Diamondbacks To Release Aaron Heilman

Jack Magruder Twitter

Russell Branyan Goes Deep But Diamondbacks Loose

Former Brewer Russell Branyan led the way for Arizona with two RBIs on three hits, including a towering solo home run in the third inning that bounced off a sidewalk beyond the right-field berm, Branyan's third blast this spring.

Diamondbacks Official Site

Russell Branyan Blasts Homer, But Diamondbacks Lose

Iannetta, Colorado's No. 1 catcher this year, went deep against D-backs starter Joe Saunders in the bottom of the second inning. The D-backs' Russell Branyan answered with a three-run homer off Greg Smith in the fourth.

Diamondbacks Official Site

Diamondbacks Re-Sign Aaron Heilman

Ken Rosenthal Twitter

Best Bunts Of 2010

1. Adam Wainwright‘s bunt for .403 WPA on Aaron Heilman‘s error in the Cardinals’ June 28 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks on June 28. With no outs in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals were down 4-5. After Yadier Molina (!) and Brendan Ryan (!!) singles to put them on first and second, Wainwright came to the plate and bunted. Heilman fielded the ball but threw poorly to third, scoring the pinch-running Jaime Garcia (ah, Tony La Russa) to tie the game and moving Ryan and Heilman to second and third. A big play on an error, but actually not the biggest WPA play of the game. That play would be Skip Schumaker‘s (!!!) game-winning single to win the game later than inning.

Fangraphs

Five Cardinals Remain From 2006 Champions

Hard to believe 2011 is the fifth-year anniversary already of the Cardinals’ most recent World Series championship.

Retro Simba

Complete Breakdown Of MLB Free Agent Salary Arbitration

At midnight ET, on Tuesday the first real chapter in MLB salary arbitration turned a page as it was the final day that clubs could offer salary arbitration to free agent players. On Dec. 1 – one week from today – players that have been offered salary arbitration must notify the clubs whether they wish to accept, or decline and opt for free agency.

The Biz Of Baseball

Worst Values Among Elias Type A & B Free Agents

This week, we’re looking at the best of the Elias-rated Type A and B free agents, the worst of the A’s and B’s and the best of the players who were neither.

Fungoes

Loving Father Inspired Molina Brothers

The father died doing what he loved. Benjamin Molina's heart gave out, while he tended a baseball diamond during a youth league doubleheader in Puerto Rico. It was the same diamond where he taught three sons the game.

USA Today

The Fate Of Draftees Who Don't Sign

Baseball America

With Prize Cliff Lee Gone, Assessing The Trade Market For Pitchers

With star left-hander Cliff Lee, the clear prize of this trading season, now off the board and a Texas Ranger, here are the best of the rest among the available, semi-available and perhaps available pitchers. Check back Monday for a list of position players who could be changing teams before the July 31 trade deadline.

Sports Illustrated

Dan Haren: I'd Like To Play Here Again"

By almost all accounts, one of the worst trades in recent Cardinals history came before the 2005 season when the Cardinals dealt promising young righthander Dan Haren, along with two other players, to the Oakland Athletics for lefthander Mark Mulder.

STL Today

Dan Haren's Gem Can't End Diamondbacks Slide

Dan Haren looked like the ace he's been the past two years as he held the Dodgers scoreless for eight innings before finally giving way to the bullpen.

Diamondbacks Official Site

Felipe Lopez's Last Grand Slam Came April 4, 2008

NOTES: It was Lopez's first grand slam since he hit one for Washington on April 4, 2008, off Aaron Heilman, then with the Mets. ... Manuel, who had considered moving Reyes, the leadoff man, to third, said before the game he'll leave Reyes at the top of the order for now. Reyes was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. ... Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair threw out three first pitches, all that bounced several times. ... Wright made three nice plays at third, twice robbing Joe Mather and ranging far to his left to snare Pujols' grounder in the third. ... The Cardinals have won the opener of all four series.

AP/Fox Sports

Baseball Therapy: Why Not Two Pitchers?

It was the second game of a doubleheader last July 12, and the Cardinals were visiting Wrigley Field. In the top of the ninth inning, the Cards held a 4-2 lead, and the wheels were moving in the head of Cubs manager Lou Piniella. Piniella had brought lefty Sean Marshall into the game with runners on first and second and no one out to face the announced left-handed hitting Cardinals pinch hitter Chris Duncan (Tony La Russa countered by using Nick Stavinoha to pinch-hit). Marshall walked Stavinoha, and Piniella popped out of the dugout and called to his bullpen.

Baseball Prospectus

Cardinals-Based Cubs Commentary

I’ve been noticing a number of interesting news items relating to the St. Louis Cardinals National League Central Division rivals from Chicago.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Kyle McClellan Cardinals Unsung Hero Friday

Matt Holliday, John Smoltz and Ryan Franklin are among the St. Louis Cardinals players receiving well-deserved headlines for the club’s stirring 3-2 ninth-inning win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Busch Stadium. The win cut the Cards’ magic number for clinching their division to six.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Postgame Notes: Cardinals 3, Cubs 2

•At the outset of the game, we questioned why Julio Lugo, who had a .250 OBP and a .222 GPA v. The Lil in 17 PAs, was leading off. He worked a 12-pitch at-bat in his first appearance, drawing cheers for seven foul balls and ripped a single in his second time up.

Fungoes

First Half Relievers

Yesterday we discussed the virtues of the Cards’ starting rotation for the first half of the season so I thought it fitting to talk today about the pen. Unfortunately, the pen in the first half of the season hasn’t been quite as good as the rotation. For example, the Cards’ pen has only been worth 1.6 runs above replacement – TOTAL – for the entire first half. That’s 25th in the majors. Despite the pen’s 3.76 ERA, their FIP is 4.39, tied for 20th in the majors. And all this takes into consideration the fact that Ryan Franklin has pitched far beyond expectations during the first half and should regress during the 2nd half.

Viva El Birdos

Culprit Uno (1982-2008)

Two senryus ago, I started investigating the teams who, minus their pitcher who was at least five games under .500, would have managed a better record than the pennant/division winner that year. This one wraps up in a slightly different fashion, because of a few things:

The Hardball Times