Cardinals Launch #CardsRatPack Campaign to Honor Whitey Herzog

June 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Campaign to Celebrate the White Rat & His Pack of Players with a Pack of 24 Animated Baseball Cards

Press Release by the St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are using yesterday’s 37th anniversary of Whitey Herzog being named the manager of the team to launch the #CardsRatPack fan engagement campaign to honor the man that fans lovingly refer to as the White Rat.

Whitey Herzog, as Cardinal Manager. photofile.com

The unique social media-based campaign, which will center on a pack of 24 illustrated baseball cards that will come to life later this season as a weekly cartoon series on the team’s digital and social media platforms, will formally commence with a special #CardsRatPack ceremony honoring the 1982 World Series Champion and Hall of Fame Manager prior to tonight’s game.

“The #CardsRatPack campaign is designed to celebrate the White Rat and his amazing pack of players that defined one of the most extraordinary eras in Cardinals history,” said Ron Watermon, Vice-President of Communications for the St. Louis Cardinals. “We hope fans will enjoy the cartoon series and will actively engage with the team to celebrate Whitey and Whiteyball.”

While the fan engagement portion of the social media campaign commences today, the #CardsRatPack animated series will debut on Wednesday July 12th, the first of a dozen #WhiteyBall Wednesdays. Each week, for twelve weeks, the team will release two episodes via social media on Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition to the animated series, the team will release a limited number of corresponding illustrated #CardsRatPack baseball cards.

Each #CardsRatPack cartoon and baseball card is designed to convey an important part of the amazing story of the New Athens, Illinois native and the extraordinary pack of players he managed. Fans will need to stay tuned to the team’s social media to learn how they can collect the #CardsRatPack cards.

The team is encouraging fans to show their affection for the White Rat all season long by sharing video memories, photographs and other messages via social media using the hashtag #CardsRatPack.

As part of the #CardsRatPack campaign, the team is sponsoring a one-of-a-kind video contest asking fans to share their favorite Whiteyball memory for a chance to have their personal video transformed into a professionally animated cartoon that would punctuate the #CardsRatPack series.    As part of the campaign, the team is also raising money for the Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation to help them further their work to teach kids the game of baseball.

While the #CardsRatPack campaign follows the Cardinals’ social media based fan engagement tributes to Stan Musial (Stand for Stan), Mike Shannon (#LikeMike), Red Schoendienst (#LoveRed2), and Lou Brock (#StLisLou), this effort will integrate creative storytelling along the lines of the team’s prior #NestFlix fan entertainment projects on social media, as well as their #CardsFanFlix video engagement, with the intent to not only engage fans, but also entertain, educate and connect multiple generations.

To produce the #CardsRatPack illustrations and cartoons, the Cardinals are working with Lion Forge Labs, a local creative services company that specializes in storytelling using comics, graphic novels, animation and gaming.

Partnering on these videos with the St. Louis Cardinals to help honor Whitey Herzog has been a highlight for us,” said David Steward II, CEO of Lion Forge Labs. “It’s a fun, creative way to tell his story, and we are grateful to be part of the #CardsRatPack campaign team.”

Fans can learn more about the campaign and cartoon video contest at www.cardinals.com/ratpack

Filed Under: Slider, Sports

Mo says enough!

June 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

The Press Conference at 1 Stadium Plaza this afternoon still has social media, abuzz.  This has been one of the most ugliest stretches of Cardinal baseball that I can remember.

I take a daily walk.  Today I left my phone at home.  I get home and I have a few texts and a few messages on Facebook.  Over anyone, when I receive one from my son it takes top priority.  He said the Cardinals have called a press conference for 2:00 p,m,  I think something is going down big.   I got home about 2:30.

Kolten Wong last night, playing for the Peoria Chiefs. He homered in last night’s game. Thank you for Chris Shannon from Canton giving me Wong updates. (Allison Rhodes – Peoria Chiefs photo.

I figured Peralta would be released, that was no surprise.  I figured it would happen when Kolten Wong was activated.   I was wondering what was going down.  I was wondering if Matheny was fired, of if a trade was made for a bat.

Every St. Louis media source, Facebook and Twitter was very slow to load, especially the Post Dispatch and Fox Sports Midwest.  I provided a link for Fox 2 and you can hear John Mozeliak’s opening remarks.

As a GM, Mo has grown on me.  I used to call him the bow tied geek.  Even though I cried like a baby when it happened, he used his head in letting Albert Pujols walk.  Sometimes he wins doing this and sometimes he loses, but signing players long term, buying out some of their arbitration years and free agency years is frugal.

I read several St. Louis media sources that covered the press conference.  Most stories had three basic points to them.

1.  It is not time to blow it up yet. 

I know a lot of people whether it be the fans or even some in the press has called for Mike Matheny to be fired.  There were significant changes, but they were not earth shattering ones.  I think you could see Randall Grichuk traded in the next few days.  It the right set of prospects is offered, I think Tommy Pham could be dealt.   Greg Garcia might go if the right deal is offered.

It is not a matter if Magnerius Sierra will be back, it is a matter of when.  I see Jose Martinez and Chad Huffman as roster putty.  They are just filling gaps in the wall right now.  They are AAAA players.  They serve their purpose of providing pop off the bench right now.

The time to blow it up will lead into the next point.

2.  We will see where were at in 4-6 weeks

This will get us to around the All-Star break.  I have learned over the years to understand Mo Speak.  If the Cards get things back together, it would be the time to go out and get a bat.  I say if they are a few games over .500, the Cardinals will be buyers.

If they are a few games below .500 they will be sellers.  Some stories used the phrase, Matheny is put on notice.

The first one that will be gone, and I would hate to see him go is Lance Lynn.  He would be the most valuable piece in a deal.   I wish the Cardinals would have locked him up long term, similar to a deal that Mike Leake received.    Lynn will make a boatload of money pitching somewhere next year.  There is the same odds of him pitching in a Cardinal uniform in 2018 if loaned out as a rental, than if he would hit the free agent market.

Second would be Trevor Rosenthal, as he approaches his third year of arbitration and would be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.  He could bring two or three prospects in a fire sale.

I am intrigued how the name Matt Carpenter is floating out there.  Mo is a genius at this.  He knows when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em.  He is a sly poker player.  He leaks some names to the St. Louis media to see a reaction.  Sometimes he makes deals that comes out of nowhere.

Two players whose contracts are up, but the Cardinals still have team control is Seung Hwan Oh, and Aledmys Diaz.  They could be packaged.

If the Cardinals are out of the race by mid July, no telling what you will see.  There might be a new sheriff in town even.

3.  Johnny Peralta was a cancer

Mo did not put it as bluntly as I did.  But he basically said that he did not have time to seek a trade because the atmosphere of the clubhouse.

The last nail in the coffin for him was refusing to take balls at 1B.  I saw the red flag go up when he entered the game as a PH in the old fashioned butt kicking on Wednesday night.  When he stayed in at third and Gyroko moved to first, I was thinking if you were serious about staying around, he would have taken over at first.  I actually hated to see him get a hit on Wednesday.  I thought it might mean a few more days.

With the changes of the coaching staff, especially the reassignment of Chirs Maloney.  We will see what happens.  This is the second time Mo put the team on notice this year.  The other being during the Yankees series.  It worked last time. Hopefully it will work again.

As a side note, everything I have written about the Cardinals, on average has been increasing over 100 views each time.  I would like to thank you.

Lets hope for a sweep of the Phillies tonight.

 

Filed Under: Slider, Sports

Jhonny Peralta DFA’d – Chris Maloney reassigned

June 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://fox2now.com/2017/06/09/shake-up-cards-to-replace-jhonny-peralta-with-colten-wong-coaching-staff-changes/

St. LOUIS, MO –  (KTVI – TV, St. Louis.  Please click on the link above to read the full story, and hear the opening remarks of the press conference from Cardinal General Manager John Mozeliak.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The Cardinals have announced that Jhonny Peralta will be designated for assignment. Kolten Wong will be activated to replace him. Senior Vice President and General Manager John Mozeliak says this is not what we had hoped for.

“I want him (Matheny) to feel confident that we trust him to do his job. But we clearly need to be doing better,” said John Mozeliak.

Mozeliak also announced several coaching staff changes. He is moving Chris Maloney from third base coach and will reassigned him. Mike Shildt will be the third base coach. He will also be responsible for the outfield defense.

Filed Under: Sports

Gibbons’ Gem Leads Miners To Shutout Win At Lake Erie

June 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment

The Southern Illinois Miners got a brilliant start from Ethan Gibbons on the mound, as the right-hander struck out a career-high nine batters over a career-best seven and two-thirds shutout innings in a 1-0 shutout victory over the Lake Erie Crushers at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio on Thursday night.

The lone run of the game scored in the top of the third inning for Southern Illinois, as after the first two batters were retired by the Crushers’ starter Connor Reed (1-3), Nolan Earley reached second on a drive to deep center field that went off the glove of Connor Oliver for an error. Willi Martin then followed with a grounder to third base that Cody Lenahan booted, putting runners at first and third for Marc Flores. The outfielder came up clutch with a line-drive double down the right field line to score Earley as the Miners grabbed a 1-0 lead.

That lead would stand up thanks to Gibbons (2-1), who was in command the whole way, allowing just three hits and one walk in the contest while also setting a career-best in strikeouts for the second start in a row with nine. He struck out multiple batters in three separate innings, and departed after Max Casper singled to center field on his final pitch of the night in the bottom of the eighth, completing the longest outing by a Miners pitcher this season.

John Werner was summoned from the bullpen, and he recorded the final out of the eighth before retiring the side in order in the ninth on just seven pitches to earn his third save of the season, wrapping up the first shutout win of the year for Southern Illinois.

The Miners finished their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record, and they will next return home to Rent One Park to begin a nine-game homestand on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Joliet Slammers.

BOX SCORE

Batting Stats

S Illinois
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
23 Massey, C 2B 5 0 0 0 0 1 .279
15 Earley, N RF 3 1 0 0 1 0 .262
25 Martin, W DH 4 0 1 0 0 0 .313
27 Flores, M LF 4 0 1 1 0 3 .253
41 Chigbogu, J 1B 4 0 2 0 0 1 .247
19 Lashley, R 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 .220
7 Moore, B C 4 0 1 0 0 0 .193
11 McKeithan, J SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 .178
26   Plant, C PH
SS		 1 0 1 0 0 0 .308
2 Lindley, L CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 .294
36 1 7 1 1 7

Batting
2B: M.Flores (2), J.Chigbogu (5). RBI: M.Flores (9). SB: L.Lindley (9). Team LOB: 9.

Fielding A: C.Massey (49), B.Moore (4), J.McKeithan (39). E: J.McKeithan (8). FCS: B.Moore (1).
PO: C.Massey 2 (33), N.Earley (37), M.Flores 3 (12), J.Chigbogu 4 (172), R.Lashley 2 (9), B.Moore 10 (130), J.McKeithan (29), L.Lindley 4 (61). SBA: B.Moore (25). TC: C.Massey 3 (83), N.Earley (39), M.Flores 3 (12), J.Chigbogu 4 (187), R.Lashley 2 (42), B.Moore 11 (135), J.McKeithan 3 (76), L.Lindley 4 (62).

Lake Erie
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
8 Oliver, C CF 3 0 0 0 1 2 .259
20 Dean, J 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 .258
12 Lenahan, C 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 .229
15 Hurley, S DH 3 0 0 0 0 2 .286
24 Murray, B 1B 3 0 1 0 0 0 .273
32 Lubach, T C 3 0 0 0 0 2 .182
5 Hofmann, C LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 .208
4 Casper, M SS 3 0 1 0 0 0 .196
3 Norris, P RF 3 0 0 0 0 1 .243
29 0 3 0 1 9

Batting
2B: C.Lenahan (4). CS: C.Oliver (3).
Team LOB: 3.

Fielding  A: J.Dean 3 (64), C.Lenahan 3 (33), C.Hofmann (4), M.Casper 3 (45), C.Reed 2 (5)E   C.Oliver (5), C.Lenahan 2 (7).  PO: C.Oliver (43), J.Dean 4 (45), B.Murray 11 (19), T.Lubach 7 (162), C.Hofmann 4 (33).  SBA: T.Lubach (24).  TC: C.Oliver 2 (50), J.Dean 7 (115), C.Lenahan 5 (54), B.Murray 11 (20), T.Lubach 7 (181), C.Hofmann 5 (40), M.Casper 3 (64), C.Reed 2 (6).

Pitching Stats

S Illinois
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
17   Gibbons, E 7.2 3 0 0 1 9 4.07
28   Werner, J 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 2.61
9 3 0 0 1 9

Pitching
BF: E.Gibbons 26, J.Werner 4.
P-S: E.Gibbons 105-71, J.Werner 10-5.

Lake Erie
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
13 Losing Pitcher  Reed, C 7.0 6 1 0 1 4 3.07
23 Arciniega, M 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 6.55
9 7 1 0 1 7

Pitching
BF: C.Reed 30, M.Arciniega 7.
P-S: C.Reed 91-63, M.Arciniega 21-14.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
S Illinois 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 1
Lake Erie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3
Filed Under: Sports

Way resigns as head football coach at Harrisburg

June 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.dailyregister.com/sports/20170607/prep-football-way-resigns-as-head-football-coach-at-harrisburg

HARRISBURG, IL –  (Michael Dann – Harrisburg Register.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt.

The Al Way era at Harrisburg has come to an end — and this time maybe for good.

Way, a fixture at Harrisburg and longtime southern Illinois coach, turned in his resignation papers Wednesday morning.

When reached by phone for a comment, Way didn’t return a phone call. Harrisburg athletic director Greg Langley confirmed to the Harrisburg Register that Way did indeed turn in resignation papers.

 

 

Filed Under: Sports

For the Fans Who Want Mike Matheny Fired: It Ain’t Going To Happen

June 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

https://www.101sports.com/2017/06/07/fans-want-mike-matheny-fired-aint-going-happen/

101 ESPN Photo

ST. LOUIS, MO – (Bernie Miklasz, 101 ESPN  Radio-  Please click to read the full story.  Here is an excerpt below. )

The Cardinals are in a free fall, with every phase of their game in a state of decline. When you’ve lost 15 of your last 20 games and get busted into pieces by Scooter Gennett and the Cincinnati Reds, the problems are deep-rooted.

As is, the Cardinals have bumbled to a 26-30 record and have dipped to No. 20 among the 30 MLB teams with a .464 winning percentage on the season

Something must change

But this is what I do know:

Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. isn’t going to fire Mike Matheny.

 

Filed Under: Slider, Sports

Miners drop second in a row to Lake Erie

June 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

The Southern Illinois Miners dropped a 5-1 decision to the Lake Erie Crushers in the second game of the midweek series at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio on Wednesday night in a second-straight close contest.

Neither team scored in the first four innings of the game. Lake Erie starter Adam Quintana (3-2) allowed one hit while walking three and hitting one batter, but permitted no runs to score. Meanwhile, Zach Cooper (1-4) was also stellar in the first four innings, allowing two hits while facing just one over the minimum 12 batters in the opening frames of the game to keep it scoreless.

The Crushers broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning on a leadoff double by Brandon Murray and four walks in the inning by Cooper, including two with the bases loaded to force home the game’s first two runs and make it 2-0 in favor of the home team.

Southern Illinois got one run back immediately in the top of the sixth inning as Nolan Earley led off with a base-on-balls and went to third base on a single by Marc Flores. After a 10-pitch at-bat, Willi Martin grounded out to third baseman Cody Lenahan, bringing home Earley to make it 2-1. Thanks to good relief pitching on both sides, the game stayed 2-1 until the bottom of the eighth, when with two runners on base and two out, Tanner Lubach hit a sinking line drive into center field that got by London Lindley and bounced to the center field wall, resulting in a three-run, inside-the-park homer for the final 5-1 margin.

The Miners will close out their road trip and look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Crushers on Thursday night in the series finale in Avon, with Ethan Gibbons taking the hill against the Crushers’ Connor Reed at 6:05 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Batting Stats

S Illinois
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
23 Massey, C 2B 3 0 1 0 1 2 .296
15 Earley, N RF 2 1 0 0 1 0 .272
19 Lashley, R 3B 3 0 0 0 1 0 .231
27 Flores, M LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 .253
25 Martin, W DH 4 0 1 1 0 1 .321
41 Chigbogu, J 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 .235
7 Moore, B C 4 0 1 0 0 0 .189
26 Plant, C SS 2 0 0 0 1 1 .250
11   McKeithan, J PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 .186
2 Lindley, L CF 2 0 0 0 1 2 .296
29 1 4 1 5 9

Batting
HP: N.Earley (2). RBI: W.Martin (6). CS: C.Massey (1). Team LOB: 8.

Fielding A: C.Massey 3 (48), R.Lashley (28), B.Moore (3), C.Plant 3 (17). DP: 1 (C. Massey(2B) – J. Chigbogu(1B)). PO: C.Massey 4 (31), N.Earley 2 (36), M.Flores 2 (9), J.Chigbogu 8 (168), B.Moore 3 (120), L.Lindley 4 (57). SBA: B.Moore (24). TC: C.Massey 7 (80), N.Earley 2 (38), R.Lashley (40), M.Flores 2 (9), J.Chigbogu 8 (183), B.Moore 4 (124), C.Plant 3 (24), L.Lindley 4 (58).

Lake Erie
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
8 Oliver, C CF 3 0 0 1 1 0 .268
20 Dean, J 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 .269
12 Lenahan, C 3B 3 1 0 0 1 1 .228
15 Hurley, S DH 2 1 1 0 2 0 .297
24 Murray, B 1B 4 1 1 0 0 1 .263
6   McAdams, J 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
32 Lubach, T C 3 2 1 3 1 0 .190
5 Hofmann, C LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 .216
4 Casper, M SS 2 0 1 0 1 0 .189
3 Norris, P RF 2 0 0 1 1 1 .254
26 5 4 5 7 3

Batting
2B: B.Murray (2). HR: T.Lubach (4). RBI: C.Oliver (10), T.Lubach 3 (12), P.Norris (6). SB: S.Hurley (2).
Team LOB: 5.

Fielding A: J.Dean 2 (61), C.Lenahan 2 (30), B.Murray (1), T.Lubach 2 (18), M.Casper 3 (42), C.Jagodzinski (1). CS: T.Lubach (1) PO: C.Oliver 3 (42), J.Dean (41), B.Murray 8 (8), J.McAdams (132), T.Lubach 9 (155), M.Casper (19), P.Norris 3 (28), A.Quintana (1).  SBA: T.Lubach (23). TC: C.Oliver 3 (48), J.Dean 3 (108), C.Lenahan 2 (49), B.Murray 9 (9), J.McAdams (139), T.Lubach 11 (174), M.Casper 4 (61), P.Norris 3 (40), A.Quintana (7), C.Jagodzinski (1).

Pitching Stats

S Illinois
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
39   Cooper, Z 5.0 3 2 2 4 2 7.88
10 Lollar, J 2.1 0 2 2 3 0 4.15
40 Tinius, K 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 2.25
8 4 5 5 7 3

Pitching
BF: Z.Cooper 21, J.Lollar 10, K.Tinius 3.
P-S: Z.Cooper 78-43, J.Lollar 42-22, K.Tinius 8-6.

Lake Erie
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
16 Winning Pithcer  Quintana, A 6.0 2 1 1 4 5 3.19
11 Coakley, N 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0.00
28 Lucio, S 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3.38
29 Jagodzinski, C 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0.90
9 4 1 1 5 9

Pitching
BF: A.Quintana 24, N.Coakley 5, S.Lucio 3, C.Jagodzinski 4.
P-S: A.Quintana 104-62, N.Coakley 15-8, S.Lucio 18-11, C.Jagodzinski 12-8.
WP: C.Jagodzinski (1).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
S Illinois 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0
Lake Erie 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 x 5 4 0
Filed Under: Sports

Rebecca Harris named new Women’s coach at RLC

June 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Reece Rutland – Rend Lake College Sports Information Director

– Former Lady Warrior basketball standout Rebecca Harris will be coming back to Ina after a decade of professional playing and coaching. She will be returning to Waugh Gymnasium to become the new head coach of a program she once helped anchor.

A graduate of Mascoutah High School, Harris found a home at Rend Lake as part of the Lady Warrior Basketball team from 2004-06.

New Lady Warrior basketball head coach Rebecca Harris got reacquainted with Hummer Gymnasium by heading up the RLC girls’ basketball camp this week. Harris, far right, was pleased with the camp’s turnout and those that participated. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Reece Rutland/RLC Sports Information Director)

At RLC, Harris found success. As a Lady Warrior, she was third in the nation as a sophomore with 23.6 points per game and ninth in assists at 5.6 (in addition to 5.6 rebounds and two steals per outing) while hitting .495 from the floor, .390 from beyond the 3-point arc and .750 from the free throw stripe. Her teams won 19 games both seasons and she earned All-America Honorable Mention distinctions. She was inducted into the RLC Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2013.

When I was in high school, I wasn’t getting the division one looks I really wanted. I had my sights set on one or two schools. My grades also weren’t the best. It was a good lesson to learn. I know first-hand now the importance of keeping up in school, and I tell everyone now to hit the books early,” she explained.

“For me, it was nice to find there were options out there like Rend Lake. It was a great fit. I came to campus, went on a visit. I was just sold on it.”

Following her time in Ina, Harris was recruited by the University of Illinois.

As a Fighting Illini, Harris started 25 games as a senior in 2007-08 for a 20-15 club that was a surprise finalist in the Big Ten Conference Tournament and advanced to the third round of the post-season Women’s National Invitational Tournament. She averaged 10.1 ppg, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists and netted 78.8 per cent of her free throws (89-113).

Following school, Harris went oversees to play professionally, logging a decade of professional basketball in a number of different countries, including stints in the Czech Republic, Greece and Poland.

“I spent most of my time oversees playing in Poland. I played for two different teams over there for four years. One team I played for was a Euro League team. That was a highlight. You got to just play against the best of the best, every country. One night you’re in Turkey. The next night you’re in Russia. I really enjoyed that.”

Harris grew up as a “military brat,” so traveling the world playing basketball wasn’t too far from the world she grew up in, spending the first 14 years of her life in various countries.

“I grew up in Germany, Japan and the Philippines. We moved around quite a bit. We reached Illinois right around the time I was going to hit high school. My parents knew that basketball was going to be a way of life for me. So, they wanted to make sure I had the right opportunities to maximize that,” Harris said.

Here in the states, Harris has kept up a professional basketball presence, playing for the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League’s St. Louis Surge. She has notched two national championships with the team, and has enjoyed the opportunity to play in front of family members and people who followed her locally.

Her journey into coaching has been another homecoming of sorts. She just wrapped up a stint of being the head coach at her high school alma mater of Mascoutah. She developed a passion for coaching when she took a break from playing professionally to coach at Chipola College in Florida.

Harris said her coaching style is intense and upbeat.

“I like to go fast. I like to go hard. I want my players to be in the other team’s face all the time on the defensive side of the ball. We won’t get tired. Conditioning is a big thing for me. I want all my players to be able to put 40 minutes in if necessary,” she expressed.

The new Lady Warrior coach said it’s an interesting experience to be coming back to coach another program that she once played for.

“It’s kind of funny at this point. Luckily I feel familiar with these roots. It lets me relate and share my story with these players. It also helps me show them what’s possible. We can have success as a team, and they can have success as players. I know, because I did. It also makes me come in with the attitude of ‘this is my house,’ and I want to make sure we get back to what it used to be,” Harris expressed.

RLC Athletic Director Tim Wills is also excited to have a former Warrior back on campus.

“We are extremely happy to have Rebecca Harris as our new Head Women’s Basketball coach. Rebecca was an outstanding player here at RLC and went on to experience success at the division-one level and professionally after leaving RLC. We are always happy to welcome back one of our own to lead one of our programs,” Wills said.

“We feel like having former student-athletes return to lead our programs provides our current and future student-athletes with a great example of what is possible through hard work on the court and in the classroom. We currently have our Men’s Basketball and Baseball programs being led by former student-athletes as well. We know that Coach Harris will be a great addition to our Athletic program and our college community. She will be a hard worker and will help to elevate our women’s basketball program to the level we want it to be.”

So, how is she going to make that happen? The new head coach is already busy laying the groundwork for next season.

“Right now, we are in the middle of recruiting. We are looking at some good players. We are hoping to get a few key players that can help us. I’m also focused on looking at our current roster and incoming freshmen that we will have as walk-ons and physical presences. I think the possibilities are there. I’m looking forward to when we can first get in the gym and get things going,” Harris explained.

 

Filed Under: College Sports, Slider, Sports

Cardinals replace a pitcher (Gant) with a batter (Huffman)

June 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/st-louis-cardinals-replace-a-pitcher-john-gant-with-a-batter-chad-huffman-060717

Chad Huffman who was High School and College team mate of Matt Carpenter. (Scott Rovak – USA Today sports)

St. LOUIS – MO (Fox Sports Midwest – Please click the link on the full story above.  Here is an excerpt.

The day after giving up four home runs (all by Scooter Gennett) and 13 runs against the Cincinnati Reds while scoring only one run themselves, the St. Louis Cardinals replaced an arm with a bat on their roster.

The Cardinals announced Wednesday they have purchased the contract of outfielder/first baseman Chad Huffman from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander John Gant to Memphis.

A right-handed hitter, Huffman has played in 43 games at Memphis, starting 25 in the outfield and eight at first base. He was batting .292 with four home runs and 20 RBIs. His .469 on-base percentage in May was tied for the highest in all of Triple A.

Filed Under: Slider, Sports

Losing patience with the “Buzzards”

June 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

When it comes to the Cardinals, I am disgusted.  Every fan I know is disgusted.  The broadcasters have been calling the team out frequently.

This is my 42nd year of being a fan the team.  There has been very few games that I have not at least read a box score.  My neighbor  growing up, Arno Dubree used to get the Globe Democrat and the Post Dispatch.  He would give them to me from the time I was five or six.  I even called Ron Jacober a few times on KMOX, during Sports Open Line and one night he asked how old I was.  I said 12 or 13.  He said kid, you know your stuff.

When I get disgusted, I refer to the St. Louis Cardinals as buzzards.  It seems like when I call them that for a few days, they go on a hot streak.  I hope it works.

The 1990’s were lean times. August Busch IV did not care much about the product on the field.  Their was limited payroll, and you had to listen to Bob Carpenter talk up Allen Watson every five days.  Joe Torre did a good job for several years playing .500 ball with some of those teams.

Since Bill Dewitt purchased the team from Anheuser-Busch, the winning tradition of St. Louis has came back.  As Cardinal fans, we have became spoiled.

Even the awful teams of the 90’s, I am more disgusted with this team than I have ever been.  Coming into tonight, the Cardinals are 26-30 and one game back from the cellar from the Buccos.  Yes, this is a Shannonism from the 70’s, when Happy Days was the number one show on ABC.

The bright side is, the Cardinals are only 3 1/2 games out of first place.  Every game in the Chicago series was winnable.  Carlos Martinez had very good stuff and the Cardinals blew the lead on Monday as well.    He was just left in a couple batters too long.  It is hard for Manager Mike Matheny to trust his Gasoline House Gang in the bullpen.

You can sit back observe and watch.  What I am about to say comes from clues that I have picked up on over the last couple of years.  I was kicked out of a Cardinal group on Social Media from what I am about to say.

There is a huge rift between manager Mike Matheny and General Manager John Mozelak.  This was apparent to me when Mo dealt struggling OF/1B Allen Craig to the Red Sox for P John Lackey.  Matheny was not to fond of the Cardinals picking up  catcher A.J. Pierzynski when Yadier Molina went down that season.

Shortly after this, former Post Dispatch writer, and now talk show host on 101 ESPN Bernie Miklasz coined the phrase Mike Guys.

Since Craig has been traded, the Mike Guys on the roster have became obvious.  It seems like the only way that the Cardinal skipper won’t keep running them out there is to trade them or release them.

There were two Mike Guys that Mo has released this year, and one that will hopefully be given his walking papers in a few days.  They are, relief pitchers Miguel Socolovich and Jonathan Broxton and 3B-SS  Johnny Peralta.

Broxton is in the Tampa Bay organization pitching in AAA.  Socolovich has not been picked up by anyone.

Since John Brebbia and John Gant has been called up to the big leagues, they have been used very little.  Yes they did mop up work last night, but they have pitched very little.  Tyler Lyons is reluctantly used.  The Cardinals carry 13 pitchers and only use ten.

Matt Bowman has been overused.  Siegriest and Cecil have been awful to say the least.  With the dropoff of Siegrist’s fastball, I think he has arm problems.  Every time Cecil pitches, I think we have four years of him being beat around.   Trevor Rosenthal and Seung Hwan Oh have been very good.

With little playing time for 1B Matt Adams, Mo moved him for a Class A prospect.  I could not help but think, how nice it would have been to have Adams in the middle of the order at Chicago last weekend.

There are several that claim that Peralta has trade value.  I just don’t see it.  Who would want a limited defensively infielder who is hitting .204 and hasn’t driven in a run all year?  Matheny could not help but give veteran preference to Peralta in Chicago over Greg Garcia at third, when Jedd Gyroko was on paternity leave.

Matheny continues to run Matt Carpenter out there on a daily basis, even though he is flirting with the Mendzoa line.  When Kolten Wong is activated, Matheny will plug him in there.  Paul DeJong does not deserve to go to Memphis. I am curious what the Cardinals will do with him.  He has shown good range on the infield and has a little pop in his bat.  He could be a very good utility man off the bench.   He could platoon with Wong, as he still struggles against left-handed pitching as well.

Carpenter is on the top of the list as a Mike guy.   I am unsure is Wong is.  Randall Grichuk was, as he played nearly everyday before being sent to A ball.

The only bright spots so far has been the rotation, and the numbers that Gyroko is putting up, and the spark that Magnerius Sierra and Tommy Pham brought to the team a few weeks ago.   I am starting to believe that Michael Wacha is more suited for the bullpen.  He is already losing stamina in early June.

I knew Sierra was going back down when he did not get the start last Saturday at Wrigley.  I think this was another Mike Guy stunt. Yes he botched the ball in LF, and asked why he did start him in his natural position CF, Matheny rattled on about the veteran preference of Dexter Fowler.

I am not to worried about Fowler, yet.  If he is still hitting .225 in August, it is time to be concerned.  Pham is very streaky.  Stephen Piscotty has been swinging the bat well of late and his average is now in the .250s and climbing.

I am hearing a lot of calls to make a big trade.  I say give it until around the All-Star break to determine if the Cards will be buyers or sellers. If we are sellers, Lance Lynn could bring a lot of prospects.  The Cardinals should have given him a Leake type deal in April.  He has no effects from Tommy John.

Trevor Rosenthal is arbitration eligible.  He would be probably someone who would go next in a fire sale.  Mo said if they become sellers the only ones on the MLB roster that would be safe is Yadi and Adam Wainwright because of no trade clauses, Carlos Martinez, and Anthony Reyes.  He mentioned Carson Kelly and Jack Flarady, a pitcher who the Cardinals are high on was promoted to Memphis this week.

If the Cards in up buyers, one or two bats are needed.  I am encouraged by the Chirstian Yelich talks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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