tgharris wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:52 pm
Spending my money, or the Cardinals ownership's?
Why spend yours when DeWitt is a billionaire?
Spend his.
The team is an LLC, with a number of members.
It has to stand on its own financially.
So BDW can’t write a check if he wishes???
Cranny if I’m a Billionaire and I volunteer to take on a civic Pro Franchise vanity project KNOWING full well that there are hundreds of other investment options returning much better than an MLB club……the ONLY reason I would be involving myself is the love of game, or community, or bragging rights.
To use the excuse that investment return, strict budget adherence, and LLC limitations are the reason for the team not being able to compete is laughable. If BDW can’t hang with the current Deep Pocket Billionaires he should sell. As I said countless other investment options are available to someone with BDW resources WITHOUT any public scrutiny that comes with a fan base that expects to win.
Do you expect all the other members to invest along side BDW? Like a cash call? It depends on how the LLC agreement reads. There are a number of people involved besides BDW.
Very curious…..did all these partners have a say in the terrible decisions made the last decade?? Also curious that these individuals are NEVER seen or heard from
You obviously have no idea about how an LLC works.
Sure…..BDW is the controlling partner and does what he wants. The others have low minority stakes and have either cashed out or wait for their % cut of the 50-60mil profit each season……this year may be a little light. But again nothing is stopping the primary controlling Billionaire from either not taking HIS profit each season or supplying a cash infusion….if thats what is really required. And getting back to my original point. If this is exclusively about the bottom line for BDW and family take your large capital gain, drop off the public scrutiny train and buy some NVDA, AAPL, some Miami condos, Bitcoin, whatever….. greater returns are out there without the pain of FANS wanting a competitive MLB team
Don’t forget or discount the long history and legacy the Dewitt family has with baseball. You don’t sell out of that legacy after a string of down years. You firm up the legacy by strengthening the feeder system. Which they’re doing.
However, don’t forget the numerous examples of the 3rd generation of a family business utterly screwing things up. Or simply becoming disinterested and moving to a different profit stream. The grandchildren of the founder commonly are guilty of milking the cash cow and letting the business die on the vine. Even mighty Anheuser-Busch only lasted 4 generations before selling out. McDonnell Douglas only lasted 3 generations.
Agree that the pampered generations lose interest and sometimes run the family business into the ground, but AB and MD were public companies which were acquired by larger public companies.
Goldy, you’re absolutely correct, and admittedly, AB and MD might not be exact correlations, but my point was that the 3rd generation “leaders” of companies tend to lose interest. Granted, in a huge public corporation it’s even more challenging for the 3rd generation to manage due to outsider influence. Have a good one!
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
Goldy and NA were big money contracts
Arenado’s was a steal.
So was Goldy.
And BDWJr did a masterful job as he was the one who negotiated that $55M gift from the Rockies.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
Goldy and NA were big money contracts
Arenado’s was a steal.
So was Goldy.
And BDWJr did a masterful job as he was the one who negotiated that $55M gift from the Rockies.
IDK, if the Rocks knew that contract was bad enough to throw in 55M when NA WAS a productive player…..how bad does it look now after the last 2 years. He’s not going to improve.
Cranny wrote: ↑22 Sep 2025 13:40 pm
I may be wrong, but didn’t we trade some minor leaguers for
2 All Star type veteran players who came in #1 and #3 in the MVP voting several years ago?
Cranny wrote: ↑22 Sep 2025 13:40 pm
I may be wrong, but didn’t we trade some minor leaguers for
2 All Star type veteran players who came in #1 and #3 in the MVP voting several years ago?
Yes, we did that "several years ago".
And those 2 didn’t lead and perform when the team had chances in the PS nor did ownership/FO add to roster. They both blew it. Now we’re in the pits of baseball hell with 2 yrs remaining on an old washed up player.
Cranny wrote: ↑22 Sep 2025 13:40 pm
I may be wrong, but didn’t we trade some minor leaguers for
2 All Star type veteran players who came in #1 and #3 in the MVP voting several years ago?
For the umpteenth time, the Cardinals traded prospects for 1) the final year of Goldschmidt’s expiring contract and 2) the rights to Arenado AND the corresponding remaining contractual liability (minus $51mm) of what was then one of the richest contracts in baseball. Financially and practically, those two player acquisitions were more like FA signings than trades. This has been explained to you numerous times by other posters.
Cranny wrote: ↑22 Sep 2025 13:40 pm
I may be wrong, but didn’t we trade some minor leaguers for
2 All Star type veteran players who came in #1 and #3 in the MVP voting several years ago?
For the umpteenth time, the Cardinals traded prospects for 1) the final year of Goldschmidt’s expiring contract and 2) the rights to Arenado AND the corresponding remaining contractual liability (minus $51mm) of what was then one of the richest contracts in baseball. Financially and practically, those two player acquisitions were more like FA signings than trades. This has been explained to you numerous times by other posters.
And for the umpteenth time, NY, thank you so very much for your kind reminder. You such a wonderful gentleman. Have a very special evening.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
Goldy and NA were big money contracts
Arenado’s was a steal.
So was Goldy.
And BDWJr did a masterful job as he was the one who negotiated that $55M gift from the Rockies.
Exactly. BDW had to step in to close that trade. It was too much for Mo to do by himself. He would've pooped in his Fruit of the Looms.
If I had E. Musk or L. Ellison's money and BDWJr would sell.
Serious question, Rock. Would you rather “buy” a World Championship or earn it through a strong developmental system with your own payers?
Cleveland and Tampa Bay can’t do it despite their success with “their own players”
In order to win you also have to buy, this has been proven. It doesn’t go away or make it any less true by ignoring it every single time it’s brought up to you.
This homegrown fantasy is just that
2004 first WS in YEARs
Either signed or through trade
Starters
Matheny
Rolen
Renteria
Womack
Sanders
Edmonds
Walker
SP
Carp
Williams
Suppan
Marquis
The Mets have a $341 million salary cost, and they’re 4 games over .500. Whoop-Dee-Do.
Point is the Cards have never had winning teams without external Vets in key positions. This notion of building the entire MLB team without a couple top tier FA or trades is fantasy
Totally agree that we will need some players from outside.
Just don’t see big name FAs being signed to huge long term contracts. Maybe signings like Beltran/Berkman or trades like the Goldy/Arenado trades.
Goldy and NA were big money contracts
Arenado’s was a steal.
So was Goldy.
And BDWJr did a masterful job as he was the one who negotiated that $55M gift from the Rockies.
Exactly. BDW had to step in to close that trade. It was too much for Mo to do by himself. He would've pooped in his Fruit of the Looms.
Glad he stepped in. Hope he steps in and helps Bloom,
if needed.