I knew I was right about Brad Thompson

Obviously it took someone far smarter than I to prove it (kudos to Fungoes for imparting the knowledge), but I knew Brad Thompson was more valuable to this Cardinal team than he has gotten credit for.

I wrote about Thompson round-about three weeks ago, and his ability to roll with whatever role the Cards asked him to take on any given day.

Apparently spot-starting is one of his better ones.

I don’t have much more to add, but I felt compelled to link to the great work by Fungoes above.  It’s a good read, as is pretty much all of their stuff.  Besides, it backed up something I said - which I can’t claim too often.

Thanks for reading.


Filed Under Brad Thompson, Cardinal Blogs

Leave a Comment | Posted on August 18, 2008 by PHE | Subscribe!

Quick observations

Chris Perez is starting to get ‘that look’ when he pitches.  Tonight, he seemed really pissed off that Brandon Phillips got that hit to left, and he took it out on Javier Valentin and Edwin Encarnacion.  The slider was working, the heater was working, the control seemed to be working.  CP63 has got it going on right now, just at the right time.

Is it just me, or is the bullpen starting to take their performance up a notch?

The starting pitchers definitely have taken their performance to a higher level (probably mostly spurred on by trying to keep their spots, with guys returning from the DL - well, at least until today - heal quickly Chris Carpenter.

For those who haven’t been keeping tabs, Felipe Lopez is now hitting .357 since being signed off of waivers.  I’m still not sold, and I’m not convinced he’s the savior - but he’s doing a lot of good things.  He has two triples since coming into the fold.

Brad Thompson scuffled a bit tonight, but pitched admirably in a spot start role.  He was victimized by both a bad throw and a weak defensive play at the plate tonight by Jason LaRue.

Kudos as well to Jaime Garcia - this kid is showing a lot of moxie in an ever-changing role with the Cardinals.  I think I’m going to enjoy seeing him in a full-time rotation spot with the 2009 version of this club.

The damned Cubs appeared to be done in tonight by the Marlins.  Carlos Zambrano got touched up pretty badly again, and the Fish were on their way.  Then Daryle (don’t forget the ‘e’) Ward hit a pinch-hit three-run homer.  This Cubs team reminds me of the ‘06 Cards in the playoffs right now - everything going their way…

Ryan Ludwick appears to have adjusted nicely to a lineup shuffle - he has hit the ball really hard in the two spot the last couple of nights.

Albert Pujols continues his ‘power slump’ - Mang was only three for five tonight with two doubles.  This guy is sick.

Shut Carp down - now

The news at ESPN.com is that and MRI has revealed that Chris Carpenter has a strain in his pitching *shoulder*, not a triceps strain as previously thought and reported.

LaRussa and Duncan are already preparing to use either Brad Thompson or Jaime Garcia in Carpenter’s rotation slot on Friday.

In yet another setback for a Cardinal starting pitcher returning from injury, the Cards have a lot more on the line with this one.  Carp is owed $15M per season for the next three years, each of which they desperately need him to be their ace.  There is absolutely no reason to try and rush him back to pitching again this year.  In what is quickly becoming a floundering playoff push (I’m still optimistic, but cautiously so), the Cardinals need to protect their investment in the future years of Carp’s contract.  It even makes me cringe a little to read “…will rejoin his teammates in Florida, where he will receive treatment from the team’s medical staff.”  Great, so they’re going to let Dr Paletta(nother pitcher’s arm implode) work on him.  Fabulous.

In a sick twist, this has at least brought the Cardinals’ brass to their senses regarding Adam Wainwright, according to STLToday.com.  Waino’s next rehab start is being pushed back to Saturday, where he will pitch for AA Springfield (not Memphis, as in his previous two outings) and get in 65-70 pitches.  This is good news, in my book.  However, the yo-yo-ing continues with this team.  Is he going to pitch in relief or start?  I realize situations are dictating responses in this case, but the guy has to get in the right mental state to know when and how he needs to pitch.  Sure, I give the benefit of the doubt to Wainwright and his mental strength and testicular fortitude, versus say a Joel Pineiro or even a Kyle Lohse, but I reckon it’d be helpful for him to know one way or another.  Hell, it’s probably even better for his arm if he prepares specifically one way or another.

The Cardinals, for better or worse, put their eggs in the Carpenter/Wainwright basket at the trade deadline.  Unlike a lot of Cards fans, I wasn’t terribly disappointed at the deadline, I think they were just being realistic about the capital they had to use in a trade, and where this team is headed for the next five seasons.

But if that was their excuse then, it has to be their approach now.  Don’t make a Mark Mulder story out of Carp, who has a history with his shoulder as it is.  Shut him down and hope that the rest of the Cardinals can pick up the slack.  After all, they’ve done it all season…

Viva Chris Perez

First big-league save tonight for Chris Perez!

This was a big one for the Cards, and it was even of the multiple inning variety (1 2/3)!

Perez bailed out the bullpen after a marvelous seven inning start by Joel Pineiro.  My boy Brad Thompson was ineffective in one-third of an inning, proving I should never try to prop up anyone in this bullpen (oops, sorry Chris).

Here’s hoping Tony has turned the page on Jason Isringhausen and Ryan Franklin.  I’m hoping his kid is going to prove that he deserved a shot a long time ago.

Going to bed early

You may have noticed by the lack of my wit and knowledge around here that I have already, by the middle of the week, had one of the longest weeks of the year to date.  Work is keeping me hectic and on-the-go.  Last night, that was a blessing in disguise.

Having already listened to the first four innings on my XM radio in the car (love that thing, by the way), I proceeded to sit through both rain delays on my MLB.tv subscription once I got home.  I saw Adam Kennedy’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.  I saw Rick Ankiel get hit with the bases loaded (good thing too, I don’t think he had a chance to hit Joe Beimel in that at-bat).  Finally, I saw Albert Pujols redeem himself with a two-run home run, after leaving Skip Schumaker hung out to dry stealing third when he struck out flailing at a couple of bad pitches.  I know, I know - it was pretty clear the hit-and-run was on for that last pitch, so he has to swing - so maybe that one is on Tony.  Let the guy take a walk, LaRussa.

After the Pujols home run, facing an early morning flight, I decided it was time to hit the sack.  After all, the Cardinals appeared to be cruising.  Surely they would add another run or two, and make it out of reach even for this bullpen, right?

Wrong.

I awoke to find the Cardinals had won after all, but it took them eleven innings.  Thank goodness for your National League Player of the Week, Ryan Ludwick.  Luddy has really carried this team lately, and it manifested itself in a truly MVP-worthy way last night.

Unfortunately, again, it shouldn’t have been necessary.  Ron Villone gave up a shot to otherwise useless at the plate Andruw Jones.  It would be the only batter he faced, to LaRussa’s credit.  Jason Isringhausen quickly made the decision a moot point, as he proceeded to continue his dog and pony show this season.  It is truly a shame that baseball’s statistical system puts the blown save last night on Ryan Franklin, because while he should shoulder just as much of the blame as anyone in that bullpen, last night’s implosion was the Izzy Show.

Since I can barely stomach to continue on about the bullpen, let’s focus on some good developments in last night’s game:

Ludwick (or Studwick, depending on your preference) has broken out of his mid-season lull in a big way, earning NL Player of the Week honors for last week, and not letting off the gas last night.

Chris Carpenter really deserved better, having pitched an excellent game up to the first rain delay.  I think that LaRussa and Duncan made the correct move in pulling him after the delay.  There was no need to run him back out there, when he is still working on getting his stamina back, and risk injury.  Brad Thompson once again performed quite well taking the ball early in the game, pitching a scoreless sixth.  You can be virtually certain that Thompson would have gone another inning or two, had the Cardinals not threatened in the bottom of the inning, forcing TLR to pinch-hit for Thompson.

Kyle McClellan had another good outing - I struggle with KMac on a daily basis.  He is seemingly one of the Cards’ best options to get a shot at the closer’s role, but he does the middle relief job so well.  Which is more important at this stage?

I really think it’s time for either KMac or Chris Perez to get their shot.  Izzy has blown his two chances (just like all the saves), Franklin was no better, and I don’t think Russ Springer has the gun anymore to go even a full inning night after night.

Why not let Perez learn on the job?  I know it’s not typical for a rookie to be thrust into that role without easing him into the majors first, but Perez has been a closer all his life.  Let him adjust and be ready to be the man next year.  It’s not typical for MLB teams to blow thirty saves in a season either, but the Cards seem to have no problem heading in that direction…

Brad Thompson saves the day

Is there a statistic for a guy who comes in, usually in long relief, and just continues to give his team a chance to win, often times following a short start (whether because of injury or poor performance)?

If so, I’d be willing to bet that Brad Thompson would have a favorable number in that column.

Chris Carpenter made his first start after returning from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow last night against the Braves, and while Carp arguably did very well given a short rehab assignment and a still-developing command of his pitches, Thompson came in and threw 2 2/3 innings of really good baseball to give the Cards the opportunity to win.

That led me to chasing down just what Thompson has meant to this team, in a wildly varying role, from cleaning up the mess of Cardinal starters to mopping up late innings in games already ruined by the staff.  I expected to see decent success from Thompson - what I found is that he has been wildly successful in his “role”, in my opinion.

Since being recalled (this essentially encompasses the month of July), Thompson is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings pitched over 8 appearances.  On the surface, that doesn’t seem all that special, until you consider the situations he’s been thrust into.

Brad cleaned up for Todd Wellemeyer on the first of July, throwing four innings in relief and only allowing one run on two hits, with the team unable to overcome the six runs surrendered by Wellemeyer.  Point being, Thompson didn’t let the wound open up any further, the offense just couldn’t put enough together.  I would call that a successful outing.

On July 9th, the fabled Mark Mulder start, Thompson came in after Mulder’s 1/3 of an inning and proceeded to go 4 1/3 giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.  The Cardinal offense was feeble that night, mustering only two runs against a rookie left-hander for the Phillies.  Two was enough to tie the game, making Thompson’s outing all the more worthwhile - before the bullpen failed him and surrendered two runs to suffer the loss.

During the San Diego sweep, on July 18, Thompson this time bailed out Braden Looper (who gave up six runs in three innings) by giving the Cards a solid 2 1/3 with only one run scored.  This time Thompson was backed up by a rare solid bullpen outing, with the arms behind him holding the Padres scoreless for the remaining 3 2/3.  Thompson stood to take the loss if that seventh run had held for the Pads, but who else would’ve been able to give that performance coming in in the fourth inning?  “Enough to win the game” has really been an important part of this team’s success this year.

He followed that outing up two days later by accomplishing the blown save-win double.  Thompson this time came on in the ninth inning to clean up Jason Isringhausen’s mess, and despite allowing the first batter to double and hang an inherited run on Izzy, Thompson closed out the final two outs after an intentional pass to get the Cards out of the inning and preserve the tie.  Aaron Miles hung the grand slam on the Padres in the bottom, and Thompson got the win.

July 26th against the Mets, after pitching two innings the night before, Thompson was called upon in the 13th inning, with really no one left behind him, to go as long as he could.  It only took one perfect inning before the Cardinals scored, and another perfect inning to get the win.

That brings us back to last night, taking over for Carp, this time not because of poor performance, but just to give Carpenter’s rebuilt elbow a break as he continues to get his stamina back.

Thompson has been a stalwart in the Cardinal bullpen since coming back from the disabled list and Memphis.  He goes out, when called upon, regardless of situation, tired or not, and continues to produce.  He’s prone to a home run now and then, he’ll give up runs - but on a regular basis, he keeps the team in games that they still have a chance to win when he enters.

Sure, you could argue that Thompson should get some starts - you could argue that he should be a regular in middle relief - but this role seems to suit him well, he seems comfortable with it.  It’s a role that most teams hope they never have to utilize, but the Cardinals do not have that luxury.

Kudos Brad Thompson.  Here’s hoping that you get more work in a middle relief role soon.

Let’s play Tony LaRussa

Note:  Preprogrammed thread written prior to Friday night’s game - so this does not take into account any further bullpen implosions.

Assume no trades are made - make any assumptions you like with players already in the organization.  Set your ideal pitching staff for the rest of the season.

Mine is like this:

SP Chris Carpenter
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Kyle Lohse
SP Todd Wellemeyer
SP Joel Pineiro

Spot starts, long relief - Brad Thompson
Middle relief, mop up - Jason Isringhausen
Middle relief, left-handed specialist - Ron Villone
Middle relief, set-up - Kyle McClellan
Set-up - Russ Springer
Set-up - Ryan Franklin
Closer - Braden Looper

So I’m assuming that Carp and Waino will return to contribute.  I’m sending Randy Flores to Memphis, and sending out Boggs and Jimenez to reactivate Carp and Waino.

At the next sign of any trouble or ineffectiveness (I know, he’s already had lots of shots), I send Isringhausen down and bring up either Flores, Mark Worrell, or Anthony Reyes.

If Looper is not working at closer, McClellan is next in line.  He can get out both righties and lefties, which I think is a good attribute for someone trying to lock down a game.  Perez is next in line after those two guys at the closer slot.

I try to avoid using Mitch Boggs, Jaime Garcia, or Mike Parisi anymore this year.  Those guys need to remain starters and get their work as such, quit messing with their routines and confidence by yo-yoing them between starting and relief.

Alright, I’m sure this will be subject to much skepticism and ridicule - what’s your ideal pitching staff setup?

The next charter to Memphis

If nothing else, some of these Cardinal rookies are really piling up frequent flier mileage shuttling back and forth between Memphis and St Louis.

A cursory glance of the Cards’ transactions this season shows the following trips:

Kelvin Jimenez has been optioned and recalled three times.  His fourth trip to Memphis this year is just one hanging curveball away.

Brad Thompson has been optioned, put on the disabled list only to be activated and immediately optioned again, recalled ten days later - and has become a “savior” of sorts coming out of the ‘pen to clean up others’ messes lately.

Chris Duncan has been back-and-forth once, although many might argue he should’ve stayed in Memphis - or gone back again.  He was recalled to play first base when Albert Pujols went on the DL, and has stuck ever since.  He’s actually quietly hitting a bit better in the last few weeks.

Chris Perez has been up and now sent back down, with mixed results.  He wasn’t bad, he wasn’t dominating - the team says he needs to work on his control, and I would agree.  Throw that slider CP63!

Joe Mather has been recalled and optioned twice now, also with fairly mixed results.  Joey Bombs certainly deserved the shot, and I still think he can stick with the Birds.  We might not see him again until September, barring injuries or a sudden reversal of fortunes for the bullpen.

Mike Parisi has had a couple of stints with the big club, one successful in relief and unsuccessful starting, and the other was just an implosion waiting to happen when he was inserted into that extra inning game in Boston.

Anthony Reyes has really made himself familiar with the trip over the last few years.  He has been up and down a couple times this year himself, including a stop on the disabled list.

Nick Stavinoha, Mark Worrell, and Jaime Garcia have all gotten brief looks at the major leagues.

Mitchell Boggs has gotten his second recall of the season, replacing Garcia as an extra arm for the Milwaukee series.

In all, the Cardinals have used ten different players this season who had no prior MLB experience.  Brian Barton and Kyle McClellan most extensively, the others have seen a lot of spot duty between popping back and forth to Memphis.

At my best count, the Cardinals have used 31 flight segments between St Louis and Memphis (if we assume for the exercise that is how they’re traveling, and always coming direct - even though I know that lots of them are probably coming from other outposts as the AAA squad is on the road).

According to Northwest Airlines’ website (I used NWA because I know they have a hub in Memphis, and so a direct flight to St Louis was likely - and I was right) the flight mileage between St Louis and Memphis direct is 257 miles.

31 segments, 257 miles each.  A measly 7,967 frequent flier miles.  Not even enough for a free ticket.  Hell, not even enough for a first-class upgrade.

Well, with any sort of luck, some of those quick trips up to the bigs will result in some rings for these youngsters instead.  And, unlike past years and past call-ups, a lot of these players still have a future with the Cardinals, injuries and bullpen implosions have just dictated that they are getting call-ups before their time, in most cases.

In the meantime, keep your bags packed boys!

Next Page →