Evaluating the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals, part II: The Hitting and Managing

The St. Louis Cardinals had a very good ride as they made a strong late push to get into the postseason. They won 17 straight games en route to making it to the postseason to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2021 NL Wildcard game.  It was going to be a very tough one-game playoff.  The Cardinals had their best pitcher on the mound in Adam Wainwright, but the Dodgers also had their best pitcher in Max Scherzer, so it was going to be a pitcher’s duel.

The Dodgers had won 16 more games in the regular season, and they had won 106 games, so it was going to be a very tough game for the Cardinals to win.  The Cardinals were able to get the upper hand early, but the tide really seemed to turn  for the worse when Dodgers’ third baseman Justin Turner hit a home run off of Adam Wainwright in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1 apiece.  The Cardinals struggled to score later on, and some curious bullpen moves were made as the Dodgers ended up winning on a walk-off homer late in the ninth inning.

The Cardinals’ 2021 season is now officially over.  That begs the question, so how did everyone do?

I looked up information using Baseball-Reference.  For the WAR statistical metric, I went to Fangraphs for that.

St. Louis Cardinals' starting catcher, Yadier Molina made his 10th All-Star team in the majors, and he also became the sixth player ever to catch 2000 games while being the first to do so with one team.

(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)

C Yadier Molina
2021 (STL): .252 AVG, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 3 SB, .297 OBP, .370 SLG, .667 OPS, 5.1 BB%, 16.7 K%, 41 CS%, 1.0 WAR, made the 2021 NL All-Star team
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 OBP, .000 SLG, .000 OPS, 0 BB%, 0 K%, 0 CS%

Yadier Molina had a much bigger impact for his team that the box score statistics may have suggested.  He called a great game continuously throughout the season, and he showed great leadership skills in leading his team and the pitchers.  He also did a very good job of throwing runners out in the regular season.  His offensive production may have slowed down a bit over the years, but his defense and signal calling is still very good, and he did a good job of driving runners in this year.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting catcher of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt had a very good season this year in 2021.
(Photo: Getty Images, via CBS Sports)

1B Paul Goldschmidt
2021 (STL): .284 AVG, 31 HR, 99 RBI, 12 SB, .365 OBP, .514 SLG, .879 OPS, 9.9 BB%, 20.0 K%, 4.9 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .333 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .600 OBP, .333 SLG, .933 OPS

Goldschmidt played very well, as he hit the ball really well this year, and he consistently shined on offense this year.  His only significant mishap came late in the Wildcard game, when he struck out by being caught looking on three pitches with Tommy Edman stranded on second base late in the ninth inning.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting First Baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' starting second baseman, Tommy Edman quietly had a very good season, and he was terrific for the Cards in the postseason.

(Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images, via Viva El Birdos)

2B Tommy Edman
2021 (STL): .262 AVG, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 30 SB, .308 OBP, .387 SLG, .695 OPS, 5.5 BB%, 13.7 K%, 2.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .600 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 SB, .600 OBP, .600 SLG, 1.200 OPS, 0 BB%, 20 K%

Tommy Edman played very well for the Cards in 2021.  He showed a good approach to the plate, as he would make pitchers work the count, and he is a speedy middle infielder that excelled as a baserunner and fielder this year.  He was very valuable in the playoffs, as he consistently got on base by getting base hits, he also did great work on the base paths by stealing bases, and he made numerous stops with his glove in the field.  Overall, he had a very good season this year.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals

Nolan Arenado had a solid season with the Cardinals, and he was especially good with the glove this year.
(Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images, via Denver Fan)

3B Nolan Arenado
2021 (STL): .255 AVG, 34 HR, 105 RBI, 2 SB, .312 OBP, .494 SLG, .807 OPS, 7.7 BB%, 14.7 K%, 4.0 WAR, made the 2021 NL All-Star team
2021 (Playoffs):.000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 0 K%

Nolan Arenado proved that he can hit outside of Colorado, as he did a good job of hitting, and for power, and he also did a tremendous job with the glove on the defensive end.  While his offensive production was a bit down, he did not disappoint as he brought stellar defense to this team.  He didn’t come through in the playoffs though, but the Cards faced a really tough Dodgers’ squad this year.

2021 Player Grade: B
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Third Baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals

SS Edmondo Sosa
2021 (STL): .271 AVG, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 4 SB, .346 OBP, .389 SLG, .735 OPS, 5.2 BB%, 19.3 K%, 1.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 25 K%

He took over in the second half at the shortstop position after Paul DeJong really struggled to hit on offense, and Sosa was a pleasant surprise for the Cards this season.  He did a good job of hitting the baseball.  

On the other hand, he struggled to make plays with the glove in the Wildcard game on defense due to having the jitters, but he was able to find his footing, and it didn’t seem to hurt the team that much.  Overall, Sosa’s future looks to be pretty bright with the Cardinals.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations:  Platoon Shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder, Tyler O'Neill had a terrific season, as he hit for a .286 batting average, hit 34 home runs, and also provided stellar defense throughout the regular season.  With his tremendous 2021 season that he had, O'Neill arguably has positioned himself to be one of the best left fielders in baseball today.
(Photo: Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press, via St. Louis Post Dispatch)

LF Tyler O’Neill
2021 (STL): .286 AVG, 34 HR, 80 RBI, 15 SB, .352 OBP, .560 SLG, .912 OPS, 7.1 BB%, 31.3 K%, 5.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, .200 OBP, .000 SLG, .200 OPS, 20 BB%, 60 K%

Tyler O’Neill had a much better year than expected.  Not only did he continue to show a stellar glove in the field, but he also had a very good year offensively as well.  He hit for a high average, and he hit for a whopping 34 homers while stealing 15 bags.  He was a whiff machine though, as he still strikes out a lot, and that was magnified more in the playoffs, but overall O’Neill turned in a very good 2021 season.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Left Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Harrison Bader (pictured in the middle) had a very good all-around season, and he and O'Neill are two of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball right now.

(Photo: Justin Berl/Getty Images, via Redbird Rants)

CF Harrison Bader
2021 (STL): .267 AVG, 16 HR, 50 RBI, 9 SB, .324 OBP, .460 SLG, .785 OPS, 6.7 BB%, 21.2 K%, 3.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .750 OBP, .000 SLG, .750 OPS, 25 BB%, 25 K%

Harrison Bader had a solid season this year.  He did a better job of hitting the baseball, and he fielded very well defensively.  He did a great job of getting on base in the postseason, and he quietly played well this season.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Center Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

RF Dylan Carlson
2021 (STL): .266 AVG, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 2 SB, .343 OBP, .437 SLG, .780 OPS, 9.2 BB%, 24.6 K%, 2.8 WAR
2021 (Playoffs):.250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .250 OBP, .250 SLG, .500 OPS, 0 BB%, 25 K%

Dylan Carlson was a player that continually got better as the season progressed.  He is a solid all-around outfielder that can do a little bit of everything.  He does strike out too much, but he had a good rookie season nonetheless, and big things may be expected out of him next season.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (3.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Starting Right Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

IF Paul DeJong
2021 (STL): .197 AVG, 19 HR, 45 RBI, 4 SB, .284 OBP, .390 SLG, .674 OPS, 8.7 BB%, 25.6 K%, 1.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 100 K%

Paul DeJong may have lost his starting job midway through the season due to his offensive struggles, but he is still a very good fielder, and his strong physical tools will show every once in a while, as he still hit 19 homers this season.  He made a terrific catch in the postseason to show his defensive value, but he then immediately followed that up by striking out in the next inning, which pretty much sums up his season.

2021 Player Grade: C+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations:  Platoon Shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals

RF Lars Nootbar
2021 (STL): .239 AVG, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 2 SB, .317 OBP, .422 SLG, .739 OPS, 10.5 BB%, 22.6 K%, 0.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Considering that very few people in the baseball community knew who he was prior to the season, this year can be considered an overwhelming success for Lars Nootbar.  Nootbar did a good job of providing pop off the bench, and he also fielded well defensively.  He skyrocketed up through the minors to play well in a reserve role this year.  If there was an open starting spot for him next year, then Nootbar could then be a sleeper candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year award next season.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2 stars (2.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: 4th Outfielder on the St. Louis Cardinals

UT José Rondón
2021 (STL): .263 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .322 OBP, .413 SLG, .735 OPS, 8.9 BB%, 18.9 K%, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Rondon didn't make the team on Opening Day, but after playing well in AAA and as the team was hit with some injuries, he was able to show what he can do in the majors.  Rondon provided some pop off the bench, and he showed that he can hit for extra bases, but he also struggled considerably on the defensive end.

2021 Player Grade: C+
2022 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Backup Utility Infielder on the St. Louis Cardinals

C Andrew Knizner
2021 (STL): .174 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .281 OBP, .236 SLG, .517 OPS, 10.8 BB%, 21.1 K%, 23 CS%, -1.0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Knizner didn’t hit the ball very well or throw runners out often, but he seemed to do a decent job of calling the game from behind the plate.  Whether or not if he can be the heir apparent remains to be seen, but he may have had a better year than the stats may suggest he had.

2021 Player Grade: C
2022 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Backup Catcher on the St. Louis Cardinals

2B Matt Carpenter
2021 (STL): .169 AVG, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 2 SB, .305 OBP, .275 SLG, .581 OPS, 14.1 BB%, 30.9 K%, -0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Matt Carpenter is nowhere near the player he used to be, and while he can still draw walks, his numbers were down considerably across the board.  Not too long ago, Carpenter used to be a very good player that made All-Star teams, and he used to be very helpful in the playoffs.  There were questions if Carpenter or Carlos Martinez should have made the team this year, and neither of those two players really did anything to suggest that they should have this season.

But to put it nicely in terms of how good of an MLB player he is right now, Carpenter is super washed up, and it’s looking to be very unlikely that he’ll ever return to top form.  He’s been such a shell of himself that this time, he wasn’t even used for the Wildcard game against the Dodgers.

2021 Player Grade: D-
2022 Player Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: Backup Infielder somewhere in the majors, or retired

OF Justin Williams
2021 (STL): .160 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, .270 OBP, .261 SLG, .531 OPS, 12.4 BB%, 33.6 K%, -0.8 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Williams surprisingly made it to the team’s Opening Day roster, but he struggled mightily once he played in the Majors this season.  He was able to hit for power as he showed some pop in his bat, but he struggled to hit the baseball or to field this year.  

2021 Grade: D
2022 Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: AAA outfielder in the minors

Hitting Coach – Jeff Albert
2021 (STL): .244 AVG, 198 HR, 678 RBI, 89 SB, 8 BB%, 22.3 K%, .313 OBP, .412 SLG, .725 OPS
2021 (Playoffs): .156 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 SB, 10.3 BB%, 25.6 K%, .289 OBP, .156 SLG, .446 OPS

It was a fairly mixed bag of a year for Jeff Albert.  The hitters did a good job of hitting the long ball and getting extra base hits in the regular season, and they also showed a decent ability to steal the bases and run on the basepaths this year.

On the other hand, their approach was still was sort of suspect, as they didn’t hit for a high average, and they struck out far too often.  The Cardinals weren’t the most consistent offensive team.  They were tremendous in September, but they couldn’t get the job done in the clutch in the postseason, even with big-time boppers, which hurts even though they faced a very tough Dodgers’ team.

2021 Grade: C+
2022 Rating: 2 stars
2022 Expectations: Hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals

The 2021 St. Louis Cardinals had a good season overall, as they did much better than expected, even though there were some curious bullpen moves that were made late in their Wildcard game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason.

(Photo: Robert Hanashiro/USA Today Sports, via Viva El Birdos)

Mike Shildt
2021 (STL); 90-72, 0-1 in the playoffs
Managerial Career: 252-199, 4-9 in his playoff career

The Cardinals overachieved in the regular season, and they were able to get to the playoffs, despite the majority of people picking against them.  Shildt gets the credit for being able to build positive relationships with his players, because he trusts them almost to a fault.  

In the playoffs though, this tendency tends to backfire because he’s reactive with his moves and not proactive, so he doesn’t always go with his best options.  He made some curious bullpen moves in the Wildcard game, so he will have to improve as a tactician in order to push the Cardinals closer to title contention.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals

The 2021 Season Grade for the St. Louis Cardinals:

Hitting: A-
Pitching: B
Coaching/Managing: B+
Watching Their Journey This Year: A-
Overall: B+

The 2021 St. Louis Cardinals had a good season overall, and they exceeded a lot of people's expectations.  Maybe this team wasn’t destined to win the World Series, but it was a fun ride to watch the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals, and they got a lot of mileage out of a makeshift bullpen and end of the rotation starters that they managed to cobble together.  Plus, it was fun watching Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina play for another season, and play very well in doing so.  So, there you have it, and thanks for reading.

Evaluating the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals’ Pitching

 The St. Louis Cardinals had a lot of injuries, but Adam Wainwright was dominant throughout the season, and they also received strong play from Alex Reyes in the first half of the year.  While Reyes started to falter from after that point, the other pitchers managed to pick up the slack, and the Cardinals made the most out of a makeshift collection of pitchers that they managed to find along the way.

Starters:

St. Louis Cardinals' ace and starting pitcher, Adam Wainwright had a fantastic season this year, as he had 17 wins and is a contender for the 2021 NL Cy Young award this season.

(Photo: Joe Puetz/USA Today Sports, via Sports Illustrated)

Adam Wainwright
2021 (STL): 17-7, 3.05 ERA, 206.1 IP, 7.3 H9, 0.9 HR9, 2.2 BB9, 7.6 K9, 3.66 FIP, 3.8 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): 0-0, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 6.8 H9, 1.7 HR9, 3.4 BB9, 8.4 K9

Adam Wainwright had a terrific season, as he had a rejuvenation year by managing to get 17 wins, and he had a very impressive Cy Young-caliber season at age 40.  

2021 Grade: A
2022 Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher and ace of the St. Louis Cardinals

Jack Flaherty
2021 (STL): 9-2, 3.22 ERA, 78.1 IP, 6.5 H9, 1.4 HR9, 3 BB9, 9.8 K9, 4.22 FIP, 0.9 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Jack Flaherty pitched fairly well when he was healthy, and he did a very good job of striking hitters out.  However, he was quite injury prone this year, and he didn’t seem to be fully healthy as he tried to come back late in the season.  He also allowed the long ball at a fairly alarming rate this season.

2021 Grade: B-
2022 Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals

Kwang Hyun Kim
2021 (STL): 7-7, 3.46 ERA, 106.2 IP, 8.3 H9, 1 HR9, 3.3 BB9, 6.8 K9, 4.34 FIP, 1.2 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Kwang Hyun Kim did a decent job as a starting pitcher this season.  He was a pitch-to-contact pitcher, and he had pretty good command of his pitches when he was healthy this year.

2021 Grade: C+
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals

Dakota Hudson
2021 (STL): 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 8.2 IP, 7.3 H9, 0 HR9, 1 BB9, 6.2 K9, 2.48 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Dakota Hudson missed most of the season due to injury, but he showed great command in the brief time he was out on the mound this year.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals

Miles Mikolas
2021 (STL): 2-3, 4.23 ERA, 44.2 IP, 8.7 H9, 1.2 HR9, 2.2 BB9, 6.2 K9, 4.40 FIP, 0.5 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Miles Mikolas has had trouble staying healthy over the years, but he’s shown solid control of his pitches when healthy.  He’s had some trouble keeping the ball in the ball park, but he’s proven that he can be a solid starting pitcher when healthy.

2021 Grade: C
2022 Rating: 2 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher in the majors

J.A. Happ
2021 (STL): 5-2, 4.00 ERA, 54 IP, 8.7 H9, 1.5 HR9, 2.8 BB9, 7.5 K9, 4.61 FIP, 0.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

J.A. Happ also showed decent enough control and command to help the Cardinals go on a massive winning streak in the second half of the season.  He struggled to keep the ball in the ball park, but he did other things pretty well, and he had an underrated presence on the mound.

2021 Grade: C+
2022 Rating: 2 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher somewhere in the majors

Jake Woodford
2021 (STL): 3-4, 3.99 ERA, 67.2 IP, 8.8 H9, 0.9 HR9, 3.3 BB9, 6.7 K9, 4.50 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Woodford showed decent command of his pitches and versatility by being able to start and come out of the bullpen this year.  He wasn’t an outstanding pitcher, but he pitched well enough to be counted on for net season.

2021 Grade: C+
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Spot starter or long reliever in the majors

Johan Oviedo
2021 (STL): 0-5, 4.91 ERA, 62.1 IP, 8.8 H9, 1.2 HR9, 5.3 BB9, 7.4 K9, 5.27 FIP, -0.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

After he was called up last year and held his own in the majors, it was perhaps expected for Oviedo to take on a greater role and get an extended stay in the big leagues this time.

Unfortunately, he didn’t pitch too well in the majors.  He showed flashes of his potential at times, as he does have strike out stuff, but he also had control and command issues, and he was somehow even worse in AAA when he was demoted.  Right now, it’s unclear if he’ll pitch much in the majors next season, as he’ll need to get his game back on track.

2021 Grade: D
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars (2 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: AAA starter in the minors, emergency spot starter or long reliever in the majors

Jon Lester
2021 (STL): 4-1, 4.36 ERA, 66 IP, 9.3 H9, 1.5 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 5.5 K9, 5.40 FIP, 0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Jon Lester was acquired in a midseason trade, and he was lucky enough to help the team win a handful of games when he was on the mound.  It seemed that he was definitely helped out by good defense and run support this year.  He didn’t do any one thing particularly well this year, except show enough command, have a calming veteran presence, and be a good luck charm for the Cardinals.

2021 Grade: C
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting pitcher somewhere in the majors

Wade LeBlanc
2021 (STL): 0-1, 3.61 ERA, 42.1 IP, 9.6 H9, 1.5 HR9, 3.4 BB9, 4.9 K9, 5.58 FIP, 0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

LeBlanc was helped out considerably by good defense, but he struggled to keep the ball in the ball park, and he was not a threat at all to strike hitters out.  He wasn’t a great starting pitcher by any means, but he wasn’t terrible either, as he was decent enough of a starter to let the bullpen help decide the outcome of games when he was out there.

2021 Grade: C
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Spot starter or long reliever somewhere in the majors

Carlos Martinez
2021 (STL): 4-9, 6.23 ERA, 82.1 IP, 8.4 H9, 0.9 HR9, 3.9 BB9, 6.2 K9, 4.76 FIP, 0.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Carlos Martinez really struggled as a starter once again this season, and he just had trouble with his command or to consistently make quality pitches this year.  In addition, he’s been hurt by injuries over the years, and his velocity has dipped drastically since he’s first been called up to the majors.  This season was technically an improvement for him compared to 2020, but it was still not a great year for him by any means or stretch of the imagination.

2021 Grade: D-
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Spot starter/long man in the majors

Relievers:

St. Louis Cardinals' closer, Giovanny Gallegos proved himself to be the most steady and dependable bullpen arm on their team this year, and he finished the season with 14 saves.

(Photo: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports, via Viva El Birdos)

Giovanny Gallegos
2021 (STL): 6-5, 3.02 ERA, 80.1 IP, 14 SV, 5.7 H9, 0.7 HR9, 2.2 BB9, 10.6 K9, 2.75 FIP, 2.2 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 IP, 9 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 18 K9

Gallegos turned out to be the best reliever on the Cardinals’ team by far, and he was the most dependable bullpen pitcher on this team.  He pitched very well down the stretch and in the playoffs.  

There were reports that he couldn’t grip his slider pitch prior to the start of the 9th inning, which was reportedly why he was taken out of the game.  Still, he had a very good season for the Cards this year.

2021 Grade: A-
2022 Rating: 3.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Set up man or closer on the St. Louis Cardinals

Second half and postseason slide aside, St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher and at times closer, Alex Reyes had a solid season overall as he had 29 saves, and he managed to exceed his expectations this year by making the 2021 NL All-Star team.

(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via Fox 2)

Alex Reyes
2021 (STL): 10-8, 3.24 ERA, 72.1 IP, 29 SV, 5.7 H9, 1.1 HR9, 6.5 BB9, 11.8 K9, 4.40 FIP, 0.2 WAR, made the 2021 NL All-Star Team
2021 (Playoffs): 0-0, inf, 0 IP, inf H9, inf HR9

Reyes was lights out as a closer in the first half, and he is a fireballer that could consistently throw in the triple digits to strike hitters out.  He also was very wild and often had control issues, so much of the first half of Reyes racking up saves was me wondering if he was defying analytics and was getting saves due to his extremely good stuff, or if he was extremely lucky.  Either way, he surpassed expectations by a long shot in the first half, and he was contending with Wainwright, O’Neill and others to be the Cardinals’ team MVP at that point.

Turns out, the answer to that question was a little bit of both, that he was getting outs due to his very good stuff but he was also very lucky too.  However, his wildness caught up to him in the second half and later on in the season.  When other teams caught wind that he was a talented pitcher that could close games, they got the book on him and studied him, and Reyes had trouble adjusting to them late in the season.  He started blowing leads and saves, and he lost his closer job late in the year.  He was entrusted to come in the game in the 9th inning against the Dodgers, but ended up allowing a heartbreaking walk-off homer that ended the Cards’ season.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Set up man or closer on the St. Louis Cardinals

Génesis Cabrera
2021 (STL): 4-5, 3.73 ERA, 70 IP, 6.7 H9, 0.4 HR9, 4.6 BB9, 9.9 K9, 3.28 FIP, 1.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

He’s a left-handed, hard thrower that had a very good season, as he did a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark, and he struck a lot of hitters out.  He had some control issues, but he proved to be one of the more reliable relievers on this team.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher on the St. LouiS Cardinals

Jordan Hicks
2021 (STL): 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 10 IP, 4.5 H9, 0 HR9, 9 BB9, 9 K9, 4.17 FIP, 0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Hicks is the team’s former closer that once threw 105 MPH, as he had a blistering fastball that would absolutely punish and devastate hitters.  He’s been oft-injured since, and he’s had trouble staying healthy.  He also has a tendency to overthrow and walk batters.  He was briefly up but continued to run into injuries, and he was disastrous in three starts in AAA.

2021 Grade: D+
2022 Rating: 2 stars (3 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

Kodi Whitley
2021 (STL): 0-0, 2.49 ERA, 25.1 IP, 5.3 H9, 0.4 HR9, 4.3 BB9, 9.6 K9, 2.97 FIP, 0.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Kodi Whitley is a hard-throwing relief pitcher that did a good job of striking hitters out and keeping balls in the ballpark, but he did have some control issues.  Still, he had a pretty good season this year.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2 stars (2.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher, Luis García was fantastic this year, and he did a great job out of the bullpen in both the regular and the postseason.

(Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images, via Viva El Birdos)

Luis García
2021 (STL): 1-1, 3.24 ERA, 33.1 IP, 6.8 H9, 0.5 HR9, 2.2 BB9, 9.2 K9, 2.72 FIP, 0.7 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP, 5.4 H9, 0 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 0 K9

Garcia had a rejuvenation year, as he was plucked off the scrap heap, and managed to turn in a great season.  The hard-throwing reliever pitched very well in relief for the Cards this year.  

He showed a good fastball and slider, and he was one of the most dependable bullpen arms for the Cardinals this season.  He didn’t have control issues this year.  He also pitched well in the playoffs, though a couple of balls were hit hard and he was saved by the great defense of his team.  Either way, Garcia still had a very good year in 2021.

2021 Grade: A
2022 Rating: 2 stars
2022 Expectations: Middle reliever or set up man for the St. Louis Cardinals

Ryan Helsley
2021 (STL): 6-4, 4.56 ERA, 47.1 IP, 1 SV, 7.6 H9, 0.8 HR9, 5.1 BB9, 8.9 K9, 3.99 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Helsley is a hard-thrower that was able to strike plenty of hitters out, but he also ran into some control issues this season.

2021 Grade: C
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars (2 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

Seth Elledge
2021 (STL): 0-0, 4.63 ERA, 11.2 IP, 10 H9, 0.8 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 8.5 K9, 4.46 FIP, 0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

He showed that he can strike hitters out, but he also had control issues throughout the season.

2021 Grade: D
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars (2 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: AAA reliever in the minors, emergency spot starter or long reliever in the majors

T.J. McFarland
2021 (STL): 4-1, 2.56 ERA, 38.2 IP, 7.4 H9, 0.7 HR9, 2.1 BB9, 4.9 K9, 3.79 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): 0-1, 13.50 ERA, 0.2 IP, 0 H9, 0 HR9, 13.5 BB9, o K9

McFarland was another relief pitcher that was plucked right off the scrap heap, and managed to turn in a good season this year with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He did a great job of locating and commanding his pitches.  He almost was able to make it through the 9th inning in the Wildcard game, but he walked in the eventual go-ahead run, and was taken out in the loss.

2021 Grade: B+
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

Andrew Miller
2021 (STL): 0-0, 4.75 ERA, 36 IP, 10.3 H9, 1.3 HR9, 4 BB9, 10 K9, 4.50 FIP, -0.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

The left-handed, Andrew Miller struggled more with his command this year, as he didn’t do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark or locating his pitches this season.  On the other hand, he still did a good job of striking hitters out.  He’s historically been a very good bullpen pitcher, but this wasn’t his season in 2021.

2021 Grade: D
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

Justin Miller
2021 (STL): 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 16 IP, 8.4 H9, 1.1 HR9, 2.8 BB9, 5.1 K9, 4.98 FIP, -0.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Miller showed good control of his pitches, but he had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark, and rarely struck hitters out, either.

2021 Grade: C
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Relief pitcher in the majors

Junior Fernandez
2021 (STL): 1-0, 5.66 ERA, 20.2 IP, 10.9 H9, 0.9 HR9, 6.5 BB9, 6.5 K9, 5.15 FIP, -0.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Fernandez spent another season up in the majors, but he didn’t seem to do any one thing particularly well in the bullpen, and he was extremely walk prone this year.

2021 Grade: D-
2022 Rating: 1 star (2 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: AAA reliever in the minors, emergency spot starter or long reliever in the majors

Tyler Webb
2021 (STL): 0-0, 13.22 ERA, 16.1 IP, 12.1 H9, 0.6 HR9, 10.5 BB9, 7.7 K9, 5.74 FIP, -0.1 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

The left-handed reliever, Webb was just terrible this season, and he was extremely walk prone this year.

2021 Grade: F
2022 Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: AAA reliever in the minors, emergency spot starter or long reliever in the majors

Designated For Assignment:

Daniel Ponce de Leon
2021 (STL): 1-1, 6.21 ERA, 33.1 IP, 8.6 H9, 1.4 HR9, 5.9 BB9, 6.5 K9, 6.11 FIP, -0.5 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Ponce de Leon was bad from the get go, and he was later DFAed by the Cardinals.

2021 Grade: F
2022 Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: AAA reliever in the minors, emergency spot starter or long reliever in the majors

Traded Away:

John Gant
2021 (STL): 4-6, 3.42 ERA, 76.1 IP, 7.5 H9, 0.7 HR9, 6.6 BB9, 6.6 K9, 5.12 FIP, 0.5 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

John Gant was traded away to the Minnesota Twins this year.  He was a pitch-to-contact pitcher that could start or come out of the bullpen, but he also walked hitters at a very alarming rate this year.

2021 Grade: C (C w/STL and C w/MIN)
2022 Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Long reliever in the majors

Mike Maddux had a really good year, as he helped turn a makeshift bullpen and backend group of starters into a solid group of pitchers for the St. Louis Cardinals this season.

(Photo: Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports, via Redbird Rants)

Pitching Coach – Mike Maddux
2021 (STL): 90-72, 3.98 ERA, 7.8 H9, 1 HR9, 3.9 BB9, 7.8 K9, 4.30 FIP
2021 (Postseason): 0-1, 3.12 ERA, 7.3 H9, 2.1 HR9, 4.2 BB9, 7.3 BB9

Maddux had a solid season as the pitching coach for the Cardinals.  Wainwright had a rejuvenation year, and Wainwright dominated, especially in the second half of the season.  Maddux also helped aging veterans, John Lester, J.A. Happ, and Wade LeBlanc pitch well in the starting rotation for the Cards this year.

The most impressive aspect of his coaching this year was that he made the most of a makeshift bullpen that was pretty much mostly plucked off the scrap heap, and he helped turn this team into a playoff baseball team.  Even though the Cardinals faltered in the Wildcard game, this was a good coaching job by Maddox this year.

2021 Grade: A
2022 Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Pitching coach of the St. Louis Cardinals

Conclusion:

Overall, plenty of pitchers on the St. Louis Cardinals ended up missing considerable time due to injuries, but the Cardinals made the most out of the group they were able to work with this season.  Adam Wainwright had a terrific season, as he had 17 wins, and was one of the best pitchers in baseball this year.  The Cardinals plucked plenty of pitchers off of the waiver wire and through trades, and found a way to make it all work to get to the postseason.  

The Cardinals' pitching was a key component in helping the Cards go on a 17-game winning streak en route to reaching the postseason.  It was tough to see the Cardinals lose in a heartbreaker in the Wildcard game to the Dodgers, but the Cardinals had a good season overall, and their solid pitching throughout the year was a key component in helping them have a good year in 2021.

So there you have it, thanks for reading.