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Simple answer.. not a thing! Every team goes thru their ups and downs throughout the coarse of a 162 game season and the good teams eventually figure it out and we do have a good team. Let’s look at the big picture and not so much individual struggles. After 46 games, we are leading the central by 2 games… a place we haven’t been since 2015. It also matches are best start since 2015 Which we started 30-16 and didn’t even make it to the NLCS. In 2019, did any baseball fan in late May think the Nats would be WS champs and that their bullpen would play a big part? They didn’t figure it out in May but they eventually did and we will too. And as inconsistent as we have been, I’d say it’s pretty darn impressive to be 6 games over 500 with a 2 game lead in Late May. Rest assured Cardinal nation… the bullpen will get the big outs… we’ll start getting more timely hits. I’ve said since the beginning that this team is special and we will figure out and correct what we need to correct. Cardinal Red forever.
What’s Wrong? They’re missing two outfield spots, and they don’t have a #5 hitter to protect Arenado.
Well said David. This is a good ball club. It would have been great to win this past weekend’s series, as it would have been a big statement that said “the NL Central goes through St. Louis this year”. Yesterday was just one of those games where several opportunities were missed.
We could use an upgrade in middle relief, and that may be simply some guys pitching better. I do not see a big need to go outside the organization, at least not where we would need to give up a lot.
I think we have the talent to get to the post season and then some. Our team just lacks the basics a little too often – swinging at good pitches and not trying to go after pitches you cannot do much with – pitchers first and foremost throwing strikes, and not focus so much on velocity.
The scenario I see playing out is the Cardinals and Dodgers meeting in the NLCS, with rejuvenated Albert Pujols being a side-story to the series.
All good points bicyclemike. And I agree we just can’t sit around and do nothing and we do have some holes that need addressing but there’s no need for the panic button. I also feel like you said that these concerns can be addressed within the organization. The series with Cubs was just one of those things. The first game was just a joke.. our bullpen held steady in game 2 and as far as the finale… a hit by Nado or Goldy in the 7th and we take the series… and that’s the beauty of baseball… that scenario will come up again or something similar throughout the season maybe even in May where there’s a little more on the line and I wouldn’t want anyone else up at the plate other than Goldy or Nado. Edman and Molina would be good choices too.
Here’s a thought –
Edman
Sosa
Goldschmidt
Arenado
Carlson
Molina
O’Neill
BaderI like that lineup. I was actually thinking the same thing.
Injuries to players cause subpar performance and thus overuse and overexposure of non-0injured players happens.
Give me a healthy Hicks, Mikolas, ONeill, Carlson, DeJong, and even Miller for that series and i think the outcome would have been different
Having said that…we need a SP (Max first choice…Boyd feels an intriguing look)
and we need an OF that is lefthanded or anyone who can get on against both hands and is not a liability
..David Peralta is the obvious and best fit IMO.Here’s a thought –
Edman
Sosa
Goldschmidt
Arenado
Carlson
Molina
O’Neill
Baderbccran and David……..nice lineup, I’m game for that one. The way it is now there’s not much pop in the bottom half. This is a more balanced lineup in my opinion.
r/Esteemed Rat
Edman
Sosa
Goldschmidt
Arenado
Carlson
Molina
O’Neill
BaderI like that order better than Shidlt’s, although again (I say this a lot) I would hit Arenado 3rd. Arenado is in the prime of his career, and our best all-around hitter. You start with Edman at 1 and Arenado at 3, and build around that. Goldy is the obvious #4 behind Nolan, then you can go either Carlson or an emerging Sosa at 2, with the other one at 5.
If O’Neill continues to improve in pitch selection, he would be ideal at 6, then Molina and Bader. But for now I would be okay with Molina at 6 and O’Neil 7.
Goldschmidt has a batting average of .247 and an OPS of .703, which is actually lower than Bader’s OPS of .722. His OPS dropped 100 points when he got to St. Louis. Whatever he was doing in Arizona, he has stopped doing in St. Louis. I can guess what it is, but I’ll leave it at that.
When Goldy was traded to St. Louis, he had to adjust to a new manager, a new hitting coach, new teammates, a new home stadium, new general management, new ownership, a whole new community, etc. Then in 2020, it was a brutally unusual short season. I wouldn’t worry about him. He’ll be back to his old self soon. Several years older or not.
Jbrodie—- I’m all about giving people chances but It wouldn’t hurt to maybe at least entertain the idea of getting a new hitting coach. Albert may be good and all but he’s just not getting through to the young players.
bccran—— well said about Goldy. I mentioned in a different blog that Although we may not get the Goldy that Az was privileged too for so many season, he still has something to give and it will not be another Fowler or Carp decline.
Beautiful lineup, David! Love Sosa hitting 2nd and Carlson protecting Arenado in the 5 hole….heck the whole order looks much better than what Shildt has been trotting out there. Maybe you should be the one handing the lineup cards to the ump, David.
And when Dejong comes back:
Hate to see Carlson moved yet. Keep pressure off Sosa by hitting him late.
Edman -RF
Carlson – CF
Goldschmidt
Arenado
O’Neill
Molina
Dejong – SS
Sosa – 2BSosa needs to play every day! We have to major issues, to me, our line up is simply not strong enough that the end, from 6-8 and our pitchers are unable to find the strike zone! Carlson is solid in the OF but I have little faith in all the others! O’Neill is a K machine and Bader will never hit over 230 or so in MLB IMO! For us to make a playoff run we would a solid bat that could hit somewhere in that 6-8 position and our pitchers need to consistently find the strike zone! We need batting help desperately to compete.
Lynn making it look easy. With all the no-hitters this year, Lance may just turn the trick on his old club.
You figure a third of our lineup is pretty much an automatic out, Thomas, Carpenter, and Williams. Just need to get around the other six.
Cards problem the same as many other teams. Is called launch angle, failure by hitters to address the shift. And relievers nibbling too much.
Goldschmidt I don’t believe is on anything or was in Arizona. Again you have to look at where he was playing and where he’s playing now. I think he can get hot and get back to the level he was at last season or the season befoee but those days of putting up Arizona numbers are over.
There is nothing wrong with the Cardinals that can’t be fixed with better hitting, an improved starting rotation, a stronger bench and a pen more than three deep.
Rah Birds!
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