Cardinals Writer Comments On Team’s Failed Pitching Strategy
After winning 93 games in 2022 and securing their 13th NL Central title, the St. Louis Cardinals have taken several steps back in 2023.
The biggest issues for the team have been their pitching and their defense.
Last season, their defense ranked near the top in all of baseball in defensive runs saved.
The situation is reversed this year.
But a big problem for the team is that they don’t have many pitchers that consistently record strikeouts.
Their pitching staff is largely a pitch-to-contact staff.
On 101 ESPN, a local St. Louis sports radio show, Cardinals writer Katie Woo pointed out why the team’s outdated pitching philosophy has failed them in 2023.
What have the #STLCards learned about their pitching philosophy? @katiejwoo joined #BKandFerrario to discuss how the Cardinals’ pitching struggles this season could play into their future plans for the rotation.
PODCAST: https://t.co/i26b54fkSu pic.twitter.com/ZDgTD3WtQy
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) June 27, 2023
Woo notes that when the Cardinals were successful as a pitch-to-contact staff, the shift had still yet to be banned and the team had legitimately good defensive players.
Though the shift being eliminated isn’t an excuse, it has led to more offense, which is what Major League Baseball wanted.
Woo noted that if a pitching staff that is largely pitch-to-contact is going to be successful, elite defenders are required.
That is something St. Louis is lacking, even with former Gold Glovers such as Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Tommy Edman, and Brendan Donovan.
Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, and Paul DeJong are also solid defensive players.
However, the defense has failed the Cardinals this season, as has the pitching staff and its long-outdated pitch-to-contact strategy.
Woo pointed out that an outdated philosophy has led to an underperforming rotation, and that combined with poor defense has led them to where they are now, in last place in the NL Central with a 32-45 record.
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