Hate to think this but we aren't far from Royals territory

[ScotchMIrish]

We averaged 5,917 more fans per game this season. After the 1985 debacle they didn't make the postseason for 29 years. Won a WS in 2015 and within 3 season lost 104 games. Took them 9 seasons after the WS to post a winning record.

We have to get rid of the mentality of 5 games over .500 at the all star break is an automatic sell off like we did this season.

I’m glad they are getting rid of the finishing over .500 is a good season and want to build a team that can actually win something instead of being dumb holding onto players so they can be one and done in the post season

Great if it works but teams like the Pirates have been trying to do that for decades. There is a 2006 world series banner at Busch Stadium for a team that was 5 games over .500 for the season. They won the world series because you don't need more than 3 starting pitchers in the playoffs. First you make the playoffs. Then you win.

Royals went 29 years with no playoffs. 2 consecutive world series. Dump and rebuild another 9 years before they had a winning record.

The 2006 Cardinals run was not the norm. Besides this team lacked a Carpenter, Pujols, Molina, Rolen and Edmonds. Far too many teams lie to themselves and their fan base when stuck in the middle and turn it into years of mediocrity with no real hope of getting out of it. They can’t admit they are not a true playoff contender and need to build from within.

Sometimes teams need a reset to build things up. The 2025 Cardinals needed that. It would have been insane to not sell at the deadline hoping this team can make a magical run. They should have traded Romero as well.

Now it’s on DeWitt and Bloom to show they are building towards success and not becoming a terribly run team like Pittsburgh and Colorado.

What part of the 25 team left you feeling like they had any chance at post season success?

I know resets stink but all teams need them occasionally when they can’t spend 250 million on payroll.

There is no norm. In the wild card era - 30 years - the team with the best record has won the world series 24% of the time. You make the playoffs. The it's a new season.

[Strummer Jones]

We averaged 5,917 more fans per game this season. After the 1985 debacle they didn't make the postseason for 29 years. Won a WS in 2015 and within 3 season lost 104 games. Took them 9 seasons after the WS to post a winning record.

We have to get rid of the mentality of 5 games over .500 at the all star break is an automatic sell off like we did this season.

Yeah, you have a point. For the most part, if you get in you have a chance and with expanded playoffs it should be a bit easier to set your sights on a playoff spot, and less tempting to go the other way.

But a competitive roster needs to be geared towards winning 90-94 games year in year out. Not 83-85. Anything happens if you get in, yes. But there is still a difference between a 94-win team and a 85, the main difference being that you aren't entirely counting on luck to carry you (just to make the playoff spot, even).

The 2006 team was 5 games over .500.

My point for starting this thread is this isn't easy. We aren't going to be the Dodgers winning 90+ games every year. Revenue is down significantly.

Yeah but the 2006 team was on the low end for the win totals of all the teams we had around that era. Nowadays, that's about what our target seems to be.

You're right the path ahead is tough. But you have to get back to being a consistent 90-94 win team if you want to call yourself a team with a chance to win it all.

Cleveland has won 90+ games 6 times since 2016 (and 35-25 in the covid year).

And then we know about Milwaukee, they've won 90+ games 5 times since 2018.

So yes its hard but those are two examples of teams that can do it without revenues in their favor. We can also circle teams with higher revenues who spend poorly and don't get bang for their buck, and end up with disappointing teams.

So it can be done. If Bloom/Cerfolio are successful with what they are setting out to do, we should be seeing a better organization. And, Cerfolio came from that Cleveland system that has been so good.

The 2006 team was on the low end of wins total because of injuries not because of lack of talent they got healthy at the right time. That’s what makes the argument of the 2006 team being an example of the just get in and anything can happen so dumb

People seem to forget that the '06 team had 2 hall of famers at (Albert) or near (Rolen) the height of their powers, a young Molina who was a defensive stalwart (though not much of a hitter yet) as well as a diminished-but-still-productive Jim Edmonds.

[Stlcardsblues]

We averaged 5,917 more fans per game this season. After the 1985 debacle they didn't make the postseason for 29 years. Won a WS in 2015 and within 3 season lost 104 games. Took them 9 seasons after the WS to post a winning record.

We have to get rid of the mentality of 5 games over .500 at the all star break is an automatic sell off like we did this season.

I’m glad they are getting rid of the finishing over .500 is a good season and want to build a team that can actually win something instead of being dumb holding onto players so they can be one and done in the post season

Great if it works but teams like the Pirates have been trying to do that for decades. There is a 2006 world series banner at Busch Stadium for a team that was 5 games over .500 for the season. They won the world series because you don't need more than 3 starting pitchers in the playoffs. First you make the playoffs. Then you win.

Royals went 29 years with no playoffs. 2 consecutive world series. Dump and rebuild another 9 years before they had a winning record.

The 2006 Cardinals run was not the norm. Besides this team lacked a Carpenter, Pujols, Molina, Rolen and Edmonds. Far too many teams lie to themselves and their fan base when stuck in the middle and turn it into years of mediocrity with no real hope of getting out of it. They can’t admit they are not a true playoff contender and need to build from within.

Sometimes teams need a reset to build things up. The 2025 Cardinals needed that. It would have been insane to not sell at the deadline hoping this team can make a magical run. They should have traded Romero as well.

Now it’s on DeWitt and Bloom to show they are building towards success and not becoming a terribly run team like Pittsburgh and Colorado.

What part of the 25 team left you feeling like they had any chance at post season success?

I know resets stink but all teams need them occasionally when they can’t spend 250 million on payroll.

There is no norm. In the wild card era - 30 years - the team with the best record has won the world series 24% of the time. You make the playoffs. The it's a new season.

How did Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Philly do against the Dodgers? What makes you think STL would have done anything against LA? The game is different than it was in 06.

You think Pozo, Noot and the rest were beating anyone in the playoffs?