St. Louis. I know today’s writing comes at a difficult time as the Blues failed to continue their incredible playoff run and let Game 7 slip through their fingers. As a Cardinals fan based in the Chicago suburbs, watching the social media hype and seeing EVERYONE support the Blues was an amazing view of what St. Louis sports can and should continue to be.
When the Cardinals, Blues, and Battlehawks were all in town, nearly 75,000 fans were in downtown St. Louis to see teams from three different sports play in person, and that does not even include the plethora of people enjoying the games in Ballpark Village and the surrounding area. With that, I say what a run and continue to show out for your favorite teams. Let them know you are there for them, through thick and thin. And that, my friends, is where I come in with my most recent positive news from the St. Louis Cardinals.
So far this season, the Cardinals have either been seen as a disappointment or what we expected them to be, but I promise that I will continue to be cheering them on to win every single game they play. That is what it means to be a fan. Sure, you can criticize, but when it comes to the players, they need your support whether you agree with management or whatever decisions were or were not made. That is what happened Sunday in the second game of the doubleheader against the Mets.
When Michael McGreevy was added to the 26-man roster on Saturday, there was speculation about his role with little information until it was reported that he would fill an emergency long-relief role thanks to the rain and potential for more short starts from the Cardinals rotation. While upsetting that he was not getting the opportunity to fill a permanent starting role, it was a positive step that he was with the big league squad and he took his role in stride and put the Cardinals decision-makers at attention.
After Andre Pallante saw plenty of traffic on the bases early, manager Oli Marmol had no choice but to go with the exciting prospect despite the miserable situation. Marmol called on McGreevy to face a dangerous Mets lineup with the bases loaded and one out in a tied game in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old was unfazed, striking out Mark Vientos looking before Jordan Walker made a nice play on a sinking line drive to get out of the jam and keep the game square.
Walker’s play was probably the least spectacular in a defensive masterclass put on by the Cardinals. Just two plays before, Juan Soto hit what looked to be a backbreaking home run until Victor Scott II tracked it to the wall and used every bit of extension to keep the ball in the ballpark. VSII was given his opportunity to make a difference on offense shortly after when his RBI double in the sixth inning gave the Cardinals a 5-4 lead.
That run, and continued impressive defensive play, was all McGreevy needed to keep dealing. After the back of the Cardinal bullpen was used in the first game of the doubleheader, Marmol chose to get everything he could out of the righty while he was up and cooking with the major league squad. Nolan Arenado made a typical Arenado play on a slow grounder to start the inning, but he was not done yet as he continued to support the rookie with another spectacular play. With the Cardinals clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth, McGreevy had the top of the Mets order to sort through once more. Soto was harmed by elite defense again as he popped what appeared to be a harmless foul ball but Arenado never gave up and made an amazing over-the-shoulder catch before flying into the netting and into a family of two small children. After holding onto the ball, Arenado made sure to check on the kids and handed them the ball to apologize for their front-row action.
When the television cameras pointed to a silent bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning, it was then clear that this was McGreevy’s game to finish but the middle of the Mets order was staring him down in the ninth inning. The rookie showed poise beyond his years striking out the dangerous Pete Alonso, getting a ground out from Mark Vientos, and finishing his incredible season debut with a harmless fly out to left. McGreevy let out a well-deserved yell as he was bombarded and celebrated by his teammates for a massive emotional win for the Cardinals.
In relief of Pallante, McGreevy (1-0), pitched 5.1 innings and gave up one hit and one walk (that was actually strike three based on the the on-screen strike zone) while striking out five Mets. His length was needed as the Cardinals continue their busy stretch of games, taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series at Busch Stadium beginning on Monday.
McGreevy will probably be sent back to Memphis even after his performance, but this outing and his body of work to this point will be hard to look beyond. Steven Matz appears to be moving to a full-time relief role after filling in admirably in any spot the Cardinals have put him in. So now, if a rotation arm struggles, gets injured, or is traded, there is little doubt that McGreevy can and should be the next man up.
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