Join Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold for his live Cardinals chat at 11 a.m. Tuesday
Bring your Cards questions and comments to Tuesday’s 11 a.m. live chat.
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I know there is no cheering in the press box, and reporters don't have a rooting interest. But you are all fans of the game. So, when a terrific moment happens in a game - like Albert hitting that home run against the Cubs - do you all just stoically type away on your laptops or do acknowledge you've just witnessed something special? -
If we didn't acknowledge that we saw something special how in the heck would we ever fairly write about it and convey that sense to that readers who weren't there.If you think my writing is too stoic then say so. No need to sneak it in there.The goal is to take a reader into the action, behind the scenes, and surround that reader with the story so that they feel something, feel as if they know something more, feel as if they were there to see it themselves and maybe even in greater detail than a 4K TV can provide. That's the goal.If I'm writing stoically, then I'm doing it wrong. -
Great having you back to answer these questions your knowledge is so welcome. Getting ahead of it but thinking payoffs. If the season ends with the standings as they are now the first round would have the 2 wild card teams with the best record in one series. Atlanta has the best record and would host all 3 games. The Cards would host the 3 payoff games. The next round would then revert back to the teams with the best record having the home field advantage? I ask this because Atlanta could in subsequent rounds a better record but not be a division winner.
Second question: The new top 30 minor league player had large movements. Some are understandable, some are new faces we have not heard much about. Do you view this as a plus, a lot of new faces or a minus we were over valuing the previous players on the list. -
Thank you for the compliment. Regarding the playoffs, the higher seed gets the home-field advantage, so the division winner will retain that home-field advantage through the NL side of the bracket even if a wild-card team has a better regular-season record. Braves would come to St. Louis for this example. Best record has the home-field advantage in the World Series. A welcome change from the This One Counts nonsense of years ago.A plus, sure, but also the nature of rankings in general. They're designed to have movement because they're tricky -- they're a combination of strong forecasting and always include a bit of spellcasting and wishcasting, right? So there's going to be movement as long as there are games, and this year, coming back from the lost year of 2020, there's going to be more information suddenly for some "dream on" prospects to validate their high rankings or vanish from them. So more info, more volatility, already for a volatile practice.Plus, this is a big part: Cardinals had a lot of graduates this year.
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Expanding on the press box and witnessing something special. I think you might have read too much into what the chatter asked. I think it was more, do you applaud or cheer when something like that happens? Or do you just look around and say to each other, "that was great!" or something?
Basically, if (when) Pujols hits 700, what do you expect will happen in the press box? I suspect you'll all stand up to take it all in and not just sit there and type. But what else, if anything? A Jack Buck moment ala, "Pardon me while I stand up and applaud" with the writers all high fiving each other? Or more just talk without going nuts? -
I'm sorry to disappoint, truly. I'm not sure how to answer this question. I get that some views of the press box are informed by Hollywood or seen as this stoic, to borrow a word, place where even the sun cannot get personalities to shine. There won't be high-fiving like you see in movies like after closing a big trade or making a bunch of money. I probably have high-fived a colleague in the press box, but it's because they became a parent or won an award. I have definitely high-fived a young fan who visited us when that fan tells me about a home run they've hit in little league. For sure I high-five then.Even if there was interest , there wouldn't be time. If/when he hits No. 700 there will be a story to write before it lands -- if possible. But that's the deadline. The moment that ball leaves the park, do we have a story up and ready to go and how do we go about getting that story alert out to readers. We may have to stand to see what happens because I presume the crowd will be going nuts. As it should. But everyone enjoys sports and achievement differently. And that's great! That's what makes it wonderful.We can be appreciative of a moment, we can acknowledge the history of what we saw, and we don't have to cheer to do so or high-five a peer.Our applause is the coverage.Jack Buck gave a great line in the moment, calling that history live as hit happened.We should be so fortunate to write something that good, that long-lasting -- and have it land on the Web site or your mobile seconds after the home run returns to Earth, forever in history.
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Sorry if this has been covered already, but I couldn't help but be struck by Arenado's comments regarding the idea of Pujols coming back next year. Arenado sure doesn't sound like a guy who is even considering opting out after this season. I have always had a fear of the Dodgers luring him into opting out, especially given their need for a 3rd baseman. I must say reading what he had to say regarding Pujols made this fan feel a bit better.
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That is somewhat related to Nootbaar doing well, Burleson rising, and wanting to be able to make an avenue for Walker to make noise in spring training. Dickerson was signed during spring training and Cardinals may try that same gambit again, but do so only after clearing the way for the young players who could be fits in that spot.
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That's why they're winning teams, though. They don't lose. There are only so many wins/losses to go around and teams like the Cardinals should nourish their record by beating losing teams and then play winning teams nose to nose. That's how it goes. 26-29 is not great, but slightly better than that is all to be expected against winning teams. The Dodgers are soaring well above that, for example.
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DG, you've been at the Post Dispatch for a while now, and have reported on/been around a good number of Cardinals teams over the years. Where does this one rank in your book as far as interesting, talented, fun, etc etc. Obviously a winning team does a lot of this, but there are winning teams I recall that I've never found so compelling in so many different facets, with so many different stories to be had. If you step back, how do you view this season as compared to others?
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This season has captured the fan's imagination in a way few teams have over the years. Have to go back to 2011, maybe 2009, and certainly then maybe 2005 what with the MV3 and Walker in front of a rotation that had Chris Carpenter. But those teams lacked the added boost of being the last go round for two players, two franchise icons. Not to mention two of the best all-around players.It's a season that is chocked with compelling stories, surprises, and history. Hard to top a season that offers all of that.
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One more question around predictive stats, how do organizations get an idea of what a draft prospect's predictive stats will be to project that for future production when the data isn't available for most high school prospects? Has to be the most risk/reward pool since difficulty in getting information is the most challenging and the bats used are entirely different than what pros use, right?
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Part of the answer to this question is the fact that the Cardinals veered so far toward college players this year. That has to do with the data, absolutely, and its availability. But you're seeing more and more data come from showcase events and some of the other high school tournament, workouts, etc. that are set up around the country. There is a stat gap, and it should be a concern for teams and for the game because if some players from areas that don't have the ability to track that information are going to be overlooked then you'll see an access gap, too.There is still a place for scouts in the draft, as this illustrates. And teams know, of course.
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Thanks for the chat. Many of the Cards most improved hitters, Goldy, Aranado and Nootbaar have had their swings analyzed by "swing coaches" or hi-tech shops that can use high speed cameras and lasers to perfect their swings. Has anyone done a story on these places and why don't the clubs invest in this technology?
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I hope you go the information from the stories that we've had here at the Post-Dispatch about these places, or at least the person who gave this information got it from the Post-Dispatch. Yes, there have been articles. The first one on Goldschmidt and Arenado appeared in the Post-Dispatch, and subsequent ones have followed. Gorman did the same thing over the All-Star break.Yes, teams have looked into doing these. And many teams have this tech. Cardinals have the virtual training and the swing analysis. They don't have the bat manufacturing. That's where these businesses fit.
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Mike Trout to the Cardinals makes a lot of sense. If St. Louis adds enough prospects as sweetener that contract could be reasonable. Even if he only plays 60% of the season, his post season impact would make him great value. He would be better than Ohtani or Soto because it might not break the bank. Your opinion, thanks.
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When Mike Trout signed his $426.5 million deal it was the most lucrative in the history of the game and many pro sports. Here were a few years later and in a chat that contract is being described as "not going to break the bank." What turn of events. Unless you mean the prospects it would take to acquire him? I would disagree there. It would take significant top flight prospects to land him, even with the contract in place. Trout is owed around $35m-$36m from here forward. That's a hefty price tag for an incredible player. If you thought an Arenado was creative, I give you a Mike Trout trade ...
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Stay with me here ... It could be the truth. He's in the middle of the season. I see fans worried about players being distracted and want them focused on the game, the season, their work, etc., and now you want him to think about something other than the game, the season, his work. So, maybe he's just a guy who doesn't worry about something until it arrives. The opt out cannot be addressed now, so why fret about it?I was asked recently about the MVP Award and who I'm going to vote for. I don't have to vote today, so I'll think about closer to when I do. There is still information to be added to my consideration, why not wait to see how that goes?
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When (not if) Waino hangs up his cleats at glove for a microphone, do you think he'll start locally in St. Louis as a color commentator, or do you get the feeling the national outlets have already lined up to try and get his talents in their booths? Selfishly, I would love to hear him on as many Cardinals games as possible. For the good of the game, it would probably be better to have his voice and personality broadcasted in prime time across as many fanbases and to as many fans as possible....
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