ESPN: What makes the Cards contenders

[imetsatchelpaige]

One trade every MLB team should make
David Schoenfield »

St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 51-46 | Projected final record: 84-78
Division title odds: 1.5% | Playoff odds: 27.9% | Championship odds: 0.7%

What makes them a potential contender: The Cardinals don't do anything spectacular but they also don't have a glaring weakness. It's been a steady ship since some early-season struggles that almost doomed them in the playoff race. On May 1 they were four games under .500, but by June 1 they were seven over. That steady climb has characterized their first half. Perhaps the best example of their plight is the fact that they had just one All-Star, infielder Brendan Donovan, who might have made it due to every team needing a representative as much as anything else. That's not to take away from St. Louis. It's a compliment to them on a good half without star-level performances. Sonny Gray has been good. So has Alec Burleson. But the Cardinals narrative this season is about team over individual.

What to expect from here: The next two weeks feel critical for the Cardinals, but they might have already played their way into staying together and competing for a playoff berth. Besides, the same guys that turned down trades in the winter because of their no-trade clauses are likely to do it again later this month. The players believe in their team. Now it's up to management to do the same -- especially in top decision-maker John Mozeliak's final season.

The biggest question might involve closer and free agent-to-be Ryan Helsley. Sure, he's not having the same season he did a year ago, but what if Mozeliak gets an offer he can't refuse? It's not impossible to do a little adding and subtracting at the deadline and still compete. St. Louis could use another starter, as Erick Fedde has struggled mightily. Meanwhile, righty Michael McGreevy should find his way back into the rotation as well. -- Rogers

[ClassicO]

I keep hearing this same yarn:" The next two weeks feel critical."
That's crud. If you don't know your team's capabilities at this point (hint: it's not a WS team), you shouldn't be a GM. They should be trading now before other "sit on the fence" teams get involved.

[woofy25]

How can anyone say their starting pitching is not a weakness?

[Goldfan]

I keep hearing this same yarn:" The next two weeks feel critical."
That's crud. If you don't know your team's capabilities at this point (hint: it's not a WS team), you shouldn't be a GM. They should be trading now before other "sit on the fence" teams get involved.

The Mo Way

[FrankTheTank]

This team is going nowhere. It is a poorly constructed team that doesn't do anything well. I just don't understand why you wouldn't listen on anyone, especially the guys on expiring contracts. Everyone has a price. Mo is really bad at this, so that doesn't help.

Knowing the Cardinals, they will go 2 over in their next 4 series which will justify to ownership & Mo staying the course and sitting on their hands. PUKE.

[Cardly]

Helsley for a bat

Jordan Walker for Robert Jr.
? And ? For Pete Fairbanks and Taj Bradley

[Ozziesfan41]

How can anyone say their starting pitching is not a weakness?

lol I thought the same thing

[FrankTheTank]

Helsley for a bat
Jordan Walker for Robert Jr.
? And ? For Pete Fairbanks and Taj Bradley

I take a chance on Luis Robert Jr., but NO WAY you have to give up Walker for him. At this point, we can give them Baker, maybe a lower level throw in. He looks awful this year (.190, .600 OPS) and is barely a league average player, BUT 22 stolen bases, still only 27 and bats right-handed, which we could use.

Tampa is only 1.5 out of a wild card spot, so not sure they unload unless they lose 6 of 7, or something like that. BUT, I absolutely take a flyer on Bradley, still only 24, if we could get him for something reasonable. No one ever wins a trade with Tampa though.

[imetsatchelpaige]

How can anyone say their starting pitching is not a weakness?

Good question.
Cardinal staff ranks #20 of 30 MLB teams
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching

[FrankTheTank]

That there are (10) starting rotations worse than ours really makes you think...and feel sorry for them. ha ha

[Futuregm2]

How can anyone say their starting pitching is not a weakness?

Good question.
Cardinal staff ranks #20 of 30 MLB teams
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching

And our FIP is 11th in baseball among SPs.

Dodgers (4.20) SPs have a slightly better ERA than us (4.34). Toronto is in first place in the AL East with a 4.60 ERA by their SPs. Cubs aren’t light years ahead of us either with a 4.06 ERA from their SPs.

[Kentucky kid]

We will never win a World Series with oli.We can compete for a wild card with him but not World Series

[imetsatchelpaige]

Another original Shady thought, shared ad infinitum.

[woofy25]

How can anyone say their starting pitching is not a weakness?

Good question.
Cardinal staff ranks #20 of 30 MLB teams
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching

I cant tell if you’re being funny or agreeing with me. Since May 30, they have an era over 5, might be over 6.

[jcgmoi]

Yep, the rotation has been lousy but the offense hasn't shined either.

Since May 30, the bats rank 23 in wOBA, 20 in wRC+. Lack of power has been an issue all year and they rank 24 in ISO. Over that period they've slashed 239/308/383.

Both sides have contributed to the slide.

[cbcardsfan]

Nothing makes them contenders. Starting with the FO.