[bccran]

Catcher and infield seem pretty well set, whether they extend Goldy or not. It’s the OF that’s the issue – again. Walker is pretty well set in RF and I think Siani is pretty well set in CF. Scott is his backup there. So the real issue is LF. Does
Noot provide enough punch to be a corner outfielder? Do they
give Koperniak a shot there? Do they sign or trade for a better bat there?

[bccran]

Cardinals are actually pretty well set for 2025.

C- Contreras
1B – Burleson/Baker
2B – Donovan
SS – Winn
3B – Arenado
LF – Nootbaar
CF – Siani
RF – Walker
DH – Herrera/Gorman

SP – Gray
SP – Fedde
SP – Gibson (re-signed)
SP – Mikolas (contract plays)
SP – Matz
SP – Pallante

BP –

Helsley
Kittredge (re-signed)
Romero
Liberatore
Pallante or Matz
O’Brien
King
Fernandez

Bench –

Herrera/Gorman
Saggese
Scott
Pages

What’s that payroll look like?

[bccran]

2025 –

C – Contreras
1B – Burleson
2B – Donovan
SS – Winn
3B – Arenado
LF – Nootbaar
CF – Scott
RF – Walker
DH – Gorman/Baker

SP –

Gray
Fedde
Gibson
Mikolas
Pallante
Matz

Look about right?

[bccran]

Walker needs to spend some time with Edmonds and/or Holliday. Remember your high school coach saying you were “stepping in the bucket”? That’s the stance that Walker has at the plate. He can’t get to pitches on the outside corner.

[bccran]

When you’ve lost BW, it says it all.

[bccran]

Please explain how you hire a major league manager for a storied franchise who has never managed above the high A level.

And support him with a pitching “strategist” and then coach who has never coached professionals before.

[bccran]

I’ll say it out loud. I think he’s a few eggs short of a dozen in motivation.

[bccran]

You’re right. we have gone over this before, RBK. A bunch of talented pitchers who need expert developmental instruction. Of course there are guys like this in every organization. It’s what baseball is all about. And yes, I’ve had just regular guys like Alcantara and Gallen on lists like this.

[bccran]

Liberatore
Thompson
McGreevy
Graceffo
Hence
Mathews
Roby
Robberse
Kloffenstein
Rom
Bedell
Rajcic

Plenty to work with. Develop them!

[bccran]

I asked BDW, Jr. one time about two high A prospects and he proceeded to tell me what they did well and what they needed to work on. He truly loves to track the Cardinals minor leaguers as they come through the system.

That being said, I don’t understand 3 things –

1.) Why he sits back and watches the lack of proper development of players as they arrive at the major league level unprepared.

2.) Why he sits back and watches young players bloom when they’re traded to other organizations. Especially after Mo has said they need to
look closely at how they evaluate prospects. No obvious changes for years.

3.) Why he sits back and watches Mo hire guys like Oli and Blake who are highly unqualified as new hires coming into their positions.

The only thing I can think is that he thinks Mo has done it before and can somehow do it again. And they have become very close over almost 30 years and it’s hard to fire a friend.

[bccran]

You don’t know him, LA. You’re wrong.

[bccran]

BDW is a baseball fan. He likes to win as much as anybody. But he also is a relatively conservative businessman. Especially at his age.
So his main goal is to make the playoffs, where anything can happen. Keep it interesting for the fans all season long. I’m sure he’s just as upset about 2023 and this season so far as anybody.

[bccran]

Please email me if you have time and let me know if I can be helpful in any way.

[bccran]

The explanation may be twofold, ZTR.

It’s pretty much an accepted principle that as people age, they can become more conservative in nature. They settle into habit patterns that provide security. They become not only financially more conservative, but rely even more on the people who have been surrounding them for years. People they trust personally, no matter their competency.

The other concept is that people who have been successful in a job can become complacent, resting on past laurels. They ultimately get a bit stale in their job. The “been there, done that” that creeps into their thinking. They also aren’t that quick to change based upon changes in the market. They are slow to understand that what worked before may not work now.
Those past successes can result in a pride that gets in their way.

If those two concepts apply specifically and individually to the two people at the top of the Cardinals organization, it may make things a little clearer on the present state of things.

[bccran]

In past years, even if the team as a whole wasn’t doing well, especially in the playoffs, I still enjoyed watching young players. It’s fun to cheer for them. This season, I looked forward to watching Walker, Gorman, Winn, Herrera, Burleson, Thompson, Liberatore, possibly Scott, etc. That ballon kind of burst, so I moved to carefully watching some of the guys we got last July like Saggese, Prieto, Roby, Robberse, Rom,
Kloffenstein, etc. That bubble burst.
Finally I turned my attention to guys in the system that I’ve felt have some realistic potential. Guys like Granillo, Davis, Baez, Cho, Bedell, Hjerpe, Mautz, etc. That didn’t do it either.

So Brian, my hat’s off to you for continuing to be such a great inspired leader of TCN under the circumstances.

[bccran]

I find myself in a real quandary. For a long time, I’ve gotten much of my recreation and enjoyment from
following the Cardinals. But at present, with the boring play of this team, I’m at a low ebb in interest – where I haven’t been since the 90s.
I wonder how many long time fans feel the same.

[bccran]

Would like to see Bloom and Stubby take over sooner than later.

[bccran]

Reds, Pirates, and Cubs have been waiting for this. Payback time. Beat up on the historically big guy.

[bccran]

All for that. He should have been given the job instead of Marmol.

[bccran]

Thanks very much, Brian. We see position players coming onto the major league roster, and some do well, like Edman, Donovan, Winn, etc. But it seems like pitchers have a hard time making that last step. For instance, Thompson, McGreevy, Graceffo, Kloffenstein, Rom, etc.

With the price of front line starters today, we may not be able to compete at the highest levels going forward if one or two of our guys don’t develop like Alcantara and Gallen did. Maybe Hence or Matthews have a chance? It might be interesting to hear Blake’s take on minor league pitcher development (or lack thereof) on a future podcast.
Again, thanks very much.

[bccran]

Brian (and Blake) –

Thank you again very much for another interesting podcast. Nice to reconfirm how loaded we are at catcher.

I wonder if you could spend some time in a future podcast covering the pitchers we got last July – Roby, Rom, Robberse, Kloffenstein, and Showalter. Seems like they have all had IL issues. I was impressed with that group when they came in.

[bccran]

Since Scott is hitting better, why isn’t Walker being corrected the same way? Maybe he is and it’s starting to show with his recent improved performance?

[bccran]

A Burleson/Baker platoon at 1B next season sure makes sense.

[bccran]

I miss the Moon Man, 1td.

[bccran]

I haven’t given up on Goldy and Arenado. They’re proven long term productive major leaguers hitters. And all around players with multiple Gold Gloves. Their overall excellence isn’t matched by any other players on the team. Young hitters in the lineup probably look upon them with respectful awe.

[Author]

Posts