Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 24, 2019 7:07:49 GMT -5
Chicago Cubs (10-2) @ St. Louis Cardinals (9-3)
CHC: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 5.06)
STL: Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 5.40)
The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the PBA's worst franchises, losing at least 84 games every year, and 103 last year. Despite this, offseason additions of Joc Pederson, Dallas Keuchel, and Jonathan Schoop, combined with the return to form of Josh Donaldson, have the Cardinals off to a roaring 9-3 start.
They'll test how legit that start is when they host the best team in baseball, the Chicago Cubs, in an NL Central showdown.
Steve Bennett had the unenviable task of taking over a flailing Cardinals team early last season. Ron Williams got off to a dreadful 6-26 start and Bennett was left picking up the pieces.
With a fresh start, he's riding a huge opening two weeks by Donaldson to get to 9-3. Donaldson's .733 slugging mark is second in the NL, and his five home runs have him third in the league in long balls. He homered in the bottom of the tenth inning on Sunday to tie a game, allowing the Cardinals to beat the Reds. After a disappointing season and a half after leaving Toronto, Donaldson returning to the top of his game could return the Cardinals to postseason contention.
The Cardinals are also getting great contributions from Hyun-Soo Kim. The Korean left fielder had 21 home runs in 2019, but spent all of 2020 in the minors. He has a .306 average and a trio of home runs in the early going, including a go-ahead eighth inning home run on Friday to beat the Reds.
The Cardinals roll out a four-man rotation so they may go to their bullpen early today. That's a problem for a cast of characters that struggled so badly last year. The Cardinals roll with a nine-man pen. Only three pitchers had an ERA under 4 last season. If the game is close, Justin Wilson and Alex Reyes are terrific in short relief and should hold a lead when the game is late. However, if the Cardinals need to go to the pen early, Drew Hutchison, Damien Magnifico, Chris Ellis, and Adam Ravenelle don't inspire much confidence.
That's trouble against a Cubs offense that leads the league in on-base percentage. The Cubs offense has been spectacular for years now and this year's edition is no exception. The one addition they've made is in right field where longtime backup turned playoff hero Mark Zagunis has taken the job. Zagunis was a great story last postseason, but there were questions whether he could keep up the level of play he showed off during the playoffs. The Cubs don't demand much of him, hitting Zagunis ninth, but Zagunis has a .316 average, a pair of steals, and as many walks as strikeouts.
Zagunis credits 2019 Iowa Hitting Coach Rob Maurer with his success. Maurer made some adjustments that allowed Zagunis, then a Quad-A player, to hit .286 with 20 home runs and a .422 OBP. Zagunis spent all of last year in the majors, was a key player in the playoffs, and is a starter now despite being unheralded for much of his career.
This is good news for a Cubs team that's dealing with some injuries right now. Pierce Johnson is likely to go on the DL with an oblique strain, joining Chris Tillman. Wade Davis will be back soon, but he's still a few weeks away, and Francisco Lindor is dealing with a dislocated finger. In regards to Lindor, there's not much depth at shortstop on the depth chart, so any missed time would be a huge drop off.
While it's still extremely early, and the Cubs have the more talented roster, it would be an inspiring early season story if the Cardinals could win and lead the division after 13 games.
Questions for the GMs:
For Brandon Hillebrand, Rob Maurer had a successful run as a hitting coach in your minors and was largely credited for turning around Zagunis' career. Why did you relocate him to rookie ball?
Francisco Lindor has a dislocated finger. It's not serious though and he says he can play. Will you roll him out there?
With Pierce Johnson out, who will take his place and why?
For Steve Bennett, after riding out 2020, how did you focus on building this 2021 team?
Jonathan Schoop has three home runs thus far. After a couple of rough years, what did you see in him to bring him on?
You've gone with a four man staff. Is that only for the early season where there are los of days off, or will that be a permanent part of your philosophy?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor has scored the most runs in PBA history with 491. Which player tops the Cardinals leaderboard in most runs scored in a season?
CHC: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 5.06)
STL: Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 5.40)
The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the PBA's worst franchises, losing at least 84 games every year, and 103 last year. Despite this, offseason additions of Joc Pederson, Dallas Keuchel, and Jonathan Schoop, combined with the return to form of Josh Donaldson, have the Cardinals off to a roaring 9-3 start.
They'll test how legit that start is when they host the best team in baseball, the Chicago Cubs, in an NL Central showdown.
Steve Bennett had the unenviable task of taking over a flailing Cardinals team early last season. Ron Williams got off to a dreadful 6-26 start and Bennett was left picking up the pieces.
With a fresh start, he's riding a huge opening two weeks by Donaldson to get to 9-3. Donaldson's .733 slugging mark is second in the NL, and his five home runs have him third in the league in long balls. He homered in the bottom of the tenth inning on Sunday to tie a game, allowing the Cardinals to beat the Reds. After a disappointing season and a half after leaving Toronto, Donaldson returning to the top of his game could return the Cardinals to postseason contention.
The Cardinals are also getting great contributions from Hyun-Soo Kim. The Korean left fielder had 21 home runs in 2019, but spent all of 2020 in the minors. He has a .306 average and a trio of home runs in the early going, including a go-ahead eighth inning home run on Friday to beat the Reds.
The Cardinals roll out a four-man rotation so they may go to their bullpen early today. That's a problem for a cast of characters that struggled so badly last year. The Cardinals roll with a nine-man pen. Only three pitchers had an ERA under 4 last season. If the game is close, Justin Wilson and Alex Reyes are terrific in short relief and should hold a lead when the game is late. However, if the Cardinals need to go to the pen early, Drew Hutchison, Damien Magnifico, Chris Ellis, and Adam Ravenelle don't inspire much confidence.
That's trouble against a Cubs offense that leads the league in on-base percentage. The Cubs offense has been spectacular for years now and this year's edition is no exception. The one addition they've made is in right field where longtime backup turned playoff hero Mark Zagunis has taken the job. Zagunis was a great story last postseason, but there were questions whether he could keep up the level of play he showed off during the playoffs. The Cubs don't demand much of him, hitting Zagunis ninth, but Zagunis has a .316 average, a pair of steals, and as many walks as strikeouts.
Zagunis credits 2019 Iowa Hitting Coach Rob Maurer with his success. Maurer made some adjustments that allowed Zagunis, then a Quad-A player, to hit .286 with 20 home runs and a .422 OBP. Zagunis spent all of last year in the majors, was a key player in the playoffs, and is a starter now despite being unheralded for much of his career.
This is good news for a Cubs team that's dealing with some injuries right now. Pierce Johnson is likely to go on the DL with an oblique strain, joining Chris Tillman. Wade Davis will be back soon, but he's still a few weeks away, and Francisco Lindor is dealing with a dislocated finger. In regards to Lindor, there's not much depth at shortstop on the depth chart, so any missed time would be a huge drop off.
While it's still extremely early, and the Cubs have the more talented roster, it would be an inspiring early season story if the Cardinals could win and lead the division after 13 games.
Questions for the GMs:
For Brandon Hillebrand, Rob Maurer had a successful run as a hitting coach in your minors and was largely credited for turning around Zagunis' career. Why did you relocate him to rookie ball?
Francisco Lindor has a dislocated finger. It's not serious though and he says he can play. Will you roll him out there?
With Pierce Johnson out, who will take his place and why?
For Steve Bennett, after riding out 2020, how did you focus on building this 2021 team?
Jonathan Schoop has three home runs thus far. After a couple of rough years, what did you see in him to bring him on?
You've gone with a four man staff. Is that only for the early season where there are los of days off, or will that be a permanent part of your philosophy?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor has scored the most runs in PBA history with 491. Which player tops the Cardinals leaderboard in most runs scored in a season?
