Former Cardinals Watch

[Vidor]

From rotoworld, talking about the Rockies' potential september callups:

"The hope was that Mitchell Boggs would get straightened out and give the pen a boost, but he's allowed 21 runs and 22 hits in 6 2/3 innings for Colorado Springs."

Oh my God. What's happened to him? Really, WTF?

[JoeMcKim]

If Boggs doesn't get straightened out quickly he'll be pitching in independent ball next season.

[Vidor]

Is there an injury? Cocaine habit? Really, that is a swift and mystifying collapse.

[fanforever]

Former Cardinals Nick Stavinoha not doing to well in Japan, placed on waivers by Hiroshima Carp - http://bit.ly/13Nmtjs

http://yakyubaka.com/2013/08/13/8132013 ... n-waivers/

[JoeMcKim]

It appears his ability to hit a homer on one knee aren't as proficient in Japan.

[fanforever]

http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/patrio ... etirement/

Brad Thompson Announces Retirement

As you may have heard by now, Somerset Patriots starting pitcher Brad Thompson announced his retirement today. I spoke with the 31-year-old via cell phone on his drive back to his Illinois home to see his wife, Andrea, and their three-month-old son, Dylan.

You can read that story in tomorrow’s paper.

But I wanted to tell you about Brad Thompson. I wanted to tell you about a guy who could have made my job difficult, but instead went out of his way to make it easier.

In our conversation today, Thompson said that he just physically didn’t have the stuff to get back to the big leagues anymore, and that played a role in his decision. And it was tough to watch him struggle early on in his outings since I’d taken over the beat.

But it was also my responsibility to have to talk to him after games and ask some tough questions about what had gone wrong. The night that stands out to me is his 11-run inning.

He had every right to have snuck out of the clubhouse before I got in. Had every right to tell me to get out of his face when I did see him in there. Had every right to give me some canned, garbage answers about a start I’m sure he never wanted to think about again, no less talk to about to someone he’d only seen in his clubhouse for the past two weeks.

But it wasn’t like that at all. He eased the tension by making a joke after I casually asked him how it was going as I approached him. Joked about a streak of allowing a home run in a handful of consecutive games. Answered every question I had, did it with class, and didn’t make me feel like I was inconveniencing him in any way.

I wanted to tell you that Brad Thompson is a class act. I’ll miss him in the clubhouse, and I know his teammates will too. I wish him nothing but the best of luck in his future endeavors, which we both hope entails a gig on sports radio in St. Louis.

[docellis]

He was great on 101.1. He does a weekly update on 101.1 and even laughed about that 11 run inning last week.

I hope he replaces DeMarco Farr.

[Vidor]

I wonder if John Rodriguez shows the other Wichita Wingnuts his World Series ring

http://www.wichitawingnuts.com/johnrodriguez.html

[Vidor]

Ryan Ludwick hit his first homer of 2013 yesterday

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/ ... -superman/

[Vidor]

If you had to guess which former Cardinal was recently arrested, whom would you pick?

http://deadspin.com/former-major-league ... 1260301277