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6:15 p.m.
RHP Erik Fedde (8-9, 3.45) vs. RHP Luis Ortiz (6-6, 3.45)
BSM // KMOX // WIJR
Also BS South and Southwest ExtraDoes anyone know if the Cards are one of MOBs 19 teams using Trajekt Arc? I was reading on Fangraphs Eugenio Suarez’s 2nd half turn around and how it came after using it. I have a feeling the Cards would be lagging in this area and we are one of the 11 teams not yet using it.
I could not find any definite information on internet searches that the Cardinals use this system wide, but did stumble on this quote regarding Trajeckt Arc:
“Major League players, including Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, are utilizing the machine to practice against high-level pitches before facing them in live games.”
This tells me our club at least has one. Some teams apparently have them throughout their minor league organizations as well as at the big league level.
Best I can tell, the first pitching machines used gunpowder as the propellant to launch the baseball towards a hitter for the purpose of allowing him repetitions in practicing the art of perfecting his rip. Accordingly, the method was said to have been dangerous and led to several injuries…It takes a couple of brass ones to stand in against some pitchers…Haha!
Our Mortal Number is down to four, and we may take care of a lot of that ourselves with the upcoming series against the Guardians.
What makes it especially tough is not just one team can put us out of our misery, but two. Not to mention a third team could get hot and keep us out. But you have to take ownership for your failures, and we did this to ourselves with poor decisions, and some bad luck along the way. Ty O’Neill being run out of town has been the latest in a series of moves over the last three years that have not worked out at all.
Speaking of the muscled mauler, I wonder if anyone will take the chance on a lucrative long term deal for the oft injured slugger. He put it together in 2021 and this year. I thought he would have a season like this in 2022, but he went back to being on the IL as much as being active. Can he put back-to-back healthy seasons together? His track record is not good, but the reward is real good if he can so someone will likely step up and make him a nice offer.
Fedde looks like a complete bust to me. Other than the first part of this year he hasn’t done all that much to get excited about as a #2 pitcher – maybe he’s ok as your #4/5.
Gray is actually a #2 – he’s pretty good but not great and now he’ll be another year older and making $25M next year?
I can’t find a whole lot to be excited about for StL in 2025. Maybe the light bulb comes on for about 1/2 the line up, 4 young pitchers appear from the farm and produce at a high level, 4-5 solid FAs are signed and they all perform well, and the injury bug stays away.
It could happen…
O’Neill has 61 RBIs and has played in 107 games. 33% K rate. He hits a homer a week and folks get all lathered up. That was the problem the whole time he was here. I didn’t even bother looking up his BA with RISP. Good riddance. But I agree Mo bungled the trade. Hugely. Mo also bungled not having an actual outfielder to take over LF.
O’Neill’s OPS+ is right about where Contreras is. You would think playing in Fenway has helped, but he has actually been better in road games. Personally the risk is too great to sign him long-term in my opinion. But he would have helped here a lot this year had his numbers been similar with us as they are in Boston.
We will see if Santos eventually does anything to balance out the trade a little.
ZTR, I wouldn’t get my hopes up for much in 2025 or 2026. I think the Cardinals are going to need at least two years of a rebuild even though they won’t call it that. Hopefully BDW will move Bloom into the big chair and let him rebuild the roster with a heavy emphasis on rebuilding the farm system and infrastructure. That would be a better investment of BDW’s money than spending on mid tier mlb free agents and half measures that keep us on the 82 win treadmill.
But he would have helped here a lot this year had his numbers been similar with us as they are in Boston.
That would depend on two things. First, which 107 games he suited up for, and second, how good is whoever plays the rest of the time.
My opinion is one of the problems with the offense is the musical chairs and constant churn. We need 3 outfielders who can play every day. No IL regulars, no platoons. Competent in the field and at the plate.
SS Masyn Winn R
DH A. Burleson L
1B P. Goldschmidt R
3B N. Arenado R
2B B. Donovan L
LF L. Nootbaar L
RF J. Walker R
C Pedro Pages R
CF M. Siani LOhtani is now the inaugural member of the 50/50 club. What an absolute joy we can watch one of the greatest of all time in his prime.
How many teams had three outfielders that don’t land IL, don’t have a weak handedness split and all three have average or + D?
Any?
How many teams have two potential HOF’ers at the IF corners and end up in last place one year and are second to last in their respective league in runs scored the next season? It’s tough all over.
Ohtani is now the inaugural member of the 50/50 club. What an absolute joy we can watch one of the greatest of all time in his prime.
Indeed. The contract was craziness, but he is one guy that is worth it. Although it boggles the mind to think this, he might be underpaid when his career ends. It’s kind of like Babe Ruth’s $80,000 salary when the country went into the great depression – he was asked if he thought he deserved making more than the President, and his response was classic – “I had a better year than he did.” 🙂
The outfield I describe should be seen as aspirational. The standard against which a team’s actual outfield should be measured. The Cardinals are nowhere close.
Yeah, when you think of the fact that guys like Mays, Aaron and Griffey Jr. never came anywhere near the 50/50 plateau, Ohtani’s feat is impressive. And not to take anything away from the Big O, but most of the names in the 40/40 aren’t exactly everyone’s favorites. They include Bonds, A-Rod, Canseco and Soriano…That’s a bit of a baseball rogue’s gallery.
Winners tend to stay winners.
You are absolutely correct, Blingster! Our youngsters need to have winning ingrained in their noggins right from the get-go. Regardless if it’s an intrasquad or an exhibition game, coaches should not let off the throttle one bit…..play to win. Do this right and you most likely will end up with players who not only have burning desires for victory, but also know how to attain it. And whatever you do, never throw in the towel. Bringing your 2nd baseman in to pitch in a lopsided ballgame may seem benign, but it teaches your younger players that it’s acceptable to wave the white flag of surrender…..and maybe get a little chuckle in the process of defeat to boot. Nobody indulging in din-din tonight? For me it was chicken cacciatore, fresh tomatoes, deviled eggs and not one…..not two…..but three Popeye’s apple cinnamon pies.
I’m jealous, Pugs, because I’ll absolutely destroy a batch of deviled eggs whenever given the opportunity. I like ’em with a dash of Tobasco.
Well Ohtani topped his night off with a 3rd HR. 6-6 with 3 HRs, 2 doubles, 2 SBs, with 10 ribbies while joining the 50/50 club. That has to be one of the single greatest game performances of all time.
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