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Finger Pointing Will Begin if Cardinals Don’t Start Hitting
Published by MoonDog on May 26, 2010
What if I told you that St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, allowing one run on four hits while striking out 12.
Chances are you’d think the Cardinals won the game going away, but it was not to be as San Diego got the win behind a second inning home run from Jerry Hairston for a 1-0 victory.
It was the fourth time St. Louis has been shutout this season and the 11th time in 46 games the Cardinals failed to score more than two runs.
For a lineup that includes Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday, St. Louis has no excuses for their pathetic performance at the plate more than a quarter into the 2010 season.
St. Louis managed seven hits against Padres starter Jon Garland and closer Heath Bell, but were 0-5 with runners in scoring position.
The Cardinals left seven men on base, two of which were left standing in the ninth inning when Yadier Molina grounded out to end the game.
The St. Louis catcher has seen his average dip 54 points to .259 since reaching a high of .313 on May 7, but Molina isn’t alone with his struggles at the plate.
Pujols has had one of the worst month’s of his career, batting .260 with one home run and 10 RBIs.
Holliday hasn’t fared any better, hitting only one home run and driving in eight during the month of May.
For two guys whose salaries represent nearly one-third of the Cardinals $93.5 million team payroll, those aren’t the kind of numbers that are going to get it done.
While the Cardinals have generally gotten excellent starting pitching this season (3.07 team ERA entering Tuesday’s game), many of their MLB-leading quality starts have gone to waste.
Manager Tony La Russa seems willing to accept the Cardinals futility at the plate while new batting coach Mark McGwire tries to figure things out.
La Russa has reverted to batting the pitcher eighth this season in several games, a tactic he’s employed frequently, especially last season before the Cardinals acquired Holliday.
But La Russa has always been someone who gave himself too much credit for being an innovator. Fact is, batting the pitcher eighth has never been successful.
The tactic has been especially ineffective this season, considering that La Russa has mostly had Brendan Ryan bat ninth.
The Cardinals shortstop has scuffled mightily thus far, batting only .175, not exactly the type of contact hitter needed in that spot.
La Russa has had to defend his team’s hitting woes because of his decision to fire Hal McRae, the team’s batting coach in 2009.
But Cardinals fans are already growing impatient over the lack of production at the plate, and GM John Mozeliak will be forced to address the situation.
At some point the starting pitching won’t be as good, and when that happens the Cardinals inability to score runs will cost them dearly.
Sure, there are many in the organization who believe the Cardinals will eventually start hitting the way they’re capable of.
But until that day comes when the Cardinals do start hitting, a team that was anointed NL Central champions before the season could find themselves scrambling to earn a playoff berth.
Hoping for a playoff berth isn’t going to sit well with St. Louis fans, and they aren’t going to accept any excuses, particularly from La Russa.
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Tagged with: Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Batting, Brendan Ryan, Hal McRae, Heath Bell, Hitting, John Mozeliak, Jon Garland, Mark McGwire, Matt Holliday, MLB, National League, NL Central, Pitching, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tony La Russa, yadier molina
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