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

Thank you for doing the chats. I love that Albert is back. I first saw him when he was a rookie in Spring Training. What feelings do you get from younger fans, teammates and others in the MLB?

by Lovethemusic 5/23/2022 5:40:28 PM
You don't hear many disparaging words about A. Pujols anywhere in baseball. An ambassador as well as a star.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:41:35 PM
Commish, the last several years I have railed against bringing the DH to the National League. I must admit, it hasn’t bothered me too much. The one area of the game that I think is sorely lacking is the ability to move a runner into scoring position. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a successful bunt laid down. What is your feeling on the DH now that it’s been implemented?

by timothy mark 5/23/2022 5:42:34 PM
I have never liked the DH and I never will. With the pitcher's spot no longer a factor offensively or having a bearing on how long a manager might use him, another bit of strategy is gone from the game, which has so little these days anyway. The Cardinals have one sacrifice bunt--by Tommy Edman.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:45:17 PM
Not trying to be sarcastic, this is a serious question. What does Michael Girsch do? I read where his contract expires at the end of this season. Will Mo try to resign him before the end of the season or negotiate with him after? It’s like Girsch is in witness protection.

by timothy mark 5/23/2022 5:45:31 PM
Michael has a lot to do with contracts and analytics.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:45:59 PM
which side of the ball do you have more faith in rest of this season ? hitting or pitching ?

by fan in Bama 5/23/2022 5:46:12 PM
Given some of the pitching injuries, I'm going to say offense, especially with the influx of the kids.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:46:55 PM
When was the last time Albert hit two home runs in the same game?

by AustinTx 5/23/2022 5:47:20 PM
World Series Game 3 for the Cardinals in 2011. Don't have the Angels' games readily available.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:48:17 PM
I look at Gallegos and Helsley and picture what Milwaukee has done to shorten games to 7 innings, but with Gallegos pitching the 8th and Helsley the 9th. Any reporting on Marmol switching their roles?

by Brian 5/23/2022 5:48:30 PM
Both will pitch the ninth inning because Marmol is being careful not to use Helsley, who had arm surgery last year, on back-to-back days until later in the season

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:49:41 PM
I saw a comment about how much some people hate seeing position players pitch. Do you agree with this opinion? I do. especially if they are two of your back bone type guys.. How would the FO feel if Yadi or Albert hurt there arms while pitching? or worse got hit by a line drive..???

by Lenny 5/23/2022 5:49:51 PM
I would fear the line drives. Yadi throws as many balls during a game as his pitchers do. Albert wasn't throwing hard enough to break anything--his arm or a window/ .

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:50:56 PM
Rules Question: Can Gorman start games at 2B and then be moved to DH later in the game to shore up the defense, but keep his bat in the lineup? I know there are some quirks to the DH position....

by Tim 5/23/2022 5:51:02 PM
A starting position player cannot become a DH during a game. A player can go from DH to the field but then the pitcher has to bat in the spot vacated by the player removed from the game.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:51:54 PM
Do you have a status report on Dejong in the minors? To build him up mentally and physically can he stay there until he is ready and tested or is there a certain amount of time he can only be there? Also, Tyler O'Neil. What is happening with him? I sure hope he can get back to the Tyler of last year. Any updates on Carlson?

by Mookie 5/23/2022 5:52:45 PM
DeJong, for his first 10 days or so, was hitting under .200 for Memphis. There is no minimum time attached to his stay. O'Neill, when his sore shoulder comes around more, will go on a rehab option and probably DH for a while until he is able to throw at full speed. He could even DH here when he comes back and Yepez could play left field for a while. But this option would be as much to get O'Neill squared away at bat as it is to have his shoulder heal.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:55:52 PM
Hey Commish,I read recently that there have been at least 14 position players throughout the league pitch this year. What's the deal with that/ Short training camp? And,speaking of short camps,are injuries up throughout baseball? Do you think that's the reason?

by Chico 5/23/2022 5:57:20 PM
If injuries are up--and I don't have the stats--it would be tied largely to the short camps. Managers are trying to protect their pitchers' arms more than ever and are more prone to employ position players in blowout games.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 5:58:41 PM
As a retired High School baseball coach it is mind-numbing to watch Bader take so many first-pitch fastballs and then get himself out on second pitch breaking balls. Surely Jeff Albert sees this, but adjustments are not being made. Bader could add 30-40 pts to batting average adjusting and making an effort to hit the ball the other way on pitches on the outer half. Thanks for the chat!

by BamaBob 5/23/2022 5:59:03 PM
Bader is improved at bat but still is prone to getting himself out. He has improved markedly in his base stealing though. He leads the league at 11 for 11.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:00:29 PM
Mid-June for Flaherty? Just a few days ago we were hearing end of this month or first of June. What happened?

by Billy W. 5/23/2022 6:00:56 PM
This is all sort of guesswork. Everybody keeps asking, you might have surmised. But Flaherty hasn't faced any hitters yet and that process is going to take two or three weeks, perhaps including a rehab option.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:02:38 PM
Who has the better ERA, Yadi or Albert? I find watching position players pitching is the most entertaining part of the game today.

by AustinTx 5/23/2022 6:03:20 PM
Neither. The ERAs for borh are 36.00 with two homers allowed apiece.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:03:47 PM
I remember when Matt Wieters was called up by the Orioles in 2009 and all the hub-bub about how he was going to replace the veteran Yadier Molina as the top catcher in baseball. He had a nice 12 year career, retired and now Adley Rutschman has been called up to perhaps greater acclaim. Same with Posey who also came up in 2009 and Joe Mauer who started about the same time as Molina but has been retired for several years now. #4's career is just amazing on many levels.

by Rick 5/23/2022 6:04:21 PM
You have made an excellent point.. Playing that many years at a high level and at a high stress position is staggering.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:05:16 PM
by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:05:56 PM
Have you seen Vlad Jr play in person prior to tonight’s game?

by AustinTx 5/23/2022 6:07:47 PM
Other than the All-Star Game, no. It should be something.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:08:08 PM
Commish, thanks for doing these!

a couple of quick questions---have you ever seen a relief appearance quite like Rondon's yesterday? He saved the bullpen! I hope it doesn't earn him a seat on the Memphis shuttle.

Cards are on pace for 93 wins---is that a legit target?

by mrr 5/23/2022 6:08:12 PM
Ninety-three might be enough for a playoff spot but I would feel better at 95. Rondon might have to go to Memphis because he can't help the Cardinals again until at least next weekend and you have Hicks and Hudson starts coming up before then.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:09:25 PM
Are you sure Correa is signed long term in Minnesota? Thought he had an opt-out after this year and with Boras as his agent, would assume he exercises it. Thanks.

by Josh 5/23/2022 6:09:27 PM
Correa has opt outs after his first two seasons of his three-year deal. But the Cardinals already have shown their middle infield hand: Edman at short and Gorman at second.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:10:18 PM
Just my opinion, but I don't think Hicks is ready to be a starter. Now sure why he is learning on the job here and not Memphis, since we have better options there.

by timothy mark 5/23/2022 6:10:27 PM
How many better options do the Cardinals really have, at this point? Not that many.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:10:57 PM
Fans said DeJong was thru, Mo disagreed. Fans said not enough pitching, Mo disagreed. Except for mixed success with pitchers, can you name any impact non-pitcher Mo has signed in recent years as a free agent?

by Bigguy00 5/23/2022 6:11:17 PM
I would think Paul Goldschmidt qualifies. The Cardinals signed him long-term before he got to free agency.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:12:15 PM
Thank you for the chat in insight. Another question: How good is VerHagen as a starter? What is the chance he get a spot start or even another shot at the 5th starter? Assuming he will battle against young folks like Woodford and Liberatore for it.

by Billy Zhu 5/23/2022 6:12:21 PM
Thank you. VerHagen might get that shot, as he had in spring training for a while, when he is built up more after missing a couple of weeks with injury and COVID,

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:13:14 PM
when will we hear/see Jack Flaherty make a rehab assignment start? Is no news good news on the Flaherty front as a whole?

by Jim 5/23/2022 6:13:20 PM
I refuse to report on Flaherty's every bullpen session until he is facing hitters. Trust me, he is progressing.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:13:58 PM
What is wrong with Yellich? Bad year in 21 and hitting .240 through first quarter of 22.

by AustinTx 5/23/2022 6:14:05 PM
Yelich has been in decline since 2019. Not quite Carpenter-esque but on the same track. He has had back problems over the years.

by rhummel 5/23/2022 6:15:51 PM