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It Really Was Horrible

© Harold Friend

It was one of the most horrible performances in World Series history but it has not received enough attention because the Red Sox finally won a World Series. The 2004 St. Louis Cardinals won 105 games, scored the most and allowed the fewest runs in the National League, had the second best ERA in the majors, and scored all of 12 runs while being swept in the World Series. They collapsed completely.

First, the pitching. There was no ace. The Cardinals won the National League pennant with five nondescript starters, a strong bullpen, and an offensive machine that was shut down when it mattered. Casey Stengel would not confuse Matt Morris, Jeff Suppan, Woody Williams, Jason Marquis, and Chris Carpenter with Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, Mike Garcia, Bob Feller, and Art Houtteman.

Matt Morris is good but he was inconsistent and he has been nothing more than a decent pitcher his entire career. He won 15 and lost 10 while allowing almost 5 earned runs a game and must be considered one of baseball's most overrated pitchers.

Jeff Suppan has lost more than he has won in a mediocre career with an obscene 4.80 ERA. He won 16 while losing 9 because the Cardinals scored when he pitched. The Red Sox acquired Suppan from Pittsburgh near the end of the 2003 season but he pitched poorly and was not used in the playoffs. Suppan is hittable and has no real "out" pitch. He also gives up many home runs.

Woody Williams is a journeyman who has averaged 11 wins a season with a lifetime 4.05 ERA. He was 11-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 2004. Williams is far from being anything close to an ace but he had to be used as one because there was no one else.

The fourth starter, Jason Marquis, whom the Braves traded because he didn't agree with Braves manager Bobby Cox or pitching coach Leo Mazzone, won 15, lost 7, had a 3.71 ERA and was the Game 4 loser against the Red Sox. Marquis has an outstanding arm, an excellent fastball, and a horrible stubborn streak.

Finally, the Cardinals' best pitcher in 2004, Chris Carpenter, who was 15-5 with a 3.46 ERA, was hurt for the World Series. He finally was reaching his potential when he was injured but up until 2004, Carpenter had averaged 9 wins a season with a 4.83 ERA.

Despite the above, the Cardinals had one of the more effective pitching staffs in the National League, which speaks volumes about today's pitching. It was the bullpen, not the starters, that did it during the regular season. Relief pitchers Jason Isringhausen, Ray King, Julian Tavarez, Steve Kline, Cal Eldred, and Kiko Calero had a combined 2.74 ERA while the starters had a combined 4.06 ERA. Teams could and did score against the Cardinals' starting pitching yet it was second best to Atlanta's in a league that lacked quality pitching and, more importantly, in an era that lacks pitching depth.

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