Have we have transitioned from

[ScotchMIrish]

Bill DeWitt Jr to Bill DeWitt III as the hands on owner of the Cardinals. We seem more inclined to dump and rebuild from the bottom up whereas previously we wanted to acquire free agents and trade prospects for established veterans in order to compete for the playoffs every season.

Either that or the poor tv deal and related drop in attendance has reduced revenue to the point where he has no choice.

[ecleme22]

I just…I….

It really surprises me how seemingly engaged baseball fans can’t understand the most modest of rebuilds and how this org obviously needs a reset.

[C-Unit]

DeWitt III's area of focus has always seemed to be ticket sales and fan engagement, stuff like that. Whenever the mic comes to him, that's all he talks about. I can't imagine his role has changed.

[rockondlouie]

BDWJr = Baseball Man

BDWIII aka Fredo = Business Man

BDWJr knows baseball front & back, Fredo only seems interested in the business side and lacks his fathers enthusiasm for the game.

BDWJr loves baseball ala ABJr.

BDWIII aka Fredo reminds me of ABIII who had no interest in the Cardinals or baseball.

I'd bet anyone BDWIII sells the team after Big Bill leaves this world.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Bill DeWitt Jr to Bill DeWitt III as the hands on owner of the Cardinals. We seem more inclined to dump and rebuild from the bottom up whereas previously we wanted to acquire free agents and trade prospects for established veterans in order to compete for the playoffs every season.

Either that or the poor tv deal and related drop in attendance has reduced revenue to the point where he has no choice.

BDW chose moneyball over a commitment to excellence and reciprocal loyalty to the fan base. Revenue from all sources plummeted because the product is no longer premium and in high demand.

Everyone blames Mo, but did BDW not notice how wrong Mo was in his disagreements with TLR? The Rasmus situation should’ve been all the proof needed.

I’d trade any prospect we have, including the great Cardinals savior JJ Wetherholt if it would fill half the holes this team has. This generic brand garbage approach has turned one of the premier elite sports franchises into an afterthought and laughingstock.

Winning costs. Good returns still require good investment. Go ahead holy prospect worshippers, BDW money-savers club members and front office (donkey) kissers…flame away.

[CorneliusWolfe]

I just…I….

It really surprises me how seemingly engaged baseball fans can’t understand the most modest of rebuilds and how this org obviously needs a reset.

I don’t understand why so many think a rebuild can’t include spending and trading in concurrence with the revamping of player development.

We can win faster with all wheels turning together. You don’t have to lose and lose and lose some more to eventually hopefully one day maybe build a winner again. You try your (donkey) off from every single angle every single year. If BDW isn’t fully committed to winning then he should sell the [fork]ing team to someone who cares.

[ScotchMIrish]

DeWitt III's area of focus has always seemed to be ticket sales and fan engagement, stuff like that. Whenever the mic comes to him, that's all he talks about. I can't imagine his role has changed.

If that's the case he needs to re-work the tv deal so people can watch the Cardinals as part of their basic package instead of the current $20 a month subscription. We were 5 gaves over .500 at the all star break and attendance was poor because people have lost interest. One reason people have lost interest is because games on tv are a great way to generate interest in the team.

[CorneliusWolfe]

BDWJr = Baseball Man

BDWIII aka Fredo = Business Man

BDWJr knows baseball front & back, Fredo only seems interested in the business side and lacks his fathers enthusiasm for the game.

BDWJr loves baseball ala ABJr.

BDWIII aka Fredo reminds me of ABIII who had no interest in the Cardinals or baseball.

I'd bet anyone BDWIII sells the team after Big Bill leaves this world.

I agree with everything except maybe the last one. If he’s making a modest profit regardless if the team is a joke, he’ll probably still hold and collect.

You hit the nail on the head in the comparison between Jr and the III though.

Melville might be a controversial poster, but when he said the Cardinals have become a marketing company with a baseball department, it is 100% accurate and directly attributed to BDWIII.

[mattmitchl44]

...acquire free agents and trade prospects for established veterans in order to compete for the playoffs every season.

And how has that worked out for them for the last decade?

The whole "continuing to throw good money after bad" approach is part of why the organization is in need of a rebuild.

[mattmitchl44]

I don’t understand why so many think a rebuild can’t include spending and trading in concurrence with the revamping of player development.

Because significant spending in baseball always involves making long term commitments. Significant veteran players are going to sign for, or carry with them, 3, 5, 7, 10+ year contracts.

If you are not ready to compete now (and the Cardinals aren't), why commit yourself to guys now who (1) you may not need or (2) may get significantly worse when you are ready to compete again in 3, 5, etc. years?

[CorneliusWolfe]

I don’t understand why so many think a rebuild can’t include spending and trading in concurrence with the revamping of player development.

Because significant spending in baseball always involves making long term commitments. Significant veteran players are going to sign for, or carry with them, 3, 5, 7, 10+ year contracts.

If you are not ready to compete now (and the Cardinals aren't), why commit yourself to guys now who (1) you may not need or (2) may get significantly worse when you are ready to compete again in 3, 5, etc. years?

The holes we filled with experienced journeyman players from the Rasmus trade did not entail long term commitment. The Lackey trade did not hamstring our payroll for years on end. The Matt Holiday deal was not earth shattering expensive to a billionaire owner who had a loyal paying fanbase.

Why is spending always equated to decades-long monster mega deals? There is a sensible middle ground.

[rockondlouie]

BDWJr = Baseball Man

BDWIII aka Fredo = Business Man

BDWJr knows baseball front & back, Fredo only seems interested in the business side and lacks his fathers enthusiasm for the game.

BDWJr loves baseball ala ABJr.

BDWIII aka Fredo reminds me of ABIII who had no interest in the Cardinals or baseball.

I'd bet anyone BDWIII sells the team after Big Bill leaves this world.

I agree with everything except maybe the last one. If he’s making a modest profit regardless if the team is a joke, he’ll probably still hold and collect.

You hit the nail on the head in the comparison between Jr and the III though.

Melville might be a controversial poster, but when he said the Cardinals have become a marketing company with a baseball department, it is 100% accurate and directly attributed to BDWIII.

Thx

I don't know CW, I get the impression Fredo may cash in and go into another line of business after he inherits the team.

Not immediately but it wouldn't shock me if he sold after a couple years.

Unlike his Grandfather and his Father, he just doesn't seem to care much about baseball.

[11WSChamps]

...acquire free agents and trade prospects for established veterans in order to compete for the playoffs every season.

And how has that worked out for them for the last decade?

The whole "continuing to throw good money after bad" approach is part of why the organization is in need of a rebuild.

That's a person making the decisions problem.

Spend the money prudently as was done before.

Seemed to work pretty well before you know who.

[Ozziesfan41]

BDWJr = Baseball Man

BDWIII aka Fredo = Business Man

BDWJr knows baseball front & back, Fredo only seems interested in the business side and lacks his fathers enthusiasm for the game.

BDWJr loves baseball ala ABJr.

BDWIII aka Fredo reminds me of ABIII who had no interest in the Cardinals or baseball.

I'd bet anyone BDWIII sells the team after Big Bill leaves this world.

I agree with everything except maybe the last one. If he’s making a modest profit regardless if the team is a joke, he’ll probably still hold and collect.

You hit the nail on the head in the comparison between Jr and the III though.

Melville might be a controversial poster, but when he said the Cardinals have become a marketing company with a baseball department, it is 100% accurate and directly attributed to BDWIII.

Well if they are a marketing company they are awful at it

[mattmitchl44]

I don’t understand why so many think a rebuild can’t include spending and trading in concurrence with the revamping of player development.

Because significant spending in baseball always involves making long term commitments. Significant veteran players are going to sign for, or carry with them, 3, 5, 7, 10+ year contracts.

If you are not ready to compete now (and the Cardinals aren't), why commit yourself to guys now who (1) you may not need or (2) may get significantly worse when you are ready to compete again in 3, 5, etc. years?

The holes we filled with experienced journeyman players from the Rasmus trade did not entail long term commitment. The Lackey trade did not hamstring our payroll for years on end. The Matt Holiday deal was not earth shattering expensive to a billionaire owner who had a loyal paying fanbase.

Why is spending always equated to decades-long monster mega deals? There is a sensible middle ground.

Journeyman players on short deals are not the solution for the current state of the team. If you don't have a solid base to start from, that just gets you to a lower grade of mediocre.

[mattmitchl44]

...acquire free agents and trade prospects for established veterans in order to compete for the playoffs every season.

And how has that worked out for them for the last decade?

The whole "continuing to throw good money after bad" approach is part of why the organization is in need of a rebuild.

That's a person making the decisions problem.

Spend the money prudently as was done before.

Seemed to work pretty well before you know who.

In a different era of baseball economics.