The Springfield Cardinals have been down more than up this year and frustrations are not far behind.

New manager Mike Shildt, who took over for Ron “Pop” Warner after Pop was promoted to Memphis to manage the Tripe-A Redbirds, took exception to a call in a game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on 5/11.  An argument ensued and Shildt would not let it die for a good while.  Unfortunately, before all was said and done, he flipped his helmet into the field of play.  The bigger problem was that the umpire stood between him and the location he was flipping the helmet to.

Very seldom does throwing equipment come out as a good idea.  Check out the video below, provided by our friends at Rambling Morons.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.
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The Royals of 2012 will be young.  With veterans sprinkled throughout the roster the Royals will be able to find their club house leader. But who will step up and be the leader on the field.  That responsibility could be placed on the shoulders of up and coming catcher Salvador Perez.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2011 season was not only the call up but the success of young catching prospect.  A player who by all accounts has shown in the past that defensively he has what it takes to be a premiere catcher for a long time in the Major Leagues.  But his offense was lacking.  Lacking is the only attribute that cannot describe the short season that Perez had last year. He showed that he had the ability to drive the ball to all fields, which at such a young age is nothing but positive. Yes it was a small sample size, but let’s look at what could have been in Perez had played a full season.

Seeing that he would have had around 500 at-bats in a full season here is what his stat sheet would have consisted of in 2011.

At-Bats: 500
Runs:68
Hits:166
Doubles:27
Home Runs:10
RBI:71
Strikeouts:68
Average: .332
Slugging Percentage: .470

If this were true, saying that he overachieved would have been an understatement.  Now although this would be wonderful production from behind the plate, Perez cannot be expected to put up these kinds of numbers for a full season.  He will digress, but his intangibles are what make him such a great commodity to have on this year’s ball club.

His knowledge of the game and how to handle his pitchers will be crucial if the Royals want to make a run for the division title in 2012.  Knowing what pitches to call, when to call them, and when to take a little risk with his battery mate.

Defensively, he just has to stay consistent.  One problem with players today is if they have a little trouble at the plate their defense will show their frustrations. But a leader has to be able to forget when things are not going his way with the bat and just play the game.  This will be the biggest test for Perez in 2012 because he will surely go through the growing pains of any young player. His response to adversity is what will put him on a “captain of the team” like pedestal.

With all this being said here are some projections for the Royal’s young Venezuelan catcher in the 2012 season.

At-Bats: 485
Runs:65
Hits:138
Doubles:24
Home Runs:15
RBI:66
Strikeouts:74
Average: .285
Slugging Percentage: .443

If Perez can produce these kinds of numbers at the plate, add in his stellar defense behind the plate, and step into the leadership role in the 2012 season the Royals could have a truly valuable piece to their puzzle for future success in Kansas City.

All too often in life, there is simply no justice. And there may be no sport that demonstrates this fact as clearly as baseball does.

You have seen it in the tiniest wrinkles of the game’s fabric. The bloop single that ends a no-hit bid, or the rally cut short by a blistering line-out right at a defender with the bases juiced. You have seen it represented in larger samples as well. Such as when the 2001 Seattle Mariners, dominant all season in collecting a record 116 wins, were able to manage only a single victory against the Yankees in the ALCS. Or when the Saint Louis Cardinals were unable to convert regular season mastery into World Series success, both in 2004 and 2005…further illustrated by the fact that a vastly inferior squad was able to so unexpectedly achieve October glory in 2006.

Jason LaRue will likely vanish into a San Antonio sunset after a three game set in Pittsburgh that begins tonight. The trip to PNC gives LaRue an opportunity to enjoy a final road trip with his teammates, while also allowing the former backup backstop to see a specialist regarding severe concussion symptoms still lingering from the well-documented melee with Cincinnati Reds players on August 10^th. Most notably, with Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto who, while pinned against the netting behind home plate, flailed about wildly with spike-clad feet, landing multiple blows to LaRue’s face and head.

Cardinals fans were not even given the opportunity to shower Cueto with their displeasure upon the Reds’ recent trip to Saint Louis, as Cueto was absent the team with a “family issue”. Redbird faithful were left to pummel Brandon Phillips with the full brunt of their frustrations instead, though his crimes against the home team must now be considered misdemeanors in light of the recent announcement that LaRue is retiring due to the aforementioned medical concerns.

The hell with Brandon Phillips. He is a sideshow. He is the guy in a drama film who is inconsequentially disposed of in some manner and immediately forgotten about by the audience. He is a mouth. And a mouth from which remarkable ignorance is spoken. Truth be told, a stadium of complete silence, or perhaps the entire crowd dispersing into the corridors all at once upon each of his at-bats, would have likely been more effective in punishing such an attention-starved excuse for a ball player.

Johnny Cueto, on the other hand, is a different animal entirely.

Let us try to move past the juvenile and reckless act of kicking with eyes closed like a frightened pussycat, as I know virtually nothing about Cueto the person. No reader fixated upon these words is without a fear so paralyzing that they could not also be rendered neurotic. Perhaps that was not the first time little Johnny Cueto found himself beneath a pile of men (go with that where you wish), or perhaps he is truly terrified of enclosed spaces. In all seriousness, we know nothing of the traumas that might lie at the heart of such an abhorrent display of behavior. I ask that you all take a look in the mirror and consider this. But please, also be careful to not confuse my thoughts for anything other than what they are…pity for a weak and pathetic man.

Still, the fact remains. This scared little kitty was not declawed and significant damage was done. Of course, painful headaches and nausea have taken their toll, but LaRue has reported that even simple tasks – such as driving a car, cooking, and watching television – have been difficult throughout his ongoing recovery. And regardless of whether LaRue had intended to play beyond 2010, for all intent and purposes, that decision was made for him by Johnny Cueto. Emphasized with each kick to his skull.

I am proud to call myself, at least as it relates to baseball, a purist. I love a pitchers duel, loathe the stat junkies, and like Bull Durham’s Crash Davis, believe that there should be a ban on AstroTurf and the designated hitter. I waffle agonizingly between whether instant replay is a positive or not, and those who know me well know that I don’t waffle about much. But there are times when tradition hinders the correct action of an institution, and the “punishment” Cueto received is an excellent example.

Jason LaRue’s career is over and his long-term health may very well have been compromised. Johnny Cueto missed one game. Essentially, this translated to an extra day’s rest en route to postseason play. (Cue the violins)

Questions beg to be asked. What if the “severe bruising of the brain” administered by Cueto had ended the career of Yadier Molina? Or Joe Mauer? Or Jorge Posada? Or Victor Martinez? Or Jason Varitek? Does the MLB players union file grievances for such matters or do they only step in on contract negotiations? (Yes, that was sarcasm.) What if the recipient of an indefensible beating had not been some second-stringer with a mullet and a career batting mark of .231? What then? Should any of that matter? Obviously, the answer is no, but we all know that is not the case. Meanwhile, pop some “greenies” and promptly get suspended for 50 games. I’m not sure I follow the logic, Mr. Selig.

Oh well. I suppose it is not my business. Concussed and all, LaRue is free to make up his own mind. He was said to have considered taking legal action against Cueto, which would seem veritable given the criminal nature of the inflictions and the revenue potentially lost, but he has apparently decided against this. His retirement will be unceremonious and the Cardinals organization will probably be too “classy” to retaliate in 2011.

So the fact remains, ringing true in this beautiful game of baseball just as it does in most all worldly affairs: sometimes there is simply no justice. Unfortunately, there is no longer a Bob Gibson either.

At the halfway mark in the 2010 season, the Cardinals have not lived up to the hype. A team that was expected to run away with the division finds itself in second place to a Reds team that has surprised many. However, all is far from lost in Cardinal Nation. Some players have struggled, and many have shown that they are above their pre-season projects. Let’s take a look at the some of the players on either side of the line and see how the team stacks up.

Unnecessary

Say what you want about Aaron Miles, Randy Winn and Jeff Suppan. Whatever it is, it probably is not a kind review. The team started the year with the ‘Baby Bench,’ made up of several players that were key members of the 2009 AAA Memphis Redbirds team. Slowly but surely they were all shuttled back to Memphis, despite solid play by Jon Jay and Allen Craig, among others. Instead, ownership and the coaching staff made moves for the three veterans, all of which have been designated for assignment at some point in this season. Their play is inconsistent and has seen much better days, but they are constantly being run out there by Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan. It is frustrating and, ultimately, unnecessary for pretty much all three players to be on the major league roster.

Frustrating

Brendan Ryan: The entertaining and fairly well-loved shortstop has not been able to get it together this year. His bat, which had steadily improved since arriving on the major league scene a few years ago, has plummeted. His batting average is hovering around .200, frustrating the emotional player to the point that his defensive play has also lapsed. His defense, which was so good that he was a dark horse candidate for a Gold Glove at the beginning of this year, seems to be made of swiss cheese at times. Plays that seem routine he throws wildly, using a sidearm throw that looks more like a slingshot than a throwing motion. He still has stellar range and makes great plays, but poor Brendan is, in his own words, just not having any fun out there.

Skip Schumaker: The outfielder turned second baseman is also having a bizarre year. The team’s .300 hitting leadoff hitter has dropped off the map, also watching his batting average drop into the lower .200’s. While his replacement level defense was solid enough to be accepted when he was hitting as a consistent leadoff hitter, less than stellar defense and struggling at the plate is cause for Skip to lose his hold on the top spot in the order. He now finds himself out of the order altogether more often, and hitting in the seventh or ninth spots when he does start.

(Dis)honorable Mention: Yadier Molina. Yes, I have an All-Star starter listed as ‘frustrating.’ Yadi is also struggling at the plate, middling in the .220 range for a good portion of the season, when he had been in the .300 range for much of the past two seasons. His defense is still outstanding, gunning down runners that dare to challenge him with a nonchalant air, and calling such a good game that Jaime Garcia admitted in an interview with FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver that he has only shaken off Yadi’s call once. What happened? “It didn’t go very well for me. I don’t shake off Yadi anymore.”

Slightly Frustrating

Albert Pujols: Yes, another All-Star. Buckle up; it will not be the last. I chronicled in my first piece here at i70 Baseball that Albert has had a rather un-Albert like first half, but what the counting numbers don’t show is that he has also expanded his strike zone more than necessary. While he continually contests that there is no issue with his surgically repaired elbow, Albert has taken some ugly swings and has often looked like he is just missing pitches he usually clobbers into the upper deck. Very few want to contest that Albert Pujols is struggling, because usually the day after someone ventures to suggest it we see a 3-4 and 3 RBI day, but this season as a whole has not lived up to normal Albert standards, and he will be the first to agree.

Chris Carpenter: One of the toughest pitchers in baseball, Carp has been through it all in a big league uniform. He has won a Cy Young. He has missed entire seasons. He has won the Comeback Player of the Year Award… twice. This year, there have been several games where that dominant pitcher has looked somewhat lost. His curveball, one of the best in the game, has been hit around a little, and he has lost a little velocity on his fastball. I will say this for Carpenter: the man is a beast. His fire and intensity on the field means he will battle through it all and work his way out of some tough situations. However, you can tell by watching him though that something is not quite the same as it used to be.

Matt Holliday: I want to glaze over this one because so much has been made of Holliday’s ‘slow’ start to the season, the first season since signing the richest contract in Cardinals’ history. Right now Matt is putting together a very solid road trip, stringing together hits, making solid contact and driving in runners. Matt has agreed to participate in the Home Run Derby over the break, and considering his current hot streak, he should be ready to go to swing for the fences.

Slightly Surprising

Colby Rasmus: Last year was a decent rookie year for the young center fielder. Due to inconsistent playing time and getting used to the grind of the long season, Colby struggled to find his footing. This year he has been a much more consistent and patient hitter. His walk rate has gone up, which has led to a higher on-base percentage. He has faced more left-handed pitching this year and had more success there as well. Although he has been largely overlooked in the grand scheme of things, Colby has been a quiet contributor on this team.

Adam Wainwright: It hardly seems fair to say that a pitcher who was third in the Cy Young voting last year is having a surprising year this year, but the fact remains. Adam has been better! He has been more economical in his pitches, while striking out more and walking fewer batters per game. He has had four complete games already this year, one of which was a two hitter against Milwaukee in early June. His eight strong innings Friday against Houston has moved him ahead of teammate Jaime Garcia for second in the National League in ERA, sitting pretty with a 2.11.

Jon Jay: It is hard to say what I would give to see Jay on a more consistent basis. The rookie performed well in limited at bats at the beginning of the season, hitting roughly .300 in mostly mop-up and late game replacement duties. When the Cardinals brought in Miles and Winn, Jay was one of the ‘Baby Bench’ that got sent back down to Memphis to make room. The company line was that Jay was going down to get more consistent at bats in the minors and be able to play every day, which was not the case when he was in St. Louis. Now, with David Freese and Ryan Ludwick both on the disabled list with various injuries, Jay is back, and carrying a 10 game hitting streak into Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros. This is one rookie that wants to stay with the big club, and has played well enough to do so.

Surprises

Jason Motte: Last year, everyone thought that Motte was going to be given the closer’s job, but after a shaky start to the year he was quickly removed in favor of Ryan Franklin, who retained the job heading into the current season. In the meantime, Motte has put together a very strong season, at one time retiring 32 consecutive batters, spanning from May 11 to June 6. His flame throwing ways and intense antics on the mound have earned him the nickname ‘Mayhem,’ and he has been causing plenty of mayhem on the diamond. He has finally become the flame-throwing reliever the organization wanted him to be.

Blake Hawksworth’s last few starts: After a rough last half of May, which eventually saw Hawk’s ERA to balloon to 6.11, he was thrust into a starting role due to the injuries of both Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse. Make no mistake – Blake is not the most stellar pitcher on the team. Far from it. However, a pitcher that had been reduced to mop-up duty earlier in the season has made good, making it at least five innings and allowing three runs or fewer in all three of his starts since joining the starting rotation at the end of June. Considering he was a last resort, Dave Duncan has been pleased with what Blake has been able to accomplish, and has agreed that every start has been good enough to earn him another.

David Freese: After a frustrating 2009 season in which he missed much of the season with various injuries, Freese came into 2010 having much to prove, both to a fanbase that was judging his character after a DUI earlier in the year and to an organization that was willing to give him a shot to play every day on the major league team. After a few rough defensive innings in Milwaukee in early April, Freese has silenced the critics in a major way, hitting just under .300 and flashing a stellar glove. Unfortunately, after a misstep rounding the bases rolled his ankle, Freese has been sitting on the disabled list for the past few weeks. Hopefully he will make a return to the lineup soon!

Jaime Garcia: I would be remiss to end this list with anyone besides young Garcia. The rookie has been simply amazing. He began the year fighting in Spring Training for the opportunity to start, and made his way from third in line for the fifth spot in the rotation to the top of the pile, outlasting bullpen stalwart Kyle McClellan and free agent signee Rich Hill. Since then he has been in the top five in the NL in ERA all season, mixing in several solid pitches and having 14 quality starts (6+ innings pitched allowing 3 runs or fewer) in 17 starts. Oh yes, to top it off, he has done all of this after spending all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and is now making a strong case for Rookie of the Year.

As a whole, the Cardinals honestly do have more ups than downs among the players. The problem has become that on any given day, the lineup is unable to hit consistently, the defense breaks down, or (on rare occasions) the bullpen or starting rotation simply gives up too many runs for the bats to overcome. At times it seems that right as one thing comes together, another falls apart. Thankfully it is a long season, and there are still many games to play. Whether or not the Cardinals make a push depends on the surprise players to keep on going and the players dealing with some frustration to rise above their first half issues. Time will tell for these Cardinals, but time could run out quickly if the team is not watching.