As Major League Baseball pauses for the annual three-day All-Star Game celebration, the Cardinals are 87 games into the 2010 season. And this is what we've learned so far: • Despite having Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus, three of the league's best offensive players, the Cardinals are lagging offensively. Their average of 4.45 runs per game is 10th in the 16-team NL. Only one Cardinals team (1997) managed by Tony La Russa over his 15 seasons has averaged fewer runs per game. The 2010 Cardinals have scored four runs or fewer in 46 of 88 games; they're 14-32 in those contests. • We shouldn't blame Pujols, Holliday and Rasmus. Sure, they had rough stretches and could have done better — especially Holliday, who misfired on so many RBI opportunities. But the big three aren't the problem. Pujols, Holliday and Rasmus each has a combined onbase-slugging percentage (OPS) over .900. And the Cardinals are one of only three major-league teams that have three lineup regulars with an OPS of .900 or higher. The Cardinals rank 29th among 30 teams in OPS from the catcher position. Their shortstops' batting average (.205) is the worst in the majors. Their third basemen have hit only five homers. And their second basemen rank 19th in OPS. • We discovered that the Cardinals might have a major issue at shortstop. • It became painfully clear that the Cardinals have to clean up their fundamentals. They've lost 59 runners on the bases, second-highest total in the NL. Baseball Prospectus ranks the Cardinals 23rd in the majors in base-running effectiveness, and 21st in ballpark-adjusted defensive efficiency. • We learned (again) that we nitpick Pujols, almost to comical proportions. And I'm guilty of it. At the break, Pujols ranks third in the league in homers and RBIs and is second in onbase pecentage, slugging, extra-base hits and runs created. Yes, his batting average (.308) is down some, but it's still good enough for ninth-best in the NL. And it's true that Pujols' slugging percentage (.576) is 52 points below his career level through 2009, but let's keep it in perspective. That .576 slugging would still rank among the top 20 slugging percentages in the majors over the last five seasons. • We learned that many fans — or at least the noisiest — will blame batting coach Mark McGwire for the quiet offense instead of holding the hitters accountable. • We overreacted to Holliday's cold spells over the first two months. Holliday's career body of work made it obvious that he'd deliver good numbers. And he has. At the turn, Holliday is hitting .300 with a .373 OBP and a .529 slug. He has 16 homers and 51 RBIs. Since May 27, Holliday is batting .323, with a .404 OBP and a .626 slug. And that includes a .289 batting average with runners in scoring position. • We learned that Jon Jay can play. Jon Jay shouldn't be sent down to Triple A Memphis when Ryan Ludwick returns. • Confirmed: Rookie David Freese was ready to take over at third base. And Freese learned that pitchers had success jamming him inside, and he'll have to adjust. Yes, it would be nice to see Freese crank out more homers. But it would be even better if he can return to health and resumes producing RBIs. • I learned a lesson. I jumped the gun on May 2 when I wrote that the Cardinals looked like a runaway winner in the NL Central. The Cardinals were 17-8 and had a 4.5 game lead. The other teams in the Central looked terrible. Oops. The Cardinals are 29-33 since May 4. • We found out that the Cincinati Reds are for real — even after losing their final four games of the first half, at Philadelphia. But the Reds lead the NL in runs per game, homers and OPS. Their starting pitchers have a 3.41 ERA since May 8. An improved Cincinnati bullpen has a 3.44 ERA since June 1. http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_aaa0a39e-f35c-5667-a28d-9c08923eec39.html
