Roster Decisions made...according to KatieWoo

[Futuregm2]

Maybe, maybe, MAYBE the fact that McG hasn't thrown more than 153 IP/season in the minors means they know they'll need him all season and would like to protect his longevity for the year.

That's pure speculation based on the pipedream of thinking this org has a clue but hey, crazier things have happened.

Because otherwise this just makes no sense.

He threw 173 innings last year between AAA and MLB, which would make him able to pretty much throw 190-200 IP in 2025. Got any other theories?

[Hoosier59]

If Siani is used that way! That’s a big if with Oli in charge!!!
I’ll be surprised if he isn’t part of the rotation that Oli talked about!

[Bomber1]

Once again, the team does not make roster decisions based on honest competition to identify the best players.
Instead, players are anointed by the front office well in advance and gifted jobs.
TOXIC CULTURE continues.

agree

Makes no sense for the team to open with no backup SS given how Winn has struggled - and how the lack of a backup at that spot severely limits the ability to make specific late game decisions.
It further makes no sense to construct an outfield with 5 LH hitting options (Scott, Siani, Mootbaar, Donovan, Burleson) and just one RH bat (Walker), particularly since that one RH bat may well be the biggest question on the team currently.
I am not endorsing Fermin as being anything more than a bench player, but the fact is he had a vastly superior spring compared to Siani, has more defensive flexibility which is strategically important, and is a RH hitter with a team overloaded from the left side.
On the pitching side, it is inexcusable for Super Slo Mo to have failed to make the roster adjustments needed over the past 6 months to ensure roles were available to young pitchers such as McGreevy who have earned an opportunity and who have the potential to improve the team.
Pre-selected, anointed, bubble wrapped veteran players (regardless of the basis on which that was gifted) who remain on the roster are nothing less than a message to all players and staff at every level of the organization that performance does not matter, true competition does not exist, and winning in not the priority.
TOXIC CULTURE.

Well stated IMO.

[Bomber1]

Not sure I like Libby in the rotation. He just can't seem to maintain there. But he's better for shorter spurts. Who knows--maybe some of the tech that they've already brought it is showing what he can do to stay stronger for longer. Either way, I hope it's his last shot at it...meaning it's a success, and he's just one of our guys now, or he can't do it and it's not a thing ever again.

agree
if he thrives...great
if he doesn't...McGreevy

Worth noting the D' Backs sent Montgomery, who will make $22.5M this year, to the bullpen upon making a purely baseball-based decision that he is not one of the 5 best choices for their rotation.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, even with a 6-man rotation planned, elected to keep BOTH Mikolas (16M) and Matz (12M) in the rotation, despite McGreevy being far more deserving based on both 2024 and ST of 2025.
That type of thinking, folks, is the reason AZ won 29 more games than STL over the past 2 years.
The TOXIC CULTURE in STL continues.....

Monty had a 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in 2024.
Far worse than Mikolas.
He followed a full season of dismal with a 15.0 ERA and a 2.66 WHIP. I think that the move had little to do with
being some exceptional culture.

The Cardinals put a ERA of 2.29 and a WHIP of 0.966 in the BP to make way for Libs who hasn't been
successful as of yet in the rotation.
Mikolas has had a decent spring. Moreso than Gray, Pallante, and even Fedde.

McGreevy will get his shot in 30 days here without any harm done.

Solid culture but only if we want to see it. Standing behind players who have done in the past, while moving a
moderately paid SP to the pen who had a productive spring in favor of a player who might have a
future in St. Louis. I have doubt AZ moves Monty to the BP having a ST like Matz.

All of that is true, but in no way can you honestly say that Siani should have made the club, nothing “solid culture” about that decision. Koperniak plays decent defense and could actually have been used as a late game pinch-hitter unlike the useless-at-the-dish Siani.

[brock118]

More proof that this front office and/or coaching staff sucks

https://x.com/katiejwoo/status/1903832574524309717

“Michael Siani has also made the club. José Fermín, despite being told earlier in the week he would be on the roster, was the final cut. Michael McGreevy starts in Memphis. #STLCards”


How do you do that?

I think Fermin played his way off the team with those two terrible errors on routine plays the other day. He hasn't looked good on defense for a lot of spring training. Think they were sending a message to him. He might be brought up sooner than later or they may look elsewhere for backup SS. If Winn gets hurt then there may be some shuffling going on.

[renostl]

Not sure I like Libby in the rotation. He just can't seem to maintain there. But he's better for shorter spurts. Who knows--maybe some of the tech that they've already brought it is showing what he can do to stay stronger for longer. Either way, I hope it's his last shot at it...meaning it's a success, and he's just one of our guys now, or he can't do it and it's not a thing ever again.

agree
if he thrives...great
if he doesn't...McGreevy

Worth noting the D' Backs sent Montgomery, who will make $22.5M this year, to the bullpen upon making a purely baseball-based decision that he is not one of the 5 best choices for their rotation.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, even with a 6-man rotation planned, elected to keep BOTH Mikolas (16M) and Matz (12M) in the rotation, despite McGreevy being far more deserving based on both 2024 and ST of 2025.
That type of thinking, folks, is the reason AZ won 29 more games than STL over the past 2 years.
The TOXIC CULTURE in STL continues.....

Monty had a 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in 2024.
Far worse than Mikolas.
He followed a full season of dismal with a 15.0 ERA and a 2.66 WHIP. I think that the move had little to do with
being some exceptional culture.

The Cardinals put a ERA of 2.29 and a WHIP of 0.966 in the BP to make way for Libs who hasn't been
successful as of yet in the rotation.
Mikolas has had a decent spring. Moreso than Gray, Pallante, and even Fedde.

McGreevy will get his shot in 30 days here without any harm done.

Solid culture but only if we want to see it. Standing behind players who have done in the past, while moving a
moderately paid SP to the pen who had a productive spring in favor of a player who might have a
future in St. Louis. I have doubt AZ moves Monty to the BP having a ST like Matz.

All of that is true, but in no way can you honestly say that Siani should have made the club, nothing “solid culture” about that decision. Koperniak plays decent defense and could actually have been used as a late game pinch-hitter unlike the useless-at-the-dish Siani.

I've said that often about Siani. I've got almost nothing to support
his roster spot. Elite glove. Not possible to be elite enough to carry that bat.

I wonder how long he stays up. IF the rest of the outfield show solid or if he continues his .550 OPS
IF Winn needs time off, stiff back or whatever. I kind of feel his fate is not in his own hands and his
ceiling at the plate is below other player's floor.

[hugeCardfan]

Holly c r a p

They got one right (VSII) but then can't help but screw up (AGAIN!) putting Libby in the SR instead of MCG!

And Siani on the team?

Agree it’s a no brainer to make Scott II starting CF’er. Siani isn’t a formidable decision. He’s a fabulous defender who Helsley might appreciate having in lieu of Walker in the 9th inning. He’s interchangeable any time the Cards want to bring up Koperniak or McGreevy. Let them take regular starts in Memphis rather than warm the bench.

I'd have dealt S. Matz, who's having a really solid spring, kept Libby in the pen' and given that #5 slot to MCG.

And I said weeks ago I'd keep Kop over Siani any day too.

Kop would play every third or fourth day on the 26 man until someone is injured. I’d rather he stays sharp in Memphis. As soon as an outfielder is injured I’d bring him up and continue to use Siani only for late inning defense. The Cards can exchange KOPERNIAK for Siani any time they wish.

[Hoosier59]

Holly c r a p

They got one right (VSII) but then can't help but screw up (AGAIN!) putting Libby in the SR instead of MCG!

And Siani on the team?

Agree it’s a no brainer to make Scott II starting CF’er. Siani isn’t a formidable decision. He’s a fabulous defender who Helsley might appreciate having in lieu of Walker in the 9th inning. He’s interchangeable any time the Cards want to bring up Koperniak or McGreevy. Let them take regular starts in Memphis rather than warm the bench.

I'd have dealt S. Matz, who's having a really solid spring, kept Libby in the pen' and given that #5 slot to MCG.

And I said weeks ago I'd keep Kop over Siani any day too.

Kop would play every third or fourth day on the 26 man until someone is injured. I’d rather he stays sharp in Memphis. As soon as an outfielder is injured I’d bring him up and continue to use Siani only for late inning defense. The Cards can exchange KOPERNIAK for Siani any time they wish.

Huge, I’d agree with you if Kop was an up and coming youngster, but he’s not. He’s 27 yrs old and has earned the roster spot! For some unexplainable reason the Cardinals have never been high on him or given him a second thought. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to think that if given an equal opportunity that he might out produce any other Cardinal outfielder. Unfortunately, we will probably never know until he’s with another team.

[renostl]

Holly c r a p

They got one right (VSII) but then can't help but screw up (AGAIN!) putting Libby in the SR instead of MCG!

And Siani on the team?

Agree it’s a no brainer to make Scott II starting CF’er. Siani isn’t a formidable decision. He’s a fabulous defender who Helsley might appreciate having in lieu of Walker in the 9th inning. He’s interchangeable any time the Cards want to bring up Koperniak or McGreevy. Let them take regular starts in Memphis rather than warm the bench.

I'd have dealt S. Matz, who's having a really solid spring, kept Libby in the pen' and given that #5 slot to MCG.

And I said weeks ago I'd keep Kop over Siani any day too.

Kop would play every third or fourth day on the 26 man until someone is injured. I’d rather he stays sharp in Memphis. As soon as an outfielder is injured I’d bring him up and continue to use Siani only for late inning defense. The Cards can exchange KOPERNIAK for Siani any time they wish.

I've commented way too much on Siani already, so I'll spin it differently.
He's sitting in the 4th outfields seat too often for my taste when the company
line is "rotation".

The more valuable a tool is the more it gets used. Siani and Baker/Burleson become equals in
that regard. Similar to Crawford and Carp in 2024. It will tie a managers hands and make that
manager worse.

[hugeCardfan]

Holly c r a p

They got one right (VSII) but then can't help but screw up (AGAIN!) putting Libby in the SR instead of MCG!

And Siani on the team?

Agree it’s a no brainer to make Scott II starting CF’er. Siani isn’t a formidable decision. He’s a fabulous defender who Helsley might appreciate having in lieu of Walker in the 9th inning. He’s interchangeable any time the Cards want to bring up Koperniak or McGreevy. Let them take regular starts in Memphis rather than warm the bench.

I'd have dealt S. Matz, who's having a really solid spring, kept Libby in the pen' and given that #5 slot to MCG.

And I said weeks ago I'd keep Kop over Siani any day too.

Kop would play every third or fourth day on the 26 man until someone is injured. I’d rather he stays sharp in Memphis. As soon as an outfielder is injured I’d bring him up and continue to use Siani only for late inning defense. The Cards can exchange KOPERNIAK for Siani any time they wish.

Huge, I’d agree with you if Kop was an up and coming youngster, but he’s not. He’s 27 yrs old and has earned the roster spot! For some unexplainable reason the Cardinals have never been high on him or given him a second thought. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to think that if given an equal opportunity that he might out produce any other Cardinal outfielder. Unfortunately, we will probably never know until he’s with another team.

I don’t disagree at all. I predicted he’d make the team this winter. I just think that the Cards’ hand will be forced soon and he’ll be up. Probably best if he’s been playing daily rather than once or twice a week.

[hugeCardfan]

Holly c r a p

They got one right (VSII) but then can't help but screw up (AGAIN!) putting Libby in the SR instead of MCG!

And Siani on the team?

Agree it’s a no brainer to make Scott II starting CF’er. Siani isn’t a formidable decision. He’s a fabulous defender who Helsley might appreciate having in lieu of Walker in the 9th inning. He’s interchangeable any time the Cards want to bring up Koperniak or McGreevy. Let them take regular starts in Memphis rather than warm the bench.

I'd have dealt S. Matz, who's having a really solid spring, kept Libby in the pen' and given that #5 slot to MCG.

And I said weeks ago I'd keep Kop over Siani any day too.

Kop would play every third or fourth day on the 26 man until someone is injured. I’d rather he stays sharp in Memphis. As soon as an outfielder is injured I’d bring him up and continue to use Siani only for late inning defense. The Cards can exchange KOPERNIAK for Siani any time they wish.

I've commented way too much on Siani already, so I'll spin it differently.
He's sitting in the 4th outfields seat too often for my taste when the company
line is "rotation".

The more valuable a tool is the more it gets used. Siani and Baker/Burleson become equals in
that regard. Similar to Crawford and Carp in 2024. It will tie a managers hands and make that
manager worse.

Well said. I can only hope that Koperniak gets called up soon. Siani’s usefulness is too limited to be part of any bigger plan.

[AnExParrot]

It appears that the Bloom era is off to a shaky start.

How about we play some regular season games before we say that. Plus they have already stated this season was supposed to be a reboot.

Or how about we wait 'til Bloom actually has the POBO job and gets to run things exactly as he sees fit.

[Melville]

Once again, the team does not make roster decisions based on honest competition to identify the best players.
Instead, players are anointed by the front office well in advance and gifted jobs.
TOXIC CULTURE continues.

agree

Makes no sense for the team to open with no backup SS given how Winn has struggled - and how the lack of a backup at that spot severely limits the ability to make specific late game decisions.
It further makes no sense to construct an outfield with 5 LH hitting options (Scott, Siani, Mootbaar, Donovan, Burleson) and just one RH bat (Walker), particularly since that one RH bat may well be the biggest question on the team currently.
I am not endorsing Fermin as being anything more than a bench player, but the fact is he had a vastly superior spring compared to Siani, has more defensive flexibility which is strategically important, and is a RH hitter with a team overloaded from the left side.
On the pitching side, it is inexcusable for Super Slo Mo to have failed to make the roster adjustments needed over the past 6 months to ensure roles were available to young pitchers such as McGreevy who have earned an opportunity and who have the potential to improve the team.
Pre-selected, anointed, bubble wrapped veteran players (regardless of the basis on which that was gifted) who remain on the roster are nothing less than a message to all players and staff at every level of the organization that performance does not matter, true competition does not exist, and winning in not the priority.
TOXIC CULTURE.

Well stated IMO.

Appreciate the kind words.
I do not see how anyone could disagree with such self-evident reality.
One can only hope the team is working on a move or two between now and Thursday.

[renostl]

Once again, the team does not make roster decisions based on honest competition to identify the best players.
Instead, players are anointed by the front office well in advance and gifted jobs.
TOXIC CULTURE continues.

agree

Makes no sense for the team to open with no backup SS given how Winn has struggled - and how the lack of a backup at that spot severely limits the ability to make specific late game decisions.
It further makes no sense to construct an outfield with 5 LH hitting options (Scott, Siani, Mootbaar, Donovan, Burleson) and just one RH bat (Walker), particularly since that one RH bat may well be the biggest question on the team currently.
I am not endorsing Fermin as being anything more than a bench player, but the fact is he had a vastly superior spring compared to Siani, has more defensive flexibility which is strategically important, and is a RH hitter with a team overloaded from the left side.
On the pitching side, it is inexcusable for Super Slo Mo to have failed to make the roster adjustments needed over the past 6 months to ensure roles were available to young pitchers such as McGreevy who have earned an opportunity and who have the potential to improve the team.
Pre-selected, anointed, bubble wrapped veteran players (regardless of the basis on which that was gifted) who remain on the roster are nothing less than a message to all players and staff at every level of the organization that performance does not matter, true competition does not exist, and winning in not the priority.
TOXIC CULTURE.

Well stated IMO.

Appreciate the kind words.
I do not see how anyone could disagree with such self-evident reality.
One can only hope the team is working on a move or two between now and Thursday.

Makes one wonder if Fermin was seen making it rain somewhere in FL after he got the
word that he made the roster.

[Melville]

Once again, the team does not make roster decisions based on honest competition to identify the best players.
Instead, players are anointed by the front office well in advance and gifted jobs.
TOXIC CULTURE continues.

agree

Makes no sense for the team to open with no backup SS given how Winn has struggled - and how the lack of a backup at that spot severely limits the ability to make specific late game decisions.
It further makes no sense to construct an outfield with 5 LH hitting options (Scott, Siani, Mootbaar, Donovan, Burleson) and just one RH bat (Walker), particularly since that one RH bat may well be the biggest question on the team currently.
I am not endorsing Fermin as being anything more than a bench player, but the fact is he had a vastly superior spring compared to Siani, has more defensive flexibility which is strategically important, and is a RH hitter with a team overloaded from the left side.
On the pitching side, it is inexcusable for Super Slo Mo to have failed to make the roster adjustments needed over the past 6 months to ensure roles were available to young pitchers such as McGreevy who have earned an opportunity and who have the potential to improve the team.
Pre-selected, anointed, bubble wrapped veteran players (regardless of the basis on which that was gifted) who remain on the roster are nothing less than a message to all players and staff at every level of the organization that performance does not matter, true competition does not exist, and winning in not the priority.
TOXIC CULTURE.

Well stated IMO.

Appreciate the kind words.
I do not see how anyone could disagree with such self-evident reality.
One can only hope the team is working on a move or two between now and Thursday.

Makes one wonder if Fermin was seen making it rain somewhere in FL after he got the
word that he made the roster.

Nice!
Humor aside, there is nothing more TOXIC for any organization than the words of "leaders' not matching their actions.

[renostl]

Once again, the team does not make roster decisions based on honest competition to identify the best players.
Instead, players are anointed by the front office well in advance and gifted jobs.
TOXIC CULTURE continues.

agree

Makes no sense for the team to open with no backup SS given how Winn has struggled - and how the lack of a backup at that spot severely limits the ability to make specific late game decisions.
It further makes no sense to construct an outfield with 5 LH hitting options (Scott, Siani, Mootbaar, Donovan, Burleson) and just one RH bat (Walker), particularly since that one RH bat may well be the biggest question on the team currently.
I am not endorsing Fermin as being anything more than a bench player, but the fact is he had a vastly superior spring compared to Siani, has more defensive flexibility which is strategically important, and is a RH hitter with a team overloaded from the left side.
On the pitching side, it is inexcusable for Super Slo Mo to have failed to make the roster adjustments needed over the past 6 months to ensure roles were available to young pitchers such as McGreevy who have earned an opportunity and who have the potential to improve the team.
Pre-selected, anointed, bubble wrapped veteran players (regardless of the basis on which that was gifted) who remain on the roster are nothing less than a message to all players and staff at every level of the organization that performance does not matter, true competition does not exist, and winning in not the priority.
TOXIC CULTURE.

Well stated IMO.

Appreciate the kind words.
I do not see how anyone could disagree with such self-evident reality.
One can only hope the team is working on a move or two between now and Thursday.

Makes one wonder if Fermin was seen making it rain somewhere in FL after he got the
word that he made the roster.

Nice!
Humor aside, there is nothing more TOXIC for any organization than the words of "leaders' not matching their actions.

Agree on that statement.
Appears as low confidence in themselves.

The position side of the roster is a headscratcher.
In their efforts of providing protection on the 26 they have
consistently hindered it.