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3rd & 7 37yd

Carpenter also looked good taking a walk on Sunday. And when one says "I know it was only two at-bats this season," well. . . .
As for Nogowski, we may see him get some outfield time although I have not seen him patrol right field and that's kind of a large ask for a first baseman to do that. When Nogowski plays, he could hit second, but Goldschmidt is the No. 2 hitter for now and the Cardinals should get plenty of chances to score runs whether he drives them in or just scores them.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:29:07 PM
Commish, I think the Cards should try to get Joey Gallo at the trade deadline if they can. He would fit perfectly in the 4 slot, has 2 years of control, is LH, and can rake. We have enough to get him.

by Tall Sally 4/5/2021 5:29:40 PM
Never reject anything. There are things to like about Gallo although strikeouts are not one of them.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:30:33 PM
Rick, after the 2021 season is over the Cardinals will finally be shedding Fowler, Carpenter and Martinez’s contracts. You are the GM the day after the World Series is over. What do you do with all your newfound wealth?

by Rob in St. Charles 4/5/2021 5:30:57 PM
For one thing, depending on how he does this year and his interest level in staying, I might want to try to sign Flaherty to a long-term deal.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:32:00 PM
Thank you for chat Commish.

Why do the Cardinals always nibble? I mean old Cardinal teams had enough impact players to warrant fevered support.

Seems after the mass exits post 2011, the Cardinals abandoned the have enough legit contributors to really have a shot at winning plan.

They spend on mostly players past their prime or long shots with “high upside”.

But the reality is they never really have enough to beat the teams they need to beat to accomplish winning a championship.

That is what every season is about, right?

But it is a business and a very good one.

I trust your knowledge of the game, you’ve been in St. Louis for more than my 60 years and you’ve seen elite Cardinal teams in St.Louis.

Which Cardinals to post 2011 would you consider elite?

by Norm 4/5/2021 5:32:52 PM
I'm of the opinion that Arenado is just coming into his peak years, so that doesn't qualify as a "nibble." And I will say that Beltran and Berkman each had one "elite year" here. Wainwright and Molina have qualified for "elite" status during their time here but I guess you're talking about adding from the outside. But, consider, which team added more of substance from the outside than the Cardinals did in acquiring Arenado?

> . h tider, leing about aou

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:36:35 PM
Watching Yadi take control of the Castellonas fiasco (as much control as there can be in a baseball scrum) is one of those things that's going to be sorely, sorely missed when he retires in 6-7 years. Also great to see Arenado passionately sticking up for his new teammates. It fell short of sparking the comeback I was hoping for, but do you think that it helped with team chemistry at all?

by cb 4/5/2021 5:36:51 PM
It was very noticed that Arenado was very much in the middle of things. He already had blended into clubhouse chemistry but this was one more manifestation thereof.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:38:01 PM
Rick, Sidenote: Last night late in Anaheim, I watched a completely dejected future HOFer jog off the field after a failed pinch hitting appearance. I felt bad for him. With the emergence of Walsh, LA is no longer Disney Land. If the DH is adopted in 2022, I think I would feel comfortable rolling out the welcome mat for P5 to return. I'll take "nostalgia" if I can't have a competitive product. Thoughts ?

by Mo's Bowtie 4/5/2021 5:38:20 PM
Even if there is a DH in the NL next year, I don't think it's a wise move to expect 40-plus Albert Pujols to be the type of hitter you remembered him being. And that might alter your memories of him from the first time around.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:40:56 PM
Earlier you mentioned Dick Kaegel, who I really enjoyed. Who were the writers/player/broadcasters who were a positive influence in your career as you were coming up the ranks?

by Rob in St. Charles 4/5/2021 5:41:01 PM
Dick was one, as well as sports editor Bob Broeg and other veterans at the P-D. On a national level, Dick Young, Jim Murray, Red Smith and others treated me with more respect than I probably deserved at the time.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:42:29 PM
I'm one of the few who think Castellonas didn't really do anything all that wrong to get kicked out of the game.You say taunting,and I say players mouth off all the time.Chris Carpenter was the one who mouthed off and taunted quite a bit.

by Marky Mouse 4/5/2021 5:42:37 PM
But C. Carp didn't stand over his vanquished foe and let him know about it.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:43:08 PM
Do you think Carlos was supposed to be pitching around Castellanos with first base open, there, and he just missed it? The guy was obviously raking, and I'm wondering why mess around with him at all there?

by JB 4/5/2021 5:43:21 PM
Carlos has done quite well with Castellanos in the past and not as well with Votto. I'm not a big fan of putting runners on when you're already losing, especially to go after a dangerous lefthanded hitter like Votto with the bases loaded.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:45:23 PM
No one could've secretly liked the results of this weekend more than Carp. The fans' death ray has finally been aimed elsewhere. His continued futility is merely a footnote, which is maybe appropriate given his current role. But, man, Shildt made sure he got an AB in every game. When do you think he gets his first start?

by Jerry Berry 4/5/2021 5:45:38 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Carp turns up at second and Edman in the outfield sometime in this series.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:46:10 PM
Is Derrick Good on a HOF track? Will Mike Shannon make HOF? For Mike I think not.

by Ray in the Ozarks 4/5/2021 5:46:14 PM
Derrick certainly has all the attributes to be on that track. Perhaps Mike's 50th year in the booth and his imminent retirement from broadcasting will spark more interest is his candidacy for an honor he should have had before now.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:47:44 PM
Thanks for your great Cardinals coverage, Rick. How much time will the Cardinals give Justin Williams (and Austin Dean) to start hitting before looking for alternatives?

by tommyk 4/5/2021 5:47:49 PM
Thanks very much. Dean, I'm sure will play tonight. Shildt will try other options, including Williams, after a day or so off. Bader won't be that far away either.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:48:55 PM
Hey Commish, How do players move to/from taxi squad? Is it similar to option to Memphis? Or can they move freely from taxi to active roster? Is there 7 or 10 day waiting period w/o injury designation? Or other special rules. Thank you!

by Bh 4/5/2021 5:49:31 PM
If players are brought up from taxi squad, they will have to be supplanted by others optioned or outrighted to Memphis. I believe the 10-day option rule would be in effect, but will check.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:51:21 PM
Agreed on the Blue Caps and Blue uniforms. But I will say this about the blue unis - they're a million times better than those monstrous red sweaters the Blues pulled out this year.

As for a possible left-handed bat - David Perralta would sure look good in left field. He's signed for a couple of years and the Diamondbacks aren't winning anything anytime soon.

by Dave in Wilmington, NC 4/5/2021 5:51:35 PM
The Cardinals, you may remember, had Peralta as a pitcher in their system many years ago. That didn't work out, but I would take him.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:52:10 PM
I feel that pitching concerns are greater in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee than in StL. Your thoughts ?

by Brent Wood 4/5/2021 5:52:59 PM
I like the Brewers' top two starters a lot and their two top relievers a lot. Otherwise, not sure about the rest. The Cubs and Reds both have pitching issues, as do the Cardinals in the rotation.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:54:18 PM
Do you think they should of went after Joc Peterson, Swarber, or Rosario? They're really missing a LH bat with power. I'm skeptical Williams can be that batter.

by Candy Man 4/5/2021 5:54:22 PM
I'm sure they looked at all three in various fashion. But they were committed to trying their own outfielders, after the Arozarena snafu. Besides, they got Arenado. Who would you rather have?

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:55:20 PM
Commish - Thx for chatting with us - you’re the best! I’m not sure if you were in Cincinnati yesterday? On the ball hit to deep center that Carlson was unable to catch - it seemed the ball was rolling around forever. I could not tell on TV - where was Justin Williams? Was he watching or playing? (He needs a ticket if he wants to watch.) The short take is that neither Thomas or Williams is ready to seize the opportunity with Bader on the IL. Heaven help us if we end up with Bader starting again. He’s had way more than his fair share of at bats. He’s a 3 tool player on his best day. He simply cannot hit. We must find someone who can hit. Your thoughts please?

by Redbird13 4/5/2021 5:56:10 PM
Before I pass final judgment on the outfield, I want to see what it was supposed to be with O'Neill in left, Bader in center and Carlson in right. Until then, the Cardinals are just trying to hold it together as best they can.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:57:55 PM
why are the tv announcers here in st louis? Covid? Thanks for doing these Mr Hummel!!!

by john 4/5/2021 5:58:00 PM
The announcers, radio or television, haven't been cleared to travel yet because of COVID considerations. And you're welcome.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 5:58:58 PM
Commish,

What did you do professionally prior to 1971?

Thanks for your time and expertise.

by Norm 4/5/2021 5:59:31 PM
I moonlighted for a Colorado Springs newspaper from 1969-71 after being assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado for my final 22 months of a three-year Army hitch, which I began in June, 1968,

by rhummel 4/5/2021 6:01:14 PM
When managers talk about not only the number of innings pitched, but the stress of those innings on a pitcher. Are they implying that the mental stress of those innings contributes more to a pitcher's fatigue or do pitchers actually throw harder in those stressful innings?

by cb 4/5/2021 6:01:53 PM
Sometimes, they throw harder--or try to, anyway, or try to snap off the perfect breaking pitch to the perfect location. But yes, it probably is as much mental stress as anything.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 6:03:03 PM
Rick, So glad baseball is back. Moved out West after many years in STL. Respect for the Birds on the Bat is amazing. Proud to wear my Gibby jersey. Soon, no on will know that we started 1-2. Expect that we will have a very good year with Goldy and Arenado. This will be a fun team to watch. Thanks for all of your writing over the years. Former SLU journalism major. :)

by Relocated Cards Fan 4/5/2021 6:03:26 PM
In three days, they could be 3-3 or 4-2, all on the road.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 6:04:11 PM
Hey Commish! Thanks for chatting with us. This is a cool feature that the paper offers. Not many people get to talk baseball with a Hall of Famer very often. I am a satisfied subscriber.

Looking back on some of the recent major signings or trades where the Cardinals came in second place, I feel like it was actually for the best on many of them - Pujols, Heyward, and David Price come to mind. Luis Robert is probably too early in his career to tell, but as for the rest of them it seems like the Cardinals probably wouldn't make those deals with the benefit of hindsight. Stanton was good in his first season with the Yankees, but he hasn't played too much sense then. The one huge miss in my mind was not even making an offer to Max Scherzer, which of course we now know was very foolish. Runner-up was not calling the Marlins' bluff on trading Yelich, but they were in a tough spot there because they didn't want to end up empty handed.

So, I am not calling for a new GM just yet. If, and it is a big if, the Nationals fall apart by the trade deadline, how great of a story would it be for Scherzer to come back home to Missouri in a trade?

by Ryan 4/5/2021 6:07:30 PM
Perhaps the Nationals might fall out of the race in the second half of the season and Scherzer might be available. I bet St. Louis isn't on his don't-send-me-there list. And, thank you very much.

by rhummel 4/5/2021 6:08:56 PM
If we make it through 2 full turns of the rotation with similar results, and Mikolas and Kim aren't ready yet, would we see Oviedo? Or is that still too early?

by cb 4/5/2021 6:09:23 PM
Kim should be ready the third time those turns come around. But Oviedo always is a possibility.
Thanks for your questions and comments.
I'll try to go for a longer period next time but there is some ball writing work to be done.
Commish

by rhummel 4/5/2021 6:10:38 PM

Live Chats

Join Hall of Famer Rick Hummel live from Miami for a Cards chat at 11 a.m. Monday

Bring your Cards questions and comments to a live chat with Rick Hummel at 11 a.m. Monday

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