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

Looking forward to never reading again about Oli Marmol's choice of an athleisure top, rather than a numbered uniform. Have a nice retirement, sir!

by Thomas 11/28/2022 7:23:57 PM
I'll have to be around often enough to make sure he wears that jersey with the number on it, at least for big occasions.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:24:44 PM
Odds of signing Alex Reyes to minor league contract. I have seen Dodgers are interested in him.

by Laurence 11/28/2022 7:24:52 PM
I'm sure Reyes will get some sort of big-league contract from somebody, maybe lower money the first year while he still is rehabbing for part of it and then more for a second year.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:25:56 PM
Congrats, Commish, on a great career. Do you think Ali was the greatest boxer to live? What do you think his greatest quality was? The fact that he invited you into his suite and gave you an exclusive interview on the spot says a lot about him.

by Kevin in DC 11/28/2022 7:26:08 PM
Ali wasn't the greatest puncher but surely the most stylish boxer. And one of the most durable. His greatest quality? He had an answer for every question, even when you weren't asking, and he was revered around the world.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:27:33 PM
Commish -- been an honor to read you for all of my 45 years. You are also a humble man. Your article this morning completely underplays your HOF credentials in that you said the "Hall of Fame decided to give me an award". It's much much more than *just* an award. It was the J.G. Spinks Award -- an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a writer. An amazing accomplishment! Congrats on semi-retirement and I look forward to your coverage next season! Glad you'll still be offering your voice in 2023!

by Mike 11/28/2022 7:27:51 PM
Thank you very much. I hope there still is a spot for my voice on occasion.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:28:21 PM
Rick:

Thank you for a great career. Your chats were always enjoyable, brief and to the point. You are deserving of your HOF Award.

The Cardinals need to make a decision. Is Herrera a stud or a dud. If he is a stud, then you sign Vazquez to a 2 year contract. But, if they feel he is a dud, then trade for either Murphy or one of the Blue Jays young catchers.

by HiltonHeadMatt 11/28/2022 7:29:08 PM
Whatever catching move the Cardinals make will have to be made with Herrera, pro or con, in mind. They have categorized Knizner as a backup, clearly.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:30:04 PM
Rick:

Chatters are calling for either Bellinger or Winkler. Both have upsides. However, there is a possibility they might not respond to their pervious good years. Why not just stick with Gorman as a left-handed DH?

by HiltonHeadMatt 11/28/2022 7:30:20 PM
I would favor Gorman as a starter either at 2B or DH. I do kind of like Winker, who is a good defender besides being a good hitter (until 2022).

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:31:36 PM
How do you see the CFP shaking out and who is your pick to win it all? Also, why is Georgia this teflon #1 in the polls, does anyone remember 90% of the Mizzou game or seen the faltering Vols? Yes, they smacked Oregon in the opener but Oregon has 3 losses including one to Oregon St.

by Tackleberry 11/28/2022 7:32:29 PM
Keep an eye on USC, if it gets in.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:32:45 PM
Do you think Alex Reyes has enough up side that the Cardinals should have kept him on the roster?

by Chuck 11/28/2022 7:50:17 PM
I would say yes but there was no guarantee he could help them for the first month or two of the season.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:51:01 PM
What do you see as the likelihood that Trea Turner is the Cards’ 2023 Opening Day SS?

by Jose Bull 11/28/2022 7:51:47 PM
Probably about 20 % but I still would like to have him. Base stealing is coming back with the pitchers limited in how often they can throw to first base and the Cardinals would have two of the best in Turner and Tommy Edman.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:53:09 PM
Thank you for bringing many years of reading enjoyment to Cardinals fans & congratulations! Was wondering about any updates on the catching front (trade-Murphy or Toronto or FA's)?

by CardsFan71 11/28/2022 7:53:17 PM
Thank you and we'll have a better idea next week when the teams get together in San Diego for the winter meetings. The Cardinals, I predict, will leave with a catcher.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:54:22 PM
You can only have two out of three, what’s your choices?
No 2 or 3 starter in rotation
One of the four free agent shortstops
Left handed power bat outfielder.

by AustinTx 11/28/2022 7:55:02 PM
At least a No. 2 starter and left-handed hitter. Shortstop is not a crying need.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:55:42 PM
Are we actually the best fans in baseball?

by the great bambi 11/28/2022 7:56:47 PM
Why not? I don't see many other places where the fans give a visiting player an ovation after a good defensive play.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:57:34 PM
Of all the media coverage discussing trades and where free agents may go, is there one baseball writer, ex GM or other personality that gets your attention when they make a prediction?

by AustinTx 11/28/2022 7:58:04 PM
Ken Rosenthal and Bob Nightengale, two of my favorite writers, are at the top in this list.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:58:40 PM
Thanks for keeping us informed over the years Commish! How do you feel about Jameson Taillon as a FA sign for the Cardinals? Always felt like he had a lot of untapped potential when he was with the Pirates

by Dan 11/28/2022 7:58:48 PM
The Cardinals need somebody better than Taillon.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 7:59:03 PM
Would the Cardinals have any interest in signing Jason Hayward - at the right price?

by Dan the man 11/28/2022 7:59:55 PM
I don't think they're looking for utility players, just yet. The Heyward of about seven years ago is the one they would want.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:00:38 PM
Like so many, allow. my to begin by thanking you for your great coverage over the years. It's not an exaggeration to say that the likes of you and Jack Buck were big reasons why I became a Cardinal fan when my family moved to St. Louis. We had been living in Colorado pre-Rockies days, and I was a Dodger fan, but when we moved, listening to Jack Buck and reading your work pulled me into Cardinals nation.

My question has to do with the big issue of acquiring an impact bat. If the Cardinals do not go after one of the big name FA shortstops, then it seems clear they would have to trade for a bat as the rest of the FA class is pretty weak. Do you think the Cardinals would be willing to include Montgomery as part of a trade package? Obviously, he did a good job here, but he's young, he's not expensive yet has value, and if you re-sign Quintana, you basically have the same guy. Or they could set their sights higher regarding an FA pitcher. I could see a package of Monty and some prospects getting a pretty good return. There are certainly plenty of reasons to keep him, but you have to give to get.

by DCG 11/28/2022 8:01:31 PM
Jordan Montgomery, like Flaherty, Mikolas and Wainwright will be free agents after the season, and Hudson is expendable, too. One or more could be offered up for a hitter the Cardinals consider significant.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:02:50 PM
Congratulations Rick on your great career and your retirement. The Cardinals had 3 big bats in the playoffs this year…Goldy, Arenado, and Pujols. Do you think they need to add 1 or two big bats to make it deep into the playoffs?

by DCardinals 11/28/2022 8:03:20 PM
At least one to replace Pujols. Maybe O'Neill or Jordan Walker could be the other.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:04:17 PM
Maddux slowing down and stepping away ….. to take the same job with the Rangers.

Is this a move for family /location? Or philosophical differences 2.0?

by Bob Rogers 11/28/2022 8:04:21 PM
Maddux has been living in Texas for several years so that could be more of a factor--that he could be home more.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:07:14 PM
Rick, THANKS for the many years of GREAT Reporting! I've been a Cardinal Fan since 1964 when I found Harry Carey & Jack Buck on my transistor radio in Peoria, IL. I've been a STL Post Dispatch FAN since I discovered your EXCELLENT Coverage of the Redbirds! And, I've been a FAN of you and your solid, tell it like it is reporting & Love for the Redbirds since I read your 1st article. THANKS!

by Pete from Nashville 11/28/2022 8:07:23 PM
Thanks, Pete. I grew up listening to Harry and Gabby Street. And then Joe Garagiola and Jack Buck with Harry.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:08:13 PM
Do you still have a seat in your own press box at Busch if you want to take in a game?

by AustinTx 11/28/2022 8:08:16 PM
Somewhere in the press box, I will be able to sit--and hopefully, work once in a while.

by rhummel 11/28/2022 8:08:44 PM
Thanks Commish! It was a pleasure reading your articles and getting far more insight into the game tactics and team strategy. Far too many writers get into the “sign player x now so we can win this year and next year!” (Forgetting that player x may want an 8 year contract for two or three good years of play). You’ve never fallen into that trap and have given us exceptional analyses on the decisions that have to be made. Enjoy semi-retirement, but not so much you forget to come back and write occasionally!

by Jeff 11/28/2022 8:09:03 PM