Join columnist Ben Frederickson for a live chat at 11 a.m. Tuesday
Ben Frederickson will answer all of your Cardinals, Blues, St. Louis City, Mizzou and SLU questions in Tuesday's 11 a.m. live chat.
-
-
It's not just the Molina, Wainwright situations slowing down the power bat discussion. It's finding out if the DH will be back in the NL for 2021. No one has moved on DH type hitters because of that unknown. Also: The best deals are usually found late, and the Cardinals are talking like a team interested in finding the best deals. -
-
SLU has applied for a medical hardship waiver for Gibson Jimerson because of when he had his season-ending foot injury last year. If he receives it, that would make this season the first that counted toward his eligibility, but because of the NCAA the pandemic has already said this season will not count toward any player's eligibility, as all players were given the option to opt out if they did not want to play.Same thing for Thatch regarding the medical hardship waiver request. If he gets it, only his freshman season (2018-19) would be counted toward his eligibility.
-
last year Spotrac has the Cards at $175M (40 man + benefits) if the whole season had been played, They are at $149.9M right now once all the arbs are done and the roster is filled out with min salary guys (40 man +benefits). That is withoug Molina, Wainwright, and Wong. Mo has said the payroll is coiming down. If down means at least $20M then they only have a total of $5M to work with including mid season moves. Given that, there is no way number 4 and number 50 can be brought back or the offense fixed. They have NO contracts that can be moved. This team can't be fixed this year, when you look at the numbers, the team can't say that but that is the reality, Suggest you explore this in an article. The fans, 99.99% of them don't look at the numbers in enough detail to understand the goose is cooked until 2022, Do you realize the stark reality of the numbers?
-
I'm aware of the numbers. Why do you think I have been trying to point to affordable power upgrades? Mozeliak has said payroll is coming down. DeWitt said it's flexible. We'll see, but once again, for the millionth time, there are going to be power upgrades available on the cheap. Short-term help. That's what signs point to, not long-term answers until a reset of sorts in 2022. I've been talking about this. That said I'm not going to give the Cardinals a pass for simply ignoring a bad offense. That's crazy. Especially when there are going to be short-term, affordable upgrades.
-
-
Happy Tuesday, thanks for the chat.
The Blues winning the cup is the greatest of all championships for STL fans, but the one game that's most exciting is game 5 at Winnipeg where Schwartz directed in the pass from Tyler Bozak. I have never seen a goalie make more game saving saves than Binnington, the boys were down 2-0 and just seemed to know they would somehow win the game. I strongly suggest all Blues fans watch this game again, its worth it. -
-
Greetings from cold snowy Colorado Ben thanks for your chats. Question do the Cardinals really think they have enough solid Frontline pitching to make up for a weaker areas of the team? seems like a stretch to expect Carpenter and Fowler to perform better than they have in the last three years, and weaken the defense losing Wong and not have a big slugger in the middle of the lineup. I surely hope they sign Molina and Wainwright but if that's all they do without a big addition I don't think this team's going to be good what do you say?
-
I think they are looking at their finances and seeing the offense as a bigger problem than the pitching, in part because they have a bunch of young pitchers who can help them in various roles. This is not going to be the offseason to fix the team for the future. This is going to be an offseason where the team tries to balance a belt-tightening with some sort of upgraded offense. Pitching is far down the list of concerns. If it blows up, add it to the list of stuff that needs fixing before 2022.
-
Since we do not know anything about the 2021 season, DH both leagues? Fans in the stands? 162 games? budgets for teams?
BUT here is what we DO know. The collective bargaining agreement runs out at the end of 2021, We know all you will hear after during and after the season is strike or lock out talk.
Why not hammer out the new contract now. If baseball is played in some form in 2021 then the 2022 strike or lockout would be the worst thing for MLB!!
Lets face it, the season has been over for almost 3 months and they can NOT even decide on the DH for both leagues. See my point?? -
-
Seems to me that the Cardinals don't have a personality anymore. (See the mid to late 90s) Lack of true superstars perhaps. Goldy may be that guy they hoped would be one, and as great of a person he seems to be he is, well...boring to the average fan. Letting Yadi and Wainwright walk would really put the team in back in the bleh category. Is a true face of the club needed? It's NOT Harrison Bader like they tried to pull off a couple years ago.
-
-
Ben,
For someone who's followed Missouri sports for their whole life I've been able to witness some rare things.
The Rams were able to win a Super Bowl while the FB Cardinals couldn't even buy a ticket to the game.
The Chiefs won a SB after 50 years.
The Blues won a Stanley Cup after 50 years.
We saw the Mizzou FB team get to the #1 ranking in football.
If you had a bucket list for Missouri sports what would be at the top of it now? -
-
-
Ben,
I try not to get too optomistic about Mizzou football. What's not to like about a good gut punch every now and then.
But if you would've told me they would have 5 wins with a chance to win a 6th and go to a good bowl game at this point in the season I would've said you was crazy. I'll appreciate every bright spot I can with Mizzou football. Things like the Georgia game can be difficult, but the good this year far out weighs the bad. Getting to watch Rountree and Bolton has been a blessing.
Which bowl game would you like to see them go to? Any particular opponent you'd like to see them play against? -
I'm not gonna change my tune now.I thought this was a 2-3 win team.I wrote before the season started that the goal should be one signature win that suggests Drinkwitz can reach up and punch the big dogs.He beat defending national champion LSU in his first win.And the good times kept rolling.No, Mizzou is not as good as Florida and Georgia right now, but Drinkwitz is building a top-25 recruiting class in his first full shot at a class, and if you combine that with his overall energy and the fundamentally sound (usually) football his team has played, then I think the arrow is pointing up.Latest chatter says Citrus Bowl would be best-case scenario. Gator. Outback. Music City would be worst-case scenario.The Mizzou expert Dave Matter points out Citrus will pick between Mizzou and Auburn, and Auburn does not have a coach, so that could favor the Tigers.Most likely opponent in Citrus would be Northwestern.That'd be a great (and tough) game for the Tigers.
-
Hey Ben! Glad to see Mizzou basketball is fun to watch again. My question is will this only be for one year until we have to watch a rebuild again? Several of the big contributors are seniors and Pinson already tested the draft so who knows if he decides to go pro. I am going to enjoy this season but can't help but wonder about next.
-
If 2020 has taught us anything, it's to enjoy the season you have in hand.Some of those seniors could be back.This season counts toward none of the players' college eligibility.Grad transfers are always an option.In general, transfer restrictions are becoming less and less likely, meaning the team could look quite different next season for any program, and teams that have good seasons are more likely to benefit form the increase in attention from recruits.
-
Everybody here in Cardinal talk and in St,Louis wants to anoint Randy A. with a Hall of Fame ring,I say just a doggone minute! He only had a month of a great season,wait until he has a full season to play and pitchers adjust too. Players fall back to earth all of the time in a sophmore slump. I'm not giving Mo a hard time for this trade just yet,let it play out over a couple of years.Am I being too optimistic?
-
-
-
-
-
Hey Ben-- good morning sir... Quick observation, and I'd like your feedback.. I wonder if in todays Cardinals evaluation of position players, Allen Craig would ever make it to the big leagues.. He could hit for average--- .280+. He could drive in runs. But he hit about 15+ homers a year. But now, we want to keep seeing if Tyler O'Neil can hit .250, not strike out 200 times, but give us those 30+ homers a year they seem to think is so precious... In reality, who cares about power if you can hit .280 and drive in nearly 100 runs? I know we are living in a power age in baseball. But focus could have stopped someone like A.C. getting to the majors.. Just like it seems to have led the Cardinals to missing the upside of Arozarena. Lane Thomas reminds me of A.C... the guy can hit.. Let him play, let's see what he can become. Instead of losing him to another team where he hits .290 and drives in 90 runs with his 17 homers or whatever... Production is production.. Thoughts?
-
I'm all for increasing the chances for Lane Thomas. I would rather see him play over O'Neill. Don't knock Thomas' power. He has fast hand as is averaging more MLB homers per at-bat than O'Neill, albeit in much smaller sample size. Freak things have kept him from playing. Inside pitch broke his wrist. COVID rocked him and he did not feel right after he recovered enough to play. He's the outfielder I think the Cardinals should fear underestimating if he gets away, not O'Neill. The Cardinals have given many chances to O'Neill.
-
Please don't read into this that I'm hanging the Mizzou defensive problems on Ryan Walters. But isn't it funny how it's a "what have you done for me lately" business. Some thought it almost a sure thing Walters would get hired for a HC position when the defense was leading the team to wins. But with two brutal games for the defense no one is talking about it now. I'd really like to see Walters come back next year to see how he can work with a deeper team. Not that it would get any easier potentially losing Nick Bolton.
-
I was one of the ones praising Ryan Walters. I'm not going go change my tune. When you have a rookie offensive lineman filling gaps on the defensive line against Georgia while starting two freshman in the secondary, things are going to be ugly. I think Walters has done a lot more good than harm this season.
-
In response to your comment about drawing the legacy line between Carp and Waino/Yadi: Couldn't Mo use arguement that he learned his lesson from the Carp extension? Obviously they are different situations with the option year/free agency, but Mo could justify not bringing back Waino/Yadi by saying he learned not to overpay for legacy.
-
-
Subtract one of your best players in Kolten Wong, resign the aging Adam Wainwright and Yadir Molina since the fan base demands it, play out the horrific contracts of Fowler and Carpenter, and continue to hold outfield tryouts for everyone in the system hoping someone strikes gold. Ben, pardon me if I decide to skip over 2021 while awaiting a fresh and new approach in 2022.
-