Live Chats

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.

3rd & 7 37yd

Why was Fernandez DFA instead of someone else such as Pacheco?

by BabyManatee 9/6/2022 11:12:35 PM
Options remaining is a subtle factor here. Performance and roster flexibility, with roster flexibility being the one that is often overlooked.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:13:33 PM
Re: parking payroll dollars, I think there was some intention on Mo's part to bump up Waino's salary, and to a lesser extent Molina's, knowing they were 1-year deals. Fans were watching the deployment of free agent dollars very carefully last winter and if that $10m in raises they both got is just sitting out there, +/-20% of the total freed up by Martinez, Carpenter, etc., fans would have expected that to be used on a FA. One that likely would have been a multi-year commitment. By paying up for Waino and Molina, Mo knew those dollars would be back next year.

by South City Steve 9/6/2022 11:14:41 PM
Some of that money you mention that was "freed up" was spent on Arenado, though. Molina got a $1m raise. And then there was spending on Dickerson and Pujols that came after spring started but still counts against the overall spending for 2022. I'm sure I follow this notion.
Fans are watching the deployment of free agent dollars very carefully every year, at least every year since I've been around.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:16:21 PM
I can't imagine the Cardinals wanting Albert to go and promote the Angels for the next decade. I can see them offering him the same $10 million for the same role so that he'd opt-out with the Angels.

by Mike 9/6/2022 11:16:33 PM
If it happens, you called it. They signed him for $2.5 million for 2022, not $12.5 million. But we'll see. That's not couch change.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:16:54 PM
Where art though - Juan Yepez - no room at the inn?

I think his bat plays in October

by Dickie 9/6/2022 11:17:09 PM
That's part of the Cardinals thinking, too. So he's getting at-bats now in the minors to be ready for when that swing is needed/ready.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:17:31 PM
After the last game of a series, do Cardinals usually fly home or on to the next city versus flying out the next day?

by kr48 9/6/2022 11:17:53 PM
They fly immediately after games unless there is a chance to spend the evening at home and fly out on an off day the next day.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:18:12 PM
Pujols— odds of him returning next year?

by Walt 9/6/2022 11:21:15 PM
Low. He says no. He says he has plans. He has repeatedly said no, nope, no, no. And he says that even when Molina kids with him about pushing him to keep playing.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:21:39 PM
How concerned should the Cards be with all the elite right handed pitchers they will face in Oct? Sanchez should give pause to this concern, he is statistically one of the worst starting pitchers in mlb but shutdown the Cards yesterday.

by Jack 9/6/2022 11:21:56 PM
As concerned as any team in the postseason should be. Any team will have to overcome elite pitching to win a championship. October should be tough and it will be for this reason.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:22:27 PM
What are the odds Mo does the 2021 Carpenter thing with DeJong in 2023 i.e. refuse to acknowledge the decline, the almost non-existent chance of recovery in a Cards uniform, yet still force him on the manager?

by Tackleberry 9/6/2022 11:33:28 PM
Not high. They did option him to Class AAA Memphis this season.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:33:40 PM
Derrick, thank you for these chats. I have a question about Sunday's game. If Carlson had battered for Donovan in the 8th, then could the Cardinals have made Pujols the DH and Carlson go to the field? Is Carlson the DH since he batteed for the DH?

by Al 9/6/2022 11:34:43 PM
The hitter who pinch-hits for the DH becomes the DH. If that spot takes the field, the team loses the DH. That's it. That's the rule. Replace the DH at DH or lose the DH.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:35:11 PM
Is the idea of Pujols starting a bit more in the field, even against right handed opposing pitchers on the mound like yesterday, actually keeping Goldy extra fresh coming into post season play?

by Nick N 9/6/2022 11:35:29 PM
That's a driving reason behind the decision, yes.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:35:38 PM
Alright it's almost game time here. Hopefully I was able to get to another hunk of questions here after the lengthy delay to work on other projects and run down some info at the ballpark. Thanks for your patience.
The chat will be back on Monday next week.
I'll be at the keyboard as Rick Hummel makes his way back from Pittsburgh. That means that readers of the Post-Dispatch will have Hummel on gave coverage all weekend from PNC Park. Enjoy.

by Derrick Goold 9/6/2022 11:39:55 PM