Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals' Pitching IMPLODES in Florida Heat

Starting point is 00:00:00 Huge moments for one rookie, a predictable outcome for one veteran. And Friday's loss to the raise, this is Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals fans. I'm J.D. Hafford and I'm your host for Locked on Cardinals, part of the Lockedon Podcast Network covering your team every day. You can follow me on X to JD Sports Radio, the podcast available on X at L0 underscore Cardinals. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at Locked on Cardinals. This is a show serving Cardinal Nation and giving

Starting point is 00:00:39 you all the info about the birds on the bat. Today's episode being brought to you by five hour energy enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. excludes the Masters tournament ends October 31st, 2025. So the Cardinals took two of three Miami and then took game one of their series against the race on Thursday night before taking the same field on, or should I say on, yeah, on Friday night. So they took it on Thursday. I got my days all confused, so it's weird that we have a day off on a Saturday. So I'm doing a podcast on Saturday, but they get the win on Thursday night, take the same field on Friday night now, Friday night now before the series with the race started,

Starting point is 00:01:27 I warned you. I warned all of you about the effects that this particular ballpark has. on people. George M. Steinbrenner Field, normally just the home of the Yankees during spring training and then their single lay affiliate team, uh, from Tampa. And even though it has the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium, it's 318 to lap 314 to ride 408 center. You combine that with the airflow that goes on down there in Tampa. The, uh, the lack of a third deck. is a big deal because there's not as much resistance out there. And you get some pretty wild offensive games. I mentioned that both Thursday and Friday starters,

Starting point is 00:02:15 Sonny Gray and Miles Michaelis, might have some issues there, might have some issues, considering how many home run balls that these two guys give up. And so far, I kind of nailed it. I kind of nailed it right on the button there. Now, Sunny gave up just the one home run in the third inning to Yanni Diaz. But the difference between that home run and, you know, what was going on in the second game was that the Carls were actually up five to one at the time of the home run took place. It didn't feel like the end of the world when Sunny Gray's home run was given up.

Starting point is 00:02:52 Well, Miles Michaelis gave the team on Friday was little to nothing to help the team win or even compete in the game. And the fact that it was only a one run game in the seventh inning had nothing to do with the pitching. It had everything to do with the offense. It was a testament to the offense for not quitting when things got ugly and the team was down seven to one at one point. And when you play in a ballpark like a ballpark like this, which is, you know, it's similar to your normal major league fields that are good for offense, right? you know, Coors Field in Colorado, Fenway in Boston, Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. You just, even though a lead might look big, you can never really count the team out. You still got to bear down to make sure you you dad all your eyes and cross all your T's.

Starting point is 00:03:43 So even when the boys got down 7-1 in the fourth inning, you didn't want to, at least I didn't want to immediately dismiss them because I've seen crazy things happen in that ballpark watching Tampa Bay raise games this season. I witnessed it watching these games. But at the same time, you knew it was going to take one hell of a comeback to win. But, you know, being down big that late early in the game, it wasn't really surprising to me at all. In fact, I warned you about it. I expected it.

Starting point is 00:04:14 There was a fiber in my being that thought that Miles Michaelis was not going to get sheled in this game. Terrible, terrible matchup for Miles Michaelis to, ever put him in that ballpark. He's been one of the most hitable pitchers in baseball over the last three seasons. Every time he takes the mound, it could be fireworks for the opponent. And more times than not, the other team has a pretty solid day offensively against him. And to put him in that environment, just spelled certain doom. And that's exactly what the Cardinals got.

Starting point is 00:04:53 it only took two batters, two before he gave up a nuke to Brandon Lowe for a home run. And it, in Michaelis's defense, it wasn't even that bad of a pitch. It really wasn't. But low it into a lefty, that's a tough spot to go. And Lowe didn't miss it. The dimensions in Tampa honestly didn't matter on this one. That thing would have been out of every ballpark, including Yosemite, 428, 110 off the bat. nuke just left a vapor trail to right field and it could have been two to nothing it could have

Starting point is 00:05:29 been worse there if not for pozo throwing out simpson who tried to steal third base uh he stole it easily had the bag stolen stolen ends up sliding past the bag and they keep the the tag on him and he ends up being out but uh michaelus gives up four hits of the inning granted two of them were infield singles but he struggles to punch people out out. He doesn't get swinging mess. So this is what happens. And he's lucky that the, the Mangum double on that hanging Ephis curveball that he threw went over the wall on a bounce because that would have been a run as well. So he wasn't fooling a whole lot of people, although, again, the two infield singles, just little dribbler's got to piss you off. Like,

Starting point is 00:06:20 I remember as a pitcher it pissed me off when that would have it, because, You won the battle. They didn't hit the ball hard. You fooled them and they still get on base. So that sucks for Miles. And, you know, you hear it all the time. Soft contact hits against Miles Michaels. It's because he doesn't have enough to get the swinging mess.

Starting point is 00:06:38 He won a hell of a pitcher. If these dribblers and dinkers that fall in on Michaelis were strikeouts instead. But the Cardinals, they go on to tight up in that second inning on a two-out single by Joel Pozo. But bottom half, you get another throwing air by Nolan Gorman. which just keeps happening to put the lead off guy on. That's seven errors now on Gorman, five in August now that he's playing more. And I think six of them are throwing errors.

Starting point is 00:07:05 There's a problem there. And I know it was a play where it was a slow roller and he was trying to rush it and threw it away. I get that. It wasn't like your basic routine throw over to first base. But at the same time, we've been so spoiled over the years with such great play at third base that now you've got somebody who is below average

Starting point is 00:07:21 when it comes to defense. and it shows. Next hitter smoked one at Newton left field and then the next hitter smoked one over the ball and right making it three to one. Seven of the first 10 guys got on base or hit a home run against Michaelis. Third inning, just more of the same infield single again, annoying, not his fault. Single, double steel to move to second and third. An infield single with the infield then that Mason can't handle. It's to his right. Hit good. Infields in makes it look worse. He can't handle it makes it four to one. They didn't pick the runner off first base, which was nice. But then another single makes it five to one. He walks gray. And that's when Ali comes out. He's like, that's enough. That's enough. And it really, really looked disgusting in Tampa Bay last night. Like everybody's uniforms were just drenched. Tampa Bay was wearing the black. So it wasn't as easy to see them. But all of the Cardinals uniforms, everybody, the upper, torsos for sure. All of this, just dark gray from the sweat and the humidity, like a

Starting point is 00:08:28 rainforest, just disgusting. But a tough summer for weather for where the Cardinals play. But it was obvious things weren't going to get any better for Miles McAless. So Ali pulled him after 58 pitches, two and two thirds innings, five runs, four of them earned, 10 hits, two home runs, four of those hits were infield singles, which again, very annoying. I get it, not his fault. One walk, one Honestly, I expected more home runs to actually be hit off Michaelis is what I thought was going to happen. But Ollie pulled the plug before that could happen. Another good stat from Rob Brains at SDL Sportspage.com and his 13 road starts this season. Michaelis is now allowed 45 earned runs in 59 and two thirds innings.

Starting point is 00:09:08 That's an ERA of 6.79. That's terrible. Opponents have posted a 327 batting average against Michaelis in those games with 17 home runs. He has now allowed 23 home runs on the season. That's fourth most in the national league. His ERA is back up to 5.17, which if he was qualified, would tie him for fifth worst in the national league. Tied with Andre Palante, that's not a good sign, Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:09:38 When you got two of them in the top five, hitters are betting 278 against him on the season, which, again, if he was qualified, would be the worst in the national league. His strikeouts per nine, if qualified, would be the lowest in the national league and mentioning Andre Palante, that's kind of the sad part here, is his name is littered, littered throughout the same stats with similar numbers that are just as horrible as Miles Michaelis. So you've not only got Miles, but you got Miles Part 2 in Andre Palante.

Starting point is 00:10:10 And then remember, you had Eric Fetty doing similar crap the whole year. So three of your five starters have been awful, just awful. The rotation is just drenched in the stench of these guys. One of them's already gone. Michael is should be gone after the season. And then there's Palante, last man standing, who under no circumstances should be handed a spot next season at all. And if they don't find people who are good enough to compete with him for a spot in that rotation,

Starting point is 00:10:45 then shame on the organization. Shame on you. We're going to talk about the bullpen because they didn't have much luck either in this one. But we'll talk some positives about the offense as well, including a big night for the rookie Nathan Church. That's coming up on Locked on Cardinals. Time to fuel up and turn it up with five-hour energy transfusion. This grape, ginger and lime-flavored shot brings the iconic taste of a golf course favorite to a non-alcoholic boost. Now, perhaps it's perfect for, you know, sinking birdies.

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Starting point is 00:12:31 Leave your comments on YouTube as well as on X or TikTok. Anytime you want, your feedback, always welcome and encouraged. Now, Michaelis was not the only one. I don't want to just keep picking on him. I hate doing it, but Michaelis was the only one who had any issues on the mound on Friday. The whole staff struggled. The Tampa Bay raise pitching staff struggled a little bit as well.

Starting point is 00:12:50 Anthony Veneziano comes into in that third inning, but big no-no walks the lead-off hitter in the next inning, Junior Camerro, leading off that fourth. He ends up hitting Josh Lau, and then a two-run double and boom, 7-1. He was much better after that. I will give him credit. My thing is, though, is what do you expect? They grab this dude-off waivers. If he was all that good, he wouldn't have been available on waivers.

Starting point is 00:13:20 So to see him have a little bit of jitters, maybe. in that fourth inning pitching for the Cardinals, but then to settle down, get his mind right, ended up pitching better after that. Ryan Fernandez comes in next, finishes off that sixth inning, but right after the Cardinals' offense too,

Starting point is 00:13:39 and this suck. Right after the Cardinals' offense works so hard to get it back within one run to make it seven to six and get back in this thing. Fernandez just says, well, let's throw a little gasoline on this fire, shall we? And what does he do? Big no-no walks the lead off hitter. And then serves up one of the fattest and mediest fastballs that you'll see to rookie Carson Williams. 91 miles an hour right down the middle.

Starting point is 00:14:10 Just right down the shoot. A gift, if you will, for the rookie in his first game. And he ends up blasting it over the centerfield wall for a two-run home run. Extinguishes any comeback flame that had been burning for the Cardinals because you work so hard, you get right up to the top of the mountain, getting ready to reach the top, and then you slide right back down. And it had to be very deflating to the team for that to happen. I mean, you'd have trouble putting on a tee any better than that pitch was from Ryan Fernandez. That was just a meatball.

Starting point is 00:14:46 Then in the ninth inning, Junior Camerro pops one off of Jorge Alcala, who, you know, tried to fool him with that big vendor and did not. at all. All in all, the Cardinals pitching staff allows 10 runs on 16 heads, four home runs, seven total extra base hits. They give up three stolen bases, although things got convoluted there because they picked off two guys, but Simpson outran the pickoff play. So he ended up being safe for the stolen base, even though they picked him off. He also got thrown out after stealing a base and sliding past third base, if you remember. So that kind of evened out, I guess. But the Tampa Bay Rays run, they do. They're a very good running team, so not shocking that they would swipe some bags against Cardinals,

Starting point is 00:15:29 who at least eyeball test sucks at holding runners on. Just a really rough night for the pitching staff, and it happens in that ballpark. I'm not angry about it. It was just expected with Michaelis on the mound. I wasn't expecting to be a pitcher's duel by any means. The Cardinals scored seven on Thursday to get six more on Friday, so it's not like the offense hasn't been doing well. They hit pretty good in Miami as well outside of the game against Sandy Alcantara. It was just a, you know, a special night for Nathan Church, which was cool to see if we're going to talk some positives.

Starting point is 00:16:03 Church, who got his first major league hit and first major league home run in this one, laced a single the left field in the fifth inning for the hit, great piece of hitting there. Then in the Cardinals, big seventh inning where they, you know, just woof, come back. He was the catalyst there. You get the single by Jordan Walker. And then it was Church, who launched that four. 14 foot nuke to right field to make the score 7 to 4. And that's when the momentum, you know, it started to creep and kind of roll into the Cardinals favor.

Starting point is 00:16:33 I don't have a lot of bad things to say about Nathan Church so far in this lineup. I mean, he, he's been nice. He's been a nice piece. I know it's taking him a while before the offensive numbers started to roll. But he's been a, you know, kind of a gritty player. in that lineup thus far. Former 11th round pick. So it's not like this is first round talent that you're working with.

Starting point is 00:16:58 It wasn't like there's a whole lot expected out of Nathan Church when he was drafted and signed. But he's got some tools. He's got great wheels, runs very, very well, solid defensive player. And he was hitting 336 of Memphis over 29 games. And, you know, people are starting to chirp a little bit about his contact skills and how good they are. So with Victor and Donnie out, why not Nathan Church in center field? He wasn't originally in the lineup for this game either because Alex Burleson was out. We'll get more, we'll get more to that in just a second.

Starting point is 00:17:33 But why not? Let it, let him play. Yvonne Herrera hits a two-out single to continue the rally. And then it was Wilson Contreras, who, you know, he's on some kind of heater right now, man. The dude can barely run. If you notice, like, he's got to hit home runs because it looks so uncomfortable watching him run around the bases, you know, after getting hit by a pitch on that foot, kept him out a few days. It's clearly bothering him. So, like, watching Wilson Contreras be out there for this team right now, you got to respect that.

Starting point is 00:18:09 The guy's a gamer. The guy's a gamer. He loves his team, and despite them being under 500, my guy's out there as a veteran doing what he's. can to help the team and he blasts one over that right field wall to make it seven to six and all of a sudden we got a game now we got a game unfortunately as we know already the bullpen couldn't hold the raise down long enough to overcome that deficit they go on to lose the game 10 to 6 uh willie was two for five hit his 19th home run of the season three straight games that he's hit a home run that he's gone yard uh church two for four two rb i's with that first hit and first home run for his major league

Starting point is 00:18:45 career. So hopefully the proverbial monkey is off his back and he can relax a little more in the box. Newt was 0 for five at the top of the order. And as I've always said, if Newt your leadoff hitter, the team goes as Newt goes normally. So despite scoring six runs in this game, not having nude on base, hardly, you know, over five. Like that's going to do some damage. So as I mentioned, Alec Burleson originally in this starting lineup had to be scratched late due to some wrist sort us, apparently, after an awkward swing and Thursday's game. So hopefully he'll be good to go with a couple days off, you know, not playing Friday, game off today, or day off today on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:19:27 They'll be finishing up that series on Sunday. So maybe we'll see Alec Rillison in the lineup on Sunday because they'll face Ryan Peppie out, who is right-hander. And people are wondering, and they were asking, like, it just kept popping up, why do they have a day off on Saturday? It's very weird. I understand that. The answer is the NFL.

Starting point is 00:19:49 The NFL is your answer. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a preseason game. The ballpark is right across the street from their stadium. So I guess it's a parking thing, maybe just a space thing. I don't know what all the rules are when it comes to who gets what and when. But they were like, well, we'll cater to you NFL. You're the cream of the crowd. So we'll let you take over.

Starting point is 00:20:14 So you get the off day on Saturday. And as I mentioned, you know, it's no biggie. You get a day off. So what? So they're back at it on Sunday. Matthew Libertort will be on the hill against Ryan Pepio. We'll do a quick run through on what's going on around the division and the league and the playoff picture. We'll do all of that coming up next on Locktown Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:20:43 Thanks again for making Lockton Cardinals. Your first listen today for your second list and check out the Lockton MLB game night. It's every game every night all season long and local analysis on a national scale. You can find MNobie game night on the locked on MLB YouTube channel or wherever you listen to your podcast. So following this loss on Friday, DeCardles find themselves at 64 and 66, an embarrassing 17 and a half games back in the division because the Brewer is just having amazing. But five games back in the wild cards. So that doesn't look so bad. And then three and a half back of the Reds who lost an extra innings last night to Arizona.

Starting point is 00:21:15 if there's going to be any progress made for the rest of the season. I have no, you know, dreams of making the playoffs at this point. That would be great, but I'm not thinking about that anymore. I just want to catch Cincinnati in the division. I really do. As you know, if you're an everydayer, I'm married to a Cincinnati Reds fan, not a Cardinals fan. And life is tough when the Reds are doing better than the Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:21:43 So I don't want to hear this stuff anymore. So do be a solid Cardinals. Let's let's let's let's overtake the Reds at least before the end of the season. And I may or may not have some money riding on the Cardinals, having more wins than them. So that would be nice too. Might have a small wager on that. So that'd be great.

Starting point is 00:22:03 The Brewers walked it off against the Giants on a William Contrera's home run. Willie's brother. The Cubs who just won three or five from Milwaukee at Wrigley. They beat the Angels three to two. Cubs are still seven back. of the brewers. And unless they, the brewers go into the crapper, which doesn't seem like it's something that's going to happen, I don't know how Chicago is going to catch them. So it sounds like wild card city for the, for the cubby. So they just got to kind of stay the course.

Starting point is 00:22:29 In the NL. West, the Padres beat the Dodgers two to one. So they're tied again at the top of the division. Philly's and Mets are the top two teams in the east, but Philly is up by six games after the Mets second half struggles. And, you know, when we talk about the Cardinals not spending money and we get all worked up about it. And that's rightfully so. They've got money. They're just not spending it. But isn't it wild to go and look at the New York Mets struggling again with the payroll that they're putting out there? You sign Juan Soto to that ungodly amount of money and that massive deal. They re-signed Pete Alonzo. They got one of the best shortstops in the league in Francisco Lendor. You've had good seasons from Brandon Nemo. You still got the veteran.

Starting point is 00:23:14 and Starling Marte is on that team as well. I think he still offers some good depth. They make a trade for Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles to help their outfield. Mark Vientos has been a big disappointment for them. Then you go to the bullpen and they made all those moves at the deadline, like acquiring Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals, and he has had a really tough go with the Met so far. Gregory Soto, they brought in again for the Baltimore Orioles, two separate trades.

Starting point is 00:23:42 They got Tyler Rogers from San Francisco. You've got Edwin Diaz as your closer. That's a pretty good stable of arms out in the bullpen. Then you've got in the starting rotation. A rotation that remember at the beginning of the year was really good, like really good and was leaving the charge for them early on in the season and they've fallen off. But you know, you got names like Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Sean Maniah,

Starting point is 00:24:11 David Peterson is having a really good year. And for all of those names and all of that talent and all of that money to not click the way you want them to, got to be really, really frustrating for Mets fans. You know, they still got time to write the ship and get things going in the right direction. But that's got to be a huge disappointment, you know. They're still in the wild card. I make it sound like as if they're in last place or something like that. They're not.

Starting point is 00:24:38 but when you have a payroll of $300 million and you're not in first place, I would be upset. Dodgers are in the same boat right now. Dodgers won a championship, though, last year. So you're not going to get all mad at that. They're still in first place technically after losing to the Padres last night. But I'm sure they're a bit annoyed about the way things are going and how they've performed. They've dealt with a lot of injuries.

Starting point is 00:25:05 That's starting rotation has just been shredded by injuries. Roki Sasaki. They got Blake Snow back now. He pitched in last night's game and pitched well. Tyler Glass now had been out with injuries for most of the season. You're getting Shohei Otani in the rotation again. The bullpen has just been wiped out by injuries as well. So that's been the tough.

Starting point is 00:25:31 I make it sound like I feel sorry for him. I don't. I don't with the shenanigans they're pulling with all of the, being deferred down the road and stuff, which I think is horrible. But it ain't clicking for them the way they wanted it to. The Cardinals took four of six from the Dodgers this year. You didn't see that coming, did you? But it's just an observation.

Starting point is 00:25:52 There's all just an observation. All right. Enjoy the Saturday off. Have fun. I'm going to go watch some football and have myself a day. Sunday's game is going to be an early one, 1110 St. Louis start. So brunch and baseball? Anyone?

Starting point is 00:26:06 Sounds good to me. We'll see if they can get a second straight series win with a victory in that one, Matthew Libertor. Maybe another Matthew Libertor revenge game against the team that drafted him and traded him. We don't get a lot of revenge games on our side of things. Usually it's revenge games against the Cardinals. Maybe we get another one from Libby on Sunday. Thanks for making a lockdown cardinals your first listen every day. If you haven't already, give us a follow on X at L.O underscore Cardinals at a JD Sports Radio, TikTok,

Starting point is 00:26:33 and Instagram at Lockdown Cardinals, like subscribe on YouTube. You're the best fans of baseball for a reason. and we'll see you next time on lockdown Cardinals.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals' Pitching IMPLODES in Florida Heat

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