Let me say this right from the start: Cards fans are spoiled during the Larussa-Duncan years in regards to the pitching. Over the last 16 seasons, only the Atlanta Braves, fortified with 3 Hall of Famers, and maybe the LA Dodgers, can match the overall numbers that Cardinal moundsmen have produced.
Currently, the staff is doing well, despite missing Adam Wainwright, arguably one of the top 5 starting pitchers in the major leagues in the last 3 seasons. In fact, I think many observers would say the Cards are doing better than could be expected, especially considering that long-time Cards ace Chris Carpenter has not been his usual razor-sharp self. Kyle Lohse has rebounded quite well from 1 and 3/4 injury ravaged seasons, Jaime Garcia has continued to show his stuff as an elite LH starter, Kyle McClellan has shifted from the pen to the rotation effectively, and Jake Westbrook has rebounded from a slow start to be very effective the last five weeks.
With Kyle McClellan going down with a sore hip, it is testing organizational depth. The Cardinals have some depth in their minor league system, but not much of it is ready for prime time. That's why the Cards sent Mitchell Boggs down...because they see Boggs as the next-most-major-league-ready starter available. Last night, we saw proof of that.
I got to see Lance Lynn's major league debut, and even though he set down the first ten hitters, I commented to my wife that the Giants (below average offensive club) were hitting the ball exceptionally hard while making those ten outs. This is not a good sign. That being said, sometimes a pitcher can get lucky, and after 3 innings, the Cards lead 3-0....
Then, an errant curve ball skimmed the helmet of Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada with one out in the fourth. Now comes Lynn's first chance to pitch off the stretch in the big leagues. Next batter, Freddy Sanchez, a former NL batting champ, hits a hard two hopper to short, where Ryan Theriot bobbled the ball, allowing only a force out at second. Still, with two outs in the fourth and a runner on first, you have to like where the inning is.
Aubrey Huff, the Giants first baseman who did a marvelous Babe Ruth impersonation then drilled a poorly placed fastball into the right center field bleachers, giving the Giants a 2 run inning. Huff later added a homer off the Cards other rookie pitcher Maikel Cleto, also making his major league debut, before finishing off his trifecta with a homer off lefty Brian Tallet in the ninth.
Lynn gave up a couple of runs in the sixth before being pulled, and the bullpen allowed one of his inherited runners to score, so his line of 5 1/3 innings pitched and 5 earned runs looks pretty bad. Many observers would say it is worse than he pitched. I am not one of those many, however.
Lynn was not fooling anyone, the Giants were centering the ball all night, even when he was recording outs. His stuff was just OK, but he is not a pitcher that is ready to contribute to a division winner. Maybe next year with some refinement....maybe he can be better and it was first-game jitters. Just don't call me impressed.
Back to McClellan's hip injury....this is very concerning, almost to the point of alarming. It was reported this morning that McClellan is going to try to change his mechanics to lessen the load on the plant leg during his pitches. Good gracious that sounds like a recipe for disaster. How about trying to strengthen the leg???
Dave Duncan has been a major league pitching coach of some acclaim for over 30 years. But you can't tell me that trying to change a 4th year major leaguer's basic throwing mechanics IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON is a good idea. To begin with, many pitcher has gone to the scrap heap because a change in mechanics changed the stress on the arm, which lead to arm injury. Secondly, even if he doesn't get hurt doing this, how can we expect his command of four pitches to be as good when he is fundamentally changing his motion...the motion that not only got him to the big leagues, but has sustained him, and made him an above average major leaguer!
KMac is 6-2 at this juncture, but I will predict that he either finishes the season hurt or below .500. that does not bode well for the Cards.
Bottom line is, no major league team should be expected to maintain the excellence the Cards have long established when the staff Ace is out for the season and another starter is banged up. Unless Colby Rasmus begins hitting like he did last night and Albert Pujols starts being Albert Pujols again, the Cards are due for a mid-season swoon.....kinda like what we annually see from the Chicago Cubs. The Cards are 8 games over .500 today. I will gladly take 8 games over .500 at the All-Star break....8 games over keeps you close to the division lead, gives KMac time to heal, gives Berkman and Holliday time to heal, and gives Albert time to find Albert.
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Posted pictures of Joplin today on my Facebook page. The thing that is most awe-inspiring is that all that carnage took place in a matter of two or three minutes. Lives, property, and memories destroyed. Working in the mid summer heat of SW Missouri to clean up that mess will be a hell of an experience. However, the destruction is so severe and widespread that the people of Joplin and their hired help will take years to rebuild.
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Enjoyed our time in the Tulsa area this weekend. It's a neat town. The area reminds me a lot of the Jacksonville area in Florida how it encompasses such a large geographical footprint. Amazing how they can be in Tornado Alley, yet the high water table doesn't allow most residents to have a basement. That would scare the urine out of me....
Gordie's burgers also made an impression on me. Very good burgers. I understand they are a local treasure. However, we ate at their signature resturant and I must say that they are leaving an amazing amount of money on the table by not effectively branding themselves. How about selling some t-shirts or coozies, and livening up the place??? The owners should take a drive to Lambert's Cafe or to Ted Drewes' Custard in St. Louis. Those joints have made a name for themselves and have cashed in.
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