Thunder and Lightning. I just don't know which is which. Is Albert Pujols Thunder, or is that Matt Holliday? They are probably the most dangerous one-two combination in baseball today. I'd rather face ARod and Tex. I'd rather face any two Red Sox back to back. Pujols and Holliday are instant trouble for pitchers. Pujols can hit any pitch thrown by any pitcher at any time. Holliday isn't far behind. And that's where the analysis of the Cardinals begins. Matt Holiday was reborn in St. Louis. It was as if he brought an amazing storm of extra base hits, home runs and a lethal bat when he boarded the plane out of the Bay Area. He has returned to his comfort zone, the National League. Albert and the Cards are the beneficiaries.
After Pujols at first base, the rest of the infield is flying a bit under the radar. Second basemen Skip Schumaker and Julio Lugo can mix and match as the righty-lefty combination depending upon the pitcher. Neither makes headlines, but both are good players. As a converted outfielder, Schumaker has been steadier in the field than many had predicted. As an added bonus, he's a .300 hitter that puts the bat on the ball. Lugo plays less but is also capable of hitting close to .300 in the utility role. Brendan Ryan is a very good hitting shortstop with some pop in his bat. He was supposed to be an understudy to Khalil Greene, but Greene's lack of health and poor statistics have given Ryan many more at-bats then expected. He has come through very well with a steady bat. Mark DeRosa was obtained form Cleveland, and although suffering injuries, he has steadied third base and filled in nicely around the diamond. DeRosa has some power to assist in the batting order. The key to the infield? They hit for average. They get on base. The big boppers knock em in. No superstars among the bunch (other than Pujols.) But they get the job done day in and day out. And LaRussa moves them around late in games as parts of double-switches and infield defensive changes. Does anyone use a lineup better than LaRussa?
The outfield depth includes the ever streaky Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel. Both can take a pitcher out of the yard. Or both can kill a rally with a called third strike or a long swing and a miss. Colby Rasmus has provided stability in center field. While he has cooled in the second half of the season, Rasmus has accomplished a great deal as a rookie. He has stabilized the position and has provided some much needed pop at the plate. Holliday, however, has made the difference in the club. He seemed lost and out of sync in the American League. He seemed like he was trying too hard to justify the trade the A's made for him. He looks much more comfortable playing left field back in the National League. Especially with Albert Pujols in the same lineup.
Holliday is a high average, high contact hitter with power. He will hit well in Los Angeles, but consider what he can do in Philadelphia and Colorado. He makes the Cardinals very, very dangerous on the road. A factor that I can't ignore, as much as I try.
Don't run on Yadier Molina. He has a Molina arm. He has Molina accuracy. He has Molina mechanics. Those qualities alone will limit the running game against the Cardinals. And if he's healthy, he can hit.
How about a pitching staff with two Cy Young Award candidates at the top of the rotation? Deciding a winner among the two is a real chore. For me, not only is Chris Carpenter a Cy candidate, he is also a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. What a season he has had. When he's at his best, he can't be hit. When he isn't at his best, he can't be beaten very easily. I'll take that. He commands his pitches. He is a pitcher and not a thrower. For me, he's the ace. He gets the ball in game #1. And that isn't an easy decision. Why? Because Adam Wainwright is also an ace. How about starting the Playoffs with a pair of Aces? Most teams in the Playoffs have two great pitchers. Without them, the teams wouldn?t be in the Playoffs. But these are two guys that give their team a chance to dominate games. They don't give up many runs. Joel Pineiro, Todd Wellemeyer and Kyle Lohse give Pitching Coach Dave Duncan and Manager Tony LaRussa great options beyond the two Major Cards in the deck. Lohse was dealing with some forearm issues, but he seems to have bounced back. What about John Smoltz? I don't know. I would place him in the pen for the series, if he makes the roster at all. His health and other issues such as match-ups could come to play.
The bullpen is lucky to have Ryan Franklin closing games. Remember when nobody knew who was going to close in St. Louis? Was it Jason Motte? How about Chris Perez? Neither. It's Franklin. And what a job he has done. Dennis Reyes and Trevor Miller have been outstanding as lefties in the pen. They have both been work- horses. Jason Motte and Kyle McClellan have gotten the ball to Franklin. The pen is strong, but not the heart of the team. Certainly, Smoltz can help if they choose to use him. LaRussa has been known to use his whatever arms he has in the bullpen just to get that last out of a game. He isn't afraid to use every player he has on the roster.
So, Tony LaRussa uses his entire bench without blinking an eye. He uses his entire club. Guys play. They are ready to play. He and Dave Duncan are a tremendous one-two punch as Manager and Pitching Coach. If there's trouble brewing with Duncan, it won't surface in the Playoffs. There is just too much at stake.
Starting pitching? Check. Starting defense? Check. Bullpen? Check. Hitting? Pujols and Holliday are enough for me. Thunder and Lightning. Lightning and Thunder. Actually, Lights Out. Cards to beat Los Angeles in the Division Series.
The next series might be tougher, but not the Division Series.