Get well, Peter Gammons!

Peter Gammons has suffered from a brain aneurysm and, according to ESPN, is currently in surgery. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peter Gammons and his family.

Last Week in Cards

This past week was a week for Cards fans to want to forget and wipe out from the season. The Cards were swept in two series during interleague play. The Cardinals were outscored 34-11 during the series against the Chicago White Sox. The good news is that Albert Pujols has come back from the DL.

June 20:
Got creamed 20-6.
Losing pitcher - Mark Mulder (6-5)
HR: Chris Duncan (3)

June 21:
Lost 13-5
Losing pitcher - Jason Marquis (9-5)
HR: Jim Edmonds (7), Timo Perez (1), So Taguchi (2)

June 22:
Lost 1-0 after Anthony Reyes almost pitched a no-hitter. The only hit given up was a home run to Jim Thome as the White Sox swept the Cardinals. Pujols returned, Mulder DL'd. Reyes called up, Duncan sent down.
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (1-1)

June 23:
Lost to Detroit 10-6
Losing pitcher - Chris Carpenter (6-4)
HR: Albert Pujols (26)

June 24:
Lost 7-6 in 11 innings after Jason Isringhausen blew the save.
Losing pitcher - Tyler Johnson (0-1)

June 25:
Lost 4-1 to lose another series in 6 games.
Losing pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-3)

Gordo on the younger players.

FARM TEAM UPDATE:
Chris Perez signs with St. Louis.

The Cardinals plan is to send Perez to their Rookie Ball affiliate in Johnson City, Tenn. But Balelo is trying to convince St. Louis to send Perez to the club's Single-A team, the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Here's a Springfield Cardinals update.

What a present, then, for the Cardinals because Hawksworth tore through the FSL with Palm Beach by going 7-2 with a 2.47 earned run average. Most impressive were the 55 strikeouts and only 19 walks in his 83 2/3 innings of work.[...]

Meanwhile, many eyes will turn to Springfield's 21-year-old Stuart Pomeranz, who was 7-2 with a 3.71 ERA through his first 14 starts this year.

The State College Spikes already have an alumnus.

Left-hander Tyler Norrick became the first promoted player in the team's history when the St. Louis Cardinals sent the left-hander to full-season Quad Cities on Saturday.[...]

pitching spot at Quad Cities opened Friday after the Cardinals traded Double-A Springfield pitcher Rich Rundles to the New York Mets for a player to be named later. The Cardinals promoted Blake Hawksworth from High-A Palm Beach to take Rundles' spot at Springfield.

Left-hander Jamie Garcia was promoted from Quad Cities to take Hawksworth's spot in Palm Beach. Norrick will replace Garcia, a Futures Game selection, as a left-hander in the Quad Cities rotation.

The 22-year-old Norrick was the oldest pitcher in the Spikes rotation not involved in a rehabilitation assignment.[...]

First-rounder Adam Ottavino and third-rounder Gary Daley were involved in a piggyback Saturday against Batavia. The rotation also includes second-rounder Brad Furnish, and Manno said fourth-rounder Eddie Degerman, who went 13-1 with a 1.93 ERA for Rice University, is expected to join the rotation once he signs.

"We took a look at the number of starters here," Manno said, "and you can only piggyback for so long."

In a separate move, the Cardinals sent catcher Christian Reyes to rookie Johnson City. Reyes, a 27th round pick from Porterville College, started Thursday's suspended game at Williamsport. The move decreases the number of catchers on the roster to three -- David Carpenter, Scott Thomas and Steve Gonzalez.

Milestone Watch:
Albert Pujols needs 1 home run to tie Ray Lankford for 3rd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 228.
Pujols needs 17 total bases for his 2000th.
Jim Edmonds needs 3 home runs to tie Mark McGwire for 5th on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 220.
Jeff Suppan needs 11 strikeouts for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jason Isringhausen needs 10 saves for 250 career saves.

In Memory: Darryl Kile

Darryl Kile (December 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002)) played his last game on June 18, 2002, the same day that Jack Buck died. Darryl tragically died four years ago today in Chicago.

Joe Buck broke the news on Fox that day. And it was Joe Girardi who made the announcement at Wrigley:

"I thank you for your patience. We regret to inform you because of a tragedy in the Cardinal family, that the commissioner has cancelled the game today. Thank you.... Please be respectful. You will find out eventually what has happened, and I ask that you say a prayer for the St. Louis Cardinals' family."

Houston Astros: 1991-1997
Colorado Rockies: 1998-1999
St. Louis Cardinals: 2000-2002

Career record: 128-115 with 1,618 K's



The following was posted on CardNilly.com. It's so awesome yet sad at the same time. I always get chills whenever I think of DK and his short time on earth.

Reyes called up

Top prospect Anthony Reyes has been called up again this season. Let's hope that there is finally room in the rotation for A-Rey.

In Memory: Jack Buck

I forgot about his death the other day. I knew it was this week because Darryl Kile died within the week after Jack Buck (August 21, 1924 – June 18, 2002)) died.


  From Baseball Almanac, a list of Jack Buck quotations:
"After all of these years, I realize my energy comes from the people at the other end."

"Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!" - Game 5 1985 NLCS (Ozzie Smith hit a game winning home run)

"I don't think there is anyone in any sport who combined the supreme talent with a great personality. He is also is one of the most beautiful people who ever walked the face of the earth. I don't think there's anybody who compares to Stan Musial on both fronts."

"It's such a beautiful sport, with no politics involved, no color, no class. Only as a youngster can you play and as a pro can you win. The game has kept me young, involved and excited and for me to be up here with gems of baseball"

"It (George Steinbrenner's new yacht) was a beautiful thing to observe with all thirty oars working in unison."

"Kid (White Sox broadcaster John Rooney), you better slow down. You're going to wear 'em out in a week, and you've got to be out there for one-hundred sixty-two."

"That's a winner."

"The biggest kick I get is to communicate with those who are exiled from the game — in hospitals, homes, prisons — those who have seldom seen a game, who can't travel to a game, those who are blind."

"When Harry and I were doing the games together, we were as good as a team as there ever was. His style and mine were so different that it made for a balanced broadcast. The way we approached the job, with the interest and love both of us had for the game, made our work kind of special." - from Jack Buck - That's A Winner (1999)

The past week in Cards

June 11:
Cards 7, Brewers 5
Winning pitcher - Josh Hancock (3-2)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (20)
HR: Yadier Molina (2)

June 13:
Cards 2, Pirates 1
Winning pitcher - Chris Carpenter (5-3)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (21)
Isringhausen set the new Cardinals club record for saves with his 21st of the season, breaking the 160 set by Lee Smith.

June 14:
Cards 7, Pirates 9
Losing pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-2)
HR: Scott Rolen (8)

June 15:
Cards 6, Pirates 5
Winning pitcher - Mark Mulder (6-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (22)

June 16:
Cards 8, Rockies 1
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (9-4)

June 17:
Cards 6, Rockies 5
Winning pitcher - Jeff Suppan (6-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (23)
HR: Juan Encarnacion 2 (10)

June 18:
Winning pitcher - Chris Carpenter (6-3)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (24)
HR: Scott Rolen (9)

Milestone Watch:
Jim Edmonds needs 4 home runs to tie Mark McGwire with 220 home runs as a Cardinal.
Jeff Suppan needs 13 strikeouts for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jason Isringhausen needs 10 saves for 250 career saves.

Unless Mark Mulder figures out his control issues, I would expect that this is his last season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. It really does pain me to say that. I have the utmost respect for him. Walt Jocketty usually doesn't negotiate contracts til after the season ends but I thought that Marquis would be the one having the worst season, not Mark.

We really need Albert Pujols back and there's no easy way to say that.

Draft news:
Casey Mulligan, a product of Valencia High School, has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after being selected in the 22nd round. Mulligan is a catcher. The Cards have signed at least 22 of the 50 draft picks.

Second-round pick Thomas Furnish, a left-handed pitcher from Texas Christian, was the team's third overall choice and the 54th player taken in the draft earlier this month. Other high picks to sign were first baseman Mark Hamilton of Tulane, a second-round supplemental pick, and right-hander Gary Daley of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a third-rounder.

The players will attend a minicamp at the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. Some of the players are already in Jupiter.

Other high draft picks signed were left-hander Tyler Norrick of Festus, Mo., and Southern Illinois, taken in the sixth round; outfielder Luke Gorsett of Nebraska, taken in the seventh round, and shortstop Allen Craig of California-Berkeley, in the eighth.

The remainder of the signings: 11, RHP Phillip Walters, South Alabama; 12, C David Carpenter, West Virginia; 13, OF Travis Mitchell, Parkway Central (Mo.) HS; 14, OF Jonathan Edwards, Keller (Texas) HS; 17, OF Nathan Southard, Tulane; 18, OF Amaury Cazana Marti, Miami; 19. 1B Brandon Buckman, Nebraska; 22, C Casey Mulligan, Valencia (Calif.) HS; 26, C Garrett Bussiere, California-Berkeley; 27, C Christian Reyes, Porterville College; 28, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP, St. Xavier University; 30, 3B Jared Schweitzer, Kansas; 31, OF Mark Shorey, High Point University; 34, 2B Isaias Garcia, University of Houston; 39, LHP Matthew Michael, Grand Canyon University; 42, RHP Kyle Mura, Loyola Marymount

Cardinals head south - the draft picks, that is. Amaury Cazana Marti will report to Palm Beach rather than Johnson City.

LHP Ryan Hodinka has signed a free agent contract.

Trade Watch:
It's getting close to the July 31st deadline. Is Walt looking to pick up Alfonso Soriano?

Walt denies talking about Craig Wilson.

Gordo has some thoughts of his own.

It appears Anthony Reyes’ time has finally come. Nothing more can be gained from having him pitch at the Class AAA level.

He is 4-1 at Memphis with a 3.01 earned-run average and a staggering 65-to-8 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. His spot starts for the Cards couldn’t have gone better.[...]

Adam Wainwright is a great example. Moved to the bullpen because of the team’s starting pitching surplus, he has filled the Al Reyes role with great vigor.

This team desperately needed another power arm for the bullpen and, in a pleasing development, Wainwright graduated into the spot after showing so-so potential as a starter at the Class AAA level.

Home-grown Tyler Johnson is trying to succeed where Carmen Cali and others failed, as a lefthanded specialist. After his time away as a Rule V casualty, he appears on track.

Chris Duncan added some punch to the Cards offense (two homers, two doubles, one triple in 34 at-bats) with Albert Pujols on the disabled list. He has proven that Rick Ankiel is NOT the best power-hitting prospect in the organization, as we surmised last season.

Hector Luna arrived as a Rule V acquisition -– to fill a gaping hole in the organizational chart -- and he has gradually blossomed into an impact player. He is batting .305 and he didn’t look out of place filling in for woozy shortstop David Eckstein this weekend.[...]

Trading prospects for veterans is a great way to fill emergency needs. But after a while, a franchise starts to miss the Coco Crisps, Danny Harens and Daric Bartons that came through the ranks and then departed in trades for veteran help.

With the Cards handling the loss of Pujols quite well, perhaps the organization has reached a turning point. Perhaps this is what management consultants call a paradigm shift.

With this team winning without the league’s MVP, Jocketty should feel no compulsion to offer Reyes, Wainwright, Duncan, Luna or any of his other pitching prospects for another bat. He ought to see how Chris Lambert, Stuart Pomeranz, Mark Worrell, Blake Hawksworth, Jamie Garcia, Mark Michael, Mark McCormick, Nick Webber, Cory Meacham, Mitch Boggs, et al, pan out during the next two to three years.

Can't Miss this one!

Monster.com is offering you the chance to report at the all-star game!

Register with Monster and you are automatically entered to win:
-Trip for two to the 2006 All-Star Game®
-Tickets to all events, including the Home Run Derby
-On-field press credentials
-Chance to interview an All-Star player
-Your personal All-Star Game® blog on MLB.com
-Plus $2,000 spending money!

Recapping last week

June 6:
Shut-out 7-0 by Reds
Losing pitcher - Chris Carpenter (4-3)

June 7:
Lost 7-4 to Reds
Losing pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-1)
HR: Jim Edmonds (6)

June 9:
Beat Milwaukee 10-6
Winning pitcher - Josh Hancock (2-2)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (19)

June 10:
Lost 4-3 to Milwaukee.
Losing pitcher - Randy Flores (0-1)
HR: Scott Rolen (7)

In trade news, Walt Jocketty attempted to trade for Craig Wilson of the Pirates but called it off when the Pirates wanted Anthony Reyes.

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 2 home runs to tie Ray Lankford for 3rd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 228.
Pujols needs 27 total bases for his 2000th.
Jim Edmonds needs 4 home runs to tie Mark McGwire for 5th on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 220.
Jeff Suppan needs 1 win for career win #100 and 20 strikeouts for career #1,000
Jason Isringhausen needs 1 save to tie Lee Smith's club record with 160.

Rare Saturday Post

Attention baseball card collectors: Buy it now!

2006 MLB Draft - St. Louis Cardinals

In the first round, St. Louis selected Adam Ottavino of Northeastern University as their first pick of the draft (#30). Ottavino is a junior RHP from Brooklyn, NY. He is the second-highest pick ever from Northeastern with Carlos Pena being drafted #10 in the 1998 draft. This season, he went 4-5 with 2.98 ERA and 120 strikeouts through 93-2/3 innings. While at Northeastern, he majored in history. He was drafted in the 30th round after high school in 2003 by the Devil Rays.

The Cardinals took Christopher Perez as the 42nd pick in the draft in the 1A round. He is a RHP out of the University of Miami where he majored in criminal justice. Perez is currently a closer, and one of the best relievers in the college circuit.

Round 2
#54 Thomas Furnish, a LHP from TCU
#74 Jonathan Jay, an OF from Miami
--Jay is a speedster

Round 2C
#76 Mark Hamilton, a 1B from Tulane
-Power hitter that hits for average.

Round 3
#106 Gary Daley, a RHP from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Round 4
#136 Edward Degerman, a RHP from Rice University

Round 5
#166 Shane Robinson, a CF from Florida State
-had a 40 game hitting streak in 2005

Round 6
#196 Floyd Norrick, a LHP from SIU-Carbondale

Round 7
#226 Luke Gorsett, an OF from Nebraska-Lincoln

Round 8
#256 Allen Craig, a SS from UC-Berkeley

Round 9
#286 Matthew North, a RHP from Deer Valley HS (CA)

Round 10
#316 Blair Erickson, a RHP from UC-Irvine
-Closer with command issues

Round 11
#346 Phillip Walters, a RHP from South Alabama

Round 12
#376 David Carpenter, a C from West Virginia

Round 13
#406 Travis Mitchell, a CF from Parkway Central HS (MO)

Round 14
#436 Jonathan Edwards, a RF from Keller HS (TX)

Round 15
#466 Lance Zawadski, a SS from San Diego State

Round 16
#496 Thomas Pham, a SS from Durango HS (NV)

Round 17
#526 Nathan Southard, a CF from Tulane University

Round 18
#556 Amaury Cazani Marti, a RF from no school (FL)

My All-Star picks

It's not too late to vote for the All-Star game. I've now voted six times so far.

My 2006 all-star votes will be going to:
American League
First Base: David Ortiz, BOS
Second Base: Adam Kennedy, LAA or Ian Kinsler, TEX or Jose Lopez, SEA
Third Base: Troy Glaus, TOR
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, NYY
Catcher: Jason Varitek, BOS
Outfielder: Vladimir Guerrero, LAA
Outfielder: Manny Ramirez, BOS
Outfielder: Brad Wilkerson, TEX or Scott Podsednik, CWS
Where is Jim Thome listed?!?

National League
First Base: Albert Pujols, STL or Nomar Garciaparra, LAD
Second Base: Chase Utley, PHI
Third Base: Scott Rolen, STL
Shortstop: David Eckstein, STL
Catcher: Mike Piazza, SD or Paul Lo Duca, NYM
Outfielder: Adam Dunn, CIN
Outfielder: Jim Edmonds, STL
Outfielder: Alfonso Soriano, WAS

Tuesday preview

So I was wrong. I thought that Timo Perez would be sent to Memphis because Carp was coming off the DL. Instead, Larry Bigbie goes back on the DL and is out for another 3-4 weeks.

My condolences to the family of Ervin "Erv" Fischer. Erv was the longtime historian at the Cardinals HOF & Museum. He passed away at his home at the age of 80.

Three members of the Palm Beach Cardinals (A) were named to the Eastern Division All-Star team: outfielder Terry Evans, pitcher Blake Hawksworth and closer Mike Sillman.

Recapping the past few weeks...

Sorry, I got busy and haven't been updating so I'll do a quick rundown of the games that I missed blogging about. Jason Isringhausen has blown quite a few saves recently. How do you feel about that? Anyone?

Carpenter comes off the DL today. I think that Timo Perez will be sent down because with Pujols out, we need Chris Duncan in the event that neither Spiezio nor Edmonds can play.

May 27:
St. Louis 4, San Diego 3
Winning pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-0)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (16)
No one went yard

May 28:
Lost 8-10 to SD
HR - Juan Encarnacion (6), Albert Pujols (24), Scott Rolen (5)
Mulder picked up the loss

May 29:
Won 3-1 against Houston
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (7-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (17)

May 30:
Lost 6-3 against Houston
Josh Hancock gets the loss
HR - Juan Encarnacion (7), Scott Rolen (6)

May 31:
Won 4-3 against Houston in extra innings
Winning pitcher - Braden Looper (3-0)

June 2:
Lost 5-4 to Chicago in extra as Izzy blew the save
Hancock gets the loss

June 3:
Lost 8-5 to the Cubs
Mulder gets the loss

June 4:
Won 9-6 against the Cubs to avoid a sweep.
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (8-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (18)

June 5:
Lost 8-7 as Izzy blew another save and picked up a loss (1-3).
HR: Juan Encarnacion (8), Chris Duncan (2), Yadier Molina (1)

In the first round, St. Louis selected Adam Ottavino of Northeastern University as their first pick of the draft (#30). Ottavino is a junior RHP from Brooklyn, NY. He is the second-highest pick ever from Northeastern with Carlos Pena being drafted #10 in the 1998 draft. This season, he went 4-5 with 2.98 ERA and 120 strikeouts through 93-2/3 innings. While at Northeastern, he majored in history. He was drafted in the 30th round after high school in 2003 by the Devil Rays.

The Cardinals took Christopher Perez as the 42nd pick in the draft. He is a RHP out of the University of Miami where he majored in criminal justice. Perez is currently a closer, and one of the best relievers in the college circuit.

Other picks through the end of round 2 include #54 Thomas Furnish, an LHP from TCU; #74 Jonathan Jay, an OF from Miami; and #76 Mark Hamilton, a 1B from Tulane.

Last week, the Cards were able to sign Blake King. King is the great-nephew of Yankee great Mickey Mantle. King has been a lifelong Cards fan if I read that correctly. King waited almost a year to sign.

Gordo's thoughts on the outfield. With regards to pitching, Rolen almost pitched last Saturday.

When John Rodriguez entered the game in left as Hector Luna moved to first for Pujols, the Cards were down to three healthy bench players -- outfielders Timo Perez and Larry Bigbie, and backup catcher Gary Bennett.

The team was so short in the 14-inning game Friday night, Rolen would have pitched the 15th if Bennett had tied the game in the 14th.

"It's not crazy, because I've seen him (pitch)," La Russa said. "If you watch him play catch, he cuts it, he does this, he does that."

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 2 home runs to tie Ray Lankford for 3rd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 228.
Pujols needs 27 total bases for his 2000th.
Jim Edmonds needs 5 home runs to tie Mark McGwire for 5th on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 220.
Jeff Suppan needs 1 win for career win #100.
Jason Isringhausen needs 2 saves to tie Lee Smith's club record with 160.

Some news for the farm team.

Pujols out

Albert Pujols was placed on the 15 day DL for at least the next two weeks. He could be out for as much as six weeks.