File this under things I didn't know I needed in life but now sure glad I have: Gary Thorne's play-by-play of me catching a foul ball in the press box.
Adam Wainwright to you, fans of the St. Louis Cardinals:
"I know that we played some wretched ball throughout this year ... Thanks for sticking with us, too. I know it’s been frustrating. We’ve been frustrating for you, but we love you. Glad you’re back."
Hey friends, some news: This season I will be on the
@Cardinals
beat for , starting, well, today! I'm greatly looking forward to the challenge. I sure hope you'll follow me on this journey.
Nolan Arenado, on this coming series against the Brewers at Busch, on inching back into the Wild Card chase and on the state of the Cardinals:
"This is why I'm here."
Here's what the MASN cameras caught of the Chris Davis-Brandon Hyde interaction:
Appears Hyde said something Davis didn't appreciate, then Davis had to be held back by hitting coach Don Long and Mark Trumbo.
On the walls of Cavan Biggio's childhood bedroom is a ticket stub from when his father, hall of famer Craig, hit for the cycle in 2002 at Colorado.
"I see so much of his dad when he plays," the family matriarch, Patty -- who was in town for a mother-son trip -- said tonight.
Adley Rutschman's last 10 games: .382/.441/.882 (1.323 OPS) in 36 plate appearances.
He has more homers (three) than singles (two) in that span. Entering today, he's the first Oriole with a double in five straight games since Brian Roberts in 2009.
Josh Báez, the Cardinals' second-round Draft pick who signed today, took BP at Busch Stadium this afternoon. Forewent Vandy and plans to buy his mom a house real soon.
Also dropped this:
"I want to be better than Mike Trout. ... I want to be the face of baseball."
DL Hall is pumped all the way up. Two strikeouts in his debut in front of Camden Yards, his first time coming out of the bullpen as a big leaguer.
He final pitch to Shea Langliers was 98.2 mph, way up high.
The Cardinals have six -- count 'em, six -- finalists for Gold Glove Awards, more than any other team in the Majors. They are:
Yadier Molina (C)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
Tommy Edman (2B)
Nolan Arenado (3B)
Tyler O'Neill (LF)
Harrison Bader (CF)
Tomorrow, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina start Game 300 together. Only three other batteries have as many. They are an all-time duo.
I talked to other duos about the bonds that last, w/ Jeff Saturday, Misty-May Treanor, Tim McCarver and Buster Posey:
Steven Matz, officially a Cardinal for the next four years, says he's excited to throw to Yadier Molina, be part of the Cardinal Way and play for the "Best Fans in Baseball."
Nolan Arenado has won his fifth consecutive Platinum Glove and his first as a Cardinal. He and his teammates have also been awarded the team-wide NL Gold Glove award.
Only twice has an NL Platinum Glove been won by someone not named Arenado or Yadier Molina.
Adam Wainwright: “FanGraphs had us at like a negative 400 percent chance to make the playoffs, and we just proved everyone wrong. We're going to try to and keep doing that.”
Some news: I’m coming home.
Today is my first day as the Orioles beat reporter for . I’m eager for this new challenge and to intertwine even more with the city, org., press box and fanbase. This Marylander is excited to be back in Baltimore covering ball.
Trey Mancini, emotional earlier today:
"I'm not wanting to, like, leave these guys quite yet in the locker room. I'm having a hard time getting in the shower, putting my stuff on and leaving, because I know I won't be back in the locker room with them."
The Orioles were without Ryan Mountcastle (wrist), Ramón Urías (abs) and it turns out Rougned Odor (sinus issue). Austin Hays (hand laceration) played hurt. They had one more pitcher available behind Félix Bautista. They played a bullpen game. They had a one-man bench. They won.
Trey Mancini took early BP and was on the phone with Sara when Brandon Hyde called him into his office to tell him he was traded. Shocked to leave, happy to join Astros.
"A huge part of me is always gonna be an Oriole and a huge part of my heart is always gonna be in Baltimore."
Harrison Bader said he had his dad in the stands for a game for the first time in months, doesn't remember the last time he hit a grand slam and is just excited to be here.
"I do have 80 games left to go out there and just be a positive sparkplug."
Six finalists, five winners. The Cardinals boast the most Gold Glove winners in a season in MLB history:
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, fourth)
Tommy Edman (2B, first)
Nolan Arenado (3B, ninth straight)
Tyler O'Neill (LF, second straight)
Harrison Bader (CF, first)
Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina are the
#1
active battery in baseball.
#2
? That's Carlos Martínez ... and Yadi.
Waino: "I talked to Buster Posey this year, and he said he can't believe this guy still catches every day. I said, 'I know. He's like the 8th wonder of the world.'"
"Oh... Kolten...
My little Hawaiian bro
Love compete and watch you play
Kolten = 1 | Yadi = 0
God bless bro
BTW...
You're out!"
Yadi's signed base for Kolten Wong:
With that double, Adley Rutschman has his 32nd of the season, tying Cal Ripken Jr. for the Orioles' rookie record.
He's also reached base four times.
He also has a home run.
He's also a triple shy of the cycle.
He's also catching a shutout.
Excited to say that I've moved into a full-time role with . Today is my first day as a reporter-producer in Baltimore/DC, where I'll continue to cover the Nationals, Orioles and visiting teams.
Thank you, seriously, for following along. Much more to come!
Mike Shildt said that Bryce Harper sent a text message to Génesis Cabrera today, saying he knew it was unintentional and offered to chat through it if Cabrera wanted.
"You want to talk about a class act."
Alex Cora on the Orioles: "Stuff-wise, they’re really good. You see it. Everybody sees it. We saw it early in the season.
"I'm not surprised, because that's how it started in Houston. It started with pitching."
Harrison Bader has made some sensational plays this series, but none may be better than this.
He needed to cover 60 feet in 3.8 secs to make this snag with a 30% catch probability.
That ranks as Bader's ninth four-star catch of the season, per Statcast — most in MLB. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gunnar Henderson hit for the cycle in Norfolk today: single, triple, homer, double. He's batting .329 with a 1.077 OPS through 19 games at Triple-A.
He is only 20. He turns 21 tomorrow.
The 1935 Gashouse Gang and the 2021 Madhouse Gang stand alone as the only Cardinals clubs with win streaks of 14 games. That's because St. Louis wrapped up a 12-4 DH sweep of the Cubs and refuse to lose. Tonight, they did it with Dakota Hudson and Jack Flaherty in the fold.
A Cardinals fan (
@QuinnSTLCards
) pledged to buy John Mozeliak flowers if the Arenado trade was completed.
The trade went through, as did the promise:
As of this morning, Adley Rutschman has accumulated 4.2 WAR, per B-Ref's model, which leads the Orioles.
Should he finish the year with at least 4.0, which appears a near lock, he'd be the first rookie catcher to do so since Mike Piazza in 1993. Only six have ever done it.
Ryan Mountcastle has hit 765 feet of flyouts in two at-bats today.
He just watched Kiké Hernández rob him of a 399 foot home run to center. His reaction:
Trey Mancini: "I'm not sure what the next few weeks have in store exactly, but I know I'm just having fun, trying to enjoy every day with these guys. This year has been a breath of fresh air, and no matter what happens, I'm really proud of this group."
DL Hall, on if he was fired up:
"Yeah, I was fired up. I feel like I've been sitting on Tampa for three weeks and just itching to get back up there and show what I can do."
DL Hall is pumped all the way up. Two strikeouts in his debut in front of Camden Yards, his first time coming out of the bullpen as a big leaguer.
He final pitch to Shea Langliers was 98.2 mph, way up high.
Jorge Mateo just made one of the Orioles' deftest defensive plays of the season, call overturned to out upon review.
It also keeps Austin Voth working a no-hitter through four innings.
We are 15 games into the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals season.
We are yet to see a starter reach the 7th inning.
Only once has a pitcher completed six innings.
Ryan Mountcastle: "It's crazy. I mean, it seems like each and every day, we just go out there and we're gonna win. I don't know. It's just this weird aura or vibe. I don't know what's going on. But it's awesome."
Hey friends, a quick programming note: Yesterday was my last game with as I move into a new venture outside the industry. From Baltimore to DC to STL, can't explain how grateful I am for all the support, following and fun over the last few years. A dream.
Yadi cut down Abraham Almonte trying to steal second with a throw from his knees (78.7 mph) faster than Adam Wainwright's pitch to home (74.7 mph)
From his knees.