How Many of You Actually Expected Them To Contend?

[swatski]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

I don't think I will ever understand what they based any of that on.

Gray, Fedde, and Pallante at the top of the rotation.
Walker and Gorman rebounding.

Why can’t we have good things like our top prospects actually turning out to be good.

[CNYFan]

I agree that the losses are expected, I weighed in at 76-86, but the failure of Gorman and Walker to develop as hitters, at least to this point, is discouraging.
Liberatore and Walker's defense are the bright side.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I predicted a win total in the mid-to-high 70's.
With the potential to mildly surprise and win 83-84 wins if several factors aligned.
But I have specifically stated the that mild surprise would only be possible under one very specific scenario: the team would need to start slow enough that The Marmot would be fired somewhere around the 30-game mark, leaving sufficient time for a competent replacement to maximize the team's abilities and lead to a small turnaround.

Melville, I’m surprised at you. You, and you alone, should have first realized that they aren’t going to fire Marmol during the season. Remember Super Slo-Mo, and the contract plays, and anointings, and falling in love hard?

[Basil Shabazz]

I was a 81-81 +/- 4 either way from the start. I still feel the same way.

[Dewey Kuey]

Never expected then to contend, as long as Oli is in the dugout. They are playing just as I expected. They will end up around .500 this year.
Oli will never change. My head is raw and bloody from scratching it watching this moron manage a major league ball team.

[blackinkbiz]

I thought they could win 90 if everyone hit. Also said they could lose 100 if they fell into the same self-destructive patterns.

My biggest caveat was the (bleep) sitting in the dugout. It's a sad state of affairs when fans--even pragmatic ones--realize your manager is one of your team's biggest weaknesses. Oli has learned nothing from his mistakes, though, which is why he's such a poor manager. Still gives players pre-scheduled "maintenance" days no matter how bad the team may need a win that day.

Still leans heavily on his favorites over and over and over and over, no matter how poor their performance is or how bad it hurts the rest of the team: Contreras and Fernandez

And still plays musical chairs with the lineup so that no one, other than perahps Noot, has a clue where they'll be hitting and often, what position they'll play that day.

It's now the 3rd year in a row of watching the same song and dance over and over and over and over. The only music I want to stop is the one that disappears Oli.

[blackinkbiz]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

I don't think I will ever understand what they based any of that on.

Gray, Fedde, and Pallante at the top of the rotation.
Walker and Gorman rebounding.

Why can’t we have good things like our top prospects actually turning out to be good.

Because they're still St. Louis Cardinals. Would you feel pressured to do your job at the best of your abilities if the owner's of your company gave your boss a raise and contract extension because, "they didn't want him to feel too much pressure when it came to being successful."

[Melville]

I predicted a win total in the mid-to-high 70's.
With the potential to mildly surprise and win 83-84 wins if several factors aligned.
But I have specifically stated the that mild surprise would only be possible under one very specific scenario: the team would need to start slow enough that The Marmot would be fired somewhere around the 30-game mark, leaving sufficient time for a competent replacement to maximize the team's abilities and lead to a small turnaround.

Melville, I’m surprised at you. You, and you alone, should have first realized that they aren’t going to fire Marmol during the season. Remember Super Slo-Mo, and the contract plays, and anointings, and falling in love hard?

Once the season is lost, teams inevitably trade or DFA veterans who are in the final year of a contract.
They want to use the balance of the season to look at younger potential long-term options.
Same will be true of The Marmot.
But with even more incentive.
Managers make very convenient fall guys.
He will not survive 2025 as the STL manager.
More certain that the cost of Chinese imports going up!

[Cranny]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

A number of people drink wine out of a box.
Idiocracy will oftentimes flourish!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion (prediction), Monsieur.

[woofy25]

I predicted a win total in the mid-to-high 70's.
With the potential to mildly surprise and win 83-84 wins if several factors aligned.
But I have specifically stated the that mild surprise would only be possible under one very specific scenario: the team would need to start slow enough that The Marmot would be fired somewhere around the 30-game mark, leaving sufficient time for a competent replacement to maximize the team's abilities and lead to a small turnaround.

Marmol is not getting fired during the season. There is no reason for Mo to make major moves before his contract is up, with the exception of Helsley and Fedde, along with anybody else willing to waive their NTC. He's not going to leave an interim mess for Bloom. It's too easy to let Bloom do it in October. New boss, Oli wasn't Bloom's guy, etc.

Now, I suppose if literally none of the young guys are progressing, like Walker, Gorman, Scott, Winn, Herrera, Liberatore, etc, then maybe there is cause, but that's not happening, and the likelihood of that happening, regardless of the manager, is small.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I predicted a win total in the mid-to-high 70's.
With the potential to mildly surprise and win 83-84 wins if several factors aligned.
But I have specifically stated the that mild surprise would only be possible under one very specific scenario: the team would need to start slow enough that The Marmot would be fired somewhere around the 30-game mark, leaving sufficient time for a competent replacement to maximize the team's abilities and lead to a small turnaround.

Melville, I’m surprised at you. You, and you alone, should have first realized that they aren’t going to fire Marmol during the season. Remember Super Slo-Mo, and the contract plays, and anointings, and falling in love hard?

Once the season is lost, teams inevitably trade or DFA veterans who are in the final year of a contract.
They want to use the balance of the season to look at younger potential long-term options.
Same will be true of The Marmot.
But with even more incentive.
Managers make very convenient fall guys.
He will not survive 2025 as the STL manager.
More certain that the cost of Chinese imports going up!

He will survive the season. Nothing the Cardinals hate more than change. They will change in the offseason. They won’t do it twice. Well, they may hate paying someone to go away more. Tough call.

[Monsieur De Treville]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

A number of people drink wine out of a box.
Idiocracy will oftentimes flourish!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion (prediction), Monsieur.

Absolutely! Just as everyone is entitled to drink wine out of a box.

[Cranny]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

A number of people drink wine out of a box.
Idiocracy will oftentimes flourish!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion (prediction), Monsieur.

Absolutely! Just as everyone is entitled to drink wine out of a box.

I guess it’s the “idiocrasy” put down that’s troubling, Monsieur. Rather condescending to people who just put forth an honest opinion (prediction).

[sikeston bulldog2]

I thought they could win 90 if everyone hit. Also said they could lose 100 if they fell into the same self-destructive patterns.

My biggest caveat was the (bleep) sitting in the dugout. It's a sad state of affairs when fans--even pragmatic ones--realize your manager is one of your team's biggest weaknesses. Oli has learned nothing from his mistakes, though, which is why he's such a poor manager. Still gives players pre-scheduled "maintenance" days no matter how bad the team may need a win that day.

Still leans heavily on his favorites over and over and over and over, no matter how poor their performance is or how bad it hurts the rest of the team: Contreras and Fernandez

And still plays musical chairs with the lineup so that no one, other than perahps Noot, has a clue where they'll be hitting and often, what position they'll play that day.

It's now the 3rd year in a row of watching the same song and dance over and over and over and over. The only music I want to stop is the one that disappears Oli.

Agree with paragraphs three and four. My thoughts.

[Cusecards]

There are different levels of “contention”:
Contend for a World Series- no way!
Contend for the division- possible mostly because I don’t see a 90 win team in the NLC. Cubs appear the strongest.

Cards just their lunch handed to them by a superior team. Response????
While playing .500 ball doesn’t make anyone here giddy with excitement....it should keep them in contention for the division heading to the break.

Can’t lose touch with .500. Next 6 series will tell a lot:
@ Braves
Brewers
@Reds
Mets
Pirates
@Nats

Obviously no predictions but based on standings/talent only the Mets series looks unwinnable.
Guess we’ll see who can step up or who can’t?

[Monsieur De Treville]

I did. I think I predicted 10 over. 86-76. Still a possibility.

That's some big time optimism. I've noticed for years that you haven't let the Cardinals shortcomings ruin your day. Gotta admire that.

A number of posters predicted wins in the mid to high 80s. Several predicted 90.

A number of people drink wine out of a box.
Idiocracy will oftentimes flourish!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion (prediction), Monsieur.

Absolutely! Just as everyone is entitled to drink wine out of a box.

I guess it’s the “idiocrasy” put down that’s troubling, Monsieur. Rather condescending to people who just put forth an honest opinion (prediction).

Troubling? Really? Troubling?

Kids with Cancer is troubling. The unresolved situation in Ukraine is troubling. Students graduating from high school who can barely read is troubling.

My use of the word "idiocracy" is far from troubling unless one is a complete Snowflake. Cranny, you need to grow a pair and put on your big boy pants if you wish to engage others on an anonymous sports forum.