Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com, Subscribe to the Best Podcast in Baseball to hear more from Derrick Goold about the Cardinals, Sign up for the Cardinals Update email newsletter for news, features and chatter direct to your inbox. For veterans . At one point he was considered a candidate for the top ten,. He knows what he needs to do and its just a matter of keeping up with it. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A lot has taken place in that time span and thats why I think this record is pretty darn cool, St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said before the game. Read More St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, April 26, 2021, in St. Louis. Yet, after his day was over, the Cardinals werent at all discouraged by the velocity readings. But its also clear that Contreras has great respect for the chemistry Molina developed with a Cardinals pitching staff led by veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright, who set a historically high bar for a pitcher-catcher relationship with Molina. Three starts from now, if Im still at 86, then we can talk about it., (Photo of Wainwright: Rhona Wise / USA Today). section: | slug: cardinals-adam-wainwright-working-through-hitch-in-delivery | sport: baseball | route: article_single_fantasy | Adam Wainwright #3 Sketch Card Limited 46/50 Edward Vela Signed Listing in the Baseball Cards,Sports Trading Cards,Sport Memorabilia & Cards Category on eBid United States | 215917493. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. So that was something. Maybe the elevated level of competition can bring out a little more heat. If I was throwing 82 today, we were going to have a real problem. Your email address will not be published. 1:53 pm ET. Sep 21, 2022 Adam Wainwright #50 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks to the back of the mound after giving up a hit during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on. He wont likely fall into the trap of trying to emulate Molina, the franchise icon he replaces as the starting catcher. Meredith Collective. . On Twitter, a Cardinals insider pointed out a potential concern with the three-time All-Star. Wainwright has been experimenting with calling his own pitches using the PitchCom transmitter during camp, but Contreras called pitches in the first spring training game. While his last few starts haven't gone according to plan, Wainwright had been a major contributor to the Cardinals rotation in 2022. I wasnt performing like I know I should have been performing. "You get to a point where it . Wainwright suggested that the familiarity of having been heated rivals for years has helped their early efforts to build a rapport. In the meantime, the Cardinals will wait and see how the three-time All-Star fares in the WBC. He's thrown three complete games and is on pace for his most innings since 2014. Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Battling lower back discomfort, Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Reaches new deal with Cards, Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Intends to play in 2023, Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Rough end to season, Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Lasts only three frames, Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Surrenders four runs in loss, 2023 Fantasy baseball rankings: Best picks by position. Start your Professional Coaching business in the next 7 days using our proven, step-by-step coaching system accredited . Prior to joining The Athletic, Katie spent two years covering the minor leagues as an editorial producer for MiLB.com and spent the 2018 MLB season covering the San Diego Padres as an associate reporter for MLB.com. Activating his glutes through his delivery in order to get back to kind of what hes capable of doing. Willson does a really nice job of connecting with these pitchers, better than I would have anticipated, to be honest with you, said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who has praised Contreras work to familiarize himself with the pitching staff from the time he signed. Wainwright and his family celebrated Thanksgiving at the Molina residence in Puerto Rico in November. I had some back spasms stuff going on a couple weeks ago, and it shut a muscle down that Im really trying to get to turn back on right now, Wainwright said. You have permission to edit this article. Never believe what you see in Spring Training. The good thing was we made strides in the right direction, Wainwright said. If I was throwing 82 (mph) today we were gonna have a real problem. The mechanical flaw that the three-time All-Star spoke of is quite similar to the issue that plagued him in September last season. La serpentina de Adam Wainwright lo est comprobando. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. OCTOBER 27, 2022 . Its still early in spring training, and Wainwright has plenty of time to fix the flaw. David Carson . Hes coming from the side of he has game planned against me a lot. Asked whether it would be just that one final year he replied: Yes. But then Wainwright made it clear that he has no interest in answering questions about retirement every week, instead imploring folks to just let me go out and pitch., Wainwright finished 11-12 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 start, his first losing season in which he made at least 20 starts. He allowed one hit and struck out a batter in the second. The following is a list of albums, EPs, and mixtapes released in 2005.These albums are (1) original, i.e. Marmol confirmed that veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright, starting his final season before retirement and prepping for a turn with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, would start "Game 1.". VerHagen, McGreevy pitch in simulated game Right-handers Drew Ver-Hagen and Michael McGreevy each pitched two innings in a simulated game on a back field prior to Thursdays Grapefruit League game against the Astros. We all know how competitive he is, we know how special he is in that clubhouse and what he means to this organization, Cardinals president John Mozeliak said, so were just glad we could get it done.. When the Cardinals took the field ahead of their tilt against the Astros, Wainwright who begins every start by breaking into a full-speed dash until he reaches the rubber atop the pitchers mound slowed up after crossing the foul line and jogged the remainder of the way. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina made their 325th appearance as a starting battery Wednesday, breaking the major league mark set by Detroit's Mickey Lolich. He and I started talking about this in early September, and obviously the September didnt go as he wanted it to, but we really do feel like theres something left in that tank.. Im just going to have to work through some things, Wainwright said. didn't get a hit in his first at-bat, the next time he came up he would have a different stance," DeJohn said. JUPITER, Fla. The announcement made Sunday morning by Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol required a followup, even if it was just ceremonial. Before Team USA, Adam Wainwright & Miles Mikolas will start Cardinals Grapefruit openers. Zack Thompson is on a reliever track to opening camp and he has geared a lot of his winter workouts for that role. Mar. The right-hander is 15 behind Jesse Haines for the second-most wins in franchise history; Bob Gibson is the leader with 251 of them. Unfortunately, to this point, it does not seem like that is the case. Get ALL the latest MLB news straight to your inbox! {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Liberty High student killed in St. Charles shooting could heal you with a smile, Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center. Towels with the No. Its almost like synching your body up properly type of thing and he didnt feel like he was getting the leg drive (power) that he typically gets. The 41-year-old Wainwright informed the NL Central champions of his decision to return shortly after they were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild-card round of the playoffs. He threw 48 pitches (32 strikes). Wainwrights maximum velocity on Thursday was 86.2 miles per hour, below his 2022 average velocity of 88.6 mph. Wainwright and Molina are best friends off the field as well. Contreras butted heads with the Cardinals as the catcher for the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs since his major-league debut. After that, we're smooth sailing.". He has also . The 41-year-old informed the organization earlier this week he plans. Adam Wainwright . The spasms ended up curtailing Wainwrights ability to generate power in his delivery, which is how he explained the low velocity. I dont like gong out like that. Guerrero is on the Dominican Republic roster for this months World Baseball Classic. (Dan Jackson / St. Louis Cardinals) When. He battled through a couple non-plays, had to get five outs there in the (second) with the ground ball to third and the fly ball to left, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Through two starts, Wainwright's ERA now stands at 7.20. He has seen what has worked really well for me and how I could use my stuff maybe better. All Rights Reserved. 2JUPITER, Fla. Adam Wainwright preferred to view his velocity as trending upward from his previous start rather than his velocity being down from last season. CEO and Wizard. On April 24, 2019, Wainwright picked up his 150th win in a 5-2 victory against the Brewers. Wainwright's issues on Thursday could be a part of a pair of nagging issues that hampered the 41-year-old right-hander. The Cardinals have not announced that assignment (and may not until after the WBC), but all indications are that Wainwright is poised for his second consecutive opening day start and the seventh of his career. That led to an early return flight to St. Louis for an MRI, which confirmed that he was not dealing with a ligament issue. Next. Does. He required a second extended visit through Sept. 10. Winn got to his feet and unleashed a throw that registered a velocity of 99.9 mph. Winn, rated the second-best position player in the Cardinals farm system behind Jordan Walker, made a sliding stop on a ball going to his left on what seemed a likely single up the middle by the Astros Grae Kessinger. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com. (Affordable, Fast & Fun) Good thing was we made strides in the right direction, he added. And if it continues, the Cardinals may need to look for some additional pitching help and possibly even carve out a bullpen role for Wainwright. If this were October, general manager John Mozeliak said, Wainwright would definitely take the . I agree to receive the "Fantasy Baseball Today Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. He gave up a solo home run to Jose Abreu in his third and final inning. Adam Wainwright is 16-7 with a 2.88 E.R.A. The next couple of signs were much more obvious. And we saw a bump (in velocity). The St. Louis Cardinals will make a rare visit to Fenway Park when they begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He went on the disabled list twice in 2017 with back and elbow injuries. He has been really nice to me. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright throws a curveball to Dylan Carlson during live batting practice at the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. Both pitchers will throw around two innings in their first outings. Wainwright threw his sinker, cutter and curveball the most, and the velocity on all three pitches measured a significant drop-off from last season. Select from premium Adam George of the highest quality. As a result, hell pitch on Sunday along with the previously- scheduled starter Jordan Montgomery. McGreevy bounced back with a scoreless second inning. His sinker averaged 84.9 mph, a 3.7 percent decrease from 2022. But with Molina heading into retirement, Andrew Knizner is in line to be the everyday catcher, though Mozeliak did indicate Wednesday that the club would be in the market for help behind the plate. And with bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd being reassigned as a special assistant within the organization, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol will have four spots to replace on his staff heading into his second season in charge. There was a problem saving your notification. The 41-year-old Wainwright has yet to make a decision on his future. That has limited his leg drive and he thinks the velocity, too. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Turner Ward, who had been the assistant hitting coach, could be a candidate for promotion. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws live batting practice with Pitchcom on his glove at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, a former Cardinal, and pitching coach Andy Pettitte, a former Cardinals rival, have been in contact with the team and Cardinals coaches about their pitching plans for each player. Adam Wainwright had a burn on his index finger and the skin gave way during his start. His fastest pitch in these two starts was 86 mph, which is 1.5 mph slower than his average fastball at the beginning of Spring Training last year. So that will help us game plan., Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo discusses his Grapefruit League debut. A curveball like none other, Geno Auriemma, Ezekiel Elliott, DJ Khaled among stars spotted at games, Cards' Wainwright dealing with COVID, put on IL, Clemente Award winners get No. Wainwright said he and pitching coach Dusty Blake were excited about the potential that he might throw harder this coming season than he did last season based on his early bullpen sessions, but then the spasms started just before pitchers and catchers officially began workouts. This litany of maladies plaguing Wainwright surely hasn't allowed him to perform to his full ability. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Find Adam George stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Last chance! {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Liberty High student killed in St. Charles shooting could heal you with a smile, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol slams ump C.B. In other news, Mozeliak said he was willing to offer new contracts to pitching coach Mike Maddux and hitting coach Jeff Albert but both decided to step away. Even when I sprint right now, Im not really getting my leg up like I want to., See you tomorrow at 12:05 pm CT. pic.twitter.com/krrk1js0cs, St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 2, 2023. He participated in the simulated game on Thursday morning as a hitter. The St. Louis duo eclipsed the regular-season mark of 324 by the Detroit Tigers pair of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan from 1963-1975. ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright declared himself ready to start, as scheduled, on Saturday after throwing 35-40 pitches in a morning bullpen session at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. He struck out two and was consistently in the strike zone, with 32 of his 48 pitches recorded as strikes. Wainwright was tagged for five hits and three earned runs, but a pair of defensive miscues prolonged his second inning when Brendan Donovan booted a groundball at third base and Juan Yepez lost a fly ball in the sun. The Cards' pitching outlook is a major storyline hanging over the team's season, as Mikolas, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery are all slated to free agency next winter, and Adam Wainwright . Pitching strategist Dusty Blake also will be back and could be among the candidates to replace Maddux as the pitching coach. These other teams are going to have game plans against me, Wainwright said. Predicting which Cardinals' prospects debut in 2023. dark. In 2007, he returned to starting pitching, a role in which he has since remained. ST. LOUIS (AP) CardinalspitcherAdam Wainwrightand catcherYadier Molinamade their 325th career start together on Wednesday night, setting a major league record for most as a battery. 6-keys: media/fantasynews/mlb/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws live batting practice with Pitchcom on his glove at the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Barbara Wainwright Espandi ricerca. When he's not writing sports articles, you can find him playing MLB The Show, watching Cardinals games, and scrolling through Star Wars memes. The regular-season series is [] Noted that even tho the velo is still down, it was up from his last start (it was) and the training staff is encouraged. We didnt win. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The openings for starts will give the Cardinals a chance to see Drew VerHagen, Jake Woodford, Gordon Graceffo, possibly Matthew Liberatore, and a few others in Grapefruit League starts. Wainwright underwent Tommy John surgery three seasons ago. Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras walks out to catch live batting practice at the team's spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Highlights from the career of both players were displayed on the scoreboard after the opening inning as the NL Central leaders hosted the Brewers. The 61-year-old Maddux had been with the Cardinals since 2018 and Albert spent time with the Astros before taking over as the Cardinals hitting coach ahead of the 2019 season. You have permission to edit this article. The teams haven't met for a three-game series since 2014, a three-game series in Boston since 2008 or a series of any kind since 2017. Mozeliak also acknowledged spending time this week with All-Star third baseman Nolen Arenado, who must decide within five days of the end of the World Series whether to opt out of the remaining five years and $144 million on his deal. Well look internally and well look externally. After doing some assessments, its something that he can definitely work on, and we saw some of the results of it already.. ". The glute issue has also affected his running. A three-time All-Star and a World Series champion, Contreras has absolutely established himself. Molina said 2022 will be his final season in the majors. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Getting a call from a guy that has been around the league that long means a lot to me, Contreras said. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets - win or lose! Over 31 starts during the regular season, he went 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA, striking out 153 over 171 innings. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright continues to be rock of rotation The Cardinals ' pitcher and catcher started their 300th game together on Friday against the. Theyd become connected in a manner unlike any other duo in the game. Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty will have his first exhibition game appearance pushed back from Saturday to Sunday. His cutter was next, dropping from his 2022 average of 84.3 mph to 80.8 mph, and his curveball decreased from 72.9 mph to 70.2 mph. Im baffled., Man shot and killed after fight in downtown St. Louis, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, Former Sweetie Pies TV star Tim Norman gets two life sentences in nephews death, Fate of St. Louis Fox Theatre still undecided, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, Centene expects to lose millions of Medicaid customers beginning in April, Neman: Missouri womans saga of trying to find common sense at Walmart, I can still hear the roaring of the engine, says father of teen maimed in downtown St. Louis, Arch Madness: 2023 MVC Basketball Tournament bracket, schedule, game times, TV info, So much for collaboration: St. Louis County Council meeting deteriorates into turmoil, St. Louis man charged in quadruple fatal crash; police say he ran off with his license plate. Adam Wainwright goes 3 innings for Cardinals despite glute, finger issues: Cardinals Extra, Voter turnout a question mark leading up to recreational marijuana vote, Two Po-Hi students named Academic All-Staters, Ponca City Soroptimist presents over $3000 in Live Your Dream Awards to women. He explained what he believes has caused that difference in velocity. Wainwright and Molina made their first start together on April 6, 2007, in Houston. The team expects the right-hander, 9-3 with a 2.15 ERA, to return next Saturday against the Phillies. Terms of his contract for 2023 have not been disclosed. How Cardinals' Brendan Donovan is adding. Meredith Collective are architects of bold cultural experiences that promote connection to people and place, delighting the senses and invigorating public spaces. Theyre both in the discussion for bullpen spots. In five innings across two appearances, his diminished velocity has contributed to eight hits and four earned runs across five innings. Shortstop Paul DeJong still has not played the field during spring training exhibition games. He still pitched through it. All Rights Reserved. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The slugger hit .274 with 32 homers and 97 RBIs in 160 games last year. The glitch in Wainwrights delivery was something he initially referenced in his first start against the Nationals last Saturday when he allowed an earned run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout over two innings. We know we have some qualified people within the organization but we also want to make sure were addressing all our needs.. 57 seconds ago St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (back, finger) had a burn on his index finger and the skin gave way during his Grapefruit League start on Thursday. "The feeling that I had last game was incredibly annoying, incredibly bothersome. Latest on St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Masyn Winn continues to shine at camp both offensively and defensively Jack Flaherty has his first start pushed back Follow & Subsc Hes taken grounders and done light throwing during pregame work on the field at Roger Dean Stadium but has only served as a designated hitter in games this spring. According to Derrick Goold, the veteran righty had a burn on his finger and the skin gave way early in the game. He ends the third with three runs, five hits, two K's and no walks, and that will likely end his day. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Andrew Cashner (5-5 . Adam Wainwright will pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals next season, choosing to return for an 18th and final year with the club even as longtime teammates Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina head off into retirement. The next year, his record again was respectable (12-5), though his ERA ballooned to 5.11. For the rest of the season . In fact, manager Oli Marmol and pitching coach Dusty Blake actually viewed Wainwrights outing as a step in the right direction. He'll get at least one postseason start, most likely. JUPITER, Fla. -- Ever the optimist, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright refused to obsess over his continued velocity dropoff on Thursday. Adam Wainwright was the Atlanta Braves ' first round pick in the 2000 draft, out of high school in Brunswick, Georgia, 29 th overall. Wainwright also pointed out that hell have nine days until he throws in a game for Team USA in the Word Baseball Classic. Wainwright and Molina set the major league record for career starts as a battery last season, eventually hitting 328 starts together. 325 were given out to fans as they entered the ballpark. Its a muscular thing, Wainwright said. As an award-winning experiential and cultural strategy design studio, we work with . Jun 2015 - Present7 years 10 months. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Wainwright's maximum velocity on Thursday was 86.2 miles per hour, below his 2022 average velocity of 88.6 mph. In his final inning, Wainwright didn't touch higher than 85 mph. . All rights reserved. Additionally, Adam Wainwright struggled in his start on Thursday against the Astros, giving up five hits and three runs in 3.0 innings of work. So that was something. Team USA, featuring MLB All-Stars Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Tim Anderson, Trea Turner, Will Smith, Adam Wainwright and many others, makes its WBC debut Saturday, March 11, from Phoenix's Chase . While its still very early in spring training, certain red flags have appeared when concerning their starting rotation, particularly right-hander Adam Wainwright. Everything has been going slow, but in a good way.. Wainwright allowed three runs on five hits, all extrabase hits, and he struck out two. #stlcards. Wainwright pitched through elbow discomfort for several weeks, though it became a particular nuisance in his start against the Rays on June 10. That insight Contreras brings with him from years of having plotted and prepared to take Wainwright down will inform their work together this season. VerHagen allowed two hits (one extra-base hit), walked two and struck out one in two scoreless innings, plus two additional batters. Wainwright said hes got to get his glutes firing better than theyve been recently. Barbara Wainwright Start your Professional Coaching business in the next 7 days using our proven, step-by-step coaching system accredited by the Strategic Learning Alliance. He also is trying to correct a mechanical flaw with his leg. Arenado, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, is coming off a season in which he hit .293 with 30 homers, 103 RBIs and a career-low strikeout rate, putting him in the MVP race alongside teammate Paul Goldschmidt. Follow Katie on Twitter @katiejwoo. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. However, with the World Baseball Classic taking place next week, this could pose a problem. ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright declared himself ready to start, as scheduled, on Saturday after throwing 35-40 pitches in a morning bullpen session at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. At the end of 2022, Wainwright struggled to get enough extension on his pitches after a line drive hit him in the knee in a game on Aug. 28 against the Atlanta Braves. If we know anything about Uncle Charlie, it's that he's a competitor, and doubting him tends to go poorly for those who do. Wainwright will head into next season needing five wins to reach 200 for his career. While he admitted being frustrated with his recent performance, Wainwright said the training staff and Blake have been encouraged by the progress he has made. With two home runs in his first two games of spring training, potential leadoff hitter flashes early returns on a new bat, upright stance, and. (9-6, 2.92) makes his first start after a 12-day break against the Phillies Tuesday. Wainwright mentioned that he has been going through complications from back spasms going back to before the Cardinals arrived in camp. Cardinals' Adam Wainwright reveals wife, all five kids had COVID-19 Analis Bailey USA TODAY 0:00 1:19 St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was back on the mound Monday night against. (AP Photo . The pair attended several games together during the St. Louis Blues run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2019. Former White Sox slugger and 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu greeted Cardinals bench coach Joe McEwing on the field prior to Thursdays game with a bear hug that lifted McEwing off the ground. He allowed four runs on five hits, including a pair of doubles, and recorded just one out before they rolled the inning due to his high pitch count. Se lo espandi, fornisce un elenco di opzioni di ricerca per far corrispondere i risultati alla selezione attuale. If we need to take more time, we take more time. Contreras message, the aggressive delivery method, and the unflinching desire to stand up for young pitcher Gordon Graceffo after hed pelted Smith in the leg with an errant pitch, all hit on the qualities Cardinals followers have come to expect from their catcher. "I'm smiling right now," Wainwright said, minutes after throwing. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. LOUIS (AP) Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina made their 325th career start together on Wednesday night, setting a major league record for most as a battery.