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Welcome to The Write Fielder – a weekly newsletter on baseball and the ӣ����Ƶ Cardinals from the Post-Dispatch. Every Friday, lead baseball writer Derrick Goold delivers behind the seams stories straight to your inbox that builds upon the baseball coverage in a city celebrated for its deep roots and deepest fondness for the game.��

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LEARNING A PITCH ON THE FLY

CHICAGO��— Two breaking balls thrown by two different Cardinals, one from the left and the other from the right, in the past 10 days seemed unremarkable enough.

They both landed short of the plate and skittered past the catcher.

They both initially defied definition from Statcast.

They both were not thrown again in that game.

And they both could be significant additions for each pitcher.

When last the Cardinals faced the Cubs, lefty John King got into an advantage count on a right-handed batter and decided then and there to uncork a curveball, a pitch he had not thrown in the majors. It kissed the dirt, and Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson swung over it for strikeout but reached first base on a wild pitch. A few days later, in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and in a similar count, starter Andre Pallante brought his sweeping slider out of the bullpen and into a game for the first time. It went wild, too, in an at-bat that ended with a groundout.

Both pitchers gave similar reasons when asked.

And both are trying this new pitch on the job.

“I had to develop a better chase pitch,” Pallante said. “Adding a new pitch – that was one of my bigger goals.”

“I don’t miss many bats, and I haven’t really my whole life,” King said. “I just need to miss more bats. Every one of three balls in play is a hit, so it’s like if I can keep them on the ground – that’s my game, and I’m not going to shy away from it – but if I can miss a barrel too that’s going to put me in a better position to have success. I like the idea. I’m super-open to it.”

King’s experimentation with a curveball began with a visit to Busch Stadium from Toronto. During the Blue Jays series early in the season, pitching coach Dusty Blake saw Toronto lefty Brendon Little and noted similarities. His delivery was like King’s and they both rely on a sinker. But Little added a twist – a knuckle curve he’s thrown 47.4% of the time this season. Little’s strikeout rate is 32.9%. King’s is 13.3%.

Blake approached King about his feel for a curveball. The lefty threw one in college, made hitters look silly on it in high school, but had mothballed the pitch in Texas’ minor-league system when the Rangers urged him to adopt the slider fad.

“I picked it back up pretty quickly and I’m just trying to get to the bottom of the zone with it, get under bats,” King explained. “My changeup is the same shape as the sinker, so it’s hard to miss a barrel like that. That’s why I started throwing a four-seam fastball a little bit. But I like the curveball better.”

It can be difficult for a reliever to set aside a day to throw a pitch over and over in a bullpen setting – because they may be needed to pitch that evening. King used his flat-ground throws and catch with colleagues to tinker with the curve, get his grip, and start workshopping. He had to watch his arm angle because the curveball was causing it to move up and then change the behavior of his other pitches. Sonny Gray suggested that when playing catch he doesn’t throw two curves in a row – that resetting his angle and avoiding the drift. Those throws became more confident.

And the curve was game-ready.

He just needed the game.

King got ahead on Swanson when the shortstop fouled off a sinker and also a changeup. . King has thrown the curveball a handful of times since and got two strikeouts on it in Pittsburgh.

“It’s cool to watch guys swing over it,” King said.

As a starter with between-appearances bullpens, Pallante has had more time to develop his breaking ball away from games. The right-hander explained if he had a bullpen session of 35 to 40 pitches he would make sure seven or eight of them were the sweeping slider. Teammates Gray and Erick Fedde, who had two of the most effective sweepers in the majors last season, also attended Pallante’s bullpens and offered pointers on the pitch.

“How they grip it, how they think about where to throw it, where they’re trying to throw it in certain counts,” Pallante listed.

He had to take their grips and create his own because he keeps his fingers together instead of apart, as Gray and Fedde do on their slider.

Eventually he got the shape he wanted.

Ahead of his start Tuesday at PNC Park, Pallante made a list of hitters in the Pirates’ lineup that would be good matchups for his new pitch. He wanted to see how they reacted, if he could get in the right situation. Pallante had just emptied the bases with a double play when Edgar Gonzales came to the plate. At a 1-2 count, Pallante threw his first sweeper. It left his fingers at 83 mph and zipped wide of the zone and to the backstop.

Gonzales ignored it.

Pallante definitely did not.

“First step, throw one in the game and see how it works,” Pallante said. “Now that I have some data on it and see how it’s coming out of my hand. Now we start inching our way and try to find a count where I can be a little more competitive – and let’s see how that works.”

3,000 strikeouts, 1 jersey

Clayton Kershaw, the longtime Dodgers’ ace who became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to collect 3,000 strikeouts, made his big-league debut against the Cardinals on May 25, 2008, out at Dodger Stadium. That day, the lefty got the first seven of his now 3,000 strikeouts. An accumulation of strikeouts that began against the Cardinals reached a total Wednesday that puts Kershaw alongside one of the all-time greatest Cardinals.

Bob Gibson was only the second to reach 3,000 strikeouts while pitching for only one team in his career. Walter Johnson was the first. Kershaw is the third.

Walter Johnson has a high school named after him.

Bob Gibson should, but he does have a street.

Both are in the Hall of Fame, of course, where Kershaw is also headed.

All three won at least one MVP.

Here is a look at their three remarkable careers spent under one cap:

• Walter Johnson, RHP, 1907-1927 with Washington: 155.1 bWAR, 417 wins, 2.17 ERA, 110 shutouts, 802 games, 666 starts, 531 complete games, 3,509 strikeouts. 2x MVP (1913, 1924). Cy Young Award didn’t exist. 5x ERA crown. World Series champion (1924).

• Bob Gibson, RHP, 1959-1975 with Cardinals: 81.7 bWAR, 251 wins, 2.91 ERA, 56 shutouts, 528 games, 482 starts, 255 complete games, 3,117 strikeouts. 1x MVP (1968). 2x Cy Young Award (1968, 1970). 1x ERA crown. 9x Gold Glove Award. World Series champion (1964, 1967).

• Clayton Kershaw, RHP, 2008-present with Dodgers: 76.8 bWAR, 216 wins, 2.52 ERA, 15 shutouts, 441 games, 438 starts, 25 complete games, 3,000 strikeouts. 1x MVP (2014). 3x Cy Young Award (2011, 2013, 2014). 5x ERA crowd. 1x Gold Glove Award. World Series champion (2020, 2024).

FROM THE ‘PEN

Skip Schumaker, the first Cardinal Clayton Kershaw faced in his debut and promptly the first big-leaguer he struck out, watched Kershaw’s start and “every pitch” with his son, Brody Schumaker, on Wednesday night. “He reminds me so much of Waino (Adam Wainwright) as a teammate,” Schumaker wrote about going from a competitor with the Cardinals to a fellow Dodger. “Cares more about the success of his teammates maybe more than his. Winning is the most important part of their day. He’s just the ultimate competitor.” … Kershaw did not get the win his debut. The Cardinals rallied to tie in the seventh inning before losing in the 10th on Andre Ethier’s walk-off single to score Juan Pierre. The starter for the Cardinals that day? Todd Wellemeyer. … There is no record during the divisional era of a team being shutout in four consecutive games against division foes until the Cardinals this past week, according to Elias Sports Bureau. They’ve been shut out in five consecutive division games going into Friday’s at Wrigley Field. … Of Phil Maton’s 44 strikeouts this season, 23 have come with a runner on base, 20 of whom were in scoring position. … FanGraphs dropped its top 41 prospects in the Cardinals system this past week. Futures Game rep JJ Wetherholt is No. 1, and he’s also one of Baseball America’s top rising prospects as he soared up into the top 20 throughout the minors. FanGraphs ranks three catchers in the Cardinals’ top six prospects: Rainiel Rodriguez (3), Jimmy Crooks (4), and Leonardo Bernal (6). … Chen-Wei Lin, a 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 right-hander ranked No. 8. For High-A Peoria, Lin is 0-2 with a 4.59 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings. He sports a 97-mph fastball. … Victor Scott II leads the majors in advances above average on steals of second base with a plus-15. The run value he’s added by stealing bases leads the majors at plus-3, according to Statcast. Scott also has the second-highest run value at any position for his range, at plus-13. He and the Cubs’ center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are tied for National League lead at their position for Outs Above Average at 12. That can be an indicator of Gold Glove consideration. … Masyn Winn leads all NL shortstops with a dozen Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant. Willson Contreras is second in the NL and second in the majors at first base with seven. … Contreras took his first big-league at-bat at Wrigley Field as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning on June 19, 2016, and his every step toward the plate as one of the team’s top prospects was loudly cheered. He then connected on the first pitch he saw for a home run – and doesn’t remember anything about rounding the bases. “I can black out when I run the bases and don’t remember much,” he said. “I remember when I got home, when I touched home plate, Javier Baez was there (he had also scored). Chris Coghlan was in the on-deck circle. Joe Maddon, Davey Martinez, and Miguel Montero – went by them and then the whole team was there. I remember the curtain call. And then it was back to reality. I had to go back to the bullpen and catch warmups.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OQUENDO

The Cardinals’ “Secret Weapon,” first as a player and later as a coach, is one of the best players in major-league history to be born on Independence Day. Born July 4, 1963, Oquendo turns 62 today. With a career Wins Above Replacement of 13.3, Oquendo has the seventh-highest for players born on the Fourth, according to . He’s just behind Vinny Castilla, who had a 19.4 WAR but also hit 320 homers to Oquendo’s 14.

There have been other players than Oquendo to appear in the majors for the Cardinals who were born on the Fourth of July, per : Milt Reed, Frank Millard, and James Roseman are three. Especially for the holiday, here is a lineup made up of the Cardinals with a July 4th birthday who were born after 1900:

1. Jose Oquendo, 3B

2. Jose Oquendo, RF

3. Jose Oquendo, SS

4. Jose Oquendo, 2B

5. Jose Oquendo, 1B

6. Jose Oquendo, CF

7. Jose Oquendo, RHP

8. Jose Oquendo, LF

9. Jose Oquendo, C

THE PD-Q: Miles Mikolas

The Cardinals’ starter, who is known to sport a few star-spangled accessories and likes his superheroes patriotic, will open the holiday weekend series at Wrigley Field as the Cardinals’ Fourth of July starter. It’s set to be the 199th start of his career, the 189th as a Cardinal. Earlier this season, the veteran right-hander fielded the questions for the P-DQ. As expected, some of his answers were fishy.

1. What advice from a parent or role model stays with you?

I think something that my parents were good at, especially my mother, was “do it yourself.” If you want something, go get it, “do it yourself.”

2. Describe a memorable holiday, Christmas, or birthday gift.

My first birthday – when I moved back down to Florida – I got a bunch of fishing stuff that I was super-pumped about. Now that’s such a big part of my life.

3. What word or phrase do you use too often?

“No worries.”

4. What is your favorite motto?

“No worries.” Or, just “relax, relax.”

5. Who is your favorite superhero?

I’m a big Captain America/Steve Rogers guy.

6. What is the best baseball movie?

“Bull Durham.”

7. What is your greatest achievement?

Husband, father of four kids.

8. What is your current state of mind?

No worries. (laughs)

9. What is your greatest extravagance or indulgence?

Aside from the house I’m building, the boat and my fishing stuff. I’d never spend $300,000 on a Ferrari, but I’ll spend on a boat.

10. Who was your favorite ballplayer?

My first baseball game was at Shea Stadium – Bobby Bonilla. My dad was from Chicago and is a Cubs fan – so we liked the Cubs and Sammy Sosa. Fictionally, Chet Steadman*.

* Chet “Rocket” Steadman, played by Garey Busey, is the aging, grizzly pitcher leading the Cubs staff when a young spitfire hops out of the bleachers and onto the mound in “Rookie of the Year.”

11. What was your first car?

1997 tan Chevy Malibu

12. Your current car?

1997 Ford F-350. The big, white one out there.

13. Where must you visit before you die?

Yellowstone.

14. Who is in your dream group chat?

Alive, I’m assuming? Let’s go alive. I want to know all the secrets. So, my dream group chat would be, right now, the President of the United States, Elon Musk, the director of the CIA, me, and all the secrets. I want to know all the secrets. I’m past bartering in goods. I want to barter in secrets. Information is king.

15. What embarrassing song is on your playlist?

I’ve got stuff my kids listen, too. They’re big into “Wicked” right now, and I’m not embarrassed by that. They’re big into Disney. I might have one Taylor Swift on there.

16. Name the movie that you’ll stop to watch if it’s on.

There are a lot of them. One of the would be in the original trilogy from “Lord of the Rings.”

17. Do you sing in the shower or the car?

Both.

18. Finish the phrase: You know you’re in the minors when …

Eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

19. You tune out when people talk about …

Football.

20. What is your greatest fear?

Irrationally, the brain-eating amoebas.

21. What other talents would you like to have?

Play instruments. Piano, maybe? I don’t play anything.

22. What is your treasured possession?

I try not to cling to material things too much, but right now I’m really attached to my boat (Innings Eater). I know that is something that is more fleeting. I won’t have it forever. It’s not a treasured-forever possession.

23. What is your greatest regret?

I’ve got a lot. But for the purpose of the article, when I was a rookie with San Diego it was being too timid, too timid as a rookie. I go back and I get sick to my stomach watching some of those outings, knowing how I felt and how I threw the ball.

PAPERCLIPS

•��How baseball writer Daniel Guerrero captured Sonny Gray's brilliant shutout in Cleveland.

• In 12 months as a pro, top prospect Wetherholt has hoisted teams to two playoff berths, a first-half division title, and one league championship. I asked assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio about what role team success and minor-league playoff appearances play in the Cardinals' revamped player development program. We had a good conversation, and it spurred this story.

•��One of the pitches thrown by Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz that triggered an alert from a betting integrity-monitoring group and spurred an investigation from Major League Baseball was delivered to the Cardinals. Pedro Pages hit a home run a few pitches later.

• Cardinals first baseman Contreras is concerned about all the times he's been hit by a pitch this season, calls it "really scary," and wonders if it won't stop.

• USA Today’s and their friendship that followed later.

• Here is .

• One of the top players in the game, Kyle Tucker may only be a one-year rental for the Cubs before striking it rich as a free agent. What urgency does that put on the Cubs this year? A story from Post-Dispatch Hummel intern Quentin Corpuel.��

ON THE ROAD

This is where I planned to write about visiting an old friend on the off day. The Griffin Museum of Science + Industry here in Chicago has an exhibit this year: Beyond Amazing. It’s for Spider-Man, of course. Noted baseball fan – usually of the New York Mets – Spider-Man was actually married at a ballpark. In June 1987, the “world champion New York Mets” cordially invited fans to “A Marvel-ous Night at Shea Stadium” and the “wedding of the Amazing Spider-Man.” The event corresponding with what was happening in the comics, and on June 5, 1987, fans at Shea saw the ceremony.

I’ll report back on any baseball crossover in the exhibit.

There is a rather large spider that has spun its web right outside my hotel window some 30-40 stories above Chicago to remind me to go to the museum. (What is it with Chicago, me, and spiders?) In the meantime, looking for the best Chicago deep dish? Start with Pequod’s.

ON DECK

The Cardinals face the Cubs in a three-game series at Wrigley Field that concludes with an appearance on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. You may have heard.

The All-Star Game rosters will be announced before Sunday’s game.

After a night game on the final day of a three-city, nine-game, 10-day road trip, the Cardinals skedaddle home for a day off and then host the James Wood-powered Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium.

Write back to you next week.

— Derrick Goold, Post-Dispatch lead baseball writer

Replies to this email will not reach me. If you would like to offer feedback or suggestions for The Write Fielder, please contact me at dgoold@post-dispatch.com.

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