Greetings. The Cardinals are back in STL for an off day after a break-even road trip. Win a series in Baltimore. Lose a series in Texas. The offense rallied in Baltimore. The defense was ragged in Arlington. POBO John Mozeliak is a guest on MLB Network's MLB Now. All of that and it's Cardinals chat day at StlToday.
You've got questions. I'll do by best to keep up and provide answers.
The inbox is open.
Away we go!
As always, the complete transcript of the chat appears below the window like a normal article, ready for however you prefer to read the coverage at StlToday. Questions are not edited for grammar or spelling, and they are ignored for vulgarities or threats of violence. The answers are in the eye of the beholder ...
South City Steve: In your opinion is Jacob DeGrom a Hall of Famer today, or is there still some work to do based on his lack of availability over his career?
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DG: This is a great question, a tough question right off the hop. My first reaction was -- well, some work to do. He doesn't yet have 100 wins. He doesn't yet have 2,000 strikeouts. He would be among the lowest in innings and wins when it comes to starters, and it's hard to compare him against the peers of his era just in bulk excellence. Max Scherzer has almost twice as many innings in the majors as deGrom.
deGrom -- 2014-2025, 230 G, 89-59, 2.51 ERA, 1,732 Ks, 1,436 1/3 IP
Scherzer -- 2008-2025, 467 G, 216-112, 3.16 ERA, 3,408 Ks, 2888 IP
This past weekend Sonny Gray got his 1,800th strikeout. deGrom is has yet to get there.
So the question for me, as a voter, becomes how does deGrom incredible years carry his candidacy vs. his lack of quantity of years. Can he be compared to, say, a reliever who was dominant in fewer innings, or because of his role should he only be compared to starters, and will he fall shy of those standards. It's a really tricky question because I've voted for Billy Wagner because of what he did in his role. I voted for Felix Hernandez this past year. And I admit my approach with starters has to evolve with the game -- the 300 game winner is gone and wins mean less, while the rate stats mean more and we have access to better ones to compare over time. And so on. Scherzer has 3 Cy Youngs. deGrom has 2. He's going to get a long look, for sure, and deserves it -- but more work seems to be necessary because what Hernandez and Wagner have is a decade of just strong performance in their roles. deGrom has 59 starts total in the past six years. His first six years put him in the conversation as among the best, obviously, of his generation. Another strong year, two years cinch it.
Marc: I'm curious about how golf fits in while the team is on the road. Do players take their clubs along on the flights? Play the mornings of game days, or just on off days?
DG: Some take their clubs for sure. They golf on off days, and some of them plan off days around a chance to play a certain course. Starting pitchers have the opportunity to play more often as they have more days where they're not in the lineup.
Craig: Hey Derrick, thanks for the chat. I realize Chaim Bloom is probably already involved in any personnel decisions beyond this season, but my understanding is that Mozeliak will remain as POBO until the end of the calendar year. So here's my question:
This offseason, will any other GMs, players, or agents be less likely to engage with the Cardinals until after Mo departs, and Bloom's officially the main point of contact on Jan 1, 2026? And if so, why not make that change official right after the World Series is over?
DG: John Mozeliak will not remain in his role until the end of this calendar year.
His contract is up around the end of the World Series, so there's going to be a the official transfer of power in October or November -- ahead of that GM meetings. And he has even talked about Bloom being more prominent in August, September ... when it comes to making decisions as they go forward. He just brought that up on MLB Network. Mozeliak says he has a date in mind for his last official day with the Cardinals in his role, and they he and ownership have discussed what that looks like, but Bloom taking the wheel will happen in the lead up to that date, according to all parties involved when I last asked.
By the time the offseason arrives and the scenarios you describe begin, Bloom will be in charge. He may even have his general manager hired by then, honestly. Bloom will also be involved in the trade deadline discussions, and while Mozeliak will lead the team and baseball ops at that time, Bloom's input will be important for all moves that influence 2026 and beyond.
Marc: I understand the tradeoffs that would come with it, but it seems like Gorman is not really receiving the "runway" as the Cards advertised. Agree? Is this a signal that the team is losing faith in his potential?
DG: That is correct about the "runway." That is a signal that the Cardinals did not trade Nolan Arenado so he's the third baseman, and that the Cardinals are not playing Ivan Herrera at catcher much, so he's the DH. With only nine positions available to them and two of the three Gorman would play taken up -- and then Brendan Donovan at 2B and Victor Scott II in CF -- the playing time just isn't three. If you have an idea how to clear at-bats for him, the team is all ears. They still want to give him that "runway." But there are only so many spots in the field ...
Marc: When a pitcher has an uncharacteristically bad outing, e.g. the April Mikolas disaster in Boston, is tipping pitches a likely cause? Maybe in the Liberatore outing Saturday against the Rangers?
DG: It can be. It's definitely explored and researched as a possible reason. We've seen that before, especially when it's clear that the hitters give away they know the difference between a fastball coming and a breaking ball coming. It didn't come up as a reason for Mikolas. Sometimes the pitches are just flat, sinkers don't sink, feel isn't there, and the opponent is rocking. We also see this with pitchers who throw a lot of cutters. When a cutter is bad it gets crushed. It's a high-reward pitch when it's good, and it's a danger pitch when it's bad, and if it's bad for the pitcher that day then it's going to get rocked. In Liberatore's case, he had four different pitches hit 102 mph at least once. He threw 16 changeups and only one of them was put in play, so it could be that he wasn't tipping so much as his sequence was giving him away and he didn't use the changeup as often as he should given how effective it was.
Marc: Given that the Cardinals need depth in starting pitching, is it more likely that they'd lean toward a developed college pitcher in the draft?
DG: No. Not at No. 5. Not with the potential to land a batter who is significantly better than the other options in the draft -- or that they usually get access to in the draft.
As last year's draft unfolded, the No. 6 pick arrived, the Cardinals were thrilled. They were either going to get Jac Caglianone, who will make his major-league debut Tuesday in St. Louis for the Royals, or JJ Wetherholt. They saw both of them as elite upside hitters, either of whom could have gone No. 1 overall in their evaluations. They see their pick at No. 5 as a chance to also grab an impact hitter. We'll see how it plays out because, yes, there are also top-five pitchers available. But the Cardinals recognize that the opportunity picking that high in the draft for them is to score a hitter they've rarely had access to, and the past two times they have they like the results -- Wetherholt and JD Drew.
It looks like it's just Marc and I talking. Did Marc just copy/paste questions quickly -- or is everyone in the chat today named Marc? It's tricky to find questions not from Marc in the inbox.
Jay Lewi s: With NIL in play, is it more likely that a team will take college players high in the draft?
DG: It's an interesting question, because the influence of NIL is real, and there are some players headed to college for NIL riches that cannot get the same bonus in the draft, and that is a factor. It's as if the MLB team is negotiating now with a third entity -- the NIL. We're all still learning (teams included) how that factors into the draft, and the general sense is that it's changing the approach in say the 11th or 12th rounds when there used to be a play for a college player at a higher bonus because of the $100,000 rebate against the cap. Now that player might be an NIL player and getting more than the bonus is going to be, so don't waste the pick. To your specific question it doesn't appear like it's tilting the draft toward MORE college players taken, not at a rate any different than teams already viewed the draft and the predictability of college players.
Jon: Thomas Boswell wrote a column today describing how baseball has improved its quality/style of play to be similar to the 1970-1980;s (albeit with too many strikeouts and starters going five and fly). How do you view the quality/style of baseball today?
DG: It's as good and as athletic and as dynamic today as I've ever seen. The players are more talent today than at any point in my life. And teams are more risk-adverse than ever -- more likely to make a data driven, actuary-table decision than a go for the gusto move, and as a result some of the magic that comes with a player defying the risk and doing something great is lessened.
I'll give you an example.
Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter are two of the best pitchers of their time and there are so many good pitchers right now with stuff like and velocity like that and strikeouts like that. Seriously, pitchers are great and it's so hard to be a hitter. And yet ... Sonny Gray and Jacob deGrom are two of these elite pitchers, both of whom we saw pitch excellently over the weekend. Do you see a world in today's game where Gray and deGrom duel in a 1-0 playoff game where the winner advances?
No team would take that risk.
And we don't get to see that magic.
Don't get me wrong. I still think the game is better today -- and it's speedier than it was just a few years ago. But treasure the magic that comes from the moment where a team takes a risk and one of these exceptional ballplayers shines as a result.
Jon: With your early experience in Colorado with the Rockies (the team, not the mountain range...), how would you look to fix this franchise? The crowds still come, but... a team this bad does not happen by accident or over one season.
DG: It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that it has been a swift and deep plunge for the Rockies -- though I doubt they could have tried to be this bad and pulled it off. They have made a series of poor choices over the past decade that created this sinkhole, but it wasn't a secret this was happening. The Rockies don't do much well when it comes to the baseball part of being a baseball club. Period. They have a great ballpark. They have a plan for getting people in the ballpark -- and other teams mimic that. But as far as the team on the field, the Rockies are behind in spending, behind in scouting, behind in developing, behind in analytics, and behind in infrastructure. Other than that, they're also behind. "What do they do well?" I was recently asked by a baseball evaluator.
How to fix it? Start by bringing people in from the outside. In the immediate future, answer the phone at the trade deadline. Make deals. Start shedding the roster now of control players because this is a long-term turnaround. Don't cling to players. Move them. Embrace the tank. Turn that money into coaches, scouts, and higher executives who have a daring plan to win at that level -- maximize the potential off the ballpark by prioritizing defense and counting on the elevation creating offense; dig in on the analytics to determine what kind of pitching succeeds there, and then how much depth is necessary to pull it off. Spend accordingly. Draft accordingly. The Rockies, as much as any team in the majors, need an identity to match their ballpark and their circumstance. Outside voices would help greatly. A complete overhaul is needed.
Jon: Best and hardest thing about being a baseball writer?
DG: The best part is the incredible things I've had a chance to see and the challenge of capturing those moments, those games, those places, those personalities in words, on deadline. That is the kind of opportunity I wanted in my career, and I am fortunate to have done it for this many years for this newspaper and for this fan base.
The hardest thing is the months and months away from family. They add up ... and they don't get made up.
Jon: What is one thing you miss from old Busch Stadium (I'm sure the players don't, but those big/sweeping shadows from the arches atop the stadium across the field in the late afternoons could get my vote).
DG: The crown of arches. Great signature part of the ballpark that cast the most incredible shadows and most St. Louis shadows over the field. A photo with them crossing the field and you knew where that game was.
RedBird: Two (count em 2) dubbings by a Rangers team that hasn't hit well this but they did against our hometown team. What should we take away from this, if anything?
DG: Not much about the Rangers. They weren't going to struggle offensively forever. The bigger thing to take away from the drubbings is that the Cardinals played ragged defense that contributed to them. That was uncharacteristic, and it reinforced how little margin for error the Cardinals have when they're playing a team that is their equal or superior.
MS Bird Brain: In looking at the minor league big picture (is that an oxymoron?) it seems like the Cards higher prospects, collectively, are having a so-so year at best. It doesn't help that Mathews and Hence have been hurt, but still. It seemed like the opposite last year. Obviously there are exceptions, but do you agree? Is there an organizational reason this could be, such as aggresive promotion? Have you picked up any organizational concern?
DG: It might say more about this past year than this year. This might be just normal. If we compare this year -- through May 31 -- to a couple of years ago, the performance is significantly better. But that was the worst year for an organization in many many years. The pitching was atrocious. Compare it to last year, and it's so-so. But compare it to the middle of those two, and it's on the right side of the spectrum, and it's only May 31. One thing we'll all have to do is understand how the new management views development, and we're learning that this year. We cannot use the past metrics that we all knew when it came to a LaRocque farm system, because the goals and priorities may be different now for a Cerfolio/Day farm system. Two months in, they're definitely revealing themselves, but -- and maybe this is just me -- I'm not going to rush to two months judgment on this. Let the year play out. And then view the system on the universal metrics for whether an organization is advancing:
• how many prospects improved.
• how many prospects advanced.
• how many prospects emerged.
• did any of them impact the majors? will they? and what is the ETA?
• where are the holes in the system and what won't it be ready to supply when the majors come calling (pitching, depth, hitter, trade pieces)?
Those seems like fair lenses to look at any organization through, and two months in won't give us a clear picture.
James F: Hi DG! First ever question: Why not start Herrera at catcher more? Is his game calling/throwing so inferior? I get frustrated in a tight game when Pages or Pozo come up with runners on. Wouldn't an offense-first lineup want to get Herrera at C and someone else at DH? )I thought of this after the Gorman question above.)
DG: It's a great question, and I don't just say that because it was a question I asked a few times in Baltimore ahead of writing about that topic. It also was a topic we discussed on the recent BPIB. If Herrera's future is at catcher -- or the Cardinals want his future to be there -- then he needs more reps in the present right? Isn't that true to the "runway" pledge. And yet he's at DH so often that it's costing Gorman time. So it's a double-whammy. Herrera isn't getting innings to improve at catcher. Gorman isn't getting at-bats to show where he is as a slugger.
That's the double-bind.
Actions speak louder than words, and the Cardinals actions right now are that they believe Pages and Pozo are superior catchers, and there is evidence of this. Pitchers really do trust Pages -- all of them. Teammates gravitate toward him. It's really impressive, and he's getting starts and support and confidence as a result of that. Herrera has to improve when it comes to defending against the running game. He continues to improve at calling games. He does things to improve on both even now when he's starting so often at DH. It absolutely feels like the Cardinals are coming to a crossroads with their catchers -- who stays at the position and who has to find a new one.
Jon: What's one thing from baseball's past that you wish was still a thing today (opening game in Cincinnati; stirrups everywhere; 154 game schedule; more personality from players, etc)
DG: The double-switch.
Jon: Not Marc- Favorite baseball book to read?
DG: Have to come up with an answer for this for the local bookstore that opened up. My favorite fiction book, likely: "Iowa Baseball Confederacy." My favorite non-fiction ... Buster Olney's "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty" was super influential for how I view and measure beat writing and having command of the coverage on a beat. "Lords of the Realm" is a great book for a better understanding of baseball. It was invaluable to me in college and opened up the game to me in a new way, as did "Nine Innings" by Okrent.
Spork: If I remember correctly, you have stated that while you are a fan of baseball, you are not a fan of any particular teams. Does that also apply to individual players, or do you have players that you root for? If so, who are some players you enjoy following and why?
DG: There is no cheering in the press box. I also understand that to mean that there is no jeering in the press box. That goes for teams, for players. I do however hope that players stay healthy, and there are players in situations where I know they've been a) doubted or b) overlooked and have worked hard, it is good to see them rewarded for that work or ...
... how do the kids say it? ...
... prove the haters wrong.
Goodness, is it delightful when a player a proves the haters wrong. Truly. I'm human, so seeing Adam Wainwright pitch like he did for his 200th win and all that went into it -- hard not to celebrate that. But cheer for it as it's happening? That's not the role of the beat writer.
chico: This is Mark with a K,who do you think most likely gets traded and who least likely? is there any chance the way they are playing better that they stand pat?
DG: I have no idea at this point -- and that is partially because neither do the Cardinals.
Are they in the race on July 25, are they out of it? What, to them, counts as being in the race -- is 3 out in, but 5 out not, is 3 up in? There are so many variables that go into your question and not one of them is available today because there are so many games to play before now and the trade deadline. The Cardinals have yet to face the Cubs. The Cardinals have yet to really know who is available via trade. So many swirling unknowns at this point when it comes to your question except for one -- there are games to play before that decision has to be made.
No one knows the outcome of those games.
And that is why I'm not alone when I say that I don't know the answer to your question.
I could guess. But you can get that anywhere these days. I see lots of guesses -- and I empathize with readers who have to cut through the fog of guesses and wild speculation from name-brand news outlets to find the real information. So, my hope here is to give you the real information that I can prove, defend, report, provide, and be accountable for. And sometimes that means recognizing that I don't know -- because the team doesn't know.
To speculate would be more entertaining for you, I get it. But it would also be unfair and it would only contribute to the clutter instead of cutting through it.
Lu: Hey Derrick, the parallel you drew between where in the "rebuild" the Orioles and the Cardinals stand was fascinating. To take it a step further, if each GM job was open which would you prefer to take?
Certainly the O's have more talent in the farm system, but as you pointed it out its almost a challenge in and of itself to untangle the web they've created. I think I'd also rather run a team in the NL Central.
Coming into the season I was very much of the mindset the cardinals should sell everything and rebuild. But there's plenty of evidence of that not really working and the years following tank being filled with potential but no trophies.
DG: I have no delusions of grandeur, so pity the organization that even considers me for a GM position. I've heard a few times how baseball writers don't know much about leadership qualities so maybe I wouldn't even make it out of the interview process! That said, take the Cardinals job. It's a historically relevant franchise with a great brand, a devoted fanbase, growth potential, and great reward because of the history here. It's one of the few jobs like it in sports, and you don't ignore that. That's true for the GM position, the manager position, and tangentially those same qualities make it a rare gig for heck even the beat writer, broadcast jobs, ballpark ops, columnist positions, etc.
Brent: Hi DG, if this team wants to avoid being Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront, what pitching adds to they need to make to get in and succeed in the playoffs? Middle relief, back of bullpen, upgrade a starter? The Memphis starting pitching stats look rough aside from McGreevy.
DG: A seventh inning surefire answer would really change the look of this team, or an eighth inning option that moves Maton, Romero, and Leahy into the earlier inning. A lockdown setup man like, say, Kittredge was, would really alter the look of this team in a way that is both realistic and substantive as a possible trade.
Tackleberry: I remain undecided on Nootbaar’s value? He certainly has shown this season, when healthy, that he is a solid contributor. His ability to get on base at leadoff is very important. But I’m not sure he is special, and it feels like the team would pay him like he was if they bought out his arbitration. Do I want him to be part of this year through the end of the decade? I do, but not on a contract that ownership uses as a reason not to go get the next Goldy or pursue the next Harper.
DG: I can help with that.
Don't expect the Cardinals to pursue the next Bryce Harper as a free agent.
Does that help?
You should want peak Lars Nootbaar to be part of the team for the coming years because he's the outfielder who is going to do what that parade of outfielders did not do in St. Louis and some did elsewhere.
Peter in Cali: Hi Derrick! I wanted to share more of a comment/observation than a question. I feel like Winn doesn’t get the national recognition that he deserves for his arm and defense. I hear so much hype about Oneil Cruz’s rocket arm, which was 2024’s strongest infield arm for highest avg velocity. Watching his highlights though, he often double crow hops to make those jaw-dropping throws (often while making routine plays look difficult). Conversely, Winn gets to his high-velo when he’s off-balance or doesn’t even have his feet set underneath him. If I have a question here, why is this not being discussed amongst local or national baseball media? I feel like Cruz is all hype and no real juice
DG: I would suggest that ONeil is a talented player, so he's not all hype. These two things can coexist -- he can be a lot of hype and also good and also Masyn Winn is getting overlooked nationally. All of that can be true without dismissing ONeil entirely.
El tigre: Your best guess. Are the cardinals buyers or sellers at the deadline
DG: Today they are buyers. If they stay in it like they are now, they're buyers with the green light from ownership to add, per people I've spoken with. That's not a guess. That's a report on where things are right now. But that's right now. Mozeliak has taken to a favorite phrase when asked about the deadline, and he says that he hopes "it's complicated." There are -- as mentioned above -- a lot of games left to play and we cannot guess how those will go.
Matt: Mike Antico has been really good at Memphis (OPS .825). Was there any thought to calling him up when Walker was ILd?
DG: Great question. I haven't had a chance to ask yet, so please keep that in mind. I do know that when Walker went on the IL, the Cardinals were looking to add a right-handed bat and that was the preferred move. Antico is a left-handed bat. Koperniak bats left-handed. Vilade is a right-handed bat, and that was the roster spot/role they had in mind.
JB: Your recent article on what happens when a player gets demoted was excellent. The Cardinals seem to have an action plan for every player to help them improve, and it has paid dividends for some already. How much of a change is this from past seasons?
DG: The number of people involved has grown. The way it is delivered to the players -- written, meeting, etc -- is more detailed. The interaction between the majors and the player development group is stronger due to Cerfolio's presence in STL and also their communication and structure throughout. Those are where some of the changes are this year than previous years. From players, they feel like they're getting more information -- and that's partially because there is an emphasis on getting it to them in whatever way the player best learns, takes info, etc. So it's not just one-size fit all, it's more individual and accessible in that way. That specific part of it -- the individualized approach -- is something that has been in development and improved over the past several years.
Jon: Way too early to say, but could there be a path where a Wild Card ticket can come from the NL Central?
DG: Indeed there can be. As of today there is. And if the teams start to fade or become sellers, then you're looking at more wins to be had at the expense of those teams later in the year that could help.
Bob the Subscriber: Following up on your report that the Cardinals will have the green light to buy if they are in it at the deadline the way that they are right now: Would they entertain trading Helsley for a haul of prospects while simultaneously buying?
DG: They could indeed. What a message that would send. In talking with Mozeliak the other day, he brought that up as something to consider -- not that specific trade, but the message that it would send if they start dealing contributors, key contributors, for the future when the chance to win is there in the now. Helsley would qualify as a real fulcrum in that conversation and what message it would send to the clubhouse.
The message it would send about the priority of the team.
Evan: Is it too early to start imagining what next year's rotation might look like? Will it be as simple as replacing Fedde and Mikolas with McGreevy and Matthews? If this is truly a one-year "reset", this offseason should be the time to make a real move for a front-end starter that consistently misses bats. It was mentioned earlier in this chat how razor-thin the margin of error is for this team on the run prevention end, but how much more effective could this group be as a whole if the pitching staff wasn't at the bottom of the league in strikeouts? What if opposing batters had far fewer chances to put balls in play to challenge this stifling defense? Thanks for the excellent chats as always!
DG: It is not too early.
It's not that simple as one-for-one, no. There are other moves and candidates to consider. Don't discount Kyle Leahy as a challenger for it.
Any increase in strikeout rates is likely going to increase a pitching staff's effectiveness unless it comes at a radical spike in walks and homers as a result. Strikeouts rule. Missing bats is great. But there are few pitchers who do that and so having a great defense behind a staff that gets contact is also a way to contend.
Mike in KC: DeGrom is Lincecum 2.0. A couple of elite seasons. Truly incredible. But limited success otherwise. Injuries hurt DeGrom and losing effectiveness hurt Lincecum. To me, Greinke is the more intriguing HOF candidate.
DG: To me, Greinke is a Hall of Famer. Someone is welcome to take the other side of that argument and make it compelling for me, but he's one of the best pitchers of the past 20 years, has a lot of the impressive counting numbers, has the honors, has the rates, all of it. Not a whole lot of suspense there for me. But someone is welcome to prove me wrong and give me a reason why that's an intriguing debate.
JB: Given the price of impact hitters on the market, how much money does it make sense for the Cardinals to invest to make sure that one or more of Herrera, Walker, Gorman, and Burleson evolve into middle of the order hitters?
DG: A lot. I presume you're talking about investing time, not just money. But yes, time. This is why they're doing that, yep.
Myronjax: Good day, sir. A question about the hitting coach, Brant Brown, and his influence. He has done wonders at the MLB level to date. I recall Mo stating that he wanted the philosophies of Jeff Albert to be the "one voice" heard throughout the organization-from MLB down to Low A Palm Beach. Has the same been applied with Brant Brown and his hitting tendencies. I know it's a lot more detailed, but, in essence "a time to slug and a time to hit" Thanks for any insight.
DG: Yes, Brant Brown is involved in what the Cardinals do throughout the organization, and he has conversations with the hitting coordinators and coaches at the levels below the majors to discuss what hitters need to do, how they need to improve, and what they're going to value. It's different than Albert in this way -- Albert was asked to modernize and build the Cardinals hitting approach and the tech to support it, and he did. There's no question that his influence over the modernizing of the Cardinals hitting facilities, approach, coaching, all of it was clear, and you see in the majors hitters who benefited from what he improved throughout the organization. So Brown has a different starting point and mandate than Albert did when he arrived -- and it took hiring him as the big league hitting coach to get him to STL -- but Brown is involved in the development. All of the major-league staff is.
They were involved in the interview process for the coaches in the minors who share their field of expertise. That was done on purpose to make the interview process part of how they could collaborate and will collaborate with who was hired.
Alan: The team may advertise Gorman's runway, but with so many ahead of him on the taxiway, he seems pertpetually stuck in the terminal. At this point, wouldn't he be better served getting regular reps in AAA until he has a spot available to him to take advantage of his runway?
DG: That is an entirely fair suggestion and one you cold argue strongly. The Cardinals have been resistant to the argument or questions on this topic when presented by reporters because they feel that Gorman can improve more in this role with the big-league team and big-league coaches every day and not playing every day at a level he's already succeeded in.
That's their stance. Your argument is also a strong one, and perhaps another team would side with you on it.
Andy: Will the Cardinals look to add power to their lineup at the trade deadline? I’m not sure how to reconcile this with the need to provide runway to players and the limited spots available on the field as we sit here today. That said, there is a clear need for home run power in this lineup.
DG: I'm not sure where that bat would play at the moment. A corner outfielder? That would nudge ... Scott from the lineup, Walker from the lineup. That's not likely. First base? The Cardinals are doing fine there. DH? Well, Herrera then is out of the lineup -- or is he going to be the catcher to make room for the power. That's one move. But where is the evidence the Cardinals are open to doing that? I can see the benefit and the need. Just hard to see where the fit would be.
Johnny: Is it realistic that the team finds someone to eat a good portion of Arenado's salary? It's ironic to me that even though the Rockies are subsidizing his Cardinals income, we're actually paying an annual rate for what his offense was as a Rockie...not a Cardinal.
DG: Even if they did -- and I'm not sure why the Cardinals would look for that at this point unless they just want to
a) cut more payroll and
b) cut the heart out of the clubhouse
And even then he would have to agree to a trade. And, yep, you described well how contracts work. The Mets are, in part, paying for Soto's production with the Yankees, when you put it that way.
Amir: I myself, among many cardinals fans, are pleasantly surprised with how the season has played out. The most surprising occurrence to me is personally is the play of Miles Mikolas. I would not have believed you if you told me before the season that he would have a 3.53 FIP while consistently keeping the team in games, despite losing a tick off of his fastball velocity. Is it simply that he's being taken out of his starts sooner/before the 3rd time through? Any insight on what else he has been able to do differently?
DG: That is part of it -- and it's strategic in that nature. Wrote a lot about that earlier in the season and spoke with Mikolas about how he'd have to redefine himself. This is a pitcher who named his boat "INNINGS EATER" and yet is going to have to accept that he's going to be less of that this year. And it might make him more effective. The other aspect of it is how he is using his pitches, and where he's putting them. He's going outside of the zone more. His walk rate is about double, for example, and yet that's OK -- he's got to accept that's OK -- because he's starting to get more outs from outside the zone, and that has been the goal.
Ed AuBuchon: The greatest need for the Cardinals is controllable pitching not a homerun bat. Mikolas and Fredde will be gone next year and we have Gray, Palante and ?,?,? !
DG: Matthew Liberatore leaps to mind.
That leaves two spots for Mathews, Graceffo, McGreevy, Leahy, and Co. to compete for unless there is an addition from the outside or a rush into the conversation by, say, Drew Rom and others.
An overthinking fan: Hi Derrick. Herrera has cooled slightly but has been one of the best offensive players when healthy. Pages has struggled a lot offensively for the past month. I appreciate that I don't know the health of Herrera's knee, but why isn't he catching more regularly? That could free up some DH at bats for Gorman (if they really want that) or allow Contreras and Burleson to be in same lineup in the right matchups. Do the pitchers prefer Pages?
DG: Addressed some of that early in the chat, and wrote extensively about it from Baltimore. That article is still available here, and there will be more to come, for sure.
Robert: Derrick: Please know that there are those of us in readerland who greatly appreciate your commitment to accuracy and reporting facts - and abhor the type of inaccuracies and blather that permeates most social media. Your sense of character, professionalism, and dedication to your craft are consistently evident in your work. Thank you for what you do. If you are not doing it, I am likely NOT a subscriber to STLToday.
DG: Thank you, Robert. I really hope people know that I understand how difficult it is these days for readers. I just went to share the link to the chat on Facebook and saw the feed polluted with hogwash. Seriously, some of the stories about the Cardinals presented as news there -- with thousands of likes, dozens of comments -- are just fiction. There is no accountability for peddling it either. I appreciate you saying this because more and more our coverage has to set itself apart by being accurate, thoughtful, factual, and accountable.
Amir: I believe you and others have hinted at the organization considering changing the dimensions of Busch Stadium over the years, though this has never gained real momentum. I personally appreciated how the Orioles recently made the minor adjustment of making their park more of a neutral environment after the initial changes seemed to favor pitching & run prevention more. Why don't the Cardinals move the outfield walls in a bit? It almost seems that current team has given up at going for the long ball and is satisfied with passing the baton, even though that approach seems to be working out fine.
DG: I know that I haven't hinted at it. I flat out reported that they were looking into doing it -- so much so that they approached MLB about what the policy is and how far in advance they would have to make that decision. They also did cost analysis on the construction and they spoke to a few teams that have made the moves -- the Mets, for one -- and the Cardinals studied the fallout from that, benefits and problems. No hints here. Straight up reporting that they were exploring it.
And then they won five Gold Gloves.
And then they looked at unintended consequences and talked to fans about the style of play they enjoy and thought of the team's identity and looked at the market and cost and decided -- hey, being a pitcher friendly ballpark isn't all that bad at all. So they doubled-down on defense and pitching at a time that the farm system wasn't ready to produce the pitching that was needed. Losing ensued. They couldn't outhit the problems because of their ballpark in part, and while they got the one of the most gifted third baseman in the game, he also was one of the most accomplished pull-side hitters, and this is a ballpark that isn't all that friendly to pull-side right-handed hitters. And that is where they are now.
They are, this year, playing a game that fits their ballpark -- fits any ballpark, really, but theirs snugly -- and they're cranking doubles, they're stealing hit, and if they become a better baserunning team that is BuschBall.
Robert: Hello Mr. Goold: Are the Cardinals in communication with Ryan Helsley's agent on an extension, or has that ship passed? What would a possible new contract /extension for him look like (Cards or other teams)? 4 yrs/$80 million? 6/120? Do you know Chaim Bloom's philosophy regarding signing high-end closers? Is it possible the assumption of the Birds automatically trading Ryan is inaccurate, especially given the play of the team?
DG: There's a lot packed into this series of questions. Let's try to tackle it one by one. 1) At last check, they are not, but that does not mean that the ship has passed. Helsley remains open to that conversation, and as long as he is open to it the possibility exists for the team to engage in the talks. 2) The highest paid reliever right now is around $20m, and believe you're looking at more than $16m for Helsley, so adjust the offer accordingly around a 4-year, 5th option or 5-year deal. 3) Only at the surface, and it is subject to change based on the individual reliever. He recognizes the volatility of the role and values spending on it accordingly. 4) I think it is unwise to assume that he will be traded as a given. They could also give him a qualifying offer and recoup a draft pick if he finishes the whole season here, and that makes sense, too.
Glenn: I have wondered about Roku's excessive commercials (for Roku programming) toward the late innings of the game yesterday. Has anyone else remarked on that. The Rangers made a pitching change around the top of the seventh, and the parade of commercials kept going and going. When they came back to the game, it was the next half inning already. This continued during each subsequent break. I started to follow the game on the Gameday app on my phone and quit when the score was score was 5-1 or so. But that practice of long, long commercial breaks did not happen in the early or middle innings. I was just wondering. . . .
DG: I'm flattered that you think I would have any sort of answer at all about it. But commercials on the broadcast are way out of my area, not even the same medium, and I am not sure I would have even accidentally stumbled into any sort of expertise to comment on this at all.
imetsatchelpaige: Your chat is such a welcome distraction to another Monday morning-our collective thanks. After very hot and promising starts, Hererra and Scott2 have cooled. Is this simply a matter of the book finally being out on them, or is it something else?
DG: It's more than than anything. Scott has already had the shift, and he countered, and now he's in the process of doing so again. Look at how he adjusted to more off-speed stuff, and consider that he's also getting these starts and those at-bats against lefty pitchers. So it's expected. Herrera cooled from molten hot to just leading. Relative is important here.
EEG: Are there any Cardinals fans in Tahiti? Asking for a friend.
DG: With so much else to see and do there? Perhaps. There may have been one download of the Best Podcast in Baseball from that area. I can only imagine that it was someone who needed company and comfort while snorkeling with all of the sharks.
Ed AuBuchon: How could I forget Liberatore but the arms you mentioned are unproven. A few years ago Flaherty and Hudson were promising arms.
DG: And a few years from now, two other draft picks will be. Time is a flat circle. And not all prospects work out to be exactly as expected. That is when teams like the Rockies happen.
Ben: Hey DG, found the Vilade move curious. If they were looking to get Gorman more AB's with Walker out, wouldn't Baker have been the more logical move? Burly/Donovan get more time in the OF while Gorman gets more AB's at 2nd?
DG: It's been two days. That is indeed one possible outcome of where this is headed for the next three days.
rhinsd: Although current results are above expectations, could you imagine if they kept the 2025 version of Goldschmnidt and have Herrera and Contreas alternate between catching and DH?
DG: They might not have signed Phil Maton.
The 2025 version of Paul Goldschmidt is doing quite well. Not sure he'd be hitting leadoff for the Cardinals, though ...
Mike in KC: Amazing that it took them this long to figure out that playing for HR launch angle at Busch was/is a mistake. Contact, contact, contact. It's been obvious this was the need for a decade...since the Royals provided the blueprint in 2014-2015...and yet we continued to double down on power. The team this year is so much fun, in part, due to the contact mindset.
DG: It didn't take them this long to figure it out. It took them time to execute it. They've been looking for this kind of offense for years. And it wasn't that long ago they saw how it worked. Check out that 2013 team's production.
Well, I guess 2013 was awhile ago.
Jon: Thank you for all the time you give to your job. You're one of the best around.
DG: Thank you, Jon. That is appreciated.
First Time Caller: Picking up on the Rockies discussion earlier, one problem with embracing the tank is the CBA rule limiting a team to two lottery picks in a row. So this year, while the Rockies potentially post the worst record and run differential ever, their reward is picking no higher than 10th next year.
Of course, while that's a certainty for the 2026 draft, anything after that is subject to change pending the Great CBA Lockout after next season.
DG: All the more reason to open the doors and trade for the talent you won't be able to draft. I'm not saying the embrace the tank for years to come. I'm saying they've already tanked, they're off to a historically terrible start, and what's going to be the difference for them if they win 25 games or 35 games or 45 games? Trade the players now for what they cannot draft: depth, upside, quantity. It's that bad.
Mike in KC: I was at the game last Sunday when Arenado made the career highlight reel catch into the stands in foul territory. All of those sitting around us were confused by the runners advancing. We've seen many catches over the years with players diving or falling into the stands or dugouts and couldn't remember runners ever being awarded a base because of it. Is that a new rule? Or what was the nuance of this particular catch that allowed that to happen?
DG: It is the farthest from a new rule. It has to do with him throwing the ball back into the field of play. If he goes into the dugout and tosses the ball back from the dugout, same thing would happen. If he went into the net, made the catch, and then came out, planted his foot in the field of play -- and then threw the ball. No advance. That's a legal throw. It has to do with the fact that he did not return to the field of play before making the throw. You may have seen this before -- but it likely would have been with a catcher on the steps of the dugout or somewhere in that area.
Quick aside: This is why Arizona challenged the play. It came across as silly at the time because the Diamondbacks said they were challenging the catch -- and c'mon that catch was clear and obvious and what are you doing? But they were challenging the continuation of play and started at the beginning of the play so that they could then get to the point that replay determined where the runners could go because the throw was from out of bounds. That makes sense. Good challenge, Arizona.
Warren: I'll be attending my first game at Coors Field this summer. Any "must dos" at the ballpark or surrounding area?
DG: Wander. Check out LoDo. Visit Tattered Cover. Maybe grab a few baseball postcards there and send them to friends. Get a burger at Cherry Cricket. There are a few breweries are there that are also solid, if you're interested and old enough, all within walking distance. Be sure to go out and view the bullpens with the mountain/pine scene. Try a tornadough at the ballpark. There's not a Beau Jo's pizza nearby, but it's worth seeking one out. You could also visit the great town of Boulder, Pearl Street and wave as you pass by where I grew up. Closer to the ballpark, there's breakfast joint Snooze, and not too far is Union Station with a lot to do there. That was my first view of Denver -- we took the train there when we moved, but you didn't ask for an origin story, so I'll stop there.
Tim from NJ: Are the Cardinals just as willing today to trade Arenado as they were before the season began? If so, would it be only to shed payroll because they have seen enough of Gorman? If Arenado plays out his contract who would the Cardinals have developed as their next long term third baseman?
DG: What a great question, just really strikes at the core of what's happening here and where the Cardinals' priorities there and if results on the field have changed them. I've been wondering and asking around about this here recently, and I don't get good answers. The one that really had any gravity was the description that it would be Bloom's to revisit -- and that suggests it's an offseason discussion, not an active in-season goal. Could a phone change that? Perhaps. This is currently the stance because they're not getting interest from teams in him -- so is it that they're not courting that interest or there isn't that interest, and I really think its some blend of both, but not 50/50. It does seem at the moment more like they'll take a phone call, not make a phone call. They also no there are so few places he'd accept a trade and there are so few reasons for them now -- other than just cutting payroll -- to make that trade. Again, he enjoys being a Cardinal. He enjoys winning. They're currently doing both. He would enjoy being more productive at the plate and a part of doing both, obviously.
Less of a concern is developing the third baseman of the future who takes over whenever Arenado leaves. That isn't like some pressing, urgent, concern. It just isn't. They have Donovan who can play there and Saggese at second. Look up when Arenado leaves and it could be Wetherholt there at third. They have options there at the corner that are developing right along and could be ready when they are.
Jon: Best NL team you've seen so far?
DG: Probably the Mets, but it should have been the Phillies. Haven't gone west yet.
I am going with in person. I've seen all the teams play on TV, so that would widen the answer to the usual suspects.
Ed AuBuchon: Derrick had to google "time is a flat circle", thanks
DG: You're welcome.
MS Bird Brain: This is probably old business, but I keep wondering why they aren't extending some of their young core position players? Donovan, Winn, maybe Nootbar? Pitching is riskier, but how about Palante and Libby? I'd even say Herrera now. It seems like part of the forumula of successful mid-market teams. Is the upcoming transfer of power the reason?
DG: It is indeed the upcoming transfer of power. This is was the subject of an article in the Post-Dispatch from earlier this season -- right from the beginning, honestly, of the season, as Mozeliak said he wanted to create a way for Bloom to start fresh, make those calls, have this season of info, and know the direction the team is going.
The one extension conversation that seemed outside of that was Donovan. Both the player and the team were open to a conversation about an extension at the end of this past season, and there was some discussion about that. It just didn't have any traction between the Cardinals and Donovan's representatives as arbitration neared, arrived, and determined his salary.
Ben: What I wouldn't give for that Brendon Donovan extension to have happened this past offseason to ensure he's a staple on this team for the next 5 years, at least....
DG: There was conversation. There was progress. But then there wasn't -- and an arbitration hearing happened. Expect both sides to take another run here at some point, with Bloom involved in where that goes.
Robert: Mr G: Which of the Cardinals catchers (rostered and minor leaguers) will command the best return via trade, and given the surplus, wouldn't management be prudent to take advantage of this surplus by trading at least one?
DG: Ivan Herrera would. Full stop. That is the young catcher in the Cardinals organization that teams have asked about have tried to trade, using Jimmy Crooks rise as a reason for asking, as an example. In the coming month, it will be clearer if Crooks or Bernal draw the same kind of attention. Bernal's profile is rising.
Jody: Clearly, the Cards are better than expected. If they make the playoffs, do you think Bloom sticks with Oli? Conversely, if they don't get in, will Oli be here in 2016?
DG: It's a fair question. I don't know. Marmol is under contract for 2026, and really when it comes to the decision it could be ownership's, and we all know -- or, I hope you know by now after all these chats -- how DeWitt prefers to avoid firing people. Contracts play out. Team moves on. Marmol and Bloom have a developing relationship, and it's good by all descriptions and also indications. It's not clear if Bloom would see success in 2025 as a one-off (an outlier) or if he sees it as a starting point that gives them a head start. That makes sense in May, and it will be clear by November.
From experience, might I suggest that answers to questions like this are obvious when they have to be made because we have more information at the time and performance makes it clear.
larry harnly: do oli and mo talk daily? do you think mo critiques oli? does mo ever give oli a lineup to use?
DG: Yes. Yes. No.
South City Steve: At what point does your DeGrom analysis converge with a Lincecum debate?
DG: I wasn't aware there was a Lincecum debate.
Ray Jay: OK, call me a cranky old man but I miss the old days in terms of scheduling. Some interleague play is nice, I guess, but I would rather be playing the division foes more often. I can watch Tigers, Rangers, etc. on tv if I'm that interested. Here we are the 1st of June and the Cards haven't played the Cubs yet.
DG: I understand where you're coming from, and there is a great appeal to more division games -- and certainly having them early in the season. It is silly the Cardinals haven't played the Cubs yet and it's almost Flag Day. That said, I think it's a mistake if MLB doesn't have Aaron Judge visit Dodger Stadium more than once every six years, and doesn't have Shohei Ohtani visit Fenway Park once every six years, and so on. Cardinals fans should feel this one deeply given how it took so long for Albert Pujols to return to STL with the Angels. That shouldn't happen, and if it takes fewer division games to make certain that doesn't happen, then it's worth it for Paul Skenes to pitch on the South Side and Julio Rodriguez to play on the North Side, and Judge to finally hit a homer at Busch Stadium -- or maybe not, maybe never, but it won't be because he never visited.
Ken: Hi Derrick. I’m really surprised at how well the team is performing (the hitting seems to have cooled a little). Anyway this team is really fun to watch. With that said we’re flying up to see the Cubs series. Is the team seeing any turn up in attendance ?
DG: The team is indeed. There was an uptick in sales for the Arizona series, and development a strong uptick in atmosphere. It was a good vibe at the ballpark, for sure. And the Cardinals are also seeing an improvement in butts in seats. They had a high rate earlier in the season -- but that corresponded with fewer tickets sold, so higher percentage showed up. Now they're seeing more turnstile twists, too. This KC series will be interesting -- and then comes the Dodgers.
Marc: If the Cardinals are in the mix come the trade deadline, are their still some trades they might seek given "logjam" situations? For example, Gorman being sorta blocked for playing time, or in the longer term, the number of good catching prospects coming up for example.
DG: For sure. That is an area of interest for them, and it could be where they find the most action -- it's where they did a year ago, too, flipping a major-league player for a major-league pitcher and major-league outfielder. That is a good way to describe one approach they'll have at the deadline, and it really is independent of the standings. They'll look for deals like that -- just the return will be different based on the standings.
Ron: What's the FO plan for deadline? Sell out expiring contract and wipe slate clean?
DG: Not at the moment, no.
If you have the time and interest, Mozeliak spoke to me about that in Baltimore, and he was the one that took the conversation in that direction. I was more interested in if the Orioles were a cautionary tale of trying to line up spending with contention. Here is that story.
DenMizzou: Hello, Mr. Goold. Thank you for the chat. What do you see as the biggest issue facing MLB today: the huge economic disparity between big-market and small-market teams, the alarming number of injuries to pitchers, the possibility of a work stoppage following the 2026 season, or something else? Thanks.
DG: The widening financial gulch between teams and how it's growing exponentially with the Dodgers outpacing whole divisions of teams, not just individual teams. That's a huge issue because it can suppress spending elsewhere when teams feel they need to "get hot" or "get lucky" and not just "get better," than slimming the benefit for teams to improve upon an 88-win team to make it into a 95-win team. Just as an example. That is having a real chilling effect on how teams view their ability to contend through spending.
The other major one is the TV deal, and not just because it's cratered and teams are scrambling to recreate what was a jackpot for revenues. No, the bigger deal is reaching fans. All games need to be available to all fans when they want them, and MLB is headed that way, it is, but it may not be until 2028 that it gets there. This needs to be accelerated so that it can create more fans by reaching them.
milyabe: Forgive me if I'm remembering incorrectly, but I think you mused on BPIB in the off-season that if Nolan stayed, the team might take on some of his personality. It does seem like the team has adopted his approach... his intensity, attention to defense, ability to tune out the noise, and his incessant drive to win. How much do you think the team's style of play this year is being driven by Nolan's decision to stay? It's just fascinating to me in light of all the talk of leadership last year, to see Nolan as the emotional leader and speculate how he influences the culture just with his presence.
DG: I think there is something to it. I did not mention that on BPIB offhandedly, and I've had conversations with other folks in baseball about how the Cardinals would be a better team if they adopted some of Arenado's traits on the field. That doesn't mean looking to him to be some vocal leader in the clubhouse. These are different things. Some lead by doing. Some lead by saying. Some lead by showing. And it does feel like the Cardinals not trading him -- or rather him saying he'd rather stay than be with Houston is a factor in what has brought this team together. It had a galvanizing effect. Players like having him around. Players like proving people wrong. They get to do both so far with this start.
Ryan: There's a word from Cardinals FO that goes over like a lead balloon. John Mo talking about messaging. Did you crack a wry smile like he does when he said that or did you say now John, your setting yourself up for backlash here?
DG: You haven't heard on Twitter/X? I don't smile. Ever. I'm so out of practice I wouldn't even know how to pull off a wry one. It might accidentally look prom photo smile.
Sue: Hi Derrick. Just joining so I apologize if this has been asked. Marmol has said its a balancing act providing all the players that need it runway to see what they have. It seems Gorman is the one consistenly pinched when it comes to playing time. With Walker out for 10 days, why not move Donovan to left and let Gorman have all those games for at least a short runway? I dont understand why Burleson is getting the at bats, rather than Gorman. Am I missing something? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks for the chat and all the excellent Cardinals coverage!
DG: That is definitely on the table, and it could be something you see more often in the coming days. The Royals have a right-hander announced as the starter Tuesday, so that makes sense as the lineup you'll see that day. Or something similar. A lefty on Wednesday, so maybe that's not the day you see Gorman. But over the course of the time without Walker it wouldn't surprise anyone if this lineup you describe is the one that happens most often and that Gorman does get that look with the available ABs. There are still seven days to go.
Mark: does at least recent lack of frequency of usage of Gorman, and especially Barerro, lag behind reserves of past seasons? Seems the lineup has been mostly static. Doesn't bode well for the upcoming extensive grind of a schedule.
DG: You're correct: The Cardinals, along with many teams, will use a different lineup several games in a row when they have off days vs. the lineup mixing they'll do with a long stretch of games. I'm not sure how you'd approach it any other way. Imagine if a team with three off days in 20 days said, welp, we're going to use the same lineup matrix we would for 20 consecutive days of games and go with fewer at-bats for our best players even though they're getting plenty of rest on the off days. We're going to impose off days on ourselves. Imagine how fans would react! Holy crud. Put this lineup question in the folder of CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE or the only thing everyday about a lineup these days is complaining about it.
Let's dig into the numbers about your assertion.
Jose Barrero is obviously not playing all that much. Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II are, so that's the reason. What about Gorman, though? That's a really interesting one. Gorman has 107 plate appearances in the first two months of the season. If he maintains that pace -- which does include a stint on the injured list -- then you're talking about 300 plate appearances this season. That would rank 10th last season, just being Michael Siani. Would you consider Siani a bench player from the 2024 team or an part-time player? Take into consideration the time missed for injury, and you're looking at a 350-400 plate appearance season for Gorman and 402 is what he had last season. Not what was advertised, but more than collecting rust from a lack of use on the bench.
Mike in KC: Couldn't Walker also be an option? Isn't 3rd his natural position? (Of course he hasn't played there in a number of years now...)
DG: When Jordan Walker played third in the minors, scouts and evaluators believed he would be best suited as a corner outfielder. That is what has happened. That is what was expected.
Mike in KC: Thanks for this explanation. This makes sense. Appreciate it -- and all you do. We're a lucky fan base: not only for the team on the field that generally contends year in and year out, but also for the great baseball writer's we've had at the Post. Broeg, Strauss, Hummel, Miklasz, and, yes, Derrick Goold. We've got it good in The Lou!
DG: And thanks for the compliment, Mike. Much appreciated. Some big names there for sure.
It was quite a time in the press box when four of us were covering playoff games together, side by side. Brought out the best in me, for sure.
Ken: When we came up from Fla the last time BPV was fairly new ( more than 10 years). What’s really interesting is the amount of people that come down here for Spring training. Anyway a baseball question : if the team keeps this up is the rebuld, reset or transition over ?
DG: I do expect them to unveil a new buzzword for the season, yes. They tried "reset," and now we're in the "Transition" Era. We'll see some potential re-branding phrases focus-grouped ... "opportunistic" is a classic, but do they try for something new. "Multitasking" may be too corporate. "Youngry" has legs, and "Yungry" is trademarked by Victor Scott II. So maybe that's the one the front office adopts.
Max: Not a question, just a disappointed note that the Cardinals haven’t followed the lead of multiple other teams and MLB’s main office in recognizing Pride Month as of yet. Wish I could say I was surprised.
DG: Do you mean on social media? The Cardinals have a Pride Night. It's Friday night at the ballpark against the Dodgers. There is a theme ticket of course to get the giveaway. But the evening is set up as a Pride Night for their usual Friday night festivities, so Bud Terrace will be that pre-game party area. Plus, they're advertising that a portion of the tickets sold will go to a charity: "... Will be donated STL GLASS. STL GLASS is a local non-profit dedicated to promoting and facilitating amateur athletic competition, particularly softball for all persons, with an emphasis on participation of members of the LGBTQ+ communities. STL GLASS is a member of iPride Softball."
JB: Which Cardinals position player and pitcher who is currently on the 40-man roster does the team think has the highest ceiling?
DG: Jordan Walker.
Jeff: Thank you for your cgats, Derrick. Always informative. Is there a noticeable decline in Kyle Leahy's fastball?
DG: The velocity on it it dipped in his most recent appearance. At least from May. It was up in May to 95.5 mph, on average. So the dip here is returning to what it was in April and not what it was throughout last season. I'm looking through the behavior of the pitch and not seeing a significant change in actual break, induced break, or expected slugging. But the velocity is where the change is that I saw giving it a quick glance.
Simple.10: DG - Who is currently on the committee that will vote on Joe Jackson's and Pete Rose's HOF inclusion? When is that vote next scheduled?
DG: I don't believe that committee has been paneled yet. It is set to meet in December to vote. So it will be right ahead of the winter meetings.
pugger: Bid D!!! Thanks for the chats Derrick. What moves do the Cardinals make if they have 2 of their starters go down. Or trade one (Fedde) then 1 other goes down unexpectedly?? Does Matthews still have a shot at making a '25 appearance, or is that wishful thinking? Thanks!
DG: In that scenario, Mathews absolutely would be part of the conversation. McGreevy replaces one starter. Matz replaces the other. And then see where the Cardinals go from there.
Paul W.: The Iowa baseball Confederacy... I haven't read that book in forever. I might need to pull it out this summer.
DG: I too plan to revisit it this summer.
U R ON THE INTERNET BUDDY: Thank you for tolerating the riffraff on social media and for being accessible. Which catcher in the Cardinals system has the highest ceiling?
DG: Herrera is viewed as the top hitter. Crooks is considered well-rounded. Bernal is behind Crooks defensively and behind Herrera offensively, but could gain ground as he moves up to be the one with the more well-rounded game. So early with Rodriguez to know. His bat is ahead of the level, well, every level he's been. Let's revisit this question a year from now to see if Herrera is still a catcher and if Rodriguez or Bernal is the answer.
Mike Eichholz: It seems like at the beginning of every season over the last few years I see both the national and local sports writers state that the NL central is weak again so even though one team or another might be a favorite, the division title is up for grabs. Additionally, I see text like; “NL central teams have an easier road to the wildcard because they can feast on teams within their division”. While this appears, at least to me, to be a clear perception among the media, I don’t think the data support the perception. Because the schedules should be balanced between the number of games played within a division vs outside the division for each team, thus games within a division cancel each other out, a good index of how well each division is competing against other divisions should be total wins for teams in each division. In other words, you should be able to compare the total number of wins for all the teams in the NL central, to the total wins of all the teams in the NL East to determine which division performed best in a given year. If you make this comparison, as you might expect, of the 6 divisions, the AL East comes in first place every year from 2021-2024 with the exception of 2024 when the NL west beat them by 1 game and the NL west fishes in 2nd place in most recent years. What I found surprising based on common perception is the NL central does much better than we may expect finishing 4th in 2021, 6th in 2022, tied for 3rd with the NL west in 2023, and 3rd in 2024 (currently leading all divisions in 2025 but my impression is ...
DG: I appreciate the research and the thought behind setting up that way measuring the divisions. The NL Central tends to be bottom-heavy, meaning the team at the bottom is a real drag. But the days of it producing so many playoff teams just because it has tankers is gone with the Astros, to be honest. The division is just parity (not parody), which is a problem if you're a Cubs fan and it's been great if you're a Brewers fan. Still, there is a reason why the AL Central sent three teams into the playoffs a year ago, and that is because they got to feast on the White Sox. This year, the NL West gets to pick at the Rockies for wins, and that could make it difficult for the Cardinals or another NL Central or NL East team to compete with fewer wins on the table from the bottom of the standings.
JB: If the Cardinals keep up their current state of play and are in the race for a wild card spot or the division, what is their most likely strategy at the trade deadline?
DG: Augment.
Jon: With the columns online recently about the best players/teams of the century so far, who would you consider to be some of the most underrated Cardinals over the past 25 years?
DG: Ryan Ludwick.
Kyle Lohse.
Tommy Pham.
Those are the three that come to mind.
Jon: Thank you thank you thank you for such great coverage of the Cardinals and baseball online and in the PD. I apologize if this has been asked previously in chats, but are the box scores not returning to the print editions (due to the earlier print deadlines). Any news on how the Friday night Cardinals' games on local television stations have been received ratings wise? Thanks!
DG: That is correct about box scores, and that is disappointing for box score fans like myself. I am there with those who are frustrated -- and I understand why with the deadlines and the space. It does allow us to commit space and attention to coverage when box scores are readily available elsewhere. We're already using that space to bring more coverage to the paper as some articles that were previously exclusive to the web are appearing in print. That's a good thing. I grew up clipping box scores. I still have some of my notebooks with box scores from my youth in them. My fondness for newspapers stems in part from my fondness for box scores, and so it's not a leap to say that my pursuit of covering baseball for a newspaper has its roots in the ink under my fingernails from reading and clipping and highlighting and decoding and memorizing box scores.
I know that Dan Caesar has been tracking the ratings and keeps tabs on that. Look for his coverage on that in the near future.
v: Thanks for the chat DG. Is it weird that I was happy to see that Bernal had a big day, but then I looked to see if Springfield might have been playing the Cubs? This if for fear that, having played all the AAA teams in May, are they now working their way thru AA in June? Do you have some insight on the standings vs the schedule? Please tell me that this schedule will come out even in the end!
DG: A quick check of FanGraphs strength of schedule and the Cardinals and Cubs are tied for the lowest strength of schedule from here till the end in the NL Central. Their opponents have a combined losing record, and they're the only NL Central teams who can say that.
JB: Enjoyed the recent discussion on your podcast about the Cardinals’ homegrown offensive talent and future lineup. Walker and Gorman seem to be the two players in the organization that have the power potential to take this offense from good to elite. The Cardinals still seem to be all in on giving Walker time to develop that potential as a hitter. But what is the plan for Gorman? Is he going to get another run in the lineup with Walker out now? Are they hoping to make progress with him behind the scenes even if he isn’t getting regular at bats? Their actions suggest that he is the odd man out and that he may be moved in a transaction similar to what they did with Carlson last year.
DG: Yes to all of those things. One thing that influenced Gorman's situation more than anything Walker had to deal with is the Cardinals were not able to deal Nolan Arenado. Oh, and Victor Scott II won center field. Those two things are influencing the playing time. And, as mentioned earlier, Herrera at DH.
South City Steve: There are a lot of contract decisions coming with arbitration/pre-arbitration players. In the latter half of the Mozeliak Era building a competitive roster has too often taken a back seat to maintaining roster harmony and continuity, often by prematurely signing/overpaying mid-level talent who fits the team’s desired culture. They have signed and extended a lot of “good guys” and a lot less “good ballplayers.” Do you see that shifting under Bloom?
DG: Not as much as you'd expect because the ownership that's directed some of those moves will remain the same. The front office takes on the priority of the ownership as you'll recall. There was a time when ownership made a point about wanting to keep "legacy" players in the wake of losing Pujols. Extensions followed. And the reasons you gave sure sound like what ownership prioritized. That is shifting, but keeping players and culture and continuity -- those are words DeWitt has described for what he values.
Ken: Jordan walker is going to be a star. Lost in the outfield. Fixed. To many grounders fixed. He is starting to hit line drives .
DG: The chat is nearing an end with upbeat comments. Who had that on their bingo card for June 2?
Mike in KC: The Cardinals historic 110 year run of having a HOF player on their roster could end when Arenado's time as a Cardinal ends -- for whatever reason. (And this assumes Yadi is elected to the HOF and that the Cards don't sign an obvious HOFer.) Which players on the roster currently do you think have the best chance -- which could allow the run to continue?
DG: To be determined. It is far, far, far, far, far, far, far too early to be putting such expectations on these players. Not sure when you hoisted the Hall of Fame tag on Albert Pujols, but I doubt it was 2004, though maybe it was ... Anyway, yes, that run that goes beyond 110 years all the way back to Roger Bresnahan I believe, could end -- and we'll only know in hindsight.
milyabe: The Brewers are on a roll. It's interesting to see national media quickly pick up on that, while the Cardinals' longer streak earlier this year got less attention. Do you think that's just a function of their relative pre-season expectations? It seems to me there are lots of great stories to tell with the Cardinals, and of course the Cardinals draw clicks and eyes. I'm just surprised they still seem to be flying under the radar (no pun intended).
DG: I thought the Cardinals' winning streak got ample national attention. Heck, even today they were featured prominently as a team to talk about MLB Network. I'm not sure what the basis would be to suggest Milwaukee has gotten more attention than the Cardinals, because from what I've recalled and read, that hasn't been the case.
Mike in KC: If -- and it's a big if -- the HOF inducts Rose and/or Shoeless Joe, will they put the transgressions on the plaque? Although I know you won't be able to vote for them since they are 10 years after their playing career, would you and other voters have any input on that decision? Or is that up to the HOF board (or whatever the governing body is called)? To me, it'd be a shame to put them in and completely ignore the reasons for their ban.
DG: The Hall has not said. To the best of my knowledge, the writers will not be consulted about what goes on the plaques. Our influence would only be what we write and how much that shapes the Hall's thinking.
CardsFanDC: Seems to me like the team has enough ABs across enough situations across two years to know what it has with Alec Burleson: a valuable LH contact bat that is around 4% above league average offensively with improving but still below average defensive skills. A valuable piece of a good team. It seems to me that the team does not yet know what it has in Gorman. Wouldn't it make more sense right now to be giving ABs to Gorman that are presently going to Burleson to determine what we have? Feels like we need to invest and get a dividend or invest and take a loss and then move on. I don't see that as giving up on Burleson - I see it as finding out what we have in Gorman. The answer to Gorman changes quite a few things about next year. The team already reasonably knows what it has and what it doesn't in Burleson. Thanks for the chats.
DG: It is such a fascinating comparison because Gorman, the younger of the two by about a year, has 1,300 plate appearances in the majors and more home runs in a single season than Burleson has over the past two. Burleson has 1,200 plate appearances. So, how is one already clear and the other still such an unknown? Has to be the power profile if you're making that case.
In his past 201 games, Burleson has a .271/.317/.417 slash line for a .734 OPS and production that is 4% greater than league average to go with 25 home runs. From 2023-24, Gorman has 226 games, 866 plate appearances to Burleson's 760, and then a slash line of .220/.301/.441 for a .742 OPS that is 2% greater than league average in that span. They sure seem closer than it would appear. Gorman hit 46 homers in that span, nearly twice as many as Burleson. Power is a separator. Position is too as Gorman can play third and second. To me, it's more likely that if you know what you have in one, you know what you have in the other -- and committing to one over the other is a tacit admission on who is going to get closer to their potential, not who has more potential.
Paul W.: The HoF streak is one reason why I was happy to see Arenado stick around. But as I recall, the streak passes through LaRussa for a few season before Pujols joined the club, so there is already a slight asterisk next to it as far as players are active concerned.
DG: OK. The streak starts with a player/manager, so having a manager as a part of it doesn't seem so out of the realm to me. Hall of Famer in uniform.
Mike in KC: Of course it's far, far, far, far, far too early! But isn't that the fun of prediction? I'm not saying you'll walk into the clubhouse and tell him you just picked him for the Hall... but you watch a ton of baseball and thought you might just want to say something like, "it's far, far, far, far, too early to be putting such expectations...but if he keeps it up, what I've seen so far of [player] could put him in the discussion." (But I certainly understand if you aren't willing to do so.)
DG: I think it's unfair because it will either be used against me or against the player if it's remembered at all, so why do it? There are many other ways to look at this question and explore the Hall of Fame candidacy of players. But players have to reach 10 years to even be eligible -- predicting who has a 10-year career in the majors is hard enough when you're talking about players so young, so early in their careers. I think it's possible Sonny Gray may emerge as the answer -- but we'll only know that in hindsight. The prediction is likely to be wrong as soon as I utter it.
Again, I get it. It would be a real gas to just predict Hall of Fame players and headline-grabbing trades, and all that. I see other folks have a real blast doing it. That's not what you expect from me.
Or, if it is, then I'll only disappoint.
And there are plenty of other places you can go for predictions that entertain for a few minutes but are made of helium with no gravity.
MS Bird Brain: Palacios, O'Brien, Siani, Roycroft, Barrero, Fernandez, Pozo, Maton please feel free to continue. Have we given Mo enough credit for using the last couple years of roster opportunity to find valuable players for essentially nothing? I'm not even talking low hanging fruit here.
DG: It's an interesting premise because the criticism has been for not adding the additional star player, impact player, big free-agent player, and never for the success they've had adding complementary players. I get it. The criticism is fair from the fans. The reputation is fair within the industry. And your list helps illustrate the difference in those two views.
Ben: I've been thinking about the approach to the trade deadline, and how the FO envisions it, specifically with Gorman and Walker in mind. Do you think this group would entertain trades involving them, like they apparently haven't done so previously, or do they still appear to be off limits (or as much as any player is an "nonstarter" in trades these days)?
DG: Not Walker, no.
Jeff: Paul Goldschmidt- a resurgence, an early season quirk, better pitches to hit due to Yankee lineup, or something else?
DG: Better ballpark for him to call him. Adjustment to swing. All of it.
Wally: Could you say that Chase Bloom’s involvement in the decision making is already producing results? If so, would it be safe to say that MO should have been replaced a few years ago.
DG: Yes, Chaim Bloom's decision making is already making an impact. That is by design. It should. He was hired to improve the development and he hired Rob Cerfolio to improve player development, and that wasn't not supposed to wait until 2026 to produce. Bloom's influence is being felt at the big league level already.
Ed AuBuchon: Had to step away for a while , Wainwrights 200th victory was special but his last season was wasn't.
DG: But his last pitch was.
MS Bird Brain: With apologies to the source I am failing to credit, I picked up somewhere from the coverage of the Detroit series that the Tigers were both buyers and sellers at the deadline last year. Well they are in the mix again this year! Let's call them "get betterers". We should look at that and emulate it. As a long term fan be it known that I have the patience for the Cards to fall into that category. It may be they are in the playoff mix, but they will also have several veterans with expiring contracts. I think our "runway" should point to the World Series, not just the playoffs. If the Cards can turn some short term players into young pitching depth, for example, while giving a promising young player a chance, I say go for it. It could even improve the chances of succeeding in the playoffs.
DG: Whatever happens, it's going to make for a compelling and interesting July and there will be people furious about it, and there will be people vocal about it, and there will be a chat every where for all of us to talk about it.
Easy Ed - former batboy: Hey Derrick, thanks for the great writing. I really enjoy your metaphors and illustion. I am excited about the possibilities for this year's team, especially the youngsters and I've been a huge Donovan fan for years. He's a real baseball player. One minor issue: In the boxscore, they do put "S" for saves, but it ought not to be in the same format as won-lost. Instead of 5-7, it ought be be 5:7 or 5/7, some ratio. Keep up the great work.
DG: Thanks for the kind words. That makes sense. Some change in that punctuation would make it clear, for sure.
South City Steve: Since you are not a Cardinals fan you can answer this totally objectively; would still move key pieces at the deadline to benefit your farm system long-term, even if this team continues to compete at this clip? We always talk about this team being stuck in the middle, losing in the Wild Card and then extending a handful of QOs (or has you have outlined w/Fedde or Matz NOT doing that for fear of them accepting) would be an awful, awful outcome.
DG: The team's play, thus far, has earned the same effort by the front office to support and strengthen the roster. Regardless of what team, I like looking at the trade deadline through the lens of what is possible and what is earned. Meritocracy, in a way. This team has played well and if it continues to play this well, defying the expectations, then it should be rewarded by the same show of performance by the front office. And if the front office pulls the plug on now for the benefit of later, the backlash from the clubhouse after playing like this would be significant, and the fallout with fans something to watch.
Dan: Do you see the Cardinals not making any big deals or free agent signings in this offseason as well? Do they see a likely strike on the horizon and maybe position themselves to come out of that timeframe a little stronger?
DG: You outline it well. It could be another quiet winter when it comes to the big splash pursuits, and it could be coming out of the next CBA that the Cardinals make clear whether they'll be a player for high-shelf free agents or not.
Tackleberry: But is what we are seeing peak Nootbaar? Because the pepper-grinding post-WBC player this team sold fans on had a much higher peak. I’m totally fine if this is his peak, I’m just saying let’s not pay him like there’s another level. That optimism/miscalculation has plagued this FO for the last decade.
DG: I didn't say it was. In fact, I said something quite different than that. I suggested you don't want it to be with another team, and he's the one who could be peak with the Cardinals. That is something fans should welcome because peak is better than this.
Brian: If I recall, Helsley has expressed a desire to start in the past. Is that still a goal of his, and would the Cards consider that as a way to sign him long-term, a la recent deals like Hicks, Holmes and others? Maybe that could minimize the risk some of giving a big deal to a reliever.
DG: I like how you put that because it's very thoughtful -- that the many things he could do would minimize the risk. It's the other side of what the Cardinals have experienced with Steven Matz. Signed as a starter, his deal isn't so bad for a reliever. As of right now, Helsley's digging being a closer, so the start stuff hasn't come up recently. As a free agent, he may have that choice -- as Hicks did, as Holmes did. Hicks is back in relief. Holmes had a good start with the Mets. You bring up an interesting aspect of Helsley's free agency, but it just hasn't been mentioned by him, not yet.
Bob the Subscriber: Hi DG, thanks for the chat. Can you offer any insight to Joshua Baez's apparent breakout in the minors? It seemed like he was largely being written off as a bust by many of the national prospect evaluators before this year, but he's been great and just earned his promotion to AA! And would you say that is change is attributable to Bloom and his hires?
DG: I think this is just an example of experience and talent. Baez didn't arrive with a whole lot of baseball, not compared to others at the same age, but he had a lot of potential, and he needed time and development. That doesn't always work. The Cardinals had Tre Fletcher a few years ago in that same situation. Great athlete. Not a lot of baseball experience. Didn't connect. With Baez, strong profile, strong potential, just needed time -- and sometimes that time leads to prospect fatigue which has nothing to do with the player and everything to do with the evaluator/beholder. More people deserve credit for Baez than the ones hired in the past few year. It takes a village. And sometimes it takes patience.
Scott Stewart: How is it that a catcher makes it all the way to MLB and not have a good ability to call a game? Are the pitches called from the dugout in the lower levels?
DG: They are not. Pitchers do more things to more locations in the majors. The speed of the game is far swifter. The information is far broader. A catcher can be exceptional at calling a game in Triple-A, and get to the majors and all of sudden an opponent notices in pre-scout that he calls the same sequence of pitches with a runner on second base, and while that doesn't show up in a Triple-A series, it's already known before that big-league series starts. That's a simple example, but it's an illustration of just how different the prep and the in-game calling is for a catcher from Triple-A to the majors, and no it's not because the coaches are calling the games in the minors. Though, there were reports that the Marlins were going to try that ...
JJ: Derrick, many thanks for all the great work done by the PD. Legendary. My question is focused on a bit of a complicated situation. Oil Marmol is doing a good, maybe great job in guiding what was supposed to be a reset season. Not to be ignored, however, is Albert Pujols stating his desire to be a MLB manager. It would seem top put the Cardinals front office and ownership in a difficult position, if they keep with the current manager and see Pujols go on to be a great manager elsewhere. STL fans have long memories when a traded player succeeds in other uniforms, imagine if Pujols did the same! So, did the Blues do the Cardinals a favor with their quick switch to a change this season, or did they do them a disservice in showing how well it worked?
DG: I think comparing the Blues to the Cardinals is fraught with issues because they're such different sports, such different businesses, and they have such a different structure when it comes to coaches/managers. Hockey teams are fickle, move through coaches quickly, and they often resurface just as quickly. With 82 games, the urgency is a bit different -- but so is the culture because they see change with a new coach. Did the Orioles or Pirates learn something from the Blues with their quick changes -- and how's that going? Orioles got worse. Pirates remained ... same? I hear from a lot of fans about how the Cardinals could learn from the Blues, but I don't see the comparison except for the fact that fans want the results to be the same for the Cardinals as they've been for the Blues and then retrace their wishes from there. From the expectations to the team building to the salary cap, the sports are just so different, and the approaches must be as well.
I am open to someone who would like to make a detailed case to prove me wrong on that because I think it would make a for a fascinating read, and I'm open to changing my opinion if someone makes a compelling argument. Perhaps Jeff Gordon could do so. I'll try to remember and ask him on the next podcast we do. His insight would be welcome.
Ryan: What would be the likeliest reason for the DeWitt's / Bloom for not extending Donovan, Winn or Nootbaar? Could it be Bill knows internally this upcoming CBA is going to be a real battle and is trying to save even more money? If they're not going to extend Donovan or Nootbaar, I mean, why not listen to offers. That's what the optics say.
DG: Sure. It takes two to tango. Keep in mind it could be the players, too, and they want an offer that the Cardinals aren't willing to give. The only one of the three that the Cardinals have had those extended extension talks with is Donovan. The team was hopeful. Didn't happen. Winn is on deck, and we've seen what the market is for those deals. Nootbaar would be the one to watch as far as where he is in the arbitration cycle and how this season goes for him. Yes, the CBA is a factor. Yes, Bloom's evaluation is influential. But the question about these extensions is one of those that is likely to be answered 12 months from now by production and deals. And it will take both sides seeking agreement, not the Cardinals imposing their wishes/plans on the player.
Jon: Is radical realignment (longtime NL/AL teams switching leagues or abolishing leagues) on the horizon for baseball?
DG: It is one potential outcome of expansion, and there is a push within MLB to look at making the divisions more oriented around geography than league. Chip Caray had a fascinating suggestion that the divisions and leagues should be oriented around market size to start balancing out the routes to the playoffs from a financial standpoint.
Tom: With the Cardinals still in the division/wild card race into June, are there any plans to call up McGreevy? He continues to pitch well in AAA and has had great success in limited time in the majors. I feel he would be a better option at this point than Pallante or Fedde if they are trying to win games. Or are they still waiting for a trade/injury to open a spot before doing so? I understand Fedde probably isn't going to get pulled as that would diminish trade value but he is tough to watch with his inability to get swings and misses, higher walk rate, and poor at holding runners on.
DG: Yes, there is still a plan and time for McGreevy to contribute to this team at some point in 2025.
Jim Lang: Did you play competitive high school sports?
DG: Yes.
Aaron Knopf: Hi Derrick, happy Monday! I wanted to follow up on a lightning-round question I asked in your last chat. When I asked if you had spoken to Willson Contreras about any parallels he sees with this team and the 2015-2016 Cubs, here’s what I meant. I have memories of you talking about how the Cubs were going to keep getting better, and it seems like a lot of players on this team are learning how to win. I was curious about the perspective of a player who had gone though the evolution with both teams. But maybe I should just ask whether you see parallels. Thanks!
DG: I see. Thanks for circling back with this question. That's an interesting comparison -- one that I didn't initially get with your question, and I apologize. Kris Bryant was such a clear standout player from the arrival and then an MVP shortly thereafter that I'm sure if the comparison reaches that point. Baez the gifted shortstop/fielder, sure that's Winn. Donovan doesn't have a doubleganger unless you're going Zobrist, and then OK, a homegrown Zobrist. But, yes, the learning curve and improvement -- absolutely. And that's where the comparison gets really interesting.
What the Cubs did was hit on some additions (Arrieta, Rizzo) that they made while "rebuilding" and then bring in the homegrown (aforementioned, plus Schwarber), and then outfit with spending (Heyward, Lester, Lackey). This where the comparison brings in the Cardinals front office and what is it and ownership willing to do to outfit the team if it continues to improve as we're seeing -- learning while winning, if you will. The Cubs did not get any contribution from homegrown pitchers. The Cardinals must. The needs in that way will be different, but the need to spend to push a team from learning to win to winning to World Series winner is the same, and we're going to watch how the Cardinals act and add -- and that will be defining for the final year of Mozeliak's tenure and early years of Bloom's era.
Hot to trot: Herrera is not costing Gorman at bats as dh. Herrera would face lefties, Gorman would face eighties. Other lefties, esp Burleson, are taking Gorman's spot. He just plain can't hit
DG: Agree to disagree. If Herrera is catching, there is one less person taking up at-bats at DH. And one more spot for Gorman to see playing time. So, yeah, some at-bats for Gorman are going to multiple others at multiple other spots. No other way to see it.
Tbird728: Just a comment. You do a fantastic job on this chat! You keep the questions and answers flowing non-stop. And you go for hours .... it is hard to keep up with the chat while I'm working. A good problem to have!
DG: Thanks for the kind words.
That seems like a nice note to end on. I really think the Cubs comparison is an interesting one, and there were many many topics in the chat today to chew on for weeks to come. You won't have to wait weeks for the next chat however. The Cardinals chat is a fixture here at StlToday -- and it will be back next Monday too.
The Cardinals are starting a long home stand. Eager to see what the crowds are like. Eager to see what the lineups are like. Eager to see if the defensive frays of the past week leak into the home stand or if the Cardinals start this rigorous stretch of games and harsh June by tightening up their strength.
Oh, and there's an MLB debut of note on Tuesday. For the Royals. Gives the Cardinals an idea of what was available at No. 6 in last year's draft, so just for a moment pause and consider what could be available at No. 5 this season ...
Onward. Enjoy the ballgames.
