Cardinals fans eagerly await the return of Kolten Wong, who went down with a Grade 2 hamstring strain ten days ago. Perhaps baseball’s best defensive second baseman, Wong has put up a career-best offensive season in 2018, slashing .285/.361/.423 (108 wRC+) and stealing 24 bases. Considering Wong’s well-rounded production, there’s a case to be made St. Louis has been without its most valuable position player for the past week and a half.
Wong is predictably urgent to return to the field with the NL Central still in flux on the season’s final day, but he’s wary of returning too quickly and suffering a more debilitating injury, he tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “It’s at a point right now where I don’t know where my hamstring is. I know it’s better. But is it 100%? Probably not,” Wong informed Goold yesterday.
While there may be an inclination on some fans’ part for Wong to chance it with the division on the line, it seems caution is the prudent move. Between this afternoon’s game against the Cubs and potential tiebreaker and Wild Card games with Milwaukee and Washington, the Cards have up to three chances to clinch a spot in an NL Division Series. (Of course, if the Rockies complete a sweep of the Brewers today, the Cardinals would sew up the Central even if they lose to Chicago). Having put themselves in a position to get multiple bites at the apple, St. Louis may prefer to wait as long as possible before putting Wong back on the diamond.
As Goold updates, Wong continues to make progress in all facets of the game but feels some soreness while running and fielding non-routine groundballs. That seems especially troublesome for a player who derives so much of his value from his defensive and baserunning prowess.
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt didn’t rule out Wong getting into today’s game in some capacity when speaking with Goold yesterday. Nevertheless, as expected, Matt Carpenter is getting the call at third with Tommy Edman sliding over to the keystone yet again to kick things off. They’ll take on Cubs’ opener Derek Holland, who will surely be followed by a cavalcade of relievers, having not gone more than three innings in an appearance since April.
I think it wise to let him sit. Carpenter isn’t as hot as we’d like but tommy is picking up for Wong’s absence well enough
Scenario: with Cardinals down by 1 in the 9th, Carpenter takes a leadoff walk. Would you let Wong pinch run?
no. id use tyler o’neil
O’neill, Arozarena and even Munoz could take that job. Using Wong as a pinch runner would be foolish.
I’d want Jose to pinch hit left handed before Wong pinch runs.
It’s amazing what the Cardinals have done with all of the injuries they’ve had this year. But teams should know that’s gonna happen over 162 games. Good thing the Cards had such depth.
Man, rarely do I support a comment of yours, but yes you are spot on. Mo gets an enormous amount of criticism, but one thing he understands is the importance of depth. Figuring out the 25 man roster heading into post season will be tough, but having tough decisions is the definitions of depth.
Other than Hicks, who of substance got injured?
Get real man
So nobody other than Hicks, like I said? If you can’t answer, just say so.
Ozuna went down for a few months when he was on fire. Molina missed a significant chunk of season – good thing for Weiters’ presence. Hudson had to miss a few starts. Wacha flipped from 5th guy to bullpen to IR a few times and was unreliable. O’Neil & Bader both missed time. C-Mart also a unavailabilities down the stretch run. Hicks was the only season-ending injury but the team had injury challenges, like all teams face.
Hudson has made 32 starts. Molina is a 36 year old catcher. For him to play in 113 games is a blessing. They never missed a beat with lazy azz Ozuna. O’Neill and Bader? They are 2 of the most replaceable guys on the team. Total K men. Carlos was never expected to pitch a full season going into the year, and they never should expect Wacha to do that either. So like I said, nothing of significance. Without these injuries and guys like Carpenter sucking, they never would have found their savior of the season, Edman. Once again, they had no idea what they had in him except by pure luck and coincidence. Losing Flaherty, Goldschmidt, Dejong, Gallegos, for long stretches kill this team. Other than them, they are all replaceable.
Wong will be ready for Atlanta. Edmon will get his usual hits. Carpenter will be on the bench. Better offense, better defense.