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5:40 p.m.
RHP Erick Fedde (3-7, 4.11) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48)
MLB Network // Fan Duel // KMOXI admit my total confusion about what the Cardinals are doing to improve the team, reset or whatever you want to call it. No new players have been acquired. No unsatisfactory players let go. There is a little movement up and down the system but no indication of a transformative move. Just a little of the old rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. Same old faces, same old manager. But no visible effort to make this a better team than 2024. I like some of these young players and for the moment they are looking a bit better than average, but essentially this team is the same as the one that disappointed last year. Is the theory that if we just sit back and wait, making no substantial changes, these guys will magically get better than they were last year? As Desi Arnaz used to say: Splain it to me Lucy.”
Considering Winn, Scott, Walker, Herrera, Gorman and Saggese are all 25 or younger, there is a lot of potential for growth in their games. They also have Wetherholt, Mathews, Hence and some others getting close. It is all a matter of which way the front office sees the farm system going. That dictates whether they acquire the future through a trade or believe they already have the pieces and need them to develope.
And there is McGreevy and Graceffo.
However, that nucleus will never contend for a World Series title. Just not good enough.
Alonso and Tucker are apparently free agents this off-season. One of them thrown into the middle of the lineup would really help.
This next 30 days by the players may make the decisions for the FO, that they can’t answer yet, CIF.
If we avoid a rash of injuries and continue playing well…. But, there’s also the flip side of best case.The Cardinals lost 2 of 3 in Pittsburgh in April and then countered with a 3 game series sweep against the Pirates in StL. back in May. Obviously you want to win a series against a team that’s 15 games under .500 and sitting in last place, but I hope the Redbirds are aware that the Pirates thoroughly thrashed a pretty good Mets team today in a 12-1 final at PNC. If they aren’t careful, the spirit of the great Dave Parker might show up to demonstrate how foolish it is to let your guard down in the presense of a Cobra.
KCB, I haven’t forgot Liberatore. I was actually considering him to be established in the rotation. I don’t think he will be a TOR starter but a pretty good #2 is possible.
I have Libby tied as my second biggest surprise of the year along with Leahy. Number one is Herrera. I mean we knew he could hit but he has taken it to a different level this year. We need him back soon and hope that he can stay healthy.
We need to at least take 2 out of 3 against the Bucs. It would be nice to win tonight since we go against Skenes tomorrow, although the Cards have had good luck against him so far.
Leahy.
I haven’t forgotten you pointing out how many good pitches Leahy has and that you think he could be a starter,G.
What are the odds that at least one of these games in Pittsburgh will either be delayed by rain or totally postponed? Doesn’t it happen almost every time we come to Pittsburgh?
UPDATE:
Just checked the Doppler Radar. It does indeed show a couple of small cells heading towards the greater metropolitan Pittsburgh area. Hopefully they are both gone by game time. And I bet the tarp is already on the field at Forbes Field as I type this.Noot out with hurt ribs.
1. Donovan LF
2. Winn SS
3. Burleson RF
4. Contreras 1B
5. Arenado 3B
6. Gorman DH
7. Saggese 2B
8. Pages C
9. Scott CFP Fedde
I’m pleasantly surprised that the whiz-kid doesn’t have Manny Motter ll manned up in CF with Heaney taking a turn for the Pirates tonight. Let’s all hope that he’s come to the conclusion that Scott is this team’s CF’er.
I’m aware of how much importance is attached to OBP for a lead-off hitter, but in the case of Nootbar/Scott/Winn, is .004 to .006 pct. pts. that big of a deal?
Burleson has got to be included as a surprise so far this season. Do not think many of us expected him to be pushing or leading the team in as many categories as he is. On a different matter: I saw where Pozo has K’d 4 whole times in like 70 ABs. That’s great bat to ball in anyone’s game. Of course he hasn’t seen a pitch he doesn’t like. Just fun to watch.
Fedde at four games under .500 for a team that is nine over. How long can we continue running him out there? Mikolas is not exactly Mr Reliable either.
Get McGreevy in there, or even Matz and put Fedde in a mop up role until we can hopefully ship him out for a bucket of balls and a game worn Mick Kelleher jersey.
I’m aware of how much importance is attached to OBP for a lead-off hitter, but in the case of Nootbar/Scott/Winn, is .004 to .006 pct. pts. that big of a deal?
No those OBP numbers are very close. The only difference is Noot has had a lot of AB’s in the leadoff spot and the other two guys have not. Would the youngsters do as well under the bright lights of hitting leadoff? Winn has put up decent numbers hitting second so he might but would hitting first be different? I really don’t know. Some hitters wilt under that pressure like some relievers wilt in the 9th inning. I guess we won’t know for sure until we give them a shot. I actually could foresee Scott and Winn hitting 1 and 2 for the Cards at some point in the future ala Coleman and McGee but I’m not sure if this is the year for that. I guess Ollie and the spreadhseet guys will have to figure it out.
I just thought the extra added attraction of the possible SB and extra burst of speed on the basepaths may offset the slight difference in this season’s OBP of the three players. Not too long ago I saw Scott hit a smash right at an opposing IF’er with a runner aboard 1B that should have been an easy GIDP. Scott beat the throw to 1B by plenty. He gets out of the box and down the line like Big Daddy Don Garlits…And Winn’s no slouch when he opens up the throttle either.
Saggese gets another start vs a lefty. If he had been hot lately, vs lefties, he may have leadoff today. Regardless, time to cash in on these starts.
He was really good last June as well. Time to see if he keeps it up throughout the summer or if he fades once again.
If he can keep it up, he definitely can be considered a surprise.Liberatore is my biggest surprise of the season. I had completely gone down the road of he just needs to be a reliever. I had McGreevey in his slot and that has not happened.
Herrera has been better offensively than expected and maybe a touch worse defensively, although it’s hard to judge there since he hasn’t caught much. I knew he could hit. An .800 OPS would not surprise. However, there’s no way I expected him to hit this well. It’s been great to see.
Leahy has been better than I expected, but I argued over the offseason that I still kind of liked him and was happy to have him on the roster (whereas I had little faith in the team turning around Roycroft’s bouts of wildness). I still think Leahy is more middle reliever than back end guy and I absolutely do not want him starting again because he throws too many pitches down the middle. But he’s useful in the same way John King has been useful for several seasons.
Burleson is a bit better than expected. I knew he can hit, but he’s been on a torrid run lately. I’m more impressed that his defense has been even better than passable in the outfield. Contreras has also been far better than I expected on defense. He’s been great.
My other surprise has been Pozo. Obviously he wasn’t even on the roster when I wrote all my offseason stuff, but wow has this guy come out of nowhere and done a great job both as a catcher but more importantly with his timely hitting. I’m super impressed. Pages should also get a callout here for all the little stuff he does so well. I know you guys already know what a fan I am of Pedro, but all the same he’s truly earned the starter position.
As far as disappointments go, there’s not really anyone underperforming my expectations other than Nootbaar a bit. I’m glad he’s been healthier. But he should be running an OPS around .800. He’s not even close to that right now. I guess Luken Baker was a disappointment, but he really didn’t get enough at bats to matter. Maybe Walker, but I wasn’t sure what we’d see offensively so it’s hard to call him a disappointment. I thought his defense would be much improved and it is. Everyone else is basically doing as expected, which is why I felt the team would be solid but not great. Because of those few surprises, the team is a little better than just solid. We really need Nootbaar to get himself back together and Gorman and Burleson to keep hitting. If those 3 things happen, this is a dangerous team.
Big pile of green stuff in the Pittsburgh area right now. I am going to assume this game will at least be delayed.
I look forward to innings that have both Scott and Winn due up. A ton of fun on the base paths.
I think Scott will own leadoff next year and moving forward. He’s still learning how to adjust to what they’re trying to do to him in-game pitcher to pitcher. He’s got a little flare to him and I don’t think leadoff is too big for him.
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