Thanks to baseballreference.com, we were reminded that the Toronto Blue Jays released RHP Chris Carpenter exactly ten years ago today. The irony is that today Carpenter led the Cardinals to a shutout victory over the Washington Nationals giving them a 2-1 series lead. For Carpenter, it certainly has not been easy since his release from Toronto. After his most recent injury which cost him almost the entire 2012 season, Carpenter is making his 4th comeback since joining St Louis.
Expectations were always high for Carpenter as he was taken with the 15th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 draft. There were some ups and downs (along with some injuries) during his run with the Jays. He went 12-7, 4.27 in his first full season in 1998, in 34 games (24 starts). After his 2000 season (10-12, 6.26) where he led the AL in earned runs allowed with 122, he bounced back to go 11-11, 4.09 in 34 starts the following season. He made the Blue Jays opening day start in 2002, but was shutdown after making 14 starts. He was diagosed with a torn labrum, and the Blue Jays finally gave up on him.
After missing the 2003 season, he started a tremendous run with the Cardinals, starting in 2004. From 2004-2006, he went 51-18, winning the Cy Young in 2005 and leading the Cardinals to a NL Pennant in 2004, the NLCS in 2005 and a World Series in 2006. But, on opening day in 2007 in St Louis, (against the Mets, where I was in attendance) he would not make another appearance the entire season due to Tommy John surgery, returning towards the end of the 2008 season. He would go 17-4 in 2009 and 16-9 in 2010, before leading the Cardinals to the World Series in 2011.
The story took another turn when it was determined he would likely miss the 2012 season due to thoracic outlet syndrome. But here he is, again, pitching for the Cardinals in the postseason where he has thrived. Before today's game, Carpenter owned a 9-2 career postseason record, including 8 shutout innings in his 2006 World Series appearance against the Tigers and his complete game shutout against former teammate Roy Halliday and the Philadelphia Philles in game 5 of the 2011 NLDS.
He can be considered one of the best postseason season pitchers in the history of the St Louis Cardinals. Thats saying a lot for a team that has been led by Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and Joaquin Andujar. I would be very surprised if Carpenter's number 29 isn't retired after his playing career is over. The case could be made better if he continues to pitch the Cardinals to victory this postseason like he did today. He has already made his mark.
After missing the 2003 season, he started a tremendous run with the Cardinals, starting in 2004. From 2004-2006, he went 51-18, winning the Cy Young in 2005 and leading the Cardinals to a NL Pennant in 2004, the NLCS in 2005 and a World Series in 2006. But, on opening day in 2007 in St Louis, (against the Mets, where I was in attendance) he would not make another appearance the entire season due to Tommy John surgery, returning towards the end of the 2008 season. He would go 17-4 in 2009 and 16-9 in 2010, before leading the Cardinals to the World Series in 2011.
The story took another turn when it was determined he would likely miss the 2012 season due to thoracic outlet syndrome. But here he is, again, pitching for the Cardinals in the postseason where he has thrived. Before today's game, Carpenter owned a 9-2 career postseason record, including 8 shutout innings in his 2006 World Series appearance against the Tigers and his complete game shutout against former teammate Roy Halliday and the Philadelphia Philles in game 5 of the 2011 NLDS.
He can be considered one of the best postseason season pitchers in the history of the St Louis Cardinals. Thats saying a lot for a team that has been led by Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and Joaquin Andujar. I would be very surprised if Carpenter's number 29 isn't retired after his playing career is over. The case could be made better if he continues to pitch the Cardinals to victory this postseason like he did today. He has already made his mark.
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