By Bernie Miklasz
July 29, 2013
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at PNC Park.(Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)
Instant (sort of) reaction to the Cardinals' embarrassing 9-2 loss to the Pirates on Monday at PNC Field:
1. Let's pretend that Tony La Russa is still managing the Cardinals, with his trusted capo, Dave Duncan, alongside as the pitching coach. Here's the question: what would be the percentage of probability of TLR and Duncan setting up their rotation in a manner that puts Jake Westbrook in place to to start Game 1 of an important five-game series at Pittsburgh? Here's the answer: ZERO percent. Given that Westbrook breaks out in a rash upon passing through the gates of PNC Park, Don Tony and Papa Dunc would have rearranged the rotation to keep Westbrook safely hidden in a pitcher-protection program _ well beyond the reach of Pirates hitters that go all Roberto Clemente andWillie Stargell on ol' Westie as soon as they make visual contact.
2. The Cardinals are 5-11 in their last 16 gamesagainst the Pirates. In the 16 games the Cardinals have been outscored 95-53, STL pitchers have a 5.38 ERA, and STL batters are hitting .218 against Pittsburgh pitchers.
3. The Cardinals are 14-20 this season against teams that currently have a winning record.
4. On days that he knows he's facing St. Louis,Pedro Alvarez presumably arises at 4:30 a.m. and speeds to the ballpark, knowing that free and easy money awaits him in the form of the best damned in-game batting practice that any MLB hitter could dream of seeing. In the last two seasons against Cardinals pitchers, Alvarez is Ronald Reaganinvading Grenada. Since the start of 2012 Alvarez is 28 for 81 (.346) with 8 homers and 30 RBIs against STL pitching. This includes going 12 for 24 with runners in scoring position, four go-ahead RBIs, and four game-winning RBIs. No other player has more than 13 RBIs against the Cards over the past two seasons. But the Cardinals continue to give Alvarez fat pitches to hit; they're the Daddy soft-tossing the underhand pitches to little Junior in the father-son game.
5. This is all I have to say about Fernando Salas: at some point, Matheny and The Mohatma will realize that this isn't 2011. The manager will also realize that Salas is especially ineffective against LH batters. Get mad at Salas if you choose; you're directing the frustration at the wrong guy.
6. The Cardinals are 0-4 on the end-of-the-world road trip. They have scored five runs and batted .169 in the four games. They have struck out 32 times, with five walks. They have hit into four double plays. They have batted .140 in 57 at-bats against LH pitching. They have been outscored 20-5. That is all.
7. In the first four games of this End of Days road journey Allen Craig, David Freese,Matt Carpenter, Carlos Beltran, Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday are a combined 12 for 82 (.146) with 20 strikeouts, two walks, and four GIDPs.
8. Based on the reaction that hammered my Twitter feed Monday night, I assume the Cardinals officially were eliminated from postseason contention.
9. Hey, I'm just as bad. Now, on a more serious note: the Pirates were supposed to win this game; they had a huge advantage in the starting-pitching matchup. Indeed, Francisco Liriano was excellent. Westbrook hasn't pitched well at PNC. It's just one game. But this one game followed three sleepwalking episodes in Atlanta, so it's magnified. And the irritation is intensified by the Cardinals' recent futility against the Pirates.
10. C'mon Jason Isringhausen. If you're going to do post-game analysis on Fox Sports Midwest after a game like this, at least bring the fastball.
11. Remember: when the Cardinals lose a game, it's Matt Holliday's fault.
12. This was the worst beatdown of a St. Louis team in Pittsburgh since Jerome Bettisrushed for 129 yards and two TDs in the Steelers' 42-6 wipeout of the Rams on Nov. 3, 1996.
13. Regarding all of this babbling over potential trades... just one question: can Jake Peavy and Cliff Lee hit?
14. Top of the seventh, game still within reach (well, at least in theory.) Pirates up 4-1. Freese and Shane Robinson draw two-out walks. Two runners on. Two out. Pete Kozma up. ... clearly time for a RH pinch-hitter that can do some damage with one swing. Except the Cardinals don't have anyone who fits that profile, not in a bench role. Kozma flies out. G'night. Oh, well. At least Ty Wigginton is still getting paid.
15. The Cardinals will homer again, right?
Looking ahead ...
Doubleheader time Tuesday at PNC.
Lance Lynn vs. A.J. Burnett in Game 1.
Tyler Lyons vs. Jeanmar Gomez in Game 2.
Matheny switched the pitching order around, moving Lynn to Game 1 after the Pirates opted to start Burnett in Game 1.
Translation: Clint Hurdle is getting into someone's head.
Gomez has been working in relief since late June, but he had a 2.80 ERA in his eight starts this season. Burnett is 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA in his last three starts against the Cardinals.
Let's see how the visiting team responds.
Thanks for reading ... and tolerating.
Now we move on ...
-Bernie
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