Hochman: How bad is it in STL? Day after Cardinals losses feel like NFL cities after a bad 'L.'
Before coming home to șüÀêÊÓÆ”, I worked as a sportswriter in New Orleans and Denver. Weâre a baseball town; those are football towns.
Thereâs a lot that makes up the heart of New Orleans, from the music to the food to unique traditions, but the Saints are the aorta. New Orleanians yearn for the Saints to be good. And especially after Hurricane Katrina, when the city was ravaged by water, the resilient return of the Saints was inspirational and motivational to those citizens returning to a weathered New Orleans.
And in Denver, the all-consuming passion for the Broncos was passed down from generation to generation. In a town that didnât have baseball until 1993, the Broncos were the biggest show. Pride for John Elwayâs amazingness was infused in those folks. And losing those Super Bowls in the 1980s only enhanced the desire to finally win one â and then they won two in two years!
So, the Monday mornings after a Saints loss or a Broncos loss? It was as if you could feel the despair. So much emotion was invested into the outcomes of these 16 (now 17) games, so when the NFL team lost, the next morning had a bigness of sadness. The city was just ⊠down. You could hear it in voices. And once social media became a thing, you could experience it in online posts (with some expressive expletives).
All of this is to say: In May of 2024, Cardinals losses in șüÀêÊÓÆ” feel like NFL losses in those towns. Thatâs how bad things are getting â even though there are 162 games, each mounting loss is like the magnitude of a football loss. The proud șüÀêÊÓÆ” fans I talk to or interact with online are somewhere from deflated to irate to hopeless.
This was a post I got on Twitter/X this morning (from @StuartonSundaze), after the Cardinals lost their fifth-straight game: âIt gets to the point where it really affects my daily mood. If it gets much worse in the next two weeks Iâll have to tune out for my mental health.â
The Cardinals are maddeningly underacheiving. After Thursdayâs loss to Milwaukee, the last-place Cardinals are 15-22; the first-place Brewers are 22-15. The offense is awful. As a team, the Cards are hitting .217Â â only two teams in baseball have lower averages. And their OPS is .635Â â only three teams have lower OPSs.
Oh, and the Cards have only 27 home runs â tied for the fewest in the National League.
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman look lost. Jordan Walker was doing so poorly, they sent him to the minors. And bright spot Willson Contreras is now out for months. Speaking about heart, Willson was the heartbeat of this team â and in the heart of the order. And now, that heart is ripped.
If the team goes through 1-2 more weeks of paltry hitting, they must fire hitting coach Turner Ward. The players love him, yes. But something needs to be done to shake up this team, to alter the mindsets and to salvage this pivotal season in Cardinals history.
Why is it pivotal? Because if theyâre bad again, it proves that last yearâs 71-91 campaign wasnât an aberration.
Meanwhile, the fans online â from those posting with the #STLCards hashtag on Twitter/X to those in the âCardinals Nation 24/7â Facebook group â are mad as hell.
At some point, theyâre not going to take it anymore.
As another fan (@MidTennTiger) posted to me on Friday morning: âSad thing is, even if we rattled off 3 or 4 in a row, I donât know how much would change. At least for me. The bottom line is this is not a championship organization any longer. And until they show they are serious about winning championships again, itâs really hard to get excited.â
Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas smashes his glove on the bench in frustration after giving up two runs in the seventh inning against the Twins at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
BenFred: An honest question for Cardinals fans who want Yadier Molina to be manager
Warning: This opinion will anger some in Cardinal Nation who already are battling boiling blood.
Disclaimer: Remember, Iâm a Yadier Molina enthusiast.
I believe heâs a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I think heâs the best defensive catcher of his generation. And I think he can and will succeed in whatever baseball role he pours himself into because his gifts for reading, understanding and seeing the game before it happens are as sharp as his on-the-field skills were in his prime.
From throat-slash gestures to basketball-themed vacations, my stance on all topics Molina tends to be: âTrust in Yadi.â
Please keep this context in mind when reading what comes next.
For those who have decided Molina becoming the next Cardinals manager must happen, and happen in rapid fashion, how do you skip over the fact Molina doesnât exactly seem to be maximizing his impact on the team in the role he has right now?
Fire away with the rotten fruit and vegetables â Iâve put on my helmet.
Finally named a special assistant to the president of baseball operations this offseason after a long process to determine his proper title and role, Molinaâs presence this season can be described the same way as Paul Goldschmidtâs swing: missing.
He wasnât at spring training. He hasnât made a regular-season appearance with the major league team in his official capacity. At last check, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and Molina had discussed Molina spending some time with the organizationâs young catchers this summer, Post-Dispatch teammate Derrick Goold recently reported.
It seems to me like a really good time for Molina to spend some time with the major league catchers and the big club in general.
The reeling Cardinals just lost starting catcher Willson Contreras until at least the All-Star break due to an arm fracture. He was the only hitter in a locked-up lineup doing consistent damage. Thereâs no guarantee his power will be back when he is, at least not at first. (Tommy Edman has become another reminder of how the Cardinals can be too optimistic when projecting returns from injuries and the surgeries they require.)
Then-Cardinals catching prospect Andrew Knizner takes instruction from multi-time Gold Glove winner Yadier Molina at spring training on Feb. 15, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Ivan Herrera, to whom Molina gave his nod of approval as a potential heir before his retirement, will spend the present in the spotlight as the last-place Cardinals try to keep from being beaten into a sellerâs stance for the second consecutive season.
Pedro Pages, who has six major league games beneath his belt, is now the secondary option.
Herrera, 23, has started 32 games behind the plate in the majors entering this road trip. Pages, 25, has started one. Contreras can help some while healing and rehabbing, but few in the world have the firsthand catching knowledge obtained by Molina and his catalogue of more than 2,000 starts across two decades. Beyond that, a team in need of a lift could just benefit from seeing Molina walk through the clubhouse door.
Yes, I have an idea what the response to that last line will be.
IF A TEAM COULD GET A LIFT FROM MOLINA JUST WALKING THROUGH THE CLUBHOUSE DOOR, THATâS JUST MORE PROOF MOLINA SHOULD BE THE MANAGER!
Those calling for the firing of third-year manager Oli Marmol seem to keep forgetting something. Or perhaps theyâre choosing to ignore it instead.
Regardless of whether he shouldâve been, Marmol was not threatened when Molina accepted his special adviser role with the Cardinals. He was actually pleased. He had initially hoped for more. What his first preference would have been was a place for Molina on his coaching staff and in the dugout daily. It didnât happen, but it wasnât due to lack of interest or effort from Marmol.
One thing Marmol has consistently done since he got this job is attempt to surround himself with talent regardless of perceived threat level, from former bench coach turned Marlins manager Skip Schumaker to current bench coach Daniel Descalso to temporary bench coach Matt Holliday, who, despite conspiracy theories, simply bit off more than he could chew and decided against missing pivotal moments in the blooming baseball careers of his sons.
I give Marmol credit for wanting to add big been-there-done-that names to his staff. Some managers say they are all about doing what is best for the team. Others say it and also do it. Marmolâs stance in this case has been an example of the latter. You donât have to be a rocket scientist to see how it can backfire on you if enough wins donât follow, especially when you work for a front office that has, over the years, successfully convinced ownership (and many fans) that changing players, coaches and managers is the right cure for losing â just as long as the front office remains the same.
Marmol, to me, does not seem to be the reason Goldschmidt looks entirely out of sorts at the plate. Heâs not the reason Contreras is now hurt, either. An organization and catcher agreeing to improve pitch-framing skills by moving him closer to the plate â it worked â doesnât mean the catcher isnât responsible for avoiding swings.
I crushed the Cardinals for mishandling Contreras last season. And they did. The floating of a position change for him was absurd. I canât crush Marmol for Contreras putting his arm in the wrong spot this season. Sorry. Marmol isnât to blame for the front officeâs insistence on justifying Steven Matzâs contract as a starter, either. That stubbornness now threatens what had been improved pitching.
And if you blame Marmol for all of those things, then perhaps give him some credit for how the defense has improved, like he stressed it would, and how heâs proving he can weaponize a bullpen that finally has multiple legitimate options.
In the end, itâs about winning, period. Marmol is now under .500 as manager. I reminded during spring training that all his much-discussed contract extension really guaranteed was a public sign of good will out of the gate and more money if that stance dissolves before the agreementâs end. This front office is not known for its manager loyalty.
Many would love to see Molina manage regardless of who he would replace. I get that. But while many rush to beat the Molina-as-manager drum, it seems fair and appropriate to note that Molina has missed chances to leave fingerprints on this team despite having a role with the organization that would allow him to if he chooses. And before you tell me Molina being distant is smart because why should he want to help this bunch, remember, he took the job. Now it's May, and the season seems to be nearing a crossroads, and if the Cardinals had not made such a big and public display of hiring back Molina, there would be no tangible signs they did.
Thatâs not a knock. Itâs an observation. Flexibility came with the gig. Molina was allowed to shape this role as he wanted. Seeing how itâs shaped up so far, it seems a bit premature and perhaps a little disingenuous to assume heâs ready to embrace the marathon grind that is managing in the majors. Being able to do it and doing it are two very different things.Â
Marmol and his team are searching for a breakthrough. Itâs threatening to get late early again. They just got kicked in the face, to borrow a phrase from Brendan Donovan, by the Contreras injury. Special adviser Molina could help these catchers and this team if he was around more, even while we all wonder what Molina as manager could do one day.
Sports columnists Ben Frederickson and Jeff Gordon ask and answer a heavy question in this week's episode of Inside Pitch. Have the Cardinals reached a low point of DeWitt Era ownership?
Lance Lynn takes hill for slumping Cardinals in Game 2 at Brewers: First Pitch
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Amid a five-game skid, the Cardinals continue a four-game road series Friday against the first-place Brewers. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
In addition to their overall skid, the Redbirds have dropped six straight and nine of 10 to the Brewers dating back to last season.
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who got the day off Thursday as he tries to break out of a slump, is back in the lineup Friday.Â
Right-hander Lance Lynn (1-0, 3.28) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
He gave up four earned runs in five innings last time out, vs. the White Sox. He permitted just two hard-hit balls in that outing.
Lynn has not faced Milwaukee this year but he does have a 2.03 career ERA vs. the Brewers in 18 starts.
Brewers left fielder Jake Bauers has a career 1.345 OPS vs. Lynn, going 5-for-11 with three doubles.
The Brewers will counter with rookie left-hander Robert Gasser, who will make his MLB debut. Gasser, listed as the team's by , was acquired in the deal that sent closer Josh Hader to San Diego.
Gasser throws five pitches but leads with his four-seamer. His slider is , and one that gets lots of swinging strikes.
The Cardinals' .571 OPS vs. left-handers is worst in the National League.
The Cardinals are 15-22, last in the NL Central and seven games out of first. șüÀêÊÓÆ” is 2-8 in its last 10 and has scored more than three runs just three times in that span.
The Cardinals are two games better than their pace last season through 37 games. With 15 wins, this year's team is tied for second-fewest for the club at this point since 1981.
The Brewers are 22-15, first in the NL Central. Milwaukee had lost four of five entering the series.
Also Friday, the Cardinals claimed left-handed pitcher Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Rangers. He will report to Memphis. Pitcher Riley O'Brien was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Ingram, 27, started the season with the Mets' Triple-A club. He's been designated for assignment twice in the last three weeks. He's 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA this season in six games between two Triple-A clubs.
Willson Contreras (broken forearm): The catcher fractured his arm Tuesday when Mets batter J. D. Martinez took a swing and his bat dropped down and hard into Contrerasâ forearm. Contreras, who underwent surgery Wednesday, said he expects to be out six to eight weeks. Updated May 8
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement): The righty went on the the 15-day injured list Monday, a day after manager Oliver Marmol said he "doesn't look right." He has been ineffective this season and his fastball velocity has dropped into the low-90s. There is no set timeline for Gallegosâ progression toward a return. Updated May 6
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):Â The lefty went on the 15-day injured list on May 3 with a lower back injury. Matz began experiencing soreness following a start, and during his start April 30 he had a sag in velocity and effectiveness. He played catch off the mound Friday and is expected to throw a full bullpen session Monday. Updated May 10
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery): On the 10-day IL, Edman took swings off a tee from both sides of the plate in late April. He had been limited to hitting only from the right side, but recently advanced without any soreness. His hitting progression will be per usual (coach pitch, then a pitching machine) as tolerated. On May 6, he was moved to the 60-day IL. Updated May 6
Matt Carpenter (oblique strain): Began a rehab assignment last week with Class AA Springfield and continues it this week with Triple-A Memphis. He has played first base and designated hitter in an attempt to build up at-bats. He could be activated this weekend. Placed on the 10-day injured list, backdated to April 2 after feeling discomfort in his torso pregame. Updated May 10
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon): Placed on the 15-day injured list on March 31 retroactive to March 29, O'Brien's right arm tightened up after his opening day appearance. The initial diagnosis is strain of the flexor tendon; scans showed no structural damage. He began his throwing progression April 23. On May 10, he was transferred to the 60-day IL. Updated May 10
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain): On the 15-day IL, Middleton threw another bullpen session Friday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, likely with Double A Springfield. Heâs been sidelined by a forearm flexor strain. Updated May 10
Drew Rom (biceps tendinitis): He is likely to have shoulder surgery in the near future after going to Texas for a consultation with a specialist. The lefty had his rehab an injury that took place late in spring training stalled in recent weeks by persisting discomfort and weakness. Rom was added to the 60-day injured list on April 30, suggesting the club expects an extended absence. UpdatedMay 1
Ten Hochman: This day in â13, Shelby Miller pitched best Cardinals start of this century
Why Cardinals star Nolan Arenado took the blame for Thursday nightâs loss to the Brewers
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MILWAUKEEÂ â Cardinals star third baseman Nolan Arenado waited in front of his locker in the visiting clubhouse after Thursday nightâs series-opening loss in Milwaukee. That extended the losing streak to five straight games.
Arenado sat patiently and waited for reporters to finish peppering starting pitcher Sonny Gray with questions. He sat in plain view, knowing the questions would come his way. When they did, Arenado claimed the blame.
As far as Arenado was concerned, Grayâs three-run first inning and the 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that followed at American Family Field fell on Arenadoâs shoulders for not making a play that could have drastically changed that inning and Grayâs entire outing.
âSonny has been so good for us, and heâs picked us up every game,â Arenado said. âI know he would sit here and say that wasnât one of his better outings, but if I pick him up in the first weâre probably not sitting here talking about this. Our pitchers have been picking us up the whole year.â
Gray hit the type of speed bump that every pitcher eventually hits. Of course, Gray had been so good that it started to look like he might not have one of âthose days.â The veteran had dominated so thoroughly through his first five starts wearing the birds on the bat across his chest that it seemed possible, though highly improbable, that Gray wouldnât succumb to the pitfalls of a normal pitcher.
Gray entered the game with a 0.89 ERA, and he had allowed just two earned runs (five total runs) in his first five starts. He hadnât allowed a run in the first four innings of any start this season. Heâd allowed just one home run.
The Brewers scored three in the first inning, five in the first four innings. Gray gave up a season-high six runs in five innings. He allowed seven hits, including three home runs, walked a batter, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score.
When Willy Adames hit a bouncer to Arenado in that first inning with the score still 0-0, Grayâs aura of relative invincibility remained intact. It looked as though Gray had authored an escape and heâd proceed as usual.
Only thatâs not how things unfolded.
Gray had given up a pair of one-out singles to William Contreras and Christian Yelich when Adames came to the plate. Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, had already gone through the exercise in his head of how heâd handle a grounder hit to him in that scenario.
When Arenado gloved Adamesâ grounder, he tried to tag Contreras and then throw to first base for and inning-ending double play. Instead, Arenado missed the tag when Contreras threw on the brakes. Arenado threw to first and got the force there for the second out.
However, Arenado left runners on second and third by not tagging Contreras. Gray then had to face Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins with a pair of runners in scoring position.
During Hoskinsâ at-bat, Gray uncorked a wild pitch that hit the ground and got past catcher Pedro Pages as Contreras scored the gameâs first run. Then Gray left a 2-1 pitch over the outer third of the plate and Hoskins smashed it for a two-run home run.
That gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
âI made a mistake,â Arenado said. âWhat I should have done is slow down, tag. Make sure I just get the third base out. I thought â I saw him kind of takeoff right away, so I thought I had a chance to field it and tag him like I tried, but he got out of the way.
âIâve got to make that play and just slow it down there. My instincts were just make a tag and try and turn a double play and get out of it. I made a mistake. Iâve got to pick up Sonny there and get the out at third and just keep that runner from being in scoring position. I feel bad. I messed up there. That inning is on me.â
Gray (4-2) faulted his own execution on the pitch to Hoskins. Heâd intended to locate his sinker in, but he missed âright where the guys wants it.â
Gray, whoâd been slated to start the finale of the series against the New York Mets on Wednesday at Busch Stadium, offered a blunt assessment of his outing.
âI got beat. I think even a lot of the outs were loud outs,â Gray said.
The Brewers (22-15) followed the three-run first inning with a run on the first pitch of the second inning when Jake Bauers, the No. 8 hitter in their lineup, jumped on a first-pitch fastball and blasted it 417 feet to right field for a solo home run.
Gray didnât give up another hit until the fourth inning when he gave up a two-out solo home run to No. 9 hitter Joey Ortiz.
In the fifth, Contreras swatted a leadoff single and scored on a Christian Yelich RBI triple.
âThey swung early at my fastball and didnât miss,â Gray said. âThat doesnât happen a ton.â
Gray said he had familiarity with the Brewers lineup and hitters, but he did acknowledge that there was a significant difference after heâd been preparing for the Mets and geared up to pitch on Wednesday.
He struggled to make an adjustment after the Brewers came out so aggressively.
âI just didnât know where to go to be honest,â Gray said. âI just didnât know where to go after that was happening. I maybe felt a little under-prepared with working through the Mets all week. I didnât know where to go after that. So I was trying new things on the fly.â
The Cardinals offensive struggles continued. They had just six hits, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men on base. Michael Siani went 2 for 4, and he was the only Cardinal with a two-hit game.
As far as the early deficit playing factor in the offensive struggles, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol rejected that idea out of hand.
âAt some point youâve just got to score,â Marmol said. âYou get punched in the face, punch back. Itâs the first inning. Youâve got eight more chances. You have got to be able to battle back from that. We just havenât been able to, not just tonight. Just in general, we havenât been able to do that. It comes down to stringing together quality at-bats.â
Lars Nootbaarâs third home run of the season and second in his last two games came in the third inning and assured the Cardinals wouldnât get shut out.
However, the Cardinals missed a big opportunity to take a big chunk out of a four-run deficit in the fifth inning.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth thanks to a pair of walks by Pages and Brendan Donovan sandwiched around a Siani single.
Nootbaar, facing left-handed reliever Jared Koenig, hit a grounder to the Brewersâ third baseman Ortiz. The throw went home for the force out.
Then Arenado popped up the first pitch he saw from Koenig in foul territory with the bases loaded for the second out.
Alec Burleson fouled-off five pitches in an eight-pitch at-bat before he swatted a fly ball caught a step in front of the warning track in right-center field for the final out of the inning.
Arenado, who collected his only hit (a double) in the ninth inning, also faulted himself for the futile offensive performance.
âIâve just got to be better,â Arenado said. âI had chances with bases loaded and I popped up again, and that hurts because I feel like thatâs my job. They got on base for me, and Iâve just got to be better.
"I havenât been what I would like to be. I know Iâm putting the work. I know Iâm doing fine on both sides of the ball, but itâs not at the level that this team needs. Iâve got to find a way to clean it up and pick it up.â
In todayâs 10 a.m. âTen Hochmanâ sports video â brought to you by  â Ben Hochman discusses Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera. Also, a happy birthday shoutout to Keyon Dooling! And as always, Hochman picks a random șüÀêÊÓÆ” Cards card! Â
Cardinals prospect Tekoah Roby earns win despite home run trouble: Minor League Report
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After allowing six runs in his last start, Cardinals prospect Tekoah Roby earned his second win of the season after completing 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs â two of which were unearned â as Double-A Springfieldâs starter in the first game of a Wednesday doubleheader vs. Northwest Arkansas. The righty walked three batters and struck out four, giving him 30 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings over six starts. All three runs he allowed came on homers.
With a runner on base and one out in the third inning, Roby induced a popup into foul territory on the first pitch he threw to Northwest Arkansasâs Tyler Tolbert but had the at-bat extended after an error on the play by first baseman Chandler Redmond. Robyâs next pitch to Tolbert after the error was sent to left-center field for a two-run homer. The second home run Roby allowed in Springfieldâs 6-3 win came on Robyâs last pitch â a curveball that Royals prospect Cayden Wallace sent to center field for a solo homer in the sixth.
Roby has surrendered nine home runs through 28 2/3 innings for a 2.83 HR/9. He allowed six home runs in 58 1/3 innings (0.93 HR/9) a year ago and 19 in 104 2/3 innings (1.63 HR/9) while in High-A within the Rangers system in 2022.
Here are other notable performances from around the Cardinals farm system:
Outfielder Chase Davis, Class Low-A Palm Beach:The 2023 first-round draftee went hitless and struck out once in four at-bats during Palm Beachâs 4-3 win over Jupiter. The 22-year-old reached base on a forceout, flew out on a ball with a 101.5 mph exit velocity, and grounded into a double play on a ball that jumped off his bat at 106.7 mph, per Statcast. Davisâs hitless night dropped his average to .186 through 89 at-bats. In 24 games in Low-A, Davis has a .314 on-base percentage and is slugging .337. Since April 12, Davis has nine hits in 61 at-bats (.148) and has struck 20 times.
Left-handed pitcher Zack Thompson, Class AAA Memphis:Over three innings, Thompson allowed one run on no hits while walking seven batters and striking out four as Memphisâs starter in a 3-2 win over Norfolk. Thompson, whose start marked his second for Memphis since being optioned to the minors on April 24, walked three batters in the second inning but kept Norfolk scoreless as he collected two strikeouts and induced a flyout in the frame. Thompson issued three walks in the third inning and had the only run score against him on a wild pitch with two outs. The lefty, who had velocity issues while in the majors, reached a maximum fastball velocity of 94.4 mph and averaged 90.2 mph on his four-seamer. As he continues to be utilized as a starter, Thompson has allowed one run, walked 10, and struck out 11 in 10 2/3 innings for Memphis.
Catcher Jimmy Crooks, Class AA Springfield:Â As he gets back into the swing of the season following a brief stay on the injured list, Crooks delivered a three-for-three performance that included two doubles, a walk, and an RBI. Crooksâ three-hit game was his fifth multi-hit performance in 13 games and boosted his slash line to .364/.482/.523 in 56 plate appearances. The 22-year-old former fourth-round pick from the 2022 draft has five hits in his first 12 at-bats since he was activated from the IL on April 29.
Right-handed pitcher Edwin Nunez, Class AA Springfield:Nunez struck out a season-high five batters and delivered a second consecutive scoreless outing of at least four innings during his start in the second game of Springfieldâs doubleheader vs. Northwest Arkansas. The 22-year-old kept the Travelers to one hit and one walk in the 1-0 S-Cards loss. Working from a starting role for the first time in his minor league career, the hard-throwing righty has thrown 18 2/3 innings in six games (five starts) and owns a 4.82 ERA. He did not complete more than three innings in any of his four outings in April and allowed 10 runs and 13 hits during that stretch. He has since logged eight scoreless innings and gave up one hit in his last two starts.
Brewers get to Sonny Gray early as Cardinals fall 7-1 in Milwaukee
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MILWAUKEE â The hits just kept coming. Not those hits. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, those hits are still increasingly elusive at key moments capable of swinging a game. The hits that have been abundant are the ones seemingly aimed at the Cardinalsâ hopes for contending this season.
In the same week the Cardinals lost their best-performing offensive player Willson Contreras to an injury that will likely keep him out at least a couple of months, the one previously invincible element of their roster â ace pitcher Sonny Gray â faltered on Thursday night.
Gray gave up a season-high six runs in five innings in a 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in the first game of their four-game series.
The Cardinals (15-22) have lost five games in a row and fell a season-worst seven games below .500. The National League Central-leading Brewers (22-15) now have a six game win streak against the Cardinals.
Gray (4-2) allowed three home runs, plus a walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch in five innings. He also struck out six.
Outfielder Michael Siani went 2 for 4, and Lars Nootbaarâs solo home run in the third inning provided all of the scoring the Cardinals could muster. They were held to six hits and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Sonny skies turned Gray
Gray gave up two earned runs in the previous five starts of his Cardinals career, but the tables turned on him quickly on Thursday night. The veteran right-hander hadnât allowed a run in the first four innings of any start this season, but the Brewers scored three in the first inning. They scored runs in three of the first four innings.
Gray had allowed just one home run in 30â innings this season, but the Brewers smacked three in the first four innings.
The first inning got away from Gray after he gave up a pair of one-out singles to William Contreras and Christian Yelich. The next batter, Willy Adames, hit a ground ball to third baseman Nolan Arenado. In an effort to get an inning-ending double play, Arenado tried to tag Contreras as he ran by, then throw to first base for the force out. Arenado missed the tag when Contreras threw on the brakes, but he got the runner at first base.
Instead of an inning-ending double play, the Brewers had two outs and first baseman Rhys Hoskins coming to the plate. During Hoskinsâ at-bat, Gray uncorked a wild pitch that hit the ground and got past rookie catcher Pedro Pages. Contreras scored the gameâs first run on a wild pitch. Then Gray left a 2-1 pitch over the outer third of the plate, and Hoskins smashed it for a two-run home run.
That gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
Jake Bauers, the No. 8 hitter in the Brewers lineup, jumped on a first-pitch fastball to start the second inning and blasted it 417 feet to right field for a solo home run.
The Cardinals rally that wasnât
Nootbaarâs third home run of the season and second in his past two games came in the third inning and assured the Cardinals wouldnât get shut out.
However, the Cardinals missed a big opportunity to take a big chunk out of a four-run deficit in the fifth inning.
Trailing 5-1, the Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth thanks to a pair of walks by Pages and Brendan Donovan sandwiched around a Siani single.
Nootbaar, facing left-handed reliever Jared Koenig, hit a grounder to Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz, who threw home for the force out. Then Arenado popped up the first pitch he saw from Koenig in foul territory for the second out. Alec Burleson fouled off five pitches in an eight-pitch at-bat before he swatted a fly ball caught a step in front of the warning track in right-center field for the final out of the inning.
The Cardinals have now gone 3 for 25 with the bases loaded this season.
Family business
The Cardinals played their first game since starting catcher Willson Contreras went on the injured list with a fractured left forearm. Willson Contreras suffered the injury while catching on Tuesday night. He got hit by Mets slugger J.D. Martinezâs swing during an at-bat in the second inning, and he immediately writhed in pain.
Willson Contreras batted .280 with a .398 on-base percentage and a .551 slugging percentage and a team-high six home runs in 31 games. Defensively, Willson Contreras threw out 3 of 9 attempted base stealers (33.3%), and heâd registered the 10th-best strike rate of any catcher in the majors according to MLB Statcast pitch-framing data.
Willson Contreras, who had surgery on Wednesday, did not go with the team to Milwaukee, where they started a four-game series against their division rivals and Contrerasâ younger brother, William. William is the starting catcher for the Brewers and has gotten off to a terrific start this season. He entered the day with a slash line of .329/.406/.510 with five home runs.
Willson Contreras credited his younger brotherâs help for his improvement behind the plate this offseason, specifically for his strides in pitch framing this spring and to start this season.
Despite William’s great start to the season, the older Contreras led all catchers in the majors in wins above replacement as calculated by entering play on Thursday. Willson Contreras’ 1.8 WAR edged out William, Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins (1.7 WAR) for the lead.
A dangerous matchup on the bases
The Brewers came into the series having stolen the third-most bases of any club in the majors (47) behind just the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals (62 each). That didnât bode well for a Cardinals club that has struggled to contain the running game this season.
Through the first 36 games of the season, the Cardinals had thrown out 3 of 26 base stealers. All three of the runners caught stealing were thrown out by the injured Contreras.
Ivan Herrera, whoâd been Contrerasâ primary backup, had gone 0 for 17 to start the season on throwing out attempted base stealers.
Meanwhile, a runner hadnât attempted to steal with Pedro Pages catching until the third inning on Thursday night. Thatâs when Adames stole second base for the 24th steal in 27 tries against the Cardinals this season. The Brewers stole their second base of the night in the seventh inning.
Paul Goldschmidt hopes a day out of the lineup helps him out of his slump: Cardinals Extra
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt reacts after striking out during the ninth inning of a game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, against the Mets at Busch Stadium.
Christine Tannous, Post-Dispatch
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MILWAUKEE â For just the second time this season, the Cardinals started a game with star slugger Paul Goldschmidt out of the starting lineup.
Goldschmidt entered the day having started 35 of the 36 games the Cardinals had played through Wednesday. Heâd been scheduled for a day off Wednesday prior to the gameâs postponement.
He didnât start Thursday in Milwaukee, and manager Oliver Marmol said he wanted to give Goldschmidt at least a pair of âwork daysâ in hopes of helping him get back on track at the plate.
âI definitely wanted to give him at least the two days, and then Iâll talk to him today and see how that work went out on the field today and then make a decision from there,â Marmol said before the game.
Goldschmidt came into Thursday in an 0-for-24 slump that included him going 0 for 20 in the last homestand. Thatâs the longest career hitless stretch in one season for the 36-year-old right-handed hitting seven-time All-Star first baseman and former National League Most Valuable Player (2022). He had an 0-for-25 stretch that spanned two seasons in 2017-18.
Through his first 35 games, Goldschmidt batted .195 with a .287 on-base percentage and a .263 slugging percentage with five extra-base hits (two home runs, three doubles). Prior to the start of his recent hitless stretch, heâd registered his only four-hit game of the season April 30 in Detroit.
Asked if thereâs a definite benefit to having a day out of the lineup to focus on his pregame work and making adjustments at the plate, Goldschmidt said, âSometimes there can (be). It doesnât guarantee success, but one of the weird things about baseball is we donât ever really get a practice day. You can work on stuff, but in the back of your mind, you always know thereâs a game coming up â outside of probably a starting pitcher who has got his bullpen.â
Goldschmidt said the day off doesnât significantly change what heâd typically do once he get to the ballpark. He compared the day off to a spring training day, where he can âfocus on the work a little bit moreâ without preparing for four or five at-bats.
Statistically, opposing pitchers have thrown Goldschmidt the lowest percentage of fastballs (54.5%) of any season in his career. Goldschmidt downplayed that as a significant factor and instead pointed to a lack of success against fastballs, breaking balls and off-speed pitches.
âI really havenât performed on basically every (type of) pitch, location and situation,â Goldschmidt said. âItâs just been a combination of a lot of different things. Itâs not me trying to target one thing the pitchers are doing. Itâs about trying to put good swings on the ball and have good at-bats.â
Goldschmidt has enjoyed success at American Family Field during his career. He enters this series with 18 home runs at this ballpark, the sixth-most among all visiting players and the second-most among active players behind only Joey Vottoâs 24 home runs.
âHeâs a very honest and very good self-evaluator,â Marmol said. âSo you just want to get him in the right mindset and then make sure he feels, mechanically, where he needs to be. Then you shoot him back in there and you keep rolling.â
Rotation questions
The Cardinals filled in for injured starting pitcher Steven Matz (lower back strain) by having left-hander Matthew Liberatore make a spot start Sunday in the series finale against the Chicago White Sox.
Wednesdayâs postponement allowed the Cardinals to hold off on making a decision on how theyâll fill in the next time Matzâs rotation spot comes around. Sonny Gray, who had been scheduled to start Wednesday, started Thursday nightâs opener in Milwaukee instead. Lance Lynn, who had been set to start Thursday, will start Friday night. Marmol has not announced pitching plans beyond Friday.
Liberatore will be available out of the bullpen to start the series, but he could be in play for another start depending on his usage in the coming days.
Left-hander Zack Thompson, who began this season in the major league rotation filling in for Gray, started Thursday for Triple-A Memphis. Thompson wouldnât be on turn to pitch again before Tuesday.
Memphisâ scheduled starters for the next three days are Michael McGreevy on Friday, Andre Pallante on Saturday and Adam Kloffenstein on Sunday. Pallante, who began the season in the bullpen in the majors, and Kloffenstein are currently on the Cardinalsâ 40-man roster. McGreevy, a former first-round draft pick, has been a non-roster invitee to big league camp the past two seasons but is not on the 40-man roster.
Contreras surgery successful
Cardinals starting catcher Willson Contreras had surgery on his fractured left forearm Wednesday, and he did not travel with the team to Milwaukee. Heâs not expected to be around the club again until they return to șüÀêÊÓÆ” after series in Milwaukee and Anaheim.
âI talked to him right before,â Marmol said. âHe was in the right mindset. He did more of the grieving the day before and was in a good mindset of, âIt is what it is, and Iâm going to be here to support the team. Get this done and work like hell to get back.ââ
Commish's Classics: The night a replacement ump ejected the entire Cardinals bench
On May 9, 1979, a replacement umpire was pressed into service by a Major League umpire strike. Things quickly got out of control, and Rick Hummel was on the scene to report.
This is his story from that game in Houston.
"I doubt very seriously if that guy knew what He was doing," said Cardinals Manager Ken Boyer.
That was about the most charitable thing said Wednesday night to or about umpire Dave Pallone after he ejected Boyer, Ted Simmons and Keith Hernandez in the ninth inning of what turned out to be a 5-4, 16-inning loss for the Cardinals to the Houston Astros.
Pallone, in fact, cleared the Cardinals' bench of all playing personnel after a baseball, six towels and a jacket were tossed onto the field in dispute of his safe ruling on what seemed to be a forceout at second base.
"Any time you throw equipment onto the field, you can't let them sit on the bench," said the 26-year-old Pallone, an eight-year minor league veteran summoned from the International League to work as a major leaguer during the umpires' strike.
But some Cardinals gradually filed back to the dugout in defiance of Pallone's dictum and Pallone refused to enforce his bench-clearing decision.
"I'm new," he said sheepishly afterward. "I didn't notice the players standing out there at first. You just can't stop the game every time and ask them to leave."
Pallone said he would file a full report on Wednesdays activities, including the fact that he told coach Red Schoendienst that all the Cardinal players on the bench would be banished to the clubhouse to return only if they were needed. But the Cardinals' players and manager don't care what he files, on the basis of their post-game comments.
Simmons, who was ejected by crew chief Pallone because Pallone said he called him a "scab," acknowledged that he had said it and that he meant it. "That's what he is, isn't he?" said Simmons.
"I can't wait for the regular umpires to get back and he has to work with guys like (Ed) Vargo and (Bruce) Froemming. He'll last about one day. He has no idea what he's doing."
The umpiring was such Wednesday that even the winning manager, Bill Virdon, admitted "they had their problems."
The Cardinals also contended that Houston first baseman Bob Watson was off the bag on an inning-ending double play that cost them two third-inning runs. But the majority of their wrath was reserved for Pallone after he had ruled shortstop Garry Templeton had not stayed on the bag long enough in fielding pitcher Will McEnaney's throw on a sacrifice bunt. When Pallone flashed hands down, McEnaney, Hernandez and Simmons raced toward second base in unison to join Templeton. who was not far behind. Hernandez, to his regret, arrived first. With a bump.
"When I ran up to him, I couldn't slow down," said Hernandez. "I bumped him inadvertently. He said, 'Don't you bump me.' I grabbed him by the arm and he said, 'You're gone.'
"It's called a no-guts decision in front of the home crowd. I asked, 'Would you call that play the same in șüÀêÊÓÆ”?' I called him a gutless bleep."
Soon enough, Simmons was out and so, too, was Boyer.
At one point, the Cardinals had chased Pallone halfway into center field. "
What I said, you couldn't print in your newspaper," said Boyer.
During all this, Cardinals trainer Gene Gieselmann was hit twice once on his jacket and once in the face by a fan throwing beer.
"I yelled at him after he hit me the first time," said Gieselmann. "I guess I shouldn't. But the police told me later that they had arrested him."
Pallone, standing in a runway long after the game, uniform shirt hanging out as he was interrogated, denied that he had threatened to forfeit the game. The way he said he put it to the Cardinals was, "You know I'll walk off the field if you don't." The replays seemed to support the Cardinals, but Pallone said they supported him.
"I felt I made the right call at the time," he said. "I was hoping the instant replay would back me up 100 percent and the replay shown backed me up 100 percent."
Postscript: After the strike was settled, Pallone was one of eight replacement umps hired by the Major Leagues. He had a 10 year career in which he was mostly treated as an outsider by his fellow umps.
