Team News: 69-53 (1st place NL Central, 5 game lead)
The Cards are playing extremely solid ball right now, but a little streakiness is a bit of a concern. It seems that when they're hot, everything clicks for the whole team, but when they're not, nobody's contributing. The team has won nine out of their last ten, and the town is abuzz because of how well they're playing. However, this comes right on the heels of a nine game losing streak earlier in the month, a feat that they nearly sufferred in late April when they lost nine of eleven. If manager Tony Larussa doesn't start to get the boys to play more consistently, this team will be lucky to win a round in the playoffs.
Rotation
Matt Morris has been phenomenal lately, and has won his last three starts in dominant fashion. Through his last 23 innings, Morris has allowed just five runs (1.96 ERA) and 23 baserunners (1.00 WHIP) with 15 strikeouts. He continues to work deep into games, but it seems that he's adjusted a bit to the high pitch counts he was throwing earlier this year by trying to get a quick out rather than feeling like he has to strike batters out. While this may not be the best thing for a fantasy owner to hear, it's the best thing for Morris and for the team.
Next start: 8/23 vs. PHI
Pitch Count Watch: Larussa finally let Morris pass the century mark in Sunday's game with the Pirates, but he still only threw 105 pitches. Earlier in the year, 105 pitches meant that he exited after the sixth inning... Right now, that means that he went eight. As long as Larussa doesn't let him loose for 110+, there should be nothing to worry about here.
Whoddathunkit?!?!?!?!?! Andy Benes is mowing down hitters left and right, and is looking like an ace. The soon to be 35-year-old, thought to be retiring earlier in the season, gave himself an early birthday present on Monday as he made the Pirates look silly in his seven innings of work. Since his return on July 16, Benes has thrown 43.1 innings and allowed just ten runs (2.08 ERA). He has yet to allow more than two runs in any of those eight starts, and is suddenly emerging as a leading candidate for "Comeback Player of the Year."
Next start: 8/24 vs. PHI
It's still hard to recommend Benes as a fantasy starter, but anyone who has taken the gamble so far has been paid back tenfold. Believe it or not, he's probably gone in a lot of leagues now. If he's not.... go get him. There's absolutely no chance that Garrett Stephenson will steal his spot in the rotation when he returns, and Woody Williams will replace the "bullpen start."
Jason Simontacchi rewarded the Cardinals for sticking with him (though there aren't any other options right now) by throwing his best start in a month at Philadelphia on Saturday. Perhaps this is a sign that he's starting to adjust to hitters, who have already adjusted to his unconventional approach on the mound. How's he doing it? Through Simontacchi's first fifteen starts, he had 35 (you ARE reading that right) strikeouts. He hadn't fanned more than four in any one game prior to August 7. Since then, Simontacchi has gone on a tear, and has struck out 18 in his last three starts (6,5,7 respectively). It seems that he's suddenly added about five MPH to his fastball.
Next start: 8/22 vs. PIT
Keep an eye on Simontacchi. His stuff is not comparable to that of a power pitcher, but he's suddenly trying to assume that role. Perhaps Andy Benes' experience and sudden string of luck is rubbing off on Simontacchi.
Chuck Finley has looked solid in his last two outings, but did lose the only game that the Cardinals have lost in the last ten games. It seems that the 39-year-old lefty is settling in a bit after the shellacking he took by the Expos on August 6.
Next start: 8/21 vs. PIT
Finley remains too inconsistent to really be recommended to fantasy owners. He had his day, and it looks like his usefulness is in the past.
Luther Hackman has given the Cardinals two quality "bullpen" starts, and should make one more on Tuesday against the Pirates. His fantasy value is non-existent, however, as he has a lot of trouble going more than the five innings required to get a victory. The 89 pitches that he threw in Pittsburgh last week were a career high, and he shouldn't be counted on to match that figure on Tuesday.
Next start: 8/20 vs. PIT
Woody Williams return date was slated for the week surrounding August 21, but has been pushed back a bit. Count on Hackman to get this start, and possibly another if you're absolutely desparate in a head to head league, but make sure that every potential starter in the league is gone before you take a chance on him.
Woody Williams threw 57 pitches in a simulated start on Monday, his 35th birthday. His return date has been pushed back to the end of August, and he'll likely return to face the Cubbies on the 29th.
Bullpen
Jason Isringhausen is scorching right now, and has allowed just three baserunners in the past month. Unfortunately, he's only produced five saves in this span because the team hasn't given him enough opportunities. When they win, they're winning big.
Steve Kline continues to be shaky, though he should see the majority of the hold opportunities the rest of the way. Kline recently picked up his first victory of the season after blowing a save in Pittsburgh, and has allowed six runs in his last ten appearances, a span of ten innings. Something seems to be bugging him with his control, and it's getting him into a lot of trouble.
Rookie Mike Crudale has taken the window of opportunity that was given to him and jumped right through it, converting five of six hold opportunities, and is posting an amazing 1.46 ERA through his 37 innings so far this season. The former AAA closer seems to have earned the confidence of Larussa and should garner plenty of chances the remainder of the season.
Catchers
Eli Marrero has been ice cold in August, recording just five hits on the month so far.
Mike Matheny saw his average climb to .240 for the first time in over a year on Wednesday, which is a pretty good indicator of his value to a fantasy team....
Mike Difelice can't earn enough at bats to help out.
Infield
The past two months have been "The Edgar Renteria Show." Renteria is tearing the cover off the ball at an amazing .358 since the break, and has already surpassed his pre-break home run production with his grand slam on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Look for him to cool off a bit, but bank on Renteria being the best Shortstop in the National League the rest of the way.
Scott Rolen seemed to struggle through his first ten games as a Cardinal, but has responded wonderfully with a recent seven game hitting streak that has seen him bat .480 with 2 homers and 12 RBI. However, he's taken the last two games off due to a sore left shoulder, and is listed as day to day.
The best thing about Rolen's return to Philadelphia over the weekend??? Nobody threw batteries at him!
1b Tino Martinez has finally done it! A recent hot streak has seen Tino hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, raising his season average to .266. The .250 mark had been a killer all year, but he's finally busting through and even driving in the occasional run. Expect Martinez to produce slightly less than he did in his career with the Yankees the rest of the way, as he's both older and less prominent in the offense. However, don't expect him to drop back to the standards he'd set with his awful start.
2b Fernando Vina continues to run hot and cold, but really has no place on any fantasy roster at this point. The past two months have seen his average (typically his only real strength) dip twenty points to .268. He doesn't steal enough to warrant a spot, and his power is awful. His defense is as spectacular as ever, though, and Vina may be on track for another Gold Glove this season. Now, if only that could translate into points in your league somehow.........
Outfield
It looks like Albert Pujols is so tired of hearing how he's having an off season that he's decided to go absolutely nuts. In Pujols recent hitting streak, he's crushed five homers, driven in seventeen runs, and has finally scraped his average over the .300 mark on the season, leaving local fans of the All-Star snubee shouting, "Let's see Andruw Jones do that!"
Jim Edmonds continues to pound the ball. His average has fallen to .315, which is about where it should stay the rest of the way, and he just went eleven days without homering before crushing a Joe Beimel pitch on Monday. A healthy Edmonds the rest of the way should easily secure the playoffs.
J.D. Drew has actually decided to
Sounds Around Town/Rumorama
The fans around here don't seem to know how to act. On the one hand, everyone's excited that the Cards are doing well. However, there's that little voice in the back of everyone's head that just keeps screaming "August 30." The predominant feeling around town is that nobody wants to truly start going nuts about this team with the threat of a strike looming.
The Book On:
Edgar Renteria
Edgar Renteria was called up in early May of 1996 at the age of just 20 to take over as the full-time Shortstop for the Marlins, where his .309 average, tremendous speed and flashy defense helped him to a second place finish in the Rookie of the Year ballotting. His second year kept on building like a tremendous crescendo, as his statistics jumped in every category but home runs and average and fulfilled the leadoff role for the suddenly high-priced Marlins. In the postseason, Renteria would earn a name for himself!
After batting .294 with runners in scoring position during the regular season and driving in teammate Charles Johnson with two out in the ninth inning to win a game earlier in the postseason, Edgar got that moment that everyone dreams about as a kid. With two out in the eleventh inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Edgar Renteria delivered a single that would plate Craig Counsell and clinch the title for Florida, instantly putting him in the annals of baseball history.
After earning an All-Star berth as the only bright spot on the Marlins in 1998, Renteria was dealt to the Cardinals, where he has solidified his role as one of the top Shortstops in the National League. Renteria's power numbers instantly took a jump, though he didn't run as often under Tony Larussa's guidance and his stint as the leadoff man was short-lived. Renteria produced two very solid seasons before succumbing to injury and looking lost for the first half of 2001.
How did he respond? Renteria crushed the ball in August and September last year, posting a .313 average over the last two months and producing almost twice what he did in the first half. This was certainly something to build on going into 2002, as he hit the ball fairly well in the first half and has absolutely blistered the ball so far in the second half.
Renteria should be a mainstay at Shortstop for the Cardinals for years, and should continue to develop. Many forget that Renteria is only 27 and is just hitting his prime. Aside from Derek Jeter, there may be no better Shortstop to have in the clutch!
The Walking Wounded
Woody Williams - Williams has been on the DL since July 13 with a strained ribcage. He is expected to be back in the rotation in the next week or so and is throwing simulated starts in the bullpen.
Williams should be a great boost to any fantasy team, as he's gone 13-4 with a 2.30 ERA in the past season (23 starts) since becoming a Cardinal.
Garrett Stephenson - Stephenson has been recovering from hamstring surgery for the past two months, but is expected back at the end of the month.
Look elsewhere.
J.D. Drew - J.D. Drew set his personal record for games played in a week with five. Tendonitis in his knee will keep him in and out of the lineup for the rest of the year.
Look elsewhere... He's got so much potential, but he'll never live up to it.
Quick View:
Add/Acquire
Andy Benes - Yes. That is me eating my words. Benes is looking like a top-notch fantasy stud lately, and was at one point in his career. Maybe he finally found the right arthritis cream... Who knows?!
Woody Williams - There may have been one or two owners worried enough by his injury to drop him. If you're that lucky, grab him before someone else does.
Mike Crudale - Crudale has been given a vote of confidence to get some tough outs by Tony Larussa and hasn't disappointed. If Jason Isringhausen gets hurt, he may share time with Kline in the closer's role. Regardless, he's a quality option in holds leagues.
Drop/Deal
Eli Marrero - Unfortunately, Eli just seems to have run out of gas. He had a great run.
Garrett Stephenson - If you're excited about him possibly coming back in the next two weeks, you may want to re-think that strategy.
Fernando Vina - If he's not hitting for average and stealing the occasional base, he's not worth any fantasy owner's time.
TEAM NEWS: 59-51 (1st place NL Central, 1 game lead)
Last 10 games: 2-8
The Cardinals are floundering right now, and have scored just nine runs in their first six games in August. The club has lost seven straight and watched their lead slim down from six games a couple of weeks ago to one game over the surging Houston Astros.
Rotation:
The trend with ace Matt Morris continues. Every time that manager Tony Larussa decides to let him loose, Morris seems to get rocked for his next couple of outings. The latest instance of this? Morris threw 122 pitches in shutting out the Giants for eight innings on July 23. In his two starts since then, Morris has given up 11 runs (9 earned) in 10 innings of work.
Next start: 8/8 vs. MON
Look for some of the pressure to be relieved from Morris, as starters Woody Williams and Garrett Stephenson both seem to be close to returning from injury. The magic number here is 100. If Morris stays under 100 pitches, he seems to be 100%. If not, he seems to be gassed before he even throws a pitch in his next start. Send your mail to Tony Larussa on that one. ;)
Chuck Finley showed flashes that he might be ready to resume being an effective pitcher in his first three starts with the Cardinals, holding opponents to 10 runs (8 earned) in 20 innings. However, his recent blowup against the Expos certainly leaves room for concern. Finley allowed 7 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks over 2.2 innings against the Expos on Tuesday, making many wonder if the Cardinals may have been better off taking a chance on someone who doesn't belong in a nursing home.
Next start: 8/10 vs. NYM
Finley will likely be depended upon as the #3 starter if the Cardinals manage to hold on and make the playoffs. It seems that Dave Duncan and his experience with aging former superstars will need to kick into high gear to get the job done here.
The magic that made Jason Simontacchi one of the majors' biggest surprises in the first half seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate. Simontacchi, who didn't reach the majors until he was 28, seemed to fool a lot of hitters early on, despite a subpar fastball. Now that he's been through the league, hitters are starting to adjust to him, and it's showing. Simontacchi has allowed 17 runs (16 earned) in his last three starts, a span of 12 innings, including an absolute pasting in Atlanta, where the Braves torched him for 9 runs in 1 inning.
Next start: 8/12 @ PIT
Fantasy Spin: Simontacchi belongs on the bench right now. He may adjust to what hitters have done to figure him out eventually, but he hasn't yet.
If someone would have said in April that the only Cardinals starter who would be pitching well in early August would be Andy Benes, they most likely would have been told to check into drug rehab. Benes has been surprisingly solid since returning from a rehab assignment in late July. He has allowed just one run in his last two starts, a span of 13.2 innings.
Next start: 8/9 vs. NYM
Even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. The way that Benes has pitched since his return, he may hold his spot in the rotation even after the return of Woody Williams and Garrett Stephenson, who are both expected back within the next couple of weeks.
The fifth spot is up for grabs right now, and is primarily being used for Larussa's famous "bullpen starts."
Bullpen
Closer Jason Isringhausen continues to look solid, but hasn't seen a 9th inning lead get to him in over a week. Realistically, there's too much talent on this club for the losing streak to continue, so Izzy should start seeing some save opps again soon.
Setup man Steve Kline's struggles continue, as he's given up a run in three of his last four outings. The injury bug was a reasonable excuse until the All-Star Break, but the fact that he continues to get shelled is reason for concern. Kline does continue to act as a team leader, and certainly let the whole club know how frustrated he is right now as he walked into the dugout and started throwing trash cans and gloves in disgust on Wednesday night.
Mike Crudale has been the club's most consistent reliever of late, allowing just 2 runs since being called back up at the beginning of July. He sufferred his first blown save on Sunday night, allowing an inherited runner to score in the 8th inning, but remains an extremely effective option in holds leagues with a 1.47 ERA on the year as well as a 0.90 WHIP.
Infield
Eli Marrero has played more than enough games to qualify at C again next season. However, his recent slump, combined with the fact that Eduardo Perez is actually hitting the ball every once in a while, is eating into Marrero's playing time. Of the catchers on the Cardinals roster, he's the only one who maintains any fantasy value unless you're in a 35 team league.
There were some who hoped that SS Edgar Renteria would move up to second in the batting order with Placido Polanco gone. Not only would it improve his fantasy stock, but it would likely give the Cardinals lineup, which hasn't produced lately, a much needed kick in the behind. He's hit second in the order twice since the deal, with Eduardo Perez seeing more action in that slot. Renteria is far more imposing as a base-stealing threat, is a far better contact hitter, and is just the superior all-around offensive player of the two, but continues to hit in Siberia... otherwise known as seventh in the order.
2B Fernando Vina caught fire a bit in late July to bring his average back up around .285, but has since resumed struggling. Vina seems to have peaked in May and has been struggling ever since. What looked like it might be a career year early on has transformed itself into his worst season as a Cardinal, if not his career. Vina's strength is as a slap-hitting sparkplug who gets on base and moves himself in station to station. However, this season, he's posting his lowest OBP since 1997 and has been caught stealing almost as often as he's been successful (13 for 23 in steal attempts). Traditionally, he cranks it up a notch in August, but there's been no indication that he will.
3B Scott Rolen adds tremendous defensive flair and a threat of right-handed power in the lineup. Threat, of course, because he's not really producing at the plate this season, even since being traded to St. Louis. Rolen came through with two hits in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Expos, breaking an 0-20 skid. He did, however, manage to commit two crucial base-running errors in the same inning. First, he didn't break from third base with nobody out when Eduardo Perez hit a grounder down the line that Expos 1B Andres Galarraga had trouble fielding. Later, with two outs, Eli Marrero attempted to steal second and intentionally got caught up in a run down, but Rolen didn't break until the ball was in Jose Vidro's glove and was easily gunned down at the plate for the third out.
1B Tino Martinez continues to disappoint. It certainly appears that the Cardinals should have been looking at his 2000 numbers to see what to expect, rather than his typical numbers which he had returned to last season. Martinez, typically a 100 RBI man, hasn't driven in a run since July 30. His solid defense is still helpful, but his bat seems to be in a season-long coma.
Outfield
LF Albert Pujols isn't seeing a whole lot of RBI opportunities lately. The right-handed sluggish slugger has somehow managed to provide two triples in the past week. Speed never has been Pujols' game, as he's stolen just three bases in his two year career, but he's finding a way to chug around those bases. As Larussa will eventually learn, Pujols' production may continue to be scarce as long as Eddie Perez is batting second, or is even in the lineup at all.
RF Eddie Perez has been seeing the majority of the action, as slugger J.D. Drew rides the bench with the "day to day for the rest of the season" tag. Perez, son of Reds' Hall of Famer Tony Perez, doesn't belong on a major league roster, much less a fantasy roster. He has good power, but rarely makes enough contact for it to matter. Basically, he's a poor man's Jeromy Burnitz, and any fantasy owner who is looking for that will be looking up at the rest of the league.
CF Jim Edmonds joined the rest of the squad in having a rough week, going 1-19. He had a fantastic July, and just seems to be mired in a bit of a slump. He should snap out of it soon enough, but he always seems to fade a little bit down the stretch; it's normally not this bad, though.
RF J.D. Drew would be a great fit for a certain role if they ever decide to remake Pulp Fiction, but for right now his gimpy knees will keep him missing at least two or three games a week. Many a fantasy owner have been burned by Drew over and over through the years, thinking that this might finally be the year that he plays a full season. It would seem that 2002 will not be the year that he breaks through.
Sounds Around Town/Rumorama
Scott Rolen received the typical standing ovation that all new Cardinals seem to get in their first at bat at Busch Stadium, whether he's producing or not. Many felt that his addition might propel the Cardinals into serious contention for the NL Pennant, despite the fact that indications are to the contrary so far. His gold glove defense and the potential for 25 homers from the right side certainly make this lineup a lot more imposing, but the players that were dealt for him really could have been used to extract a solid #3 starter and a position player to fill in for the constantly injured J.D. Drew in RF.
"Sounds Around Town" might not cover it. FIC's own Cardinals Correspondent was recently in attendance deprived Montreal for a couple of games and thought he heard a lot more cheering there than he did at Busch Stadium Wednesday night. The team is giving the fans little to cheer for lately, despite the fact that they still manage to hold the lead in the NL Central. The pitching woes continue a bit, but it seems to be the offense that's decided to take a week off, and the fans don't seem to want to take it.
Rumors that Walt Jocketty would try to trade RF J.D. Drew never came to pass. The city seemed to be about 50/50 on trading Drew. Realists claim that he'll never be healthy enough to live up to his enormous natural talent. Optimists claim that you can't throw away a guy with his potential. Trading Drew is something that a lot of people think Jocketty should have explored a little more, as the return on him could have been excellent. However, the fact that he once again came up lame towards mid-season diminished his market enough so that Jocketty may have made the right move by holding onto him.... As J.D. Drew Turns..........
The Book On:
Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen received a late season call-up in 1996 before sticking as the everyday 3B in Philadelphia in 1997. Always considered a top prospect in the organization, Rolen tore up the league in his first season, batting .283 and smoking 21 homers and driving in 92 runs. He led NL Rookies in as many as 11 categories, including the Triple Crown categories and runs, in locking up a unanimous Rookie of the Year.
He would not only duplicate his statistics in 1998, but would improve upon them, adding 7 points to his batting average as well as cracking the 30 homer and 100 RBI mark for the first time. Rolen not only solidified himself as one of the top third sackers in the league offensively, but did this while earning his first of three Gold Glove Awards. Rolen would then suffer a pair of injury plagued seasons before returning to dominance in 2001, when he hit .289-25-107 in 151 games with the Phils.
However, Rolen and the Phillies had their issues. Rolen had problems with manager Larry Bowa and refused to work too hard on a contract extension with Phillies management, leaving him as one of, if not the biggest name out there at the trading deadline. In a shrewd move, such as what he used to get former slugger Mark McGwire, Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty put his cards out on the table, anted up and snatched Rolen away from the Phillies, expecting to be able to ink him to a long-term deal. Whether that deal gets done or not is the bigger issue, as the Phillies asking price wasn't so cheap, but if the Cards can manage to lock Rolen up for the next 5-10 years, it should prove to be a great gamble.
The Walking Wounded
J.D. Drew - Drew is still missing at least three games per week because of tendinitis in his knee.
Spin - Expect this to last for the rest of the year, if not the rest of his career. A healthy Drew is a first round pick. The real J.D. Drew isn't worth a roster spot.
Woody Williams - Williams remains on the shelf with a strained ribcage.
Spin - Williams threw a bullpen session for the first time in a few weeks on Wednesday, and is expected to make a rehab start in the next couple of weeks before coming back up towards the end of August. His production since being traded to the Cardinals last August in a waiver deal with the Padres warrants serious consideration as a #2/#3 fantasy starter. If he's available, grab him and stash him on your DL.
Garrett Stephenson - Stephenson made his second rehab start in AAA Memphis as he recovers from surgery on his left hamstring.
Spin - Stephenson was rushed back from Tommy John Surgery to start the year, and they may be rushing him back a little from his Hamstring Surgery. He's not really worth a gamble.
Quick Picks
Add/Acquire
Woody Williams - That's right.... Old Woodrow is listed here again. He's begun his rehab assignment, and that can only mean that the Cardinals #2 starter is on the way.
Edgar Renteria - Renteria's hot July showed what he's capable of doing. He's gone in most leagues, and his price tag may be high, but it might be worth a shot to see if another owner still underappreciates him.
Jason Isringhausen - Elite closer.... Only nine saves in the past month.... Do the math. Many owners may be disappointed in the investment they made in Izzy. Take advantage of that opportunity before someone else does.
Andy Benes - Seriously???? Believe it or not, Benes looks a lot more like he did in the middle of the 1990's lately than he has since 1998. He's not worth a roster spot in most leagues, but he could actually be of use as a day to day pickup in head to head leagues or a solid option in really deep roto leagues.
Drop/Deal
Fernando Vina - He just doesn't look like himself at all this season. It appears that the wear and tear that he takes as one of the most gritty players in the league is finally getting to him.
Jason Simontacchi - He actually had a decent start against the Expos Wednesday, despite taking the loss. He may just be garbage for the FA bin at this point, but try and see if some owner really thinks that Simontacchi will recover and covets his services enough to make a deal for him.
