{"id":1426,"date":"2009-07-23T08:17:35","date_gmt":"2009-07-23T15:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/07\/23\/a-busy-day-in-cardinal-nation\/"},"modified":"2009-07-23T08:17:35","modified_gmt":"2009-07-23T15:17:35","slug":"a-busy-day-in-cardinal-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/07\/23\/a-busy-day-in-cardinal-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"A Busy Day in Cardinal Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Losing a game<\/a> in the ninth inning is enough fodder for debate.\u00c2\u00a0 A trade, by itself, makes for a big day.\u00c2\u00a0 Put them together and you’ve got a lot of unrest and discussion going on in Cardinal Nation.\u00c2\u00a0 Let’s take the game first before delving into the move of Chris Duncan to the Boston Red Sox.<\/p>\n

Last night<\/a> was a game the Cardinals really needed to win.\u00c2\u00a0 Having lost the first two of the series against a divisional foe that is feeling confident about a late season run, stopping the bleeding was a top priority.\u00c2\u00a0 Thankfully, Chris Carpenter<\/strong> was on the mound.\u00c2\u00a0 Carpenter put together eight strong innings and put the team in a great position to win.\u00c2\u00a0 He worked out of trouble in the seventh, though he did allow a run.\u00c2\u00a0 I thought they’d pull him there, but he went back out in the eighth and made quick work of the Astros.<\/p>\n

So you’ve got a one-run lead in the ninth and, at least this year, that’s pretty much where you want to be.\u00c2\u00a0 However, as happens at times, the closer got a hiccup<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Ryan Franklin<\/strong> allowed two runs and the game was over.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s really tough when you realize that Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee weren’t any part of that ninth inning and Miguel Tejada could have been avoided if the Cards had executed correctly.<\/p>\n

I wasn’t able to watch the whole game, but one moment that I saw stuck out to me.\u00c2\u00a0 The Cards were tied at 1 in the top of the sixth when Skip Schumaker doubled to start the inning.\u00c2\u00a0 Next up is Colby Rasmus.\u00c2\u00a0 Now, I know Rasmus is in a bit of slump, though he did get a hit in this game.\u00c2\u00a0 For some reason, Tony LaRussa figures this is a great time to sac bunt.<\/p>\n

Rasmus bunts, but they get Schumaker at third, and then Albert comes up and raps into a double play.\u00c2\u00a0 While I know that Oswalt is a dominant pitcher, what exactly is the point here?\u00c2\u00a0 If it works, you have a runner on third…and Albert is walked.\u00c2\u00a0 If you let Rasmus swing away, the most likely worst situation is a grounder to short or a strikeout, leaving Skip at second…and Albert is walked, giving you two on with one out.\u00c2\u00a0 More likely, Rasmus gets Skip over with a grounder or actually drives him in with a hit.\u00c2\u00a0 To me, it seemed like a terrible bit of managing and may have wound up costing the team the game.<\/p>\n

The Cards now only sit one game ahead of Houston and Chicago and two ahead of Milwaukee.\u00c2\u00a0 After this quick stop in Washington, the Cards have to go to Philadelphia for three.\u00c2\u00a0 As close as this division is, they could find themselves looking up at a lot of teams very quickly.<\/p>\n

Of course, it would take a game like that to break through the shadow of yesterday’s bigger story, the swap of Duncan for Julio Lugo<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Controversy swirled throughout the day, as Viva El Birdos<\/a> first reported the deal, then indicated the deal was off due to strong opposition from Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan.\u00c2\u00a0 Bernie Mikalsz later Tweeted that the holdup was negotations on how much of Lugo’s salary Boston was going to pay and John Mozeliak denied any interference<\/a> from TLR and Duncan.<\/p>\n

While Dave Duncan doesn’t seem to be extremely happy<\/a> with the deal, it was probably for the best that Chris Duncan moved on.\u00c2\u00a0 There’s always a whipping boy<\/a> for the fan base, whether it’s deserved or not.\u00c2\u00a0 I remember JD Drew getting the not-so-great treatment due to his many injuries, ignoring the fact he usually produced on the field.\u00c2\u00a0 Jason Marquis came next in line, both early (undeserved) and late (deserved) in his tenure here.\u00c2\u00a0 Adam Kennedy moved to the head of the line after that until his trade to Tampa Bay.\u00c2\u00a0 Finally, it settled on Chris Duncan.\u00c2\u00a0 Joe Thurston is the heir apparent.<\/p>\n

The difference this time is that Tony’s doghouse guy and the fan whipping boy aren’t the same person, one of the few times that’s happened.\u00c2\u00a0 TLR always seems to have someone he’s not big on.\u00c2\u00a0 In the past, his opinions have aligned with the fan base (or the fan base was shaped by his opinions, one of the two.)\u00c2\u00a0 This time, though, LaRussa had a fondness for Duncan, understandably so, while parts of the fan base couldn’t get past a nepotism charge that was pretty bogus to start with.<\/p>\n

If Duncan hadn’t been as successful<\/a> in 2006 and the first half of 2007 as he was, his leash with the management staff might have been shorter.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s funny that a town that celebrates the gritty underachiever couldn’t get behind a guy that played in so much pain they put a titanium disk in his neck during the offseason.\u00c2\u00a0 It wasn’t a season-threatening injury, it was a career-threatening one.\u00c2\u00a0 Duncan worked his way back, though, and had a good start to this season.<\/p>\n

Here’s hoping that he has good success in the Red Sox organization.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s got much better numbers on the road<\/a>, so that could help him.\u00c2\u00a0 Looks like a classic case of where change of scenery is beneficial.<\/p>\n

Let me say this much before I move on to the other side of the trade.\u00c2\u00a0 I really want to believe that LaRussa and Duncan did not try to pull rank, as it were, on GM John Mozeliak during this deal.\u00c2\u00a0 While there is no reason to doubt the VEB sources, the official explanation of things fits how things went down as well.\u00c2\u00a0 If TLR and Duncan did try to sabotage the deal, though, that brings up numerous points, most of which we talked about on UCB Radio Hour last night<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The first is that the power struggle that appeared to be healing is nowhere close to over.\u00c2\u00a0 When Walt Jocketty left, I expected TLR to be out the door as well.\u00c2\u00a0 He stayed and has seemed to try to work with Mozeliak for the most part, though he’s been known to make public statements that put his boss in tough situations.\u00c2\u00a0 Still, things looked like people were on the same page.\u00c2\u00a0 This might not be the case anymore.<\/p>\n

Second, if this was or could be taken to be Mozeliak trying to indicate who was in charge, what does that do for TLR at the end of the season?\u00c2\u00a0 His contract is up and he’s always taken a while to decide whether the players want him back.\u00c2\u00a0 Will he decide that it’s not worth working for this organization anymore?\u00c2\u00a0 This is one of the few setbacks he’s had with this ownership group.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps that relationship isn’t as strong anymore?<\/p>\n

If LaRussa does go and goes out on bad terms, what impact does that have on the resigning of Albert Pujols?\u00c2\u00a0 Because basically everything done in the next two years needs to be filtered through that prism.\u00c2\u00a0 Pujols is very fond of LaRussa, being that he’s the only major league manager he’s played for, so if he sees TLR being mistreated (in his eyes) does that make it harder for him to come back?\u00c2\u00a0 If a team like Cincinnati signed TLR, would they then become intriguing to AP?<\/p>\n

I’m sure there will be much more on this in the coming days.\u00c2\u00a0 Right now, though, it’s time to look forward.<\/p>\n

Obtaining Julio Lugo is an interesting move.\u00c2\u00a0 The stated reason is the lack of depth behind Brendan Ryan, which may mean they are not very sanguine about the return of Khalil Greene or the prospects of recalling Tyler Greene.\u00c2\u00a0 Lugo’s mainly a middle infielder with just enough versatility to give LaRussa ideas.<\/p>\n

It sounds like Mark DeRosa will stick at third and there’s not much likelihood of Schumaker returning to the outfield, so Lugo may just pick up starts here and there and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get at least a couple of games in left, because everyone has to play out there eventually.<\/p>\n

Wanna know more about the newest Cardinal?\u00c2\u00a0 Check out Pitchers Hit Eighth’s summary post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In other news, Troy Glaus sat out the Memphis doubleheader with back spasms<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Whether that’s just from doing too much after such a long layoff or an indication of a bigger problem, we’ll have to wait and see.\u00c2\u00a0 Hopefully he’ll get back on the field today and relieve any of those worries.<\/p>\n

Todd Wellemeyer is making at least one more start<\/a>, according to the manager. As we talked about last night, it seems incredible that no one like Blake Hawksworth or Clayton Mortensen or MItchell Boggs couldn’t do as well or better than Wellemeyer has been.\u00c2\u00a0 You are going to start him against a potent offense in a bandbox park this weekend.\u00c2\u00a0 That should go well.<\/p>\n

(Insert my regular “Get Roy Halladay!” spiel here.)<\/p>\n

Shelby Miller, the Cardinals’ first round draft pick, was at the game last night<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Sounds like it’s going to cost some money to sign him, especially after he saw what they gave the Dominican teenager.\u00c2\u00a0 The Cardinals will have to do it, though, because they don’t have any ace-like prospects down on the farm and they need one.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals go into Washington today to make up the rainout from May 3.\u00c2\u00a0 Adam Wainwright is going for the Birds, but he’s had some trouble<\/a> with these Nationals hitters.\u00c2\u00a0 The team is hitting over .300 against him, trade rumor target Adam Dunn is also over .300 with a homer, and Ryan Zimmerman sits at over .400.\u00c2\u00a0 It could be a tough night for Wainwright unless he’s got everything working.<\/p>\n

The Nationals were going to throw Jordan Zimmerman, but wound up placing him on the DL and brought up pitcher Collin Balester.\u00c2\u00a0 He’ll be making his season debut, though he threw 15 games last year.\u00c2\u00a0 Didn’t face the Cardinals, though, so he’ll be entirely new to them.\u00c2\u00a0 Which usually doesn’t bode well for this team.\u00c2\u00a0 Hopefully the offense will get clicking and give Wainwright enough to win the ballgame.<\/p>\n

Daniel Shoptaw is the founder of “C70 At The Bat,” where he regularly writes about his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.\u00c2\u00a0 You can find more of his work here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Losing a game in the ninth inning is enough fodder for debate.\u00c2\u00a0 A trade, by itself, makes for a big day.\u00c2\u00a0 Put them together and you’ve got a lot of unrest and discussion going on in Cardinal Nation.\u00c2\u00a0 Let’s take the game first before delving into the move of Chris Duncan to the Boston Red […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":347,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t