NEW YORK -- Before the start of the four-game series against the Mets, the Cardinals were feeling good about themselves, especially in the batter¡¯s box.
Entering Thursday¡¯s action in the Big Apple, the Cardinals were first in the Major Leagues in batting average (.280) and on-base percentage (.348), second in hits (180), tied for third in doubles (37), third in OPS (.783) and fourth in slugging (.435).
In the four-game series against the Mets, the Cardinals' bats hit a big snag, going 22-for-129 (.171) with 43 strikeouts. Eleven of those strikeouts came Sunday afternoon in the 7-4, sweep-securing loss at Citi Field. Even worse, St. Louis went 4-for-27 (.148) with runners in scoring position during the four-game set.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol didn¡¯t beat around the bush when talking about what he witnessed. The Mets were a better club and the top of their batting order, featuring Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, was unstoppable. Marmol has often said the Cardinals are a much younger club and patience is needed throughout the season.
The lack of experience, for example, came in the fourth inning with the Mets up, 2-0. St. Louis had runners on first and second with one out against right-hander Clay Holmes, but Jordan Walker struck out and Nolan Gorman flew out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor to end the threat.
¡°[The Mets] straight up beat us four in a row. There are no excuses. They are a better club. They executed at a higher rate than we did,¡± Marmol said. ¡°We came in with some momentum and we played some good baseball back home. ¡ At the end of the day, we have to be able to execute better. Today, we fell short again.¡±
It may have been a lost weekend offensively for St.Louis, but shortstop Thomas Saggese, the No. 5 prospect in the Cardinals organization according to MLB Pipeline, showed he could hold his own in the batter¡¯s box. During the four-game set against the Mets, Saggese went 4-for-12 (.333) with two RBIs. The runs he drove in came in the seventh inning on Sunday when he doubled down the left-field line off Mets right-hander Jos¨¦ Butt¨®, scoring Gorman and Michael Siani and tying the score at 3.
¡°I know Butt¨® likes the slider. ¡ Fortunately, he left one over the plate that I picked up and I put a pretty good swing on it,¡± Saggese said.
After returning to the big leagues from Triple-A Memphis on April 4, Saggese has a slash line of .400/.389/.600 and has left an impression on Marmol.
¡°He continues to grow and understand how to game plan,¡± the skipper said. ¡°His at-bats have been really good. He continues to ask good questions defensively and on the bases. There¡¯s growth there. He looks really good handling the bat.¡±
Saggese is learning about the game of baseball from veterans like Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado. He will be the first to tell you that hitting is hard.
¡°I just talk to people and see what they think. There is a lot of talent in this room,¡± Saggese said. ¡°¡®What can I take [from those veterans] and help my game?¡¯ I like to try to pick as many brains as I can -- whatever it may be.¡±
Saggese said he feels relaxed at the plate because of his faith in God, who took a lot of weight off his shoulders. Even when he made his big league debut last year and struggled, Saggese felt relaxed.
¡°[The Lord] helped me so much through struggles and I was able to find peace,¡± Saggese said. ¡°That¡¯s the biggest one for sure. I¡¯ve been blessed with this opportunity and I¡¯m grateful. There are so many good things to be thankful for.¡±