adam wainwright

-David Strobach-

Recently in the media there have been tons of buzz about a pitcher possibly being in the Home Run Derby. Specifically, a lot of talk about Madison Bumgarner . Noah Syndergaard, aka “Thor,” has expressed interest in this event as well as Jake Arrieta.  Also, Adam Wainwright wants a part in the derby.  Should the MLB have a pitcher’s Home Run Derby or let them hit with the big boppers?  The answer to either question is YES, absolutely.

Jason O. Watson/Getty Images

This is something baseball needs.  It’s a breath of fresh air to the All-Star break and would be wildly entertaining. The new derby rules the MLB put into place were a fantastic addition last year, but this would make the event even better.  Having either a pitcher derby or throwing some in with everyone else would make the event must-see T.V.  The MLB has even discussed the possibility having a pitchers derby.  It would probably make more sense to only add a pitcher or two to the mix of all other players.

It is totally understandable for teams and managers to be worried about the health of the pitchers if they partook in this.  It’s the ony arguemnt on why pitchers shouldn’t be included.  It’s safe to to say all of Chicago would be furious if Arrieta went out there swinging out of his shoes, causing a severe oblique strain.  No team wants their ace going down for a fun little show.  It’s risk that has to be taken for every player that participates.

Out of all players, I truly believe MadBum could give everyone a run for their money in the derby.  Some players are mesmerized by his batting practice sessions.   He’s simply a BEAST or “ox-strong, farm-bred,” as Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson described him.  After all, he has homered twice off one of the greatest pitchers of our time, Clayton Kershaw.  Watch, in awe as MadBum drops two bombs off the star lefty.  If these two swings don’t influence you to put him in the derby, I don’t know what will.

Imagine MadBum sailing balls into the sand of Petco Park, Thor using his hammer to crush balls out and Arrieta hitting bombs off of Western Metal Supply Company in left field.  Talk about a the best All-Star event ever.  Baseball, it’s time for pitchers to be involved in the Home Run Derby!

What would you think of this?  Should they be included or have their own derby?

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-David S.-

St. Louis is crying again!  I am not bashing on Adam at all.  He’s a great pitcher who I respect, and yet I’m very jealous of his pitching performances against the Brew Crew.  Adam Wainwright struggled in his All-Star start.  So, there’s no way it could possibly be his fault….  So….let’s blame Jonathan Lucroy!  Why not, right?  Yea, that’s right.  Cardinal fans unite and cry because supposedly Lucroy caused Wainwright’s struggle.  The Cardinal fans have reached an all-time low!  Did you know Wainwirght would have had the loss if Lucroy didn’t clutch hit?  So it’s not Adam’s fault for pitching poorly?

Wainwright on pitching to Derek Jeter: “I was gonna give him a couple pipe shots. He deserved it. I didn’t know he was gonna hit a double or I might have changed my mind.”

He did later take the comments back, stating they were jokes.  Still, read the line above, that doesn’t seem like a joke to me.

Online comments are on fire from Cardinals fans blaming Lucroy.  I say, Sour Grapes you crybabies!!!  If I didn’t know better, I’d say Tony La Russa is behind this conspiracy……….

Lucroy just called a horrible first inning for Waino. #BlameLucroy

— Scott Stout (@Sstout33) July 16, 2014

 

Dad & I both agree that Waino needs to catch Lucroy off guard & nail him in the back with a fastball.

— Lauren (@Lo_Kitty_) July 16, 2014

It’s because Yadi isn’t catching #BlameLucroy

— Nick Francis (@TheNickFrancis) July 16, 2014

Lucroy is trying to make Waino look bad

— Mitchell Cain (@CainMitch22) July 16, 2014

Lucroy was tipping pitches to hitters. It was his fault not Wainos

— Daniel Gerth (@TheDanielGerth) July 16, 2014

Seriously man!?!? Who and why would do that?

Good to see Lucroy screw over Waino #averageatbest

— Clay Swanger (@Clay_bay_bay) July 16, 2014

 

Come on Cardinals fans, have some class!!!  Do you honestly believe Lucroy plotted to make Adam Wainwright pitch poorly?  Could it really be that Adam just pitched poorly?

Shoot! I just spilled my drink #BlameLucroy.

This rivalry just got a little more heated.

Yes….I got to see the best sight of my life.  The Brewers dominated the Cards 6-0.  I loved watching Zack Greinke fool almost every batter he faced.  He looked like a Cy Young pitcher right away.  Corey Hart smashed 2 home runs with 3 rbis.  The Brewers crushed the ball and couldn’t be stopped.  I like the way Mat Gamel is playing.  He has a lot better defense than Fielder and a very solid bat.  Adam Wainwright looked pretty good for the Cardinals after missing all of 2012 with Tommy John surgery.  Adam only let off 2 runs.  Once again though, they couldn’t stop David Freese from getting a multi hit game.  Hopefully this is one of many Brewer wins to come.

The world champions of 2011 are looking forward to the 2012 season and hope to repeat (I hope they don’t).  They have had a few major changes that may affect the outcome of the season.

The Return of Adam Wainwright and Pitching

The Cardinals starting pitching looks to be balanced out well.  They have all star pitcher, Adam Wainwright back and Cy Young award winning pitcher, Chris Carpenter.  Adam Wainwright was out for the season of 2011 due to “Tommy John” surgery and the Cardinals are thrilled to have him back.  However, the main problem is the bullpen, which last year was like a roller coaster.  Sometimes they had the worst bullpen in the league and sometimes they had the best.  For example, right before the playoffs the bullpen was a train wreck.  All of the baseball “specialists”  thought the Cardinals would just get crumbled into pieces in the post season, but they were wrong.  As soon as they entered the playoffs everything changed, and they were lights out, nearly perfect.  No one saw this coming, and even I was amazed.  Will the bullpen be consistent enough to have a winning season?

 Can Freese and the Rest of the Team Replace Albert???????

The worst possible thing happened to the Cardinals during the winter meetings.  They lost the  best hitter in the league and maybe ever, Albert Pujols.  He signed the second biggest contract ever, $254 million, for ten years with the Angels.  The Cards are hoping that David Freese can provide part of the production that Albert would.  I personally think that Freese will have a crazy breakout year, just like he did in the postseason.  Even with the loss of Albert Pujols they  have Matt Holiday, Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman, Rafael Furcal, Carlos Beltran, and Jon Jay.  It’s not looking too bad for the Cardinals.  It’ll be very interesting to see David Freese play this season.  Hopefully this year the Brew Crew can take them on.

 Under New Management

The Cards were very sad to see their manager, Tony LaRussa retire.  LaRussa has managed  5,097 games, and he has 2,728 wins, which makes him third on the all time win list.  Tony has won 3 championships, and will be known as one of the greatest managers. As a Brewer fan I’ve grown to dislike him, but I have to say he was a great manager.  Just to show how great of a manager he was here is an interview with Lance Painter talking about him and describing him as a person and manager.  Lance was pitcher for the Cardinals and he is my cousin’s uncle and he got a chance to interview him.

Source: Brewers Today, Painting a picture of LaRussa.

BK: How would you describe Tony LaRussa’s managerial style?

LP: LaRussa was an aggressive manager who wanted his players to go on the field and act like they were the best team no matter what opponent the Cardinals were facing.  He loved to match up hitters/pitchers, as you saw during the series against the Brewers as well as the Rangers.  He was also a very positive manager.  Never said a bad thing about one of his players publicly unless the player went to the media first.

BK: As a player, how did you react to and view that style?

LP: As a player, you knew you had to be ready to pitch everyday or play everyday.  I also learned to respect the game of baseball as well as understand how blessed I was to have an opportunity to play in the major leagues.

BK: How do you think Tony LaRussa impacted the 2011 Cardinals in their winning of the World Series?

LP: Tony knew how to keep his team motivated and he would never concede a game until the final out was made.  In game 6 of the World Series, the Cardinals were down to their last out and cameras showed LaRussa clapping in the dugout, rooting his team on.  He also knew matchups well.  Fielder had a tough time in the NLCS.  That was the player who Tony decided would not beat the Cardinals.  When I say that, I mean if Prince was ever in an at bat that could cost the Cardinals a win, he would not pitch to him.

BK: Did you take any lessons from LaRussa that you use in now in your current job as a pitching coach?

BK: What do you think about LaRussa’s retirement?

LP: I have always respected the fact that LaRussa has always given credit to his players for his success.  He understood that he was not bigger than the game of baseball.  He loved the game and he also loved to think along with the game.  Major League Baseball has lost one of the best managers ever to retirement.  Don’t be surprised if you see him back at some point in the next 3-5 years.