Boston Cardinals Review - May 2020

The Cardinals had our ups and downs during May, but we ended the month in a virtual tie for the lead in the Earl Weaver Division. The Jacksonville Jacks are coming on strong. With nearly one-third of the season in the books, it is beginning to appear as though a two-team race for the division title is taking shape.

Most of the position players continued to drive the ball well throughout the month. We generated enough runs to overcome pathetic performances by many pitchers, especially starting pitchers. In the end, we fought our way to a 14-14 record for May and stand at 30-21 for the season.

Batting - Top Performances:

Young Nick Holmes continued to wield an extremely hot bat. Holmes logged a .321/.426/.550 slash line, homered six times, and drove home 32 teammates in the 28 games. His incredible patience at the plate continued to amaze experts as he registered 20 free passes while fanning a mere 7 times. Nick simply wears out opposing pitchers.

Left fielder and lead-off hitter Alberto Reyes sparked the offense with a .319/.406/.483 slash line, 14 doubles, 9 stolen bases in 10 attempts, and 25 runs scored. He, too, walked more than he whiffed. The Cardinals love having two players, Holmes and Reyes, with such outstanding plate discipline batting at the top of the order.

Bob Hayes fueled the offense by launching 9 big flies, driving in 23, and compiling a .300/.352/.600 slash line. Fans love watching the fireworks displays he ignites. 

Pat Thompson also pounded the ball throughout the month. His slash line of .316/.381/.505 speaks volumes about his value as the player who is sandwiched between Reyes and Holmes at the top of the order. On May 7, Pat pummeled Seattle Sasquatch pitchers and ended the day with a record six hits in six at bats, two doubles, a homer, five runs scored, and four runs batted in. What a performance!

Pitching - Top Performances:

Rookie Nate "Cookie" Gary continued to shine during the month. He absorbed the first loss of his major league career, but he won three games. After two months his record stands at 7-1. His sinker and curveball, his primary pitches, seem to be working well in concert with his splitter and slider to keep opposing batters off balance. He is a welcome addition to a starting rotation that has many holes.

Veteran Nolan Lyons, a 21-game winner in 2019, also won three games during May and ended the month with a 5-2 record. His 2.54 ERA leads the Thurman Munson League. On May 30, Nolan sustained an injury which is expected to sideline him for a couple of weeks. He has not disclosed the nature of his injury, but sources who know him well suspect that he injured himself while preparing a home-cooked meal, not one of his favorite activities.

Larry Foley stepped up big in his role as middle reliever. In 16 appearances he recorded an ERA of 1.84 and a WHIP of 1.23. In addition he held opposing batters to a .231 batting average. He did not earn a win or a save, but his contributions were invaluable.

Summary:

The Cardinals are crushing the ball and generating many runs. The pitching staff has some bright spots, but the effectiveness of many hurlers is in question. Time will tell whether we can muster enough good pitching to remain a serious contender for the division title.