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

Here is why I think this October will be another one-and-done for the Cardinals; they keep back-sliding to bad players to provide them answers. DeJong playing twice this weekend, Hudson pitching again this weekend. These are not players that would even sniff a Dodgers, Mets, or Atlanta 26-man roster but suddenly they are possibilities for the Cards post-season roster. This team has been trying to spackle holes all summer left by players projected to be stars - O'Neill, Carlson, Flaherty, etc..

by Tackleberry 9/19/2022 4:38:03 PM
Those players you mentioned would be on any of those other teams' postseason rosters although not necessarily as starters. These last few weeks can give the Cardinals some clarity on how helpful some of these players can be in October. An eight-game lead gives you some room to experiment at least a bit. .

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:41:18 PM
Good Morning Commish, thanks as always for the chats. 2 questions: 1) Cards barely played over .500 ball against Wash, Pitt, Cin., and Mil, are you confident offense can recover and compete in playoffs? 2) More I see him, Gorman appears to be a bust, should we explore a trade with him in the offseason while he still has some relative value?

by Ken 9/19/2022 4:41:30 PM
I'm not trading Gorman. He has 14 homers, albeit all against right-handed pitching, and he has had to play a position still fairly new to him in second base. Am I confident the offense can rebound? Of course. Will it? We'll have to see.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:43:55 PM
Your top young pitcher (Liberatore) can't get righties out, your top young hitter (Carlson) can't hit righties. How concerning is this given that righties are 80% of this league?

by Tackleberry 9/19/2022 4:44:07 PM
Yes, some things will have to change for these two men to be impact players. But one still is only 22 and the other 23.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:45:45 PM
Not to get ahead of myself but the 2023 offense can't be dependent upon Gorman, O'Neill, Carlson, Nootbaar, and Donovan. All important pieces, yes, but the inconsistency we are seeing now means that all would have to take a substantial step forward in 2023. After watching the entire OF take a step back this summer I am not prepared to believe in that plan for offensive improvement next year.

by Denise L. 9/19/2022 4:46:57 PM
Donovan has established himself as a top-of-the-lineup hitter, wherever he plays. The others have more flaws.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:47:54 PM
Thank you for the chats Commish! Do you see any big off season moves concerning position players? It seems there will be a game of musical chairs next spring. Right now Mo has O'Neil, Carlson, Nootbar and then you start to look at who will take that 4th and/or 5th outfield spot so there is Burelson, Walker, Gomez and there needs to be some consideration for Deluzio and Antico. Let's also not leave out Yepez because he's hitting like he's capable then he will play.

by Jimmy 9/19/2022 4:48:21 PM
There always will be off-season moves. But I would like to see how the season--and postseason--play out before I get too much into next season. The outfield, and the catching, will be have to be fixed, though.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:49:42 PM
Rick, your point about relaxing the pitch clock rules late in the game is something I hadn't heard of or thought of until today. But it makes a ton of sense to back off late in the game when the game is on the line. Do you know if the rules would allow some relaxation, even if it is something like the old 'phantom tag' at second base, where the umps just won't enforce it during those important times?

by Joe 9/19/2022 4:50:04 PM
I don't think the rules have anything stating there can be more time for pitchers later in the game but, hopefully, umpires will be granted at least a little latitude.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:51:05 PM
If it were up to you,would you go with the 2 catchers we have in our system next year ,or bring in someone to compete,or sign a big name player?Thanks for all of your expertiece.

by Mark 1 9/19/2022 4:51:12 PM
I would go with Knizner and Herrera but with a veteran presence, not necessarily a No. 1 guy, brought in. I've changed a bit on Knizner. I think he could be a No. 1 here if he can provide a little more offense.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:52:44 PM
Using Steven Matz out of the pen in extra's turned out to be a stroke of genius, but was their any concern that he hadn't relieved a game A.) in the majors and B.) with a runner on second base to start? Additionally, I'd love your thoughts on how he may be used down the stretch? Is he a long man or more of a specialist?

Thanks Commish! Thanks for the time :)

by Stewart O 9/19/2022 4:53:02 PM
You're welcome. Matz has relieved in a handful of games before. As far as his encountering the ghost runner, that rule does not apply in postseason play. Matz will be used more in shorter stints than longer because he hasn't been conditioned on the most recent rehab to be a multiple-innings man on a regular basis.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:55:56 PM
by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:55:58 PM
Rick aka Commish: One thing not discussed with the widening of the bases is the bang-bang play at first. This has always been something to enjoy and watch rather the ball beat the players foot to the bag, but with the new wider base I suppose we won't be seeing many more bang=bang plays anymore at first or any other base for that matter.

by Rick aka Commish: One think not discussed with the 9/19/2022 4:56:11 PM
There always will be bang-bang plays at first, whatever the dimensions of the bag. I believe you will notice it more on steal plays. Home plate will remain the same size.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:57:32 PM
Hi,
I've actually been impressed with quite a few of the pitchers for the Reds. I'm expecting several of these guys to be recognized as major dudes in the near future. Shouldn't we give some credit to the Reds' pitchers? Just because they were a bad team most of the year doesn't mean they don't have guys who can really throw it.

by Magic Sam 9/19/2022 4:57:41 PM
The Cardinals gave credit to fire-balling Hunter Greene and a couple of Reds relievers. Cincinnati has three or four top pitching prospects but the staff still is thin and the Reds' offense is horrid.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 4:59:38 PM
Saturday night game was a show of pitching strength for nine innings but no action or suspense. Tenth and eleventh innings provided drama and action that made slogging thru the first nine innings and watching til the end entertaining. I don’t see the resistance to keeping the overtime runner as part of the game. After 3 hours of watching, I am ready for a conclusion. After all I thought entertainment was a huge part of why we watch. Appreciate your comments why you prefer additional innings without the extra runner.

by Larry M 9/19/2022 5:00:04 PM
I have stated that I wish the new rule wouldn't be implemented until the 11th inning. This way, the purists and non-purists could have their way.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:01:20 PM
Would Yepez be a decent enough corner Outfielder next year or strictly a DH?

by Mark 1 9/19/2022 5:01:26 PM
Commish, I enjoyed your article in this morning’s P-D about the Cardinals continued lack of hitting. It is undoubtedly right and proper for Marmol not to panic (can leave that to the fans!) but I have to wonder if it’s possible his constant changing around of the lineup could be having an adverse effect? The team (hitters) really look listless. Is the thought and hope that the upcoming road-trip against better competition will stir the team into playing better baseball? Every team (with possible exception of Dodgers) goes through ups and downs of a long season but it’s important for them to be playing inspired baseball with the playoffs right around the corner. Thanks and I look forward to your comment.

by Arnold 9/19/2022 5:03:25 PM
I don't think the lineup tinkering is a big deal. When you're trying to rest a couple of players,, there has to be some adjustment. Let's see how this next week or so goes. As for next year, Yepez could be OK in the field but I see him more as a DH-type, perhaps sharing the job with somebody like Burleson.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:05:36 PM
Hello Commish, Have you been hearing and rumblings about the cardinals moving the outfield walls in this offseason? Goold said they had some discussion and consults down at the ballpark about it recently.

by Dan 9/19/2022 5:05:44 PM
There was some talk about adjusting the fences last year, too, but nothing came of it. Don't know about next year. Cardinals are going to hit 200 or more homers, as it is. That ought to be enough.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:08:34 PM
The OF has not hit up to expectations. Gomez has 36 HR for Memphis. Shouldn’t they give him a try??

by TennCardFan 9/19/2022 5:08:38 PM
I suspect that Gomez will be protected in the off-season and then brought to camp. Thirteen of those homers have come at Memphis, the rest at Springfield. He is worth a look, certainly, but probably not this season. .

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:09:55 PM
Hope Wainwright comes back next year. He isn't the pitcher he used to be but he makes every start, pitching is so fragile you can't count on anyone. Trading for or signing a big name is a huge gamble as they are 1 pitch away from the IL.

by Ed 9/19/2022 5:09:57 PM
Wainwright surely deserves some points for his dependability as well as his ability to stay a step ahead of the posse. The Cardinals always will search for starting pitching, as any other team would, but I would bring him back. There is little downside.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:11:21 PM
Commish you mentioned that O'Neil may not be on the roster next year and don't give up on Carlson. I like both of them and wish there was room for both but if you're going to trade one of them wouldn't it make more sense to trade Carlson? It seems you could get a lot bigger return for 4 years of Carlson versus 2 arbitration years for O'Neil. It seems Mo has enough outfielders in the pipeline to replace Oneil after his cost control years are up. Thanks for the chats!

by Jimmy 9/19/2022 5:11:38 PM
Carlson is 23 and O'Neill 27. Carlson is a switch-hitter and O'Neill is not. I like O'Neill but the Cardinals are growing frustrated that he can't stay on the field because of injury.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:14:05 PM
Did I miss the AFL list in the PD?

by AustinTx 9/19/2022 5:14:07 PM
Walker, Winn, Hence, Loutos, Leahy, Pages, C. Thomas, Antico (taxi).

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:16:26 PM
Thanks to PD sports writers for these great chats. I am very worried about the Cards lack of a leadoff hitter. Any number of players have been tried there. It seems as soon as someone moves into the leadoff spot they cool off rather quickly. Is there any solutions on this team

by JWHelp 9/19/2022 5:16:29 PM
And. . . thank you. I was OK with Donovan and Edman at the top and that seemed to work out pretty well.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:17:37 PM
The physics of hitting says that bat sweet spot, launch angle and bat speed are the only things which impact the exit velocity and distance. When Mookie Betts has the same HRs as Alonzo, Goldy, et al, it seems obvious to me that size and weight lifting are not much of a factor. Assuming strength helps with bat speed, it seems to me that O’Neil would benefit by getting out of the weight room and into a yoga class to improve flexibility. Maybe he could stay on the field instead of the rehab room. Do they have a flexibility coach or is the pregame ritual on the field all that they do.

by Larry M 9/19/2022 5:17:40 PM
The club has many strength and flexibility coaches and trainers. But, somehow, O'Neill has to find a way to limit the hamstring-type injuries. The other injuries have been more of the fluke variety.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 5:19:44 PM