Live Chats

Join baseball writer Derrick Goold 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

You can pick one Twitter feature that’s immediately implemented, what is it?

by Elon M 11/14/2022 6:00:40 PM
The reply shows whether an individual clicked on the link in the tweet or just commented without even bothering to read/look/click at the story.
VERIFIED CLICK
COMMENTING WITHOUT CLICKING
That would be very helpful when having conversations on Twitter. This past weekend, there were replies to a story asking for information that was in the story. I even used the same phrasing that the person was asking about. I suggested they search for the word. That still was not enough of an answer for the person, when it was right there in the article -- and because I pointed that out, I'm the bad guy. Cool.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:02:38 PM
Derrick can you remind me what players were in the conversations from the Cardinals in the Eaton talks?

by Zach 11/14/2022 6:02:42 PM
Not all of them. Not off the top of my head. Flaherty was one ask.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:03:12 PM
If the Cardinals make a trade for catcher involving Gorman, would Josh Bell be a guy who makes sense at DH?

by Henry C 11/14/2022 6:03:21 PM
Have not heard him come up in connection to the Cardinals outside of the usual they'll check in, yadda, yadda, yadda. That could be a hole in my reporting, that could be that he's not as versatile in the field as they want to first try to find. That is part of this. Mozeliak mentioned that he liked how Arenado and Goldschmidt got a break, and that sure Donovan is a part of that and can move around a bunch, but finding a DH who could play a position would be helpful.
"You had that in Pujols, a bat first for you who played at first base," I replied, paraphrased.
More than that, he added.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:05:25 PM
How active do you expect the Cards to be in the trade market?

by JacobF 11/14/2022 6:05:28 PM
What's the scale? They're going to dive into those talks because they do know that there is a catcher option or two in the trade market that makes sense for them, and they think that the bat they want could also be somewhere in that market. No promises on that last part. But they, like all teams, want to exhaust the possibilities to be sure.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:07:14 PM
It looks like the pickoff limit will put a premium on a defensive catcher since there will be no limit on catcher throws to first. Agree?

by BobG 11/14/2022 6:07:18 PM
Yes. That's a factor. Here's hoping.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:07:26 PM
Who else will be added to the 40 man roster before the deadline this week?

by Kevin 11/14/2022 6:07:38 PM
Lefty Connor Thomas will be added before Tuesday's deadline. That's what I've been toldl. The list of other candidates that must be protected before the Rule 5 draft include:
Inohan Paniagua, P
Tommy Parsons, P
Dionys Rodriguez, P
Kodi Whitley, P
Kramer Robertson, INF
Luken Baker, 1B/DH
Evan Mendoza, SS/3B/UT
That's just a few I grabbed from the long list.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:14:44 PM
Did Knizner or Herrera hit in the minors? What kind of hitters will Andrew Knizner and Ivan Herrera be in the MLB?

by Taylor 11/14/2022 6:17:52 PM
They did. Ivan Herrera has been considered an upside prospect with the bat because of his approach, his contact, his potential power, and just the view of him as a hitter, relative to the position. And Knizner hit even better stats-wise than Herrera. In his MiLB career, Herrera has been a .276/.375/.415 hitter for a .790 OPS. Knizner had a slash line of .303/.364/.461 in the minors for a .830 OPS.
Neither of them is the contact specialist that Molina was and that allowed Molina to improve as a hitter on the job. He didn't strike out much. He went through dozens of stances, of course, but he always had the contact ability. Herrera is the closest of the duo to that but Knizner and Herrera are different hitters, more apt to have some strike out in their game and that means they're going to be more of the SLG hitter compared to their peers than batting average, and that's OK. Knizner has shown the line drive, gap to gap ability. Herrera will if the continues on his current trend of improving.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:22:12 PM
As of now, who would you project to be the opening day starter ? Or is that person not yet on the roster ?

by Bob from chicago 11/14/2022 6:22:22 PM
Adam Wainwright is set to start opening day vs. Toronto.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:22:29 PM
Would the Cards be content if they started the season with only the LH relievers that are currently on the roster?

by Ryan 11/14/2022 6:22:39 PM
Yes. They are open to that possibility. Once they add Thomas.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:22:54 PM
If the Cardinals miss out on Murphy due to the sticker shock of the trade package needed. How much better does the bat they pursue have to be if they pivot to Vasquez?

by Britt 11/14/2022 6:23:04 PM
Why not aim high either way? The Cardinals need a bat for the middle of the lineup, not a good bat for catcher.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:23:26 PM
congratulations on another 7.8 bWAR this year and a happy early 20th year anniversary cover Cardinals next year.

by cardinalsgifs 11/14/2022 6:25:45 PM
Thank you. I worry that a good hunk of that WAR is earned on defense, especially these days on the social media. But, hey, St. Louis does love a good defender.
You're actually a year early. I just passed by 21st anniversary at the paper, and next year will be my 20th season on the beat. I joined it with Joe Strauss at the lead in 2004.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:27:16 PM
How do you see the outfield shaking out for next year,, is O'Neil gone or do you see him getting another chance?

by neverbeentospain 11/14/2022 6:27:21 PM
I don't know yet. But, yes, the Cardinals want to have Tyler O'Neill reassert his place as the left fielder they want/need. They're going to give him that chance.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:28:17 PM
If the Cardinals were to acquire an established starter, let's just say we re-sign Quintana, who would be competing in Spring for the rotation? Mikolas, Montgomery and Wainright only safe bets?

by Patty O'Furniture 11/14/2022 6:28:27 PM
Jack Flaherty, if healthy, is. He's entering his final year before free agency. He's not going to Memphis -- not with some other team seizing on him.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:28:54 PM
Did the Cardinals tell you that they were going to employ the strategy of just sneak into the playoffs for 2023 when they told you they weren't going to pursue a FA SP?

by St. Louis Dave 11/14/2022 6:29:32 PM
They did not. That is not their goal. Hold them to a higher standard.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:29:41 PM
Have you heard anything about Salvatore Perez being made available or wanting out this off season especially with the recent turnover of both their GM and field manager now gone?

by Nick N 11/14/2022 6:29:45 PM
Only speculation. Nothing substantive.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:29:51 PM
Would that make Matz our lefty reliever we need?

by Patty O'Furniture 11/14/2022 6:30:00 PM
The Cardinals do not want t be in that situation. And neither does Matz. They want him to come to camp as a starter and assert his certain role in the rotation. They committed to him financially as a starter. So, he's just on the edge of that sure thing. Good catch on your part.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:30:50 PM
I’m assuming the Cards wouldn’t have Walker open the season in STL and not play regularly so do you think it would require a trade (or injury) of Nootbar or O’Neill for Walker to earn an opening day spot?

by Ryan 11/14/2022 6:31:11 PM
Correct. If he's up, he's playing. If he's up, he's won a starting job. The DH does allow for one other place for a hitter to be on some days.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:31:32 PM
Is left field O’Neil’s or does he have to earn it back?

by Twitter Sam 11/14/2022 6:32:12 PM
It's November, so a lot can happen. But he's not going to get it without some kind of challenge from somewhere -- whether that's the moves the Cardinals make this winter or how it looks for internal competition when the Cardinals arrive in Jupiter. O'Neill has to get healthy, get durable, and stay on the field. He knows that. He's in St. Louis and he's doing a lot of drills on flexibility and plyometrics and things to increase and slightly change his physicality. He's working with the Cardinals' performance department and his agency, Boras Corp, is involved in helping with this.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:33:47 PM
Will Graceffo get a chance next spring to be one of the relievers who misses bats?

by johnb. 11/14/2022 6:33:53 PM
Yes.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:33:56 PM
Any chance Nolan Gorman sees time in LF?

by Tom 11/14/2022 6:34:01 PM
Not part of the plan at this moment, but again -- he's worked out there before and that has always been a thought, if necessary.

by Derrick Goold 11/14/2022 6:34:22 PM