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.
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Feels like the RH Dmen have the talent and drive to fill the roles they are cast in ... but would do a lot better if their partners both had better roles and more skill to fill them. Hopefully, increasing health in Scandella's hip better suits him for the role as Parayko's partner, but I'd really love to see Krug, Leddy and perhaps others move on. Can you speculate on potential landing spots for either? -
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In this we argued that adding a lefty for protection would make sense. But as it is, the team sent Genesis Cabrera to Memphis due to the bullpen depth here. Even with Wainwright and Wilking Rodriguez on the IL, the Cardinals seem to be ahead of where they were at this time last year with overall pitching depth. Dakota Hudson got sent out, Matthew Liberatore had a good spring, but he got sent out as well.
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From Derrick Goold, in earlier reporting:
“I think (O’Neill in center) would be our best-case scenario of how it would work out,” Marmol said. “We’re going to take a longer look at it (from) what we’ve been able to see this spring because of the WBC. I know that is something that he’s always wanted. As long as he continues to work at it and work for it, he’ll get an opportunity.”
With so few innings and fewer fly balls O’Neill’s way this spring, the Cardinals are making the decision mostly on defensive metrics and measures of O’Neill’s speed. He has elite speed. That doesn’t always translate to playable range, though after returning to the position late last year O’Neill worked on his jumps and reads to improve the reaction that determines range. Marmol said O’Neill grades out right alongside Nootbaar and the leader for the spot coming into camp, Dylan Carlson.
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Just read article in Sports Illustrated about Padres and there all in payroll, another hedge fund guy owner. MLB has about 6 teams that can outspend the rest of baseball. I can see some owners throwing there hands up and saying I can't complete in this league and putting there teams up for sale. Maybe another billionaire buys in but long term not good for baseball.
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But the good news is, teams still control their young players for a long time thanks to the collective bargaining agreement. Teams acquire good, young and therefore inexpensive talent can hang against teams that buy a bunch of guys in their 30s. It can be done, as the Tampa Bay Rays proved.
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Both quality and quantity is needed, given the way guys manage playoff games today. The computers tell them to make lots of changes.Come September, teams must have their pitching in order. All of their pitching. The Cardinals seemed to be at least OK last year, despite Wainwright's late fade, but they didn't hit well on the big stage. Maybe their pitching would have been had they gotten past the Phillies, but we'll never know.So, yes, postseason play does start with pitching. If your pitching is ordinary, a team better have overwhelming offense because these short series can get away from a team fast. As I noted earlier, the Padres seem to be taking that route.
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I admit i am an old crudmudgeon always looking for things to be improved. Tuned into the pregame on radio just after the Star SB started and commented to my wife - that is one of the worst renditions ever. Learned later that is was #50 AW singing. Ace of a player and personality, a D for this day - needed a coach to tell him to speed it up. Thought he was singing for a funeral.
Contrares injury was unfortunate and 103 mph pitches aren't easy, but he made no move to block the ball which would have prevented the injury.
Marmol asking Knizner to bunt was not good strategy. How many on the team would have been successful A weak ground ball to the right side would have accomplished the runner movement. Plus maybe he gets lucky and gets it out of the infield.
I enjoyed the game and was encouraged by the multiple comebacks from behind. The game was a toss up before it started and provided much entertainment. -
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Don't sleep on the Dallas Stars. They have the goaltending and a nice mix of skilled youth and grizzled experience. Freed from Rick Bowness, they have had a heck of a run. The Minnesota Wild are the surprised team. What a coaching job by Dean Evason. And how about that look? His default facial expression is that of a man discovering a rabid racoon foraging through his picnic cooler.
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Bobo, the only thing worse than watching the Cards horrible pitching was paying $25 for a brat, fries and medium coke. I passed on the $10 beers. At least when Bally goes bankrupt, DeWitt will have some of the highest concession prices in baseball to help him pay the bills. And I say this from having been at almost every major league ballpark in America.
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Last year the Cardinals tied the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants for most expensive hot dog in the majors according to an ESPN survey. I haven't seen any 2023 comparisons yet, but I trust your experience. At least fans can always go next door and . . . oh, wait, Never mind.
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Through the 2/3 of the season everyone wants the Blues to win. They don't win or not very often. Now most Blues fans want them to lose to get a higher pick or better chance to get a good pick they win. I know the players want to win and do their best. But it sure looks like team chemistry was not very good before the trade deadline. People want to point fingers at Tarasenko, but ROR has to be in it too. I know people won't want to hear it but he was the captain.
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Sure seems like Scandella was playing hurt last year. Everyone knows how tough hockey players are. But there has to be some kind of knowledge by both the player and training staff a player has crossed over to where they are hurting the team and themselves by trying to play through the pain. Pain and injury are two different animals.
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