Live Chats

Join Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel for his live Cardinals chat at 11 a.m. Monday

Bring your Cards questions and comments to Monday’s 11 a.m. live chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

I have no doubt that Adam Wainwright would be a terrific analyst. But I don't see him being one with a particular club where he would have to travel all season. I can see him as a once-a-week network buy and a playoff staple.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 4:57:40 PM
With Yadi Molina retiring how important do you suppose is it this season that Andrew Knizner show more than a few glimpses of his upside in talent?

by Nick N 5/23/2022 4:58:53 PM
Knizner has the chance to gain the upper hand on this job for next year, if he performs well, because Ivan Herrera,, the prized catcher in the system, will be ready.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 4:59:53 PM
Do you see it perhaps playing out with the off day on Wednesday, yesterday's winning pitcher Rondon can start on Friday on normal rest bypassing the need to recall Liberatore in the process?

by Nick N 5/23/2022 5:00:03 PM
For Friday so far, you would have a choice of Hicks, Hudson, or Wainwright, depending on whether Hicks or Hudson pitches on Tuesday. Rondon isn't viewed as a starter--at least for now

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:01:50 PM
I'm joining from the South of France where it's 18 heures. I was lucky enough to watch the entire game live yesterday thanks to the early start time in the States. Super happy to see Gorman raking and with both Sosa and Donavan playing well it would seem Paul Dejong is the odd man out. With little trade value how do you see the Cardinals handling this situation.

by NMCards fan 5/23/2022 5:02:25 PM
For DeJong to be a trade candidate--he is on a fairly substantial contract--he would have to do better at Memphis than he's doing. DeJong's future depends on Nolan Gorman. If Gorman proves conclusively that he is ready, DeJong likely doesn't figure into the club's plans unless the Cardinals want him as an expensive utility infielder.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:05:18 PM
What is Wittgren doing up, instead of Woodford? Woodford has been better across the board. You are probably as tired as I am of trying to figure out what they are doing with Woody. They apparently just don't like him for some reason and aren't playing him. If so, please just trade or release him so he can go somewhere and play; because he should be on the roster right now. I am really beginning to dislike our FO and Marmol. I think the season would have gone much better with a experienced skipper at the helm. Seems like Marmol gets a player in his head that he likes and then shuts out all other options... not a very open minded manager.!!

by Lenny 5/23/2022 5:05:37 PM
Jake Woodford will be back, not long from now probably. The appeal of Nick Wittgren to the Cardinals is that he has the ability to pitch more often than anybody else in their bullpen.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:07:05 PM
What's your take on the future for Jordan Hicks? The high walk-rate and inability to get past the 5th inning seems dangerous for a team who may be thin on bullpen help this summer. As we get closer to a Flaherty return and with Liberatore available, does Hicks move back into a 6-8th inning role?

by tjf 5/23/2022 5:07:14 PM
The next couple of starts for Hicks should give us a better glimpse of his future. He has shown he can throw 75 pitches or so, but he needs to make them last more than four innings. And that comes with better command. He really hasn't pitched much in the past three years.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:09:05 PM
Again, thanks for this chat, it is a great place to feel the pulse of the fans. You do a great job managing this forum... maybe you need to apply for manager of the Cards.!!!

by Lenny 5/23/2022 5:09:14 PM
And thank you. I have enough trouble doing the job I have.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:09:35 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important do you suppose it is for the Cardinals to take 3 of 4 games this upcoming weekend series versus the Brewers?

by Nick N 5/23/2022 5:09:40 PM
It's about a 4. It's way too early in the season to tie your hopes to one series. What if the Cardinals take three of four from Milwaukee and only one or two in the five games with Toronto and San Diego?

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:10:57 PM
Rick, is it still the rule if a roster player gets sent down, they can only come back after either 15 days down, or to replace a injured player.? Not sure if the last CBA changed this...

by Lenny 5/23/2022 5:11:08 PM
I think a player can come back from the minors in 10 days, if it's just through normal processes. The injured list will be 15 days now.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:12:21 PM
Hi, just wondering what date Flaherty's move to the 60-day IL was retroactive to. Or, to put another way, when is he eligible to come of that list. Thanks!

by Hou, TX 5/23/2022 5:12:29 PM
It's retroactive to the start of the season so, in theory, Flaherty could be back in early June. But it will be longer than that.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:13:20 PM
I was frustrated with the Matz signing when it happened and now feel even more so. He has always been an injury risk and never been an innings eater or consistent quality pitcher. I don’t understand why we hVe him 4 years. He has been worth -.5 WAR, is hurt (again - theme of his career), not getting ground balls and getting hit hard consistently.

For a smart organization why do they keep giving 4th starter types long FA deals - I thought they learned that from Mike leake. This feels like a repeat already (and did as soon as he signed). Look back at the history of 4 year deals to starting pitchers in FA and see how successful ones there have been:; hint: not many.

by Kramer 5/23/2022 5:15:50 PM
The expense for Matz wasn't that great, only $44 million for four years. And he had a good 14-7 season with Toronto last year. But he has had histories of injuries and inconsistencies, no question about it.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:17:39 PM
It’s great we are beating up the bad teams but will this version of the cardinals be able to get out of a one game wildcard vs a quality opponent? How about a 5 or 7 game series. Unfortunately I don’t see the consistency vs quality opponents to see how that can happen.

by Kramer 5/23/2022 5:17:54 PM
This home stand is one worth watching then. Three playoff-caliber clubs will be here.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:18:44 PM
Commish, the Cards need a reliable starter now more than ever. Would they trade any of their young bats to get a good one?

by Mr. Pitcher 5/23/2022 5:18:50 PM
They won't make any move like that until they have Flaherty back next month. They wouldn't get anybody better than him in a trade.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:19:54 PM
Any remembrance you’d like to share re: Roger Angell?

by Richard 5/23/2022 5:19:56 PM
When I used to cover the World Series and the Yankees were in it, I often sat next to Roger in the box next to that of George Steinbrenner in Yankee Stadium. If you kept your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut, you learned a lot,

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:21:29 PM
Commish....I have wondering all season what is on the small cards that the players carry in their back pockets. I understand they are for defensive alignment purposes. But, that is a lot of information to put on that small card. Is it electronic? How does it work.

by Erv Dusak 5/23/2022 5:21:41 PM
It must be small print. But baseball players are supposed to have good eyes, right? I've never seen one.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:22:22 PM
What are the odds that Waino catches the next time a position player pitches?

by Jay Lewis 5/23/2022 5:22:29 PM
Off the board. Marmol says he won't even hit.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:22:47 PM
I feel very comfortable with Sosa at shortstop. Do you? What is the likely outcome for Paul DeJong and Tyler O'Neil.

by Erv Dusak 5/23/2022 5:22:52 PM
Sosa has played well both offensively and defensively. I wouldn't mind seeing more but he won't get much time unless there is a left-hander starting for the opposition and Gorman sits. DeJong seems all but gone. The left-field job still is O'Neill's when he returns. For a while. .

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:24:31 PM
what is up with the boom or bust offense? its not just this year too, I feel like its been a trend for quite a few years now with different players/teams involved. Is there something with the overall approach that causes these outbursts followed by power outages?

by luelly1215 5/23/2022 5:25:03 PM
An age-old question. I guess the best answer lies in who is the opposition?

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:26:15 PM
Good morning I am delighted that the rookies are doing so well and my hats off to Mo for foregoing the Shortstop sweep stakes last winter. Commish how do you see this playing out? There are only so many seats at the table so will there be room for Yepez,Gorman and Donovan? Who goes? Sosa, Carlson and O'Neil are hitting so great and Bader is league average. Thanks for all your work over the years.

by Jimmy 5/23/2022 5:28:13 PM
I think most of the players you mentioned are going to be here. Sosa and Donovan will be on the bench and perhaps one of the Cardinals' DHs, Corey Dickerson, would be in trouble. And. . . thanks.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:29:59 PM
I remember reading that Denny McClain threw up a gopher ball to Mickey Mantle as a farewell gift of sorts into retirement. Yesterday with the adored Albert Pujols hitting two dingers it may turn out to be the start of a trend? After all why not pitchers from around the league in meaningless games giving #5 a similar token of appreciation in his pursuit of 700 home runs too?

by Nick N 5/23/2022 5:30:21 PM
Well, one of the ones yesterday wasn't really a pitcher.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:30:48 PM
I am totally impressed with how John Rooney does the game action on Cardinals radio. I much prefer to listen to our announcers so have listened to the three games when the choices were Apple + and Peacock were the choices. He is definitely one of the best radio voices I have heard. He paints a picture of the action that makes you feel like you can see it.

by Erv Dusak 5/23/2022 5:31:02 PM
I couldn't agree more. John is one of the best, and has been for a long time.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:31:33 PM
Commish. Thanks for the great chats. As an older baseball fan I really doint understand the intense angst among many fans regarding Jeff Albert. He is embracimg analytics, so what! Dont we want a coach that does that? Regarding Carpenter, and DeJohn, do we really think he is to blame for their demise? You gotta be kidding me! We have the best young hitting prospects that this organization has seen for many years. Perhaps the from the bottom up hitting program in the minors is paying off. I know this, Albert didnt just get stupid with O"Neils bad start nor was he the sole cause of his great year last year. Do folks just love to complain these days?

by mark1082 5/23/2022 5:33:48 PM
Regarding your last question. . . yes they do. Good point on Yepez, Gorman and Donovan. They're all part of the Albert group, too. I've always said that the hitting coach can't go to the plate and hold these guys' hands. It's up to him to get them ready for anything--and then they're on their own.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:36:27 PM
It seems Yepez, Donovan and Gorman are lighting a fire to the Cardinals hitting attack. I am a fan of both DeJong and O'Neill but the team looks a lot better at this point (or is it that we were playing the pirates in Pittsburgh? Also, i think we can't judge too much at this point when the opponents do not have much of a 'book' on them. Your comments please.

by Erv Dusak 5/23/2022 5:37:37 PM
With the video and data available, it won't take long for teams to have a game plan for the young players you cited. How they adapt to the opposition's changes will be the key to how successful they might be. But make no mistake. Jeff Albert is their hitting coach, too, just as he has been for Carpenter and DeJong.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:39:43 PM