It was the bottom of the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals had sliced the Washington Nationals' lead down to 5-4 and were threatening to do more damage.
Armed with an eight-game winning streak to maintain and the speedy Harrison Bader representing the tying run on second base, the mighty Greg Garcia strode to the plate.
Wait a minute... Garcia and mighty don't exactly go together... like ever. Garcia is the opposite of mighty, which doesn't make him much of a threat. He flew out to Bryce Harper and the Cardinals would go on to lose 5-4, snapping the winning streak and good times at Busch Stadium for at least one night.
It was a tough loss, albeit a hard-fought defeat that didn't go gently into the warm August night. However, if you weren't wondering why Cardinals manager Mike Shildt didn't pinch-hit Jedd Gyorko or Patrick Wisdom for Garcia, there's something wrong.
Garcia carried a 4-23 stretch into Thursday's action, including a lone extra-base hit. A utility player is widely known for taking a good at-bat, being the first position player out of the pen, and carrying a miraculous two-homer day once upon a time in Cincinnati, Garcia had all the appeal of White Castles right before a half-marathon.
Here's the thing: if the Cardinals are serious about making a run this summer, Garcia can't start any more games. He went 0-4 at the plate on Thursday, stranding two runners and striking out once. He's a lifetime .251 hitter with ten career home runs whose greatest attribute is playing multiple positions and being a good pinch hitter. If a guy makes the starting lineup because he puts together a solid at-bat and makes the pitcher work, please find another guy. For a guy starting at a premium spot in third base, Garcia is a disappointing option.
Wisdom has three hits in six at-bats with a walk in his brief Major League career, but he was on the bench Thursday night. What did he do when given a pinch-hit opportunity last night? He walked. That's better than Garcia had in four tries. What about Gyorko? He was 7-23 in his last seven games but couldn't even get an at-bat. I don't think you'll read today that he had the flu or something weird. He just didn't get a shot.
It's like Mike Matheny was down there running around in Shildt's body, playing his guys and backing it up with gems like this, "he gives us the best opportunity in that spot," or something moronic. Shildt knows better and dropped the ball. Sure, it's a small instance, and the man should still be a lock for the long-term gig, but I don't understand the move at all.
The Cardinals can't afford to drop many games right now. Since they waited so long to hit the reset button, their pace must remain frantic if the division should stay in reach and a one game playoff can be avoided. No one should aim to get into a wildcard game if they can help it.
Wisdom and Gyorko were far better options to take the start, or the sixth inning at-bat at the very least. If you think I'm nuts, ask yourself what either player could have done with four plate appearances? Then ask yourself if the game would have still ended in a one-run loss. Do you have data to back that up?
Garcia's defense is best at second base, where Kolten Wong is wrapping up a gold glove honor. Elsewhere, the 29-year-old utility asset is serviceable at best. He doesn't give you more defensively than Gyorko at third base. I'm just checking off the boxes for why this move was simply bad.
In the words of Winston Wolf, please don't start Garcia again, Mr. Shildt. You can't explain your way out of this one, and if you could, I'd be worried.
When Yairo Munoz comes back, the Cardinals should send Garcia on his way. If you woke up tomorrow and were sad that Garcia's 0.5 WAR was no longer on the 25-man roster, I'd say you need more sleep.
He's a good person and could even grab some starts on the Miami Marlins next year. For the playoff-hunting St. Louis Cardinals, his appearances should be few and far in-between.
Don't fight me on this. Save your strength for the "Yadier Molina should sit for Francisco Pena" conversation, which is still a winless battle, but not as weak.
Thanks for reading,
DLB
