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From all appearances, Bernie should simultaneously be an ambidextrous sportswriter while being a two fisted drinker.
https://www.milb.com/video/chase-davis-swats-a-solo-homer?t=st-louis-cardinals-affiliates
Maybe this guy. Just promoted to Springfield.
I just read an article on redbird rant. It was about mlbs mediocrity because most teams are just aiming for playoffs and then hope as opposed to a goal of winning the world series. Its a good read and i agree with some butvnot all. The thing that bugs me most is their assertion that the 2006 team was one of those be good enough to get in and get lucky n hot enough to win it situations that has become the cardinals mantra in more recent times. It boggles my mind, did they not watch that season, they see the 83 wins and assume they were that kind of time. First off that team came on the heels of back to back high win teams that had solid aspirations of winning it all. The 2006 team had those same aspirations because they were largely the same players. Now part of the problem was this had become an older team and that some of those older guys struggled, no fault to them, age catches us all. But even so that team still performed really well til september, we were on pace for well over 90 wins. What happened, basically the wheels just fell off. Pitching really fell off, we struggled to hit, and houston got hot. We ended up being very lucky to get in and yea we got hot, some older guys returned to form and larussa managed great and we won. So on paper this looks like one of those, be good enough, get hot, and get lucky teams but if you had paid attention, you know the team that won it was how the team was most of the season. It wasnt some hope and a prayer. If we had ended up losing the division to houston, it would have been an epic collapse up there and probably past the 64 phillies. So it just irritates me when it seems like writers dont have a clue
I seem to recall two separate 8 game losing streaks towards the end of 2006? We were really cruising and then just collapsed.
Hung on, recovered, and won a title.Willie: The answer is simple. It takes much less effort to embrace mediocrity. In the minds of Cardinal management (apparently) A season one game over .500 is a success.
Bloom will have to decide whether to try extending Helsley and Fedde this winter or let them head into their walk year.
1982willie said:
So it just irritates me when it seems like writers dont have a clue.
My wild guess is that blogger was in diapers in 2006. (And I don’t mean Depends!)
Bloom will have to decide whether to try extending Helsley and Fedde this winter or let them head into their walk year.
Well I think we might see possibly what’s coming next season with Helsley. Fedde no chance.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/cardinals-rumors-re-sign-andrew-kittredge-reliever.html
Doesn’t seem like the type of move from a team who has been on record saying they want to save money due to a uncertain financial future. Some could look at it as maybe the owners putting more into the team next season but other seem read between the lines (or think they can).
I seem to recall two separate 8 game losing streaks towards the end of 2006? We were really cruising and then just collapsed.
Hung on, recovered, and won a title.Two 8 game losing streaks (June and August) and a 7 game losing streak (September). They were 16 games over .500 in late June before the first losing streak (100 win pace) and then back to 15 games over in late July (94 win pace). They were 11 games over as late as Sept 20 (87 win pace). It has been pretty rare for a Cards team to start strong and finish poorly.
Really, that team was returning to health when October began. Being an older team, injuries can really pile up and they did. Everyone was back for the playoffs so it was more like that 100 win team. It was fun to look back at the stats for that team and realize that players like Scott Spezio and Juan Encarnacion were on the team. I had forgotten about some of them. Thanks to 1982 for the trip down memory lane.
So, we are certainly going to win more games this year than last year; maybe around 10 more.
On the surface that looks like an upward trend that could be projected to improve to really fighting for the division next year and certainly picking off a WC spot.
However, the roster optics don’t seem to support the building back to a winner projection. Most fans aren’t stupid and can see the mess the organization has gotten itself into – you can see THAT in all the empty seats in Busch.
There are a lot of different ways someone might go about fixing the Cardinals. At this point, I’m in favor of jettonsing anyone over the age of 30 for picks and prospects and spending the next 3 seasons rebuilding the Astro Way. (There are few like Mikolas that they probably can’t unload though.)
Question: Is there a way to do a ‘soft’ rebuild that can provide the same chance to end up with a young sustainable talented roster and a stocked up farm system?
I am not going to look it up, but my thinking is the beggest difference between last year and this year is the really horrible start we got off to last year. It seems like we got well under .500 right off the bat and then spent most of 2023 playing right around .500, the same as this year. Maybe the 2023 team dropped a few more under right at the end, I don’t remember. But basically a .500 team most of the year. In that case, its really not an Improvement.
The 2024 team is better than 2023 because this year’s rotation is more stable. Last year’s rotation was one of the worst in recent memory. But this has still been a band aid approach. As ZTR mentioned we really aren’t close to being a contender and the fans know it.
But that is really the question for this winter. Will the Cardinals finally rip the band aid off and start over or will they continue in their annual approach of building a team on the cusp of the final wild card spot. The DeWitt’s in their history of Cardinal ownership have never shown the willingness to rip the band aid off so I am skeptical they will do it now.
As for a soft rebuild that is a tough needle to thread but that makes the most sense for the Cardinals IMO. The way I would do it would be to go with mostly all young position players but stick with some veteran pitchers for one more year to provide some stability and a chance to win some games and buy the farm system some more time. That would mean letting Goldy walk, try to trade Arenado, and at least listen to offers on Contreras. An infield of Burly, Donovan, Winn, and Gorman, with an OF of Noot, Siani/Scott, and Walker. A rotation of Gray, Fedde, Gibson, Mikolas, and Pallante. Trade Matz for a box of cracker jacks. Most of that rotation would be on expiring contracts so they could be dealt at the deadline if we are out of it. This team is not going to be rebuilt in one year so some patience and discipline will be needed. Hopefully Bloom will lead the way instead of Mo. I would also replace Marmol with Skip or Stubby. This mess isn’t all Ollie’s fault but we need a new voice in the dugout.
Now that the fantasy talk is out of the way let’s discuss what the Cardinals are most likely to do. A 50/50 chance Bloom takes over for MO, a 50/50 chance Ollie is replaced, Goldy probably comes back on a one year deal, Arenado stays, most of the current roster comes back except maybe they add one or two cheapish free agents, payroll reduced to $150M because of the Bally’s mess, etc…. and there will be the annual optimism at Winter Warm Up and during Spring Training about how this will be a playoff team, yada yada…..We can all see it coming.
This guy says that Walker, Gorman, and Burly are all busts defensively and should be moved to 1B or DH or traded. I don’t necessarily disagree but the chances of the Cardinals following these recommendations are amost nil. The writer also failed to list trading Arenado as an option.
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2024/9/14/24244161/three-first-basemen
Interesting article. The author concluded that he would put one of those guys (Walker, Gorman or Burleson) at first base, one at DH, and trade the other. His opinion is to put Walker at first, Burleson at DH, and trade Gorman.
I am okay at putting Walker at first, but would keep Gorman and trade Burleson. Right now Gorman’s value is low, while Burly’s is high. Sell high on Burly. In addition, Gorman has more defensive options. Yeah, he is not great, but he can at least handle second and could always be moved back to third.
This off season I would let Goldschmidt walk, welcoming him back someday as a Cardinal Hall of Famer, trade Arenado and Burleson, and plan on a 2025 infield of Walker, Saggese, Winn and Gorman. Baker is a possibility as well.
Then go Donovan, Siani/Scott and Noot left to right. Donovan is also insurance at second and third should we acquire a good outfielder, or someone in the system jumps up and makes the club. It could be ugly, but you let Walker and Gorman play and roll with the punches. Get someone to teach Walker to balance out his stance, and Gorman to work on making contact. Get both to focus on driving balls up the middle. Forget the whole launch angle stuff – preach hard contact up the middle, and the natural power will follow. Don’t worry about Walker hitting balls on the ground – contact is the key. Good hard contact, and with their young age each guy will hit the long ball more as they mature.
Bikemike – your suggestion for next year feels a lot like a youth fueled rebuild.
I don’t think that team wins 75 games but I don’t dislike the plan as we would for sure find out who can play / develop among the youngsters.
Mike I agree they need to change the approach to developing hitters. Maybe Gorman and Walker can still be saved.
ZTR, 75 is reasonable, but a lot would depend on pitching. I don’t think we could count on scoring a lot of runs.
Burleson is worth a lot more to this team than he is to someone else in trade. He should be our lh dh if we had good outfielders.
My 75 yr old eyes tell me there is a world of difference in the approach of Burleson and Gorman. Burly says “OK let’s see what you got”. Gorman looks like a deer in the headlights with each at bat.There is a joy that comes with this wonderful game; Burly, Donovan,Winn, Contreras, Noot, and now Saggese seem to ooze that joy in the moment. The same goes for our pitching staff. Gray wants the ball, Pallante is having a good time when he takes the mound. Even Lynn seems to enjoy the challenge of the day (time has taken its toll though), even Libby says oK let’s go! My lineup for 2025 would be Contreras, Burly, Donovan, Winn,Arenado, Saggese,Siani, ????. SP-Gray,Pallante, Gibby, Matthews( if he shows well during ST), then a trade for a # 1 or 2 to pair with Gray. That gives us Gorman Walker,Scott Hence McGreevy, Gracceffo, Herrera, Crooks,Fermin,Baker,etc. as pretty decent trade offers. We do not seem to be able to develope these guys beyond a certain point, if we are sticking with the same coaches, we should change the chess pieces. Got to extend Helsey, at least til the trade deadline.Libby, Romero, King, and Fernadez gives you a fair BP. These leaves a spot or two for the bench and the same for the BP.
My 75 yr old eyes tell me there is a world of difference in the approach of Burleson and Gorman. Burly says “OK let’s see what you got”. Gorman looks like a deer in the headlights with each at bat.There is a joy that comes with this wonderful game; Burly, Donovan,Winn, Contreras, Noot, and now Saggese seem to ooze that joy in the moment. The same goes for our pitching staff. Gray wants the ball, Pallante is having a good time when he takes the mound. Even Lynn seems to enjoy the challenge of the day (time has taken its toll though), even Libby says oK let’s go! My lineup for 2025 would be Contreras, Burly, Donovan, Winn,Arenado, Saggese,Siani, ????. SP-Gray,Pallante, Gibby, Matthews( if he shows well during ST), then a trade for a # 1 or 2 to pair with Gray. That gives us Gorman Walker,Scott Hence McGreevy, Gracceffo, Herrera, Crooks,Fermin,Baker,etc. as pretty decent trade offers. We do not seem to be able to develope these guys beyond a certain point, if we are sticking with the same coaches, we should change the chess pieces. Got to extend Helsey, at least til the trade deadline.Libby, Romero, King, and Fernadez gives you a fair BP. These leaves a spot or two for the bench and the same for the BP. What do you think?
Nobody’s on base percentage is going to fly. If there is just one thing I could magically fix it would be OBP for this lineup. You’ve got to have traffic on the base paths or you can’t score many runs.
Just look at OBP up and down this roster – it’s anemic team wide so that smells like an organizational approach issue to me.
Question: Is there a way to do a ‘soft’ rebuild that can provide the same chance to end up with a young sustainable talented roster and a stocked up farm system?
Yes, the Cardinals just have to be smarter in the offseason and have to understand they they need to improve everywhere.
Rotation – decline options on Lynn & Gibson, and sign somebody like Lorenzen (who has been better than Gibson & Lynn each of the last two years).
Outfield – need two corner bats, move Burleson to 1B. The Cardinals will probably claim they cannot afford Anthony Santander, but they should try to acquire Teoscar Hernandez as one of those bats.
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