When shortstop Ryan Theriot appeared on a Chicago radio show earlier this week, he joined in on the fun when the hosts made fun of Cardinals fans. When the hosts commented on Cardinals fans wearing tank tops and jean-cutoff shorts, Theriot added, “And Timberland boots.”
It didn’t seem like a smart thing to do for a new Cardinal. Why get lured into a no-win discussion with some Chicago radio guys? It wasn’t a big deal, but it bugged me a little. I took a couple of rips on Theriot in my weekday-morning blog on STLtoday.com.
I had a chance to speak with Theriot about the mini-controversy and came away feeling bad for him. He’s a good guy. I don’t think he meant any harm. He was just playing along, trying to be funny, and not really thinking about what he was saying. As Theriot admitted, sometimes he talks too much.
Theriot being Theriot?
“I always put myself out there to be accessible with the media, and I like to have fun with it,” Theriot said. “I always jump right in. You won’t hear me repeating a lot of cliches. I’m not politically correct. And sometimes it backfires on me. But the last thing I want to do is insult Cardinals fans. I wasn’t trying to do that.”
This was a Jeff Foxworthy comedy routine that didn’t quite work. Theriot explained that when he made the “boots” reference, he was thinking of the redneck stereotype — and not Cardinals fans in particular. And before you get offended by the term “redneck,” consider:
“I’m as big a redneck as they come,” Theriot said. “And I say that with pride. I’m just an ol’ Cajun from Louisiana. I have trucks, guns. I wear hats, cutoffs, boots and the same kind of stuff we were making fun of. I’m happy when I’m hunting and fishing. Every piece of food I eat is fried. Heck, I’m the last guy to look down on anybody. That isn’t me. I’m a guy who laughs at myself.
“I want Cardinals fans to understand that. I’ve only been a Cardinal for a little while, but everything you hear about the St. Louis fans is true. This is a special place. I’m really thankful to be part of the baseball tradition in St. Louis. I always play the game hard, and I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win games and make the fans happy.”
I know I’ve said a lot of things that came out the wrong way. It happens to all of us, including Theriot. This was a bit of comedy radio that was funny in Chicago, but not St. Louis. And it really bothers Theriot to think that he offended Cardinals fans. He feels terribly about this, so let’s give him a break.
Theriot is an important element in the team’s makeup. After failing to compete too often in 2010, the Cardinals wanted to harden their edge in 2011. They wanted to bring in some guys who would never back down under any circumstances. And Theriot’s energy and drive have helped change the collective personality of this team. He’s wired to compete.
Sure, he needs to play better defense at shortstop.
“And I will,” Theriot said. “I’ve always played good defense in my career. It’s important to me. And I will play good defense this year.”
The Cajun has added spice to this team, and I like that. But the next time a Chicago station calls, he might want to let it go to voice mail. Just a friendly suggestion from a fellow yapper.
Seven instant thoughts on Friday’s Cards-Red Game:
1. Just a giveaway by the Cardinals, a 6-5 gift to the Reds that goes in the books as one of the worst losses of the season to date. The visitors took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh and the bullpen coughed it up. But as is always the case in a long ballgame, it’s simplistic to put 100 percent of the blame on the bullpen. And you don’t have Ryan Franklin to kick around for this one.
2. The Cardinals scored two runs over the final six innings, and were blanked over the final three innings. This game should have been put away in the top of the seventh. The Reds were ready to fall. Their nervous second-year pitcher, Mike Leake, couldn’t find home plate. Bases loaded, one out. Cardinals up by three and poised to deliver the knockout blow. And what does Yadier Molina do? He swings at the first pitch, a borderline strike, giving Leake and the Reds an easy way out. A harmless hopper back to the mound for an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play. Just awful.
3. If there’s been a Cardinals defense that gives their opponents more extra outs than this team does, I surely don’t remember it. I don’t have a way to count this up, but I wonder: how many extra pitches have Cardinals’ starters thrown already this season because of the defense giving opponents four or five outs an inning? At least the Cardinals’ ineptitude was matched by the goofiness of the Reds’ base runners, who ran themselves out of innings with silly decisions.
4. I would have been in favor of staying with Fernando Salas to open the ninth and the Cardinals protecting a 5-4 lead. Salas had nasty stuff, tormenting the Reds with pitches in on their fists. He had thrown 21 pitches in two innings, but was still popping. Look, the Cardinals are taking an unconventional approach to closing games, using a carousel of closers. So what’s wrong with letting a live-armed pitcher bag a three-inning save? Bruce Sutter used to do some of that, right? It’s OK to break away from the modern-baseball conventions for one night. This was an important game. It would have been a big plus for the Cardinals to win the series opener. So go with your best in that situation. And right now the best is Salas. I didn’t like rookie Eduardo Sanchez in that situation for this reason: home plate umpire Mike DiMuro’s strike zone was the approximate size of the Susan B. Anthony silver dollar, and Sanchez has control issues. That’s an unfavorable mix. That’s trouble. Sure enough, Sanchez walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth, and the Reds had a push in launching their comeback.
5. That extra-tight strike zone and the extra-loose defense caused Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse to use 99 pitches through six innings. And he was removed at that point. Lohse could have probably gone another inning, but he had to work hard to wriggle out of some jams. Lohse didn’t have his best material but competed like mad and pitched well enough to get a win.
6. I don’t like taking Lance Berkman out of games too soon for defensive purposes; not at the Great American Ball Park. If you are protecting a lead in the ninth, that’s different. But as early as the seventh inning? No way. That place is a shooting gallery for hitters. You need to keep trying to tack on runs, because the Reds have a strong offense, and the home side wasn’t going to go quietly. You have to keep your big guns in the game. Berkman is having a better season than Albert Pujols. You wouldn’t see Pujols double-switched out of a game in the 7th inning (if ever). So why so quick to replace Berkman? Again, I know he’s below-average defensively in right field. But the Cardinals had to pile up some runs Friday, and they stopped putting up those runs. Moreover, Berkman has epic career numbers at Great American Ball Park, where he’d slammed 21 homers and driven in 55 runs (with a .339 batting average) in 51 games. He’s probably the last guy you should take out too soon in a game like this. And besides, the Cardinals have sacrificed defense for offense in building the 2011 team, so why contradict that philosophy by taking the bat out of Berkman’s formidable hands?
7. A nice game by Matt Holliday. Three hits, two RBIs. A tough take-out slide to prevent a double play and keep an inning going long enough for the Cardinals to score a run. And after fouling off a pitch on his foot — which caused obvious pain and discomfort — Holliday shook it off to rip an RBI double. Holliday is batting .398, with a preposterous .483 onbase percentage and a .618 slugging percentage. Goodness, what a season he’s having.
Reading Time, three Minutes
Our condolences to everyone who loved or knew Mama Lucy (Lucille Elson), the queen of the left field bleachers at Busch Stadium. After a brave fight she succumbed to pancreatic cancer on Tuesday at age 70. Mama Lucy made generations of friends during the past 30 years of attending Cardinals home games. In an appropriate sendoff, the organist at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church played “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during funeral services Friday.
Rams quarterback Sam Bradford will be in his hometown of Oklahoma City tonight for the unveiling of his statue, which eventually will be placed outside Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium as part of OU’s “Heisman Park.” … Bradford recently joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Washington in helping Native American children plant a garden as part of a health and fitness initiative. Bradford encouraged the kids to get out of the house and be physically active.
Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia is taking his place among the best lefties in the majors. Since the start of last season, Garcia has the best ERA (2.50) of any major-league lefthanded starter and ranks sixth in wins and fourth in winning percentage. The combined onbase-slugging percentage against Garcia (.619) is the lowest permitted by a lefty starter.
As a second-year pitcher Garcia makes $437,000 this season. Not a bad value for the Cardinals, considering that Garcia has a lower ERA than lefty C.C. Sabathia, who is being paid $23 million this season by the Yankees as part of a seven-year, $161 million contract. And since the start of last season Garcia is 18-8 with the 2.50 ERA. Philadelphia lefty Cliff Lee, who signed a $120 million contract before 2010, is 14-12 with a 3.30 ERA since the start of last season.
NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi says the Rams need to sign San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles to a free-agent contract. “Sproles would be to the Rams what Danny Woodhead has been to the Patriots,” Lombardi wrote. “He would allow Sam Bradford to have an effective check-down option, is a great screen runner, and his talents would force teams to defend the middle of the field, thus taking pressure off the outside receivers.” Lombardi said Sproles can make the Rams a top five offense.
Congrats to Amber and Jared Odom on the birth of their first child, daughter Addison Denise, on Friday. Jared is an account executive in the Cardinals’ ticket-sales department. … And congrats to Ladue HS grad Jeremy Growe, recently named the director of basketball operations at Xavier U. … Kudos to Alex Cusumano (Westminster Christian Academy), who was named rookie of the year for Loyola of Chicago’s golf team.
Jim Hanifan’s first All-Pro Football Camp for high school players is June 4-5 at Lindenwood University. Hanifan has assembled an impressive lineup of instructors including Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli, Aeneas Williams, Jim Hart, Mel Gray and Conrad Dobler. Registration deadline is May 17. Campers will learn about football techniques, strength and conditioning, and nutrition. For info call 314-562-8880.
St. Louisan Tim Ream (St. Dominic HS) is getting high marks for his play as a defender for the New York Red Bulls. Ream, from St. Louis U., was included among the “Top Plays” on ESPN after he hustled to clear a Landon Donovan shot off the line in a match vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy. Ream started 30 games as a rookie last season. He also impressed with his performance for the U.S. team in a recent friendly vs. Paraguay. … Former Cardinals outfielder Ron Gant is doing some studio-analysis work for the MLB Network.
This note from Channel 5 sportscaster Frank Cusumano: When fourth grader Megan Dierzbicki from Lonedell elementary school recently gave her speech about the Missourian she admires most, she was surprised when her choice — the Blues’ Cam Janssen — walked into the class. She said the day was better than Christmas. … Congrats to Steve May (Parkway West HS), who was named to the Academic All-America District 1 baseball team for the second year in a row while playing for Army. May will graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point next week.
Mizzou basketball great Larry Drew received praise for his work as the first-year head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Drew, a longtime NBA assistant, led the Hawks to their deepest postseason run since 1994. Atlanta beat Orlando and took Chicago to six games before going out. “Being a rookie coach and this really being my first crack at it, I am constantly trying to be better,” Drew told reporters. “I know there weren’t many people who gave us much of a chance in the postseason.”
The Nice Section
• The St. Louis Officials Association golf tournament to benefit Make-A-Wish of St. Louis will be held Saturday, June 11 at Innsbrook Resort Golf Course. For more information contact Bart Castelli at 314-712-7474 or at referee@prodigy.net. Hole sponsors and donations are also needed.
• The 26th annual Mizzou Tiger Club golf tournament is scheduled for June 6 at Winghaven CC. Football coach Gary Pinkel and other MU dignitaries will be there for the golf and fun. Proceeds benefit the Tiger Scholarship Fund and the MU athletic department. For information call Andy Weissler at 314-495-1740.