ST. LOUIS — Big power arms. Broken gloves. That’s the only way to beat the Red Sox.
All you need to know about those St. Louis power arms is this conversation with the Cardinals’ catching genius, Yadier Molina:
When Molina was asked Friday at Busch Stadium if his hand hurts from catching the Cards’ young guns — especially those coming out of the bullpen — he reached back into his locker, and said, “Let me show you my glove.’’
Molina pointed to the large piece of torn leather right under the webbing of his black catcher’s mitt.
“That’s my gamer,’’ Molina said proudly. “Look at that. It’s crazy.’’
The proof of power was right there.
Molina said he usually gets one year’s use out of his catcher’s mitt. This year, he’s already on his second glove because this power staff wears out his mitt faster than in past years. His first glove was too beat up, and now his second glove is torn up. He started to use this mitt after the All-Star Game and will stick with it until the World Series ends.
The Cardinals beat the Red Sox 4-2 Thursday night to even the World Series at 1-1. Game 3 is Saturday night at Busch Stadium with young, hard-throwing Joe Kelly going against veteran Jake Peavy. The Cardinals’ bullpen is ready to go again.
“It’s so much fun to catch these young pitchers,’’ Molina said. “Obviously they throw hard, but they know how to pitch.’’
No one calls a better game than Molina.
“We’re doing a good job in the minor league system teaching them how to pitch,’’ he said.
The Red Sox hitters are too good, too patient to attack any other way than with power, and the Cardinals’ blueprint worked to perfection in Game 2.
If St. Louis is to win this series, that’s the only way it’s going to happen, as they can’t out-slug the Red Sox. The Cardinals need to manufacture enough runs, and then let the young power arms close the door.
Thursday night at Fenway Park, starter Michael Wacha, 22 and the eighth pitcher taken in the 2012 draft, was followed by Carlos Martinez, 22, who was followed by Trevor Rosenthal, 23, who struck out the side in the ninth on 11 pitches.
Martinez was originally signed as an international free agent in 2009 for $140,000 by the Red Sox. But there was an issue with paperwork, because he signed under the name Carlos Matias. Raised by an uncle, which was the reason for the name change, it took a year to sort out the issue. When he went back into the international market, the Cardinals gave Martinez a $1.5 million signing bonus.
As for Rosenthal, he was selected by the Cardinals in the 21st round of the 2009 draft. The scout who recommended him had seen him pitch all of one inning of junior college baseball because he was a shortstop, but the Cardinals have what they call “gut feel’’ selections, After the 10th round, they allow their scouts make such picks.
The creative system works. Consider their gut feelings strong.
This power plan could be a blueprint for the Yankees in the future. The best way to beat the Red Sox head-to-head is to have enough young power arms coming out of the bullpen to offset the Red Sox’s style of hitting, in which they take so many pitches, they eventually wear out the starter and get into the bullpen.
The Yankees have serious issues, but if they can gather as many hard throwers as they can for their bullpen, that would be a wise way to go next season. That’s why it’s worth giving players like Dellin Betances a shot to make the team as relievers.
The Cardinals know how to beat the Red Sox. Now it’s just a question of getting enough runs from their offense and then putting the shutdown plan into action.
Yes, Yadier Molina’s mitt is in for yet another beating.