Live Chats

Join Cardinals beat writer Rick Hummel for his live chat, 2 p.m.

Bring your Cardinals questions and comments to Monday’s 2 p.m. live chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

Hey Commish - Let's forget Soto. Please? How do you the rank the starting pitching options that have been discussed?
Rodon
Lopez
Montas
Odorizzi
Eovaldi
A surprise?

I put them in the order I like them. I see Rodon as a stud #2 and Lopez as #3 - Montas is not convincing me that he's more than #5. (I'm actually holding the torch for Ohtani - covers both or needs - I can dream).
What are your thoughts?

by Counselor Corey 8/1/2022 9:25:14 PM
Again, I would put Tyler Mahle into the top three or four, especially with Montas gone to the Yankees.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:25:59 PM
Thanks for the chat. Most of the players mentioned in a Soto trade have included Walker, Gorman, Liberatore, Winn. Is there demand for Yepez/Donovan?

by Gregg 8/1/2022 9:26:06 PM
There is bound to be interest. Demand? Maybe not.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:26:32 PM
Why has Woodford not been given a chance?

by Counselor Corey 8/1/2022 9:26:47 PM
Woodford doesn't stir the drink, for whatever reason. He is not glitzy enough, I guess, or his slider isn't deemed to be of big-league quality.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:27:49 PM
Do you think Pallante’s performance yesterday has made the FO think that they need only 1 starting pitcher instead of 2? I was assuming that if they got 2, Pallante would go back to the pen, but maybe he has turned the corner.

by Stan the Fan 8/1/2022 9:29:10 PM
If the Cardinals got two starting pitchers, Pallante, indeed, would go to the bullpen. They're watching his innings count, to be sure. But that game Sunday was one of the Cardinals' best starts of the season. Can't wait to see him face the Yankees here this weekend.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:30:19 PM
Could Zach Thompson join the rotation at some point this season? He's a former 1st round draft pick, and has done a nice job in a relief role.

by SLH16 8/1/2022 9:30:26 PM
It might take a while to stretch out Thompson to be a starter since he hasn't pitched that much recently. I would like to see that next spring, though.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:31:21 PM
I’ve seen a lot of ire directed towards Oli Marmol and innuendo that we would be leading the division of Shildt was still in charge of the Redbirds. What do you think of Oli’s first half + of the season? Strengths? Weaknesses?

by BoiseCardsFan 8/1/2022 9:32:50 PM
One of Marmol's strengths has been taking responsibility for something that went awry in a game. Shildt was good at that, too. Given the injuries, I think the Cardinals' record is about what it should be so far, so I think Marmol has been fine.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:34:21 PM
It seems to me there’s a point when a MLB player has too much bulk as it affects flexibility and bat speed and injury proneness. Tyler O’Neill comes to mind. Have the Cardinals ever addressed this with him? Perhaps adopting different off-season training methods?

by Brian S. 8/1/2022 9:34:36 PM
I suspect that train of thought has been explored a time or two. But these all haven't been leg injuries. He was hit by a pitch in the hand and hurt his throwing arm.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:35:40 PM
Marmol should have let Pujols bat for Donovan yesterday in the ninth, as the fans wanted to see him bat one more time. We were up 5 runs. And the game is for the fans, no?

by Stan the Fan 8/1/2022 9:35:50 PM
That could have happened, yes.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:36:16 PM
Ben Fred wrote in his column that Mo’s tired talking points won’t fly this season. I sure wish we could go back in time to the Ozuna trade and have tired talking points. We would have Alcantara and Gallen in the rotation. And I am rooting hard for tired talking points tomorrow which would mean we keep Walker, Wynn, Gorman et al. Let’s build from within.

by Big Red One 8/1/2022 9:36:53 PM
Another country heard from. Feelings are running strongly on both sides.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:38:47 PM
Hi Commish, I enjoy your thoughtful words of wisdom on all things related to cards. I’m not sure what to make if the Soto situation. My question is would Soto alone improve this team enough for a deep run into the playoffs? Ty

by Stan Griffin 8/1/2022 9:39:39 PM
Soto could make a huge difference in the offense. But if the starting pitching doesn't get any deeper, there won't be any deep run in the playoffs.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:40:23 PM
Tommy Edman is proven at second. Seems his bat started dragging playing SS. I had said this would be a issue. What do you think Rick? Do Cards like him better at 2nd or a Utility roll?

by Steven Lich 8/1/2022 9:40:40 PM
I have to think playing shortstop on an almost daily basis took something out of Edman. He did fine in the field but I like him better at second base or even as a utility man you can play almost anywhere.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:41:47 PM
In your estimation, who is/was better at handling a bullpen ... Matheny, Shildt, or Marmol? In my opinion, they all struggle(d).

by Mr. No Name 8/1/2022 9:42:11 PM
A fair question. It mostly depends on whom are you handling. When Trevor Rosenthal was healthy, Matheny's bullpen handling was better. Same with Helsley for Marmol.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:43:52 PM
When you get the opportunity to acquire someone of the ilk of Juan Soto, you have to make a serious effort to get him. Is it risky to give away players like Masyn Wynn, Jordan Walker, Gordon Graceffo, Michael McGreevy or Tink Hence? Sure, but there are no guarantees their current performances will translate at the major league level. Look back at all the “can’t miss” prospects the Cardinals have had in the past several years. Alex Reyes, Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Magneuris Siera, Randy Arozarena, Andrew Knizner, Justin Williams, Elehuris Montero… the list goes on. How many of them are All-Star caliber players? Sometimes I think we have a much higher opinion of our prospects than other teams do

by Dilly Dilly 8/1/2022 9:45:08 PM
Almost every team values its prospects higher than opposing teams. Soto is a different kind of player--one who might get even better than he is. And he's dangerous now. You surely have to ask about him. At the same time, you have to tend to your other--and more important--needs. The Cardinals require pitching.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:47:12 PM
Wouldn’t it be great to include Eckersley, Lee Smith, Jim Kaat, Orlando Cepeda and some other HOFers who have played with the Cards in the opening day car parade. What a parade of stars it would be.

by F 8/1/2022 9:47:46 PM
It would be nice to see either Smith or Cepeda in the Cardinals' Hall of Fame. Smith, for sure, would return.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:49:06 PM
Everyone keeps saying when Bader comes back. He may never truly come back, at least not as the same elite defender he was. Plantar fasciitis is not curable. It never goes away. He’ll just have to endure it and manage it as best he can. But there’s a very possibility his best self is in the past. We can’t count on him going forward. If another team wants him, we should include him in a deal to get a SP that can make a difference not just throw 5 mediocre innings every time up.

by BAD 8/1/2022 9:49:17 PM
Because of Bader's being hurt, I don't see him as trade bait right now. But, to be truthful, we may have seen the best he can be. That injury isn't really going away. How can he deal with it? We'll have to wait and see.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:50:20 PM
I have always been a staunch Mozeliak supporter, but I believe this year, and more specifically the off season, has been a fireable offense. He went into this season hoping that Mikolas and Wainwright would be effective starters. They have been. He hoped that Flaherty and Matz could stay healthy. Not this year. He hoped Hicks and/or VerHaagen could be starters. He hoped the other one, along with Wittgren, would be an effective bullpen arm. He hoped Dickerson would be an effective LH bat. Hope is not a strategy. This has been unacceptable. Thanks for listening to the rant.

by Mike 8/1/2022 9:50:45 PM
A fairly reasonable rant, though.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:51:40 PM
Does Soto's age matter if there is no way we will sign him? 3 playoff runs with a great player is what he brings.

by Tom 8/1/2022 9:51:48 PM
That belief is out there. But how far do you run when your pitching isn't good enough?

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:52:41 PM
Is it my imagination or is Gorman playing a much better, heads up 2B than we were led to believe he would?

by john 8/1/2022 9:52:52 PM
It is not your imagination. Gorman has been serviceable and, on occasion, good, at the position.

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:53:43 PM
Commish the Cardinals have been anticipating the major league potential of Nolan Gorman for a few years now and he is showing a lot of promise as a 22 year old. His name is rumored to be in various trades. They wouldn’t trade him without certainty on Nolan Arenado’s future, would they?

by Arnold 8/1/2022 9:53:47 PM
They could, if they were fairly sure Jordan Walker was ready to play third base in the majors in the next year or so. Walker probably isn't that close yet.
Thanks for your all questions and comments. I'm sorry I couldn't get to all of them but the next 24 hours and two minutes could be exciting.
Commish

by rhummel 8/1/2022 9:56:03 PM