Have you ever tried to construct a “house” with a deck of playing cards?

It can be a tedious and delicate exercise. One by one you try to hold the cards upright so you can carefully lay another card on top of the two “walls”. Then, after you construct the first floor, you then try to lay the second floor and so on. During the entire time, any heavy breathing, sneeze or unsteady hand can bring the whole house tumbling down.

So behind that backdrop, let’s review the return of the defending World Series Champs.

Pardon the pun, but could this be a living and breathing House of Cards?

The Red Birds are in the process of breaking down their Jupiter camp to head north. After a quick stop to visit their Double-A affiliate in Springfield, the team will return to the Sunshine State to help open the new stadium in Miami which is also known as the reality show titled Ozzie Guillen’s Marlins.

As memorable and historic the 2011 season was for Cardinal Nation, it would be foolish not to revisit just how the last 30 days unfolded. We know the narrative on how the team was over ten games back in late August only to qualify for post-season play on the last day of the season. Said another way, in 2011 the Cardinals won 90 baseball games. They needed each and every one of those victories to capture the National League Wild Card.

Now fast-forward to 2012: it’s more important to note who is not in camp versus who is in camp. The defending Champs do not have three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols in the lineup any more. #5 headed to Disneyland: riding off into the sunset while loads of cash.
Also absent are soon-to-be Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa and his right hand man, arguably the best pitching coach in the game, Dave Duncan.

So let’s review: in a year after St. Louis needed every one of their 90 victories in 2011 with Pujols, La Russa and Duncan, all three men are not be around in 2012. Instead, the 2012 Red Birds have a skipper whose only managerial experience has been coaching a bunch of rich high school kids and the acquisition of a former Red Bird nemesis that may or may not have the best knees in his 35-year old body.

But as Opening Day approaches, it is fair to say that if healthy, the Cardinals are as good of a bet as any other team to win the National League Central Division. Still, the key words in that statement is “if healthy”.

And that brings us back to the House of Cards.

In order for St. Louis to reasonably compete, they have to be reasonably healthy. And that leads to many concerns. Perhaps the biggest question mark is last season’s top pitcher Chris Carpenter. #29 was nothing short of spectacular in the 2011 post-season: including the epic Game 5 NLDS clincher against Philadelphia. That 1-0 win ranks in the same level as Bob Gibson’s 17-strikeout performance in 1968 against Detroit.

But Carpenter has complained about a pain in the neck. That has led to a pain in the neck for the Home Team. #29 has experienced a bulging disc that led to his upping his frequent flier miles between Florida and St. Louis during the month of March for doctor visits. Carpenter is out indefinitely and there is no timetable for his return. In the 2011 regular season, the soon-to-be 37-year old Carpenter logged a league-high 237.1 innings. With him out of the rotation, someone has to replace those many, many innings.

Keeping the focus on pitching, Adam Wainwright’s return to the rotation has been favorable to date. Thirteen months after Tommy John surgery, most of Wainwright’s performances in Florida have been positive. Still it only makes sense for the Red Birds to watch Wainwright closely and avoid over use. The team is hoping to keep his 2012 innings-pitched total to around 180. If that is the case, again, someone (or some ones) needs to replace the rest of those innings-pitched. Plus, if Wainwright’s arm does bark during the season, how will that play out: especially with Carpenter’s status unknown?

That brings us to the infield. In 2011, then-right fielder, now-first baseman Lance Berkman was a wonderful surprise. The Puma was last season’s Comeback Player in the NL and started in the All Star Game. But, can one reasonably expect Berkman to duplicate the production compiled in 2011? If not, where will the remaining offense come from (especially with Pujols now out of town)? In addition, the Puma has experienced some aches and pains in Florida. While first base should be less strenuous versus right field, you have to be concerned in light of Berkman’s age and past medical history.

In July the Red Birds acquired shortstop Rafael Furcal. The veteran shortstop provided infield stability and gave St. Louis a much-needed leadoff-hitter. However in 2011 Furcal had some physical injuries and it appears those have resurfaced in Jupiter this spring. It is unclear at this writing if Furcal will be in the lineup in the Opener in Miami.

World Series hero David Freese will open the season at third base. The soon-to-be 29-year old Freese has never played over 100 games in a season because of injuries. Will 2012 be different or will it be the same-old, same-old? Another World Series hero, Allen Craig, had major surgery in the off-season. His status for opening day remains questionable, although encouraging.

Former Cardinal Enemy Carlos Beltran joins the club this season to patrol right field. While he never will be able to replace Pujols, Beltran has been a wonderful talent that has the ability to carry a club during a stretch. But the 35-year old Beltran endured knee issues in his career. How many games will the former Public Enemy #1 log in a St. Louis uniform during 2012?

Finally the Red Birds inked catcher Yadier Molina to a five-year $60 million contract. Molina has been a workhorse and a warrior for the Red Birds.  In the past seven-seasons the soon-to-be 30-year Molina has averaged 127.6 games behind the plate. The question one has to ask is a fair one: when or will all this catching take its toll on #4?  Molina’s back-up appears to be rookie catcher Tony Cruz. While Cruz has an upside, he remains unproven. Any extended Molina absence would be a concern.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Red Birds will take their talents and chances to South Beach. That World Series Championship moniker puts a target on their backs. Everyone in the Senior Circuit will know when St. Louis comes to town.

For the Cardinals to be successful in 2012, a lot of good things have to fall into place. However what is implied in those good things is a relatively healthy situation. Any instability or lengthy injury and the team’s foundation could shake

And oh yeah, did I mention Pujols, La Russa and the senior Mr. Duncan aren’t around anymore? And oh yeah, did I mention the Red Birds needed each and every one of those 2011 victories to qualify for last October’s post-season?

As the new slogan for Bud Light says: Here We Go

Welcome to the House of Cards, Cardinal Nation.

They met as foes at the recent Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout, but they could end up in Columbia facing off against foes of their respective peers, in Missouri Class 3 and Class 5.

When the Cardinal Ritter Lions upset  the undefeated and top-ranked Vianney Golden Griffins 69-66 in boys high school basketball  as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout at Scottrade Center, it could have been a Missouri state tournament preview. No, as a Class 5 (Vianney) and Class 3 (Cardinal Ritter) program, the teams can't potentially clash at the state's final four in Columbia next month.


However, with Ritter (13-4) displaying its postseason form after some early-season losses, and Vianney (19-1) boasting only the Ritter blemish, it's possible that both Catholic school powers could be among the last clubs standing after it's all said and done.

"That streak was neat and special but it's not what we'r trying to accomplish," said Vianney coach Kevin Walsh, subsequently noting that a deep postseason run is the prime objective.

Cardinal Ritter's conquest of his club at Scottrade came behind a game-high 26 points from Ritter's 6-8 superstar Cameron Biedscheid (expected) and 22 poins from his teammate Charles Jones (unexpected).

The Golden Griffins, who were led by senior guard Tony Cochran's 21 points were ambushed  by Jones' barrage of points after he came into the game averaging less than four points per game total.

"They have a very special player in Cameron (Biedscheid) and we thought somebody else is going to beat us and somebody else did," noted Walsh.

The Lions, who led 19-12 after the first quarter and trailed 29-28  at the half, didn't have   pressure on themselves as consensus underdogs.But  it could have been pressure going up against an undefeated large-school program.

"Coach (Marvin) Neals told us in the locker room before the game that we had nothing to lose and they had everything to lose, so we came in with that mentality," relayed Biedscheid.

Neals said his club defense set the tempo and he elaborated on how.

"We tried to make sure we put pressure on the ball, pressure on the shooters and pressure them all over the floor," said Neals. "We respect them. Vianney has a great basketball team."

That strategy allowed Ritter  to force the Golden Griffins into 12 turnovers, while Ritter had only six.

Suffice to say, Ritter's upset of Vianney on such a large stage was a source of pleasure beyond the mere victory, according to Cardinal Ritter College Prep president Leon Henderson.

"It was a great victory for the team and the school," said Henderson. "They showed a lot of courage and determination in beating the top school in the area. Most of all we're proud of the great sportsmanship  and dignity they displayed in representing Cardinal Ritter."

Ritter, which has won six state titles, as recent as 2010, will conclude their regular season slate with three AAA conference games starting Monday Feb 6 when it hosts Trinity (8-10) from a previous postponement due to bad weather. After the Trinity game, the Lions play at St. Dominic (9-9) on Feb.10 and then they conclude the regular season at DuBourg (4-14) on Feb.17 before commencing district play.

In addition to Biedscheid, who flaunts an area-best 31.5 scoring average, Ritter has just one other player in double figures now in 6-1 senior guard Ryan Hill who's averaging 10.2 points. But that's deceiving, given the  scoring potential of Charles Jones and the fact that traditionally a Marvin Neals-coached team hits its stride down the stretch.

Speaking of 'down the stretch', that is when Walsh said he wants his Golden Griffins to be playing their best basketball as well. They will conclude their regular season with three Metro Catholic Conference (MCC)  games starting Feb.10, when they host DeSmet (14-6), play at SLUH (  11-9) Feb.14 and then at CBC (12-9) in the regular season finale Feb.17 before staring district play. The Golden Griffins have been led all season by the trio of 5-10 senior guard Tony Cochran (17.4 points per game), 6-5 junior guard Brad Woodson (13.9 points per game) and 6-10 senior forward George Woods (10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game along with 41 total blocked shots).

The Gateway Tech Jaguars had one of the St. Louis  area's  most lethal dual threats in high school football in senior quarterback Paul Rice. Recently voted the Public High League's player of the year by the coaches, Rice helped lead his team to the state quarterfinals.

Meanwhile the Soldan-International Tigers produced one of the area's top passing combinations in quarterback Steven Irving and receiver Paul McRoberts.

All in all, the Public High League maintained a level of credibility in the recently concluded 2011 gridiron campaign.Rice passed for 2,037 yards and rushed for another 1,678 yards to help spark the Jaguars to a 10-3 mark. Irving passed for 2,653 yards and 32 touchdowns, including 23 to McRoberts, who caught 64 passes for 1,607 yards to go along with those 23 scoring strikes, as the Tigers posted a 7-4 mark. Soldan defender Kawan Griffin, on the other hand, was one of the area's top pass rushers, getting credit for 18 sacks.

The Jaguars were bidding to become the first PHL program since the 2007 Vashon Wolverines to make it to the state semifinal, which is essentially the equivalent of the state basketball final four tournament. But along the playoff journey, the Jaguars had to beat longtime league nemesis Career Academy twice- first 30-14 in the district rounds, then 50-14 a couple of weeks later in the sectionals.

Beating the same team twice in the same season is never a small feat as the Jaguars learned just the previous year, 2010, when they blew out Roosevelt 63-28 in the district rounds, only to lose to the same Roosevelt team 23-20 in overtime, a couple of weeks later in the sectionals.

"We had been preaching that all week," said Jaguars coach Jason Dulick, who was assistant head coach last year with the Jaguars before assuming the  head coaching position this  season. "It's hard to beat the same team twice. We let them know what happened to them against Roosevelt last year. We were ready to play. We had a team with strong leadership."

Gateway Tech's season came to an end with a 31-14 defeat to host Farmington in the Missouri Class 4 semifinals, while Soldan's season ended a couple of rounds earlier when the Tigers were overwhelmed by powerful 14-1 Mary Institute-Country Day (MICDS, which made it to the state final before losing, 47-12 in the regional rounds.

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posted December 4

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Mark Bausch
Editor
St. Louis Sports Online
editor@stlsports.com
====================
posted October 31

Tony La Russa Career Managerial Record

*In the 1979 season, La Russa was the 2nd of 2 CWS managers
**In the 1986 season, La Russa was the 1st of 2 CWS and the 2nd of 2 Oakland managers
***Manager of the Year not awarded until the 1983 season
=====
Tommy Lasorda Career Managerial Record (Hall of Fame 1997)

Dear reader, if you were lucky, you had a high school sweetheart or two.

I had mine...and in my mind's eye, the young lady in question was the prettiest girl in school.

But the prettiest girl in school went away to college. There, she found another gentleman's charms a little (a lot?!) more to her liking than those of yours truly.

On the night we parted, it was obvious her mind was made up because my words and logic were insufficient as far as changing her mind was concerned. What sticks in my mind is that it seemed that the young lass was the umpire, that I had struck out looking, and her last words were 'yer outta here!'.

She was so certain that the new fella was her #1 guy...I don't think the late Johnie Cochran (the lawyer that got OJ off) could've persuaded her otherwise. Her mind was made up and she was certain she was right.

(And now we'll find out which friends and family members read stlsports.com...)

Back to baseball.

But before the main entree...a short story.

One night in the late 1990's, a half-hour or so after an extended mid-September extra-inning game at Busch Stadium II, a game that the Cardinals lost, yours truly was the only media-type in the manager's office...when a couple of  'Friends of Tony' were hustled in through the side door. The couple, who were introduced to me as married to each other, were apparently long-time California-based friends of manager Tony La Russa and his family. They traded stories about the visitors' children...and a bit of chat ensued about the game that had just ended.

La Russa was clearly relaxed in their presence, and took pains to say...'now this is off the record, but our last pitcher...'; and his voice trailed off. It was as if he was apologizing to his visitors for his team's sorry performance. His words were not condescending but simply stated what was obvious.

The implication was clear--the manager did not have significant confidence in the lefthander in question; the team was far out of contention and the pitcher was a late-season call-up who had already failed a couple of times in a season marked with similar failures by other hurlers.

The next day, I asked La Russa about his general thinking pertaining to the way he utilizes his bullpen.

His response? "Look. It is not that complicated. I replace pitcher A with pitcher B if I think B has a better chance of getting the hitter out. It is not that complicated."

I've never forgotten that conversation...one that was punctuated with a sharp hand gesture from the manager aimed in my general direction.

=====

A good friend of mine (we'll call him IMB) long ago made up his mind regarding the managerial skills and abilities of the current Redbirds' skipper, Tony La Russa.

IMB is the ultimate Cardinals' fan, but not all that unique as far as adult male southern Illinoisans are concerned--Cardinals' baseball is like religion in these parts.

How serious is IMB's jones for the Redbirds? When baseball season ends, he cancels his cable TV subscription, because, in his words, "the only reason I get cable TV is to watch the Cardinals, my beloved Cardinals".

IMB's cable TV comment is an exact quote. As long as his health and employment allow him the time, IMB watches and studies and dissects every pitch of every single Cardinals' game.

The man knows his baseball.

I have discussed the finer points of baseball, and Cardinals baseball, with IMB...for hours.

And over the past couple of months, Tony La Russa's utilization of his pitching staff has been a signficant part of that discussion.

Trust me when I say this: like many from these parts, IMB is NOT a fan of Tony La Russa.

=====

A primary reason, if not THE primary reason, that IMB finds fault with the managerial style of Tony La Russa has to do with his perception of the way La Russa manages his pitching staff.

"My Dad feels the same way I do," IMB told me. "Whenever La Russa, late in the game, heads to the pitching mound, he gets up and TURNS OFF THE TELEVISION." (Emphasis added because IMB was shouting as he uttered these words.)

IMB continued: "La Russa acts like he has to put his stamp on every game he manages. You don't see other managers changing pitchers the way he does. He wears out his relievers. He overuses his bullpen. It has been going on for years, and I am sick and tired of it."

IMB is in good company regarding (part of) his perception of Tony La Russa's handling of his pitching staff.

Within the past 72 hours, MLB Network's Peter Gammons, ESPN's Jayson Stark, and TBS NLCS commentator Ron Darling (who started 130 games for La Russa's Oakland A's in the early 1990's) and more than one Fox Sports Midwest staffer...all supplied their views that La Russa utilizes his bullpen more than any other manager.

Over and over, on national radio shows and on local radio shows...for several years, from people who should know better--the same sentiments have been expressed by literally dozens of broadcasters, writers, and baseball fans: Tony La Russa changes pitchers more than any other manager.

So is this sentiment...this perception...is it real?

What statistical evidence is available regarding how Tony La Russa, while serving as Cardinals manager for sixteen seasons, has utilized his bullpen?

Three sets of season-long stats, and three related questions, come to mind (for the 1996-2011 Cardinals regular seasons, all managed by La Russa):

*total number of complete games per season for Cardinals starting pitchers (STL CG)
DO LA RUSSA'S STARTING PITCHERS COMPLETE FEWER GAMES THAN OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAMS?

*average number of innings that the Cardinals' starting pitcher completes per start, before he is removed for a reliever (STL IP/S)
DO LA RUSSA'S STARTERS PITCH FEWER INNINGS PER START THAN OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAMS?

*total number of relief pitchers used, per season, for the entire Cardinals season (STL RP)
DOES TONY LA RUSSA USE MORE RELIEVERS THAN OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGERS?

Let's go to the videotape.

=====

In the Table below, STL CG and NL team CG (avg) are the number of complete games for the Cardinals and for the entire National League (per team, average), respectively, and STL rank in NL is how the Cardinals ranked that season, in the National League, in complete games.

(discussion continues below table)

For example, in the Cards' 2004 105-win regular season (in yellow above), their starting pitchers completed four (!) games...a total that matched the average number of complete games by the other fifteen NL squads that year. Four complete games placed the Cards in a tie for 7th place for the year.

For La Russa's entire sixteen-year run as the STL manager, his teams average seven complete games per season...while, during those sixteen years, the other NL teams averaged six complete games. In other words, Tony La Russa's starting pitchers complete slightly more games than other NL hurlers.

No evidence of Captain Hook here.

=====

Do La Russa's starters pitch fewer innings (per start) than other NL starters?

In the Table below, STL IP/S and NL team IP/S (avg) are the innings pitched per start, for the Cardinals and for the entire National League (per team, average), respectively, and STL rank in NL is how the Cardinals ranked that season, in innings pitched per start.

(discussion continues below table)

For example, in the Cards' 1997 73-win regular season (in green above), their starting pitchers averaged 6.2 innings pitched...a total that was two-tenths of an inning greater than the average number of innings pitched by the starting pitchers for the other thirteen NL squads that year. The 6.2 innings pitched per start, in 1997, placed the Cards fourth-highest for the year in that category.

For La Russa's entire sixteen-year run as the STL manager, his team's starters average 6.1 innings per start, while, during those same sixteen years, the other NL teams' starters average 6.0 innings per start.

In other words, Tony La Russa's starting pitchers remain in the game slightly longer than other NL teams' starters.

No evidence of Captain Hook here, either.

=====

Does Tony La Russa replace pitchers more often than other NL managers?

In the Table below, STL REL and NL team REL (avg) are the total number of relief pitchers used, per season, for the Cardinals, and for the entire National League (per team, average), respectively, and STL rank in NL is how the Cardinals ranked that season, in total number of relief pitchers used..

(discussion continues below table)

For example, in the Cards' 2011 90-win regular season (in blue above), 468 relief pitchers made appearances. Relievers for the other fifteen NL staffs were utilized (on average, per team) 487 times. Restating, the average NL manager, in 2011, changed pitchers 21 more times than Tony La Russa.

In the 2011 season, the Cardinals placed fourteenth in the National League in the number of relief pitchers used. Only two NL teams (Philadelphia and Arizona) utilized relief pitchers fewer times than the Cardinals.

For La Russa's entire sixteen-year run as the STL manager, his team's relievers averaged 456 appearances per year, while, during those same sixteen years, managers for the other NL teams used 455 relievers per year.

In other words, Tony La Russa, over the course of sixteen NL seasons, used EXACTLY ONE more relief pitcher, per season, than his fellow NL managers.

Still no evidence of Captain Hook here, as well.

[Side Note #1: The original Captain Hook was Sparky Anderson, who, in the 1975 and 1976 seasons, did the left-right-left-right relief pitcher shuffle years before Tony La Russa made his managerial debut with the Chicago White Sox in 1979.]

[Side Note #2: Sixteen years in STL...averaging 88 wins with multiple post-season appearances; Tony La Russa's managerial career in St. Louis alone puts him in the conversation for Hall of Fame consideration. Think about it. One more World Series title and a couple of more seasons in STL would solidify that very argument.]

=====

So back to sweethearts and IMB.

IMB has demonstrated, time after time, that he just does not like Tony La Russa. It is likely that no amount of logic and facts are going to change his mind. At this point he has too much invested to look at things in a different way. Nevertheless...

For the past sixteen years, Cardinals' starting pitchers completed one more game than starters on other NL teams (per season).

For the past sixteen years, Cardinals' starting pitchers pitched slightly more innings, per game, than the starters on other NL teams.

And for the past sixteen years, Cardinals' relievers have made one more appearance, per season, than relievers on other NL teams.

But hey...about all those folks, like IMB, 'hating on' Tony La Russa?

Something tells me that the Cardinals manager would revel in all of the criticism, and take on twice as much of it...if in return he could collect one more World Series championship as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

IMB won't change his mind, though.

And that high school sweetheart? Well, Miss Amy...she didn't change her mind, either.