Major League Baseball and the Players' Association reached a new, tentative CBA contract to reduce the 15-day disabled list timetable to 10-days. This change will allow teams to make quicker decisions on whether to bring up a roster replacement rather than wait to see if the injured player would be ready to return to action in less than two weeks. In addition, the home field advantage in the World Series for the league winning the All-Star Game is repealed starting this year. Home field advantage in the World Series will be awarded to the league champion team with the better regular season win–loss record.[1][2] The details of the new five-years contract (expiring Nov. 30, 2021) listed hereArchived April 3, 2017, at the Wayback Machine .
Commissioner Rob Manfred levied a severe penalty, Jan. 30, 2017, on the Cardinals organization from former scouting director Chris Correa's hacking of the Houston Astros database in 2013 and 2014, who was fired by early-July 2015, and is now serving out a 46-month sentence (for unlawfully accessing another company's information) that began in July 2016, and ordered to pay a $279,038 fine. The Cardinals must give the Astros their No. 56 overall selection, part of the Draft's second round, and the No. 75 overall selection, part of Compensation Round B. St. Louis does not possess a first-round pick in this year's Draft. Additionally, the team must pay the Astros $2 million. No other person was responsible for hacking into the Astros' database. Correa has been placed on baseball's permanently ineligible list.[3][4][5]
Former Cubs' center fielder and free agentDexter Fowler signed with the Cardinals on December 9, 2016, for $82.5 mil. over 5 years. The contract includes a full no-trade clause.[6]
Yadier Molina reached an agreement for a 3-year contract extension on April 2, for a reported $60 million, making him the highest-paid catcher in baseball. He wasn't interested in exercising his 2018 mutual option, which would have been worth $15 million. The average annual value of Giants' catcher Buster Posey's contract is $18.5 million. The extension assures Molina of remaining in St. Louis through 2020, and increases the chances that he will finish his career having played for just one organization that drafted him (2000), and he has been in the majors since 2004. This distinction of having Molina retire as a Cardinal is something that carried weight for both parties throughout the negotiations.[7]
In the 12 seasons Molina has been the No. 1 catcher, the Cards have won more regular-season games than any other National League team (1,075). Their 48 postseason victories are the most in baseball in that time. There have been three NL pennants and World Series wins in 2006 and 2011. Molina? Seven-time All-Star. Eight-time Gold Glove winner. Throwing arm one of the best ever. The Cards have a 3.79 ERA over the past 12 years, the second lowest in the Majors. The Cards had two other factors to weigh. One is that one of their top prospects, Carson Kelly, is a catcher and widely considered Major League ready. Another is that Molina's 1,582 games are the 24th most in history at his position, and he's likely to become just the sixth to break the 2,000-game mark.
No position takes its toll on a body more than catcher. Still, at 34, Molina is coming off a season in which he started a career-high 142 games and batted .307. He batted .333 in the World Baseball Classic (Puerto Rico), and looked as good as ever behind the plate.[8]
April 3 brought yet another contract extension. Stephen Piscotty, 26, signed a six-year extension for a reported $33.75 million ($5.625 mil. average), with a $15 million option for 2023 on April 3. Piscotty was not yet arbitration-eligible, and his first year of free-agent eligibility was to be 2022. Five years ago, the Cardinals plucked Piscotty out of Stanford University with one of the two picks they netted as compensation for Albert Pujols' departure. Since making his big league debut, Piscotty has posted a .282/.349/.467 slash line and an .816 OPS. In 2016, Piscotty led the Cards in games played (153), runs scored (86), RBIs (85) and game-winning RBIs (10).[9]
The Cardinals had 66 players in camp before 11 were sent to minor league camp on March 13, including three on the 40-man roster, and eight non-roster invitees. Among those sent down was left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales (40-man), who still is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had about 11 months ago. Gonzales has been working behind the scenes with a few bullpen sessions during Spring Training, and it's possible he could wrap up his recovery by the end of May. "Once Marco gets healthy, it's just a matter of how well he's able to execute his pitches," Matheny said of the left-hander's potential return to the Cardinals.
Matheny praised all of them, and said he was especially impressed with Ortega's work in camp.
"Dennis really showed a lot of moxie behind the plate," Matheny said of the 19-year-old prospect. "He catches older than 19, and I think you're going to see a high ceiling with him. ... All of them have had a good spring. The development staff has done such a great job. It just seems every one of these kids, they're coming in and they just look a little more refined. They've been really on top of their game, and you can tell they have a lot of things to look forward to."[12]
The Cardinals optioned RHP Luke Weaver to AAA-Memphis, and reassigned RH reliever Mitch Harris to minor league camp on March 18. The moves left 35 active players and 16 non-roster invitees in big league Spring Training.[15]
2 NRIs, (RHP) Josh Lucas and (LHP) Zach Phillips, were reassigned on March 19, to Min. Lg. camp. Right-hander Rowan Wick and outfielder Anthony Garcia were optioned to AAA-Memphis. On March 20, 2 more NRIs, (C) Gabriel Lino and (OF) Todd Cunningham were also reassigned to Min. Lg. camp. (2B/SS) Breyvic Valera was optioned to AAA-Memphis.[16]
(RHP) Sam Tuivailala was optioned to AAA-Memphis on March 22, leaving 31 on the active roster and 42 in big league camp. Matt Adams played the outfield for the first time since Little League. The Cardinals are introducing a new mobile ticket subscription idea called "Ballpark Pass" that gives fans all the home games they want to attend, $29.99/month (with auto-renewal) for each of the six months of the season, by using their smartphone, with no printed tickets. But there are no seats with this new attendance feature, only standing-room. The pass covers all 80 home games, except for Opening Day/Night. More information at Ballpark Pass[17]
(OF) Tommy Pham was optioned to AAA on March 25, leaving 30 on the active roster and 41 in big league camp. The Opening Day (Night) roster has now been finalized, at the earliest date since Matheny became manager, with (OF) Jose Martinez, 28, having the most poignant story. After 10 years of toiling in the minors, the Venezuelan made his debut last September when he was called up by the Cardinals. But as for making the Opening Day roster, he didn't think that would ever happen. He leads the Cardinals with 17 hits, four homers and 13 RBIs this spring. He also enhanced his credentials by showing that he could play first base, in addition to both corner outfield spots. (RHP) Miguel Socolovich, (RHP) Matt Bowman, (SS/2B) Greg Garcia, and (C) Eric Fryer were also assured spots on the active roster. Tyler Lyons, Zach Duke, and Alex Reyes will start the season on the disabled list.[18]
On the last day at Jupiter on March 29, the Cardinals purchased (C) Eric Fryer's contract from AAA-Memphis, and added him to the 40-man roster. He will be Yadier Molina's backup. To make room on the 40-man roster, the injured (P) Zach Duke is transferred to the 60-day DL. Five NRIs: (3B) Paul DeJong, (RHP) Arturo Reyes, (LHP) Ryan Sherriff, (OF) Harrison Bader, and (OF) Chad Huffman were assigned to Min. Lg. camp. These changes bring the NRIs to 3, with 28 active.[20] The last spring training game for 2017 got the team 20 wins (beating the Washington Nationals, Box Score), first time since 1997, vs. 8 losses. Michael Wacha pitched four innings in 64 pitches, giving up five hits in a 6–2 win.[21] Cardinals outfielder/first baseman José Martínez capped a terrific spring with a two-run double off reliever Phillips Valdez to extend the lead in the sixth. Martinez finished with a team-most 19 hits, 14 runs, 15 RBIs, .508 OBP, .740 Slg% and 1.248 OPS (50 AB), in the Grapefruit League season battingArchived March 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine .
The Cardinals will play an exhibition game "Battle of the Birds" against their Triple-A affiliate in Memphis on Thu. March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05p.m. CT on KMOX (1120AM), and Gameday Audio. The Cardinals will use several relievers to cover the game, beginning with right-hander Jonathan Broxton, who will be making his first career start.[22] The Cardinals beat the Redbirds, 9–3 in slugging four home runs, with Broxton getting the win, pitching only the first inning. Randal Grichuk, who took a pitch off his hand in Wednesday's (March 29) Grapefruit finale, was not in the lineup. He hopes to return soon. The sellout attendance was 10,220 at AutoZone Park.[23][24]
The Cardinals will close out their exhibition schedule Friday (March 31) with a 5:05p.m. CT game with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. Mike Leake, 3–1 in Grapefruit League play, will get his final tuneup.[23] On March 31, Leake threw 89 pitches in a 5–2 win over the team's AA-level Springfield affiliate. Leake called this spring, "the best spring I've had in my career." Randal Grichuk returned to the lineup after missing the AAA-Memphis game with his sore right hand, after getting a HBP to it. He singled on the first pitch he saw. Since Springfield became a Cardinals affiliate in 2005, 104 of its players have reached the big leagues.[25]
Injuries
After an MRI, Alex Reyes, 22 (RHP), was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his elbow on February 14, and will have Tommy John surgery, losing him for the entire 2017 season. General manager John Mozeliak said an MRI taken of Reyes' elbow in 2013 showed a strain. He didn't begin his minor league season until June that season. He made his major league debut Aug. 9, 2016, and was 4–1 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts and seven relief appearances, with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings. MLBPipeline.comArchived August 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine ranks him the #3 pitching prospect in baseball, and #14 overall.[26] ESPN's Keith Law has Reyes ranked as the #2 pitching prospect in baseball.[27]
Reyes had successful surgery in Florida on February 16. Head team physician Dr. George Paletta performed the procedure.[28]
NRI (LHP) Jordan Schafer went under the knife on March 17. Instead of replacing Schafer's ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, Cardinals team doctor George Paletta performed a repair of the ligament. By avoiding Tommy John surgery, Schafer has an estimated recovery time of seven months. If the ligament had been replaced, recovery would have taken at least a year.[14]
The injury-bug hit the Cardinals once again on March 30, with (RHP) Trevor Rosenthal going on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain. The move gives (RHP) Sam Tuivailala an active roster spot. The Cardinals have three off-days over their first 10-game stretch, giving them more leeway for the starters' rotation and relievers needed. Others who start the season on the 10-day DL are: (LHP) Tyler Lyons (right knee), and (RHP) John Gant (right groin), and (RHP) Alex Reyes (Tommy John surgery).[29]
Manager Mike Matheny made the speculation official on March 19: Michael Wacha would join Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and Mike Leake in an all-righty rotation. Wacha entered Spring Training without a confirmed rotation spot. He had posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over five starts. Wacha had struck out 15 and walked four over 17 innings. He had two spring starts remaining. The Cards had yet to reveal how they will order the five to begin the season, or who would start the team's season opener in two weeks.[30]
On March 22, manager Matheny decided the Opening Night starter would be Carlos Martinez, his first opening day start. At 25, he was the youngest pitcher to draw an Opening Day start for the Cards since Joe Magrane in 1989. Martinez was opposed by the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester in the nationally televised game from Busch Stadium. He signed a five-year, $51 million contract with the team in January. He was St. Louis' top starter in 2016, going 16–9, with a 3.04 ERA and 174 strikeouts in a career-high 195.1 innings. Adam Wainwright started the second game on April 4.[31]
Opening Night (7:35 pm) was on Sunday April 2, with a nationwide audience on ESPN saw Randal Grichuk drive in three runs, including the game-winning single, a 390-foot blast to left field in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Cubs, 4–3 for the first win of the 2017 season. It was his second career walk-off hit and both were against the Cubs. Grichuk batted a lowly eighth in the lineup after a sub-par spring. Jose Martinez, 28, but a rookie this year and on an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, crushed a one-out, pinch-hit double in the ninth that landed 397 feet away in right-center, to ignite the Cardinals' game-winning rally.[33] Closer Seung-Hwan Oh had given up a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to Willson Contreras to tie the game 3–3. The homer left a no-decision, after an outstanding 7.1 innings from ace Carlos Martinez, enjoying his first Opening Day start of his career. Martinez carved up the Cubs' lineup, struck out 10 (including reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant three times), walking none, scattering six hits (one double), and never allowed a runner to advance past second. Martinez became the first starting pitcher in the Statcast Era (since 2015) to record three swinging strikeouts on pitches faster than 99mph. Martinez fanned Bryant with a 99.7-mph fastball in the first and a 99.1-mph fastball in the sixth. Addison Russell struck out on a 99.6-mph fastball in the second inning. The Cubs' manager Joe Maddon said, "He's got as good a right-handed arm as anybody in the league." Dexter Fowler legged-out an infield hit in the third inning, his first since defecting from the Cubs to the Cardinals over the off-season, giving the Cards their first run of the game and season after Matt Carpenter's sacrifice fly. Yadier Molina had the distinction of becoming the first player in baseball history to receive a no-pitch intentional walk, that loaded the bases for Grichuk, who, having smashed a critical two-run homer an inning earlier making it 3–0, launched a 1–1 pitch off the wall in left-center to set off a celebration.[34] MLB columnist Phil Rogers opined about this most-intense rivalry in baseball: "You better believe the Cardinals have their hopes of winning it all. They might be at their most dangerous when you don't see them coming, and this could be that kind of year. The march to October has begun, and don't be surprised if it includes teams on both ends of this rivalry." Commissioner Rob Manfred was among those in attendance.[35] The three hour 33 minute game featured the third-largest attendance (47,566) in Busch Stadium history.
On April 10, injured reliever Trevor Rosenthal was activated from the 10-day DL and Sam Tuivailala was optioned to AAA Memphis. The organization liked the idea of using Rosenthal as a flex reliever who could pitch multiple innings mid-game or meaningful ones late in games. One week into the season, the Cards' bullpen had allowed 13 runs and six home runs over 17.1 innings.[37]
Matt Carpenter served a one-game suspension on April 25, for bumping umpire John Tumpane on April 23. Carpenter was ejected by Tumpane after arguing a pair of called strikes in the seventh inning. As the argument turned heated, the top of Carpenter's helmet scraped the bottom of Tumpane's hat. Any contact with an umpire automatically triggers a suspension. Carpenter also paid a fine. The Cardinals on April 25 out-righted outfielder Anthony Garcia and did not immediately fill the roster spot[39]
Chris Coghlan does aerial flip to score
Blue Jays pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan performed an acrobatic aerial flip and somersault over Yadier Molina to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning in the April 25, 6–5 loss in 11 innings. The run snapped reliever Matt Bowman's 19.2 inning scoreless streak. The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the seventh with outfielder José Martínez hitting his first career home run, a two-run blast to tie the game at four. The Blue Jays blew two saves in a game for the first time since 2014, but it avoided its worst 20-game start in franchise history by improving to 6–14, while the Cardinals missed a chance to get to .500 and fell to 9–11.[40]
Carpenter hits grand slam in 11th to beat Blue Jays
Matt Carpenter hit a walk-off grand slam, and first grand slam of his career, in the 11th inning of an 8–4 victory versus the Blue Jays in the first game of a split double-header on April 27.[41]
On May 5, RF Stephen Piscotty was placed on the DL for the first time in his career with a right hamstring strain. Tommy Pham was recalled. CF Dexter Fowler, on the other hand, avoided the DL altogether from a sore right shoulder, and, after undergoing an MRI exam in St. Louis, was cleared to pinch-hit on Friday (May 5).[43]
Magneuris Sierra makes debut, Jose Martinez on DL
Twenty-one year old (advanced) A-level outfielder Magneuris Sierra made his major league debut on May 7, after José Martínez was put on the DL with a left groin strain. Sierra was the youngest position player to appear with the Cardinals since Miguel Mejia did it 10 days after his 21st birthday in 1996. Sierra, who was hitting .272/.337/.407 with seven extra-base hits and three stolen bases in 20 games for the Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A-Advanced) in the Florida State League, was just the third 21-year-old position player to reach the Majors with the Cardinals in the last 22 years; Albert Pujols (2001) was the most recent.[44] Sierra's speed had a big impact on the Cardinals since his first three days from May 7. The Cardinals' #7 prospectArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine in the 6–5 win on May 9, singled and scored in a four-run eighth inning that tied the game at 5, and then singled and scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. He dashed home with the game-deciding run on Dexter Fowler's pinch-hit single in the ninth, sliding in ahead of the tag in blazing fashion. His sprint, which was clocked by Statcast at 7.24 seconds despite a modest 14.2-foot secondary lead. The dash was St. Louis' second-fastest second-to-home time this year on a play with a secondary lead of less than 15 feet. On his ninth-inning single he went from home to first base in 3.88 seconds, helping force an error that got him into scoring position at second. Only seven players this season have recorded a faster home-to-first time on a non-bunt. It tied Sierra's own record (set Monday night, May 8) for the Cardinals' fastest non-bunt, home-to-first time in the Statcast Era (since 2015).[45]
Series win vs. Cubs, consecutive attendance records set
The Cardinals beat the Cubs two best aces in the last two games of the three-set after losing the Friday (May 12, attendance 47,601) game, setting consecutive attendance records at the newest Busch Stadium in the process. On May 13, the Birds beat Jon Lester 5–3, setting a new stadium record with 47,882 paid, with Carlos Martinez the victor.[46] The next (day) game, May 14, saw Adam Wainwright return to his usual superb form over seven innings, shutting out the Cubs and ace Jake Arrieta, 5–0, thanks in part to Matt Carpenter's first hit in the regular season off good buddy and former teammate at Texas Christian University, and groomsman at his wedding, Arrieta. Prior to that home run, Carpenter was 0-for-28 in the regular season against him.[47] The attendance of 47,925 broke the previous day's record. The three-game total of 143,408 set the all-time series record. The Cardinals retained first place in the NL Central (21–15, .583; 1 game ahead of the surprising Milwaukee Brewers, 21–17), while the Cubs, who fell below .500 (18–19, .486) with their seventh loss in nine games, sit 3 1/2 games back.[48]
Gant activated, optioned to Memphis
RH reliever John Gant was activated from the DL on May 16, and sent to AAA Memphis.[49]
Peralta activated, Sierra optioned
May 19 brought 3B-man Jhonny Peralta back to active status since April 17, while speedy OF'er Magneuris Sierra was optioned (played in May 17 game, no game May 18), with a promotion to the (AA Level) Springfield Cardinals. Peralta batted only .120 (3-for-25) in eight games, while Sierra made his major league debut on May 7, hitting safely in each of his seven games played, batting .367 (11-for-30) with eight runs scored.[50]
Cardinals lose, committing 35th error
The San Francisco Giants won on May 19, 6–5, thanks to the Cardinals' NL-leading 35th error of the season helping the Giants to their three-run seventh. Dexter Fowler brought the Cardinals to a 5–3 lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning after a 46-min rain delay, before the Giants answered with a run in the eighth, and two more in the ninth for the win. Prior to the loss, the Cardinals had not lost a game this season when taking a lead into the ninth. The Giants are now 2–21 this season when trailing after eight innings, and they entered 6–15 on the road. Mark Melancon, making his first appearance since May 3, converted his 17th career save against the Cardinals, most against any opponent.[51]
Matt Adams traded, Piscotty activated from DL
Before the game on May 20, the Cardinals announced a trade: 1B Matt Adams to the Atlanta Braves and cash considerations for a minor league infielder Juan Yepez. Stephen Piscotty was activated from the DL after finishing a rehab assignment since his May 4 injured right hamstring strain.[52] 1B/3B Yepez is 19, from Caracas, Venezuela, who signed with the Braves in July 2014, as a non-drafted free agent, who was playing at A-level with the Rome Braves.[53]
Tuivailala optioned to Memphis Redbirds, Lyons activated
On May 22, RH reliever Sam Tuivailala was optioned to the AAA Memphis Redbirds, leaving 24 on the active roster and 38 on the 40-man roster.[54] The next day, LH reliever Tyler Lyons was activated, joining the team in time for the series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.[55]
Piscotty on personal leave
RF Stephen Piscotty took personal leave before the Friday, May 26 game. He remained on the roster after he left Friday, and Matheny said he didn't know when to expect him to return to the club. The Cardinals did not appear to have a player available to add to the roster in time for Friday's game, but they could add a player during the weekend to take Piscotty's place. He left a couple hours before the first pitch. He was not in the lineup, but that was unrelated to his personal matter.[56]
Socolovich DFA, John Brebbia purchased (AAA)
RH reliever Miguel Socolovich was designated for assignment (removed from the 40-man roster temporarily) on May 27. He was 0–1 with one save in 15 appearances, striking out 14 in 182⁄3 innings. RH reliever John Brebbia was purchased from the AAA Memphis Redbirds.[57] Brebbia has made nine straight scoreless appearances for Memphis. He has a 1.69 ERA, 29 strikeouts and five walks over 262⁄3 innings.[58]
Wong on DL, Paul DeJong purchased
2B Kolten Wong was placed on the DL, retroactive to May 27, from a left elbow strain before the game on May 28. 3B/SS Paul DeJong, 23, was purchased from AAA.[59]
Martinez activated, Grichuk optioned to A-level
RF José Martinez was activated before the May 29 game. LF Randal Grichuk was optioned to A-level Palm Beach. The team decided to send Grichuk to Palm Beach rather than the Triple-A affiliate in Memphis. GM John Mozeliak said this was to put Grichuk in a lower-stress environment where he could play consistently and work on things like his strike zone management. Mozeliak added that Grichuk will have a different voice to learn from, working with George Greer as he tries to get back to the Majors.[60]
DeJong homers in first at-bat
Newly promoted 2B/3B/SS Paul DeJong hit a home run in his first at-bat in the majors. It came as a pinch-hitter at Coors Field in the ninth inning off veteran closer Greg Holland, who was before the game, 19-for-19 in saves and boasting a 0.96 ERA. The home run was the fourth for the Cardinals, but it did them no good as they fell 4–8 to the Colorado Rockies. The ball sailed 388 feet into the left field stands. DeJong hit .294 with a team-high 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 46 games with the Memphis Redbirds this spring, but he has little experience as a pinch-hitter, so he made frequent trips from the dugout to the indoor batting cage. With his parents in the stands, DeJong unwound on a 92mph fastball and circled the bases into the history books. "It was just a dream come true," DeJong said. "I've been playing baseball since I was four years old, and to do that in my first at bat was something I'll remember forever." DeJong was the ninth Cardinals' player to accomplish the feat: the last time was by Mark Worrell in the second game of a June 5, 2008 doubleheader. He followed up the next day (May 29) with a single and a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[61] DeJong is the Cardinals #11 ProspectArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine .
Gyorko on personal leave, Piscotty on the way back
Jedd Gyorko took personal leave in a hurry before the May 30 game to be with his wife who is expecting. Stephen Piscotty is on his way back to St. Louis after leaving the team Friday (May 26) afternoon to deal with a personal matter at his home in Pleasanton, California. His mother was diagnosed with ALS. He returned to the team in time for the May 31 game after missing five games.[62] Because of the two personal leaves, the Cardinals played with a two-man bench on May 30.[63]
Broxton released, John Gant recalled
RH reliever John Gant was recalled before the game on May 31, after Jonathan Broxton was released. Should Broxton sign elsewhere, the Cardinals will be responsible for the remainder of his $3.75 million salary in 2017, minus the pro-rated minimum. Broxton, 32, threw 152⁄3 innings for the Cardinals this year with an awful 6.89 ERA. Gant, 24, was acquired by the Cardinals last December as part of the package that sent Jaime Garcia to the Atlanta Braves. He had begun 2017 on the disabled list with a right groin strain, but returned on May 16, and had been working as a starter in Memphis. In three starts for the Memphis Redbirds, Gant was 0–1 with a 2.19 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 121⁄3 total innings. He will be available for Wednesday night's (May 31) game against the Dodgers out of the bullpen as the long reliever.[64]
June
Pujols hits his 600th home run with Angels
Former Cardinals' superstar Albert Pujols hit his 600th career home run on June 3 for the Los Angeles Angels, becoming only the ninth player to achieve that feat. He was the first to hit a grand slam for his 600th. He hit his 500th on April 22, 2014. Pujols at 37 and 139 days, is the fourth-youngest player (behind Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron) to hit 600 homers. He joined Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Alex Rodriguez (696), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Jim Thome (612), and Sammy Sosa (609), as the only other players to have 600. Thome was the last to do it on August 15, 2011. Pujols hit .328 with a 1.037 OPS averaging 40 Doubles (455 with the Cardinals), 40 home runs (445 with the Cardinals), and 121 RBIs per season when with the Cardinals in the 11 years, 2001–2011. He signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels before the 2012 campaign, though age and a spate of lower-body injuries have stunted his production in recent years.[65] He hit .328/.420/.617 in those 11 years (21–32), but only .265/.323/.469 (.793 OPS) with the Angels (2012 – June 3, 2017; 32–37) from injuries.[66]
Gyorko returns from paternity leave, Sierra optioned
3B Jedd Gyorko was reinstated from paternity leave in the birth of his third child, before the finale on June 4; after missing the first two games against the Cubs. OF'er Magneuris Sierra was optioned to AA-level Springfield Cardinals. Gyorko leads the team with a .321 average.[67]
Ballpark Village a finalist for ULI's Global Award for Excellence
Ballpark Village is one of 25 finalists for the Urban Land Institute's Global Award for Excellence, founded in 1979. The award recognizes "outstanding development projects on an international platform in the private, public and nonprofit sectors." The Cardinals and The Cordish Companies collaborated on the planning and construction of Ballpark Village, which opened in 2014. It marked the first time that a professional sports venue was master planned and fully integrated into a broader mixed-use development. Ballpark Village has attracted more than 10 million guests since opening, and it will soon be expanding. Over the offseason, the Cardinals and The Cordish Companies announced plans for a 550,000 square feet (12.6 acres) second phase that will include a residential towner, office space and additional retail restaurant and entertainment space. Construction on that $220 million phase is expected to begin later this year. ULI will select a winner among these finalists during its October meeting in Los Angeles. The Cordish Companies have been awarded seven ULI Awards for Excellence, more than any other developer in the world.[68]
Scooter Gennett hits 4 home runs
On June 6, the Cincinnati Reds' utility infielder, Scooter Gennett, 27, had the night of his career with a 4-home run game (#4, 5, 6, and 7) including a grand slam, going 5-for-5 (a single), and driving in 10 runs, in a 13–1 thrashing of the plummeting Cardinals with their fifth-straight loss. He became the 17th player, and it was the first time against any Cardinals' team, to accomplish the 4-homer game feat, with his fourth in the bottom of the eighth inning with a man on-base, for his 9th and 10th RBIs. His slash line jumped from .270/.308/.450 with a .758 OPS to .302/.336/.578 and .914 OPS with a 135 OPS+, and his RBIs from 20 to 30.[69]Josh Hamilton was the last player to have a 4-home run game on May 8, 2012.[70]
Chad Huffman promoted, Gant optioned
1B Chad Huffman, a longtime friend of Matt Carpenter, was promoted from AAA. RHP John Gant was optioned The Cardinals had an open spot for Huffman on the 40-man roster, and made space for him on the active roster by optioning RHP John Gant. The move reduced the pitching staff to 12 for the first time since April 20.[71]
Peralta DFA, Wong activated; coaching changes
The Cardinals held a press conference before the game on June 9, with GM John Mozeliak announcing a number of personnel changes after a disastrous 0–7 road trip. 3B Jhonny Peralta was DFA, and 2B Kolten Wong was activated. In addition, there were a number of coaching changes. Assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller was given a leave of absence, replaced by Mark Budaska (hitting coach at AAA-Memphis). 3B coach Chris Maloney was reassigned within the organization, replaced by quality control coach Mike Shildt. Ron "Pop" Warner was added to the coaching staff.[72][73] This is the first time Mozeliak had to make a mid-season coaching staff change. The drop to 26–32, was the lowest below .500 that Mgr. Mike Matheny has seen since his hire after the 2011 season. It is also the first time since the end of the 2007 season that they have had a record this poor this late in the season. During the road trip, there wasn't a facet of the game that could support the Cardinals. The starting pitching faltered and frayed with an ERA greater than 7.00 and not one quality start. The manager twice removed a starter early in order to goose the substandard offense with a pinch-hitter, and still the Cardinals scored a total of 20 runs in the seven-day trip. They allowed more than 40. The bullpen ruptured in the final three games of the series in Cincinnati with a close game Wednesday coming apart on lefty Brett Cecil.[74]
Cards end seven-game losing streak
The Cardinals ended their worst losing streak (7 games) since 2007 on June 9 at home against the weak Phillies, from strong pitching by Michael Wacha, a key home run by Aledmys Diaz, and a four-star catch by Tommy Pham to end the threat in the ninth inning.[75][76]
Martinez throws first complete game and shutout
Carlos Martinez threw his first career complete game and shutout on June 10 (afternoon game), at home against the Phillies, 7–0. He scattered four hits, striking out 11. It was his first shutout in 80 starts. Eric Fryer was the catcher, with Yadier Molina out with a strained back. Martinez had been oh-so-close to checking the accomplishment off his list a month ago when he twirled nine scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants. He had to settle for a no-decision, however, since his offense couldn't muster a run of support. In becoming the first Cardinals' pitcher to notch a complete game this year, Martinez highlighted why the Cardinals believe he's a budding ace in this rotation. The Phillies did not advance a runner as far as third, and with 11 strikeouts, Martinez became the first Cards' pitcher since Adam Wainwright (2010) with four straight starts of at least eight strikeouts. He finished with a pitch count of 107.[77] His 2.84 runs support was third-lowest in the National League, but a day after general manager John Mozeliak called out the offense's timid production, it came through with its biggest inning output (four runs) of the season.[78]
Adam Wainwright pitched five strong innings on June 11, in his team-leading 7th win (against 4 losses), giving up 2 runs, leading the team to a 6–5 win, in its first sweep of an opponent since May 8–10. Dexter Fowler hit a monster-length 3-run home run, giving the Cards a 3–2 lead after five innings, which they kept, although surviving a 2-run scare (after leading 6–3) in the ninth. Yadier Molina missed his third consecutive game. The team enjoys an off-day on Monday, June 12.[79] The bats showed life, but it was against a Phillies' pitching staff that ranks last in ERA (5.02), versus the Cardinals that had been mostly listless at the plate during a winless seven-game road trip. The Cardinals arrived home on Friday (June 9) having been outscored, 42–20, while slashing .212/.285/.332 over the previous week. Little had looked right, and that led Cardinals GM John Mozeliak to put the group on notice. Production over the next four to six weeks, Mozeliak said, would likely determine the Cardinals' position at the non-waiver Trade Deadline at the end of July. "It's hard to win games when you're scoring 2.5 runs per game," Mozeliak said. "Certainly when you look at how we were thinking this offense would work, it hasn't done so. We can start at the top."
That would be with Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler, neither of whom has played up to expectation. Matheny sought to jostle things by flipping their spots in the lineup, and, for at least one weekend, it worked. Fowler's three-run homer out of the second spot in the lineup put the Cardinals ahead for good on Sunday (June 11), and it capped a three-game series in which he and Carpenter, hitting from in his familiar spot at leadoff, went 8-for-22 with five extra-base hits, four runs and five RBIs. All eight starting position players reached base at least once on Sunday. In both Friday and Saturday's (June 10) win, seven of the eight did so. The offense tallied 27 hits and 16 runs in all. Its 13 combined runs scored in the final two games represented the most the Cardinals have scored in consecutive games in more than a month.[80]
DeJong optioned to AAA, M Gonzalez and Tuivailala recalled for DH, Peralta released
2B Paul DeJong was optioned to AAA on June 12. LHP Marco Gonzales was recalled, as was RHP Sam Tuivailala for the June 13 split double-header, which temporarily gives the team 26 on the active roster. 3B Jhonny Peralta was given his release after the Cardinals could not find another team interested in him after his designated for assignment. The club will pay the remainder of his $10 million salary. Gonzalez will be making his first start since 2015, from injury and returned after Tommy John surgery in May.[81]
Cards-Brewers split DH
The Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers split their split-DH on June 13, and no change in their standings. In the first game (1:15pm), Jose Martinez had his first multi-HR game in slugging two homers, driving in three runs. It meant more than usual for him, because his mom was there to see it. Lance Lynn pitched five strong innings, in a 6–0 shutout of the first-place Brewers. Lynn got his first win (5–3) since May 5, allowing only three hits, striking out eight, but walking four. He had 95 pitches on a 95-degree day at Busch. Chad Huffman, pinch-hitting for Lynn, got his first major-league hit since 2010, with his first career triple. LHP Tyler Lyons recorded his first major-league save, pitching the last three innings.[82] The Cardinals' bullpen blew another lead and lost the nightcap, 8–5, giving them no advance on the Brewers for the day, with two more games to play against them in the next two days. Marco Gonzales started for the first time since 2015, but could only go 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, five runs on three HRs, walking none, striking out two.[83]
Wong back on DL, DeJong recalled
2B Kolten Wong was back on the DL, before the June 15 game with a right triceps strain. Paul DeJong was recalled. Wong was taken out of the June 15 game prior to the sixth inning. He came off the DL on June 9, recovering from a left elbow injury, missing 13 games from May 27 – June 8.[84]
Another flurry of roster moves to right a sinking ship
Before the June 25 Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN, the Cardinals announced another flurry of moves designed to right a sinking ship after losing three straight to a season-low, seven-below-.500 mark of 33–40 (.452). The Cardinals recalled OF Randal Grichuk and RHP-reliever Mike Mayers from AAA, purchased the contract of 1B Luke Voit,26,–a St. Louis native (Lafayette High School) making his major-league debut, optioned 1B Chad Huffman, and DL'ed OF Dexter Fowler (right heel spur), and LH-reliever Kevin Siegrist (cervical spine sprain).[85][86] In 70 games with AAA-Memphis, Voit hit .322/.406/.561 (.967 OPS), with 23 doubles, 12 home runs, and 45 RBIs, before his debut. He serves as a backup to first baseman Matt Carpenter, and as a pinch-hitter off the bench.[87]
DeJong switched to SS
After his 20th game playing 2B, Paul DeJong was switched to SS. He played SS for four games prior to his switch on June 27 (June 6, 17, 21, and 24).[88]
Diaz optioned, Mejia recalled, A. Reyes trans. to 60-day DL
Before the June 28 game in the desert against the resurgent Arizona Diamondbacks (50–28, .641, 2nd in NL West), the Cardinals optioned the struggling hitting-and-fielding SS Aledmys Diaz to AAA, purchased the contract of utility infielder Alex Mejia, and cleared the 40-man spot for Mejia by transferring starter RHP Alex Reyes to the 60-day DL. Diaz' OPS+ of 80 is 54 points lower than it was a year ago, and his slugging percentage has dropped from .510 to .396. He has struck out more frequently, walked less often, and not shown the same discipline that made him so successful last year. Diaz has swung and missed at 14% of the pitches outside the strike zone. That's five percentage points higher than last year. Diaz's .260 batting average would be much lower if not for his ability to beat out 21 infield hits. His minus-9 Defensive Runs Saved ranked second worst in the Majors among players with at least 250 innings played at short. Matheny said the Cardinals will prioritize work for Diaz at short in Memphis, though getting him exposure at other infield spots hasn't been ruled out. With Diaz gone, the Cardinals are likely to give rookie Paul DeJong a heavy dose of work at short. Greg Garcia and Mejia, who is considered an above-average defensive shortstop, will also be options. Mejia, a fourth-round Draft pick in 2012, has fluctuated between AA Springfield and AAA Memphis for the last three seasons. The 26-year-old hit .251/.305/.366 in 63 AA games this year before earning a promotion to AAA, where he batted .263/.333/.289 in 11 games.[89] He made his major league debut on June 29, playing 2B.[90]
Cardinals promote GM Mozeliak to Pres of BB Ops; Mike Girsch new GM
On June 30, the Cardinals promoted GM John Mozeliak to the new position of President of Baseball Operations, and Assistant GM Mike Girsch to be the new GM. Mozeliak was hired as GM on October 31, 2007. Mozeliak's promotion continues a trend across baseball of how personnel departments are now structured, giving one person the power of overseeing baseball operations while also retaining a GM position. Other teams who use such a structure include the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays. Mozeliak is still expected to oversee the club's baseball operations decisions and remain heavily involved in the department. Girsch joined the Cardinals in 2006, when they also won the World Series, as coordinator of amateur scouting, and he later spent three years in the baseball development department before being promoted. Both will receive contract extensions through 2020.[91]
Cardinals played more high-leverage moments than any other team
Through games of June 30, the Cardinals have played in more high-leverage moments than any other major-league team. The first time the team scored five runs in one inning did not occur until its 69th game of the season. The second time came on June 30 with a five-run fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a 10–4 win. According to Fangraphs' leverage index, no team has played under more stress this season than St. Louis. The Cardinals also entered Friday (June 30) tied with the Phillies for the highest percentage of plate appearances (20.7%) in high-leverage spots. Forty-three of the Cardinals' games have been decided by two runs or fewer, whereas Friday marked the 22nd time this year that the margin was at least five. All those close games highlight why the team's defense and baserunning continue to come under scrutiny. Little mistakes have big consequences when there's no wiggle room.[92] After the July 1 win (2–1) over the Washington Nationals, the Cardinals now have 44 games of their 80 played decided by two runs or fewer.
July
Alex Mejia gets first hit, HR in Wacha birthday win
Starting off July in a game broadcast by Fox, the Cardinals won the three-game series (after besting them 8–1 on June 30) against the #1 team in the NL East, the Washington Nationals (47–33, .588), with a 2–1 win. SS, but playing 2B Alex Mejia, recorded his first major-league hit, and later added his first HR, to support Michael Wacha's win on Wacha'a 26th birthday. Holding the Nationals to four hits, Wacha struck out a season-high nine over a 94-pitch, six-inning outing. The Nationals weren't able to advance a runner to third against him. Washington starter Gio González was just as stingy, as he limited the Cardinals to two hits over seven innings. But he was clipped for a two-out run, driven in by Mejia, in the second inning. Mejia padded the 1–0 lead by blasting a first-pitch home run to open the eighth. The insurance proved to be necessary, too. Trevor Rosenthal, who was being given another look as a closer, allowed Washington's first run and loaded the bases with a two-out walk. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny then turned to Matt Bowman, who notched his first career save by freezing Adrian Sanchez on a full-count fastball in Sanchez's first Major League at-bat. After Paul DeJong extended the second inning by drawing only his second walk in 104 plate appearances, Mejia smacked a single up the middle to drive home Luke Voit, who had earlier beaten out a potential inning-ending double play. Mejia, who was making his second career start, had been hitless in his first three Major League at-bats. In addition to Bowman earning his first save and Mejia tallying his first hits, several other Cardinals reached notable numbers on Saturday: With a fourth-inning single, Yadier Molina extended his hitting streak to 16 games, tying a career high; only Ted Simmons has a longer streak by a Cardinals' catcher with 19 games, Wacha tied Steve Carlton as the second-fastest Cardinals' pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts by getting there in his 106th game, (Lance Lynn, 101 G). Mgr. Matheny earned managerial win No. 500, making him the second-quickest manager in franchise history to reach that mark, achieving the milestone in his 890th game, for a .562 win percentage.[93] He started the 2017 season with a 461–349 (.569) managerial record.[94]Billy Southworth hit 500 wins in 766 games, (.653).[95]
Carlos Martinez and Yadier Molina named to All-Star Game roster
Carlos Martinez and Yadier Molina were named to the All-Star Game reserves (on a July 2 ESPN televised report), in Miami on July 11. Molina made the All-Star team for seven consecutive seasons before having that streak broken last year. Molina leads all NL catchers with 66 starts and 580 innings caught. He also ranks among the top four in total hits (69), home runs (nine) and RBIs (35). He is slashing .273/.308/.409 on the season, entered Sunday riding a 16-game hitting streak. It's his second hitting streak of that length this year. Martinez is a second-time All-Star, though he'll be looking for his first appearance when he travels to Miami. Martinez did not pitch in the All-Star Game two summers ago (2015) after winning a spot on the roster through the Final Vote competition. Martinez entered Sunday's (July 2) showdown against Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals) ranked fourth in the NL in ERA (2.88), second in opponents' batting average (.199), fourth in WHIP (1.07) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.24). This marks the second consecutive season that the Cardinals have placed two players on the All-Star team.[96]All-Star Game rosters listArchived July 3, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
Carlos Martinez vs. Max Scherzer
On the night (July 2) he was named to the All-Star team, Carlos Martinez (6–6, 2.88 ERA, 1 Shutout, 121 strikeouts, 10.2 per 9 IP; 1.072 WHIP; .199/.275/.325 opp. slash and .600 opp OPS) pitched against St. Louis native, and Parkway Central High School graduate Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals, in a nationally televised ESPNSunday Night Baseball Game of the Week. Scherzer is the best pitcher in the NL in terms of ERA (2.06; 212 ERA+), strikeouts (151; 12.0 per 9 IP) and WHIP (0.783). His opp. slash is .164/.227/.292 and .520 opp OPS. Scherzer also has two complete games this year. Looking for his 10th win (9–5), the Chesterfield, MO native and University of Missouri alum has been fantastic of late. He's allowed more than one earned run just once in his last seven starts and reached double-digit strikeouts in six of those games. Scherzer ranks first in right-handed-hitters' batting average against, but Martinez is right behind him in second place (Scherzer, .125; Martinez, .171).[97] Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign, and instead attended the University of Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick. He was Mizzou's first-ever 1st round MLB pick. On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Scherzer would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. While at Mizzou, he won Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2005.[Wikipedia entry for Max Scherzer]
Scherzer and the Nationals beat the Cardinals in an easy 7–2 win. Scherzer (10–5) pitched 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and no runs, lowering his ERA to an NL-leading 1.94. He opened the evening by striking out seven his first time through the Cardinals' order. He finished the night with 12, marking the 10th time this season—and 59th of his career—that Scherzer reached the double-digit strikeout mark in a game. Scherzer was supported early by Harper, who spoiled the night of Cardinals All-Star starter Carlos Martinez (6–7). Fellow All-Star OF Bryce Harper crushed a slider over the right-field wall to give the Nationals a two-run lead in the first inning, before golfing a third-inning pitch for another two-run homer, hie 13th career multi-homer game, to punctuate a three-run third. Martinez allowed as many runs on Sunday (five) as he had in his previous five starts combined, with his ERA ballooning to 3.15. Tommy Pham hit a two-run home run (10th), in the eighth inning (Enny Romero) for the only Cardinals runs.[98]
Halfway through season record
At the half-way point through 2017 after the July 2 game, the Cardinals are 39–42 (.481), in third place in the NL Central, 3.5 G behind the Milwaukee Brewers (44–40, .524), and 1.5 G behind the Chicago Cubs (41–41, .500).
Luke Weaver recalled, Mike Mayers optioned
The #3 prospect in the Cardinals' organizationArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , RHP Luke Weaver was recalled before the game on July 3. Mike Mayers was optioned. Arguably the most dominant pitcher in the organization's Minor League system this year, Weaver made eight starts in 2016. He will not be held back as a long reliever, but will instead be considered a relief option for any situation. He was due to start for Triple-A Memphis today, is rested and ready to pitch as soon as he's needed. At Memphis, he was 7–1 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 starts. He's walked 13, struck out 60, and allowed three home runs in 56 innings. Most recently, he posted a 1.59 ERA in four June starts. Weaver made his Major League debut last August, and finished 1–4 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.596 WHIP. He opened his big league career by allowing three or fewer runs in each of his first six starts, but was pulled from the rotation after two abbreviated mid-September performances.[99] The #1 and 32 prospects are RHP Alex Reyes, and C Carson Kelly.
Cardinals offense erupts for 14 runs
The offense had their biggest game this season on July 3, with a 14–6 rout (BOX SCORE) of the Miami Marlins, at Busch Stadium. With more hits in the first three innings than they had in their last two games combined, the Cardinals pummeled starter Jeff Locke and held on for the win. The Cardinals had their most productive first inning (four runs) of the season, and sent 12 batters to the plate during a seven-run third inning that chased Locke. By the end of that inning, everyone in the Cardinals' lineup had reached base at least once and eight different batters had scored a run. Luke Voit, crushed his first Major League home run (two-runs in the 8th inning) and his first four RBIs. Tommy Pham (batting second) was a perfect 3-for-3 including a triple, 2 RBIs, plus two walks reaching base safely every time at-bat. Yadier Molina also went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs. The offense has scored 61 runs over the team's last nine games, of which the Cardinals have won seven. Adam Wainwright had a rocky fifth inning but finished it before being pulled, giving up 8 hits and 6 runs (all earned) for his ninth win, and a 6–1 record at home. He also contributed at-bat with a two-run single. He is now batting .226 with a .678 OPS.[100]
July 4 record
The Cardinals were 103–100–2 (.507) on July 4 games in their history before today's loss. They played a double header every year between 1927 and 1950.[101] The July 3 game started a stretch of 14 consecutive games against sub-.500 teams (FL, NYM, PIT, NYM). After the July 4 loss, they are 23–16 (.590) against teams below .500.[102]
Fowler activated, Jose Martinez optioned
The Cardinals activated CF Dexter Fowler before the game on July 7, optioning OF José_Martínez. Fowler missed 12 games due to a right heel spur from June 25 – July 6. He ranks 2nd among St. Louis players with 40 runs scored, and his 35 RBI rank 4th. Fowler is batting .245 with 10 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs (2nd among StL hitters). Martinez opened the season on the Major League roster for the first time in his career. The right-handed hitter batted .280 with five home runs and 17 RBI this season, and has appeared in 50 games. Martinez has made 26 starts and has two outfield assists, coming in back-to-back games April 17 and 18 vs. Pittsburgh. Martinez missed 17 games (May 7–28) earlier this season with a left groin injury.[103]
Four Home Runs not enough to win
The July 7 game saw four Cardinals hit Home Runs, but they were all solo shots, and it wasn't enough for Carlos Martinez (6–8) as he gave up five runs in five innings for the second consecutive games, allowing seven hits, losing 6–5 to the New York Mets. Randal Grichuk, Paul DeJong, Dexter Fowler, and Jedd Gyorko all homered, but the team lost for the fourth time in six games. Winner Jacob deGrom is the first pitcher to allow four home runs against the Cardinals and win since Robin Roberts in 1955. Preacher Roe of the Brooklyn Dodgers also accomplished that feat in 1953. The Cardinals hit back-to-back home runs for the third game this season, and hit two sets of back-to-back homers in the same game for the ninth time in club history. The last time that happened was on May 2, 2016, against the Phillies. The last time the Cardinals hit four home runs in a game on two sets of back-to-back home runs that were all solo homers was May 7, 2012, at Arizona.[104]
DeJong, Pham, Voit get hot at the break
The Cardinals are heading into the All-Star break (43–45, .489) having won or tied their past four series. They are tied with the Cubs for 2nd place, 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (50–41, .549). After 88 games, the team has scored 402 runs, while giving up 389. In 2016, they scored 779, giving up 712. The players who have helped lead them to their recent success, however, could not have been predicted 88 games ago. In the Cardinals' 6–0 victory over the Mets on Sunday (July 9) at Busch Stadium, Tommy Pham and rookies Paul DeJong and Luke Voit accounted for the club's three home runs and four of its six runs.
Paul DeJong, the starting shortstop, stepped up against the Mets, breaking records across the three games. In the series, he went 9-for-12 (.750) with three home runs, five doubles and four RBIs. He is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and his eight extra-base hits in the series are the most by a Cardinals' player in a three-game series in the modern era (post-1900). He has 10 Doubles, nine homers, 20 RBIs, and is hitting .313/.331/.602 (.932 OPS, 139 OPS+) at the break.
Tommy Pham, who hit his 11th home run Sunday, has 11 stolen bases. He became the first Cardinal since Albert Pujols in 2009 to have at least 10 homers and 10 stolen bases before the break. He is hitting .299/.386/.510 (.895 OPS, 134 OPS+) with 8 Doubles and a Triple, with 34 RBIs.
Luke Voit, a St. Louis native, has also posted impressive numbers, hitting .316/.366/.684 (1.050 OPS, 168 OPS+) in 38 at-bats in 14 games. He has five doubles and eight RBIs in July, including his four-RBI day July 3 against the Marlins.[105]
Yadier Molina hits HR in All-Star Game
Yadier Molina got the NL its only run in the All-Star Game on July 11, when he hit a home run in the sixth inning off Ervin Santana (Minn. Twins) to tie the game at 1. But the NL lost 1–2 in 10 inn. Reggie Smith was the last Cardinal to hit an All-Star Game home run in the 1974 game. He became the oldest catcher to hit a home run in an All-Star Game, two days before his 35th birthday (July 13), passing Yogi Berra.[106]
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
The famous baseball song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game was first performed in a baseball park: Sportsman's Park before Game 4 of the 1934 World Series by the famous Gashouse Gang players Pepper Martin and his Marvelous Musical Mississippi Mudcats Band. The song was written in 1908, with words by Jack Norworth and music from Albert Von Tilzer. Ironically, neither had attended a baseball game. It was the #1 song for 1908, selling over 6 million sheet copies. Major League Baseball realized that Ladies Days, when women were admitted to the ballpark for free, were no longer necessary. In 1909, the National League banned the practice, assuming women would now attend on a regular basis. "Katie Casey was baseball mad; Had the fever and had it bad; Just to root for the home town crew … On a Saturday, her young beau called to see if she'd like to go, To see a show but Miss Kate said "No, I'll tell you what you can do." That leads into the iconic chorus that everyone sings throughout the summer.[107]
Wong and Siegrist activated, Mejia and Weaver optioned
Michael Wacha threw his first complete game and a 5–0 shutout win against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 18. He gave up only three hits, one walk, and allowing just one runner to reach third base, in the ninth inning with two outs. He pitched after an 11-day layoff to give his troublesome right shoulder additional rest. He threw a career-high 119 pitches. He started the ninth inning at 97 pitches.[111] The shutout was the first by a Cardinals' pitcher on the road since Shelby Miller on June 7, 2014. Since posting an 8.17 ERA over a six-game stretch that had some calling for his removal from the rotation, Wacha is 4–0 with a 1.01 ERA in four starts. His strikeout rate has jumped, and he's found the cutter to be a put-away pitch. After notching five strikeouts on it over his first 14 appearances, Wacha has logged eight in his last three. Wacha garnered 12 outs on his fastball, eight with his cutter, four via the changeup and three with the curve.[112]
Carson Kelly promoted, Zach Duke and Randal Grichuk activated
The top catching prospectArchived July 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine in baseball and the #2 Cardinals prospectArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , Carson Kelly, 23, was promoted to the majors before the game on July 21. He hit .283/.375/.459 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs in 68 games for Triple-A Memphis this season. He made his Major League debut last season, and went 2-for-13 with a double in 10 games for St. Louis. LF Randal Grichuk was activated from the disabled list, as was LHP Zach Duke from the 60-day DL. Grichuk is batting .215 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs in 61 games for the Cardinals this season. Duke is a 12-year MLB veteran, making nine Minor League rehab appearances before being activated, throwing nine scoreless innings. RHP Sam Tuivailala was optioned to AAA-Memphis, as was OF Magneuris Sierra to AA-Springfield. To make room, C Eric Fryer was designated for assignment, with Duke taking Fryer's spot on the 40-man roster.[113]
Cardinals trade LHP Marco Gonzales for OF prospect Tyler O'Neill
Before the game on July 21, the Cardinals traded LHP Marco Gonzales for a power-hitting #75 prospect in baseball ( #4 CardinalsArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine ) Tyler O'Neill, 22, of the Seattle Mariners. Both players were products of the 2013 MLB Draft, with Gonzales taken in the first round, and O'Neill by Seattle in the third. O'Neill had 14 homers in his past 19 games at Triple-A Tacoma and was batting .244/.328/.479 with 19 homers, 21 doubles and 56 RBIs in 93 games this season. His 19 home runs ranked eighth in the Pacific Coast League. He was the Mariners' Minor League Player of the Year last season when he batted .293 with 24 home runs and 102 RBIs at the Double-A level. GM John Mozeliak said, "It adds to our offensive depth. [It's] not that we're not proud of our outfield depth, but we do think this offensive profile is unique. [He has] middle-of-the-order potential." O'Neill will report to Triple-A Memphis, where he'll play alongside another Cardinals outfield prospect, Harrison Bader. Gonzales' status as an out-of-options player next year left the Cardinals uncertain of how they'd find a fit for him on the Major League roster.[114]
Fowler on DL, Harrison Bader promoted
On July 25, Dexter Fowler was placed on the DL from a left wrist strain, and promoted their No. 6 prospectArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine OF Harrison Bader, 23, from AAA-Memphis. He is in the lineup, and will make his major league debut. He hit .297/.354 with 19 home runs and slugging .517 with 48 RBIs, stealing 9 bases in 350 at-bats.[115] He was their third-round pick in 2015. Fowler is hitting .241/.333/.452, with 29 extra-base hits and 37 RBIs in 333 plate appearances over 81 games this season. Memphis outfielder Chad Huffman was outrighted and subsequently granted his unconditional release.[116]
Wainwright on DL, retroactive to July 23
Before the July 25 game, starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, 35, was placed on the 10-day DL, retroactive to July 23, due to mid-back tightness. The team will announce a corresponding roster move tomorrow. Wainwright is leading the Cardinals with 11 wins and has posted a 4.89 ERA in his 20 games started, striking out 95 batters in 110.1 innings pitched. This marks just the fourth time in his career that Wainwright has been disabled: 2008 for right middle finger sprain, 2011 for right elbow Tommy John surgery, and 2015 for a ruptured right Achilles. The three-time All-Star owns a career mark of 145–81 with a 3.27 ERA in 340 games pitched, ranking 5th on the Cardinals all-time wins list.[117] He has 1,582 strikeouts as a Cardinals' pitcher, ranking second behind Bob Gibson (3,117).
RHP Mike Mayers was recalled on July 26, as the temporary help from Wainwright's DL.[118]
Bader gets first hit, run
Harrison Bader, scarcely 12 hours after his call-up, recorded his first major league hit, a double to open the ninth inning that turned into a run that decided the 3–2 win over Colorado Rockies (now 58–44 .569), who hold a 41⁄2 game lead over the Cubs for one of the two Wild Card spots. Paul DeJong gave the Cards the lead with a two-run home run in the first, his seventh for the month that matched the most by a Cardinals' rookie in July, and is tied for second place among NL home run leaders in the month. Starter Lance Lynn has now given up one run in his last 251⁄3 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.21 (with the Cardinals overall at 3.83, third-best in NL L.A. Dodgers 3.15 and Arizona Diamondbacks 3.52 in NL West); and opposing batters hitting a team-lowest .210 against him (min. 25 IP). Reliever Matt Bowman blew a save (giving up a solo home run to tie it at 2–2 in the eighth inning), which is the 15th for the team, fourth-most in the NL. DeJong is one of only two players to ever hit double-digit home runs for both the Cardinals, and Triple-A Memphis in the same season. He joins Rick Ankiel, who did so in 2007. DeJong has 13 with each team, while Ankiel spent the majority of 2007 with Memphis, hitting 32 home runs there, and 11 with St. Louis. The win kept the Cardinals after 100 games (49–51 .490) four games back of the Milwaukee Brewers (54–48 .529) in the wild NL Central, playing leap-frog over the Cubs (52–47 .525), who are one-half game behind.[119]
Lance Lynn on trading block?
With the non-waiver trade deadline looming in five days (July 31), and as an upcoming free agent at the end of the season, Lance Lynn could be an intriguing trade option for the struggling Cardinals, still trying to hit the .500 level (49–51). Since his dreadful back-to-back outings in June, he has been superb with a 2–0, 0.75 ERA record over his last four starts totaling 25.1 IP. For the season, he is 8–6, 3.21 ERA, with a team-leading 21 starts. It has not been determined if he will make another start after his outstanding July 25 start against a heavy-hitting Colorado Rockies lineup, that was a near-win because of yet another (15th) blown bullpen save opportunity this team has suffered in 2017. Lynn gave up only one run on three hits in six innings, striking out six.[120]
Luke Weaver recalled, Mike Mayers optioned
RHP Luke Weaver was recalled on July 27, and recalled from yesterday RHP Mike Mayers was optioned. Weaver is the No. 64 overall prospect in the Majors, and the Cardinals' fourth-best prospect. Weaver will make his first start in 2017. In two relief appearances with St. Louis this season, Weaver has allowed three hits and no runs over three innings. As a starter in AAA Memphis, he has excelled this year, going 9–1 in 13 starts with a 1.91 ERA. He made eight starts in nine appearances in 2016 (1–4, 5.70 ERA).[121][122]
Cardinals set single-game attendance record at Busch Stadium III
The Cardinals set a Busch Stadium III attendance record on July 29, with an announced crowd of 48,052. That figure surpassed all previous attendance marks—even those from the postseason and All-Star Game—at the 12-year-old ballpark. The previous record was 47,925 on May 14, 2017.[123]
Cardinals hold at non-waiver trade deadline
The Cardinals decided to make no changes by the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, 3pm CDT. That means that the Cardinals will enter the final two months of the season with Lance Lynn still a member of their rotation, and an overcrowded outfield. The latter is expected to be addressed during the off-season. As for Lynn, he'll play out the rest of this year as a pending free agent. The Cardinals have not initiated extension talks with the 30-year-old right-hander, and GM John Mozeliak confirmed the organization will "table all of that until the year end." Mozeliak added that momentum never picked up among the teams that had inquired about Lynn's availability. The Cardinals can still net a compensatory Draft pick—which would come after Compensation Round B in 2018—if they make Lynn a qualifying offer and he declines. The value of the qualifying offer is expected to be around $18 million for one year. The club entered the day (off-day) at 52–53, sitting in third-place in the NL Central, 41⁄2 games behind the Cubs, and 2 games behind the Brewers.[124] Teams can still make trades in August, but with restrictions. Reporter Jayson Stark outlines the waiver rules.[125]
August
Piscotty activated, Bader optioned
On August 1, before a crucial series against the second-place Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals activated OF Stephen Piscotty from the DL, and optioned OF Harrison Bader to AAA. Piscotty missed 16 games after hitting .236/.348/.371 with a 90 OPS+ in 69 games. Bader got his first hit and scored the game-winning run in his first game, hitting .286/.348/.381 (6 for 21) .729 OPS and a 92 OPS+ with 2 doubles, two walks, and nine strikeouts in his six games.[126]
Paul DeJong wins NL Rookie of the Month Award for July
After batting .298/.347/.638 (.985 OPS) with 6 home runs and 16 RBI's in the month of July, Paul DeJong was named the NL Rookie of the Month on his 24th birthday (August 2). He was the first Cardinals' player to win the award since Kolten Wong in May 2014. Through the game on August 1, DeJong was hitting .281/.308/.558 (.865 OPS, 121 OPS+), with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs in 54 games and 208 plate appearances. Among rookies with at least 50 games played, only the Yankees' Aaron Judge and the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger have a higher slugging percentage than DeJong.[127]
August injuries/transactions
On August 4, starting pitcher Luke Weaver was optioned to AAA, and for the fifth time this season, reliever Sam Tuivailala was recalled.[128]
Before the August 7 game, OF Dexter Fowler was activated from the DL after missing 12 games. OF Stephen Piscotty was optioned to AAA Memphis.[131]
After the showing problems with decreased velocity and command in the ninth inning of the August 16 game, reliever Trevor Rosenthal was placed on the 10-day DL from a right posterior elbow irritation. RHP Luke Weaver was recalled from AAA. Rosenthal was 11 for 13 in save opportunities, with a 3.40 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 47.2 innings.[132]
Pitching only three innings with 55 pitches but decreased velocity on August 18, starter Adam Wainwright was placed on the DL from right elbow impingement. He was 12–5 with a 5.12 ERA. Opponent batters were hitting .283 against him. RHP Mike Mayers was recalled from AAA Memphis.[133]
Before the August 19 game, the Cardinals promoted reliever Josh Lucas, 26, from AAA Memphis, to make his major league debut. To make room for him, RHP Mike Mayers was optioned to the Memphis. Lucas had been in the organization since the Cardinals took him in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He had a 3.34 ERA, 1.165 WHIP and 14 saves in 43 appearances at AAA, striking out 65, walking only nine in 56.2 innings. Sixteen of Lucas' appearances have been for one-plus innings.[134] In his debut, Lucas gave up four hits, including a home run for his lone run allowed, walking none, striking out two in his two innings pitched.[135]
Before the August 23 game, the Cardinals announced that RH reliever Trevor Rosenthal will have Tommy John surgery to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the procedure next week. The surgery not only ends Rosenthal's season, but it will cost him much—and possibly all—of 2018 as well. He led the Majors with 93 saves from 2014 to 2015. The timing also complicates his move toward free agency, and it leaves the Cardinals without an obvious answer as to who will fill the ninth-inning void in his absence. He was to be arbitration-eligible for a third time this winter and due for a salary increase from the $6.4 million he's earning in 2017. It's a financial commitment the Cardinals won't want to make for a pitcher who may need the full season to recover from surgery. The club could choose to not tender Rosenthal a contract and try to re-sign him for a lesser amount, or under a Minor League contract, to retain control of him.[137] The Cardinals transferred Rosenthal to the 60-day DL ending his season, while calling-up LH reliever Ryan Sherriff, 27, for his major-league debut later. He is 5–1, 3.19 ERA converting six-out-of-seven save opportunities at AAA-Memphis. Reliever Josh Lucas was optioned. Rosenthal was 3–4 with a 3.40 ERA, with 11 saves.[138][139]
In the eighth inning of a 4–4 game, about to score the lead run from third base of the August 26 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, 3B Jedd Gyorko suffered a right hamstring strain. He was placed on the 10-day DL the next day. Gyorko was the team-leader with 64 RBIs, hitting .272 with 18 HRs in 114 games. Luke Voit was recalled from AAA.[140]
Second consecutive game with go-ahead grand slam
For the first time in the Cardinals' long history, the team won consecutive games, on August 9–10, featuring a go-ahead grand slam. The 59th win of the season (against 56 losses, .513) for their sixth consecutive win, tied their longest win streak (May 5–10), and pushed the Cardinals to within one game of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central, passing the Brewers for second place, with 47 games remaining. Dexter Fowler slammed the Royals in the seventh inning on August 10 (8–6 win), when tied at 3–3, while Yadier Molina hit a grand slam in the sixth inning the previous night (8–5 win), after trailing 5–4.[141] The game on August 9 featured Molina's slam coming one pitch after a cat, subsequently known as the "Rally Cat", ran into center field. The cat was picked up by a groundskeeper, who got scratched and clawed for his trouble.[142] Molina's 387-foot homer was the fifth grand slam of his career, tying him with Tim McCarver for second all-time among Cardinals' catchers for grand slams. He needs two more to tie Ted Simmons.[143] Because of Molina's key hit, the Cardinals moved closer in the chase for the NL Central.[144] Fowler's slam (fifth in his career) was the Cardinals' third in their last five games, and his five RBIs in a game was his highest. He had scored a run in his last five games.[145] The Rally Cat went missing after the game and the Cardinals released a statement: "We are hopeful someone will find the cat and contact us so we can properly care for it. Our grounds crew is working on developing a stray animal protocol to ensure the safety of both crew and animal should this happen again. In the meantime, the Cardinals are looking to scratch and claw their way back to the top of the division standings."[146] The Rally Cat was found early on August 11, and transported to a veterinarian to be checked out, and eventually available for adoption. It was not a feral cat as initially thought. It is a medium haired tabby. It's still unknown if anyone in the Cardinals' organization will open their doors to the cat.[147] Custody of the cat remains in dispute.[148]
Cards in a virtual tie for first in NL Central
After the 6–5 win on August 12 (61–56, .521) and the Cubs' loss later that night (60–55, .522), the teams were in a virtual tie for first place in the NL Central. The August 12 win was the team's season-high eighth consecutive win. Carlos Martinez won his ninth game, and Paul DeJong hit his team-leading 17th home run for the deciding run in the seventh inning. The Cardinals' eight-game winning streak was their most since April 28 to May 5, 2015, and the longest of Matheny's managerial career. The Cards were five and one-half games back less than two weeks ago.[149] DeJong's team-leading 17th home run came in his 64th game and 244th at-bat. He tied five other Cardinals for the seventh-most home runs by a rookie in Cardinals' history, with six of them coming in the seventh inning or later. He was slashing .291/.320/.566. Before the game on August 12, his 16 home runs in his first 63 games were second only to future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 20 in the same number of games in 2001. During the team's eight-game winning streak, DeJong 's ability and consistency played a pivotal role. He had at least one hit in all but one of those games, with three home runs and nine RBIs over that stretch. Combined with the 13 homers he hit in 48 games with the AAA Memphis, DeJong has 30 home runs this season.[150]Adam Wainwright's hit in the August 11 game drove in his 11th RBI, which led all MLB pitchers. Compared to the team's previous game on August 11 for their seventh consecutive win (8–5), the six runs scored on August 12 were the lowest from the previous six games, when eight runs or more were scored. That streak was the first time since April 11–16, 2011, tying the franchise record. The club also achieved the feat Sept. 9–15, 1922.[151]
However, following the win, the Cardinals would lose three straight and five of their next seven games. The Cubs, in the same span, won six of eight games to extend the lead over the Cardinals to 3.5 games as of August 21.
Paul DeJong becomes fourth Cards' rookie to hit 20 HRs
Paul DeJong became only the fourth Cardinals' rookie to hit 20 home runs, doing so in only his 70th game on August 19. Albert Pujols (37 in 2001), Chris Duncan (22 in '06), and Ray Jablonski (21 in 1953) previously accomplished the feat. He also has 17 doubles, 48 RBIs in 269 AB, hitting .305/.336/.591 with a .927 OPS.[152]
Ryan Sherriff makes debut
LH reliever Ryan Sherriff made his major-league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 25. He pitched three scoreless innings, registering four strikeouts, while scattering two hits. But the Cards fell 3–7 to the Rays, with their eighth loss in 11 games, remaining 4 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the National League Central and five back of the Rockies for the NL's second Wild Card spot.[153]
Matt Carpenter donates to Hurricane Harvey relief
On August 29, Galveston, Texas native and Houston-area resident, Matt Carpenter, announced a personal donation of $10,000 for each home run he hits until the end of the season, to the relief efforts in the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey, which smashed into Rockport, Texas (just south of Houston) as a Category 4 hurricane, on August 25, with wind gusts up to 132mph (212km/h). Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals' owner William DeWitt, Jr., also pledged the same $10,000 per Carpenter home run, totaling $30,000 for each one Carpenter hits. Carpenter has hit 17 this year through the 130 games played. Randal Grichuk said he has remained in constant contact with his parents, who still live in his hometown of Rosenberg, Texas, a suburb southwest of downtown Houston.[154] In the first game after his pledge, that same evening Carpenter hit a home run, his 18th (a 10–2 win), which gave $30,000 to the relief efforts.[155]
Leake traded to Seattle
Starting RH pitcher Mike Leake was traded to the Seattle Mariners on August 30, on the eve of the waiver trade deadline (August 31), $750,000 in international cap space as well as cash considerations, for a minor league shortstop Rayder Ascanio, 21. Prior to this deadline, a player is eligible to play in post-season games, as Leake now is, should Seattle earn a Wild Card spot. Leake, 29, signed a five-year contract with the Cards in December 2015, and he has three years and $48 million remaining on his deal after 2017, with a mutual $18 million option, or a $5 million buyout in 2021. The contract, which included a full no-trade clause, was no problem as Leake waived it to help facilitate the trade, according to reports. The Cardinals are picking up $17 million of the remaining $53 million money on Leake's contract. Leake began the year red-hot, going 3–1 with a 1.35 ERA in five April outings, before seeing his ERA increase in each month of the season. The right-hander is 0–3 with an 8.88 ERA and a .375 opponents batting average in five starts in August. He is 7–12 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 starts for the Cards this season, after going 9–12 with a 4.69 ERA in 30 starts in 2016. Leake is 80–76 with a 4.02 ERA in 223 career appearances (228 starts). The shortstop received by the Cardinals is a switch-hitter, signed out of Venezuela with the Mariners' organization since 2012. Ascanio hit .217/.295/.355 with a .649 OPS in 111 Minor League games this season, and he will be added to the Cardinals' Class A Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals roster for the remainder of this year. The #3 prospect in the Cardinals' organizationArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , RHP Jack Flaherty, 21, will take Leake's place in the rotation, starting on September 1, making his major league debut. He is three years removed after high school, now with the AAA Memphis Redbirds.[156]
Siegrist DFA, John Gant recalled
LH reliever Kevin Siegrist was DFA on August 31, after activating him from the DL, making room for RH reliever John Gant, recalled from AAA, who will take the roster spot that Mike Leake vacated after his trade. Gant, 25, has a 3.83 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 1031⁄3 innings over 18 starts for the Memphis Redbirds this season. He was acquired last December from Atlanta in the Jaime Garcia trade. His lone appearance with the big league club this year came on June 6, when he allowed the Cincinnati Reds two runs on three hits over 31⁄3 innings. Siegrist was in the midst of a tough season with a 4.98 ERA over 341⁄3 innings and a 13.3% walk rate that ranked 192nd among 203 relievers with at least 30 innings. He had been battling left forearm tendinitis as well. Siegrist, who was under team control for two more seasons, had fallen out of favor as a top left-hander in the Cardinals' bullpen, with Left-handers slugging a career-best .420 against him this year.[157] He was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on September 2.[158]
September
Apr–Aug 1,2-run games record
At the end of August, the team is 67–66 (.504), and had an 18–25 (.419) record in one-run games. They are 9–12 (.429) record in 2-run games. For 1- or 2-run games, the team is 27–37 (.422). The Cardinals have 7 players with 15+ HR's, tops among NL teams and T2nd in the majors, with Houston and Baltimore, trailing only the Texas (9 players). The Cardinals had a franchise record 8 players hit 15+ HR's last year, as they paced the NL with 225 home runs. They have scored 245 runs via the home run, giving up 231 that way. In total, the Cardinals have scored 631 runs, giving up 581.[159]
Jack Flaherty makes ML debut
Starting RHP Jack Flaherty made his major league debut on September 1, at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched a perfect first inning, striking out the first and third batters, and got the second on a fly ball. But, he gave up a two-run home run among five hits, in the second inning. Overall, he allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings with six strikeouts and one intentional walk. Harrison Bader also had a memorable night when he clubbed his first Major League home run in the third inning, a two-run blast that got the Cardinals on the scoreboard.[160]
Rosters expand
The rosters expanded on September 1, and the Cardinals brought up from AAA-Memphis: OF Harrison Bader, 2B/SS Alex Mejia, C Alberto Rosario, plus RHP Sandy Alcantara from AA-Springfield Cardinals. Bader is the #5 prospect in the Cardinals' organizationArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine . Alcantara is particularly intriguing for the Cardinals, with his power arm, and is the #9 prospect in the Cardinals' organizationArchived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine . He will initially be used in relief. At AA-Springfield, he was 7–5 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 games (22 starts), and had 106 strikeouts with 54 walks in 1251⁄3 innings. Alcantara held opponents to a .262 average this season, while relying primarily on a fastball that routinely clocked between 94 and 96mph. That velocity, coupled with a hard curve and solid changeup, have the Cardinals salivating about Alcantara's prospects. He stands 6' 4", a lean 170 pounds (77kg)[161]
Alcantara makes ML debut
RH reliever Sandy Alcantara made his major-league debut on September 3, in a 7–3 win over the lowly San Francisco Giants (54–85). He pitched 0.2 innings, giving up two hits, a run (home run), one walk, and one strikeout.[162][163][164]
Carlos Martinez throws second shutout
Carlos Martinez threw his second shutout of the season on September 4 against the San Diego Padres. He joins Ervin Santana (3, Minnesota Twins), and Corey Kluber (2, Cleveland Indians), as the only other MLB pitchers to record at least two shutouts. Martinez struck out 10, walked three, giving up only three singles, with no runners reaching second base. He threw 109 pitches, 76 for strikes. His 183 innings pitched in 2017, ranks second among all NL starters. Opponent batters are hitting .228 against him, third-best of the Cardinals' starters. Lance Lynn is first at .211 and Luke Weaver second at .220.[165]
Cardinals acquire reliever Juan Nicasio
The Cardinals made a rare September trade when they acquired Philadelphia Phillies RH reliever and setup man Juan Nicasio, 31, for minor league infielder Eliezer Alvarez on September 5. He won't be eligible for a postseason roster should the Cards advance to the playoffs. He has made a NL-high 67 appearances this year, 65 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who put him on waivers. He posted a 2.79 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP over 611⁄3 innings this season. He's struck out 16, walked 18, and held opponents to a .218 batting average. Nicasio's 21 Holds rank as the fifth most in the NL.[166]
Attendance passes 3 million
The year's attendance passed 3 million (3,026,081) for the 14th consecutive year at the September 10 game, the 71st home game (39–32; Road 35–37). An average per game of 42,621.[167] Their highest attendance year was in 2007, when they received 3,552,180 for an average of 43,854.[168]
NL Central race going down to the wire
With 19 games to play over the next 20 days including the September 12 game, the Cardinals (75–68, .524) are only two games behind the Cubs (77–66) for the division lead, and the Brewers (75–69) a shade behind in third place. The Cubs have lost six of their last eight, while the Cardinals have won seven of their last eight, cutting five games off the Cubs' lead. They are 8–2 in September, with only the Cleveland Indians better, with an amazing 19 consecutive games won, now 88–56 (.611; 40–29 Home, 48–27 Road), 131⁄2 ahead in the AL Central. No team has gotten better starting pitching in this stretch than the Cardinals: 1.91 ERA (Cleveland starters have a 1.97 ERA over the same time period). The Cardinals were 33–40 after the June 24 game. Since then, they are 42–28 (.600). The Brewers play 11 of their final 18 games against teams with a losing record, and the other seven are against the Cubs and Cardinals. The two NL Wild Card berths may not provide a safety net. The Arizona D-backs (83–61) are cruising toward one, and the Colorado Rockies (79–65) lead the Cardinals by 31⁄2 games in the race for the other. The Cubs have seven games remaining against the Cardinals, and four against the Brewers. The Cardinals finish the season with three home games against the Brewers, but they also play the Reds and Pirates nine times.[169]
Gyorko activated
3B Jedd Gyorko activated before the September 13 game, can pinch-hit, but will take it slow with base-running after he suffered a right hamstring strain during the August 26 game. He lost his team-leading categories of 64 RBIs and 18 HRs, while hitting .272. He missed 15 games.[170]
Swept in Chicago
A crucial visit to Wrigley Field for the September 15–17 series against the Cubs, going into it, led the Cardinals by only three games. The three games there turned into a sweep by the home team pushing the Cardinals behind by six games to win the NL Central, with only 13 remaining. In this series, the Cardinals finished 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and cost themselves runs at least four times with poor defensive plays. The losses also dropped the team to third place in the NL Central, two games behind the Brewers. They are also 41⁄2 games behind the Colorado Rockies for the second Wild Card spot. The Cardinals have only four more (home) games against the Cubs, with six road games against the Reds and Pirates prior, and ending the season at home after the Cubs, against the Brewers.[171]
Wainwright to return, as a reliever
Adam Wainwright is poised to return from the DL in time for the September 19 game, but he will as a reliever. He was placed on the DL with a right elbow impingement on August 28. The Cardinals plan to continue starting rookie Jack Flaherty, who has made three appearances since being called up at the start of the month. Flaherty, whose next start will be on September 19, is in line to make three starts over the team's final 13 games. None of those would be against the Cubs.[172] Wainwright was activated from the DL before the September 19 game, missing 28 games and five starts. 3B-man Jedd Gyorko returned to the field, making his first start there since August 26.[173]
Molina starts a GoFundMe page for Puerto Rico
Yadier Molina and his wife Wanda, started a GoFundMe pageArchived September 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine for victims of Hurricane Maria on September 21, with a goal of $1 million. It has raised $20,000 in seven hours. More than 3 million people there are without power, and over 95% of cell service is down. Molina is a native of Bayamon and reportedly owns a home in Vega Alta. Drone video on The Weather Channel described Bayamon as looking "like a war zone."[174]
Cardinals eliminated from NL Central title
The team was eliminated from the NL Central race with the loss to the Cubs in the first game of their final head-to-head four-game series on September 25. The club is 4–12 against the Cubs, with three games remaining between them. They are seven games behind the Cubs with six to play. Cardinals' pitching has served up 19 home runs in 16 games to the Cubs this season. The Cardinals (81–75) trail the Colorado Rockies by 21⁄2 games in the NL Wild Card chase. The Cardinals also trail the second-place Milwaukee Brewers by one game in the Wild Card hunt.[175]
Molina on concussion protocol
Yadier Molina was placed on baseball's concussionprotocol after consecutive foul tip pitches off his catcher's mask on September 25. Protocol requires that a player be evaluated 48 hours (2 days) after sustaining the head trauma before a diagnosis is determined. Molina noted that his headaches and nausea had subsided since Monday (September 25), though he has not been cleared to drive a car. It was the first time Molina said he could remember being hit by foul balls on consecutive pitches. He missed three games following the incident. He hopes to play again before the final regular season game on (Sunday) October 1.[176] After the team was eliminated from post-season play with the loss on September 28, he and three other players were shut down on September 29, for the remaining three games in the season, to prevent further damage from their injuries. Adam Wainwright, Matt Carpenter,[177] and LH-reliever Tyler Lyons were given rest for the last three games. Lyons did not miss any time this season due to injury, but had started to recently show signs of weakness in his surgically repaired left knee. The Cardinals don't want to risk any additional stress over this final weekend.
On August 28, Carpenter announced that he would make a $10,000 donation, to relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey in his hometown of Houston, for every home run he hit for the rest of the season. Wainwright and the Cardinals quickly matched that pledge. Though he played with a shoulder injury, Carpenter went on to hit six homers over the final 24 games to bring the donation total to $180,000. Carpenter said he has already given his $60,000 portion to the American Red Cross.[178]
Lance Lynn's final start, Cardinals knocked out of playoffs
Lance Lynn made what is probably his last start as a Cardinals' pitcher, since his rookie year in 2011. He pitched five strong innings, giving up just one run (1st inn. HR), three hits, walking four, striking out five, on September 28. He led the pitching staff with 33 starts, (and 3.43 ERA for the starters), while giving up a team-high 27 home runs. He is expected to become a free agent after the season end, with the team not interested in conducting contract extension talks with him. He is tied with Adam Wainwright for the most post-season appearances with 24. He is third in franchise history with five post-season wins. His career numbers are 72–47 (.605), 3.38 ERA in 183 G with 161 starts, 369 walks, 919 strikeouts, 1.29 WHIP, and 114 ERA+.[179] The club was knocked out of the playoffs as a possible Wild Card entry with the extra-inning loss to the Cubs, where Paul DeJong was robbed of a would-be game-tying home run by center fielder Leonys Martin in the 11th inning to end the game.[180] The Cubs had a 14–5 record against their division rivals, and won seven of eight one-run games against them. With the loss on September 28, that game was the last since the start of the 2011 season that the Cards took the field for a regular-season game knowing they had post-season aspirations. That covered 1,131 consecutive games, which was the longest active streak in major league baseball.[181]
October
Final game
The final game on October 1, was a loss to the second-place Milwaukee Brewers (86–76), scoring only one run. The Cardinals ended 2017 with an 83–79 (.512) record, in third place in the NL Central, nine games behind the division-winning Cubs (92–70), and four games behind the second Wild Card Colorado Rockies (87–75).
Attendance
The attendance for their 81 home games (44–37 .543), was 3,448,337 up 0.1% from the 3,444,490 in 2016. Their attendance is second in the 15-team NL only to the Los Angeles Dodgers that has over four times the St. Louis metro population and a stadium that has a capacity of 56,000, over 13,000 more than Busch Stadium.[182] Away, the club was 39–42 (.481). The team had a 24–29 (.453) record in one-run games. They are 11–13 (.458) record in 2-run games. For 1- or 2-run games, the team is 35–42 (.455). Scored 761 runs, giving up 705, +56. In 2016, scored 779, allowed 712, +67.
Most games are broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest, unless noted on the game dates. Games broadcast on the MLB Network not noted. Small notation (TBS / ESPN) game broadcasts are for out-of-metro area only.
Game log
2017 St. Louis Cardinals Game Log, 83–79 (.512) [183]
Players in italics no longer on the roster BOLD = team leader in categoryRole Name W L W-L& ERA G GS GF CG ShO SV IP H HR BB SO WHIP Opp. BA H/9 BB/9 SO/9 BB/9 SO/BB bgcolor="gold"| for leader in category -->
One of only two Cardinals to ever hit double-digit HRs for both the Cardinals, and AAA Memphis in the same season, 13–13. (Rick Ankiel, 2007, 32-AAA,11-StL)
The 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft will begin on June 12, 2017, at Secaucus, New Jersey.[225] The draft will assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams.
MLB Network will broadcast the first 36 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 75 picks on Day 1. MLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3–10 on Day 2, starting at 12 p.m. CT. Rounds 11–40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Wednesday, beginning at 11 a.m. CT.
For the first time since 2002, the Cardinals will not be making a selection in the first round. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team has an allotted bonus pool equal to the sum of the values of that club's selections in the first 10 rounds of the Draft. The more picks a team has, and the earlier it picks, the larger the pool. The signing bonuses for a team's selections in the first 10 rounds, plus any bonus greater than $125,000 for a player taken after the 10th round, will apply toward the bonus-pool total.
Any team going up to five percent over its allotted pool will be taxed at a 75-percent rate on the overage. A team that overspends by 5–10 percent gets a 75-percent tax plus the loss of a first-round pick. A team that goes 10–15 percent over its pool amount will be hit with a 100-percent penalty on the overage and the loss of a first- and second-round pick. Any overage of 15 percent or more gets a 100-percent tax plus the loss of first-round picks in the next two drafts. The Cardinals have the lowest bonus pool money of any team. The value assigned to the Cardinals' first pick (No. 94) is $570,900.
The Cardinals made 30 picks on Day 3 (June 14) drafting 38 players because of no picks in rounds one and two. Eight of those were high schoolers. Twenty-two (22) of their 38 picks were pitchers: seven lefties and 15 righties; no pitchers before the eighth round. Their total bonus pool ($2.176 million) was significantly lower than all the others. Because of this financial limitations, it drew the club to more college seniors who are considered easier signees, of which the Cardinals drafted 16. The breakdown of 16 position players includes: four catchers, six middle infielders, two third basemen, and four outfielders. The Cardinals now start scouring the country for talent ahead of the 2018 Draft, and will work against a July 7 (4 p.m. CT) deadline to sign members of this year's class.[228]
There were 1,215 players drafted, 771 (63.5%) from 4-year schools, 312 from high school (25.7%), 130 from junior college, and 2 from no schools. Pitching, as usual, ruled the draft, with 660 (54.3%) of the total. 472 RH, and 188 LH. Next in declining order were: OF 205, SS 100, C 99, 3B 61, 2B 42, 1B 37, and Utility 5.[229]
The Cardinals have $5.75 mil. in bonus pool money to spend in the international market from now until June 15, 2018. They have already traded a portion of that away.[288]
Related Research Articles
Adam Parrish Wainwright, nicknamed "Waino" and "Uncle Charlie", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals' 2008 season was the 127th season for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri and the 117th season in the National League. The Cardinals, coming off a 78–84 season that was their worst since 1999, improved by eight games, going 86–76 in 2008. However, this was only good for fourth place in the National League Central, 11.5 games behind the division champion Chicago Cubs.
The St. Louis Cardinals' 2009 season was the 128th season for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri and the 118th season in the National League. The Cardinals, coming off an 86–76 season and fourth place in the NL Central, got off to a strong start in April before a team-wide offensive breakdown caused them to fall behind the Cubs in the NL Central standings. Brilliant seasons from starting pitchers Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, and Joel Piñeiro helped St. Louis to stay in contention until the key midseason acquisitions of Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa, and Julio Lugo revived the Cardinal offense. An August 20–6 effectively ended the National League Central race, and the Cardinals won the division with a 91–71 record, seven-and-a-half games better than the second-place Cubs. However, their playoff run ended quickly when they were swept in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
The St. Louis Cardinals' 2010 season was the 129th season for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri and the 119th season in the National League. The Cardinals began their season on the road against the Cincinnati Reds on April 5. St. Louis was coming off a 91–71 (.562) season and first place in the National League Central, followed by a quick playoff exit when they were swept in the NLDS versus Los Angeles. In 2010, however, the Cardinals fell back to the same record of 2008 (86–76), finishing second in the National League Central to the Reds by five games.
The St. Louis Cardinals 2012 season was the 131st season for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri, the 121st season in the National League, and the seventh at Busch Stadium III. The Cardinals made their 25th trip to the postseason in 2012 after taking the NL Wild Card title by one game over the Atlanta Braves on the last day of the regular season in 2011. They began the 2012 season away against the Miami Marlins on April 4. St. Louis was coming off a 90–72 (.556) season, a second-place finish in the National League Central Division, the aforementioned wild card berth, and their National League-leading 11th World Series championship.
The 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 123rd for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 55th season in Los Angeles. The Dodgers celebrated the Golden Anniversary of Dodger Stadium, their home since 1962. It was a transitional year as the sale of the team from Frank McCourt to Guggenheim Baseball Management was not finalized until May 1. The new ownership group put their stamp on the team quickly by making a number of big trades and putting more money into the team than McCourt did. After a fast start, the team faded down the stretch and finished eight games behind the World Series Champion Giants. To date, this remains the last year the Dodgers missed the playoffs.
Carlos Ernesto Martínez, nicknamed "Tsunami", is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Originally signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2009, MLB voided his contract due to discrepancies over his name and date of birth after the revelation that he was also known as Carlos Matias. However, he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, as it was found that the inconsistencies arose from poor record keeping.
The 2013 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 132nd for the baseball team in St. Louis, Missouri, the 122nd season in the National League (NL), and the eighth at Busch Stadium III. On Opening Day, April 1, the St. Louis Cardinals played the 20,000th game in franchise history against the Arizona Diamondbacks, dating back to the start of their American Association (AA) play in 1882. Heading into the 2013 season, St. Louis had an all-time winning percentage of .518.
The 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 124th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 56th season in Los Angeles. The Dodgers dealt with a series of injuries to key players during the first half of the season and on June 21 were 31–42, 9+1⁄2 games back in last place in the NL West. Beginning with a 6–1 win over the San Diego Padres on June 22, the return of the injured players, and the emergence of rookie Yasiel Puig, they went 46–10 through August 23 as the rest of the division collapsed. On September 19, they clinched the National League West title. This was the earliest the Dodgers had ever clinched a title and the largest deficit they had ever overcome to win the division. They opened the playoffs by defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS and advanced to the NLCS. In the NLCS, they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.
The 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 125th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 57th season in Los Angeles. On April 30, the Dodgers picked up their 10,000th win since joining the National League in 1890. They proceeded to win their second straight National League West championship but lost in four games to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.
The 2015 Chicago Cubs season was the 144th season for the franchise, the 140th in the National League and the 100th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon in his first year as Cubs manager and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of the National League Central.
The St. Louis Cardinals 2015 season was the 134th for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in St. Louis, Missouri, the 124th season in the National League, and the 10th at Busch Stadium III. They entered the 2015 season as two-time defending National League Central champions and having made four consecutive NLCS appearances.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs season was the 145th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 141st in the National League and the Cubs' 101st season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon in his second year as Cubs manager, and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of the National League Central.
The St. Louis Cardinals 2016 season was the 135th for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in St. Louis, Missouri, the 125th season in the National League (NL), and the 11th at Busch Stadium III. They entered the season having won a major-league best 100 games, as three-time defending National League Central champions, and with five consecutive playoff appearances. Forbes magazine estimated the value of the club to be $1.6 billion in 2016, making it the seventh-most valuable franchise in MLB. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention following the San Francisco Giants' 7–1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, October 2. This was the first time the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs since 2010.
The 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 127th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 59th season in Los Angeles, California. They began the season with a new manager in Dave Roberts. The Dodgers in 2016 set a new Major League record for the most players placed on the disabled list in one season. On September 25, they clinched their fourth consecutive National League West championship, the first team in the division ever to do so and defeated the Washington Nationals in five games in the NLDS. They were defeated by the Chicago Cubs; the eventual World Series champion, in six games in the NLCS. This was the 67th and final season for Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.
The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 128th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 60th season in Los Angeles, California. They finished the season with the most wins in Los Angeles team history with a major league best 104 wins. They won their fifth straight National League West championship and swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in three games in the NLDS. They advanced to the NLCS for the second year in a row and the third time in five seasons, where they faced the Chicago Cubs for the second year in a row. They defeated the Cubs in five games and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1988, where they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.
The 2018 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 137th for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB), a franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 127th season for the Cardinals in the National League, and their 13th at Busch Stadium III.
The 2018 Chicago Cubs season was the 147th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 143rd in the National League and the Cubs' 103rd season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon, in his fourth year as Cubs manager, and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of Major League Baseball's National League Central.
The 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 129th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 61st season in Los Angeles, California. They played their home games at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers suffered a season-ending injury to star shortstop Corey Seager early in the season and started the season 16–26, but went 76–45 to close out the season.
The 2019 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 138th for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB), a franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 128th season for the Cardinals in the National League (NL), and their 14th at Busch Stadium III. On September 22, 2019, the Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs 3–2 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015. On September 29, the Cardinals clinched the National League Central for the first time since 2015, and defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS on October 9. They went on to play the Washington Nationals in the NLCS, but were swept in four games.
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