The Cardinals pulled right-hander Michael Wacha from their rotation May 24, but they don’t want his demotion to last through the season, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains. Pitching coach Mike Maddux told Goold the change isn’t “permanent,” adding, “He’ll definitely let us know when he’s ready to go back in.”
The relegation of Wacha opened the door for the Cardinals to promote flamethrowing prospect Genesis Cabrera, whose debut in Philadelphia on Wednesday didn’t go that well. The 22-year-old Cabrera gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings, though he did strike out five. Worsening matters, Wacha’s appearance in relief of Cabrera surely ranks among the most awful performances of his career. Pitching for the first time since May 22, Wacha allowed six earned runs on five hits, including three home runs, and three walks in a single inning of work.
In the wake of Wednesday’s nightmare, Wacha owns a 6.51 ERA/6.52 FIP with 8.5 K/9, 6.04 BB/9 and a 24 percent home run-to-fly ball rate over 47 2/3 frames. It’s a shocking fall from grace for someone who looked like a potential front-line starter from his 2013 debut through 2015. However, various injuries have been deleterious to Wacha’s availability and effectiveness in recent seasons. The 27-year-old spent time on the IL earlier this season with a left knee injury and has seen his velocity fall by about a mile per hour on all of his pitches.
As poorly as 2019 has gone for Wacha, St. Louis doesn’t want to “pigeonhole” him into becoming a long reliever, manager Mike Shildt told Goold. Ideally for the Cardinals, Wacha will perform well enough in his newfound role to earn another shot in their disappointing rotation. A return to form is sorely needed for Wacha, who’s due to become a free agent after the season, but his platform year couldn’t be going much worse so far.
Talk about needing a rebuild, but the owner is to stubborn and greedy to do the right thing. Older underperforming players with big contracts and an arrogant GM that is incompetent.
mo isn’t the gm, girsch is
If you think Girsch is making decisions you’re crazy.
It’s just an added fall guy for Mo.
I hope the entire front office gets fired.
That’s a tired argument. You think Jed Hoyer is making the decisions for the Cubs?
You are a shining example of why the downvote should be brought back.
Switch his entrance song to “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” and Genesis Cabrera won’t have any problems moving forward.
And That’s All!
WTF is going on with this team? I had high hopes coming into the season and April was terrific.
i will continue as long as johnny mo is baseball president.
You will? Oh, good news.
cardinals thinking one major signing a year is going to fix the playoff drought. first fowler, then holland, now goldschmidt. nothing worked.
Lol you’re writing off Goldschmidt after 2 months? Are you serious? It’s a wonder MLB teams aren’t lining up at your door.
Goldy wasn’t a signing, he was traded for. But Andrew Miller was signed, so that’s two really big pieces, I also notice ozuna not making your list.
You forgot Ozuna if you’re inserting Goldschmidt.
if only the team would be bold enough to cut Waino. then they can put both of Gant and Poncedeleon back in the rotation. its an easy fix really.
Cheer up Wacha, at least your night wasnt as bad as Kevin Bleepin Gausman
This team has become a dumpster fire. From the order of the lineup to the second division rotation to the inconsistent pen to the acquisitions and extensions.
This team doesn’t need a rebuild, but it does need a retooling. There are players on this roster that just flat out need to be gone. When you keep players around because of emotional attachments instead of production, you set yourself up for failure.
The Cardinals and Giants both seem to have that same philosophy and results. When you tie yourself to a core of players come hell or high water, that rarely translates into success.
I think the situations are different between those 2 teams. The Cards haven’t quite gone to the extreme of bringing in so many vets on bad contracts.
you are saying that 5 world series appearances and 4 world series titles between the two in the current decade is not success? you are right. the pirates do not tie themselves to core players and they are overwhelmed by their success.
Wait, what’s this si article?
Do you mean about Tommy Pham? It was a special, profanity-laden piece featuring Pham throwing a lot of people under the bus, from the team to the coaching staff but mainly the FO because he thinks he was treated unfairly (despite the Cards holding on to him for 11 years despite his eye stuff). He was so entitled it wasn’t even funny.
Maybe a guy like STROMAN might help stabilize that rotation. Wait, Cards fans know more than anybody and this continued debacle is just “going to play out”…right?!
Some of us know it won’t. A problem that’s been preseent for some years now won’t rid itself with time.
I didn’t like Matheny, but he was hardly the problem. Problem is Wainwright still in the rotation, bad contracts, trading away key players (Pham) only God knows why, and not investing money when we have it. All front office problems.
Matheny was definitely one of the problems. Waino should have retired last season. Extending Carpenter was dumb. Not trading J. Martinez was silly. Pham got himself traded, in part, because of the SI article.
Keeping J Martinez made sense to me in part because Goldschmidt was under control for this season only. Now he’s been extended so we’ll see. I still really like Jose’s bat
To me, and I am obviously not making the calls here, I would really support Jose and Munoz moving to the starting lineup. Your biggest issue is your inconsistent lineup, and those two guys hit. You need to sacrifice defense for hitting right now, and those guys can do that. I would go to the outfielders and just tell them that. Tell Wong, Carpenter, Fowler, Bader that they need offense so Jose and Munoz will be getting at bats over them.
This team already sacrifices far too much on defense.
Waino just had a 10 strikeout game against one of the deepest lineups in the NL. He’s pitching just fine.
He’s pitching fine? I guess that 4.94 ERA ranks high in the league? Yes he struck out 10, but he also gave up 8 hits and 4 runs. Quit shoveling shiiit on here. It’s embarrassing.
Guess his 126 pitches no runs against the baby bears is indicative of how embarrassing truly is!
Mozeliak is the problem!!! He’s the one signing over the hill or hurt players for multiple years big money contracts. He is a master of excuses!!!
Good grief, folks, settle down. You have two notorious second half players in Carpenter and Goldschmidt, a rotation with guys like Flaherty and Mikolas that are better pitchers than they’ve shown, and a bullpen that can’t find its rhythm. There were new guys added, young guys brought up, guys getting healthy, all things that need a little time to mesh. The Phillies weren’t great and now they’re starting to hit their stride, it’ll happen for the Cardinals too.
They’re going to make a major push in the second half, and the fact that the Cubs and Brewers haven’t capitalized as much as they can on this bad stretch is encouraging news. to be only 5 games out after this display is quite a good thing.
Bunsel is your boy cards fans! Listen to him and not whatever sports radio is throwing your life preservers in the fire
Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez to the rotation?
Yeah, probably will happen soon.
I am less concerned about the rotation than the offense. My guess is the Cabrera start was more about a showcase than a real rotation move. Gomber will be available soon. Lots options. Historically, the lineup has produced. Most will get better. However, another month of stagnation might create an issue the brass cannot ignore. First move should be Ozuna. He is a defensive liability, and his RBI production is mostly due to opportunities. He should bring some return, possibly a lefty corner outfielder with thump. The lineup if producing can carry Wong and Bader, but currently the 1-6 lineup’s lack of production magnifies their offensive struggles. Patience is difficult. I know I lose mine, but there are no good options, outside of a tear down. So, everyone will be given a longer leash. But it gets shorter every day.
So Ozuna is bad at defense and lucky at hitting, and yet you think he will bring a big return? Which is it? And a team is going to trade a right handed corner outfielder with no thump (per your analysis) for a left handed corner outfielder with thump?
First off suggesting that I said Ozuna didn’t have thump is disingenuous. I referenced his RBI total not that I believe they are an important stat, but because many point to those totals as indicative of success. Up to a couple of days ago he lead the NL in RBI opportunities, which devalue his high number. My primary point is that he is more of a slugger than tough.out. He can be pitched to, and it is evident, particularly in clutch situations, when pitchers place a greater importance, on not making a mistake. In my mind he is more suited to the 5th spot than fourth. Any suggestion that Ozuna is an average outfielder is folly. He has improved as the season.progresses. That said his routes leave much to be desired, and he cannot throw at all. His baserunning has greatly improved from 2018, a few boneheaded.ones but generally pretty good. He is also unsigned after this year. I doubt if the Cards are interested in extending him. They could keep him, offer a QO, and gain a draft pick. Maybe not, he has no options, not sure. That stuff bores me. Or they could try and find a trade partner, preferably for a corner lefty outfielder with some pop. Granted his value is diminished due to his walk year, but some team may be so inclined, an American League team might be the best bet. His defensive liabilities offset his offense, about a 2 WAR guy. All this said, my primary reason for wanting him moved is due to St. Louis’ desperate need for a left-handed bat to offset their extreme righty lineup. And I know of no other player who could bring that to the Cards. The infield is set, save for perhaps some platooning at 2nd and 3rd, but they are the lefties, so that doesn’t help against righties. I’m not as high on O’Neill as some. I don’t see him improving. Very Grichuk like. St. Louis is so desperate for left handed offense they just moved Tommy Edmond to outfield. The Cards have parts that do not fit in the outfield. Something has to give.
Your spot on!
“and his RBI production is mostly due to opportunities.”
Really? You mean if he had fewer opportunities he’d have fewer RBI? Well by god, i think you are on to something! /s
LOL! Ozuna is currently sporting an .841 OPS with a BB rate above 10%. His ISO is .286, despite a BABIP 90 points lower than his career average! He’s been completely unlucky and the numbers clearly show it. He’s projected to end up at about 35 HR and like 115+ RBI. He’s been average defensively Of course RBI are an opportunity driven stat. That’s any it’s as useless as batting average for properly gauging the quality of a hitter. Bad take here, and I’m not even a big fan of his. Bad take on your part.
Contract year. Typical
Sure thing. A good year is a good year, regardless. I’m personally on board with selling high on him to see if we can net a top 100ish pitching prospect and some lower level high ceiling lottery ticket flyers. I say also offer to pay half the remaining freight on Fowler while he’s still producing. They need to play O’Neill and Bader everyday through highs and lows to find out what they have long term. The infield is pretty set with realistic ascending options at 2B and especially 3B once Wong and Carp end their current deals. I really also would like to flip JMart to an AL team for a couple of non 40 man roster controllable bullpen arms.
Holiday-If batting average and rbis are “useless”,what stats should be used for Hall Of Fame criteria?
I agree. Get rid of all those guys.
Carlos Martinez will never be the pitcher he once was before he originally hurt his arm. Neither will Reyes. Both are pitching scared they will get hurt again!! They both use to pitch like their hair was on fire. Their injuries have dumped bucked of water on their hair
Paging Themed and Cards81.
Where is the pitching depth you so boldly spoke of in the spring?? BIFB, Best Farm System in Baseball, blah, blah, blah.
Reality sets in.
A middling farm system, from the beginning, is struggling to back fill the minor gaps from all this pitching depth? Wow, wonder why??
Get ready for a rebuild, as I said in the spring. Reality stings….
And yes, I do realize you two both have an innate ability to ignore facts, especially those that arent to your liking…
I suspect on a frequency basis, the BFIB and NYY fans have the highest number of people afflicted with this disease….but that is a hunch, not a researched fact.
Only morans on internet message boards claim to be BFIB. Cardinals have the most respectful in game fans for sure, as far as applauding good defensive plays and career milestones of players on opposing teams. They’re not throwing batteries at Santa or anything. Media plays up that garbage and remains just that. I know we also don’t typically follow opposing fans to the parking lot and murder them like on the West Coast. You can definitely get murdered in STL, but it’s highly unlikely to be baseball related!
Paging cubs fans. Where are the waino critics?
Girsch’s main function is running to Office Depot for supplies.
The painful fact that is being overlooked is that the St. Louis roster has the 3rd or 4th most talent in their own division! Cubs & Brewers are just plain better and the record is showing it. You hear Fowler, Carpenter, Andrew Miller, Wacha and think of their prime stats when in fact they are all well beyond their prime (except for Wacha which is more injury related). Also have no idea on how Goldy’s skills will age over time either. The Mikolas deal seemed premature as well based on one excellent post-Japan season. Same thing is happening in Boston’s bullpen with Brasure, but at least they didn’t extend / overpay him. St. Louis has great names on the roster but that’s about it. If only they had asked for Yellich instead of Ozuna. Now there’s a real building block!
Agree somewhat. Except Carpenter is coming off a career year, so significant regression was hardly expected. And Mikolas has been OK, a few bad pitches at the wrong time. I think he is the least of the Red Bird worries. Waino has been tolerable, but it is hard to believe he is going to be much more than a number 5, innings eater. Tough call on number 4. Fortunately there are lots of good options. I am a believer in their pitching. But the offense is another matter. Perhaps some platooning at 2nd and 3rd is in order, and they have guys to do it. Hard to see how any adjustments can be made there for the foreseeable future. As I said above a lefty corner outfielder is a must. Can’t honestly say who, not a lot of options. As for the Cubs and Brewers. Yes their offenses are better. But both have major pitching issues. I never believed the Cubs’ rotation was as good as they performed in the first 6-7 weeks. And lately they have struggled. Plus they have been healthy, save for one brief Lester IL stint and they are thin in replacements. Similarly, the Brewers rotation outside of Woodruff and ?? (soft-tosser). Considering the Cards’ play in May it is very fortunate they are only 4 1/2 games back. Time will tell, but a Cards team that finishes somewhere between the April team and May team measures up to the other teams in their division.
Check the timeline bro! When they pivoted to fill that need after being spurned by Stanton, they preferred Yelich due to upside and years of cheap control. He wasn’t available at the time, so they pivoted to the other guy coming off a 5 WAR season in Ozuna, giving up virtually nothing in the process. He’s having a great year too, but he’s not really going to be a good longer term investment.