Tag Archives: Kolten Wong

Cardinals Takeaways 6-8-15

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I really don’t want to have to do takeaways for this game. It was really, really bad. The Cardinals dropped a sticker in the opening game of the series with the Rockies 11-3 as the defense imploded and John Lackey hit hard. Let’s dig in.

The Takeaways

  • This was an UGLY game all around. U-G-L-Y ugly.
  • The defense was awful, with both Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter both being charged with errors. Carpenter had a brutal game all around, also failing to reach base.
  • John Lackey was shelled, giving up 8 ER over 4 IP. He gave up a whopping 12 hits. He finished with a game score of 7. His ERA spiked from 2.93 to 3.74. That’s a massive jump. It’s sad that his season stat line was so marred by this game because Lackey had been excellent coming into this blow out.
  • The only positives to take away from this game were two solo homers from Kolten Wong and Jon Jay. Ed Easley also recorded his first RBI on a sac fly.

On Yonder Horizon…

Hopefully things get back on track as Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.89 ERA) takes on Jorge De La Rosa (2-2, 6.15 ERA)

Cardinals Takeaways 6-4-15

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The Cardinals played a late, late game for fans here in the central time zone as they opened a four game set with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The bats kept cracking, and Wacha kept rolling as the Cardinals won 7-1.

The Takeaways…

  • Michael Wacha put a rough start (or more accurately, a rough inning) against the Dodgers last weekend behind him with a quality start, 7 innings, 5 strikeouts, and 1 walk with 7 hits. Wacha’s season record now stands at 8-1 as the young gun makes a serious bid for an All-Star selection.
  • The entire lineup chimed in again. Like in Wednesday’s game, the Cardinals lineup contributed top to bottom. Every starter but Molina had a hit, and Molina still got on with a walk. Heyward and Wong both had multi RBI games. Peralta, Reynolds, and Holliday got in on the action and Matt Carpenter hit his 18th double. Depth is how the Cardinals score, and depth is how the Cardinals win.
  • Randal Grichuk has pop. With his pinch hit double, Grichuk now has 9 doubles…in 72 at bats scattered across 25 games. That’s impressive. He also has 2 homers and 2 triples to go with it. That and stellar defense has made Grichuk worth a whopping 1.3 WAR in those 25 games, according to Baseball Reference

On Yonder Horizon…

Carlos Martinez (5-2, 3.13 ERA) and Brett Anderson (2-3, 3.42 ERA) will do battle in a rematch from last series. It’s another midnight oil game, starting at 9:10 central time.

Cardinals Takeaways 6-3-15

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The Cardinals looked to finish off the Brewers at home as they split the first two games, both of which ended 1-0. Veteran John Lackey took the mound for the Red Birds, while youngster Jimmy Nelson took the hill for the Brew Crew. The final result was a 7-4 Cardinal victory.

Takeaways

  • The bats came alive, as every starting fielder for the Cardinals save for Kolten Wong and Matt Holliday had at least one RBI. Carpenter, Molina, and Peralta all had multi-hit games.
  • John Lackey had a quality start, tossing 7 innings with 3 earned runs and 5 strikeouts. He continues to step up as the veteran horse with Adam Wainwright out for the season.
  • Trevor Rosenthal now has 17 saves, which is one less than the Brewers have wins (18). Let that sink in.
  • There was a scary moment in the sixth inning as Hector Gomez flew into the stands while catching a fly ball and landed face down on the stadium steps. He was attended to in the crowd for several minutes by trainers before leaving the game on his own power. Two Brewers ended up in the stands during Tuesday’s game. This may be a part of the game MLB needs to look into.

On Yonder Horizon…

Michael Wacha (7-1, 2.27 ERA) will take on Carlos Frias (4-2, 4.29 ERA) as the Cardinals head to LA for a series with the Dodgers. The game starts 9:10. Thanks west coast.

Cardinals Takeaways 6-1-15

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Game one of the three game set with the Brew Crew ended in a 1-0 shutout, with the Cardinals offense unable to convert runners to runs. Here are the takeaways from this disappointing game:

  • 10- the number of runners the Cardinals stranded. The team went 0-6 with runners in scoring position, and were unable to turn two men on-base in the 9th into walk-off magic.
  • Jaime Garcia did his part. The control was there, as Garcia again failed to allow a free pass. Otherwise, he had 5 strikeouts and 3 hits scattered across 7 quality innings, with a low pitch count to boot. An RBI single by Carlos Gomez ended up the only run scored the entire game.
  • Matt Carpenter can’t hit Mike Fiers, and this lineup looks totally different without Carpenter driving it.
  • Kolten Wong can play second base. In the 8th inning, Wong had an incredible leaping catch followed by laser-beam throw on a comeback shot that ricocheted off the mound. Youtube it, it’s worth it.
  • Jason Heyward came dangerously close to being picked off at second in the bottom of the 9th. After an uncomfortably long review following a Brewer’s challenge, the “safe” call on the field was upheld.
  • Holliday On-Base Watch: 45 games.

On Yonder Horizon…

Lance Lynn (3-4, 3.41 ERA) will take the mound against…well…somebody. The Brewers rotation has been thrown into disarray thanks to a 17 inning marathon Sunday which forced tonight’s original starter, Matt Garza, to pitch in relief. As a result, Mike Fiers was pushed up a day and the identity of Lance Lynn’s counterpart is yet to be announced.

Cardinals Takeaways 5-31-15

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Sunday’s series with the Dodgers finally ended 3-1, as the Cards take 2 out of 3 for the series win. The Redbirds finished the weekend winning 6 of their last 7 games on the back of characteristically strong starting pitching.

Takeaways:

  • Sunday’s game featured a tribute to the late Oscar Tavares, who tragically passed away along with his girlfriend in a car accident in October. The game marked the one-year anniversary of Tavares’ big league debut, in which he homered in his first major league at bat.
  • Carlos Martinez showed the world just what he is made of. On a day with a touching tribute to his close friend, Oscar Tavares, Martinez dominated the Dodgers lineup. He threw seven shutout innings giving up one hit and four walks while striking out eight. To pitch that well on such an emotional day shows what kind a competitor that is Carlos Martinez. It was a fitting tribute for his friend. It also marked his third straight excellent start following a rough start to the month. In fact, Martinez has a 20 1/3 inning scoreless streak at the moment. His season stat line: 5-2 with a 3.13 ERA (3.87 FIP), 9.5 K/9 and 4 BB/9.
  • Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer that gave the Cardinals the lead in the first inning. His season batting line: .310/.370/.519 with 8 homers and 30 RBI good for a 2.0 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference. He’s been good. Very, very good.
  • Even sick, Matt Holliday gets on-base. Holliday came out of the game in the fourth inning due to illness, according to Fox Sports. Still, a walk keeps the franchise record on-base streak alive at 44 games and counting. His OBP currently sits at a pristine .434.
  • Injuries and illness have kept Randal Grichuk in the starting lineup, and he has entrenched himself. With the way he’s playing, it would be hard to take him out. Over 66 plate appearances this year, Grichuk has an .874 OPS (one point under Holliday’s .875) along with a string of highlight reel defensive plays (did anyone catch the robbed home run on Saturday…wow). Is Jimmy Ballgame’s number 15 rubbing off on the youngster? Grichuk went 1-4 on Sunday.
  • These takeaways have been all dessert, so here are your veggies. Base running continues to be an issue for the Red Birds. Both Peter Bourjos and Jason Heyward were picked off Sunday. Ponder this; the Cardinals came into the season with three clear threats on the base paths, Bourjos, Heyward, and Kolten Wong. Their steals vs. caught stealing for the year: 13/10. That’s just plain awful. Wong is an even 4/4, Bourjos 4/5. Heyward is the only one with a decent ratio at 5/1. Steal all you want, just quit getting caught.

Out yonder on the horizon…

The Brewers are rolling into town, and boy howdy are they bad. The 17-34 Crew will roll out Mike Fiers (1-5, 4.35 ERA) while the Cards counter with Jaime Garcia (1-1, 3.46 ERA), who is looking to build on his two strong starts since returning from injury. Game time is 7:05.