The Cardinals altered their rotation, moving Chuck Finley up to start tonight, and moving Travis Smith back to Thursday.
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Cards Notebook: Duff takes Timlin's spot in bullpen
By Joe Strauss
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/30/2002 10:26 PM
Florida catcher Mike Redmond (right) and the Cardinals' Fernando Vina look for the call on a play at the plate. Vina was out.
(Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Trying to bottle lightning for the second time this season, the Cardinals on Tuesday promoted nonroster reliever Matt Duff from Class AA New Haven to take Mike Timlin's place in the bullpen.
Like teammate Jason Simontacchi, the 27-year-old native of Alligator, Miss., is an independent-league veteran whose career appeared stymied until he signed a minor-league deal with the Cardinals. Unlike Simontacchi, Duff had never pitched above Class AA when receiving a call he never expected.
"I was really surprised when I heard," Duff said. "I thought something might be happening, but in my mind it was going to be Memphis, not here. Yeah, you might say I'm a little surprised."
Duff pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in Tuesday night's 5-0 victory against the Marlins.
Released by the Marlins in the final week of spring training, Duff had no record in four games with Class A Potomac before being promoted to New Haven in early April. There, the righthander had since gone 10-1 with four saves in middle relief while striking out 84 vs. 17 walks in 43 games.
Duff surrendered only two home runs and a .157 average in 59 2/3 innings at New Haven, where he compiled a 1.06 ERA.
The Cardinals ordinarily would have promoted Gene Stechschulte from Class AAA Memphis, but Stechschulte remains bothered by shoulder stiffness.
Pujols settles in left field
Before Tuesday, Albert Pujols had started 59 games in left field, 32 games at third base and eight at first base. That split will now change for at least the remainder of this season, not necessarily a bad thing since Pujols entered Tuesday night batting .239 as a third baseman and .308 as a left fielder.
"It'll probably help him" to play left field every day, manager Tony La Russa said. "He's put a lot of effort into preparing at third base. I think there may be something to (the disparity)."
Pujols thought the matter less significant.
"Hitting is hitting, no matter what position you're playing. My job is to hit and drive in runs. That's the same every day," Pujols said. "I'll play wherever they need me, same as I've always done."
Pujols may also find his spot in the batting order affected. He hit No. 3 Tuesday night after batting cleanup in 76 starts (compared with hitting third in 25 starts).
Quick hits
? Cardinals radio broadcaster Mike Shannon missed Tuesday's game because of the death of a brother-in-law. Bob Ramsey filled in for him, working alongside Joel Meyers. Ramsey will continue in the booth for the remainder of the Cards' series in Miami. Shannon is expected to return Friday, when the Cardinals play in Atlanta.
? La Russa flopped his rotation for the remainder of the series. Chuck Finley will start Wednesday night's game against the Marlins while Travis Smith moves to Thursday night. La Russa did not want to alter Finley's routine after the lefthander threw fewer than 70 pitches in Friday's win over the Chicago Cubs.
? Garrett Stephenson is expected to report to Class A Peoria for a rehab start Wednesday night.
? Jocketty said injured starter Woody Williams is also scheduled to begin tossing this week.
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Cards Notebook: Duff takes Timlin's spot in bullpen
By Joe Strauss
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/30/2002 10:26 PM
Florida catcher Mike Redmond (right) and the Cardinals' Fernando Vina look for the call on a play at the plate. Vina was out.
(Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Trying to bottle lightning for the second time this season, the Cardinals on Tuesday promoted nonroster reliever Matt Duff from Class AA New Haven to take Mike Timlin's place in the bullpen.
Like teammate Jason Simontacchi, the 27-year-old native of Alligator, Miss., is an independent-league veteran whose career appeared stymied until he signed a minor-league deal with the Cardinals. Unlike Simontacchi, Duff had never pitched above Class AA when receiving a call he never expected.
"I was really surprised when I heard," Duff said. "I thought something might be happening, but in my mind it was going to be Memphis, not here. Yeah, you might say I'm a little surprised."
Duff pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in Tuesday night's 5-0 victory against the Marlins.
Released by the Marlins in the final week of spring training, Duff had no record in four games with Class A Potomac before being promoted to New Haven in early April. There, the righthander had since gone 10-1 with four saves in middle relief while striking out 84 vs. 17 walks in 43 games.
Duff surrendered only two home runs and a .157 average in 59 2/3 innings at New Haven, where he compiled a 1.06 ERA.
The Cardinals ordinarily would have promoted Gene Stechschulte from Class AAA Memphis, but Stechschulte remains bothered by shoulder stiffness.
Pujols settles in left field
Before Tuesday, Albert Pujols had started 59 games in left field, 32 games at third base and eight at first base. That split will now change for at least the remainder of this season, not necessarily a bad thing since Pujols entered Tuesday night batting .239 as a third baseman and .308 as a left fielder.
"It'll probably help him" to play left field every day, manager Tony La Russa said. "He's put a lot of effort into preparing at third base. I think there may be something to (the disparity)."
Pujols thought the matter less significant.
"Hitting is hitting, no matter what position you're playing. My job is to hit and drive in runs. That's the same every day," Pujols said. "I'll play wherever they need me, same as I've always done."
Pujols may also find his spot in the batting order affected. He hit No. 3 Tuesday night after batting cleanup in 76 starts (compared with hitting third in 25 starts).
Quick hits
? Cardinals radio broadcaster Mike Shannon missed Tuesday's game because of the death of a brother-in-law. Bob Ramsey filled in for him, working alongside Joel Meyers. Ramsey will continue in the booth for the remainder of the Cards' series in Miami. Shannon is expected to return Friday, when the Cardinals play in Atlanta.
? La Russa flopped his rotation for the remainder of the series. Chuck Finley will start Wednesday night's game against the Marlins while Travis Smith moves to Thursday night. La Russa did not want to alter Finley's routine after the lefthander threw fewer than 70 pitches in Friday's win over the Chicago Cubs.
? Garrett Stephenson is expected to report to Class A Peoria for a rehab start Wednesday night.
? Jocketty said injured starter Woody Williams is also scheduled to begin tossing this week.
recent trends
STL is 7-2 in their last nine overall.
Finley's last three starts have played over.
STL is hitting .310 vs. RHP's in their last 10 overall.
When the wind is 0-10 mph, the over is 13-6.
The over is 4-2 in Beckett's last six starts.
The under is 8-2 in FLA's last 10 at home.
STL is 7-2 in their last nine overall.
Finley's last three starts have played over.
STL is hitting .310 vs. RHP's in their last 10 overall.
When the wind is 0-10 mph, the over is 13-6.
The over is 4-2 in Beckett's last six starts.
The under is 8-2 in FLA's last 10 at home.
ST LOUIS AT FLORIDA -- LINEUPS
ST LOUIS FLORIDA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Fernando Vina 2B .280 1 41 Luis Castillo 2B .327 2 27
J.D. Drew RF .264 14 43 Juan Encarnacion RF .269 17 56
Albert Pujols LF .289 23 76 Preston Wilson CF .244 17 47
Jim Edmonds CF .325 21 56 Mike Lowell 3B .295 15 62
Scott Rolen 3B .261 17 67 Derrek Lee 1B .267 18 54
Tino Martinez 1B .252 13 53 Eric Owens LF .275 3 31
Edgar Renteria SS .315 7 48 Mike Redmond C .316 1 16
Eli Marrero C .259 10 42 Andy Fox SS .256 1 25
Travis Smith RHP .118 0 1 Josh Beckett RHP .000 0 0
(4-1, 6.32) (3-4, 3.95)
ST LOUIS FLORIDA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Fernando Vina 2B .280 1 41 Luis Castillo 2B .327 2 27
J.D. Drew RF .264 14 43 Juan Encarnacion RF .269 17 56
Albert Pujols LF .289 23 76 Preston Wilson CF .244 17 47
Jim Edmonds CF .325 21 56 Mike Lowell 3B .295 15 62
Scott Rolen 3B .261 17 67 Derrek Lee 1B .267 18 54
Tino Martinez 1B .252 13 53 Eric Owens LF .275 3 31
Edgar Renteria SS .315 7 48 Mike Redmond C .316 1 16
Eli Marrero C .259 10 42 Andy Fox SS .256 1 25
Travis Smith RHP .118 0 1 Josh Beckett RHP .000 0 0
(4-1, 6.32) (3-4, 3.95)
