Results tagged ‘ Ryan Ludwick ’
Unlikely Contributions Help Cardinals to Title
Of course everyone expects big numbers from Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Ryan Ludwick but did anyone expect the performance of say, Brendan Ryan? Colby Rasmus? Julio Lugo? Okay, you’re right, this one might be a stretch. Chris Carpenter?
Carpenter, a former Cy Young winner in 2005 got back to such form this year, after being ridden with injuries for the last two. Cardinals fans and management alike hoped Carp would have a strong season, but did they expect this type of campaign from the veteran? Although everyone in baseball is aware of what Carpenter can do, who really thought he would be healthy all year and be able to rebound the way he did? I mean, he got injured early in the season after taking too intense of a swing. Well, he proved his critics wrong. Big time. His 17-4 record speaks for itself, as does the 2.24 ERA which just-so-happens to lead the National League, and is second in the Show. All of this without mentioning the six RBI game he just had, mashing a grand salami, and a two-run double.
Troubled infielder, Julio Lugo, joined the Cardinals after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox from Bean town. All he did was hit .274, score 22 runs, drive in 12, and swipe five bags. Doesn’t seem like much, right? Wrong. Lugo came over from the AL and sparked the Cardinals the very first night he was a member of the Rebirds, beating the Phillies 8-1. Lugo gives manager, Tony LaRussa, great versatility. LaRussa can use Lugo at second if a southpaw is on the mound, giving Skip Schumaker a day off if need be. Second or short, Lugo can play them both, which again gives his manager the choice to give everyday shortstop, Brendan Ryan, a day off.
Highly touted, five tool player, compared to Jim Edmonds (some say he’ll be better), Colby Rasmus, the 23 year-old rookie. Only 16 jacks, 72 runs scored, and 52 RBIs for the baby-faced center-fielder? He’s so young he tried to grow a mustache with the rest of the team, but took about a month longer than anyone else on the club. On a Cubs broadcast, Len Kasper made a comment about this, it would’ve been funny had it not come from him. His stingy defense in center shouldn’t go overlooked, either. Rasmus only made six errors this season, five in center, and one in right. His speed allows him to roam the outfield like a shark in the ocean. You don’t see many diving catches from him simply because he usually gets to everything and gets under the ball, making routine catches which are diving plays for others. Credit a few wins to Rasmus’ bat, he has more than one game-winning hit this year. Not bad, rookie. Not bad.
Speaking of the stache, can anyone say handlebars? Well, Brendan Ryan can. He plans to grow his upper lip toupe into a Rollie Fingers handlebar stache. How cool is that? Credit the success to the stache. Ryan came into Spring Training this year fighting for a bench spot on the roster and bloomed into the starter when Khalil Greene came in and laid an egg. B-Ry has played in 123 games this year, playing short and second. His range placed him on top of many highlight reels, and is in the running for a Gold Glove. His .296 average has him only a 3-3 or 3-4 day away from a .300 season. Ryan’s hit all over the lineup, first, second, seventh eighth, ninth and has produced all season long. In 385 at-bats, the stache man has only whiffed 55 times and had 114 hits. Could you really ask for anything more from a guy who came into camp competing for a reserve slot? And whoever thought a stache like that would get the ladies? One piece of advice for you, though, B-Ry, don’t shave the stache!
Late-Inning Longball Pops Corks In Colorado
An unsung hero of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jason LaRue, became a very sung hero on Saturday night with a home run that proved to be the game-winner.
Everyday catcher, Yadier Molina, had to leave the game after taking a ball off of his knee in the 4th-inning. Molina was diagnosed with a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day. Although, with the Cardinals clinching last night, don’t expect to see him back too soon.
LaRue replaced Molina mid-inning and handled the job extremely well. LaRue isn’t used to seeing much playing time, as Molina gets the bulk of the playing time, but has been very good for the Cardinals off the bench this season. He does the little things that go unrecognized such as, warming up the pitchers before the games, bullpen sessions, and gives maximum effort everyday.
The Cardinals plated three runs in the 1st-inning, and jumped on flame-thrower, Ubaldo Jimenez, quickly. Jimenez would settle in after the 1st-inning, where he would cruise until the 7th. The Rox managed to tie the game on a Brad Hawpe two-run bomb to left off of Adam Wainwright. Jimenez struck out seven in his outing, but couldn’t strike out the first batter he would face in the 7th: Jason LaRue.
Jimenez had been coming at the Cardinals with an abundance of first-pitch fastballs throughout the course of the game, but to LaRue, he broke the mold. A fastball around 95 mph would’ve been the smartest idea to LaRue, a guy who hadn’t swung the bat all night, and who has somewhat of a slow bat anyway.
A slider in the middle of the plate and down was sent packing to left, and found a new home over the wall. Undoubtedly, the offspeed pitch sped up the bat of LaRue, allowing him to take the 85 mph slider out of the yard.
The clutch blast from LaRue gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead which they would not relinquish.
Workhorse, Adam Wainwright, threw 130 pitches over 8-innings of work. Of the 130 pitches, 89 were strikes, which only had Wainwright issue one walk, which came in the 8th, while fanning 11.
Wainwright struck out the side in the 8th, leaving two runners on base.
Ryan Ludwick came on to pinch-hit in the top of the 9th after Brendan Ryan doubled to left with two down. Ludwick was hitting for Wainwright, who had 2-3 night with two doubles. Ludwick, however, would top both of those hits that Wainwright had, and powered a two-run shot to left. The blast gave Ludwick 92 RBIs and 22 homers on the season, and more importantly made the score 6-3.
Closer, Ryan Franklin, came on in the 9th-inning to shut the door. Franklin gave up a hit and walked a man before recording the last out of the game. Save number 38 was notched for Franklin and a division title for the Cardinals.
Wainwright improved to 19-8, with the Cardinals now sitting at 90-65 on the season.
Manager, Tony LaRussa, wanted to clinch the NL Central on the field rather than have the Cubs lose a game to give the title to the Cards. He went so far to say the Cardinals wouldn’t celebrate until they won a game. The champagne was flowing in the clubhouse, where grown men celebrated with grins and smiles of young kids, which is the beauty of baseball.
LaRue’s game-winning homer is easily the biggest hit of his career, and will stick with him for a long time to come.
Wainwright Looks to Dazzle, Clinch
Saturday night could be the clinching game for the Cardinals to finally take hold of the NL Central division title. Although, it’s been said for the last few nights, the Cardinals have yet another Cy Young candidate on the mound tonight, Adam Wainwright. Last night Chris Carpenter tried to pitch the team to victory, with an excellent 7-inning effort and only one earned run.
Wainwright has been speaking out a lot with the recognition he’s been getting from the media and has credited his success to his teammates, who he called “my mentors”. Carpenter has shared his vast knowledge on pitching with the young right-hander and John Smoltz has joined the mix as well. Two former Cy Young winners teaching you how to pitch in the Bigs…not too shabby.
Runs have been somewhat hard to come by the last two games for the Birds, scoring only two runs last night and being shutout by rookie, Bud Norris, in Houston for the finale. Albert Pujols is still hitting well, but hasn’t rounded the bases since Sept. 11, Ryan Ludwick has scuffled a little bit but his homer last night was his first since Sept. 4. Without two of your three best mashers in the lineup not hitting the longball, runs will be somewhat hard to score.
Going for win 19 on the season, Wainwright will oppose young hurler, Ubaldo Jimenez, of the Rockies at Coors Field tonight. Two very young, talented pitchers that both might have a Cy Young award by the time they’re 30 years-old will make for a very interesting duel tonight. Although, the thin air of Colorado might diminish the effectiveness of Wainwright’s 12-6 bender. At Coors, Wainwright has made one start, where he only gave up four hits, and no earned runs.
Former Rockie, Matt Holliday, has 84 career bombs and 307 RBIs in Colorado, his old stomping ground. His experience in Colorado might help the Redbirds win for the title, but for Wainwright as well.
With another righty on the mound, look for lineup to consist of the same makeup it did last night.
1. Schumaker 2b
2. Ryan SS
3. Pujols 1b
4. Holliday LF
5. Rasmus CF
6. Ludwick RF
7. DeRosa 3b
8. Molina C
9. Wainwright P
DeRosa Staying In St. Louis?
Versatile INF/OF, Mark DeRosa, has had conversations with GM John Mozeliak about a possible extension with the Cardinals.
DeRosa was acquired in the later part of June from the Indians for Chris Perez and Jess Todd, both premier pitching prospects in the Cardinals farm system. Soon after coming over from Cleveland DeRosa found himself on the DL with an injured wrist, which will require surgery in the offseason.
Only hitting .245 and collecting 19 RBIs on his 8 homers in 48 games with the Birds. His versatility is a key with the way Manager Tony LaRussa fancies to fill out his lineup card, which makes him extremely valuable to LaRussa.
DeRosa, making $5.5 million this season, will most likely receive a raise if extended with the Cardinals. Mozeliak wants to see DeRosa stick around, but might lose a key contributor in the process: Ryan Ludwick.
Ludwick, injured part of the season, has played in 119 games for St. Louis and has managed to slug 20 homers and drive in 87 while keeping his average above the .270 marker. Although healthy, Ludwick doesn’t play every day with the plethora of outfielders available to LaRussa.
Mozeliak remains reluctant to offer Ludwick a deal that is more than a year long. Injuries have plagued Ludwick in the past, but he seems to have overcome the issues with his knees. An All-Star a year ago, Ludwick still is producing and protects Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the Cardinals lineup.
Birds’ Bats Red Hot In K.C.
The I-70 series against the Kansas City Royals has treated the St. Louis hitters extremely well as their bats have heated up immensely. Albert Pujols who is seemingly always hot has continued his All-Star pace with a homer and four RBI’s in the series. Recently activated Khalil Greene homered in back-to-back days, a solo shot and a three run bomb. Ryan Ludwick has picked up where he left off with a grand slam on Friday and a follow up two hit game on Saturday. Colby Rasmus enjoyed the first four hit game of his career on Friday which sparked the Cardinals offense early and often.
Although, the offense has been blistering K.C. pitching, the Cardinal starters have thrown the ball extremely well. Brad Thompson gave the Cardinals seven solid innings only giving up four runs on Friday and earned the victory, his second of the season. Veteran Chris Carpenter went deep into eighth-inning, before being relieved by Trever Miller with two outs. Carpenter scattered only three hits over seven and two-third innings, yielding only one run and fanning six Kings. Chris earned the victory to improve to 5-1, with a season ERA of 1.53. After two seasons of injuries the Cardinals are glad to have the ace of their staff back, and it’s paying dividends.
Winning last night pushed the Cardinals into the first place slot, where they stand alone. Only a half game separates them and the Brewers, but as the season progresses the more your’re in first place, the better chance you have. Although, it’s only a matter of time before Chicago finds their groove and explodes offensively, so it’s now or never for the Cardinals to separate themselves from the pack.
Cards’ Wings Clipped in Rubber Game
Thursday night’s game in St. Louis very well could be the point of no return for the St. Louis Cardinals as they fell to the Chicago Cubs in game three of three game series. With both Houston and Philadelphia winning while Milwaukee lost, a shaking up of the Wild Card standings was inevitable. St. Louis remained 4.5 games back of the Brewers, while the Astros passed them up in the standings, moving to 3 games back with the Phillies. Tony LaRussa’s ball club would have it hard enough to be chasing two teams, now adding a third team to the mix makes it that much more difficult for the Cardinals to find a way into the playoffs.
A tight ballgame was being had in St. Louis, with pitching that was very solid for the first 4 innings of the matchup. Todd Wellemeyer and Rich Harden both performing well with the rain falling in St. Louis. Unofrtunately, Wellemeyer would be on the bad end of an error from sure-handed firstbasemen, Albert Pujols. Uncharacteristically of Pujols, everyone in the ballpark was in disbelief as the error allowed two Cub runners to cross home plate later in the inning. Two runs were only given up by Wellemeyer, both unearned. St. Louis got themselves on the board in the bottom of the 6th-inning when Albert (Pujols) dobuled to left that scored Aaron Miles. Pujols’ RBI double gave him 100 RBI’s on the season and puts him in company with Al Simmons and Ted Williams as the only players in history to begin his career with eight straight 100-RBI season. Felipe Lopez followed Ryan Ludwicks groundout with a sharp single to center, scoring Pujols easily. The 6th-inning would be the only inning the Cardinals would manage to score in, as they were shut down the rest of the way, but not without threatening, though.
In the bottom of the 8th-inning, Aaron Miles lead off the inning with a single, bring up the always dangerous Alert Pujols, yet again. Carlos Marmol, who was pitching for the Cubs made an attempted pickoff move to first, but didn’t step off the rubber before faking a throw. Thus is a balk in baseball, which would allow each runner to move up one base. Homeplate umpire, Mike Reilly did not call the balk, which very well could have cost the Cardinals the game. Sadly, I was able to catch the balk instantaneously, while these Major League umpires couldn’t pick it up. Any of the three other umpires could have stepped forward, but no call was made by any of them. As an umpire I know the stress that is put on you, as I umpire youth league baseball from ages 12-18. I hate to blame an umpire for a loss because I’m simply not the person that tries to find excuses for a bad outcome, but this call could have been a huge swing for the Cardinals at that point in the game.
With the Cardinals 4.5 games back in the Wild Card now, the door seems to be closing more rapidly as the Astros continue to make yet another late-season run for a playoff bid. Philadelphia doesn’t look to be going anywhere either with MVP candidate Ryan Howard leading the way for the Phils. Although, the Brewers seem to be fading for the second straight season, that will not be enough, as the Cardinals look to chase Houston and Philadelphia as well. LaRussa has done a great job with keeping this team afloat all season long, let’s just hope the recent injuries won’t be the demise of the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2008 season.
Lilly, Errors too Much for Cardinals
Left-handed veteran starter, Ted Lilly was outstanding in tonight’s start against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lilly improved to 14-9 on the season, but made every bit of this outing count, both on the mound and on the base paths. The first inning was the only hiccup Lilly had on the night, when he allowed a run on an Albert Pujols RBI ground out, bringing his season total to 99. With the first inning behind him, Lilly put the Cardinals on lock for the next seven innings, shutting them out while only allowing four hits in his last seven innings of work without walking a single batter. After a two inning outing against the Reds, Ted Lilly made sure to right the ship for the struggling Cubs, only needing to throw 90 pitches (63 for strikes) to get through eight innings of work.
The mound wasn’t the only place Lilly managed to do damage against St. Louis. After a bunt that lead to an error on Felipe Lopez at third, when he tried to make a force play into a tag play, Lilly reached first on a fielder’s choice. The very next play, Lopez made another error after making a spectacular diving play to his left, got up to make a throw to second, making a low throw in the dirt. Lilly, running to second on the play, didn’t slide and ran over Cardinal second basemen, Adam Kennedy. With Derek Lee at the plate, Lilly tried to score on a soft chopper to Ceaser Iztruis, who threw Lilly out at home. With the close play at home, Lilly went in hard at home, trying to jar the ball loose from Yadier Molina, where Lilly’s knee went into the thigh of Molina. Molina suffered a bruised thigh which would later be the reason for him leaving the game after his at-bat in the bottom of the 4th-inning.
Lou Pineilla would take the ball from Ted Lilly after the 8th-inning and hand it to tenured Cub, Kerry Wood. After a strikeout of Felipe Lopez, Albert Pujols came to the dish, looking to spark some sort of rally for his Cardinals. Pujols doubled to deep right, giving exactly what the Cardinals were looking for; baserunners. Ryan Ludwick took a pitch out to deep right-center for a two run bomb, bringing the Cardinals within a run, while notching his 101st RBI and 33rd homer on the season. Kerry Wood would go on to retire the next two Cardinal batters, one by means of the strikeout, and another on a flyout to center. Wood obtained his 29th save on the year, but has made a number of those saves very interesting, keeping manager Lou Piniella on his toes.
The late-inning surge by the Cardinals was not enough to mount a complete comeback, but shows the type of heart St. Louis has shown all year. Tony LaRussa has his club using the “never-give-up” attitude which has kept them within contention for a playoff berth. Hopefully, the Cardinals can keep that attitude up, and overcome the newest dose of injuries to Troy Glaus and Yadier Molina. It’s up in the air now, but it’s only a matter of time before the playoffs will be set, and the postseason to begin. Intriguing is the most fitting word to use to describe the playoff races down the stretch.
8th-inning rally pushes Cards passed Brew Crew
Hopeful Cardinals fans witnessed a sight that should present more hope for their scrappy bunch of ballplayers. The Milwaukee Brewers came to St. Louis looking to stretch their lead in the Wild Card race, while the Cardinals were looking to the exact opposite.
With a 12-0 victory for the Beer Men, the Cardinals looked like a cellar dwelling team, instead of a lively ball club fighting for a playoff berth. Resiliency has been one term that the Cardinals could use about this season. They’ve always had resiliency. Not going on long losing skids that would resemble the 2006 campaign. Although, we all know what happened in ’06.
In the second of a two game series, St. Louis was trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the 6th-inning, when Ryan Ludwick blasted his 32nd homer on the year, cutting the lead to 3-1. Kyle McClellan and Ryan Franklin teamed up to pitch scoreless 7th and 8th-innings respectively. After Franklin finished his inning on the mound, the Cardinals came to bat, but with a little more fire than usual. At the end of the 7th, relief pitcher, Carlos Villanueva got out of the inning, and began yelling towards the St. Louis dugout. Pujols, the on deck batter, walked towards Villanueva as he was walking off the mound toward the visiting dugout. Pujols and Villanueva jawed back and forth for about a minute, with homeplate umpire, Phil Cuzzi trying to keep Pujols from going after the right-handed reliever.
Unfortunately, for David Riske, Villanueva got him into trouble. “He woke a sleeping bear” Pujols said. Riske back-to-back doubles, to Pujols and Ludwick, Ludwicks being the latter, also driving in a run. Troy Glaus came to the plate and singled to beat the shift the Milwaukee defense had set for him, plating Ludwick to tie the game at 3. Good baserunning allowed the Cardinals to score the go-ahead run as Glaus took second base on the throw from Mike Cameron to try to cut down Ryan Ludwick at the plate. Yadier Molina did his job, grounding out to the right side, allowing Glaus to advance to third on the play.
Brewers manager, Ned Yost, was playing a matchup as he brought in Brian Shouse to face Skip Schumaker to create a lefty-on-lefty matchup. LaRussa quickly countered with switch-hitting Aaron Miles as a pinch-hitter. Miles hit a groundball to shorstop, J.J. Hardy, in which Troy Glaus bolted home on contact, and with a smart slide was able to avoid the tag of Jason Kendall to give the Cardinals the lead on the fielder’s choice. After a sac-bunt from Braden Looper, Felipe Lopez singled and Miles scored to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Redbirds.
Rookie “closer” Chris Perez took the ball from Tony LaRussa in the top of the 9th-inning, pitching a solid inning. He gave up one hit in the inning, a double to J.J. Hardy, but he fanned the other three batters he faced in the inning. One being his old college teammate, Ryan Braun. Braun battled him nicely, but Perez threw a slider that fooled Braun badly, and sent him back to the bench with his 110th strikeout of the year. Perez blew Prince Fielder away with 94 mph gas to strike him out and end the game.
St. Louis has moved within 3.5 games back of the Brewers for the Wild Card and head into Houston on Firday to wrap up the month of August. Another three games in Arizona to start September, and the Cardinals are back home in St. Louis to take on the Florida Marlins. The Brewers play Pittsburgh for three games, then take on the Mets at home for three. We’ll see if the Cardinals can gain any ground in the Wild Card over the next week.
Birds Fly Out of Florida with Series Win
Todd Wellemeyer pitched his best game of the season Thursday night against the Florida Marlins. Wellemeyer brought home the third victory for the Birds in the four game series against the Fish.Todd threw 7.2 shutout innings, gave up only three hits, walked 4, and struck out three in what was easily his best start of the season. The dominance was some of the best seen all season by a Cardinal pitcher. After the second-inning, only one hit was allowed by the power pitching right-hander.
Needless to say, Wellemeyer didn’t need much help on the offensive side of the game with the masterpiece he was putting together. Wellemeyer got the only help he would prove to need when Ryan Ludwick doubled to deep left and plated Cesar Izturis in the top of the third-inning. That wasn’t all the help Ludwick would offer his pitcher though, he went on to drill a home run over the wall in left to score two more for the Cardinals. Ludwick’s double and home run boosted his season average to .304, gave him his 26th double, and 30th homer, and 90th RBI. Without Ludwick, the Cardinals would not even be close to where they are now, he’s been a huge uplift to the offense with pitchers continuing to walk Albert Pujols. St. Louis leaves Florida with two straight wins, and three out of the four game series. Milwaukee lost to San Diego tonight, which puts the Cardinals three games back in the Wild Card race. With pitching performances like tonight the Cardinals have a very legitimate shot at capturing a playoff berth, most likely as the Wild Card.
Ludwick Sends Cards Home Happy
Another solid outing from Chris Carpenter should have Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan very excited about what they’re seeing from the 2005 Cy Young award winner. Carpenter made his second start of the season Tuesday night (his first at home) in which he looked very solid. In his second start, Carpenter didn’t allow a run, gave up only three hits, struck out 2, and walked zero all on five innings of work. In those five innings he only threw a total of 51 pitchers, 33 of them for strikes. He (Carpenter) put himself in line for the victory, but came away with a no-decision after the bullpen squandered the lead.
The Cardinals lead 4-0 after the 7th-inning. Two of those runs coming courtesy of Albert Pujols’ 2-run homer, his 22nd on the seasons. The bullpen looked solid after Carpenter left, but in the 9th LaRussa brought in Ron Villone when pinch-hitter Andruw Jones took him deep to put the Dodgers on the board. VIllone exited after the solo blast and Jason Isringhausen was summoned to close out the game for the Cards. Isringhausen was charged with three earned runs while only retiring one batter. LaRussa had seen enough and brought on Ryan Franklin who gave up two hits and allowed Isringhausens’ run to score giving Franklin his 7th blown save of the season. The bullpen made a strong push after Franklin gave up two hits, he shut down the Dodgers. Rookie Jaime Garcia was brought on to pitch the 11th-inning where he didn’t allow a hit and walked one, keeping the score tied 4-4. Coming to bat in the bottom of the 11th, Adam Kennedy singled to lead-off the inning. Pujols followed him with a weak fly out. Ryan Ludwick, the NL Player of the Week, stepped in and ended the game as he hit a homer to deep left-center field to end the game and give the Cardinals a 6-4 victory.
Although, the Cardinals did walk away from this game victorious, the bullpen has still been struggling, which is something to worry about. A positive from this game was how well Carpenter pitched. Looking like the Carpenter of old, just not going as deep into the ball games as we’re used to seeing. With the recent addition of a strong Chris Carpenter, the more likely it is you’ll see Adam Wainwright come back to the club as a reliever. Wainwright was the closer for the Cardinals in the 2006 season after Isringahusen went down to injury. Wainwright was a great closer, helping the Cardinals finish off the Mets and Tigers to win a World Series Championship. With the struggles continuing for the bullpen, Wainwright is almost a lock to be placed in the back-end of the rotation again.
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