It’s a monumental day in Aaron Miles’ Fastball history. This is our 1,000th post since the site began on Jan. 5, 2011.

First off, thanks to each of you for reading. It’s very much appreciated. Without you, sharing our thoughts on the St. Louis Cardinals isn’t nearly as enjoyable. And we like hearing your thoughts as well — posts that generate discussion are always good.

Looking back, it’s been quite a ride over the past 26 months.

We began a month or so before spring training 2011, coming off the disappointing 2010 season, and were wondering in the very first post how to adjust to liking the newly signed Lance Berkman and Ryan Theriot after hating them for so many years. (One was easy and resulted in the LB Fan Club. We really did try with the other one … but gave up as soon as we could. Although, just a reminder: Ryan Theriot will forever be a two-time World Series champion. But let’s hope not three …)

» Continue reading “An Aaron Miles’ Fastball Milestone: Post No. 1,000″

Dear Jake,

With spring training officially beginning (though most of you have been there long enough to give us plenty of almost-real, interesting, baseball things to talk about), I’m happy to make you the first Love Letter of the 2013 season … technically, anyway.

There’s a point I want to make right off the bat (um, no pun intended!): You, my dear, are not the forgotten man in the rotation. Not in the least.

Sure, you may not be the center of the buzz. Chris Carpenter kind of stole that thunder. That turned into a domino effect, making guys like Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller even bigger stories. Then, of course, there’s Lance Lynn showing up to camp all sleek and smooth (faced. Smooth faced …). That made a few headlines. And, with Jaime Garcia’s status still up in the air and Adam Wainwright’s contract negotiations in the “nothing new” stage, the question marks surrounding the rotation are creating more interest than the thing that isn’t a question mark – you.

Last season was one of your best in St. Louis. After starting with your own off-season transformation, you showed up to spring training fit and focused. Then, starting 28 games while posting a 3.97 ERA, you earned more “Westbrook’s dominating start” headlines than the reverse. » Continue reading “Love Letter: Jake Westbrook”

As 2012 winds down, it’s only natural to take a look back at some of the posts we wrote this year — and there were plenty to choose from since this is No. 449.

There also were plenty of you who read them, as we’ve had more than 40,800 visits from more than 24,300 people in the past 12 months. Just one thing to say to that: thank you!

So here’s a little trip down 2012 memory lane …

Remember that time in January when Roy Oswalt was going to be a Cardinal?

In addition to those magic words about pitchers and catchers reporting, February also brought a Yadier Molina contract extension and our very first Monday motivation picture post (of course featuring the new Cards manager!)

“Opening Day” are two more magic words for Cardinals fans — and this year’s home opener was extra special. Forget the rain and just focus on the great pictures … or some gushiness about the whole experience.

» Continue reading “A Look Back At The Cardinals 2012″

As Cardinal Nation collectively says good-bye to Skip Schumaker, here’s a quick look at a few things beyond the obvious ones in the Post-Dispatch and at the Cardinals website you might have missed.

Schumaker played “The Cardinal Way” — from Jordan Palmer at KSDK.com


Cardinals banking on clubhouse chemistry — by Brian Feldman at KMOV.com


Skipping Town — from Daniel, C70 At the Bat


Cardinals classic: Skip Schumaker bests Roy Halladay — by Mark Tomasik at RetroSimba


Skip Schumaker traded; St. Louis Cardinals fans can like him now — by Dan Moore at Viva El Birdos


Also, here’s an interview yesterday with Skip himself from 101ESPN


Finally, we’ve written much about Skip here at Aaron Miles’ Fastball — including, of course, his pitching debut (and Aaron Miles’ revenge at Skip taking over his pitching role) back in August 2011. That very moment was something Aaron himself remember quite well (although it appears Aaron has forgotten he has a Twitter account). And remember Skip’s Cardinals commercial this year?

Thanks, Skip, for your many contributions as a Cardinal — and best wishes to you with the Dodgers!



Christine Coleman is the senior St. Louis Cardinals reporter for Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @CColeman802, or email aaronmilesfastball@gmail.com. Also follow @AMilesFastball for the latest updates.

We all knew it was coming. In fact, most people agreed it was a fair deal for both parties. If the Cardinals and Skip Schumaker could both be helped by a trade …

That doesn’t make the reality easier to grasp. I know, I’m looking at it through the emotions of a Cardinals fan who grows to love every guy that wears the uniform. Especially one like Skip who plays the game the right way, works hard, does whatever he’s asked, strengthens the clubhouse resolve and unity, and makes a difference in the community.

Baseball is a business, yes, but one that inevitably toys with the emotions. This prospective deal has been on the table since the end of the season, really. Where did Skip fit into the 2013 blueprint? Any way you slice it, he hardly fit at all. So when I saw the internet buzzing last night with the news that, pending a physical today, Skip Schumaker will be heading to LA and sporting Dodger blue, it was an odd thing to try to handle.

Schumaker has spent his entire nine-year career in St. Louis. He’s been present for two World Series victories, and five total playoff runs. There was, perhaps, no bigger moment for Skip than the RBI double that scored Rafael Furcal to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS. Yes, that game. That season. That at-bat. Ten pitches, and the biggest hit of his life? Probably.

It’s that kind of memory that makes it hard to let Schumaker go. But, his place with the Cardinals was limited. And even as a backup at second base and center field, he’ll likely see more playing time with the Dodgers. That’s all he wanted when his manager approached John Mozeliak about a potential trade. He didn’t want out of St. Louis, necessarily. He just wanted on to the field.

He appears to be getting more than that, though. This move will be a homecoming of sorts for the Schumakers, as Skip is from Southern California. Plus, Mark McGwire is there. Long-time friends, Schumaker and McGwire have worked together for years. If you’re going to have a new team, it’s definitely a plus to have a familiar face along for the ride. » Continue reading “SoCal Bound — Schumaker Traded To LA”

Four days after Game Seven of the NLCS, my Cardinals mourning period is now over.

It wasn’t necessarily intentional. But I still haven’t turned my television back to FOX, meaning I have yet to watch even one pitch of the World Series. Maybe this weekend, now that the games will be in Detroit. But for Games One and Two, just the thought of seeing that ballpark, those fans, all that orange kept me away. I saw more than enough Sunday and Monday.

In addition, I didn’t read much about the Cardinals this week. (Or write anything, in case you hadn’t noticed.) That wasn’t necessarily intentional either. But I just couldn’t.

However, John Mozeliak meeting the media yesterday has me interested again. In particular, the talk about next season has me looking forward to what’s ahead. There’s plenty to look forward to — a lot came out of that conversation.

Such as who will not be returning, in all likelihood. Unlike last year, when there was plenty of Cardinals eligible for free agency (including, obviously, That One Guy Who Used To Play First Base), this year there are only two: Lance Berkman and Kyle Lohse. And it’s no surprise to any of us that neither really fits into the Cardinals future plans, right? We knew that every post-season start Lohse made was an audition for a long-term contract elsewhere. Which is fine, given all the young and very talented pitchers the Cardinals have to fill that rotation spot.

» Continue reading “Already Much To Be Excited About For 2013 Cardinals”

First: a win! Hurray! When two struggling teams on losing streaks meet up, something has to give. Thankfully, the Cardinals found just enough offense plus had good pitching to come up with a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers.

Second, and speaking of pitching: Lance Lynn! Hurray again! All the doubters and naysayers who didn’t have faith in him making a start again — guess he showed everyone. (Although, really, none of us were very confident if we were honest with ourselves, right?)

The Cardinals have now won two games this week, Sunday and Thursday, and Lynn is the winning pitcher in both. Not that we didn’t all sweat it out last night — but Wolf Pup especially did. Literally. The game-time temperature was 80 degrees in Los Angeles, yet he was sweating like it was a 100 degree July afternoon in St. Louis with 95 percent humidity.

Plus his first inning on the mound didn’t help. Because it was the type of Lance Lynn first inning we’d gotten used to seeing. A single, walk and double — though with a nice double play turned by the Cards infield in the middle — led to one run. But just one run, and the only run of the game.

In the top of the second, the Cardinals tied it on three straight singles by Yadier Molina, new No. 6 hitter Carlos Beltran and Skip Schumaker.

» Continue reading “Lance Lynn’s Back To Back Wins – Hurray!”

“We just do not do the little things that are conducive to being a good ball club,” Mike Shannon said last night, after watching yet another failed bunt attempt, this time Adam Wainwright bunting foul for strike three. Clearly, the runners could not advance — a problem all night, it seemed.

Chance after chance, the Cardinals had in game two against the Padres. And time after time, they came up empty.

Sure, they scored four runs. But they couldn’t get much else together.

The Good

Adam Wainwright.

After two disastrous starts, Waino looked just like himself through the first few innings. In fact, he had a no-hitter going through four innings. He looked sharp early, picking up six strikeouts in six innings.

However, he walked four and gave up two earned runs. That was only the start of the unfortunate turnaround later in the game.

Also good, Trevor Rosenthal. The kid continues to impress, coming in to the seventh inning and facing Jesus Guzman (strikeout), Everth Cabrera (single), Will Venable (strikeout), and Chase Headley (strikeout). Two of those Ks were of the “caught looking” variety.

Rosenthal is, perhaps, the only guy on the staff right now that seems to have no fear of going right after hitters. None of this nibbling the corners, trying to get hitters to swing at garbage. Nah, he just takes it to ‘em. He makes the best of that 97 MPH fastball, followed often by a 79 MPH curveball.

» Continue reading “But When They Are Bad, They Are Horrid”

It is great to be back home!

The Cardinals took game two of the series from the Mets last night in a 5-1 victory. It was one of those nights where everything seemed in control from start to finish. The pitching started great, the hits started to fall, the runs started to build up … and when everything works together, great things are bound to happen.

So, let’s take a look at last night’s “Good, Better, and Best.”

Good

Yadier Molina entered last night’s game with 999 career hits. Certianly, it wasn’t out of reach that he get to 1,000 against the Mets. And the suspense didn’t last long.

In the second inning, Yadi was the lead-off man, and he smashed a 95 MPH fastball deep in the hole … but Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada made a stellar play to get there, and fire to first. Only problem? Daniel Murphy’s foot came off the bag.

Yadi was safe, his 1,000th hit recorded as an infield single, of all things. That’s about par for the course this season with Yadi the base-stealing machine!

Once the crowd at Busch Stadium realized (thanks to the sign on the scoreboard!) the significance of that hit, there was quite the standing ovation for Mr. Molina. Such an ovation, in fact, that the ever-humble Yadi looked a little confused … or, perhaps, a touch embarrassed. If he got that kind of reaction for 1,000 hits, just imagine when he reaches a really spectacular milestone!

Hey, at least he knows he’s loved.  » Continue reading “Yadi Hits 1,000 In Cardinals Winner”

Andres Torres misses the bag and is later called out after the Cardinals appealed at first. (ScreenCap)

To say that the play took the steam out of the New York Mets might be an understatement. Because, that’s what seemed to happen Monday when the surprise play of all plays happened in the Cards 5-4 victory over the Mets.

NY Met Andres Torres was rounding first and headed toward second. He slid safely into second. As Daniel Descalso used a little too much force while he was tagging Torres out, the Mets thought it would be good to go check Torres out to make sure Dirty Dan … I don’t know… didn’t give Torres a concussion or something!

Meanwhile, Carlos Beltran, who was off Monday but taking some swings in the batting cage during this time, saw something that didn’t appear right. So, he scrambled to the dugout to let Mike Matheny know what he saw… dirt flying as Torres rounded first. A clear indication that Torres didn’t hit the base.

During the scrum with reporters later, Beltran said he saw this happen and that it wouldn’t hurt to appeal it.

And so, Jason Motte threw the ball over to first baseman Matt Carpenter and BOOM! First base ump David Rackley called Torres out.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he’d never seen anything like it.

Matheny said Beltran, despite not playing, was definitely the MVP of the game for catching the running mistake.

A few other excellent things happened Monday. Let’s discuss!

* Skip Schumaker got his first home run of the season. Yeah, waiting until Labor Day to get his first home run. Not good. Instead of the normally awesome receiving line of high fives, Skip’s teammates gave him the silent treatment as he jogged into the dugout. After a few moments of silence, his teammates eventually congratulated him!

* Joe Kelly got his 5th win of the season as he pitched 6.2 innings, giving up five hits, two walks and two earned runs, including a home run off the bat of Kelly Shoppach. Kelly was able to strike out four batters though. He also doubled in the third inning. He caused a little bit of concern when it was believed he could have tweaked a muscle in his calf or hamstring, but he jogged safely home after a Matt Carpenter sac fly to center.

* Jason Motte nailed down his 33rd save of the season after 1.2 innings of work. He walked one and struck out two.

* The Cardinals now have a record of 73-62. They are 8.5 game back of the Reds for the NL Central lead. They remain in the second wild card position They have a half game lead over the Dodgers and a 2.5 lead over the Pirates. The Cards are three games back of the Braves for the first wild card spot.

Jaime Garcia takes the mound for the Cardinals tonight against Matt Harvey and the Mets. Game time is at 7:15 p.m. Central at Busch Stadium.

Miranda Remaklus is lead St. Louis Cardinals contributor to Aaron Miles’ Fastball. She’s also lead writer at Aerys Offsides. Follow her on Twitter, @missmiranda.