FanNation - The Republic of Sport

stephen. said 06/24, 10:39 AM
The St. Louis Cardinals have been the most *impressive* team thus far - not the biggest surprise, not the best, the most impressive.

At this time last year, the Cardinals had as many wins as they have losses this year - 33. This year, they are 44-33, and they find themselves 4.5 games back from the best team in baseball, record-wise.

Considering all of their injuries, this makes the Cardinals the most impressive team.

Kelvin Jimenez
Tyler Johnson
Josh Kinney
Anthony Reyes
Chris Carpenter
Matt Clement
Mark Mulder
Adam Wainwright

Those are just the pitchers on the Cardinals that are on the disabled list.

Their "ace", and 10.5 million-dollar-man, Carpenter, hasn't pitched this year. Arguably their second best pitcher, Mulder, hasn't picked up the ball all season either. Johnson, also, hasn't pitched, Reyes pitched in ten games, Jimenez in four, an impressive Wainwright in thirteen, and Clement and Kinney haven't pitched in over two years.

Cesar Izturis is on the disabled list, Albert Pujols is now on the disabled list, and Encarnacion's career is still in the air.

Looking at all of these injuries, the "surprise" Cardinals at 44-33 have been the most impressive.

stephen. said 06/24, 11:30 AM
One thing I notice is that the Angels have lost time from more offense players than pitchers.

Kendrick has still played in 32 games, Figgins has played in 43 games, Izturis in 56 games, Aybar in 47 games, and Shields in 30 games.

While you're looking at a few Cardinals, I can same the same for a few of the Angels players.

Bootcheck has a 10.13 ERA, Moseley has a 7.85 ERA, Izturis is batting .266, and Aybar is under .275.

Here is a big difference, though.

Bootcheck, Escobar, and Moseley are the only Angels still on the disabled list that you mentioned. As I mentioned, most of the other players have still played a very big chunk of the season.

All of the Cardinals I mentioned are still on the disabled list, that doesn't take into account anyone who may have missed a few games because of injury or have been on the DL earlier in the season.

Ryan Franklin, with a career 4.20 ERA, has had to step up and he has a 2.86 ERA. Isringhausen is trying to return to form after just getting on the DL. A young Kyle McClellan is really taking a big role and has a 2.52 ERA. Springer, Loshe, Wellemeyer - these unexpected guys are playing huge for the Cardinals.

stephen. said 06/24, 12:01 PM
It is about more impressive.

If you put the Cardinals in the AL West, they would be three games behind the Angels.

If you look at it that way, I feel it shows how impressive they've been.

I want to know the last team that has lost time from over NINE pitchers and still been 11 games better than they were around mid-season the year before.

You can talk about how Kinney and Jimenez and others haven't been that productive, but Mulder and Carpenter have both been past ace's.

Pitching wins championships, not hitting.

I guarantee almost no one has heard of most of the players stepping up for the Cardinals - I named a few.

Who are you going to bring up?

Ervin Santana? A highly touted prospect who has been waiting to shine.

You can say Arredondo, but Oliver has experience and has pitched well in the past so he isn't a surprise, O'Day has an above average ERA, Saunders has always had the potential he's showing.

Schumaker is playing good, Miles and Ludwick are playing great, another no-name, Brendan Ryan has played well.

Kotchman couldn't have missed much. He's played in 73 of 77 games.

You make a big deal out of the infield missing time. Try over nine pitchers.