Past 2 Present Baseball League
Cardinals Competitive! Can They Become Challengers???
Tuesday, 22 December 2009 09:51 | 
Author: Al Flynn | 
St. Louis, MO (AP): The St. Louis Cardinals fell just one game short of taking the National League Pennant last season and are playing good once again this season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals; their 74-59 record is only good enough for 3rd place headed down the stretch. The Pittsburgh Pirates (83-52) sit atop the National League and the Cincinnati Reds (78-53) sit in 2nd place above the Cardinals. The Cardinals may have a shot at finishing in 2nd place once again this season, but that won't be enough to earn them a spot in the World Series as the National League representative in 1902. The Cardinals offense has really lacked in 1902. They are near the back of the pack in almost every category. The only bright spot on the team is Stolen Bases. The Cardinals are 2nd in the National League with 192 Stolen bases. The Cardinals need to find their bats heading into the future, because it will be hard to win a pennant with little to no offense. The Cardinals have a great pitching staff. They lead the National League in Bullpen ERA (0.98), Hits allowed (1,053), Opponents AVG (.235), BABIP (.257), and Home Runs allowed (22). They are 2nd in the National League in ERA (2.43), Starters' ERA (2.47), and runs allowed (462). The Cardinals are middle of the road in allowing Walks and are near the end of the pack in Strikeouts. The Cardinals can't get by on pitching alone. Sure, they'll win more than they lose with their pitching, but have had problems outscoring their opponents in the games that count. The Cardinals are 11-9 against the defending Champions and leaders of the National League; the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals are 7-11 against the Cincinnati Reds; who sit ahead of them in the National League standings. The Cardinals have done well against the Boston Beaneaters (17-3) and Chicago Orphans (11-4) this season. The Cardinals haven't done that well against the other teams and actually trail against most of the series this season to find themselves 8 games back of the National League lead. The Cardinals need to find a way to reverse this trend and find ways to consistently beat the other clubs if they want to be a challenger in the near future. On the bright side, the Garland Starfighters have won the Minor League Championship. The Starfighters are the Cardinals minor league affiliate, so perhaps the future of the Cardinals will yield a Championship. The Starfighters had an explosive offense coupled with great pitching. However, it may still take a few years for those players to blossom into solid Major League Baseball players. The Cardinals fan base is fanatically behind the team and they have a rather big market, which means the Cardinals may be able to lure players into their system in the off-season. Look for the Cardinals to get over the hump and continue to be considered a contender in the National League for years to come.
CF Emmet 'Snags' Heidrick
Cardinals CF, Emmet Heidrick has been the offensive leader of the Cardinals in 1902. On the season, Heidrick has 157 hits in 526 at bats (.298), with 8 HR's, 87 RBI's, and has 43 stolen bases. At 26 years old, Heidrick is still in his prime and a cornerstone of the Cardinals organization. Heidrick has a strong work ethic, has good baseball smarts, and is very loyal to the team. The Cardinals need Heidrick to step it up and get better production at the plate to get back to the level of being a challenger for the National League Pennant.
P Carl Lundgren
Cardinals Starting P Carl Lundgren has broken the 20+ win mark already this season and has quickly blossomed into a top notch pitcher. Lundgren started 32 games and has a 21-11 record so far this season. In 283.1 innings, Lundgren recorded 127 K's, 82 BB's, and an ERA of 2.03. Lundgren was selected in the 1901 draft with the 10th pick of the 1st round and hasn't disappointed. Lundgren has quickly adjusted to the Major Leagues and may be one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues. If Lundgren continues to play the way he has this season; look for him to be one of those special types of players who is on the way to greatness. At age 22, Lundgren has many years left to play and it will be fun to watch his career unfold!
P Jack 'Red' Powell
Cardinals Starting Pitcher, Jack Powell is still the Ace of the Cardinals staff and should have his 2nd consecutive 20+ win season. Powell started 33 games and has a 19-14 record so far this season. In 289.2 innings, Powell has 109 K's, 75 BB's, and an ERA of 2.05. Powell is a top notch player and will need to continue winning games for the Cardinals to remain a challenger for the National League Pennant. Powell is the top pitcher on a very talented Cardinals pitching staff.
The Cardinals have a deep pitching system and 9 of the top 100 prospects according to Baseball America, but only 1 top 100 prospect offensively. The Cardinals need to regroup and work on hitting the ball with their core group of guys to be successful. The Cardinals pitching staff will be dominant for years to come, so they need to focus their attention on bringing bats into the organization. Look for the Cardinals to remain competitive, but they'll need to get over the offensive hurdle in order to become a challenger for the National League Pennant!
Last Updated (Tuesday, 22 December 2009 09:57)
Cardinals Fall Short in 1901...Look to Take Flight Again in 1902! Tuesday, 27 October 2009 12:56 | Author: Al Flynn |
St. Louis, MO (AP): The St. Louis Cardinals fell just one game short of taking the National League Pennant (85-55) last season and representing the NL in the World Series. They were beat out by the Pittsburgh Pirates (86-54), who went on to win the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles (90-50). The Pirates won the World Series 4 games to 2. 1901 was a good year for the Cardinals, but it was very disappointing to come so close and not make it into the World Series. The 1902 Cardinals are looking to make things right and get the team past the Pirates this season and make a run at the NL Pennant. The City of St. Louis will feel crowded this season as the Milwaukee Brewers have changed their name and moved to St. Louis. They will be known as the St. Louis Browns. St. Louis fans love their Cardinals, so it remains to be seen what impact if any this move will have on the Cardinals fan base. It appears that Cardinals fans are very excited about the upcoming season and are very hopeful that their team can make an NL Pennant run! This remains to be seen, but the Cardinals definitely have the players to remain contenders in the NL.
P Jack 'Red' Powell Cardinals Starting Pitcher, Jack Powell is the Cardinals first ever 20+ game winner. In 1901, Powell has a 22-13 record. In 312.2 innings, Powell had 148 K's, 55 BB's, and an ERA of 3.14. Powell is a 27 year old veteran, who is the Cardinals Ace, and their shot at winning the NL Pennant will be riding on his arm in 1902.
LF Jesse 'Crab' Burkett Cardinals LF, Jesse Burkett is the star player of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1901, Burkett hit .360 with 11 HR's, 53 RBI's, and had 38 stolen bases. The Cardinals will look for Burkett to continue to spark their offense and make them contenders for the NL Pennant once again in 1902.
CF Emmet 'Snags' Heidrick Cardinals CF, CF Emmet Heidrick is yet another star in the Cardinals outfield and the leading run producer on the team. In 1901, Heidrick hit .349 with 4 HR's, 80 RBI's, and had 34 stolen bases. Heidrick is an outstanding all around player. Heidrick's defensive skills are legendary and he surprises many with the types of plays he can make all over the outfield. At age 25, Heidrick will be a mainstay in the Cardinals lineup for years to come and he is one of the players who give this team a legitimate shot at winning the NL Pennant in 1902. The Cardinals have all the makings of being a competitor for the NL Pennant this season. The Cardinals strength lies in their pitching and many feel that they have one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball. They have holes at Catcher, 2B, and RF currently, so that's something the team will need to address in the near future. Cardinals RF Patsy Donovan filed for Free Agency after the season, but sources close to the team tell us that they will make an attempt to sign him prior to the 1902 season. It remains to be seen if they can lure the 36 year old back to their team or if he will try his luck elsewhere. Also, there are rumors that the team has been in discussions with Free Agent veteran Pitcher Cy Young as well as Free Agent Starting Pitcher Ed Doheny. It also remains to be seen if these rumors prove to be true. If they honestly can or do add these Free Agents to their roster; Look for the Cardinals to be one of the best teams out there in 1902!
Last Updated (Tuesday, 27 October 2009 12:57) Cardinals/Pirates Dueling for NL Pennant! Thursday, 01 October 2009 16:00 | Author: Al Flynn |
Cardinals LF, Jesse Burkett was named Player of the Week on August 12th. This was the first time this season that Burkett won the award. On the season, Burkett has 136 hits in 395 at bats (.344), 7 HR's, 42 RBI's, and 25 stolen bases. Burkett is a great veteran player, but at 32, many wonder how many more years he has left. The Cardinals remain focused on this season and winning the NL Pennant! Can Burkett get this team over the hump and back atop the NL?
Cardinals Starting Pitcher, Carl Lundgren is having a decent rookie season and the Cardinals fans get excited when they think about his potential. Lundgren has started 11 games and has a 5-5 record. In 95.1 innings, Lundgren has 43 K's, 31 BB's, and an ERA of 2.27. Can Lundgren continue to develop this season while contributing to a Cardinals NL Pennant run? Cardinals’ management is very high on this 21 year old and feel that he will come into his own in the near future. Look for Lundgren to develop into one of the better MLB pitchers one day!
Cardinals SS, Bobby Wallace has come back strong after missing 2 weeks back in July with an undisclosed off the field injury. Wallace has played a key role for the Cardinals this season and he's one of their main offensive weapons in the lineup. On the season, Wallace has 109 hits in 312 at bats (.349) with 50 RBI's and 17 stolen bases. Wallace is also an outstanding defensive player who breaks up plays in the middle of the infield. The Cardinals need Wallace to continue to keep his head in the game and not get distracted with off the field issues if they want to have a legitimate shot at capturing the NL Pennant this season! The Cardinals have turned things around and have been playing great lately. They are 7-3 in August and have several games against the NL leading Pirates coming up this month still. These games will be crucial for both teams to win. The road to the NL Pennant goes through Pittsburgh for the Cardinals. These are games that they need to win! They only play the Pirates once after August, so this month is very critical to their chances of making a run at the NL Pennant! Can the Cardinals find ways to beat the Pirates in head to head competition?
Last Updated (Thursday, 01 October 2009 16:04) |
The NL Pennant Race Remains Very Tight! Sunday, 27 September 2009 22:48 | Author: Al Flynn |
St. Louis, MO (AP): The St. Louis Cardinals (51-41) have fallen behind of a highly competitive NL and are looking for ways to get back to the top. The Pittsburgh Pirates (51-38) currently sit atop of the NL. The Philadelphia Phillies (52-40) are in 2nd place and sit a half game out. The Cardinals find themselves in 3rd place now and sit a game and a half out. The New York Giants (46-42) are in 4th place and sit 4.5 games out. The Cardinals had a mediocre June (15-12) and another mediocre performance in June (13-11). The Cardinals are 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Cardinals need to find a way to take flight once again and start winning games if they want to have a shot at capturing the NL Pennant this season! Can the Cardinals get back on track and make a run at the NL Pennant this season? We are at the Trading Deadline, but it doesn't appear that the Cardinals have any plans of making any moves this season! There were Rumors that they were talking to the Boston Americans about Ace Pitcher Cy Young, but nothing has developed on that front!
1B Dan 'Cap' McGann Cardinals 1B, Dan McGann has been an offensive force for the Cardinals this season and leads the team in RBI's (46). McGann is a veteran player who is a very hard work that wants to win every game that he plays. On the season, McGann has 121 hits in 399 at bats (.303) with 3 HR's, 46 RBI's, and 41 stolen bases. McGann is a threat when he gets on base and has a knack for generating runs for the Cardinals. The Cardinals need McGann to keep performing at a high level if they want to have a shot at capturing the NL Pennant this season!
P Carl Lundgren Cardinals Starting Pitcher, Carl Lundgren was selected with the 10th overall pick in the draft this season. On July 27th, Lundgren recorded his first career shutout. Lundgren pitched a 6-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies with 4 strikeouts and 4 BB. Lundgren has a lot of potential and many feel that he'll be a top notch player in time, but he has had his struggles in his rookie season. Lundgren has started 9 games and has a 4-4 record. In 76.1 Innings, Lundgren has 35 K's, 26 BB's, and an ERA of 2.12. Lundgren has shown flashes this season and many feel that he will become a top notch pitcher with some experience. The Cardinals are hoping that he can develop faster and make an impact on their NL Pennant run this season! Can Lundgren end up making a difference for the Cardinals this season or is he still a couple seasons away? At age 21, Lundgren's best years are ahead of him!
P Jack 'Red' Powell Cardinals Starting Pitcher, Jack Powell has been dominating opposing batters as he leads the team in K's (103). Powell picks his pitches well and knows how to work opposing batters. Powell has started 24 games and has a 14-9 record. In 211.1 innings, Powell has 103 K's, 44 BB's, and an ERA of 3.66. Powell strikes out a lot of batters, but he also gives up a lot of runs. Powell needs to work on allowing runs and learn to be more of a dominant force on the mound. Powell has a lot of talent, so the Cardinals expect more from him. Can Powell find ways to shutdown opposing teams from scoring? If Powell starts to limit runs from the opposition; he will become one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB! The Cardinals have fallen off a little lately, but this is a very good team and should find a way to stay in contention for the rest of the season! The Cardinals offense continues to find ways to get extra base hits and lead the NL with 222. The Cardinals also know how to steal bases well and are tied for 2nd in the NL with 171. The Cardinals fast paced style of offense really keeps the fans on the edge of their seats and is exciting to watch. They really push the limits of the game at times and give opposing defenses fits. The Cardinals pitching is good at not allowing the opposing team to get hits (808 on the season - tied for 2nd fewest in the NL) and striking out opposing batters (415 - 2nd in the NL). The Cardinals are hoping that their power pitching will get them over the hump and bring the NL Pennant to St. Louis. Can the Cardinals continue to pull it all together and find a way to sneak past the competition in the NL to win the Pennant? The competition in the NL is very fierce, so time will tell, but these guys are determined to be in the running when the season comes to an end!
Last Updated (Sunday, 27 September 2009 22:50) Orioles soar as McGraw tweaks rotation! Friday, 25 September 2009 22:19 | Author: Brian Bakic |
Baltimore Daily Press, July 31, 1901: Player/Manager, John McGraw has seemed to push all the right buttons so far this season in guiding his team to atop the American League standings and to the best record in baseball so what else could ol'Muggsy have in store for Baltimore fans, well, he had another trick up his sleeve. After riding a 3-man rotation for most of the first half of the season, McGraw decided to insert Jerry Nops as the rotations fourth man. When asked about this move, McGraw said this in reply,"It just seemed like the right time to make an adjustment to be honest. I have ridden those guys (Yerkes, Howell and McGinnity) hard all year and asked alot of them to go out there as part of a 3-man rotation, but they have served me well and made me look good all season, but just last week I noticed the guys starting to labor a bit and knowing we had some days off ahead I figured it was time to give Nopsy a chance. I wasn't really sure if Jerry had what it took to be honest. He can move the ball around alot and has better than average control, but I honestly cannot explain it, I was just skeptical about putting him in the rotation and felt our best chance lay with a 3-man and getting our horses out there, but now, Nopsy gives me another arm to throw out there and take some stress off of those guys who have carried us this far and will definitely help save them for the League Championship." > Well, McGraw may have been skeptical early in the season, but after the two starts that Nops put in this last 9-game stretch, I think it is safe to say that McGraw is now a believer. In two starts, Jerry Nops tossed two complete game victories walking only one batter during that stretch and not allowing more than 3 runs in a start. It is safe to say that Nops wasn't the only story as far as pitchers go, as the other three starters all tossed complete games in their starts as well.
Harry Howell, who in the 2-spot in the rotation and has become the ace of the staff started three games, winning all 3 and as mentioned, threw three complete games. Over those 27-innings pitched Howell notched 18 strikeouts and had an ERA of 2.33.
30-year old "Iron Man" McGinnity started twice during this stretch and tossed two complete games amassing 9 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.50 over his 18-innings. McGinnity now leads the Orioles with 25 complete games in 28 starts.
Stan Yerkes, the 26-year old hurler who Muggsy tabbed to top the O's rotation also started twic, completing both games notching 7 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.50.
Over this 9-game stretch, the Orioles rotation was absolutely amazing. All nine games that were started by Orioles pitchers, were completed by said pitchers. That is nine starts people and nine complete games. With this, the latest move my McGraw, begs the question, now with four starters to go along with what quite possibly is the best offense in baseball, can Baltimore be stopped? Only time will tell. Last Updated (Friday, 25 September 2009 22:28) |
