Matt Morris was the Cardinals #1 pick out of the memorable 1995 draft. He was also the first draft pick of that class to reach the majors. In his debut campaign he made just 8 starts between the NY Penn League and the Florida State League. At age 21, Matty Mo struck out 44 in 45 innings, walking 14 and allowed 11 earned runs. Going into the ‘96 season, Baseball America ranked him the #56 prospect in the minors, and the next best Cardinal prospect behind Alan Benes. (Funny how that works, sometimes.)
In ‘96, Morris was a Texas League All Star. He made 27 starts and threw 167 innings for the Arkansas Travelers. His K/9 rate dropped upon the jump to AA, at a 6.47 rate. He still showed good command with a 2.5 K/BB ratio, and he posted a 3.88 ERA. He was called up to AAA where he made just a start there. Going into the ‘97 season he was ranked the #1 Cardinal prospect, and the 25th best prospect in baseball overall.
In 1997 Mo went 12-9 with a 3.19 ERA and over 217 innings, finished tied for 2nd in the voting for the Rookie of the Year with Livan Hernandez and behind future teammate Scott Rolen. He was one of the few home grown pitchers to have really made it over the last few decades and he stuck around for 7 and a 1/2 years for the Birds, 6 and a 1/2 of those seasons in the rotation. His 206 starts rank 10th overall of all Cardinal pitchers, and his 986 strikeouts are 4th in franchise history behind Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean and Bob Forsch. His .620 win percentage is 8th in Cardinal history. In 2001 he finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting behind Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. He is a 2 time All Star, and was just flat out snubbed in 2005 when he was 10-2 with a 3.10 ERA at the break. He was a rock in the rotation and for a good period the staff ace. Since having the surgery on his shoulder Morris battled back to reinvent himself as a pitcher. While he has been a good starter since, he’s been a bit poor finisher.
Pre All Star, past three season combined: ERA 3.94, K/9 5.64, BB/9 2.32, HR/9 1.02, WHIP 1.21.
Post All Star: ERA 5.52, K/9 5.21, BB/9 2.34, HR/9 1.4, WHIP 1.44.
We all cherish memories of Matty Mo as Cardinal. In a way it may have been fun to have him back, I’m glad it’s Littlefield who blundered his way into paying the rest of his contract and not the Cardinals. I’m sure Cardinal fans will be giving him a warm welcome tomorrow night. I’d try and give you some comparable current prospects like him, but there’s really only one Matt Morris.
Filed under: Redbird recollections
erik
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roarke49
theredbaaron
Good to see a post about Morris, he was one of my favorites. I loved his attitude on the mound, it’s too bad arm problems robbed him of his once-electric stuff.
One quibble with your post, Morris pitched his entire rookie season (1997) in the St. Louis rotation. He made 33 starts, pitching 217 innings, posting a 12-9 record and a 3.19 ERA. He did finish tied for second in ROY voting, with Livan Hernandez, behind Scott Rolen.
The year Morris made five appearances at AA and AAA, and posted a 2.53 ERA in the Cardinals rotation, making 17 starts, was actually 1998. Morris missed a portion of that season with arm problems, he returned in the second half, pitched great, and was a big part of the Cardinals strong stretch run. He then hurt his elbow in the spring of 1999, and we remember the rest of the story.
Chris-Total brain fart, I think I knew that but spaced. early am post on no caffeine. Sorry. I amended.
The thing about the Matty Mo deal the Pirates made, it was ridiculous! The Giants were just sitting around hoping someone would call and take Matt Morris for nothing and the Giants were willing to swallow like 60-75% of his contract just to be rid of him. Then along came the Pirates offering up a pretty decent prospect and taking on all of his contract, it was just so absurd. We probably could have had him for next to nothing, i kind of wouldn’t have minded either.