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3rd & 7 37yd

I imagine the Cardinals see Walker as an everyday corner outfielder by 2024. Tyler O'Neill has star potential, but his inability to stay healthy makes him a questionable commodity -- especially with him entering the higher-earning portion of his career. Can Lars Nootbaar provide enough power to play regularly? Can Alex Burleson and Juan Yepez become at least decent fielders? That is to be determined.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:00:47 PM
It seems to me that Jordan Montgomery is very likely to be one of our starting pitchers next season along with this finale to the 22 season. Quintana, I'm not so sure about though I do like him so far, what say you??

by john 8/5/2022 6:00:52 PM
Quintana looked fine in his debut. He could be a solid back-of-the-rotation option, depending on how the other pieces fit.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:01:24 PM
Appreciated the moves Mo made at the deadline but they are “get us to October” moves. Fair to say that Mo did nothing that increases their chances in October?

by Tackleberry 8/5/2022 6:01:31 PM
That's fair. I made that point earlier. Montgomery could be the No. 3 postseason starter. That and the added bullpen depth doesn't move the needle much.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:02:27 PM
I just listened to your coworkers on the BPIB and they were talking about next year's team and they were speculating Jordan Walker in LF, Carlson in Center, Gorman at 2nd, and possibly Yepez or Donovan in right. Do you PD writers think that the elite defense will be around next year? Have a great weekend BoBo.

by Jimmy 8/5/2022 6:02:58 PM
Walker is an excellent athlete, so let's see how he takes to the outfield. Gorman has been better than many expected, but he's just OK at second base. And he, Yepez and Burleson all can't be the DH. Ideally, DeJong and Nootbaar would keep hitting as they have recently so the team can keep better gloves in the field next season.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:06:00 PM
I don’t want to be Noot negative but if O’Neill can’t rebound to 2021 output than that outfield/DH needs a monster addition this winter. I just don’t want to see the team fallback on Nootbaar because he has a good month.

by South City Steve 8/5/2022 6:06:09 PM
I don't see a big DH addition because that's the best position for multiple young hitters. And with Walker in development -- I'd expect some big league at bats next season with a full launch in '24 -- and the other options, I would be surprised if the team spent big in the outfield.
Catcher should be the top priority for upgrades in the field for next season.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:08:01 PM
At this point I would have to say that the number one need for next season is an above average catcher with behind the plate skills, Yadi will be sorely missed.

by john 8/5/2022 6:08:03 PM
Yep. And the Molina we have seen for most of his career is being missed today.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:08:25 PM
Commish alluded to the idea that TON might not be here next year. If he doesn’t get going can you see him being moved this winter?

by South City Steve 8/5/2022 6:08:39 PM
Sure. As noted earlier, O'Neill's inability to stay healthy makes him an iffy asset and now he is staring to earn real money. So do the Cardinals invest long-term dollars to buy into his free agency or shop him before teams forget how good he was last year?

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:10:10 PM
Gordo, one piece which has not been mentioned is that we traded away some team speed by dealing Bader and Sosa. Edman is the only one who can steal a base at this point, which is very important in the playoffs. Where on the roster can you find a player who can steal a base or pinch run for us?

by Kevin in DC 8/5/2022 6:11:03 PM
In between muscle pulls, Tyler O'Neill can steal some bases.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:11:57 PM
Uh oh, did Mo just show Cards fans moves CAN be made at the deadline? In the past there were always so many obstacles and yet he found a way this year. So going forward it just takes a little effort and creativity from Mo, right?

by South City Steve 8/5/2022 6:12:42 PM
Last year the Cardinals added multiple pitchers on the fly, which is why they were able to turn their season around so dramatically. This was nothing new.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:13:33 PM
Gordo, even if we win the division we still have to play the Brewers likely in a 3 game series, albeit at home, then a 5 gamer with the Dodgers. I don’t see this team threatening for the World Series.

by Stan the Fan 8/5/2022 6:13:40 PM
They would not be one of the favorites on paper, no. But strange things happen in postseason baseball, like Randy Arozarena playing like a Hall of Famer for three weeks and Clayton Kershaw suffering loss after painful postseason loss with an overdog team before finally getting his parade.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:17:24 PM
The other trademark of the deadline was that each player traded for is not owed a lot of money. I knew we would not go for Syndegaard or Rodon because of the $ factor. Given that restraint, Mo pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

by Kevin in DC 8/5/2022 6:17:29 PM
Yeah, the Carlos Rodon case was interesting. He has an opt-out which everyone expects him to use . . . unless he gets hurt. Then he would stick his new team with the $22.5 million bill for his 2023 rehab season. I'm guessing that scared a few teams off.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:18:48 PM
Gordo, who is our backup CF? What if Carlson wears down or gets injured? Please don’t say poor Tommy Edman.

by Kevin in DC 8/5/2022 6:18:52 PM
Sorry, but it's likely Tommy Edman or Lars Nootbaar.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:19:18 PM
Has Quintana said anything about pitching to Molina? He must be thrilled. I bet Molina helps him tremendously.

by Stan the Fan 8/5/2022 6:19:38 PM
Quintana already made a significant pitching adjustment which paid big results this season. But, yes, he seems excited to be working in this pitching-friendly environment.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:20:20 PM
Pallante will likely pitch tonight. He will just start in the 3rd inning.

by Stan the Fan 8/5/2022 6:20:26 PM
That is a reasonable projection. He did warm up briefly Thursday, but I imagine he is on call with Hudson having to face the monstrous Yankees.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:21:26 PM
Are you part of the welcoming committee to greet our old friend Matt Carpenter?

by Ed 8/5/2022 6:21:31 PM
Nah, I don't recognize him with that mustache and no beard. I mean, that's not really him, is it?

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:22:17 PM
Can't understand Oli 's repeated use of Jordan Hicks, 104 mph pitch outside the strike zone is still a ball.

by Ed 8/5/2022 6:22:19 PM
Currently Marmol runs out of more desirable options pretty quickly. This bullpen is still short, which is why I would not be surprised to see Zack Thompson return at some point. Or even Junior Fernandez, who had a nice run before losing some command.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:24:26 PM
I hate to say it, but I think the Astros will be 2022 World Champs. They have great pitching, including Verlander. They are Kryptonite to the Yanks.

by Stan the Fan 8/5/2022 6:24:52 PM
Indeed, and on this side of Our National Pastime the Braves are loaded again. If the playoffs started last month they might have been the team to beat.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:24:53 PM
MLB has announced the Cards and Cubs will play in London next year. Is the entire 2023 schedule out? Is there a link or somewhere I can go to find it? I've been trying to no avail....

by Mike 8/5/2022 6:29:00 PM
I don't believe that has been finalized. It will be an interesting season with fewer games in-division -- which makes the Cardinals sad -- and a full slate of interleague games.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:29:47 PM
How concerned are you the Cards have gone a decade without developing a leadoff hitter or a middle of the order hitter? Also with 19 years to get a new catcher ready how has this need eluded the Cards?

by Auntpog 8/5/2022 6:30:08 PM
If the Cardinals started getting a new catcher ready 19 years ago, he could be a grandpa today.
But seriously . . . the Cardinals have a highly rated catching prospect in Ivan Herrera, but his big league debut was underwhelming. He still needs work, so the Cardinals should target catching this offseason.
Your point about middle-of-the-order hitter development is why the team was not eager to trade Jordan Walker, who certainly has that potential. Nolan Gorman could be a long-term No. 5 hitter, at least, and I could see Dylan Carlson settling into the No. 2 hole.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:34:20 PM
Earlier in the season, the Cardinals found ways to lose, even to lesser teams. They have yet to find ways to win -- consistently -- against better teams. Getting past three strong teams to get into the WS seems unlikely, even with lightening striking occasionally. Are the Cardinals essentially treading water for 2023 when the can get an infusion of new talent?

by Alex K 8/5/2022 6:34:37 PM
No, they are trying to win a division title. If they do that, they could advance in the playoffs if the play well..

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:35:39 PM
About Carp's beard. The "no beard" and trimmed mustache rule of the Yankees is so outdated. Carp readily agreed because he signed there. But what about if someone like John Brebbia got traded there? He didn't sign with them, didn't ask to be traded to them, why should he have to shave his beard? I get it, it's a Yankees thing. But, if you didn't sign there willingly and a beard is part of your identity, I'm not sure why you'd shave it or wouldn't force a "beard shaving fee" to be paid.

by Mike 8/5/2022 6:36:23 PM
Guys like John Brebbia do what they are told or they end up on the waiver wire. Guys who are in a higher talent class have to decide whether they want to fit with a winning organization or force the team to go in another direction.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:37:42 PM
Where does Jo Jo Romero rate as a prospect?

by Jay Lewis 8/5/2022 6:41:51 PM
He was added as a depth guy, but there might be something there. He's a lefty, he throws 95 mph, he's come back from surgical repairs and he's put up decent minor league numbers after arriving with the Phillies as a fourth-round pick in 2016.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:45:47 PM
I keep seeing people bring up innings with Pallante. Pallente pitched 100 innings last season. What would generally be the next step for a pitcher? 130-150 innings? The cards have 57 games left to play so pallante would pitch 11 more times. If he averaged 6 innings per outing added to his current 82 innings he would end the regular season at 148 innings. I'm sure there would be a spot to skip him once or twice along they way as well.

So lets put an end to the Pallante is at an innings crisis he could easily stay in the rotation and only add 30-40 innings over his previous high. Then once they got to the playoffs he would be a bullpen arm. Moving him to the Bullpen now will keep his innings around 100 so next year they would be in the same spot because they didn't increase his innings this season

by Brandon 8/5/2022 6:47:37 PM
I could see him getting more than 100 innings in this regular season if he stays in the bullpen, since he would be the "bulk" innings pitcher at least at first. I could see some two-plus inning stints for him.
As for next year, the bullpen need could be greater than the rotation need. And, again, his skill set may be better for a relief role.

by Jeff Gordon 8/5/2022 6:50:35 PM