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Nobody did it better than Chris Carpenter in 2005

Posted in Games, Pitchers on June 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Just how well Chris Carpenter pitched for the 2005 Cardinals may become more fully appreciated with time.

Carpenter, who won the 2005 National League Cy Young Award with a 21-5 record and 2.83 ERA, put together a one-month stretch then that recently was touted as historically unprecedented in both its successfulness and its artistry.

Detroit’s Justin Verlander in 2011 won six straight starts, allowing four runs and 35 baserunners, with 51 strikeouts, in 49.2 innings pitched.

Since 1900, only one big-league pitcher, Chris Carpenter, has had six wins in six starts, with as many innings pitched and strikeouts as Verlander, and as few runs and baserunners allowed, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

In 2005, from June 14 to July 17, Carpenter went 6-0 in 50.2 innings pitched, with two runs and 27 baserunners allowed, and 54 strikeouts.

Carpenter had a 0.35 ERA during that six-game stretch, lowering his season ERA from 3.49 to 2.34.

“Unfairly to (Carpenter), we kind of expect him to go out and throw shutouts,” teammate Scott Rolen told MLB.com in July 2005. “It’s not that easy.”

Said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa of Carpenter then: “I would say location is (the key). He’s really getting the ball down quite a bit with movement. ”

Here is a look at Carpenter’s dominant 2005 stretch:

June 14, at Toronto, Cardinals 7, Blue Jays 0: Carpenter pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10 against his former club. The lone hit was a sixth-inning double by shortstop Russ Adams. Boxscore

June 20, at Cincinnati, Cardinals 6, Reds 1: Carpenter shut out the Reds for eight innings. After Felipe Lopez led off the Reds’ ninth with a home run and Rich Aurilia walked, Ray King relieved Carpenter and finished the game. Boxscore

June 25, at St. Louis, Cardinals 8, Pirates 0: In a game that took just 2:09, Carpenter pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11. Boxscore

July 1, at St. Louis, Cardinals 6, Rockies 0: Carpenter held Colorado scoreless for 7.2 innings. With a runner on base and two outs in the eighth, La Russa lifted Carpenter and brought in King, a left-hander, to face left-handed batter Todd Helton. King struck out Helton. Boxscore

July 6, at Phoenix, Cardinals 2, Diamondbacks 1: After Carpenter limited Arizona to three hits (including an Alex Cintron solo homer) in eight innings, St. Louis broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth on David Eckstein’s RBI-suicide squeeze bunt. Jason Isringhausen preserved the win for Carpenter with a scoreless ninth. Boxscore

July 17, at St. Louis, Cardinals 3, Astros 0: In his first start after the all-star break, Carpenter outdueled Roger Clemens, pitching a three-hitter and striking out nine. Boxscore

After the win over Houston, La Russa, speaking to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, said of Carpenter, “When he threw the ball inside today, he was right on the black with movement. He got ground balls to the left side. He’s pitching to a very wide plate because he goes to the other side. His breaking ball is down with good break. He’s locating very, very well with good stuff.”

Said Carpenter: “It’s all about execution and location.”

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Juan Agosto had futile, lucrative ride with Cardinals

Posted in Games, Pitchers on June 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Perhaps no performance better symbolizes the disappointing tenure of Juan Agosto with the Cardinals than the 1992 game in which he gave up the winning run by hitting a batter with the bases loaded.

Agosto’s name resurfaced June 22 as the Mets beat the Athletics, 3-2, in the 13th inning when Brad Ziegler hit Justin Turner with a pitch, forcing in the winning run. It was the first time a major-league team had won on a game-ending hit-by-pitch in the 13th inning or later since the Mets beat Agosto and the Cardinals 19 years ago, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Agosto, a left-handed reliever, signed a three-year, $4.6 million free-agent contract with the Cardinals in December 1990. The money was guaranteed: a $500,000 signing bonus, with base contracts of $1 million in 1991, $1.5 million in 1992 and $1.6 million in 1993.

At the time, that deal was considered quite lucrative for a left-handed reliever who wasn’t a stopper. The Cardinals and their fans expected Agosto to be an effective setup specialist for closer Lee Smith.

Agosto had built a reputation for durability while pitching for the White Sox, Twins and Astros. In 1988, he was 10-2 with four saves and a 2.26 ERA in 75 games for Houston.

“Juan solidifies our bullpen considerably,” Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill told The Sporting News in announcing the signing. “He is a workhorse who wants to pitch every day.”

Though he did pitch often, Agosto often didn’t pitch well.

Lacking command, Agosto drew the ire of many Cardinals fans, starting with his first season in 1991. Though he appeared in 72 games and had a 5-3 record with two saves, Agosto had more hits allowed (92) than innings pitched (86) and had a 4.81 ERA. He hit a team-high eight batters and recorded more walks (39) than strikeouts (34). Batters hit .291 against him.

When Agosto started poorly in 1992, booing increased from Cardinals fans.

On April 23, 1992, at New York’s Shea Stadium, the Cardinals and Mets battled into the 13th inning of a scoreless duel.

The Mets had been held to four hits entering the 13th. Then, Agosto yielded singles to Dave Magadan and Junior Noboa, and issued a walk to Charlie O’Brien.

That brought up Daryl Boston, a left-handed batter. Claire Smith, writing for the New York Times, described what happened next:

When the ball hit him in the stomach, unbuttoning his jersey and settling between uniform and undershirt, 3 hours 57 minutes of baseball finally, and officially, came to an end.

“It just slipped out of my hand,” Agosto said of the pitch that struck Boston and gave the Mets a 1-0 victory.

Cardinals manager Joe Torre summarized it best when he told reporters: “If you’re a baseball fan, this is a great game. If you’re a Cardinals fan, your stomach hurts like mine does.” Boxscore

Agosto continued to struggle. His record was 2-4 with a 6.25 ERA when the Cardinals released him June 13, 1992. When he received the news, Agosto approached Torre and apologized for his performance.

“I told him there was nothing to apologize for,” Torre told reporters. “He took the ball every time. He never made an excuse. He wanted to stay here.”

Agosto’s overall record as a Cardinal: 7-7, 5.20 ERA, 131 hits allowed in 117.2 innings.

In reporting Agosto’s departure from St. Louis, The Sporting News wrote:

The Cardinals ate their biggest contract ever when they released reliever Juan Agosto … The Cardinals owe Agosto, who had a 6.25 ERA, about $2.7 million.

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Ronnie Belliard re-ignited Cardinals in 2006 playoffs

Posted in Games, Hitters on June 16, 2011| 2 Comments »

(Updated July 30, 2018)

In his two months with the Cardinals during the 2006 regular season, Ronnie Belliard didn’t compile dazzling statistics, but he did play a significant part in Cardinals postseason history.

Belliard’s performance in the 2006 National League Division Series enabled the Cardinals to eliminate the Padres and advance on a postseason path that led them to their first World Series title in 24 years.

On July 30, 2006, the Cardinals acquired Belliard, a second baseman, from the Indians for infielder Hector Luna. The Cardinals rated Belliard a more complete player than either Luna or their incumbent second baseman, Aaron Miles.

In declaring Belliard the everyday second baseman, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, “Sometimes you have to seize the moment. This is our chance to win.”

“I’ve seen him rise to the occasion in winning situations,” La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He doesn’t hide from them. He takes charge of them.”

Belliard gave the Cardinals an infield that had at each position a starter who had been a big-league all-star: Albert Pujols at first, Belliard at second, David Eckstein at short and Scott Rolen at third.

When acquired by St. Louis, Belliard was hitting .291 with eight home runs and 44 RBI for the Indians.

In 54 games with the Cardinals, Belliard batted .237 with five home runs and 23 RBI.

After losing nine of their final 13 regular-season games and barely holding off Houston to win the NL Central championship, the Cardinals stumbled into the first round of the playoffs against San Diego.

That’s when Belliard played his best as a Cardinal.

In Game 1 at San Diego, the Padres trailed by four runs in the seventh inning, but had the bases loaded with two outs and Todd Walker at the plate against reliever Tyler Johnson.

Walker hit a sharp grounder, but Belliard “dived on the outfield grass, knocked the ball down, rolled over and threw out Walker by a step,” Ryan Fagan of The Sporting News reported. “It was the play the locker room was buzzing about.” Video

If the ball had gotten past Belliard, two runs would have scored and the Padres would have had the tying runs on base with Dave Roberts (who was 3-for-3 in the game) up next.

Instead, the Cardinals went on to win, 5-1, setting the tone for the series and restoring their swagger after their wobbly finish to the regular season. Boxscore

“That saved the game for us,” Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds said. “If they get two runs in right there, we’re in trouble.”

Added Pujols: “I never thought he was going to get to the ball.”

In the clubhouse, his Cardinals teammates presented Belliard with a game ball.

“I think I got lucky on that one.” Belliard said. “… It was a pretty good play and I know we need that play for the win.”

Belliard also delivered with the bat. In the decisive Game 4 against the Padres, Belliard’s two-run, two-out single in the first tied the score and helped St. Louis regain momentum en route to a 6-2 victory. Boxscore

For the four-game series, Belliard batted .462 (6-for-13).

The Cardinals went on to eliminate the Mets in a classic seven-game League Championship Series and knocked off the Tigers in the World Series.

Belliard’s strong play didn’t last. He was hitless in 12 at-bats in the World Series.

On Oct. 31, 2006, Belliard declared for free agency, sat for five months without an offer, and finally signed with the Nationals on March 24, 2007.

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Should Curt Flood have caught Jim Northrup’s drive?

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers on June 12, 2011| 51 Comments »

One of the most memorable and hotly debated plays in Cardinals history always will be the two-run triple by Detroit’s Jim Northrup on a drive that sailed over the head of center fielder Curt Flood in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series.

The contentious question remains: Would Flood have caught the ball if he hadn’t stumbled?

In the top of the seventh inning of the scoreless Game 7 on Oct. 10, 1968, at Busch Stadium, Northrup, a left-handed batter, faced Bob Gibson with Norm Cash on second base, Willie Horton on first and two outs. Northrup lined Gibson’s first offering to center field.

Flood initially broke in for the catch. Realizing his mistake, Flood tried to move back and to his right. As he did, his spikes appeared to catch in the turf. (Some say he slipped on a slick spot in the grass.) He briefly stumbled but didn’t fall. Though he recovered quickly, it was too late to catch the ball, which fell behind him, several yards in front of the warning track.

Both runners scored and Northrup raced to third base. The next batter, Bill Freehan, drove in Northrup with a double, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Detroit went on to a 4-1 victory, winning its first World Series title in 23 years and stunning the defending champion Cardinals, who had taken a 3-games-to-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Boxscore

Flood, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, was labeled the goat because many thought he would have caught Northrup’s liner if not for the slip. Others, though, have said Northrup’s shot was so well-struck it would have eluded Flood regardless of his stumble.

A film clip of the play on YouTube shows Northrup hit the ball hard, but it landed in a spot where a center fielder (especially one of Flood’s skill) likely would be able to race back and make a catch.

Because a strong case can be made for either side, the argument likely will endure for as long as baseball has fans.

In his report for the Oct. 29, 1968, edition of The Sporting News, Dick Kaegel described this exchange between reporters and Flood, who sat on the edge of a table and sipped from a bottle of champagne that was intended for a Cardinals celebration:

Did you lose the ball in the crowd?

Yes.

Was the ground still soggy out there?

Yes.

Could you have caught the ball if you hadn’t slipped?

I think so. Yes. Look, I don’t want to make alibis. I should have made the play but I didn’t, and that’s all there is to it.

In the visiting team locker room, Northrup was asked whether Flood should have caught the ball.

“The guys on the bench all said he wouldn’t have caught it even if he hadn’t stumbled,” Northrup said in The Sporting News report. “I couldn’t really say myself.”

In the Associated Press accounts of the game, Flood said, “I couldn’t see it against the shirts (in the crowd). The reason I started in, I just didn’t know where the ball was. A ball hit right at me gives me trouble in day games. If I hadn’t slipped, I might have got it.”

Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst told the Associated Press, “I’m sure he could have caught it if he hadn’t charged in on it.”

In a tribute to Northrup after his passing, longtime Detroit sports columnist Jerry Green of FOXSportsDetroit.com reported Northrup had told him, “Flood never could have caught the ball.”

Denny McLain, ace of the 1968 Tigers staff, said in a June 8, 2011, interview with Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press, “I never once bought the argument that (Flood) misplayed the ball like everyone says. There was no way he was catching that.”

Yet, in his autobiography “Nobody’s Perfect,” McLain said, “Curt Flood simply blew it. Now, here’s a super outfielder, but he just couldn’t find the ball.”

In his autobiography “The Way It Is,” Flood barely mentions the play. “I attracted unfavorable attention by missing a catch that might have been easy for me if I had not been completely bushed,” Flood said.

Author Stuart L. Weiss, in his book “The Curt Flood Story” asked, “Why he was ‘bushed’ he did not say … That could have affected him after he started running back and to his right for the ball, but it could not have accounted for his initial misjudgment.”

It had rained in St. Louis the day before Game 7. Flood’s teammates have indicated Flood slipped on a spot still wet from the rain.

“As soon as the ball left the bat, I was confident Flood would track it down, as he had done on so many similar occasions over the years,” Bob Gibson said in his autobiography “Stranger to the Game.” “This time, though, Curt’s first step was toward the infield, and when he realized he had underestimated the hit, he turned sharply, and for a split second lost his footing on the wet grass.”

Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver told journalist William Mead, “The playing conditions that day were very bad in the outfield. Curt broke initially to his right and one or two steps in, and then he got stuck in the mud. When he got stuck, his quickness wasn’t there, and Northrup’s ball, which was well-hit, got past him.”

In comments to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the game, Northrup supported that version. He played center field for the Tigers in Game 7, so he knew about the conditions.

“It was muddy out there,” Northrup said. “Most of the field was dry, but it was muddy in center field because of yesterday’s rain. The sun never hit center field. The grass and dirt didn’t get a chance to dry out.”

Often overshadowed is the fact Northrup had a terrific World Series overall. He hit a grand slam off Larry Jaster in Game 6. In the seven games, Northrup had eight RBI, seven hits, two home runs and four runs scored.

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Two walkoff home runs in a row: Stan Musial did it in 1948

Posted in Games, Hitters, Records on June 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Nov. 24, 2024)

In 1948, Stan Musial became the first Cardinals player to hit walkoff home runs in consecutive games.

No other Cardinal matched the feat until Albert Pujols did it June 4 and June 5 in 2011 against the Cubs at St. Louis, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

On Aug. 26, 1948, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Giants at St. Louis, Musial batted in the ninth inning with a runner on first, one out and the score tied at 5-5.

Facing Ken Trinkle, a right-handed reliever, Musial launched a home run, giving the Cardinals a 7-5 walkoff victory. Boxscore

In the next game, Aug. 28 against the Giants at St. Louis, Musial batted in the 12th with one out, the bases empty and the score tied at 4-4. Facing starter Monty Kennedy, a left-hander, Musial cracked a home run, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 victory. Boxscore

In his autobiography, “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” Musial indicated the Cardinals turned up their intensity when playing the Giants because of the presence of manager Leo Durocher, a relentless antagonist. In July 1948, in a move that shocked the baseball world, Durocher left the Dodgers and became manager of the Giants, replacing Mel Ott.

The 1948 Cardinals were 11-1 against the Giants after Durocher joined them.

“Leo liked to play the game rough, liked to make it a game of intimidation,” Musial said in his autobiography. “His tactics turned us from tabbies into tigers.”

For the book “Voices From Cooperstown,” Musial told author Anthony J. Connor, “Durocher tried to intimidate the other team with this kind of rough stuff, but I think it backfired on him more than not. He was just stirring up a nest of hornets. When Durocher came to town, I was so charged up before the game, man, I could go out there and climb six fences. I wasn’t the only one. Our whole team was up.”

The game-winner on Aug. 28 was Musial’s 33rd home run of the season. Since arriving in the big leagues in 1941, Musial never had hit as many as 20 homers in a season. In 1948, he would finish with a career-best 39. It began a 10-year stretch in which Musial hit 20 or more home runs each season, including six years with 30 or more.

“The power surge felt good, mighty good,” Musial said.

In his book “Musial: From Stash to Stan the Man,” author James N. Giglio wrote of Musial’s home run production: “Always able to smack outside pitches to left field, Musial nevertheless became a smarter and more confident hitter in 1948. His greater sensitivity to the strike zone made him even more dangerous with two strikes. Instead of trying to protect the plate, he bore down harder and took his customary swing.”

Musial won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1948. He hit .376 with 131 RBI, 230 hits and 135 runs scored. His slugging percentage (.702) was the first above .700 in the NL since Hack Wilson (.723) of the Cubs in 1930, and his 103 extra-base hits were four shy of the NL record established by Chuck Klein of the Phillies in 1930.

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Cardinals rookie pitchers tested Joe Torre in 1994

Posted in Games, Pitchers on June 6, 2011| 2 Comments »

(Updated July 20, 2024)

In April 1994, with injuries taking a toll on Cardinals pitchers, manager Joe Torre let two rookies, Frank Cimorelli and Bryan Eversgerd, make their big-league debuts in the same game.

On April 30, 1994, before a Saturday night crowd of 49,927 at Houston’s Astrodome, the Astros jumped on St. Louis starter Allen Watson for a 5-1 lead through four innings.

Cimorelli, 25, a 37th-round pick in the 1989 draft, entered in the fifth and yielded a run after Jeff Bagwell and Ken Caminiti opened the inning with consecutive singles. In the sixth, the Astros scored four runs on RBI-doubles by Steve Finley and Bagwell, and Caminiti’s two-run single, before Cimorelli recorded an out.

Torre replaced Cimorelli with Eversgerd, 25, who signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1989. Eversgerd finished the inning without allowing a run.

Houston went on to a 15-5 victory. Boxscore

When the Cardinals returned to Houston in July, Cimorelli and Eversgerd were involved in one of the franchise’s most embarrassing losses.

On July 18, 1994, at the Astrodome, the Cardinals led 11-0 in the third inning. In the sixth, with the score 11-4, Cimorelli again relieved Watson. The Astros scored 11 runs in the inning _ including four against Cimorelli (who retired one batter) and four against Eversgerd (who faced four batters and retired none).

Houston won, 15-12, and tied a National League record for overcoming the largest deficit. Eversgerd took the loss, though there was plenty of blame to share. Boxscore

“I just pitched the wrong pitchers,” Torre said to the Associated Press. “It’s my fault we lost.”

Cardinals catcher Tom Pagnozzi told the wire service, “I don’t think anyone in the ballpark could have dreamed this. We couldn’t get anybody out. I was involved in a game like this when I was 8 years old, but not in the big leagues.’

Cimorelli pitched in 11 games for the 1994 Cardinals, compiling an 0-0 record, one save and a 8.77 ERA. The save was earned when he pitched three scoreless innings in St. Louis’ 11-4 win over the Rockies on July 1, 1994. It was his only big-league season.

Eversgerd pitched in 40 games for the 1994 Cardinals. He was 2-3 with a 4.52 ERA.

In April 1995, the Cardinals traded Eversgerd, along with pitcher Kirk Bullinger and outfielder DaRond Stovall, to the Expos for pitcher Ken Hill.

Eversgerd pitched for the 1995 Expos (0-0) and 1997 Rangers (0-2).

In January 1998, Eversgerd, a free agent, signed with the Cardinals and ended his big-league playing career with them. He was 0-0 in eight appearances for the 1998 Cardinals.

Eversgerd became a Cardinals minor-league coach in 2001, took a two-year hiatus (2002-03) and returned to the organization in 2004. He was pitching coach at Class AAA Memphis from 2013-17. Among the Cardinals pitching prospects Eversgerd has been credited with helping during his minor-league coaching career: Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Seth Maness and Jack Flaherty.

In 2012, Eversgerd received the organization’s George Kissell Award for coaching excellence.

Eversgerd was named Cardinals bullpen coach on Oct. 26, 2017, and remained in that position through the 2022 season. He was the bullpen coach on the staffs of three Cardinals managers: Mike Matheny (2018), Mike Shildt (2018-21) and Oliver Marmol (2022).

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