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

Are you referring to the Liberatore that is in Memphis right now? That’s a hard pass for 2023 rotation concepts.

by Ryan 9/26/2022 6:20:59 PM
Liberatore has pitched a lot better lately and you have to include him as a possibility. He had some moments up here this year although he wasn't quite ready.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:22:24 PM
Waino appears finished this year. It's time for him to join Albert and Yadi in retirement. If he advises the Cardinals that he'd like to come back next year do you believe it is possible that they tell him no they are moving on without him?

by Schas 9/26/2022 6:22:31 PM
Those discussions will be held in due time. There is no slam dunk that Wainwright is returning,

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:23:25 PM
Don't you think it would be wise to enter spring training with the intent of having 7 legit starters? Obviously your 5 man rotation, then two "alternatives" for the practically guaranteed injury bug. I agree with your 4 "givens"; Flaherty, Mikolas, Montgomery, and Matz. You mentioned that leaves potentials for the 5th; Hudson? Waino? Liberatore? Quintana?. If the season ended today and it were your decision, and assuming a reasonable contract could be negotiated, would you pursue Quintana? Would you consider Z Thompson in that competition mix as well?

by Lee P. 9/26/2022 6:23:48 PM
I would pursue Quintana and Thompson might be a candidate, too, although he would be intriguing as a left-handed reliever for one more season before being converted back into a starter. Teams always should have eight or nine starters. Pallante could fall into that category. His final start this season was of eight scoreless innings when Soto and Bell still were playing for Washington.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:26:42 PM
I know an outfield of Noot, Yepez and Burleson does not scream defensive juggernaut but is that the best hitting OF?

by Tackleberry 9/26/2022 6:26:45 PM
O'Neill would figure in my best "hitting" outfield. And what you propose would not, in any way, be a good defensive outfield other than Nootbaar. Yepez and Burleson scream "DH."

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:28:11 PM
It seems that Dickerson has been fading over the last few weeks. When O'Neill get healthy, do you see the Cardinals going with the O'Neill-Carlson-Nootbaar outfield? It's a faster, more athletic combo.

by Biggest Cardinals Fan in Arizona 9/26/2022 6:28:39 PM
That would be my outfield for the playoffs, if O'Neill can handle it.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:29:11 PM
What team could you see Paul DeJong possibly be on next year?

by K. C. 9/26/2022 6:29:53 PM
The Dodgers might even want him if they lose Trea Turner. DeJong will be sought after if the money issue can be resolved.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:30:33 PM
Maybe it is time for Waino to hang it up, with a dead arm, etc. Or will he wait to see how he feels after the season? It would be too bad, as I think he deserves his own victory lap.

by Jake the Flake 9/26/2022 6:30:39 PM
He does deserve a victory lap although I don't think Waino necessarily craves that. Let's give this a few more weeks and I suspect he is feeling the same way after it seemed pretty certain he wanted to play again next year.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:32:01 PM
In your current view, is Jordan Walker a can’t miss prospect who will achieve stardom? Or will he ultimately blend in with the current cast of internally developed players, most whom would be labeled mediocre but no standouts?

by Jack 9/26/2022 6:32:03 PM
Your math on the pitching rotation next year, Flaherty, Matz, Montgomery and Mikolas leaving one spot for one of AW, Quintana, Liberatore or Hudson is why the Cards end up short on pitching every year. Pitchers get hurt and pitchers fail every year. Look at the Dodgers, they lost Walker Beuhler and Dustin May for much of the year and still had a high end staff. I am not suggesting the Cards go out and sign a couple more expensive guys. But a guy like Quintana provides a lot of insurance. I am also guessing that AW retires now. If yes, having both Hudson and Quintana around makes a lot of sense. The Cards would be extremely lucky if only 1 of those 6 did not miss significant time in 2023. I don't trust Liberatore to be the 6th guy at this point.

by ICCFIM 9/26/2022 6:32:03 PM
Commish, have loved your work for decades and hope to continue doing so for years to come. I have like truly enjoyed the 2022 Reunion Tour. Lot of thrilling moments and lifetime memories. From your perspective what have been the downsides, if any, to the Tour as it relates to the team's overall or individuals' performance?

by Palmetto State Fan 9/26/2022 6:32:04 PM
Answers to three questions, due to a technical mix-up:
1--I see few downsides to Reunion Tour other than Molina being compromised by knee injury. Pujols made it all worth while.
2--Quintana could be a welcome addition. But you can't sign a pitcher, catcher, shortstop and an outfielder.
3--Walker is a "can't miss," unless we're all wrong.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:46:06 PM
While the Cardinals are still playing for the second seed, it appears that they will in all likelihood be the third seed. The primary question is who will start the wild card games. Will the starter for this Sunday's game most likely be the starter for the first game of the wild card series or do you think Oli will try to give all of his starters some additional rest before the series? Also which of the starters do you believe will make the three starts? How will those games impact the division series?

by BobH 9/26/2022 6:46:58 PM
The Cardinals officially are out of the running for the second seed. I expect Wainwright to start this Sunday's game. I do not think that necessarily sets him up to start in the playoffs. A large part of this depends on whom the Cardinals are playing. in the postseason. But you can count on Mikolas pitching one of the first two games.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:50:07 PM
What are we going to do without Allbert next year ? As a part time pllayer has killing it. We need a proven sllugger next year

by Ken 9/26/2022 6:50:19 PM
Pujols will be tough to replace. Perhaps some combination involving Yepez, Burleson and/or Gorman might be an alternative.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:51:08 PM
What is the funniest/strangest play you have seen on the field? Mine has to be Ozuna climbing the left field fence and the ball landing short of the warning track. Still makes me laugh when I see it.

by AustinTx 9/26/2022 6:51:48 PM
Or Bonds being attacked by moths as he knocked a home run over the fence.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:52:23 PM
If COVID doesn't happen, we'd be talking about Albert being #2 all-time in HRs and he'd already be 2nd in RBI. And if his foot didn't plague him for several years, we could be talking about 800 career HRs. Obviously all kinds of could of, would of, should of in here, but it just puts into context how good he is... Goold says he's top 3 RH hitter of all time. You agree?

by Mike 9/26/2022 6:52:37 PM
Of the ones I've seen, he's right behind Henry Aaron.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:53:10 PM
Hey Commish! Do you see a scenario where the Cardinals could trade Flaherty? He seems destined for a CA team in free agency ( in my opinion) and a AAV of, what, 25 mill a year?
With the number of starts missed over the last few years wouldn’t it at least make sense to explore his market?
Thanks,
Max p

by Max 9/26/2022 6:53:32 PM
The Cardinals always could trade Flaherty or just about anyone else. But they would like to get one more top year out of him--or at least a healthy year.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:54:29 PM
Good to see the Mariners and Phillies back in post season.

by AustinTx 9/26/2022 6:54:33 PM
The Phillies aren't there yet. They've got 10 games left---all on the road.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:55:00 PM
There are two teams that I hope the Cardinals never trade with again - the Marlins and the Rays. Those two teams seem to be much better than the Cardinals at evaluating talent - ours and theirs. This team should just take them off of our speed-dial list.

by George M. 9/26/2022 6:55:06 PM
People bemoan the Arozarena trade with Tampa Bay. But the two they dealt to Miami in the Ozuna trade--Alcantara and Gallen--are among the top five pitchers in the league.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:56:15 PM
A most underrated highlight of the 2022 season or any season is Albert homering on his last swing v the Cubs. To win the game. Pure magic.

by BobG 9/26/2022 6:56:25 PM
There were so many Pujols highlights it was hard to compress them into 10.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:57:18 PM
I both agree and disagree with "Kevin in DC" about Pujols vis a vis Ruth. I discount all of Barry Bonds's numbers. I also think Bonds is an idiot. He would have easily made the Hall of Fame without steroids, given the great all-around player he was. Albert is great; he is not Babe Ruth. Albert is nothing as a pitcher. Ruth was an amazing pitcher. And Alex Rodriguez stinks as a steroid cheat. I am glad Albert supplanted him in fourth place in the home runs list.

by Roy Earl 9/26/2022 6:57:38 PM
Ruth does have the edge in Pujols in pitching, as was confirmed to us this season.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:58:13 PM
Happy Monday and thanks for chatting, Rick!
I'd argue that the Cards DO have a number one starter, Commish. His name is Jose Quintana On Extra Rest. Across 17 starts that ace has a 2.10 ERA and a sparkling 86-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Question is, does the manager see what's in front of him? (You can *not* pitch Q on regular rest, that's unfortunately the other half of the equation. In 13 starts he has a sub-mediocre ERA of 4.41 and a muddy 44/26 K/BB tally.)

by Bob Caruthers 9/26/2022 6:58:50 PM
And thank you! We'll see about your theory on Wednesday. Quintana on regular rest at Milwaukee.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 6:59:52 PM
We have too many DH types, Yepez, Burleson, Gomez and Gorman if he isn't playing 2nd.

by Ed 9/26/2022 7:00:36 PM
There are too many DHs now when you include Pujols, who is excellent, and Dickerson to go with the four you named. I haven't seen Gomez play the field, yet so I might hold off on him.

by rhummel 9/26/2022 7:02:03 PM