St. Louis Cardinals’ Kevin Siegrist underappreciated by fans

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Kevin Siegrist has been lights-out this season, and is a major factor in the team’s first-half success. Why is he so underappreciated?

After the worst season of his still-young big league career last year, Siegrist has already tied a career-high in appearances with 45 and is neck-and-neck with closer Trevor Rosenthal for the team lead in earned run average.

The St. Louis left-hander has limited opposing hitters to a .215 average in his 40 2/3 innings of work – which isn’t even the best mark amongst Cardinals relievers. Miguel Socolovich, who has appeared in 15 games this season, has the best mark – coming in at a .179 mark.

Siegrist, a former 41st-round pick of St. Louis, has been oddly effective against right-handers (.167/.227/.304), while struggling against left-handed hitting opponents (.319/.404/.489). That is a trend that has been present throughout his entire career, but this year, it has been especially evident.

So why does the southpaw get so little love, while his right-handed counterpart Rosenthal just earned his first All-Star selection?

Because saves are overvalued by fans.

Over the past two seasons, the St. Louis Cardinals closer has racked up 71 saves as the ninth-inning man. Siegrist, meanwhile, has just four career saves – all of which have come this year.

2015 has been a day-and-night difference from last season, when he pitched to a 4.62 FIP and 1.582 WHIP, while allowing over nine hits per nine innings pitched. His 2.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a far cry from this year, when he’s showed much better control out of the back end of the St. Louis pen, coming in with a 3.71 mark.

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The mix of Rosenthal, Siegrist and Seth Maness have been the American League version of Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland – now that’s saying something.

Okay, maybe not that good.

But that’s neither here nor there. The bottom line is that the Cardinals have a major strength heading into the season’s second half.

While the Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Carlos Martinez trio has been dominant in the starting rotation, this bullpen trio has been equally impressive.

Under team control through the 2019 season, Siegrist gives the St. Louis Cardinals a premier left-handed option moving forward.

One thing’s for sure: it’s time Kevin Siegrist gets his due from fans.

Next: Cardinals' Peralta enjoying a double standard with fans