WHO'S UP
Baby booster rockets
The Cardinals have done their best in the past couple of weeks to allow the meek to influence the division race. Series losses to the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers — three teams a combined 56 games out of first place — have dragged the Cardinals behind Cincinnati. But it's the division foe they play next that is playing the best. Houston, having been dismantled at the trading deadline, won 14 of its first 24 games this month and swept former ace Roy Oswalt and two-time NL champion Philadelphia in a four-game series this past week. Houston's starters had a 2.37 ERA in a 17-game span, Carlos Lee had 21 RBIs this month going into the weekend, and even the kids are all right. Rookies such as third baseman Chris Johnson (.319 in August) are fueling an unexpected revival. The Killer B's became known for their second-half surges. These next generation Astros have inherited the habit.
WHO'S DOWN
National treasure
The nation's capital had a collective wince Friday as an image emerged from Stephen Strasburg's right elbow, revealed a torn ligament, and predicted another season of baseball winter for the Washington Nationals. Phenom Strasburg will miss the rest of this season and most of 2011 (at least) as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. "Stephen doesn't want any funeral type of thing," general manager Mike Rizzo told ESPN 980 in D.C. "Tommy John surgery isn't open heart surgery. We're going to see him a year from today. He's going to be bigger and better." The Nats better bank on it. A blown ligament doesn't only hurt on the field; it slows the surge in ticket sales, TV ratings and national exposure for the Nats. It will also cast a pall over a club buoyed by the last two No. 1 picks, Strasburg in 2009 and Bryce Harper in 2010. Harper was in D.C. on Thursday and put on a BP power show. Not yet 18, Harper has been described by Rizzo as a "fast track" player, one who could debut as early as 2012. Strasburg's injury delays a bright future, but the possibility exists that Washington's stars could align and still contend on time.
MATCH GAME
This past week, the Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a statue of former owner and current MLB commissioner Allan H. Selig. The bronze Bud joins an extensive list of statues and monuments around ballparks, both big and small. Some have become landmarks, like Stan Musial at Busch Stadium, Connie Mack at Philly's Citizens Bank Park and Roberto Clemente's statue at the base of Roberto Clemente Bridge beside PNC Park. See if you can match these ballplayer statues or icon with the ballparks they are nearby:
1. Yankee Stadium (New York)
2. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago)
3. Sun Life Stadium (Miami)
4. Whataburger Field (Corpus Christi, Texas)
5. The Epicenter (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
6. Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore)
7. Fluor Field (Greenville, S.C.)
8. KeySpan Park (Brooklyn, New York)
9. Turner Field (Atlanta)
A. "Casey at the Bat"
B. Jack Benny, violinist and comedian
C. A 138-foot Louisville Slugger bat
D. Joe Crede (and others)
E. Shoeless Joe Jackson
F. An 18-foot, 3,000-pound ballplayer, believed to be the largest bronze statue of a baseball player.
G. Pee Wee Reese walking with Jackie Robinson
H. Babe Ruth
I. Ty Cobb
Answers: 1. C; 2. D (celebrating key moments in 2005 World Series title run); 3. A; 4. F; 5. B; 6. H (a Baltimore native); 7. E; 8. G; 9. I ("The Georgia Peach").
FARM REPORT
GM John Mozeliak jetted to Jupiter, Fla., last week in time to see the professional debut of first-round pick Zack Cox, the 25th overall selection in the June draft. Cox started at DH and batted cleanup, going four for five with a double and an RBI. Through his first two pro games, both with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals, Cox was five for eight with a walk and two strikeouts. ... Righthanded pitcher Tyrell Jenkins, the 50th overall pick in the June draft, made his pro debut Thursday with a scoreless inning for short-season Johnson City. ... Scott Gorgen (elbow) returned from injury to throw an inning of relief Thursday for AA Springfield. He had a 1.17 ERA in eight starts before soreness sidelined him in May. ... Slugging first baseman Matt Adams, a 23rd-round selection in 2009 out of Slippery Rock, leads the Midwest League with 22 homers and 87 RBIs. He has a .544 slugging percentage and a .900 OPS through 119 games.
Sources: Post-Dispatch research.
