1. College of Cardinals
Jon Jay hasn't played a game since June 30. Rehabbing a stress reaction in his left wrist, the center fielder is on ice and has been on ice. Bird, caged.
Yet to say there's nothing he can do to help the St. Louis Cardinals win would be patently wrong.
First day of spring training in 2012, he was one of the first players to work individually with then-prospect Oscar Taveras, the outfielder who was killed in an auto accident last October. This year, he is mentoring rookies Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty.
"That's part of the reason why we have him on the road with us," manager Mike Matheny told me as the Cardinals started their San Diego/Arizona/San Francisco West Coast swing over the weekend.
Now in his sixth season in St. Louis, Jay, 30, does this even with the full knowledge that every one of the young outfielders he tutors very well could wind up one day taking his job. But it doesn't stop him.
It is part of what the Cardinals call a "Culture of Giving Back," something Matheny and his staff preach from the first day of spring training until the last day of the season.
In a game bulging with insecurities and jealousies, that the Cardinals consistently can both breed this culture and continually find players to fit into it not only is a monumental testament to their organization, but also a pretty good explanation as to why, once again, here they are in late August with the best record in the majors despite being decimated by injuries.
The Cubs, with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Joe Maddon, lead the NL Central in hype.
The Pirates, behind Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison, lead the division in chic picks to unseat St. Louis.
Yet both continue to stare up at the Cardinals in the standings—despite the fact that the Cards have been playing most of the season without ace Adam Wainwright, first baseman Matt Adams, outfielder Matt Holliday and key setup man Jordan Walden.
"You always hear good things about St. Louis," says outfielder Brandon Moss, acquired from Cleveland at the July trade deadline. "Coming over here and getting to see all the good things they do, it's a great place.
"This team, everybody's on the same page. You come in and get the vibe of a team together. Everybody is pulling the same string."
In terms of both pulling that same string and giving back, the Cardinals are the closest thing to a college team there is in the majors. Another aspect unique to the Cardinals: When a starting pitcher throws his between-starts bullpen session, he does so in a crowded bullpen. Every starting pitcher other than whoever is starting that night accompanies pitching coach Derek Lilliquist to the session.
It has been going on for years.
"The first time I remember it was in 2000," says Matheny, who was in his first year as St. Louis' catcher that season after five years in Milwaukee and one in Toronto. "Darryl Kile and Pat Hentgen were the two guys who really pushed that.
"That group of starters decided to be there to support everybody else."
They've passed the baton over the years from Kile and Hentgen to Chris Carpenter and Matt Morris to Adam Wainwright to Michael Wacha.
Sometimes, it seems as if the Cardinals clone some of their players from prototypes.
"Small things," Matheny says. "Everybody going down to the bullpen and watching a young Chris Carpenter come along, and then watching a young Adam Wainwright come along. Watching a very good staff.
"It translates into the overall culture we try to promote. Selflessness."
Sure, it cuts into each starting pitcher's personal time. Maybe on a Tuesday in August, Lance Lynn or John Lackey is tired or would rather remain in the air-conditioned clubhouse drinking a smoothie, ragging on a teammate and watching whatever is on television. But they don't.
And when the starters all gather to watch, say, Wacha or Carlos Martinez throw a between-starts bullpen session, they don't do so simply as a rooting section.
"I think it's very beneficial," Wacha says. "Instead of having a couple of sets of eyes on you, your pitching coach and your bullpen coach, you have the other three starters' [minus the one starting that night's game] eyes on you.
"If you're tipping a pitch, or if something is wrong with your mechanics, somebody notices. And it's building team camaraderie as well. I enjoy it."
Wacha has learned a cutter since debuting in the big leagues in 2013, thanks in no small part to the help of Wainwright and Lynn in particular in these bullpen sessions. It's become a potent weapon.
Consistency plays an enormous role in developing and maintaining this culture. The franchise has been a model of stability under owner Bill DeWitt Jr. for 19 seasons. During that time, the Cardinals have had just two general managers, Walt Jocketty and John Mozeliak, and two field managers, Tony La Russa and Matheny.
Mozeliak worked under Jocketty.
Matheny played under La Russa.
Catcher Yadier Molina apprenticed under Matheny.
Pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, in his 14th season in the organization, succeeded legendary pitching coach Dave Duncan.
Hitting coach John Mabry had three playing stints with the Cardinals (1994-98, 2001, 2004-05).
Same ownership. Same people. Same ideas.
Year after year after year.
"Yadier is a legend here in St. Louis," reliever Steve Cishek, acquired by the Cards from Miami in July, says. "When I got here, I was talking with other pitchers. 'Do I need to go talk to him? Do I need to tell him what I like to do?'
"They said, 'No, he probably already has a plan for you.' And I've noticed that some days, he has me throwing a lot more fastballs than sliders. And other days, he has me throwing more sliders than fastballs.
"There's no question why they've had a bunch of success. They're winners here. They find a way to get it done."
The Cardinals have played in each of the past four National League Championship Series and in seven of the past 11.
Here they are as the stretch run begins, stalking more glory with another group of players who firmly believe in the Culture of Giving Back.
"It's unique," Matheny says. "Not just in baseball, but in life."
2. Fishing for MVP Votes
Four out of five dentists and baseball experts will tell you Mike Trout is the best player in the majors. His game is so sweet you can get a cavity just from watching. And yet...
For the third time in four years, Trout, who was the unanimous American League Most Valuable Player last summer, very well could wind up finishing second.
Playing the role of Miguel Cabrera this summer: Toronto's Josh Donaldson, who is hogging highlight shows and blasting the Blue Jays to the top of the AL East.
Our Jacob Shafer analyzed the race coming out of a weekend in which the Blue Jays smashed the Angels like a cheap pinata, and one thing is certain with six weeks left in the season: Donaldson and Trout are in a dead heat, but the Blue Jays third baseman has the momentum.
Crunch the numbers any way you want right now, and there is no wrong answer. These two are so close that even two of the leading practitioners of WAR cannot agree: Baseball-reference.com has Trout with a 7.4 WAR and Donaldson at 7.1, while FanGraphs on Monday listed Donaldson with a 7.2 WAR and Trout at 7.0. (Which is one reason why I refuse to place as much stock in WAR as some folks do. When different entities have different ways of calculating it and, in a case like this, can rank players differently, then it is not a flawless number.)
Anyway, two points before we depart this discussion and settle in to watch these two down the stretch:
Trout, in 22 games in August, is hitting .205/.333/.321 with one homer and six RBI. Though he hasn't said anything, I think he's hurt. He tweaked his left wrist on July 26 while attempting a diving catch against Texas and subsequently missed two games later that week, on July 28-29. He has not been anywhere near the same hitter since returning.
Secondly, while the takeaway from the weekend's Angels-Blue Jays series for so many was Trout/Donaldson, here is something few are talking about: Not only did the Jays set a franchise record for a three-game series by scoring 36 runs, they did this while playing on the road. Toronto is killing it at home this season (40-23) but has had major trouble on the road (29-32 even after sweeping in Anaheim).
The road to stealing the AL East title away from the Yankees is, yes, the road. If Toronto handles it better down the stretch than it has in the first four months, an AL East title likely becomes inevitable.
3. Panic Time in Dodgertown?
They hired Ron Roenicke to coach third base, they acquired Chase Utley to fill the void left by second baseman Howie Kendrick (out with a hamstring injury)...and so far, the Dodgers are 0-5 with Roenicke coaching third and 0-3 with Utley wearing Dodger blue.
Los Angeles has lost 17 of 33 since the All-Star break and allowed the San Francisco Giants (1.5 games out in the NL West entering the week) and Arizona Diamondbacks (five out) back into the race. With a payroll that has ballooned into the $300 million range following the midseason acquisitions of Utley, Mat Latos, Alex Wood and others, it is not unreasonable to think manager Don Mattingly's job could be in real jeopardy in the next couple of weeks if things don't turn, and quickly.
"I hope we're panicking a little bit," ace Clayton Kershaw told reporters after Houston swept the Dodgers this weekend. "I think panic's a good thing, to a certain extent."
What would be an excellent thing for the Dodgers is if slumping center fielder Joc Pederson finds his game. Last month, Pederson started the All-Star Game. This month, he's lost his job to Enrique Hernandez. Since the All-Star break, Pederson is batting .163. Over 19 games in August, he's hitting .122/.413/.293 with 17 strikeouts, 20 walks and five hits in 63 plate appearances.
4. What a Difference a Year Makes
While Mike Fiers was the toast of Houston after firing his first no-hitter Friday night against the Dodgers, I kept thinking back to 11 months ago.
It was last September when Fiers was in the spotlight for something that was completely different on the emotional spectrum: It was his fastball that drilled the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton in the face on a gruesome night in Milwaukee.
Then, Stanton was on the ground at home plate, blood pouring out of his nose. The benches cleared. Fiers was left to explain postgame that he meant no harm.
Now, 11 months later and following a trade to the Astros, Fiers left another field in triumph. For many reasons, but especially given what happened 11 months ago in Milwaukee, it was a very, very nice moment.
It also was the first complete game of Fiers' career.
5. Dave Dombrowski and the Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox beat everybody else to the punch (hello, Mariners, anybody home?) in hiring former Detroit executive Dave Dombrowski. It is a move that should portend the next great chapter of Beantown baseball. I won't dwell on it, as it happened last week, but a few thoughts:
• Clearly, the opening for Dombrowski was created with the resignation of president Larry Lucchino (or, is that "resignation"?) on Aug. 1. If Lucchino was still around, no way this would have worked because Dombrowski always was going to insist on full power and complete control. He was both president and GM in Detroit. He enjoys being hands-on, and he is good at it. Obviously.
• As such, do not put too much stock in whomever the Red Sox hire as GM. Yes, Frank Wren, who worked with Dombrowski in Miami in the late 1990s, appears to be the leading candidate. But the "GM" title in Boston will be more like what "assistant GM" is in other places.
• Despite what some folks think, do not expect a dramatic break from analytics in Boston. Yes, Dombrowski always has preferred old-fashioned scouting to numbers-driven data. But he is whip-smart, and those who worked with him in Detroit say in recent years he's become more and more amenable to analytics, and more understanding that he needs to incorporate more of it. It will be very interesting to see if Bill James, the godfather of sabermetrics, remains as senior adviser of baseball operations (his current title) for the Red Sox. But the belief here is you can expect a healthy blend of scouting and analytics when it comes to decision-making in Boston under Dombrowski.
6. LaTroy Hawkins Is SO Old...
Call it the Twitter version of the Hunter Pence signs (you know, "Hunter Pence Brings 13 Items to the Express Lane" and "Hunter Pence Eats Sub Sandwiches Sideways").
Hawkins, the ageless wonder in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, has taken lately to retweeting clever "insults" (loving, to be sure) about his age since the trade from Colorado sent him, along with Troy Tulowitzki, to the Jays.
At 42, Hawkins is the oldest active player in the majors. And though he has said this will be his last season, his fastball still checks in at 93 mph, and he still looks like he could pitch another five years. Or 10.
Hawk, one of the game's classiest players over the past two decades, currently ranks 11th on the all-time games pitched list at 1,033 and could move into the top 10 as soon as this week. Legendary closer Trevor Hoffman currently ranks 10th all-time at 1,035.
So while waiting for him to move into the top 10, let's join the old man for a few chuckles...
7. Weekly Power Rankings
1. Mike Fiers: Just stop it with the Internet conspiracy theories and pictures supposedly showing a foreign substance in his glove. He no-hit the Dodgers, and the Dodgers still don't know what hit them. Give it a rest.
2. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: Extra caffeinated buzz now that Starbucks has announced it will add real pumpkin to the popular drinks this fall. Just remember, Starbucks, that the Red Sox tried to change their recipe this year, too. Look how that worked out.
3. Yoenis Cespedes: In his fourth year in the majors but only his first three weeks in the National League, Cespedes arrived at Coors Field this weekend by going 5-for-6 with three homers and seven RBI on Friday. Cespedes is a free agent this winter. Rockies, your move.
4. David Wright: For the first time in 131 days, the Mets had Wright at third base and batting cleanup on Monday. If they've still got him at third base and batting cleanup in the second half of September, they're on to something. Godspeed, David.
5. Yvonne Craig: Oh, for the days of Batman, day World Series games and Dad taking us to Baskin-Robbins. I don't know what her WAR was, but I'm pretty sure it was far higher than the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin and Ray Oyler. RIP, Batgirl.
8. Chatter
• The next test for the Chicago Cubs arrives right now with right fielder Jorge Soler (oblique) landing on the disabled list: The Cubs this year, following Monday's win over Cleveland, are 53-35 with Soler in the lineup—19-16 when he's not.
• There are reasons why elite athletes reach the top, and pride and competitiveness are chief among them. Before tennis legend Rod Laver threw out the ceremonial first pitch in San Diego's Petco Park last week, he bought a bucket of balls and threw 50 pitches a day in preparation. You bet he threw a strike.
• Breakfast of champions: What did outfielder Travis Jankowski eat before becoming the first Padre in history to collect hits in each of his first two plate appearances? Why, chocolate chip pancakes, of course. "Like always," Jankowski said.
• If CC Sabathia's season is over—and Yankees manager Joe Girardi raised that possibility after CC exited Sunday's game in the third inning because of what has been described as a degenerative condition in his right knee—the Yankees' degree of difficulty in finishing ahead of Toronto in the AL East is even higher. Not enormously high, because Sabathia hasn't been his old ace self in a while, but enough that Michael Pineda, due back from the disabled list Wednesday against Houston, has to produce.
• The Orioles, swept by the Twins over the weekend, have a tough week ahead: four games in Kansas City and three in Texas. One of the more difficult teams to figure this season, one thing is for sure about the O's: If they don't start winning on the road, they're going to have a difficult time playing in October for what would be a third time in four years. They're 37-25 in Camden Yards, 25-37 on the road.
• With Monday's win over Cleveland, the Cubs now are 17-4 in August, best in the majors. Toronto is next at 16-4. The Cubs also have won at least 14 games in four consecutive months for the first time since a five-month stretch from April to August 2008.
• Amazing: Into this week, Tampa Bay is 62-61 despite ranking 29th in the majors with 458 runs scored. The last American League teams to be .500 or better after 123 games with so few runs scored all come from 1976, when the Orioles, Twins, Yankees and Tigers all were over .500 with fewer than 458 runs scored.
9. Jacob deGrom: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?
Uh-oh, alerting all female members of the Jacob deGrom Fan Club: He's considering chopping his hair off.
It's true. It's all in this New York Times story, which is especially worth checking out for the tricky graphic up top in which deGrom's hair keeps flashing on and then off.
9a. Rock 'n' Roll Lyric of the Week
The Texas Rangers have passed the Los Angeles Angels and seized (for now) the American League's second wild-card slot, and the Astros strengthened their hold on first place in the AL West. So clearly, I've got to go visit the twisted world of Ray Wylie Hubbard this week...
"Now Texas has gotten a bad reputation because of what happened in Dallas
"and Waco
"And our corporations they are corrupt, and the politicians are swindlers
"and loco
"But when it comes to music, my friend, I believe these words are as true as
"St. John the Revelator's
"Our Mr. Vaughan was the best that there ever was. And no band was cooler
"than the 13th Floor Elevators
"So screw you, we're from Texas
"Screw you, we're from Texas"
— Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Screw You, We're From Texas"
Scott Miller covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.
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