Live Chats

Rick Hummel's last Cardinals live chat: Talk with the Hall of Famer at 11 a.m. Monday

Bring your Cards questions and comments to Monday’s 11 a.m. live chat, Rick Hummel's last before he retires.

3rd & 7 37yd

Babe Ruth.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:05:42 PM
Rick, wish you the best in retirement. You’re going to be missed. One question: what’s the story with the hat? With it you should be cruising in a MG roadster to all the parks in ST.

by FlaDad 11/28/2022 6:17:38 PM
My wife, Melissa, was tired of seeing me wearing baseball-type caps and and has kept me supplied me with a succession of newsboy-type caps. Thanks but I'll still be around.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:19:15 PM
Rick, what’s are your retirement plans? Congrats!

by Dickie 11/28/2022 6:19:18 PM
Watching football and basketball, for now.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:19:47 PM
Mr. Hummel,

It has been a pleasure to follow your coverage! I’ve been a faithful reader since 2000. Best wishes on your retirement and hope to see more coverage from you in the future!

Do you think Cardinals sometimes give up on their prospects too soon? Ivan Herrera was dismissed after 6 starts. Nolan Gorman is apparently someone they may trade. Shouldn’t these guys get more time to develop? Or has the organization not been as high on these prospects as we have been led to believe?

by scarroll33 11/28/2022 6:20:01 PM
Thank you and I plan to be around on a limited base. I wouldn't give up on Herrera and, especially Gorman, just yet. But if someone else has interest, you have to listen.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:21:32 PM
Rick, thank you for all the great work you provided over these many years. The only reason I subscribe is because of the excellent stories and sports coverage you and your colleagues provide to us readers. You are a true hall of famer. I hope you have a long and healthy retirement. Again, thank you.

by Bruce 11/28/2022 6:21:42 PM
And, thank you very much, Bruce.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:22:05 PM
When it comes to your career regarding quick wit / sense of humor, who comes to mind - takes the cake?

by Nick N 11/28/2022 6:22:16 PM
Adam Wainwright and Oliver Marmol come to mind as quick quipsters. From years past, Joe Torre, Bob Forsch, Andy Van Slyke, George Hendrick come to mind.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:24:45 PM
Hey Rick, I’m a bit younger but have appreciated your writing for as long as I’ve had a chance to read it. I was wondering if you had a favorite team over the years to cover? My favorite team was the 2004 squad. I dream of an offense like that again someday! Best wishes going forward and thanks for everything!

by Mark 11/28/2022 6:25:15 PM
My favorite team probably was the 1985 team which had three pitchers win a total of 60 games in Andujar, Tudor and Cox and a fleet of base stealers to go with one slugger, Jack Clark. Whitey Herzog's clubs played the game differently than any other team.
Best wishes to you, too, and thanks.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:27:18 PM
Mo has one thing in mind for a successful 2023 season & that is to please Mr. Dewitt by having a huge profit margin for 2023 & to do exactly what mo has been doing for far to long now. Which is to win between 88-93 games and making the playoffs some how & hoping for the best or in our case a flat out MIRACLE THAT WON'T EVER COME AROUND FOR US!!.. Why continue doing exactly the same types of moves in the off season for the cards when it hasn't gotten us anywhere close to showing improvement especially once into the playoffs? This team needs to go for it once & for all & just see what happens from actually fielding a team that can & should win against any put in front of them. Then leave it up to the players to get the job done

by Mr. Baseball 11/28/2022 6:27:46 PM
I wouldn't give up on the off-season just yet. Nobody really has signed or traded for anybody of substance. But the Cardinals' front office will have to be as aggressive as it said it would be.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:28:58 PM
Happy Holidays and Happy Semiretirement!!
Tre Turner is the free agent that I would pursue.
What do you think the chances are that he will be in St Louis next season?
Thanks

by CHRIS 11/28/2022 6:29:01 PM
I'm a big Trea Turner fan. And he has several hundred games in center field in his resume, also. It will be pricey.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:29:47 PM
Commish, Thanks so much for your years of service to the Cardinal fans. I am a much more informed fan because of it.
Derrick often shares his favorite books. Have you had any books that you have either enjoyed or have made a difference in how you watch the game.

by Bob G 11/28/2022 6:30:06 PM
Derrick may be a more avid reader at this stage than I. I learned most how to watch a game by covering managers like Red, Whitey, Joe and Tony. If you couldn't learn anything from them, then you weren't paying attention. .

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:31:32 PM
Commish, I am a former longtime sports writer (now work with college students), so I know the grind of the business. And yet, it's nothing like the grind of a baseball beat writer. So kudos to you for such a long and wonderful career. And many thanks for all the insightful coverage you have provided so many through the years. I know you'll still be working -- at your pace. Enjoy that pace. And we all welcome what's to come from you.

by JJ 11/28/2022 6:31:53 PM
I hope I still can deliver something of which you hope. No question, though, baseball writing does have its demands on a daily--or yearly--basis. I believe I can pace myself more now, and that will be fun.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:33:27 PM
Rick As a 2 year retiree I can tell you that you will need something to keep you busy. I would like to propose that you help a fellow retiree, Yadier on a book "The Art of Catching". He was without doubt the premier catcher of his generation. I would think that a book talking about all the things he brought to the position while playing for the last 3 decades would be a must read. Your input and writing abilities would make a best seller. Have a great retirement and a Merry Christmas.

by Steve O 11/28/2022 6:33:43 PM
I suspect another book might be in the future although nothing in the offing yet. I'm anxious to see what the free-lance market is first.
Happy holidays to you, too.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:34:54 PM
Mr. Hummel as a Cardinal fan who has now been in Houston for 25 years thank you for helping me stay connected and informed thru your articles and these chats. I wish you enjoyment in your next phase of life and look forward to those articles that we do get when you write them. Now my question.
Do you think it is odd that Mike Maddox has gone to be pitching coach at Texas. I know all about his connections with Texas and Bochy but I thought he wanted to slow down. Now both he and Albert have gone to teams willing to spend more and possibly have more autonomy. While both leaving has somewhat allowed Marmol to have his own staff it does seem odd they both left when supposedly Mozeliak was wanting them both back. Is there more to this. Especially with Maddox.

by Lisa 11/28/2022 6:35:18 PM
There may be more. I think Mo wanted both of them back, or at least said he did. Maddux certainly will offer something up before the season starts, I would hope.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:36:47 PM
Commish, best wishes on your retirement. The 70’s was a lost decade for the Cards. Was Gussie sending Steve Carlton packing over a $75k pay dispute the biggest blunder by a Cards ownership group during your 50 years of covering the Cards?

by Jack 11/28/2022 6:37:10 PM
It might not have been that much money. But, yes, that would have to be at the top of the list of poor deals even though Rick Wise actually was pretty good here.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:39:02 PM
Don't know if I can say it any better than others already have, but you have been an incredible journalist and I have thoroughly enjoyed your reporting and insights. One more question from me: do you think the Cardinals will go for a more long-term solution at C or a shorter-term until Herrera is ready? Best wishes to you...

by Mark 11/28/2022 6:41:55 PM
I would hope they would go shorter term. Herrera may still be an answer but not this year yet.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:42:37 PM
First, thank you for your years of covering the stl sport scene and could I ask your opinion? Who do you consider to be 3 or 4 of the most under appreciated Cardinals of all time?

by john michael 11/28/2022 6:43:20 PM
In my time, I would say Lonnie Smith, Tom Henke, Lee Smith, Matt Morris--to name a few.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:46:34 PM
Regarding the pitching and hitting coach,do you think there was friction between them and our first year manager?

by Chico 11/28/2022 6:46:38 PM
I would never say never although I didn't see anything first-hand.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:46:56 PM
Can you give us your all time Cardinals lineup just from your time at the Post Dipatch?

by SLH16 11/28/2022 6:46:59 PM
This would take several days to really give you the best answer. But for these purposes:
Bob Gibson, p; Ted Simmons, c; Mark McGwire, 1b; Tom Herr, 2b; Ozzie Smith, ss; Scott Rolen, 3b; Lou Brock, lf; Jim Edmonds, cf; George Hendrick, rf; Bruce Sutter, rp.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:50:47 PM
Do you think Terry Pendleton ever gets a chance to be on a Cardinals HOF ballot? What about Juaquin Andujar?

by SLH16 11/28/2022 6:50:50 PM
Pendleton and Andujar both should be Cardinals Hall of Famers someday, especially Andujar, being a staff ace for two World Series teams. '

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:51:38 PM
Always enjoyed your level headed reporting and sense of humor, too.

Don't think the Cards FO wants to wade into the deep end of the FA pool, nor should they with all kinds of young, cost controlled talent coming on-line, but do think they need to take a flyer on a LH bat like Conforto or Brantley..

i.e. a professional hitter that can play some outfield.

I would also strongly suggest some good young starting pitching candidates via trade - Lopez or Lazardo from Miami have been mentioned... that would work for me, but the question is what young hitters are they going to want?

Vasquez works as a short-term, Yadi lite solution at catcher.

Wha's your take on these ways to improve within the budget they will most likely want?

by Hi Commish, 11/28/2022 6:52:22 PM
I like Lopez and others you mentioned. But the starter they should be seeking is one better than what they already have to go with the Flaherty they hope to have. .

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:53:20 PM
Which free agent pitcher would you take,regardless of money?

by Chico 11/28/2022 6:53:23 PM
Verlander. Short contract. Great pedigree.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 6:54:01 PM