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Pineiro provides hope

Posted August 09, 2007 11:00 pm

Hal Pilger

By HAL PILGER

GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Right-handed pitcher Joel Pineiro, acquired last week in a trade with Boston for a player to be named later, had his best seasons with Seattle in 2002 (14-7, 3.25 earned run average) and 2003 (16-11, 3.80).

The eighth-year major leaguer has a career mark of 60-56. He also has a competitive fire that continues to burn despite losing records the last three seasons, when he went a composite 21-35 with the Mariners.

"He's a kid who likes to battle on the mound," agrees Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo. "Maybe too much fire once in a while, but he's going to compete hard out there on the mound. Hopefully he can help the team out. I think he's a good asset for the team.

"He knows what he's doing on the mound, but sometimes he has to learn not to be that aggressive. He needs to know how to pitch on both sides of the plate. I think with (pitching coach Dave) Duncan and (bullpen coach) Marty Mason, they can help him a lot."

Said Duncan after the deal, "I don't know a whole lot about him, but I did look at some video last winter when he was on the free agent market, and I liked him then. He's got a good curveball, a good changeup; his fastball ranges 90-91 mph.

"Everybody that I've talked to about him says he's a great competitor. And he loves starting, which he wasn't doing in Boston. So we're hoping to work him into the rotation and hope that he gives us a little pick-me-up."

That lift already surfaced Thursday night, in Pineiro's second Cardinals start. In his first start last Saturday at Washington, Pineiro allowed five runs - four earned - on seven hits through five innings of a 12-1 loss. But against San Diego on Thursday, he pitched seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out four while walking nobody. He retired the side in order in three of his seven innings.

Pineiro's plan of attack on Thursday? "Trust your defense, and don't try to strike out everybody," he was quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

n CARDS QUIZ: In 2000, Edgar Renteria established the all-time season home run record for a Cardinals shortstop with 16. Whose record did he break? Answer below.

n IT'S DELIVERY: La Russa says every once in a while pitcher Adam Wainwright "just comes out of his delivery. It's really obvious to see. You'll see him make a funny-looking throw, and the ball is usually elevated.

"He's still learning how to maintain his concentration, particularly control his delivery. If he really keeps himself together, his location is excellent. What he has had the ability to do is, he gets away from it, but all of a sudden before there's disaster, he'll pull it together and make a pitch."

La Russa said sometimes "It's more a matter of just trying to do too much and jumping at the hitter" than not having good stuff.

n BRING 'EM HOME: The Cardinals collected six hits with runners in scoring position during their 10-run, fifth-inning explosion on Monday night, matching the team's total number of hits with runners in scoring position during their recent six-game trip (6-for-44).

The Cardinals left 53 runners on base during that 1-5 trip, including 42 in the final four losses.

n EDMONDS MILESTONE: By collecting three hits against San Diego on Tuesday night, center fielder Jim Edmonds recorded his 1,000th base hit in a Cardinals uniform. It was a milestone that did not escape Edmonds.

"Anything in this uniform is special," Edmonds was quoted on mlb.com. "This is where my career was made and where I've spent most of my (career). So anything here is special."

Edmonds, who came to St. Louis in 2000, became the 33rd player to record 1,000 hits as a member of the Cardinals. The only other active player with at least 1,000 hits as a member of the Cardinals is Albert Pujols, who entered weekend play with 1,287 hits in less than seven seasons with St. Louis.

n QUIZ ANSWER: Renteria broke the Cardinals record of 15 home runs set by shortstop Solly Hemus in 1952.

n END QUOTE: Third baseman Scott Rolen, quoted in the Post-Dispatch, about dealing with his surgically repaired left shoulder for the remainder of the season with an occasional day of rest: "I was pretty thickheaded about coming out of the lineup. That didn't make a lot of sense."

Hal Pilger can be reached at (217) 788-1548 or hal.pilger@sj-r.com.

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