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5:40 p.m.
RHP Erick Fedde (8-5, 3.28) vs. RHP Hunter Greene (8-4, 2.90)
BSM // KMOX
Also BS Southeast and Southwest ExtraWhy can’t this team hit???
Why can’t this team score any runs???
Besides the fact that they can’t hit, I mean…..
Rats keeps asking and we keep answering – too many older players in the declining phase of their careers, with the exception of Winn, none of the top prospects have reached what we hope is their production level, and then a few middling players that will likely never be more than average on offense.
In an ultimate small sample – Dylan Carlson in 30 ABs has a double, two homers and a 156 OPS+ for Tampa.
Rat:
Because this team isn’t very good.
Because management does not deploy a real effort to make it better.
Because the leadership has redefined success to be just slip into the playoffs.
Because the official satisfaction with mediocrity has infected the whole team.
In an ultimate small sample – Dylan Carlson in 30 ABs has a double, two homers and a 156 OPS+ for Tampa.
I think part of the reason Cardinals outfielders instantly do well when they go elsewhere is the Cardinals leadership has a habit of demoralizing the players while they are here.
They publicly called out TON, never played Carlson.
Because the leadership has redefined success to be just slip into the playoffs.
Because the official satisfaction with mediocrity has infected the whole team.
I think these are the biggest issues.
How would one motivate guys who are maybe to the point that they want to be someplace else? How does that affect the others on the team? There are a lot of possible contributors but no way to be sure what is real and important and what is not.
Winning smooths over many of these bumps but the 2023 debacle was a rude awakening for many.
I think it is bad for morale to publicly call out players – and Marmol called both TON and Contreras out publicly last year. Whatever happened to “it will be resolved in the clubhouse”?
Remember how upset the Cardinals were that a locker room speech was publicly released? Goes both ways.
As for the Carlson situation – this extends to their player development in general. You can’t have guys sitting on the bench and playing one game every other week. Your 4th outfielder should be playing three games per week while your starting outfielders play five games per week.
A player like Donovan can play 1B, 2B & 3B once per week, DH twice per week.
Develop the bench.
Prior to the DH, Cardinals would have 2-3 PH chances per game, now they don’t have that flexibility to develop bench players. So, you have to incorporate MLB development into the process.
I looked at Carlson’s game log and it doesn’t seem as bad as noted. Into his third straight year of declining performance, Carlson essentially became the fifth outfielder, not the fourth. It is a risk for a struggling offense to keep running a guy out there who is hitting under .200.
I agree that airing dirty laundry is bad. I am pretty sure that the Contreras debacle was not all on Marmol, however.
Developing the bench would be easier if half of it (two of four spots) was not taken up by one-dimensional aging veterans. Unlike the bullpen where guys can toggle back and forth to Memphis, the Cards tied their own hands in their quest for “veteran leadership”.
The entire focus of major league baseball has changed. Just look at sports articles these days, or even our musings here. When is the last time anybody talked about “winning the pennant?” Or focused on “winning the division?” Today’s race is all about wild card, wild card, wild card, not about winning, but about second place, or even third place. That plants a dangerous seed. Players (and of course management) now know they don’t have to “win.” “Close” is good enough. In the “good old days” the only way to success was “winning something.” Adopting lesser objectives changes one’s entire mindset.
Do any of you posters think Winn’s approach at the plate is a good one? The right one?
It looks to me like he just wants to slug it out there. Swing as hard as he can and maybe hit a homerun or an extra base hit. With his speed it seems like it would be better for him to shorten his stroke and focus on making contact and not slug as hard as he can.
If Rat were manning the top step of the St. Louis dugout, does anyone here honestly believe that this team would not be in a better place? Our ball club is in dire need of a no nonsense skipper with a controlled maturity. We need a manager just like Rat or his old pal, Whitey.
Masyn is using his line drive swing w/2 strikes, as a parachute. If there’s a risp, he will revisit it tho.
He’s hunting inside too much, early in the count. He could compete for a batting title if line drives from line to line was his only focus. Is that crazy sounding? Ha
and Marmol called both TON and Contreras out publicly last year.
I think it was the front office who threw Contreras under the bus. Marmol may have gone along with it but I don’t think he was the driving factor on that one.
So they are using Walker as a platoon player. I really do feel sorry for anyone coming up through the Cardinals system.
They publicly called out TON, never played Carlson.
What did those two blockheads do to earn playing time? Got to be on the field and have to produce when you do. They didn’t more often then not when given run minus Carlson’s 2nd season and TON unworldly 2nd half in 2021.
Plenty of chances. Never really showed to be consistent options other than 1 season and had trouble staying on the field.
they are using Walker as a platoon player. I really do sorry for anyone coming up through the Cardinals system.
I wasn’t in favor of bringing him up. Now this. Im tired of complaining. I will just let Blinger do it for me. Thanks Bling.PS I think I will eat a happy apple (raw onion) That will make me feel better
Pretty nice move to 1B from the RH’er Fredde to catch Friedl leaning. Whenever I think of a nice pickoff move, I think of Steve Carlton who holds the all time record for picking off baserunners. A lot of you may know that he also holds the all time record for balks…Haha!
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