RetroSimba

On Jan. 31, 1994, the Cardinals signed Rick Sutcliffe to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training with the hope he could earn a spot on their roster and in their starting rotation.

It was a sure sign of the desperate state of the Cardinals’ starting pitching.

Sutcliffe had injured a knee in 1993 and posted a 5.66 ERA in 28 starts for the Orioles, but the Cardinals saw him as an inexpensive solution to replace starting pitcher Donovan Osborne, who was sidelined for the 1994 season after having shoulder surgery.

“I have no doubt I can still pitch,” Sutcliffe told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Said general manager Dal Maxvill: “The reports we have are his arm is in good shape and he was throwing the ball well at the end of the (1993) season.”

Cheap Cardinals

Common sense indicated the Cardinals, owned by an increasingly disinterested Anheuser-Busch, were more focused on expense savings than in winning championships.

“That move showed me they’re not going after somebody who’s in the top of his prime,” said candid Cardinals pitcher Bob Tewksbury.

Former Cardinals third baseman Terry Pendleton told the St. Petersburg Times: “They’re saving money. They’re not trying to win anything.”

Though he posted a 6.60 ERA in spring training games, the Cardinals opened the 1994 season with Sutcliffe, 37, in their rotation. Sutcliffe won the 1979 National League Rookie of the Year Award with the Dodgers and the 1984 Cy Young Award with the Cubs but was past his prime when he joined the Cardinals.

Jolted in Georgia

Sutcliffe gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Ryan Klesko, Fred McGriff and David Justice in the first inning of a start against the Braves on April 18, 1994, at Atlanta. He yielded seven runs in two innings of a 7-1 Braves triumph. Boxscore

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a pleasant experience in this ballpark,” Sutcliffe said.

In 11 career appearances at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Sutcliffe was 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA.

Sutcliffe had a couple of other disastrous starts _ seven runs in two innings versus the Marlins on June 15 Boxscore and eight runs against the Rockies in 5.1 innings on July 17 Boxscore.

He also produced quality wins against two of his former teams. He twice beat the Dodgers _ two runs in 6.1 innings on April 13 Boxscore and 7.2 scoreless innings on May 31 Boxscore _ and dominated the Cubs (one run in six innings) on June 26. Boxscore

Sutcliffe earned wins in three of his last four decisions.

In 16 appearances (14 starts) during the strike-shortened 1994 season, Sutcliffe gave up 93 hits in 67.2 innings, posting a 6-4 record despite a 6.52 ERA. In his 14 starts, his ERA was 6.78.

Sutcliffe, in the last season of an 18-year major-league career, symbolized the sorry state of the 1994 St. Louis staff. The only two standouts were relievers Rob Murphy (3.79 ERA) and John Habyan (3.23).

The primary starters were Tewksbury (5.32 ERA), Vicente Palacios (4.44), Allen Watson (5.52), Sutcliffe (6.52), Omar Olivares (5.74) and Tom Urbani (5.15).

Overall, the 1994 Cardinals’ staff ERA was 5.15, tied with the Rockies for worst in the National League.

Previously: Cardinals rookie pitchers tested Joe Torre in 1994