Leader. What is the definition of a good leader? What is your definition?
My definition is a bit wordy: Encouraging. Helpful. Guiding. Honest. Respectful. Fired up. Tone setting. Leads by example on and off field. Owns mistakes. Always improving. Holds others accountable in a professional way. Dedicated to their work and team.
Someone who knows what is important to the team--fundamentals, clean plays, producing runs, making contact, being efficient on the base paths, executing pitches--is a great step in the right direction.
Follow knowing what is important up with consistent execution & hard work--that is a leader.
Notice in all of this, I never mentioned publicly calling out a teammate for a mistake.
I did mention owning mistakes.
Thursday, Matt Carpenter was interviewed after the game. Some have clamored for accountability, including myself. His words were not holding someone accountable. His words were placing blame. Exact words are found here.
Carpenter said "You can strike out. You can make errors. But you can't do that. He (Rosenthal) knows that." He went on to say that Rosenthal had done this before and mistakes like this can't happen twice. Is this true? Sure. Does Rosenthal know better? Yes. Did Carpenter need to say all of that publicly? No. Further in the article,
Carpenter goes on to say "you can't lose the game"...I imagine some pitchers feel
that way about his errors, when they're making extra pitches or when
unearned runs are charged to them. Discussions may have gone
on privately, but they didn't air out their dirty laundry to the media.
A good leader would have had a discussion with Rosenthal in the tunnel, dugout, clubhouse. A good leader would have said, as many others have said, that this is a team sport. A good leader would own up to his own mistakes instead of avoiding or making excuses for them, as Carpenter has done on multiple occasions.
Do players strike out? Yes. Do players make errors? You betcha. Do players not make plays when needed? Unfortunately, another resounding yes. Do players make outs on the bases? Far too often on this team. Has Carpenter done all of these? Absolutely. Rather infamously now, he made the first out at third base in the bottom of the 9th after Carlos Martinez threw 9 shutout innings. He neglected to stick around for media after the game, but a few days later gave an interview in which he listed multiple reasons for his action in the scenario, then proceeded to say he would keep doing such things. He would choose to possibly make a mistake again in the name of being aggressive. But Rosenthal can't make mistakes twice. And, as you read above, Rosenthal owned up to his mistake and said he would work on it.
Many on Thursday said mental lapses such as Rosenthal's that day can't happen. I'm fairly certain that choosing to run the bases the way players do is a mental choice on their part. Carpenter isn't known for his baserunning prowess. Did Martinez blame him that night for the blunder? Did he say "If Carp stays at second base, we could have won"? No. Did anyone say that? No. In fact, their manager simply said "he knows" when asked about Carpenter's gaffe after the game.
Accountability is a necessary part of a well functioning team. Tommy Pham has provided such accountability. He finds something positive to say and lists things to work on to be a better TEAM. He completely grasps the concept of this being a TEAM sport. A piece written about Pham illustrates his winning attitude further...always able to own up to his own shortcomings and clearly willing to work on them.
Baseball is a TEAM sport.
The offense was being no hit through half the game Thursday, and without Pham, they would have had no runs on the board. Cecil gave up a home run, tying the game. Rosenthal didn't make a play. Multiple things went into the loss, such as multiple things go into a win.
When a person almost leads the team in strikeouts, makes errors that have cost runs and makes blunders on the base paths, that person should not be placing blame on anyone or saying which mistakes can and cannot happen. That person should take care of his own shortcomings first. Furthermore, he should not call shortcomings or mistakes of others out publicly.
Chris Carpenter took Brendan Ryan to task for being unprepared for an inning. He brought him into the tunnel to talk with him...a professional example of how to address an issue, even when frustrated.
Matt Carpenter could have said what others have in these situations--mistakes happen, he'll fix it, we've all made mistakes. If he couldn't say something amicable, he could have said "no comment" or something along those lines, or simply made himself unavailable, as he has before.
As far as deeming mistakes okay and not okay? They all have the potential to hurt the chance for a win. It's how they move on and work through these mistakes that will end up defining this season.
For what it's worth, I would have an issue with anyone who called someone out this way. However, this season, no one else has called anyone out this way. Matt set an unfortunate precedent.
Humility never hurt anybody. Arrogance hurts often. One quality is part of a leader...and a good teammate. The other is part of someone working alone.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
It's Time
Carlos Martinez. Tsunami. CMart. Fire. Electric. Brilliant. Emotional. Heart. Joy. Love. Generous. Kind. Impatient. Loyal. Student. Teacher. Child like. Thoughtful. Mournful. Rising star. Capable. Hopeful. Determined. Responsible. Respectful. Memorable.
All of these words can be used to describe Carlos. He is growing up before our eyes, under a spotlight. At times, it seems as though many forget he is only 25 years old. The path in front of him is clear now...he wants to be an ace, a leader, a strong competitor. His growing pains have occurred under the microscope of Cards fans, and he has handled it with grace and a growing maturity.
The one word some have a problem using when referring to Carlos is "ace".
Carlos is the ace of the Cardinals. For the time being, he is a co-ace with Adam while he learns how to take the reigns and Adam continues to share his knowledge with him. However, as far as performance is concerned, he is our ace. He is striking players out at an impressive rate, and his ERA places 8th among National League pitchers. By strikeouts, he's tied for 6th. By WHIP, he's 8th. Tied with Max Scherzer, he has only given up 12 home runs. He's 4th in innings pitched on the season. His efforts for this season should not be brushed off...they should be praised and appreciated.
In his first year as a starter after working two seasons out of the bullpen, Carlos finished 14-7 with a 3.07 ERA, followed by his second year where he finished 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA. This season, his win-loss record is a bit shy in the win column due to the bullpen pitching behind him and at times, the offense producing no run support. However, he is 6-7 with a 3.15 ERA and is working with all the same brilliant, electric pitching skills that have made him one of the brightest emerging talents in the major leagues. Carlos doesn't allow many home runs, and while his walks are up a bit this season, his strikeouts are impressive at 124 before the All Star Break. He is also on pace to reach the 200 inning mark.
Some like to compare CMart to others he is leading with this season around the league. Make sure to check out their age 25 seasons. Carlos is pitching extraordinarily well, keeping pace with those who have much more experience.
Watching Carlos through the years, I've watched his spirited joy for this game fill every inning and liven the atmosphere of the dugout. I've watched him lose friends to tragic accidents and mourn those losses with grace and dignity. He honors their memories every day by playing with energy and love for this game. Through his Tsunami Waves Foundation, he is helping children in his community, trying to give them a full, rich life. If you haven't read his introduction of himself, please take the time to do so. I already thought of him as a leader on this team, but hearing his thoughts and feelings about his role and his team, it's impossible to not feel respect for him. Carlos is making his way through life and this game, and I am absolutely 100% proud of the man he is on and off the field. Tsunami is a unique gift for this Cardinals team. I never want to see any of his spark, joy, love -any of his spectrum of emotions- fade. His brand of fire is and will always be needed on this team. It's long past time for all to embrace the flare and emotion he brings to his starts, as well as all the fun and laughter he brings to the dugout. He should never be reigned in. Let his light shine bright.
Carlos Martinez is an ace. Ride the wave.
All of these words can be used to describe Carlos. He is growing up before our eyes, under a spotlight. At times, it seems as though many forget he is only 25 years old. The path in front of him is clear now...he wants to be an ace, a leader, a strong competitor. His growing pains have occurred under the microscope of Cards fans, and he has handled it with grace and a growing maturity.
The one word some have a problem using when referring to Carlos is "ace".
Carlos is the ace of the Cardinals. For the time being, he is a co-ace with Adam while he learns how to take the reigns and Adam continues to share his knowledge with him. However, as far as performance is concerned, he is our ace. He is striking players out at an impressive rate, and his ERA places 8th among National League pitchers. By strikeouts, he's tied for 6th. By WHIP, he's 8th. Tied with Max Scherzer, he has only given up 12 home runs. He's 4th in innings pitched on the season. His efforts for this season should not be brushed off...they should be praised and appreciated.
In his first year as a starter after working two seasons out of the bullpen, Carlos finished 14-7 with a 3.07 ERA, followed by his second year where he finished 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA. This season, his win-loss record is a bit shy in the win column due to the bullpen pitching behind him and at times, the offense producing no run support. However, he is 6-7 with a 3.15 ERA and is working with all the same brilliant, electric pitching skills that have made him one of the brightest emerging talents in the major leagues. Carlos doesn't allow many home runs, and while his walks are up a bit this season, his strikeouts are impressive at 124 before the All Star Break. He is also on pace to reach the 200 inning mark.
Some like to compare CMart to others he is leading with this season around the league. Make sure to check out their age 25 seasons. Carlos is pitching extraordinarily well, keeping pace with those who have much more experience.
Watching Carlos through the years, I've watched his spirited joy for this game fill every inning and liven the atmosphere of the dugout. I've watched him lose friends to tragic accidents and mourn those losses with grace and dignity. He honors their memories every day by playing with energy and love for this game. Through his Tsunami Waves Foundation, he is helping children in his community, trying to give them a full, rich life. If you haven't read his introduction of himself, please take the time to do so. I already thought of him as a leader on this team, but hearing his thoughts and feelings about his role and his team, it's impossible to not feel respect for him. Carlos is making his way through life and this game, and I am absolutely 100% proud of the man he is on and off the field. Tsunami is a unique gift for this Cardinals team. I never want to see any of his spark, joy, love -any of his spectrum of emotions- fade. His brand of fire is and will always be needed on this team. It's long past time for all to embrace the flare and emotion he brings to his starts, as well as all the fun and laughter he brings to the dugout. He should never be reigned in. Let his light shine bright.
Carlos Martinez is an ace. Ride the wave.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Holding On
The Cardinals started the season on a rollercoaster and have quickly become the Tea Cup ride...they are simply spinning in circles. Their wins happen against losing teams, and sometimes, that is not even a given. They lost 2 of 3 to the Orioles and failed to sweep the supposed worst team in baseball, the Phillies. The two games they won in that series went to extras. Leake is the last hope to salvage one solitary win out of this series against the Pirates, who are also below .500, but now a full game ahead of the Cardinals. Having won the first two games of this series, they are in 3rd place in the Central and we are in 4th.
I never know exactly what to write about anymore. Watching my favorite team is feeling less like entertainment and more like a habit...sometimes a chore. I've written before that I'm committed to them, and that remains the same. However, we're in a lull right now. I looked forward to this season for what felt like 72 months of offseason and now I find myself grasping at any last little tiny thing that can give me any hope. Those moments are happening few and far in between and even then, they're fleeting.
Rest assured, Carlos Martinez will always give us something to look forward to every 5 days. Pitching now as the third best pitcher in the National League, he is more brilliant and exciting with every inning. Tommy Pham has thrown guys out at the plate and hit some homers...all fun to watch. His attitude about winning and competing is even more refreshing. Not content with needing extra innings or his own strikeouts during a game where he hit 2 home runs and had 2 outfield assists, he tells the media exactly how he feels. And, as everyone knows, my love for Adam Wainwright is one that will never be shaken.
Tonight during the broadcast, Tom Verducci informed the viewers that Piscotty was simply resting due to the team's heavy schedule leading to the All Star Break. I'll be honest with you-this information only aggravated me further as I watched the runs pile up for the Pirates. If the team was performing well, if the energy level was where it should be, if a full effort for all 9 innings from every player was always given...okay, rest them. However, the team is 7 games below .500 and I never think "effort" and "energy" when I watch this team anymore. 2 of the 3 players resting tonight came in to pinch hit, both getting hits. Could they possibly have hit at other points throughout the night and produced more runs? We'll never know.
In an article posted Tuesday, Derrick Goold wrote about the team learning to support each other. This is baffling to me, for many reasons. Clubhouse issues were supposed to be solved in the offseason. Last year's clubhouse got a bad rap. In spring training, multiple players talked about how there were groups and cliques...the lack of cohesion prompted Wainwright to take them on a field trip to escape rooms to learn to work together. Now we're hearing the players are having meetings to discuss supporting each other. Shouldn't this be a given? Why aren't they supporting each other? In this climate, with all the losses, leadership in flux, players leaving and finding success on other teams...wouldn't supporting each other seem more crucial than ever? Imagine everyone acting like Adam and Carlos...energy, hard work, enthusiasm, watching every game intently more times than not at the top step or at the top of the dugout. Both of them bring their personality and their comradery with each other to this team. The water splashes, the hugs, the "good eye goofiness"...maybe if this energy flowed throughout the whole clubhouse, it would lead to more wins. Pham is another player who has brought a refreshing take to the clubhouse. He is a competitor and he wants his team to be competitive...he is disappointed with anything less. All three of these players have attitudes worth emulating.
My general takes:
1) No one on the team deserves days off at this point before the break simply to have a day off. If injured, I would be fine with using the 10 day DL so the team does not have to play short so often. Play hard during the game, work during time away from the game on any weaknesses in their game, and be prepared to play every day.
2) I'm not a fan of getting big trade deals done for this team this season. Until every aspect of their game improves to even an average level, one bat or one glove most likely won't be enough to increase the wins dramatically.
3) Right now, I can suggest one or two immediate changes that wouldn't cost any players or money but would still be beneficial. The first suggestion would be to be relieve Mike Matheny of his duties. The second suggestion would be to do the same with John Mabry. Either one could happen in either order. The roster is not necessarily the most talented roster it could be...it has roles that need to be filled and might not be with the current players. However, they did not lose all of their talent and skills as each day passed. Inspiration and motivation are lacking. Real solutions to the hitting problems are not being created. All issues could be improved with new leadership. In the offseason, roster issues should actually be fixed with a strong effort from John Mozeliak instead of one sided players getting big contracts (i.e. only good defense but no offense or vice versa).
4) Players need to play as though every game matters. Losing out on the postseason by ONE game last season seemed to not be enough of a lesson for most. I've heard Pham and Wainwright mention it, maybe others have, but for the most part I've heard too many interviews where they say "it's a long season" (not just from the players and manager, but media as well). At this rate, 4th in Central, 7 under .500...it is long overdue to start playing like every game matters. Every inning matters. Every run matters. Every play matters. Every at bat matters. Play like it matters.
Here's the bottom line for me: I'm in this. I always will be. Win or lose is the "in sickness and in health" part of our relationship. For better or worse, this team is the one for me. My effort is here. I watch every game and DVR the day games while I'm at work. My commitment hasn't wavered. Game after game I feel them abandoning their commitment to me though. I don't want to get to this point with the team I have loved for years...the point of feeling so let down that I can't hold on anymore. They need to give me something here. I get my good days when Adam and Carlos pitch and occasionally a good moment or two provided by someone else, but I need more. I'm not asking for much. I'm asking for heart and hustle...I'm asking for some fight. Every day, I'm here willing to fight for them. I want them to work with each other and fight for every win. I want them to fight for me...every relationship is a work in progress. The Cardinals need to start putting work into our relationship. It's not too late. I'm still here.
I never know exactly what to write about anymore. Watching my favorite team is feeling less like entertainment and more like a habit...sometimes a chore. I've written before that I'm committed to them, and that remains the same. However, we're in a lull right now. I looked forward to this season for what felt like 72 months of offseason and now I find myself grasping at any last little tiny thing that can give me any hope. Those moments are happening few and far in between and even then, they're fleeting.
Rest assured, Carlos Martinez will always give us something to look forward to every 5 days. Pitching now as the third best pitcher in the National League, he is more brilliant and exciting with every inning. Tommy Pham has thrown guys out at the plate and hit some homers...all fun to watch. His attitude about winning and competing is even more refreshing. Not content with needing extra innings or his own strikeouts during a game where he hit 2 home runs and had 2 outfield assists, he tells the media exactly how he feels. And, as everyone knows, my love for Adam Wainwright is one that will never be shaken.
Tonight during the broadcast, Tom Verducci informed the viewers that Piscotty was simply resting due to the team's heavy schedule leading to the All Star Break. I'll be honest with you-this information only aggravated me further as I watched the runs pile up for the Pirates. If the team was performing well, if the energy level was where it should be, if a full effort for all 9 innings from every player was always given...okay, rest them. However, the team is 7 games below .500 and I never think "effort" and "energy" when I watch this team anymore. 2 of the 3 players resting tonight came in to pinch hit, both getting hits. Could they possibly have hit at other points throughout the night and produced more runs? We'll never know.
In an article posted Tuesday, Derrick Goold wrote about the team learning to support each other. This is baffling to me, for many reasons. Clubhouse issues were supposed to be solved in the offseason. Last year's clubhouse got a bad rap. In spring training, multiple players talked about how there were groups and cliques...the lack of cohesion prompted Wainwright to take them on a field trip to escape rooms to learn to work together. Now we're hearing the players are having meetings to discuss supporting each other. Shouldn't this be a given? Why aren't they supporting each other? In this climate, with all the losses, leadership in flux, players leaving and finding success on other teams...wouldn't supporting each other seem more crucial than ever? Imagine everyone acting like Adam and Carlos...energy, hard work, enthusiasm, watching every game intently more times than not at the top step or at the top of the dugout. Both of them bring their personality and their comradery with each other to this team. The water splashes, the hugs, the "good eye goofiness"...maybe if this energy flowed throughout the whole clubhouse, it would lead to more wins. Pham is another player who has brought a refreshing take to the clubhouse. He is a competitor and he wants his team to be competitive...he is disappointed with anything less. All three of these players have attitudes worth emulating.
My general takes:
1) No one on the team deserves days off at this point before the break simply to have a day off. If injured, I would be fine with using the 10 day DL so the team does not have to play short so often. Play hard during the game, work during time away from the game on any weaknesses in their game, and be prepared to play every day.
2) I'm not a fan of getting big trade deals done for this team this season. Until every aspect of their game improves to even an average level, one bat or one glove most likely won't be enough to increase the wins dramatically.
3) Right now, I can suggest one or two immediate changes that wouldn't cost any players or money but would still be beneficial. The first suggestion would be to be relieve Mike Matheny of his duties. The second suggestion would be to do the same with John Mabry. Either one could happen in either order. The roster is not necessarily the most talented roster it could be...it has roles that need to be filled and might not be with the current players. However, they did not lose all of their talent and skills as each day passed. Inspiration and motivation are lacking. Real solutions to the hitting problems are not being created. All issues could be improved with new leadership. In the offseason, roster issues should actually be fixed with a strong effort from John Mozeliak instead of one sided players getting big contracts (i.e. only good defense but no offense or vice versa).
4) Players need to play as though every game matters. Losing out on the postseason by ONE game last season seemed to not be enough of a lesson for most. I've heard Pham and Wainwright mention it, maybe others have, but for the most part I've heard too many interviews where they say "it's a long season" (not just from the players and manager, but media as well). At this rate, 4th in Central, 7 under .500...it is long overdue to start playing like every game matters. Every inning matters. Every run matters. Every play matters. Every at bat matters. Play like it matters.
Here's the bottom line for me: I'm in this. I always will be. Win or lose is the "in sickness and in health" part of our relationship. For better or worse, this team is the one for me. My effort is here. I watch every game and DVR the day games while I'm at work. My commitment hasn't wavered. Game after game I feel them abandoning their commitment to me though. I don't want to get to this point with the team I have loved for years...the point of feeling so let down that I can't hold on anymore. They need to give me something here. I get my good days when Adam and Carlos pitch and occasionally a good moment or two provided by someone else, but I need more. I'm not asking for much. I'm asking for heart and hustle...I'm asking for some fight. Every day, I'm here willing to fight for them. I want them to work with each other and fight for every win. I want them to fight for me...every relationship is a work in progress. The Cardinals need to start putting work into our relationship. It's not too late. I'm still here.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Tough Love
A few days ago, Stephen Piscotty addressed the media and spoke of a family issue that is unimaginably difficult to go through. After playing in a game or two upon his return, he addressed the media again after a blunder out in right field. The ball got lost in the sun and he missed what many think was a routine catch. He answered the question no less than 5 different ways as the reporters tried no less than 5 different ways to reword the same question: "What happened out there?"
Watch the post game shows if you can, or follow Fox Sports Midwest on social media. Notice who is appearing in these interviews. All the starting pitchers of course, but who else do you see? I'll tell you--Greg Garcia (a very part time player), Kolten Wong (especially when he has made mistakes), Randal Grichuk (not here but when he was, he answered, especially in losses), Stephen Piscotty (see above), Jedd Gyorko (emerging as our best player), Tommy Pham (only been in the majors this season since May 5th). What do you notice about this list (aside from starting pitchers)? Not a single person 30 or older. Not a single person that is the supposed "face of the franchise" or "leader of the team." Not a single supposed veteran. The only veteran that constantly answers is Adam. And he has the type of character that would answer no matter what, even if not a starting pitcher. All of our starting pitchers do an admirable job.
I mention all of this because this team is in need of leadership. The young guys are pulling their weight with the media, picking up the slack left behind by those such as Matt Carpenter, who dodge the media after mistakes and then proceed to never own up to those mistakes.
When Matt Carpenter made the 9th inning baserunning error, trying to stretch a sure lead off double in the bottom of the 9th into a triple, he didn't answer to that for the media. Days later, he gave multiple reasons of why he was right, noting that his offense around him may not have been able to hit him home from second base. As you all know, Carpenter is batting .216 and has now reached 52 strikeouts. His OBP is 345, but his overall game isn't going well at the moment. "Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" applies here. Throwing people like Jedd Gyorko under the bus when he has been carrying this team was disrespectful and unnecessary.
After that game, Matheny said "he knows" when asked if there would be a discussion with Matt. Clearly, he does not know he was wrong.
The younger players are trying to lead, answering the difficult questions when asked and trying their best with the opportunities given. They take ownership of their mistakes publicly. Maybe it's time to let them have more opportunities...turn to them for a spark that is desperately needed. Adam Wainwright is almost always at the top step or up on the fence, constantly interested in the game going on as is Carlos, but other than that, we're in need of some leadership. In reality, we need a Chris Carpenter type of player, who would light a fire. The play of late has been lackluster, and he would never stand for it. If a defensive blunder occurred, he'd probably address it. Seems like there is no one willing to call out the play of this team. Matheny acts as though everyone knows how to fix things without discussion, but they aren't fixing things. Players are going to other teams and figuring out how to end their hitting struggles. All special instruction from legendary players like Ozzie, Willie, Edmonds has flown back south for the summer instead of the winter.
It's time for the front office to face some things. Matheny is not the supposed leader of men he was supposed to be. The team is now on a 7 game losing skid, falling further below .500 ball every day. If he was capable of motivating, at least half of this team would be able to turn things around.
Another look in the mirror by the front office would force them to see that Mabry is clearly unable to help anyone at this time. Grichuk was sent to Palm Beach to work with an offensive specialist, and many thought no one was worse off at the plate. Cut to almost two weeks without Grichuk and the team is 2-9, with Carpenter now having a lower batting average and Fowler staying tied with Grichuk. Adam Wainwright is one of the team's best hitters. I'm Adam's biggest fan but I'll still tell you his offense probably shouldn't be THE story on a competitive team hoping to contend this season. He's the team's biggest bench threat. That's not really an exaggeration.
Further down the rabbit hole, it is baffling to me that with 11 singles, 0 runs batted in and 13 strikeouts, sporting a batting average of .204, Peralta has not only seen two starts this past week, but also pinch hit opportunities. If ever there was a player dragging the competitive edge of a team down, it is Peralta at this moment.
Personally, I'd love to select 15 or so of the best position players and pitchers from the minors and bring them up to St. Louis. I'd have a team meeting. I'd call the rookies out one by one, asking them to stand up in the crowd, and I'd list their stats on the season for the whole room to hear. When the list was complete and all had their moment to shine, I'd say that any position player not named Jedd or Tommy can be replaced by any of these rookies at a moment's notice. Everyone's clocks are running, either out of time or waiting to be started at any given moment. Any relief pitcher not named Matt, Seung Hwan or Trevor is replaceable by any pitchers I've presented. Any changes that need to happen would be figured out. It's time to put up a fight.
Sometimes, there's a need for tough love. Brutal honesty has its place. Now is one of those times. Complacency doesn't win games. Settling doesn't win games. Banking on the failure of other teams or staying afloat in the sea of mediocrity that is the division won't lead to wins. Someone, somewhere has to find a way to light the competitive fire in this team. Sadly, I've written about this already this season. Multiple times. I am committed to the Cardinals for life. We've renewed our vows, I've split up with Matheny, I've composed speeches to make while standing on a chair in the clubhouse, song lyrics and movies have been used to try to inspire the love of the game that seems to be lost. I'm putting in 150% of the effort needed to keep this relationship alive. From the bottom of my heart I hope the Cardinals decide to fight for us too.
Watch the post game shows if you can, or follow Fox Sports Midwest on social media. Notice who is appearing in these interviews. All the starting pitchers of course, but who else do you see? I'll tell you--Greg Garcia (a very part time player), Kolten Wong (especially when he has made mistakes), Randal Grichuk (not here but when he was, he answered, especially in losses), Stephen Piscotty (see above), Jedd Gyorko (emerging as our best player), Tommy Pham (only been in the majors this season since May 5th). What do you notice about this list (aside from starting pitchers)? Not a single person 30 or older. Not a single person that is the supposed "face of the franchise" or "leader of the team." Not a single supposed veteran. The only veteran that constantly answers is Adam. And he has the type of character that would answer no matter what, even if not a starting pitcher. All of our starting pitchers do an admirable job.
I mention all of this because this team is in need of leadership. The young guys are pulling their weight with the media, picking up the slack left behind by those such as Matt Carpenter, who dodge the media after mistakes and then proceed to never own up to those mistakes.
When Matt Carpenter made the 9th inning baserunning error, trying to stretch a sure lead off double in the bottom of the 9th into a triple, he didn't answer to that for the media. Days later, he gave multiple reasons of why he was right, noting that his offense around him may not have been able to hit him home from second base. As you all know, Carpenter is batting .216 and has now reached 52 strikeouts. His OBP is 345, but his overall game isn't going well at the moment. "Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" applies here. Throwing people like Jedd Gyorko under the bus when he has been carrying this team was disrespectful and unnecessary.
After that game, Matheny said "he knows" when asked if there would be a discussion with Matt. Clearly, he does not know he was wrong.
The younger players are trying to lead, answering the difficult questions when asked and trying their best with the opportunities given. They take ownership of their mistakes publicly. Maybe it's time to let them have more opportunities...turn to them for a spark that is desperately needed. Adam Wainwright is almost always at the top step or up on the fence, constantly interested in the game going on as is Carlos, but other than that, we're in need of some leadership. In reality, we need a Chris Carpenter type of player, who would light a fire. The play of late has been lackluster, and he would never stand for it. If a defensive blunder occurred, he'd probably address it. Seems like there is no one willing to call out the play of this team. Matheny acts as though everyone knows how to fix things without discussion, but they aren't fixing things. Players are going to other teams and figuring out how to end their hitting struggles. All special instruction from legendary players like Ozzie, Willie, Edmonds has flown back south for the summer instead of the winter.
It's time for the front office to face some things. Matheny is not the supposed leader of men he was supposed to be. The team is now on a 7 game losing skid, falling further below .500 ball every day. If he was capable of motivating, at least half of this team would be able to turn things around.
Another look in the mirror by the front office would force them to see that Mabry is clearly unable to help anyone at this time. Grichuk was sent to Palm Beach to work with an offensive specialist, and many thought no one was worse off at the plate. Cut to almost two weeks without Grichuk and the team is 2-9, with Carpenter now having a lower batting average and Fowler staying tied with Grichuk. Adam Wainwright is one of the team's best hitters. I'm Adam's biggest fan but I'll still tell you his offense probably shouldn't be THE story on a competitive team hoping to contend this season. He's the team's biggest bench threat. That's not really an exaggeration.
Further down the rabbit hole, it is baffling to me that with 11 singles, 0 runs batted in and 13 strikeouts, sporting a batting average of .204, Peralta has not only seen two starts this past week, but also pinch hit opportunities. If ever there was a player dragging the competitive edge of a team down, it is Peralta at this moment.
Personally, I'd love to select 15 or so of the best position players and pitchers from the minors and bring them up to St. Louis. I'd have a team meeting. I'd call the rookies out one by one, asking them to stand up in the crowd, and I'd list their stats on the season for the whole room to hear. When the list was complete and all had their moment to shine, I'd say that any position player not named Jedd or Tommy can be replaced by any of these rookies at a moment's notice. Everyone's clocks are running, either out of time or waiting to be started at any given moment. Any relief pitcher not named Matt, Seung Hwan or Trevor is replaceable by any pitchers I've presented. Any changes that need to happen would be figured out. It's time to put up a fight.
Sometimes, there's a need for tough love. Brutal honesty has its place. Now is one of those times. Complacency doesn't win games. Settling doesn't win games. Banking on the failure of other teams or staying afloat in the sea of mediocrity that is the division won't lead to wins. Someone, somewhere has to find a way to light the competitive fire in this team. Sadly, I've written about this already this season. Multiple times. I am committed to the Cardinals for life. We've renewed our vows, I've split up with Matheny, I've composed speeches to make while standing on a chair in the clubhouse, song lyrics and movies have been used to try to inspire the love of the game that seems to be lost. I'm putting in 150% of the effort needed to keep this relationship alive. From the bottom of my heart I hope the Cardinals decide to fight for us too.
Monday, May 29, 2017
When The Going Gets Tough...
The tough get going.
Or at least that's how it is for some players on the team.
Randal Grichuk was demoted to Palm Beach today. At first, before learning of the location, I was at peace with the decision because I thought he would be coached by Mark Budaska in Memphis. Learning of the decision to demote down to Palm Beach is still a concern for me. Last season, Grichuk showed noticeable progress after working with Buddha in Memphis. He returned to the majors and had a very successful run down the stretch of August and September, putting up some of the best numbers on the team.
I figured a two week stay or so under Budaska's instruction would go a long way to return a rejuvenated Grich to a struggling lineup. Instant jolt. Palm Beach may need a longer time, but possibly help his career more in the long run with the greater number of at bats and the less developed pitching giving him a little more discipline with which pitches to swing at and which to lay off. I still fall on the side of attempting a Memphis reboot. I do see both sides of this coin though.
After returning in August of last season from Memphis, finding help with Budaska, Grichuk went on to slash 284 BA/294 OBP/731 SLG/1.025 OPS for the month. He followed up with a September slash of 269 BA/303 OBP/ 490 SLG/793 OPS. Either of these lines would boost our lineup immediately, especially when you sprinkle in the 12 home runs and 31 runs batted in during that time (171 at bats).
To refresh, as of yesterday, Grichuk was 4th on the team in hits with 37, tied for 3rd on the team with runs batted in with 19, and he had a team leading 14 doubles. I realize that he was leading the team in strikeouts and that needed attention. However, Carpenter is following closely behind with 43 strikeouts, Fowler with 42, Gyorko with 37. We then have a further 4 players with 20 or more. Grichuk's walks might be on the low side, but he was tied with Gyorko at 12 (5th highest on team). That's 3 more walks than Molina and Diaz. Finally, I realize that his average at .222 isn't carrying the team, but when Fowler is also at .222, Carpenter is at .226, and Piscotty is at .224, he is clearly not the only cause for concern on this team. With only 2 people driving in more runs than he has, and only 3 people having more hits, one has to wonder if the production will be made up.
In the past week to two weeks, the team has allowed Carlos to pitch 9 innings of shutout ball, only to lose the game in extras. Starting pitching allowed 4-5 runs total during a stretch of a week and we lost all of the games. The offense is not bringing guys home when in scoring position, they're swinging at first pitches and getting out, and they are hitting solo home runs (which can't always be helped, I realize). There have been games where the guys left on base are well into the double digits. In a loss. Today they were letting Rich Hill take a no-no into the 5th.
To pretend that our offense is fine to have one's head in the clouds. No one on the team is necessarily a threat. Pitchers aren't intimidated when they know strikeouts are piling up and the words "1 pitch, 1 out" are flying out of Dan's mouth. The team isn't executing and they've forgotten the words "plate discipline" even exist. Sure, they've had glimpses or hitting streaks, weeks where they flash greatness. But when you look at the bottom line, the numbers totaled for the season, there's reason to be concerned.
I don't have the answers. Personally, I'd love to see Mark Budaska offered a job with the big club. I don't know that he'd accept the offer. I do feel that new blood in the hitting coach department would go a long way. Pham didn't start the season in the bigs...he was in Memphis with Buddha and continued a tear up here. Grichuk and Kolten have made huge strides after time spent under his instruction. Dex is new to our team...what happened to his numbers from last year? After two full months, things should have started to fall in place by now, at least a bit. Piscotty has looked completely lost all season save for a few games here and there, and we all know he was working with Mabry in the offseason to tweak his swing. One has to question why at this point. Carpenter is off at the plate as well. Shouldn't their hitting coach be able to find ways to help all of them?
The team's offense is in need of a boost in a big way. More guys have to hit with runners in scoring position. They need to be more patient at the plate. Walks need to go up and strikeouts need to go down. I don't personally care if they all hit home runs...as long as they can bring runners home safely, singles, doubles and triples are fine. The hitting coach needs to help all of them find solutions to their problems. Sooner rather than later, as it's never "just one game."
I will at least leave you with a great song that can put a smile on anyone's face. Enjoy. I know I always do. And yes that's Danny DeVito and the cast of "Romancing The Stone." This is 80s goodness and I make no apologies. Good luck Grich! I'm still believing in you back here in St. Louis!
"When The Going Gets Tough" by Billy Ocean
Or at least that's how it is for some players on the team.
Randal Grichuk was demoted to Palm Beach today. At first, before learning of the location, I was at peace with the decision because I thought he would be coached by Mark Budaska in Memphis. Learning of the decision to demote down to Palm Beach is still a concern for me. Last season, Grichuk showed noticeable progress after working with Buddha in Memphis. He returned to the majors and had a very successful run down the stretch of August and September, putting up some of the best numbers on the team.
I figured a two week stay or so under Budaska's instruction would go a long way to return a rejuvenated Grich to a struggling lineup. Instant jolt. Palm Beach may need a longer time, but possibly help his career more in the long run with the greater number of at bats and the less developed pitching giving him a little more discipline with which pitches to swing at and which to lay off. I still fall on the side of attempting a Memphis reboot. I do see both sides of this coin though.
After returning in August of last season from Memphis, finding help with Budaska, Grichuk went on to slash 284 BA/294 OBP/731 SLG/1.025 OPS for the month. He followed up with a September slash of 269 BA/303 OBP/ 490 SLG/793 OPS. Either of these lines would boost our lineup immediately, especially when you sprinkle in the 12 home runs and 31 runs batted in during that time (171 at bats).
To refresh, as of yesterday, Grichuk was 4th on the team in hits with 37, tied for 3rd on the team with runs batted in with 19, and he had a team leading 14 doubles. I realize that he was leading the team in strikeouts and that needed attention. However, Carpenter is following closely behind with 43 strikeouts, Fowler with 42, Gyorko with 37. We then have a further 4 players with 20 or more. Grichuk's walks might be on the low side, but he was tied with Gyorko at 12 (5th highest on team). That's 3 more walks than Molina and Diaz. Finally, I realize that his average at .222 isn't carrying the team, but when Fowler is also at .222, Carpenter is at .226, and Piscotty is at .224, he is clearly not the only cause for concern on this team. With only 2 people driving in more runs than he has, and only 3 people having more hits, one has to wonder if the production will be made up.
In the past week to two weeks, the team has allowed Carlos to pitch 9 innings of shutout ball, only to lose the game in extras. Starting pitching allowed 4-5 runs total during a stretch of a week and we lost all of the games. The offense is not bringing guys home when in scoring position, they're swinging at first pitches and getting out, and they are hitting solo home runs (which can't always be helped, I realize). There have been games where the guys left on base are well into the double digits. In a loss. Today they were letting Rich Hill take a no-no into the 5th.
To pretend that our offense is fine to have one's head in the clouds. No one on the team is necessarily a threat. Pitchers aren't intimidated when they know strikeouts are piling up and the words "1 pitch, 1 out" are flying out of Dan's mouth. The team isn't executing and they've forgotten the words "plate discipline" even exist. Sure, they've had glimpses or hitting streaks, weeks where they flash greatness. But when you look at the bottom line, the numbers totaled for the season, there's reason to be concerned.
I don't have the answers. Personally, I'd love to see Mark Budaska offered a job with the big club. I don't know that he'd accept the offer. I do feel that new blood in the hitting coach department would go a long way. Pham didn't start the season in the bigs...he was in Memphis with Buddha and continued a tear up here. Grichuk and Kolten have made huge strides after time spent under his instruction. Dex is new to our team...what happened to his numbers from last year? After two full months, things should have started to fall in place by now, at least a bit. Piscotty has looked completely lost all season save for a few games here and there, and we all know he was working with Mabry in the offseason to tweak his swing. One has to question why at this point. Carpenter is off at the plate as well. Shouldn't their hitting coach be able to find ways to help all of them?
The team's offense is in need of a boost in a big way. More guys have to hit with runners in scoring position. They need to be more patient at the plate. Walks need to go up and strikeouts need to go down. I don't personally care if they all hit home runs...as long as they can bring runners home safely, singles, doubles and triples are fine. The hitting coach needs to help all of them find solutions to their problems. Sooner rather than later, as it's never "just one game."
I will at least leave you with a great song that can put a smile on anyone's face. Enjoy. I know I always do. And yes that's Danny DeVito and the cast of "Romancing The Stone." This is 80s goodness and I make no apologies. Good luck Grich! I'm still believing in you back here in St. Louis!
"When The Going Gets Tough" by Billy Ocean
Monday, May 22, 2017
We've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
We've all watched the Cardinals this season. We've seen some fun games, some good wins that felt like THE turning point, some losses that stung and losses that we all felt were hard fought despite the outcome. If you pay attention to twitter and have looked through the past week, it seems many of us have our lost the lovin' feeling for our Cards and their brand of play this week...for some, this season.
The Boston series was a testament to the way we lose this season. Lots of men left on base, bad baserunning, starting pitching wasted, bullpen struggles, lack of timely hitting, defensive miscues and errors...we got a dose of all of that in a short and sweet (not) 2 games series.
We followed the Boston series with a 1 win out of 3 series against the struggling Giants.
In that time we squandered excellent starting pitching, including wasting a brilliant 9 inning outing of shutout baseball from Carlos. Adam Wainwright pitched in our only win over the past 5 games on Sunday, allowing only 1 run over 6 innings.
Bob Gibson was in town to celebrate the 1967 team this week and he graced us all with his presence in the broadcast booth. Listening to him straight shoot his way through a conversation about how the game should be played was inspiring. He said he loves watching the Cardinals and he only watches the Cardinals. Dan asked him if anyone stood out to him and he said he loves the whole team. However, he added that when they do things like getting picked off and giving up home runs, he doesn't like any of them. Brutal honesty...sometimes it's needed!
The 1967 team was a sight to behold, or so I've heard and read. They were the definition of a well oiled machine. Fired up on and off the field, ready to play their best every single game of the season.
Our team could make Bob cringe on a daily basis. Our baserunning, defense, hitting, bullpen...they all need attention and I have some suggestions.
Issue #1: "The Danger Zone"
Matt Carpenter made the 9th inning baserunning blunder heard around the world on Saturday night. He tried to turn a sure double into a triple, with the play getting him out by a mile. He is slow on the base paths and his instincts always lead him to the wrong decision. He is not alone in this. Outs on the base paths always seem to happen and are never surprising. I suggest a new coach for this area. We missed out on Vince Coleman, but is there no one more qualified than our current base coaches? I find that difficult to believe. Something is running amok with the base running approach and I feel like it could be fixed with a tweaking of the teaching.
Issue #2: "I'll fire when I'm good and ready"
Our hitting is off. Carlos Martinez pitched 9 innings of shutout baseball on Saturday only to never factor in the decision, which ended up as a loss in extras. The collective offense of our team had 8 hits over 12 of those innings, and it was against a struggling pitcher and a team off course with a record of 19-26. In the other games of the home stand, the offense managed to hand losses out like candy to starters who were going above and beyond the call. It's long past the time to light the fires. I've been questioning if we need some new blood in the hitting coach department since last season. It feels like too many of the players are working on their approach all the time, and many are off to very slow starts. On the current roster, we have 5 players batting over .261, and one of these players is Adam Wainwright. Everyone else is hitting .261 or lower. Our best hitter right now is Jedd Gyorko and he's running away with the lead at .331, 7 homers and 18 runs batted in. When players such as Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler are down near the bottom on a list ordered by descending batting average, there is reason enough to be concerned as May comes to a close. Ideally, I would love to promote Mark Budaska, "Buddha", to the big league team. Many of the players on the current roster have found success after working with him in Memphis, as well as former Cardinals such as David Freese. It might go a long way to light the fires if we had someone who some of our younger players have an excellent rapport with and have found success with to be around every day.
Issue #3: "I feel the need, the need for speed"
Magneuris Sierra was called up from the minors when our outfield piled up injuries with Dexter Fowler and Stephen Piscotty at the same time. This kid could flat out fly around the bases and everyone noticed...and LOVED it. He was definitely going Mach 2 with his hair on fire. On this team, speed isn't something you find up and down the lineup. Fowler, Grichuk, Wong, Pham and occasionally Diaz are the fastest players on the team. No offense to them, Sierra would have them all beat in any race. Speed can change the game, putting pressure on pitchers and pressure on defense to get the outs. It would be great to have Sierra back up here sometime soon and with our low bench, 13 pitchers and seemingly endless amount of "sore" this and "tweaked" that, I think we'll see him again soon.
Issue #4: "Bodies working overtime, money don't matter, time keeps ticking, someone's on your mind"
On our current roster, we have multiple players who could have used a DL stint to work through their injuries/issues. Dexter is still sore from a fall in the outfield, and he never went on the DL. His throws have taken the blow of the fall and in one case, Sierra made a throw for him. Kolten "felt something pop" in his elbow on Saturday and is day to day. He "was scared more than anything" according to Matheny and "popping" isn't exactly comforting. Piscotty ran into a wall to make a catch, after tweaking his knee in his rehab stint, which he was completing due to being on the DL for his hamstring pull. Siegrist has had some decent outings mixed in with some less than stellar outings while pitching through a sore shoulder and sore neck. Rosey is out there requiring an extra bullpen arm to back him up because "if something doesn't look right or feel right, we don't use him," per Matheny. This is a long way to play a season. I'm much more of the belief that if we gave them all the proper rest with a DL stay, they might all be playing at 100% instead of "he's almost there." We do have outfield help available in AAA (or clearly lower levels with Sierra). From the sounds of it, Weaver is pitching well and others are turning in solid numbers and could help with pitching. If a club is in the fight to win, they need to be putting their best players on the field every day. If it requires some of them to get rest to be at 100%, then that's the step that needs to be taken. Is it necessary to keep putting the players out there, somewhat injured, risking their long term careers if they make things worse? No.
Issue #5: "You can be my wingman anytime"
This lineup needs some good 1-2 punches throughout it. Our players aren't scaring the opponent when they step into the box. They could figure it all out and become solid hitters. However, I'm leaning towards looking outside of the team for help in the middle of the order. I don't know if this will happen, but our players are wingmen needing a leading hitter.
Issue #6: "One of life's simple joys is playing with the boys"
If they all play the game the way they were taught as boys, their defense and natural instincts for the rest of their play will all come rushing back. In little league, they learned how to catch a ball, where to throw the ball, how to run the bases and how to hit. Honestly, if they just took the time to think about when they were younger, they'd probably get a little reset. This is the game they grew up loving. Sometimes it's good to remember why you loved something in the first place. Remembering the pure love for the game and how they wanted to do their best might help them get on track and focus more. Baseball players get to play the game we all love...sometimes I think they just need a reminder.
I'd love for Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Bob Gibson, Vince Coleman, Tim McCarver, Chris Carpenter, Lou Brock and any of our legends to be around these players as much as possible. The way they all played is why they have the red jackets. Our players need to have them around to mentor...a good sounding board for questions, great advice to follow...there's no such thing as too much time spent with these living legends. While they can't always be around, their lessons need to be put into action. Bob Gibson said he had notes for Matheny and he may have been joking, but those notes would be priceless. Can you imagine if Matheny used those notes? What a beautiful thought.
The Cardinals need to play their hearts out...bring it all to the field. Play like they're 10 years old again. Make the plays, speed their way around the bases (intelligently) and hit the ball like in the days of Whitey. Make it exciting and fun to watch! Play so great we all say "goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"
The Boston series was a testament to the way we lose this season. Lots of men left on base, bad baserunning, starting pitching wasted, bullpen struggles, lack of timely hitting, defensive miscues and errors...we got a dose of all of that in a short and sweet (not) 2 games series.
We followed the Boston series with a 1 win out of 3 series against the struggling Giants.
In that time we squandered excellent starting pitching, including wasting a brilliant 9 inning outing of shutout baseball from Carlos. Adam Wainwright pitched in our only win over the past 5 games on Sunday, allowing only 1 run over 6 innings.
Bob Gibson was in town to celebrate the 1967 team this week and he graced us all with his presence in the broadcast booth. Listening to him straight shoot his way through a conversation about how the game should be played was inspiring. He said he loves watching the Cardinals and he only watches the Cardinals. Dan asked him if anyone stood out to him and he said he loves the whole team. However, he added that when they do things like getting picked off and giving up home runs, he doesn't like any of them. Brutal honesty...sometimes it's needed!
The 1967 team was a sight to behold, or so I've heard and read. They were the definition of a well oiled machine. Fired up on and off the field, ready to play their best every single game of the season.
Our team could make Bob cringe on a daily basis. Our baserunning, defense, hitting, bullpen...they all need attention and I have some suggestions.
Issue #1: "The Danger Zone"
Matt Carpenter made the 9th inning baserunning blunder heard around the world on Saturday night. He tried to turn a sure double into a triple, with the play getting him out by a mile. He is slow on the base paths and his instincts always lead him to the wrong decision. He is not alone in this. Outs on the base paths always seem to happen and are never surprising. I suggest a new coach for this area. We missed out on Vince Coleman, but is there no one more qualified than our current base coaches? I find that difficult to believe. Something is running amok with the base running approach and I feel like it could be fixed with a tweaking of the teaching.
Issue #2: "I'll fire when I'm good and ready"
Our hitting is off. Carlos Martinez pitched 9 innings of shutout baseball on Saturday only to never factor in the decision, which ended up as a loss in extras. The collective offense of our team had 8 hits over 12 of those innings, and it was against a struggling pitcher and a team off course with a record of 19-26. In the other games of the home stand, the offense managed to hand losses out like candy to starters who were going above and beyond the call. It's long past the time to light the fires. I've been questioning if we need some new blood in the hitting coach department since last season. It feels like too many of the players are working on their approach all the time, and many are off to very slow starts. On the current roster, we have 5 players batting over .261, and one of these players is Adam Wainwright. Everyone else is hitting .261 or lower. Our best hitter right now is Jedd Gyorko and he's running away with the lead at .331, 7 homers and 18 runs batted in. When players such as Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler are down near the bottom on a list ordered by descending batting average, there is reason enough to be concerned as May comes to a close. Ideally, I would love to promote Mark Budaska, "Buddha", to the big league team. Many of the players on the current roster have found success after working with him in Memphis, as well as former Cardinals such as David Freese. It might go a long way to light the fires if we had someone who some of our younger players have an excellent rapport with and have found success with to be around every day.
Issue #3: "I feel the need, the need for speed"
Magneuris Sierra was called up from the minors when our outfield piled up injuries with Dexter Fowler and Stephen Piscotty at the same time. This kid could flat out fly around the bases and everyone noticed...and LOVED it. He was definitely going Mach 2 with his hair on fire. On this team, speed isn't something you find up and down the lineup. Fowler, Grichuk, Wong, Pham and occasionally Diaz are the fastest players on the team. No offense to them, Sierra would have them all beat in any race. Speed can change the game, putting pressure on pitchers and pressure on defense to get the outs. It would be great to have Sierra back up here sometime soon and with our low bench, 13 pitchers and seemingly endless amount of "sore" this and "tweaked" that, I think we'll see him again soon.
Issue #4: "Bodies working overtime, money don't matter, time keeps ticking, someone's on your mind"
On our current roster, we have multiple players who could have used a DL stint to work through their injuries/issues. Dexter is still sore from a fall in the outfield, and he never went on the DL. His throws have taken the blow of the fall and in one case, Sierra made a throw for him. Kolten "felt something pop" in his elbow on Saturday and is day to day. He "was scared more than anything" according to Matheny and "popping" isn't exactly comforting. Piscotty ran into a wall to make a catch, after tweaking his knee in his rehab stint, which he was completing due to being on the DL for his hamstring pull. Siegrist has had some decent outings mixed in with some less than stellar outings while pitching through a sore shoulder and sore neck. Rosey is out there requiring an extra bullpen arm to back him up because "if something doesn't look right or feel right, we don't use him," per Matheny. This is a long way to play a season. I'm much more of the belief that if we gave them all the proper rest with a DL stay, they might all be playing at 100% instead of "he's almost there." We do have outfield help available in AAA (or clearly lower levels with Sierra). From the sounds of it, Weaver is pitching well and others are turning in solid numbers and could help with pitching. If a club is in the fight to win, they need to be putting their best players on the field every day. If it requires some of them to get rest to be at 100%, then that's the step that needs to be taken. Is it necessary to keep putting the players out there, somewhat injured, risking their long term careers if they make things worse? No.
Issue #5: "You can be my wingman anytime"
This lineup needs some good 1-2 punches throughout it. Our players aren't scaring the opponent when they step into the box. They could figure it all out and become solid hitters. However, I'm leaning towards looking outside of the team for help in the middle of the order. I don't know if this will happen, but our players are wingmen needing a leading hitter.
Issue #6: "One of life's simple joys is playing with the boys"
If they all play the game the way they were taught as boys, their defense and natural instincts for the rest of their play will all come rushing back. In little league, they learned how to catch a ball, where to throw the ball, how to run the bases and how to hit. Honestly, if they just took the time to think about when they were younger, they'd probably get a little reset. This is the game they grew up loving. Sometimes it's good to remember why you loved something in the first place. Remembering the pure love for the game and how they wanted to do their best might help them get on track and focus more. Baseball players get to play the game we all love...sometimes I think they just need a reminder.
I'd love for Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Bob Gibson, Vince Coleman, Tim McCarver, Chris Carpenter, Lou Brock and any of our legends to be around these players as much as possible. The way they all played is why they have the red jackets. Our players need to have them around to mentor...a good sounding board for questions, great advice to follow...there's no such thing as too much time spent with these living legends. While they can't always be around, their lessons need to be put into action. Bob Gibson said he had notes for Matheny and he may have been joking, but those notes would be priceless. Can you imagine if Matheny used those notes? What a beautiful thought.
The Cardinals need to play their hearts out...bring it all to the field. Play like they're 10 years old again. Make the plays, speed their way around the bases (intelligently) and hit the ball like in the days of Whitey. Make it exciting and fun to watch! Play so great we all say "goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Can't Help Who You Love
In life, people say that you can't help who you love. Often, it's a parent or concerned friend who is telling you this because you love someone who may not be in everyone's good graces. The person you love may not be everybody's favorite. Your love might frustrate, confuse, irritate, annoy or depress your family and friends. Sometimes people in your life won't understand your love.
I'm here to tell you that even if not genuinely accepted, it's all okay. You can't help who you love and that's alright.
The same is true for baseball.
I write this as we head into another Adam Wainwright start.
Adam is my favorite player of all time. I know this, you know this, everyone who knows me knows this. I don't hide it. I'm not ashamed. I've definitely shouted it from "rooftops." I quote that because I would never be on a rooftop. Not ever. But I've shouted nonetheless.
My second favorite player, although not near all time favorite yet, is Randal Grichuk.
I've written at length about both of my favorites. If you like them too, "Love Letter of Sorts" is about Adam and "Force To Be Reckoned With" is about Grich.
I'm not here to write anymore about them. I am here to write about how it is okay to choose whoever you want to be your favorite player. Your fandom of anyone is fine. You don't need me to tell you that though.
I wanted to say this because fans of Kolten Wong have been through the wringer this season and I assume some of last although I wasn't around much back then. I know how it feels because of both Adam and Grich. Being on social media is less than ideal when your favorite player has a lackluster night on the mound, out in the field, at the plate or all of it combined.
All I'm saying is love who you love. Your favorites are your favorites and sometimes things won't go their way. I'm emotionally invested in baseball, so my emotions are always present, every game. And sure, they're present all the other times of the day too. I'm slowly learning to shrug off the negative and not feel the need to get entangled into lengthy arguments. Different opinions are part of life. Social media isn't a place to go if you want to live in a sheltered, protected existence.
Even through their worst moments, love who you love anyways. No judgements here. No apologies necessary for loving who you love or defending them.
You can't help who you love.
I'm here to tell you that even if not genuinely accepted, it's all okay. You can't help who you love and that's alright.
The same is true for baseball.
I write this as we head into another Adam Wainwright start.
Adam is my favorite player of all time. I know this, you know this, everyone who knows me knows this. I don't hide it. I'm not ashamed. I've definitely shouted it from "rooftops." I quote that because I would never be on a rooftop. Not ever. But I've shouted nonetheless.
My second favorite player, although not near all time favorite yet, is Randal Grichuk.
I've written at length about both of my favorites. If you like them too, "Love Letter of Sorts" is about Adam and "Force To Be Reckoned With" is about Grich.
I'm not here to write anymore about them. I am here to write about how it is okay to choose whoever you want to be your favorite player. Your fandom of anyone is fine. You don't need me to tell you that though.
I wanted to say this because fans of Kolten Wong have been through the wringer this season and I assume some of last although I wasn't around much back then. I know how it feels because of both Adam and Grich. Being on social media is less than ideal when your favorite player has a lackluster night on the mound, out in the field, at the plate or all of it combined.
All I'm saying is love who you love. Your favorites are your favorites and sometimes things won't go their way. I'm emotionally invested in baseball, so my emotions are always present, every game. And sure, they're present all the other times of the day too. I'm slowly learning to shrug off the negative and not feel the need to get entangled into lengthy arguments. Different opinions are part of life. Social media isn't a place to go if you want to live in a sheltered, protected existence.
Even through their worst moments, love who you love anyways. No judgements here. No apologies necessary for loving who you love or defending them.
You can't help who you love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)