Fair enough. Lesson learned. I think the questions about Albert, usually, were if the Cardinals were going to drop him. They didn't and were actually ready to extend him. I did not expect him to walk away from a team that wanted him back. If you did, nice call.
Credit to Hochsie. I think that's his stance. Cardinals need some more shirsey guys. Contreras would look good, and I think some of the Cardinals fans who liked disliking him would learn to like him pretty quick. For what it's worth, a lot of opposing fans didn't like Molina. And that made Cardinals fans like him that much more.
I would not be rushing Gordon Graceffo or Tink Hence off to some other team in just any kind of trade. Their stuff is electric in early career sample sizes.
Not necessarily. Herrera is 22, and this season showed he needs a lot more seasoning. Contreras can and does spend some time at DH. The Cardinals sound like they want a primary catcher, but the idea that any catcher is going to be a Molina-type marathon is not how most teams are doing it these days. The Cardinals had bee an outlier there. Knizner could be a Contreras complement until Herrera is ready to do that, and then Herrera could take over more catching reps if he turned into the player the Cards hoped. And it wouldn't lead to Contreras being not useful. Because he hits.
I think it was a lot of things. Winning a division for the first time. Seeing what Pujols and Molina meant to the city and team and fans. Knowing he is going to get repeated cracks at the postseason. He identifies with the town and the direction. He appreciates playing in a place crazy about baseball, because he is crazy about baseball. It's just a really good fit.
You're not crazy. The argument for DeJong to be a glove-first shortstop is there, but he can't be a total liability offensively. Could he be an overpaid Edmundo Sosa with a chance to claw back a bigger role? Yes. And that's what he likely is unless the Cardinals trade him. I don't think they will pay him just to walk away. They don't usually do that unless the guy is a tanked reliever. I think DeJong has a chance, but it's thinning and can no longer be a his-to-lose scenario.
I wish he hit left-handed, but his splits are pretty even on his career. Anyone concerned about the slide he's been on since traded to the Astros. Hard to imagine them wanting him back on the option after it. I can see a potential fit here. I'm still high on Joc Pederson for what Cardinals need, and he's available again. And his bro is a hitting coach in the system.
Best album title ever. RIP.
The Cardinals are and, at least under this ownership, always will be a pipeline-driven team. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that they factor what they hope to have coming into offseason plans. But I'd also remind folks early offseason talking points can change. They were high on their third base prospects before trading for Arenado. Gorman is now at second base. Things can change. Part of the Arenado shift was they did not have a for-now third-base answer. I do think they think Edman/Donovan are OK enough there to make additions elsewhere instead, making catcher/DH/outfield mix a more likely target. We'll see.
Herrera got a taste but needs more seasoning. Graceffo could get one, and the Cardinals at times wondered if he could be ready for one last season. Moises Gomez, if he's around, should get a look after all those home runs he cranked last season. The Cardinals need Liberatore and Gorman to build off of last season's struggles. Yepez looks like a part of the DH equation as does Thompson and Pallante in the bullpen if not the rotation in the future. Donovan's got a place on this team. I don't see much of a fit for DeLuzio.
He's been a below-average hitter the past two seasons. If the Dodgers can't help you . . . I'd pass.
Thanks, Jay. I had fun with that one. I write about the Sports Commission's sportsmanship award winners once per year in addition to picking a Musial Awards column. Both are two of my favorites to write every year. We hear so much about the bad stuff in sports, it's nice to remember the good. And I applaud the St. Louis Sports Commission for making it a mission to celebrate those stories. They do great work. Happy to help spread the word when I get the chance.
In terms of rotation, Verlander or Rodon are the kind of free-agent starters who would give them something they have been missing.
I'll keep my Brady jokes limited to on-the-field stuff, and his weird diet.
A couple of worse-than-most-realize early injuries, a wonky schedule to start that did them no favors and . . . too much malaise. Army came out swinging today defending Berube, as he should. Time to turn up the heat on the players. If it doesn't work . . . buckle up.
Gotta run, folks. Great chat and see you same time and place next week.
BTW, I gave you all the credit in the world for your case to sign Harper. I wanted to point out a year or so ago when Albert had all the other hitting coaches fired in 2021 that things never end well with people that can't play well with others. In the corporate world those people almost always implode on their own...Albert appears to have imploded on his own. Its a personality defect that has the same result over and over and over. You were rather dismissive of my comment at the time. Your youth over me has many advantages most of the time. But sometimes, not often, having age and watching this stuff happen many times in the past gives an insight...