Cubs 9, Cardinals 6: Weaver gets his brains beat in. Carpenter hits a solo homer in the eighth.

I’ve said before that the Cardinals need the NL to adopt the DH to have a place for Martinez to play. It also wouldn’t hurt having a position player batting before Carpenter.

artie_fufkin wrote:

Three of the four pitches Weaver threw to Rizzo were strikes. All four were called balls.

Not saying you’re wrong, but the nibbling is infuriating. The last 2 pitches to Happ show that his stuff is good enough that he doesn’t need to throw every pitch on the black.

Carpenter is probably upset he didn’t get to work the pitch count.

That’s a terrible at bat by DeJong. You can’t swing at a pitch on the outside corner with a 2-0 count and a pitcher who can’t throw strikes.

Comcast died on me again.

Ozuna May have the weakest arm of any outfielder I’ve seen in a Cardinal uniform .

With this double header and Martinez to the DL, they eventually need to add a starter, but they also need to fill 2 starts on Monday and Tuesday.

Mags, you hearing anything about pitchers being skipped? Gomber makes sense since he’s on the 40-man. Wonder if they’ll add Hudson to the 40-man, go with a bullpen start or maybe someone like Poncedeleon who is also on the 40.

This year's bullpen may exceed the '03 version as the worst Cardinals' bullpen I've ever seen.

forsberg_us wrote:

With this double header and Martinez to the DL, they eventually need to add a starter, but they also need to fill 2 starts on Monday and Tuesday.

Mags, you hearing anything about pitchers being skipped? Gomber makes sense since he’s on the 40-man. Wonder if they’ll add Hudson to the 40-man, go with a bullpen start or maybe someone like Poncedeleon who is also on the 40.

I really don't have any information outside of what I've been gleaned from following their games.  A couple of weeks ago, their were some short outings for Hudson and Poncedeleon but I think they all had to do with appearances in AAA Alll-Star and futures games.  Before today's game, which starts at 2 p.m., the last starts for each were as follows:  Poncedeleon --7/15; Gomber -- 7-17; Hudson 7-19.

Tomorrow or Tuesday would be a start on short rest for Hudson.  Gomber seems most likely but Poncedeleon was unhittable his last time out.  He pitched a 1 hitter (full 9 innings) against Iowa.  I think we will know at 2 o'clock whether it will be him or Gomber tomorrow.

Given the current stat of their bullpen, I can't see them chosing to go with a bull pen game.  They would have to start DFAing some guys and I don't see that they have any  bullpen prospects at Memphis who are ready at this time.  Maybe by September.

Incidentally, Mercado had a helluva game last night:

https://www.milb.com/memphis/news/mercado-dynamite-in-10-1-redbirds-rout/c-286774562

 

Last edited by Mags (7/22/2018 9:59 am)

Mags wrote:

That very knowledgeable replacement for "The Cat" has given us the story.  Poncedeleon tomorrow, Gomber Tuesday.

Artie, you are going to have to give us a shorthand for Poncedeleon.

Over/under on the number of innings before someone makes a “fountain of youth” comment?

Speaking of youth, Luken Baker, the huge 1st first baseman with the rod in his leg that the Cards picked up in the 2d round this summer, was hitting .500 after several games with the Gulf Coast Cardinals and was promoted to Peoria.  In his first game with Peoria today, he is so far 3 fo4, including a double.