-4, 6.64) remains on the 15 day DL with surgery on his left hamstring. Scroll down for more info on Stephenson in the Injury Report. With or without the injury, Stephenson barely warrants consideration, even in the deepest of leagues.
Bullpen:
Closer Jason Isringhausen (2-0, 1.15, 15 SV) had a string of 16 scoreless innings end in his last outing on June 4. He has been unavailable for almost a week, and recently had an MRI on his elbow. Reports are that the MRI showed only a minor strain, and he is listed as available for the Royals series this weekend. Scroll down for more in the Injury Report.
Lefty setup man Steve Kline (0-0, 5.54, 1 SV) has yet to show the ability that made him one of the top relievers in the league last season. He does have some pretty reasonable excuses (trips to the DL with a strained left triceps and Gout in his left foot), and should start to improve as he gets closer to 100%. If Izzy is out for any length of time, look for most of the team's closing duties to fall on Kline's shoulders.
Mike Timlin (1-3, 2.97) has filled in well as the primary setup man until Kline straightens out. He's kept an astounding 0.94 WHIP, but has struggled with the long ball. The last 8 runs that he's allowed have scored via air mail, and he allowed his second walk-off homer of the season this past week to Raul Ibanez of the Royals. On the lighter side, this practice has improved Timlin's form after allowing walk-off homers. After surrendering a game winning homer to the Cubs' Alex Gonzalez in Wrigley Field earlier this season, Timlin remained on the field, calling for a new ball..... This time, he at least seemed to realize that the game was over. He has, however, been one of the workhorses of the staff so far this year, and could see some scatterred save opportunities if Izzy's injury is more serious than they're letting on.
Dave Veres (3-3, 3.63) has struggled for the third straight year, but has more experience closing than any other member of the staff. Look for him to see some scatterred save opportunities until Izzy is 100%.
Catchers:
Mike Matheny and Mike Difelice combine to give the Cardinals one of the most awful offensive catching units in the majors. They're both mainly there for their defense, and that's not helping any fantasy team much.
Infield:
1b Tino Martinez enjoyed facing AL pitchers again. Through the first 6 games of interleague play, Martinez was hitting a blistering .333 with 2 homers, and has raised his average to a respectable .243. Look for him to continue to adjust over the next month or two, as July and August have always been his best months.
2b Fernando Vina is quietly putting together a career year. He's currently splattering the ball at a .296 clip, and is on pace for career highs in RBI, SBs and doubles. He plays a scrappy game, and has had trouble with injuries over the last few seasons, so keep an eye on him. If Vina stays healthy, he should continue to be a solid second-tier 2b.
As he continues to adjust to an everyday role, look for 3b Placido Polanco to raise his decent .254 average closer to his strong .293 career mark. He still doesn't have any power, and his base-stealing skills are no better than marginal. Still, a guy who hits well for average can help to balance a few free-swinging sluggers out.
SS Edgar Renteria has remained pretty healthy so far this season, and has maintained a solid .292 batting average. Renteria has decent fence clearing power for the position, and is a solid base-runner. However, he has yet to show that this year, with just 2 homers and 6 steals. Look for him to turn it up a notch the rest of the way, as he was amazing in the second half last season.
Outfield:
It seems that it was just a matter of time before LF/3b Albert Pujols returned to form. The righthanded slugger has crushed the ball lately, hitting an astonishing .375 over the past week with 2 homers and 10 RBI. He should raise his average from its current .291 to a much better .310 when all is said and done, and remains right on pace with last year's amazing .329-37-130 season.
Oft-injured RF J.D. Drew has been in an awful slump, and is batting just .200 over the last week, with 4 hits (all singles) and 1 RBI. Drew still has a ton of promise, and could develop into one of the better five tool players in the game, but just can't seem to get it going. He's too good to bench, and he should start to come around soon. Keep him in the lineup.
Utility man Eli Marrero has done an admirable job filling in for Jim Edmonds over the past few weeks. Over the last week, Marrero is hitting a solid .300 with 2 homers and 5 RBI. He will give way to Edmonds when he returns, but Marrero should continue to play all over the diamond, and his value remains decent as a catcher, even with limited playing time.
As he's having his best season in the majors, it's been a shame not to see Edmonds in the lineup lately. Edmonds is batting a robust .341 so far this season to go along with 12 homers and 36 RBI. When he returns, Edmonds should pick up where he left off, though he may tail off a bit towards the end of the year.
Local Perspective:
The fans are upbeat in St. Louis right now. The Cards really haven't hit stride yet, but remain just a game off the pace in the Central. With Drew, Tino, and Kile underachieving, as well as a few others, the town seems sure that they have a team that has a real shot if they can just play to their potential.
While many fans in the area have bashed Interleague Play in the past, it appears that the regional rivalry has boosted interest. Friday's game saw a packed house of 40,000+, and there aren't even any Standing Room Only tickets left for Sunday's game with the Royals.
The Book On:
Albert Pujols:
Fantasy owners across the country can thank MLB's schedulers for Pujols' rise to stardom. In 2001, Pujols was initially kept with the team after spring training last season because their predominantly left-handed lineup was to face lefty starters Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, Randy Johnson, and Brian Anderson over their first 6 games in Arizona and Colorado. Albert started tearing the cover off the ball then, and hasn't looked back since.
Pujols crushed the ball to a tune of a .370 AVG. with 8 homers and 27 RBI last April, solidifying his spot as an everyday player while covering four different positions on the diamond. The trend continued until late June, when he hit a slump, and hit just .241 from the last week of June through the end of July. This is where Pujols showed his true mettle as a major leaguer though.
Pujols followed up on his woeful July by hitting a sizzling .375 with 6 homers and 25 RBI in August, a feat which he just about duplicated in a hot September which saw him bat .321-6-25. His maturity, at the age of only 21, helped him to finish with an amazing rookie year which saw him hit .329 with 37 dingers and 130 RBI and earn him a unanimous Rookie of the Year Award. Look for Pujols to continue to grow, as he should be one of the game's brightest superstars for years to come.
Injuries:
An MRI on closer Jason Isringhausen's arm Thursday revealed a minor strain in his pitching elbow. Since the strain is minor, Izzy has been listed as available for the team, if necessary, this weekend against the Royals.
Spin - It sounds like he's ok, but Tony Larussa will be cautious with him until he's at 100%. Expect Kline, Veres, and Timlin to handle the closing duties for the time being. The cautious attitude here should prove to be the best for both the Cardinals and your fantasy squad, as it should help to keep him from a trip to the DL. In Friday night's game, Veres and Kline combined to shut down the Royals in the 9th. Side note - I can't believe I just agreed with something Tony Larussa's doing.
CF Jim Edmonds is on schedule to return on Sunday afternoon when he's eligible. Edmonds was placed on the DL retro-active to June 1 with a sprained wrist.
Spin - Expect Edmonds to possibly sit a day at some point this week. However, get him in your lineup, as he's killed the ball all year.
SP Jason Simontacchi left his last start in Kansas City after 5 innings, complaining of a small blister on his pitching hand. He is expected to make his next start on Saturday afternoon.
Spin - Keep your eye on him, but get him in your lineup. Simontacchi has been golden this year, and the Royals are well below the .500 mark. He should be fine.
SP Garrett Stephenson is not expected to be back with the club until August. Stephenson has been on the DL since June 4, as he's had surgery performed on his left hamstring.
Spin - If you have Stephenson, your team is probably hurting in the standings more than his hammy is hurting him. Take this as a final sign that it's time to give up on him. He's not even worth the DL spot.
QUICK VIEW:
Add/Acquire:
Bud Smith - This may be hard to justify, but Smith will be a solid second tier starter for years. He's looked about as good as Darren Oliver usually does so far this year, and is probably on the waiver wire in most leagues. He's not a great option for smaller leagues, but should turn it around enough in the second half to warrant a spot in deep leagues, and definitely keepers.
Woody Williams - Williams has made this list in every report so far. Has anyone noticed why? 3-2 (not so hot), 2.48 ERA (now we're talking). He's thrown 7 starts so far this season, and all qualify as quality starts with the exception of his first outing in Houston (he left after 2 innings with a strained oblique muscle). By now, whoever was lucky enough to get him in the middle to late rounds in your draft is holding onto him for dear life, but you should try to pry him free anyway.
Steve Kline, Dave Veres, and Mike Timlin - All three are good options to steal some cheap saves until Izzy is 100%. Kline is, by far, the best option.
Tino Martinez - For years now, Tino has been a model of consistency. What's made this year an exception? He's had a bit of trouble adjusting to NL pitching. As he begins to lock in, look for a solid second half.
Drop/Shop:
Eli Marrero - He got off to a great start this year, and he does still qualify at catcher. However, his playing time is about to drastically diminish as Edmonds returns to the lineup. He'll still play from time to time, but will never get the chance to contribute on an everyday basis.
Garrett Stephenson - As with Williams on the "Add" list, Stephenson has made the "Drop" list in all Cardinals Reports so far. Seriously. Everyone and their mother talked him up as this ungodly sleeper pitcher. Did anyone else notice that while he was winning 16 games in 2000, his ERA was a robust 4.49? Did anyone happen to notice that he was coming off of MAJOR arm surgery quicker than anyone had ever come back before? All of the praises that were sung about Stephenson earlier in the year were asinine. Stephenson was never that great, and his value actually went up, as he can no longer destroy your ERA and WHIP if he's on your DL.
