So, without further…uh…fluff, CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to Gateway to Baseball Heaven with myself and Daniel Shoptaw. Just a few of the topics we discuss include:

1. Yadier Molina’s hot streak…
2. Positives from this week in Cardinals baseball…
3. The Bullpen (‘Nuff Said)…
4. Shelby Miller…
5. And a host of other topics of mild to extreme interest to Cardinal Nation!

GO CARDS!!!

(Schedule Note: Depending on how the day goes – it is Memorial Day after all – I may still try to record a State of the Nation podcast and post it tomorrow. Check back often to find out!)

Last night, as Hunter Pence walked to the plate in the 10th against Jason Motte, I turned to my wife and simply said, “It’s over…Pence is going to win it for them right here.” This dire prediction was more than just the standard dread Cardinals fans of 2012 have grown accustomed to (according to B.J. Rains of Fox Sports Midwest, the Cardinals were 3-7 in games decided by the last at-bat before entering last night’s contest)…no, it was based on much more specific conviction than that.

You see, Pence is a fastball hitter. Motte is a fastball pitcher – a straight fastball pitcher. In another situation in the game, the Phillies’ outfielder might be looking to work the count, pick his pitch, and just try to get on base.

But not this time.

With a man at first and no outs in a tie game in the top of the 10th, Pence is thinking just one thing. Look fastball…and drive it. Everyone in the stadium knew it. Everyone on the field should have known it. Unfortunately, someone didn’t get it…because one pitch later, Pence deposited a 97 mph fastball from Jason Motte into the right field stands for a 2-run homer.

What should have happened there was simple. Motte should never have been allowed to throw Pence a fastball in the zone. But I knew he would…because I knew Matheny, Motte, and Molina would call for it (or at least refrain from calling for anything else).

Look, I know Motte wanted to get ahead of Pence by throwing him something he, at best, would foul off on the outside part of the plate. Then, ahead 0-1, he could begin tossing breaking junk that Hunter would lunge for and miss at with his patented flailing swing. But to expect Pence to sit and take a first pitch fastball in that situation was to fundamentally misunderstand the thought process of the hitter…and the match up.

At the end of day, the result was all too familiar. Another win carefully gift-wrapped and handed to the opposition courtesy of the St. Louis bullpen. This is becoming a nuisance. Amidst a rash of offensive injuries, the St. Louis lineup continues to score enough runs to win…if not for their pesky bullpen problems.

Today, the Cardinals optioned Fernando Salas to AAA and called up Chuckie Fick. Good deal. Salas was a concern. He hasn’t been effective for quite awhile, and if he can’t be counted on to throw late in a game in a close situation, he really doesn’t have a role on this roster. Send him down and let him throw enough to figure it out.

But Salas isn’t the only bullpen problem on this team.

For one, Matheny’s love affair with Mitchell Boggs is going to get us in trouble more than it already has if something isn’t done. Boggs has been nothing short of outstanding this year – most of the time. But every so often, he just flat out loses it and has difficulty controlling all of his pitches.

We saw this early on, in his spot starter days, but since becoming a reliever it’s been less of a concern. Honestly, if he was still a 7th inning guy, it would still be of little importance. But that’s no longer the case. Matheny continues to go to Boggs in the 8th inning, or in high leverage situations, as if he is the same pitcher day in and day out. That’s just not the case. Personally, I think it’s his delivery that produces too many start-and-stop movements that’s responsible for his spotty control – but that’s just me.

Whatever it is, Boggs is not the reliable pitcher Matheny would like to believe he is. On this struggling St. Louis bullpen staff, 5 players have a worse WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) than Boggs: Salas, Romero, McClellan, Sanchez, and Dickson. Two of those relievers are no longer on the roster (Romero released, Salas sent down). Two are recent AAA call-ups with only 5 total appearances between them (in Sanchez’s case, he started the season in AAA due to loose mechanics that led to shoddy control). And one was recently disabled with elbow problems discovered after a streak of ineffectiveness (McClellan).

In other words, while Boggs’ WHIP ranking could be read as “the best option after Motte, Scrabble, and Marte”…a look at the pitchers he’s beating is necessary to fully understand his place on the staff. His 1.22 WHIP isn’t ugly, but it’s tied with three other pitchers in all of baseball for somewhere in the 178-180th position. Among all relievers…tied for 133rd. Among all relievers in the NL…60th.

To put it another way, Boggs’ WHIP suggests he’s been a mediocre pitcher out of the ‘pen at best. But Matheny continues to use him as the second-best reliever on the team. Why? Is it because there’s really no one better? Or is it because Matheny is still a rookie MLB manager learning how to effectively use a big league bullpen? Likely…both.

The state of the Cardinals’ pen hasn’t exactly given Mike a lot of options. Marte has been a pleasant surprise, and Motte is getting the job done more often than not (and he should improve as the rest of the ‘pen improves and the year goes on), but on the whole, the Cards’ bullpen has been a huge disappointment.

Rarely challenged in April when the starters and the offense were pitching and hitting like a team of All-Stars, the relievers have largely dropped the ball in May. We’ve seen last year’s saves leader demoted (Salas), the critical second-lefty released (Romero), the wily veteran signed to steady this young staff injured (Linebrink), the overpowering fireballer moved to the rotation (Lynn), the incumbent long-man and pseudo-”third lefty” disabled (McClellan), and the lone lefty remaining in the ‘pen overexposed and misused (Rzepcynski). All in all, Matheny isn’t running into a lot of luck.

But he’s not creating any for himself, either.

I get that Mike wants to be a “trust his players” guy. And I get that he wants to let Yadi call the game without interference. And I really love that he’s willing to let his relievers pitch more than a single inning.

But at the end of the day, something has to change. He’s misusing pitchers by casting them in the wrong roles. He’s taking a weakness on the staff (one lefty) and overexposing it for hitters. And he’s allowing chaos and unpredictability wreak havoc in his pen. Something has to change.

Okay, okay…that’ll do it. But let me leave you with a list of items I believe can and should happen as soon as possible to right the ship on the St. Louis bullpen:

1. Mitchell Boggs should no longer be considered the set up man. Move him to a 7th inning role to be the first man out following a starter or in key situations short of the 8th.

2. Rzepcynski must be given regular but lighter work. Stop throwing him an entire inning, and instead, throw him against a lefty or two and then pull him out of the game. Let him build some momentum as a lefty specialist again, and then gradually expand his workload to include a RH hitter or two.

3. Slot Marte into the 8th inning set up role. He’s the best RH pitcher on your staff short of Motte. Start using him that way.

4. Begin using Sanchez in the Fernando Salas role…to throw a critical inning in a close game – leading or trailing – and let him rack up holds. With runners on base, bring him in for a strikeout or key at-bat.

5. Dickson is now your bail-out long man. Use him that way. This one is simple.

6. If you’re going to use Motte more than an inning, pick and choose his hitters. Don’t let him throw a fastball in the zone to a fastball power hitter in extra innings if he’s already thrown an inning.

7. And finally…and this is a big one…begin the search for another starting option (Oswalt, etc.) immediately and get Lance Lynn out of the rotation and into the St. Louis bullpen as soon as possible. Not only is his stabilizing presence and innings-eating ability needed there, but his arm is going to eventually break down due to fatigue and innings pitched. Let’s at least save him for the stretch run.

Alright, that’s all I got. Let’s hope the Redbirds can turn it around and get a win tonight behind Garcia.

GO CARDS!!!

His efforts inspired us. So, we’ve pieced together a Marvel Villains lineup with Cincinnati Reds players. For a fun way to kill a few minutes and lower your work-day productivity, check it out below!

(Disclaimer: Some Marvel characters are associated with political and/or social issues. Those are not relevant here, so let’s not go beyond simple entertainment, okay?)

1. Walt Jocketty, Reds GM is…The Kingpin of Crime! With his behind the scenes machinations and plots, Jocko looks for every opportunity to both turn a profit and hurt the Cardinal family where it counts. His mercenary hires of former Cardinal players smacks of back-office bribes of once trusted individuals within Cardinal Nation.

2. Dusty Baker, Reds Manager is…The Red Skull! His sinister plans serve a selfish purpose all his own. In Major League Baseball, Baker’s reputation precedes him – a reputation of self-centered pitching decisions and a philosophy that could likely be summed up with the statement, “the sacrifices of the many are justified by the gains of the one.” Perhaps the most dangerous part of this scowling manager…he’s very smart and very good at what he does. In fact, perhaps his only weakness…his intense emotional reaction to being thwarted time and again (in other words, anger).

3. Brandon Phillips, Reds 2B is…The Green Goblin! His cackling laughter drips of insanity while his dual personality struggles both enchant Reds Country and infuriate Cardinal Nation. He swoops into St. Louis, launches a few bombs, and swoops out again, leaving destruction in his wake. But when it all comes down to it…he’s still just a twisted clown with a few dangerous toys and a pretty intimidating Bat.

4. Jay Bruce, Reds OF is…Sandman! As Spiderman’s annoying nemesis, Sandman can be soft and easily displaced…or hard as a rock and strong enough to swing fists of stone with authority. His situational difficulties make him a somewhat sympathetic character, but ultimately…he chose the wrong side. There are days when he’s all-too forgettable…but more often than not, he’s a threat to be taken seriously. Of course, there are also days when he just seems to get into every little nook and cranny and chafe…and irritate…did I mention irritate?

5. Scott Rolen, Reds 3B is…Magneto! Occasionally a good guy, oftentimes a bad guy, this famed character has a tendency to disappear from relevance for extended periods of time…but when he’s around, his presence is significant, and his leadership is unquestioned. Rolen/Magneto is the uber-powerful veteran that commands respect just by standing in the room. While he possesses superhuman offensive weapons, he is most known for his ability to attract and hold objects within his zone of influence (read: snagging grounders at the hot corner and intense magnetic powers). Ultimately, however, his life will forever be impacted by a fundamental disagreement with an iconic leader of our hometown heroes that forced the two in opposite directions (TLR vs. Rolen and Xavier vs. Magneto). It should also be noted that the futures of both Rolen and Magneto were drastically altered by significant wounds from their past.

6. Bronson Arroyo, Reds Pitcher is…Bullseye! This dude just gets under my skin. With no real unique or special ability to speak of…this guy just tosses all manner of junk at the opposition with uncanny accuracy. He’s a favorite of The Kingpin, but don’t think that engenders any loyalty from the junk-ballin’ marksman. He’s a mercenary…plain and simple (okay, maybe I’m just letting my irritation with Arroyo color my judgement a bit). In most cases, the match-up between this particular villain and just about any other Marvel Hero should go in the Hero’s favor…on paper. But this guy just has a knack for taking down bigger, stronger enemies with what looks like minimal effort.

7. Johnny Cueto, Reds Pitcher is…Kraven the Hunter! Alright…so maybe going with Kraven here – the fabled “man among men” who once killed Spiderman – is giving Kicking Cueto too much credit. But I do see 3 striking similarities. 1) Both share a desire to attack prey from the shadows when they’re not looking. 2) I can’t help but think that Cueto also loves to wear leopard print pants and zebra patterned accessories. 3) Come on…Kraven the Hunter? Cueto the Craven Coward? Too crazy, right?

8. Joey Votto, Reds 1B is…Onslaught! There’s no doubt that both Onslaught (google him) and Votto possess amazing power in their respective universes. Where Onslaught re-made the Marvel Universe in one violent story arc, Votto re-shaped the face of the NL Central with repeated and consistent violent swings from the left-handed box. With the absence of Pujols and Fielder, Votto’s dominance in the Central could be matched by only Ryan Braun. And let’s not forget, Votto and Onslaught are each “men” of few words in their stoic mission. Of course…both Onslaught and Votto have their personal demons, but neither character’s struggles seem to be a threat at the moment.

Wrap-Up!

Alright…that’ll do it. Now, if only we could get a Marvel exec to take up our cause and put ink to paper…I’m thinking, maybe an 8-issue story featuring the Cards and Reds in a pitched battle as Marvel heroes and villains.

GO CARDS!!!

Bonus Character: Come on…don’t you think Tony La Russa would be perfectly represented as The Mad Thinker?!