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’ve been really impressed with Zach Thompson’s velo and breaking stuff lately. Do you agree that he’s a potential rotation guy next year ? He seems to have passed up Liberatore.

by Roku 9/19/2022 6:53:45 PM
Thompson has surpassed Liberatore in that he's here and Liberatore is not. Thompson could be a rotation pitcher and probably will be some day soon but he can help more in the bullpen now. The Cardinals' left-handed relief is a bit sketchy, with Cabrera having gone backwards.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 6:57:09 PM
Every year all agree that the Cards need more starting pitching. There are now 7 real time starters. What are the chances that they keep all 7 instead of going thru another "we need pitching" saga.

by Bretto 9/19/2022 6:57:19 PM
Almost no chance. Everybody is always searching for more pitching. Also, Quintana is a free agent and may not be back.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 6:58:56 PM
I think we miss Bader’s cocky attitude - kind of take no prisoners.

by Roku 9/19/2022 6:59:02 PM
Yes, but he barely could walk when he was here, let alone play. The Cardinals are 33-13 since the Bader-Montgomery trade was made.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:00:20 PM
Teams from the AL East each 6 to 8 players invited to the Arizona Fall League. The Cardinals have 3. What gives? Who decides how many a team can send?

by Colorado Birds 9/19/2022 7:00:24 PM
There were only three mentioned in the headline. All teams have seven players and one taxi-squad player.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:01:08 PM
Good afternoon and thank you for all the work you do for Cardinal Nation all over the country. Is Tyler O'Neil a Cardinal come Spring Training 2023? Has the meter run out of time. I see he is on the IL again for the umpteenth time. And when he's available, not much that's impressive.

by Palmetto State Fan 9/19/2022 7:01:19 PM
O'Neill, as a second-time arbitration player, is going to cost $5 million or more to keep. And the meter is ticking because he has trouble playing a whole season. There is a lot of talent there--power, speed, great defender--but O'Neill just hasn't played often enough. He hasn't even been in 100 games this year.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:05:34 PM
I'm late for the chat so apologies if you've gone down this road. There has been media speculation about the Cardinals being a trade partner for M Trout next year. The line of reasoning seems solid...space to take on some salary, Halo's to take on some of the salary, their need for young talent, etc. What do you make of it? Also...is Otanhi even worth a wild imagination dream of?

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:05:38 PM
Who wouldn't want Mike Trout? But what would it take? I do not see Ohtani coming here, however.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:06:46 PM
Commish, you've seen a lot of players over the years. Do you think you would be a good scout?

by Andy 9/19/2022 7:06:49 PM
I don't know how to operate a stop watch.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:07:13 PM
Wonder how much Judge will get in free agency? Probably from the Yankees sinc Arte is selling the Angels.

by AustinTx 9/19/2022 7:08:02 PM
Judge could get the most dollars per year in a free agent contract. But he already is 30, so he won't get as many years as some of the younger stars have.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:13:12 PM
Do batboys or bat girls still get their one trip a year like the old days?

by Joliet Dave 9/19/2022 7:13:30 PM
I don't fly on the team plane but I don't think bat boys/girls fly with them any more.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:14:11 PM
Relax the pitch clock in the late innings? Sounds like a recipe for hot criticism. Football has a play clock and doesn't relax it late in the fourth quarter.

by Billy W. 9/19/2022 7:14:14 PM
I didn't say change it in the late innings. I think the umpires could be offered a little latitude in enforcing it. Football teams have timeouts to deal with clock management.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:16:00 PM
To your knowledge, is there a Nootbar in the works yet? Seems like a great thing for Crown Candy Kitchen or Ted Drews to market.

by Joliet Dave 9/19/2022 7:16:06 PM
I'd be astonished if some entrepreneur hasn't seized the moment.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:17:09 PM
I buy into the notion that hitters need at bats at ML level to stay sharp. It's clear DeJong is a glove first player now, do defensive skills erode with lack of playing time?

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:17:36 PM
The good defenders take extra work in the field if they aren't playing enough to stay ready.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:18:26 PM
I don't know if you've expressed your opinion on this or not....what would you expect the fan to do that catches 700? 699, 701, or last of reg season????

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:18:38 PM
I would expect the fan to bring it to Pujols and see what kind of deal can be constructed that could benefit both sides.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:19:48 PM
by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:19:54 PM
Commish good to see your over the top, non logical love affair with DeJong is still intact

by Patrick 9/19/2022 7:20:09 PM
I'm just telling you what the manager has in mind for the next week or so. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm trying to provide a public service.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:21:17 PM
Are there limits on the composition of a playoff roster? With a 2 of 3 format, you only need so many pitchers...you could go pos player happy, or not?

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:21:22 PM
I believe teams still have to have at least 13 pitchers. But I'll try to check that out. ;.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:22:54 PM
Is Masyn Winn a realistic possibility for next year at SS? Is his trajectory going to keep up out of the pursuit of elite FA SS due to the length of a contract it would take?

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:23:02 PM
If you're looking to sign a shortstop to a long-term deal, you have to factor in when Winn would be arriving. If you think he's only another year or less away, that surely would give you pause.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:24:32 PM
If the Reds got Judge, would he hit 100 HR in a year?

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:24:36 PM
Judge is playing in the perfect park now. He can hit the ball off the end of the bat and have it go out to right field in Yankee Stadium.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:25:39 PM
In the (unlikely but possible) event the Cards and Blue Jays were to meet in the World Series, are Goldy and Arenado still banned from playing in Canada?

by Rob 9/19/2022 7:26:50 PM
Unless the rules change, yes.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:27:11 PM
Trout to StL might make sense for the Angels. But would the Birds really want to trade a bundle of prospects for such an injury-prone player, however immensely talented? Specifically, he's missed nearly 300 games(!) since the start of 2017, and of course guys don't tend to stay healthier in their 30's than their 20's. At $300,000,000 guaranteed over the next 8 years, Trout's contract could backfire very, very badly.

My question, Commish: Have you seen Jordan Walker play right field this year? He had 9 outfield assists in just 25 games there, a crazy ratio I've never seen before by anyone at any level of competition. (Nootbaar seems to gun down guys all the time and he has 8 assists for the entire *year*.) Thanks for the chat!

by Dr. Ifo Suspense 9/19/2022 7:27:22 PM
I have not see Walker play at all since spring training. Outfield is his future, though, and it's clear he has a strong arm. But he won't be in the major leagues because of his arm.

by rhummel 9/19/2022 7:29:22 PM
One rule change I'd like to see, that hasn't been talked about. "Catcher re-entry" rule. Allowing a player who has been in the game and then removed, to re-enter the game to play catcher on defense. A different player would hit in the line-up. This allows the back up catcher to PH every now and then and the primary catcher to get a few innings off during the season without the risk of another position player having to fill in in an emergency.

by fumblinbumblin 9/19/2022 7:29:37 PM