Live Chats

Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live St. Louis sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday

Bring your Cards, Blues, Mizzou, SLU and MLS questions and comments, and talk to columnist Jeff Gordon in his weekly live chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

And what happened to the pitching pipeline? I know Alcantra and Gallen were moved in the Ozuna but that was 5+ years ago. The only Cards prospect in or even sniffing the rotation is Flaherty and he is gone after this year. You can spend a lot more at the top of your rotation if you are filling the bottom with cheap labor.

by Tackleberry 1/6/2023 8:45:19 PM
In addition to Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, who are elite young starters, the Cardinals developed 16-game winner Dakota Hudson, All-Star closer Ryan Helsley, Jake Flaherty (2.78 ERA in 2019) Jordan Hicks (14 saves, 3.14 ERA in 2019), Andre Pallante (3.17 ERA in 47 games last season), Jake Woodford (4-0, 2.23 ERA in 27 games last season and Zack Thompson (2.08 ERA in 22 games last season).

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 8:57:31 PM
If the NHL wants to make the All Star game more exciting, they should have the goalies wear leather gear and have the skaters use wooden sticks. And maybe the old Flyers full length breezers. I can't imagine that creates an injury risk (they can keep modern helmets and gloves). You seem like the kind of guy that could make that happen!

by Phil 1/6/2023 8:57:50 PM
I don't see Gary Bettman taking my call.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 8:58:03 PM
Would you kick the tires on Aroldis Chapman on a 1-year deal?

by Jhowhow 1/6/2023 8:58:19 PM
Is there a cultural fit there? That seems unlikely.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 8:58:46 PM
Hey Bobo. Would ia Tarasenko and Krug (when healthy) for L Schenn and Horvat make any sense for the Canucks. Work financially? Seems like those 2 would be a better fit for Chief's system. What do you think?

by Big Daddy 1/6/2023 8:59:00 PM
If the Canucks trade Horvat because there is not enough money for him long term. I see them getting future assets back -- not another rental player, plus a high-paid defenseman who does what Quinn Hughes does.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:00:25 PM
With Tom moving to cover soccer, is JT the only beat reporter covering the Blues going forward at the PD?

by Bobo's Pet Monkey 1/6/2023 9:00:28 PM
Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News is on board and ready to go.

Two sportswriters join the staff at Post-Dispatch, STLtoday.com
STLtoday.comMatthew DeFranks is on the Blues beat, Lynn Worthy will be covering the Cardinals

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:01:48 PM
You mentioned Walker-why can't they just put him in right and let him play?Other teams like the Braves play young players and have success,why not the Cardinals?

by Mark W. 1/6/2023 9:01:54 PM
If Jordan Walker has a great spring, nobody would be surprised if he broke camp with the team. He is a special talent. But he is also still very, very young.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:02:42 PM
The same chatters that clamor for signing veterans on the backside of their careers, and thus blocking, and/or trading some of these young kids like Nolan Gorman, Dylan Carlson, Alec Burleson are the same ones that were/are in uproar over young Cardinal prospects that ended up elsewhere and shining, such as Arozarena & Alcantara, Gallen, etc.. uhh, can't have it both ways guys. For me, give our guys a chance to shine. the Cards invested time & $$ developing them, let's see that investment blossom. Can you imagine the uproar if Nolan Gorman went to Oakland and hit 30 HRs??! Appreciate your time Bobo.

by Jim S 1/6/2023 9:03:02 PM
Again, this is a logical thought. Kind of out of place in the chat.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:03:19 PM
Call me an optimist, but I see the Blues grinding their way to a good second half. They have a lot of players, including some new ones, who know how to persevere. I love watching teams that just won't let the other team win, and that's a quality that has served the Blues well in recent years.

by 1968-69 Blues Season Ticket Holder 1/6/2023 9:03:29 PM
The last two games offered some hope, but this team at some point will have to get better at the defensive detail of the game. It makes so many mistakes with the puck.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:04:07 PM
Gordo,
What's your take on the open position for lead broadcaster on Bally's for Cards games? Do you think they grab someone local to fill in for a year, with the rotating cast of color guys (Ballgame, Thompson and Horton) and spend a year rehabbing Danny Mac's image in hopes of him returning? Who you got sitting in the big chair next year?

by Scooter 1/6/2023 9:04:31 PM
Any news on new play by play search? Is this a Bally hirer with approval by the team.

by Ed 1/6/2023 9:05:46 PM
I have no insight on that. All we know so far is that Brad Thompson will work more games, which I applaud. With the Winter Warmup coming up and Spring Training not far behind, I'm guessing we'll learn more soon. The team will have a big say in the play-by-play guy if that individual will be as closely aligned to the team as Danny Mac was. Remember, Danny did a LOT of team events as part of his gig.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:06:38 PM
Are Mikkola and Barbashev back next season? What about the RFA's Brown and Perunovich? (I assume they will gladly resign Toropchenko).

by Phil 1/6/2023 9:06:41 PM
I'd say yes to Mikkola and Perunovich. Barbashev could be a salary cap casualty, depending on what happens with others and where his price goes. And Brown is running out of time, even though this team needs inexpensive players to fill out the roster.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:08:06 PM
Tyler O'Neil reminds of a guy that I worked with. When he was let go he told us how good he was . Everyone agreed he was a great part- time worker [ we needed him full time]. Anyway wenstil need several lights out bullppen guys that are interchangeable. That way if you even suspect someone is hurt your not leaning on one guy..

by Ken 1/6/2023 9:10:14 PM
I agree on the bullpen. The way the game is managed now, managers want to play the matchup game starting somewhere in the third turn of the order. That takes a toll.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:11:08 PM
You mentioned Woodford and Thompson,I think those guys are pretty good,but,there's never a peep out of the front office,what gives?

by Mark W. 1/6/2023 9:11:24 PM
The front office likes both players. Woodford got caught up in the roster crunch a few times -- called up for an injury replacement, returned to Memphis, stuck there waiting to be eligible for recall again . . . he should have gotten regular big league work before he did.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:13:44 PM
Just heard that Skyy Clark is out the door. Starting the exodus lol

by Thowardmax 1/6/2023 9:16:01 PM
Brad Underwood might want to work the transfer portal even harder to get guys willing to be coached hard -- because the man coaches hard. This is the man who beams while recalling the Pizza Hut parking lot fistfights of his youth.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:17:19 PM
Gordo - Hudson and Woodford haven't been able to stay in or crack the rotation - even when there was an urgent need for innings. Hicks - sure, but he's not a starter, same with Pallante. Thompson I think would get a longer look if they didn't have 5 incumbents, but even he was not called to action quickly last year when starter innings were needed. They shouldn't need to sign a Matz or add a Montgomery if they were developing like they were at the start of last decade.

by Tackleberry 1/6/2023 9:17:43 PM
They wouldn't have needed to sign Matz and trade for Montgomery if they kept Alcantara and Gallen to go with Flaherty, Mikolas, Wainwright and Hudson this year.
Yeah, some of their prospects battled injuries the way. So did Jacob deGrom, Stephen Strasburg, Noah Syndergaard and dozens of other promising pitchers.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:21:23 PM
With the 2 Blues injuries Berube has increased Acciari minutes but has also put increased minutes on his top two lines. Do you worry that Schenn and Barby who always have played physical will be able to stay healthy w the increased workload?

by Paul J 1/6/2023 9:27:21 PM
Sure, that's a concern, especially Schenn. He always puts himself in harm's way. But the season is on the line right now. There is no much choice for The Chief.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:28:03 PM
Bobo, time to move some of the organization’s never ending list of overhyped prospects. Let’s put together a package for Alcantara and improve the Cards significantly now. What would it take?

by Jack 1/6/2023 9:31:24 PM
That would take Miami wanting to trade Alcantara, an elite asset locked into a contract. I have seen no indication that the Marlins are ready to do that. Anybody trading anything of significance to the Cardinals will want Jordan Walker. Prospect deniers claim he is overhyped, professional talent evaluators disagree. We'll see who is right during the next few years.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:33:24 PM
Gordo,

You obviously get frustrated with some of the Cardinals questions that involve the ownership and Fo's history of success. While I will admit there are some questions that are borderline ridiculous, the fans were not the ones who marketed championships as the end goal. Heck, they have a giant statue of the Commissioner's Trophy at BPV. So is it the fans fault for wanting the best roster that's within reason? Its getting farther and farther away from 2011....

by DDMN 1/6/2023 9:33:39 PM
True, but the Cardinals have moved a far distance in the right direction from the latter part of the previous decade when the baseball operations went halfway off the rails. Randy Flores has done amazing things with the scouting operation and the farm system has produced the best collection of young veterans and prospects that we have seen in some time. Since the bad days, the team also acquired two MVP-caliber position players.
I'm sure some fans will refuse to attend a game this season because they do not believe the team is a serious postseason threat. The championship drought will be too much for them to bear. And I'm sure the team will draw well over 3 million fans again because the product will good again.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:38:31 PM
Is there a certain day each week when the Post-Dispatch prints in the sports section the individual stats for the Blues players (goals, assists, etc)? If so, I seem to be missing that. Just curious.

by hpuphd 1/6/2023 9:38:51 PM
That information is readily available on line via multiple sources.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:39:18 PM
Do you think the top 3 Blues forwards (Thomas, Kyrou and Buchnevich) who don't seem to play Berube offensive style will eventually force a coaching change? I know Berube has gotten Armstrong endorsement but I don't see their minutes ever getting cut in the future because now they are the stars on the team so why should the other 9 forwards play a 200 foot grinding game that the coach demands?

by Paul J 1/6/2023 9:39:24 PM
Berurbe can coach offensive-minded players. He did so when the team won the Stanley Cup. The failure of this team for much of this season is a collective decline in defensive commitment. Playing that style takes buy in from everybody and it's not been there from the whole group. That is the issue the coaching staff is faces -- and that's what it must resolve to head off more aggressive change than anybody expected back in October.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:42:31 PM
What do you see as the reason the Blues are giving up so many high danger scoring chances when limiting them has been emphasized as a priority? The defensemen seems solid so is it a disconnect w the forwards? Or are the six D currently playing(with 3 owed pretty big money) not good enough? Does Binnington have to stand on his head every game to give the team a chance to win?

by Paul J 1/6/2023 9:46:59 PM
The team simply is not cohesive or committed defensively. Guys aren't making the right reads. They aren't working in sync. They aren't consistently smart with the puck. Sometimes they try to do too much, sometimes they are too passive. It's just all our of whack.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:48:16 PM
If tyler oneal was a career non cardinal and a free agent now, how hard do you think our fo would pur$ue him? Fans?

by Fumblinbumblin 1/6/2023 9:48:21 PM
Fans were asking the team to chase all sorts of guys with injury histories -- Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto come immediately to mind -- so I'm sure there would have been people spotting bounce-back potential for Tyler.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:49:52 PM
Travis Ford's team was suppose to be good and Dennis Gates squad not. Better to have a team with no expectations.

by Ed 1/6/2023 9:51:24 PM
No, it's just better to have players who connect with each other and the coach. Mizzou has that this year, SLU and Illinois not so much.

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:51:58 PM
OK, that's it for today. We'll see you next week. Have a great weekend!

by Jeff Gordon 1/6/2023 9:53:18 PM

Live Chats

Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live St. Louis sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday

Bring your Cards, Blues, Mizzou, SLU and MLS questions and comments, and talk to columnist Jeff Gordon in his weekly live chat.

Two sportswriters join the staff at Post-Dispatch, STLtoday.com