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

Greetings,
First-place showdown in NL Central this week. Tell me what you're thinking.
Commish

by rhummel 6/20/2022 3:58:28 PM
I hope the Cardinals will start using there left handed options against righthanders and quit using Pujos. If Gorman is not ready to face some pitchers then he should have been called up.

by Onxdog 6/20/2022 3:59:09 PM
Sentiment got the better of manager Marmol on Sunday against Pivetta. Albert shouldn't be exposed to too many right-handers anymore but he should DH against a number of left-handers. Generally, though, Gorman and Yepez are better options.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:00:48 PM
How many games will Verhaegen, McFarland, Oviedo and Wittgren blow before Mo admits his negligence in constructing the back end of the bullpen ? Marmol’s hands are tied and they can say McFarland was unlucky or Wittgren has been ok lately, but nobody else wanted these guys which is why Mo got them on the cheap

by Bob 6/20/2022 4:00:59 PM
Of the group you mentioned, Wittgren hasn't been that bad. VerHagen and McFarland have been. Oviedo was pretty good the other day in long relief. And I like Thompson. But the Cardinals have to have some help there. Hicks may be the answer down the line but he is a couple of weeks off probably.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:02:48 PM
Commish, I’m starved for information about Joshua Baez. Is he injured? He shows up on the Palm Beach roster, but he’s had one at-bat all year. Do you have any updates?

by ArtR 6/20/2022 4:03:00 PM
He has some sort of hand or wrist injury.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:03:14 PM
How is Paul De Long doing more recently down at Memphis?

by Nick N 6/20/2022 4:03:17 PM
This was not Paul's best week after two big weeks before that. He started off the Nashville series two for 17.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:03:59 PM
What would a relief guy like Bednar cost the team in acquisition costs assuming the Pirates would probably insist on a bit of a premium to deal him within the division?

by Nick N 6/20/2022 4:05:11 PM
The Pirates aren't likely to move Bednar because he doesn't make any money.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:05:44 PM
Did you ever ask Oli about not wearing the jersey top? It seems most of the managers. these days just wear a sweatshirt. Shouldn’t they follow the rules as well or do they not have to wear the Jersey anymore. I know for awhile as long as they had it on underneath it was okay. Seems now that doesn’t matter anymore either.

by Lisa 6/20/2022 4:05:49 PM
Marmol did wear the jersey once during the home stand. But I intend to bring that up to him. If he's got a number--and he does (37)-- then he should wear it.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:06:46 PM
Not surprised the cards only one game in Boston. Can beat the cubs and pirates but can’t keep up with the better teams. Hope to win at least one in Milwaukee and hope the brewers lose to some of the better teams or the race in the central division is over

by Fred 6/20/2022 4:07:00 PM
Boston made the playoffs last year, just as the Cardinals did, and the Red Sox are good again this year after a slow start. You don't see many of the good teams sweeping each other. I cite the Dodgers winning only one against Cleveland. You make hay by beating up on the bad teams, just as Milwaukee did in sweeping at Cincinnati this past weekend. Or as the Cardinals did taking five of seven from the Reds and Pirates.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:10:19 PM
Time to make a trade for a closer now before the cards get too far out of the race. Can’t hope for another 17 game win streak to save this season

by Fred 6/20/2022 4:10:25 PM
Closer is not the Cardinals' problem. They have two of them in Helsley and Gallegos. The middle innings are an issue.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:10:52 PM
by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:11:02 PM
With very little offensive production coming from or even expected later this season from the catchers within the organization, why not go into the deep side of the talent pool ala "rental" Wilson Contreras of the Cubs come trade deadline time?

by Nick N 6/20/2022 4:11:08 PM
The Cubs and Cardinals aren't going to make a trade of that magnitude, just because.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:11:42 PM
Was happy to see Julian Javier make it into the Cardinals HOF. I know his numbers would probably rank as "average" but people tend to forget just how good he was defensively and was a mainstay of the those good teams in the 1960s. My question is about Steve Carlton. He came up with Cardinals and had parts of 7 seasons before Mr. Busch made his big mistake. 5 seasons with over 160 strikeouts and double figure win totals for the Cardinals. Better than numbers from the likes of John Tudor, etc. Is the generational voting going to keep him out of the Cards HOF? When does he qualify for the Committee vote? Matt Holliday was a no brainer. But I hope Carlton gets stronger consideration going forward.

by Maris9 6/20/2022 4:12:31 PM
Carlton doesn't resonate with many of the on-line voters because they didn't see him pitch. I think he has to be out of the game for 40 years before he qualifies for the veterans' part of the Cardinals' Hall of Fame ballot, where the fans are not involved. He's not quite there yet.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:15:13 PM
Mo gets a D for his off season transactions. Matz is TBD. Pujolos was ok. But McFarland and verhagen was bust

by Choni 6/20/2022 4:15:33 PM
No argument there, so far.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:16:21 PM
Rick, as we surely near the end of the T.J, McFarland era and others occupying this dreadful middle inning relief corp, when does the POBO cut its losses and look elsewhere?

by Jack 6/20/2022 4:16:35 PM
I'm sure the quest is on now because the manager has grown weary of being disappointed by VerHagen and McFarland. Thompson can help. Hicks will help more, when ready.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:17:52 PM
Commish I actually felt bad for Albert Pujols in yesterday’s game. He was clearly overmatched by Pivetta which his season long stats against right handed pitching will confirm that. Pujols is now 42ish and no longer effective against RH pitching. Not his fault. I also understand Marmol’s decision to bow to nostalgia and give Boston fans and those traveling Cardinal fans a chance to cheer him. But couldn’t that have been accomplished with a one and done at bat? As Dennis Green once famously said, “You play to win the game!” Thanks and I look forward to your take on that.

by Arnold 6/20/2022 4:18:32 PM
As mentioned, Pujols should DH against most lefties, but he does not have to have one start per series, especially when the team is on the road. Fenway Park is going to sell out either way.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:19:34 PM
GM Commish,

1) Edman at short: what is his defensive performance compared to DeJong? Just trying to understand how good he is at short. He's a very good player, to be sure!

2) When a minor league player is brought up for a day or for a week, are they paid a prorated portion of the major league minimum? Or is it done in another manner, and if so, what is that?

by Ratchuck 6/20/2022 4:19:43 PM
Edman has been quite good at short but I still like better the combination of DeJong at short and Edman at second. But DeJong has to show he belongs here. When a player is brought up, he is paid the daily rate for minimum big-league salary and he also gets big-league meal money on the road, too.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:21:55 PM
Rick, we have all been amazed and spoiled with Brendan Donovan’s blazing start to his major league career and his monster on base percentage that it almost comes as a shock when he goes hitless in two consecutive games. It says a lot about him. Not wanting to overreact to two measly games but is it likely just the ups and downs of a long season? Or could he use a day of rest? He is young and strong but still human. Without knowing the stats I well imagine he has played more innings than anyone on the team these past several weeks with the possible exception of Tommy Edman. Thanks and I look forward to your comment.

by Arnold 6/20/2022 4:22:08 PM
I would have stumped for keeping him out tonight for a day off but O'Neill's injury may have changed that. The Cardinals also will need all the left-handed-hitting firepower they can muster against Burnes. When the Brewers throw a left-hander this week, I would give Donovan a day. He does play at a furious pace and surely must be tiring a bit.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:24:07 PM
Thanks for the chat. Would like your perspective on reasons why the manager seemed to not make obvious decisions this past week.
1. Why play Yadi the day before Waino pitches and then IL him before he can start with Waino. Seems like one more day of rest then catch Waino made more sense. Not like Yadi’s injury was a sudden event.
2. Why start AP on Sunday vs. RH pitcher. “Pujols struck out in his first three at-bats. That dropped his season totals against right-handers to nine-for-71 (.127) with 15 strikeouts and two homers.”DG Playing to the crowd (Marmol’s quote) doesn’t win games. What is important!
3. Not using one of the big three relievers in the 8th inning Sunday. Shows little faith in the bats and goes against his earlier in the year statements about critical situations in a game.

by Larry M 6/20/2022 4:24:51 PM
Marmol has made it clear he intends to use Gallegos and Helsley only when tied for ahead. Cabrera, as you saw, entered with the Cardinals behind and wasn't all that good himself on Sunday. The manager also wanted Marmol to catch Flaherty on Wednesday because it was Flaherty's first start and there was a day off before Wainwright's start on Friday. But Molina was in distress Wednesday and the better move was to put him on the IL. Even if he's out until the All-Star break, which is a month from now, he and Wainwright will have ample opportunity to get the nine starts they need to break the record for battery men.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:28:40 PM
In NY watching our grandson and team playing at Cooperstown Allstar Village. Great seeing kids give all playing for the love of the game! 6 and 0 now and seeded 3rd out of 37. Just a proud grandpa saluting the Lake County Lightning Illinois 12u travel team!

by Joliet Dave 6/20/2022 4:29:36 PM
Enjoy the Cooperstown experience! It takes forever and a day to get there, but when you arrive, you're glad you made the effort.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:30:15 PM
Paul D next man up for his final chance?

by Joliet Dave 6/20/2022 4:30:23 PM
Nootbaar probably would be the better call if the Cardinals are down by an outfielder if O'Neill is out for a couple of weeks.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:31:09 PM
It seems crazy to ask but is it possible that the FO kicks the tires on available catchers at the trade deadline?

by South City Steve 6/20/2022 4:31:11 PM
The Cardinals' catching is fine. It is the hitting of their catchers that isn't. Herrera isn't the first player, I suspect, to strike out in his first three-bats. The Cardinals had 14 of those yesterday. There isn't anything in the catching market that would improve the Cardinals that much and you'd have a new catcher trying to handle a staff. Middle relief and late left-handed relief are more relevant issues now.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:33:36 PM
Has the front office made any changes to their pro scouting staff after the lack of success signing free agent relief pitchers?

by Uremovich 6/20/2022 4:33:52 PM
Not that I'm aware of. But the Cardinals' history of signing free-agent pitchers, especially relievers, has been a checkered one certainly.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:34:50 PM
I live in Memphis and I've watched several Redbirds games and I really believe Alec Burleson has a chance. Hits to all fields, body similar to Lance Berkman, same approach as Berkman. I like this kid a lot. Not a great athlete, but dependable in LF with a solid throwing arm. Professional hitter-type. Is it possible he gets the call if O'Neill gets put on the IL? And, what are the reports you're hearing about Burleson?

by Billy W. 6/20/2022 4:35:11 PM
I guess Burleson could get the call but I'd rather see Yepez and Donovan out there right now. Burleson qualifies more as a DH guy and the Cardinals have plenty of those. Plus, he isn't on the 40-man roster and the club would have to trim somebody. The Cardinals can't do anything yet with Dickerson because he is hurt. But Burleson still is a part of the Cardinals' future.

by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:37:37 PM
by rhummel 6/20/2022 4:37:41 PM