The Cards have been playing a bit better of late. With one exception they’ve been at least winning or tying series lately and that will slowly move you up in the standings.
There are concerns, however. Carpenter is still not hitting (218 at the moment). Combining that with his average at best defense puts him at just a tiny bit above replacement level. It seems like he does this every year but we are heading into July without seeing vintage Carpenter. (Although we do get to see bunt doubles.)
Harrison Bader also isn’t hitting. This isn’t as much of a surprise as he couldn’t hit right handers or sliders last year, either. His phenomenal defense makes his bat a bit easier to stomach but you would like to see some progress.
Of more concern is the bullpen. Two stalwarts, ‘The Johns’ (Grant and Brebbia) have been showing signs of wearing down over the last week or so. Over the last week each has a WHIP well over 2 and an ERA over 10. Over the season no one else has been consistent.
Then came Monday. As you’ve probably heard by now, Mr. 100MPH has a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery seems a certainty. Jordan Hicks has thrown 211 pitches over 100 MPH this season. Unfortunately it looks like he has also thrown his last.
The danger here is beyond just losing your closer and one of the most exciting pitchers in the game. Carlos Martinez can slide into the closer’s role and will probably be very good (as long as his health permits). The problem is the hole that leaves before the ninth. As noted above, Gant and Brebbia are already scuffling and now more may be demanded of them. Alex Reyes just got lifted from a game in AAA so he seems a long way off.
Dominic Leone was expected to fill a role in the bullpen but he was awful, got sent down, and has improved only slightly in Memphis. Last year’s injury may still be a problem. Nerve issues are not a fun thing.
Ryan Helsley, Austin Gomber and Mike Mayers are already on the IL. Luke Gregerson is gone. Giovanny Gallegos has been pretty good. Genesis Cabrera has not. Tyler Webb and Andrew Miller have been good but not consistently good. (How do you have a WHIP of 0.75 and an ERA of 6.75? Miller has managed that this past week. Small sample size lovers, rejoice!)
So is there help in AAA? Ponce de Leon, maybe? How well does his stuff play in the bullpen? Tommy Layne was fun in spring training but his era is 7.01 in Memphis. Chasen Shrive has been striking people out at an awesome rate in Memphis and he has a bit of Major League experience. Perhaps we’ll see him in St. Louis soon. On the other hand there’s probably a reason he’s striking everyone out in Memphis and not at Busch thus far.
So the question is this: if you make Carlos the closer can you get to him?