Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

Youth will have to show maturity for Cardinals to weather Wacha/Garcia loss

Posted Sunday, June 22, 2014, at 9:35 PM

By COREY NOLES

#450458618 / gettyimages.com

ST. LOUIS --The announcement Sunday afternoon that St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia would be heading to the disabled list came as quite a shock.

After manager Mike Matheny's postgame press conference, we were asked to wait because general manager John Mozeliak would be making "an announcement."

We joked about what it could be, but a Michael Wacha shoulder injury wasn't even on the radar--not even as a joke.

A key component of the Cardinals 2013 postseason success and NLCS MVP, Wacha's quick roller coaster ride of a major league career has hit its first real speed bump. While he is only sporting a 5-5 record, his value is higher than the numbers would indicate.

Wacha's intended role is to become a second ace--similar to the Adam Wainwright/Chris Carpenter duos of years past.

Information regarding Wacha's injury is still limited at this point with no solid answers to questions like "how long will he be out?" Mozeliak suggested that he could be re-evaluated in "a little while," but was reluctant to set out any sort of timetable.

Wacha himself made mention after Sunday's game that he may throw again in "a couple weeks."

The most pressing question though, is how will the Cardinals reshape their rotation after losing a pair of starting pitchers in one day.

First, Carlos Martinez, who delivered a solid pitching performance Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, will remain in the rotation for the time being. While still not fully stretched out, in his most recent 74-pitch outing he appeared to still have some gas in the tank even when he was pulled from the game after pitching only five innings.

With Wacha in the rotation, there was room for Martinez to have some growing pains as he adjusts to being a major league starting pitcher. With Wacha gone, however, the Cardinals will be leaning on him heavily and his performance will play a major role in the overall success of his team.

Second, will be the addition of either Tyler Lyons (or another option) to fill at least one start--and likely more--beginning this Wednesday. Lyons is off the disabled list, but because he has not yet pitched in a game since his return, there's no way to determine the immediate level of effectiveness.

That's a question mark the Cardinals can't afford right now.

Inside the organization, however, that's simply a question they're going to have to deal with. While there is some pitching depth, with any of the available options a lack of experience will likely come into play.

Third, Joe Kelly will not be a factor--at least in the immediate future. Mozeliak made clear Sunday afternoon that he was not willing to jeopardize Kelly's progress by cutting him short from his rehabilitation process.

He'll make his first rehab start for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on Friday, June 27. With a projected pitch count of about 60, in all likelihood, Kelly will require at least two and possibly three before returning to the major league rotation.

Overall, the Cardinals do have some options at their disposal--Lyons, Eric Fornataro, Tim Cooney-- but what they need at this point is not a pitcher who will need time to adjust to his promotion. They need someone with experience who can make an immediate impact.

With the All-Star break just around the corner, slipping back down in the standings cannot be an option. If Wacha's condition appears to be more serious, it's possible that the option they really need may have to come from outside of the organization.

Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. He is a regular contributor to KSDK.com and Bleacher Report. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.

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It would seem to make sense to trade for a veteran starting pitcher.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Jun 22, 2014, at 9:59 PM
It might also be a good year to just start thinking about next season if Wacha is lost for an extended time.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Jun 22, 2014, at 10:26 PM
There was a point in the postgame where a question was asked (from his right) and Mo really seemed taken aback. He replied "No...I've never even thought of that." But I did not hear the question. Do you know what it was? It was interesting.

-- Posted by Methecardsfan on Sun, Jun 22, 2014, at 11:49 PM
DW is at it again.

-- Posted by Bunk on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 10:11 AM
I hear the Rays are shopping for David Price and the Cardinals had a scout at one of his games recently. Haha.

Enough of that nonsense. The Cardinals have been clear for the time being they will handle these problems in house within the organization.

I dont know maybe Marco Gonzalez is a guy the Cardinals at least think about.

-- Posted by SportsMediaInformant on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 1:55 PM
I tv in he is a possibility. Outside of Kelly and Lyons he seems the most suited to getting a crack at the bigs. I think the level of interest the Cardinals have in Price is solely dependent on the severity of Michael Wacha's shoulder injury.

-- Posted by Bunk on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 3:08 PM
I don't think the Cardinals have the type of team this season that would warrant making a blockbuster trade unless it is for a player you would have for several years.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 3:09 PM
That's why your a troll DW. Never change

-- Posted by Bunk on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 3:48 PM
I think the Cardinals should seriously consider just cutting their losses with Garcia. How many chances can you give this guy? He just can't stay healthy.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 6:31 PM
Maybe Preacher. But they are going to pay him over $9 million next season regardless.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 6:51 PM
DW with the logic for a shocker!

-- Posted by Bunk on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 8:52 PM
Jaime Garcia is the Cardinals version of Mark Prior or Kerry Wood. But if they owe him that much money they're just going to have to eat it because no one will trade for him given his history of constant injuries.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Mon, Jun 23, 2014, at 10:57 PM
He is very much a poor man's Mark Prior but thank God the Cardinals never built their rotation around him and a guy who threw 102 mph but couldn't locate or command a pitch. I think Marco Gonzalez should be till the All Star break and at that point what ever Wacha's health is determines the package offered for David Price.

-- Posted by Bunk on Tue, Jun 24, 2014, at 7:10 AM
Since they're paying him quite a bit of money and I think he's proven to be pretty effective when healthy, does anyone think Garcia might be better suited for pitching out of the bullpen? Maybe starting pitching is just too strenuous for his arm/shoulder but relief pitching may be a better fit for him physically. I'm sure this isn't a new idea but I haven't personally heard much talk about it.

-- Posted by Grussman on Tue, Jun 24, 2014, at 10:35 AM
I know this isn't a Jon Jay thread but he's really cementing himself to be the starting CF. He's hitting and playing solid defense (heckuva catch last night!). He literally looks more confident. Looking at his stats over the past four years it seems like he hasn't really gotten the credit he deserves.

-- Posted by Grussman on Sat, Jun 28, 2014, at 8:34 AM
For years the Cardinals have needed to improve itself at the positions of 2B, SS and CF since the Walt Jocketty signings of Edmonds, Vina and Renteria left. We got a good year out of Womack, but have seen few bright spots out of these positions the rest of the way.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sat, Jun 28, 2014, at 11:49 PM
Really we are going to hold up Vina and Renteria as the shining stars of the MIF? You should note that SS is the hardest position to field an offensive plus player because of defense and we actually have a darn good one in Peralta this year. Your assessment excluded the great years Matt Carpenter and Mark Gruzeliank had at 2nd base. Finally yes the Cardinals are having a hard time trying to replace one of the better 2 way players at the 2nd hardest defensive position of CF.

-- Posted by Bunk on Mon, Jun 30, 2014, at 8:39 AM
The amount of money Peralta will receive over a four-year period and his performance over four years should be observed before we evaluate the deal.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 2:15 AM
In my opinion, if the Cardinals consider themselves a playoff contender, and it's very debatable, they should trade for a power hitting 3B or 2B at the deadline and put Carpenter at the other position and send Wong to the minors or include him in the trade.

If Wacha is out for the year and they are no closer at the end of the month I'd try to move / dump the Matt Holliday contract /salary (he has a no trade clause), and trade Lance Lynn, Randy Choate and/or Jason Motte. You cannot go for it all every year and it might be a good year to get prospects / dump salary.

What would you do Bunk and Grussman?

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 3:02 AM
I think they are very much a contender but I will humor you.

1) You were arguing for production at SS at CF earlier not of they earned the contract. Kozma earned his deal last year. He was one of the best 5 defensive SS in all of baseball and worked for peanuts.

2) Holiday does have a NTC and it is friggin huge. The MLBPA really protects in their prime/ older players this way because they can strengthen or add a NTC once they spend 5 years on a team. Holiday has a typical big NTC that has like 24 teams on it. There is no way he is leaving with the way Craig has played anyway.

-- Posted by Bunk on Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 6:40 AM
With 2011, although it was admittedly unusual and extraordinary, it's obviously way too early to throw in the towel on the season (even at the end of the month) unless they're 15 games out of the wildcard and the teams in front are really healthy.

Holliday is going nowhere at this point and I don't know what power hitting 3B might be available (is Beltre?) but I don't think it's worth losing too much youthful talent to rent a player for two months and gain a few home runs unless those home runs are truly difference makers THIS season. Of course, that's impossible to know on the front end.

I know it'd be criticized as sitting on your hands but in a way it'd be kind of hard not to sit tight.

-- Posted by Grussman on Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 2:09 PM
Nothing wrong with sitting tight. Sometimes the best move is the non move

-- Posted by Bunk on Wed, Jul 2, 2014, at 2:52 PM
One has to admire the Oakland A's for making today's trade with the Chicago Cubs.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sat, Jul 5, 2014, at 11:45 PM
John Mozeliak rarely does much to improve his teams at the trade deadline in recent years.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Jul 6, 2014, at 12:00 AM
Perhaps the last best time to win it all in Oakland was 1989!

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Jul 6, 2014, at 12:07 AM
Dustin, will the "Webcast" program continue?

-- Posted by Dexterite1 on Thu, Aug 14, 2014, at 5:57 AM

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