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3rd & 7 37yd

Mr. Gordon-
I wanted to know if you regretted the article where you stated:
The Blues move on with ample offense and a skilled defensive corps. If goaltender Jordan Binnington regains his pre-injury playoff form, the Blues could eclipse last season’s 109-point total in their top-heavy division.
What happened? Binnington as played pretty well, so that cannot be an excuse (His GAA is up about a 1/2 goal, but save % is in-line with previous years-doesn't help the PK is horrible for the GAA)

by Texas Blues 12/30/2022 8:12:16 PM
Binnington's playoff goals-against average was 1.72, so he is allowing 1.50 more goals per game. That is massive. Like you say, the penalty-killing fell apart and the team's overall commitment to defense lagged for stretches of the season. And how does Ryan O'Reilly have just six assists and a minus-26 rating?
There are no good excuses for this group. Injuries happened, but they always happen. In terms of just point production, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich are where they need to be. But the ugly plus-minuses of O'Reilly, Kyrou, Torey Krug, et al tell this story of this team's defensive collapse.
This division WAS there for the taking, with Arizona and Chicago in the tank and offering up easy Ws. But it was Dallas and Minnesota that took advantage, not the Blues and Predators.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:20:56 PM
Cook played hurt all year and no one knew? There's something wrong with that picture,right? Could you imagine it being your kid,asked to play hurt all year?

by chico 12/30/2022 8:21:10 PM
Cook wanted more than anything to be quarterback at Mizzou. This was his chance and he seized it. And he played well enough to produce a 7-5 or even an 8-4 regular season, but for some weird mishaps.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:22:33 PM
The Brewers won the Murphy trade.

by Ed 12/30/2022 8:22:39 PM
I agree, But after losing the Josh Hader trade, they had some making up to do. They turned flipped Ruiz in a hurry.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:23:22 PM
Leddy w his skill set looks like he would be a natural on the PP. How much experience has he had before joining the Blues and do you see him start quarterbacking the second unit until Krug comes back?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:24:18 PM
He was a regular on the Islanders power play for five years, so he can definitely man the point on the second unit. That is a role he is comfortable with filling, The Blues shoehorned him into a defensive role.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:25:37 PM
Jeff,

I like the youth movement and relying on a very good farm system, but not that high priced options like Conforto and Brantley are gone, could David Perralta make sense as a veteran LH bat off the bench or to use in the lineup while the young guys - Burleson, Gorman, Carlson develop into their roles.

by Saytreykid 12/30/2022 8:26:18 PM
I asked a few minutes ago about the potential Cardinal opening day starting roster. If healthy how do you see it compared to the other years you've covered the team? I know it's early but should the fan base be optimistic?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:27:22 PM
Given Peralta's age, his lack of production for Tampa Bay last year and the need to give Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker every opportunity in the spring doesn't seem to leave much need there.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:30:01 PM
How far do you think the Cardinals could have advanced if Marmol had been better prepared to handle the Hensley injury situation in the first playoff game? Overall he was enjoyable to watch and listen to. Could this "rookie" manager mistake haunt him, the team and fans in years to come seeing the Phillies make the WS and knowing how special the 22 seasons of Goldschmidt and Areanado were and seemingly wasted?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:30:13 PM
Sure, Marmol should have pulled Helsley sooner. But Goldschmidt and Arenado wasted their MVP-caliber seasons by not hitting in the playoffs.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:31:18 PM
Do you think that the Cards would try to take on someone with some questionable character traits/ baggage like Trevor Bauer?

by Dave 12/30/2022 8:31:26 PM
No,

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:31:31 PM
Relating to your article about how the Cardinals have to make shrewd moves to avoid spending big, do you think that the increase in spending overall in MLB will put pressure on small market teams with less committed ownership to compete or sell to someone who will invest in payroll?

by Dave 12/30/2022 8:31:41 PM
Well, fans certainly hope so. Now that at least a few teams are willing to deficit-spend in a big way, the prices for even the average big league veteran will climb. Operating even a halfway decent team on the cheap will be hard. And those poor fans forced to endure for or five years of steady losing to build a better team can see a billionaire fanboy buying multiple stars for his team in one winter.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:34:21 PM
Gordo,

Please tell your colleagues that trading Ryan Helsey, a cost-controlled All-Star closer for a back up catcher (Jansen from Toronto) is another bad example of not valuing assets and bad trading from the FO.

It also flies in the face of deveoping from within the farm system.

The fact that DeJong will be playing a lot in spring training is good for developing his market, but what is that relistically i.e. who would want him even at a reduced rate?

by Saytreykid 12/30/2022 8:35:46 PM
Ryan Helsley got traded?

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:36:00 PM
Let's say the Blues go on a heater w Krug out because Rosen gives the D corp a more solid base. Would dropping Krug to 3rd pair plus #1 PP when he returns and Borts, Rosen and Mikkola rotate in give the Blues a stronger defense?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:36:13 PM
Let's pump the brakes here. Calle Rosen has done a heck of a job, but there is a reason he has spent the bulk of his career in the minors.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:37:09 PM
If the Blues were to trade their established players, who would get a nice return? I don't think you trade Parayko because as JT said his contract is like in the 40's in defensemen. So, it sounds good to trade him, but who do you get back?

by Thowardmax 12/30/2022 8:37:35 PM
The standard return for rental players like Tarasenko or O'Reilly is a prospect,, a premium draft pick (first or second round, depending on the prospect) and another young player.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:38:40 PM
It's obvious that teams will shift outfielders to the infield and Viva El Birdos had an interesting article which had Gorman basically playing roving shortstop against LH batters but his official position would be left field. Do you think that is possible? Do you see Gorman playing outfield this season? Have a happy new year Bobo!

by Jimmy 12/30/2022 8:39:07 PM
The Cardinals have a LOT of outfielders, especially if Jordan Walker makes it at some point. So I still see Gorman as a DH.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:39:40 PM
I sincerely doubt whatever Mo said to Nolan Arenado to encourage him to stay only involved obtaining a new catcher. What else do you think Mo promised?

by TennCardFan 12/30/2022 8:39:58 PM
Well, he probably pointed out that the Cardinals are always in the chase, unlike most every other team. He probably pointed out that the culture the team had in place in 2022 will remain in place for years to come.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:41:03 PM
With so many MLB umpires retiring would this be a good time to implement the robo umps if they are ready?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:41:06 PM
I believe the technology is more ready, but right now MLB is not ready to take that plunge. I know I'm more than ready for it.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:41:52 PM
Hey, Jeff!
What do you think of this premise: Cards kind of need to make room for Jordan Walker, and also need to upgrade the rotation if possible. So if the Red Sox would eat 80-90% of Chris Sales' salary for the remaining two years of his contract, the Cards trade them Dylan Carlson straight-up for the talented but oft-injured southpaw. It's a pretty big gamble, but maybe worth trying.

It means Noot or O'Neill has to play CF, which isn't ideal, I know. But if it turns out Walker isn't ready from Day One, at least Burleson could hold his spot. What say you, Bobo?

by Brian Jordan was twice as good as Bo Jackson 12/30/2022 8:42:17 PM
If the Red Sox deal Chris Sale, which is possible, I do not see them eating huge money to do that. Nor do I see them taking a small return. Fans in Boston are not happy with the team's offseason, so there is pressure on management. The smart play for the Red Sox is to hope that Sale rebounds so the team can fetch a big return for him while also getting payroll flexibility.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:44:46 PM
I have posted on other spots to see if the Cardinals could get Brian Anderson from Milwaukee. He would move to a bigger baseball market and still be in the midwest for Bally's.

by Thowardmax 12/30/2022 8:45:26 PM
There are lots of good candidates.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:45:33 PM
I could see ROR being traded. Then see what is the going rate next summer and resigning with the Blues.

by Thowardmax 12/30/2022 8:45:40 PM
That could happen. I am not sure there will be large dollars for O'Reilly in the summer, given the direction of his season and the direction of the sport.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:46:16 PM
Are Binnington's mediocre stats a reflection on the poor play in front of him? Watching he seems to be playing mostly solid to many times amazing w very few clunkers? If he is passing the eye test is it Berube's fault the team is not playing up to snuff in front of him?

by Paul J 12/30/2022 8:46:22 PM
I do think Binnington has played pretty well, all things considered. But when things go bad on the ice, which is often for this team, Jordan does start scrambling around and playing less sound. The fear is that he could regain some bad habits if the Blues don't reel in their defensive play.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:48:04 PM
I don't mind the spending some MLB teams do, because there is a tax. But the teams on the lower end need to have a salary floor. Set at like 75 million. No reason to not have a floor.

by Thowardmax 12/30/2022 8:48:05 PM
I agree. I can't believe the players didn't insist on getting a salary floor in this collective bargaining agreement.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:48:33 PM
The Cardinals have a lot of talented upside youngsters on the roster. What they lack is certainty. They also have a dearth of middle infield prospects outside of Winn coming through the organization. To me, try to entice a trade with the Pirates for Bryan Reynolds adds a lot more certainty to the line-up and length. Two outfielders, say Carlson and Burleson, plus a pitching prospect or two not named Hence or Graceffo seems like it gives the Pirates immediate help and the Cards a big push. Is that trade in there for MO?

by ICCFIM 12/30/2022 8:48:58 PM
The bidding for Reynolds will be high, if the Pirates get serious about moving him. And there is a fit here, given his ability to play center field and solid overall game. Like you say, this team does have some redundancy to trade from. The Cardinals have done business with the Pirates before and I imagine Mozeliak will want to be in on any discussion of Reynolds going forward.

by Jeff Gordon 12/30/2022 8:50:48 PM