Good, bad, ugly: the first half by the numbers

NOTE: Yes, today is Thursday, which has always meant Photo Thursday. We’ve taken an All-Star break from our photos of the week, but will be back next week – with Photo Wednesday! Look for the best Cardinals pictures on a new day for the second half of the season.

Thankfully, baseball returns tonight with the Cardinals taking on the Dodgers at Busch Stadium in the first of a four-game series. Hopefully Chris Carpenter will return to his pre-forearm-hit form and the bats will have stayed hot with the three-day break. Before the second half of the season begins, here’s one more look at the first half: by the numbers.

Games the Cards are behind the Reds in the NL Central

Days the Cardinals spent in first place, most recently on June 29

Most games above .500

Most games below .500

4

12

391
Total runs scored by the Cardinals

332

3.39

30
Combined wins from Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia

6

2
Combined wins from Kyle Lohse and P.J. Walters (1 each)

0

2

9.00
Joe Mather’s ERA

Infinity
Evan McLane’s ERA

1
Blown saves each by Ryan Franklin and Jason Motte

2
Pinch-hit home runs by Nick Stavinoha

2
Grand slams hit by the Cardinals this season (Yadier Molina, Felipe Lopez)

.400
Matt Holliday’s average in 10 games batting second.

.667
Albert Pujol’s average when the count is 3-0.

.354
Albert’s average with RISP

.221
Matt’s average with RISP

11
Longest hitting streak of the season, currently a tie between Jon Jay (ongoing) and Albert Pujols

9
Team high in stolen bases, by both Colby Rasmus and Albert Pujols

20
Runners Yadier Molina has caught stealing

12
Errors by Brendan Ryan, a team high

11
Errors by Skip Schumaker

7
Games the Brewers have played at Busch Stadium this season

0
Times the Cubs have played at Busch Stadium this season

9
Times the Cards have played the Diamondbacks this season

3
Times the Cards have played the Cubs this season

12
Games in the second half against the Cubs

1,677,904
Attendance at Busch Stadium this season (third-best in National League)

6-1
Record on first game of home stand (hopefully a good sign for tonight)

71
Mike Shannon’s age today – happy birthday!

1
My prediction for where the Cards will finish in the NL Central

Sources: Baseball-Reference.com, Cardinals.com, Yahoo! Sports