I need a Melville assessment and grading of this years off season.

[rockondlouie]

I assume you “néed” diarrhea as well.

[Melville]

I want it straight from the horse's mouth.
What does Mel think.
Because I think this was a disastrous off season.
I give Bloom a D- bordering on F.
Anyone could have done what he did.
[/quote

A+ for moving N/A.
B+ on the Gray trade.
B on signing May.
C+ on the Contreras trade (I would have kept him until July at a minimum.
D- on the Donovan trade - by trading for an odd fitting assortment of long shots rather than acquiring MLB ready talent, Bloom needlessly surrendered the season (barring any addition) for little more than a far off dream unlikely to ever come to fruition - Bloom will need a huge amount of dumb luck for this move to be a win.
Obviously, if Bloom was dead set in trading Donovan he should have put together a package which would have produced return to improve the team both short term and long term.
And, if he fails to add a quality RH bat before opening day, than non-move would merit an F.
Bottom line: too soon for a final grade.
Let's see what decisions are made between now and opening day.

[Bully4you]

I want it straight from the horse's mouth.
What does Mel think.
Because I think this was a disastrous off season.
I give Bloom a D- bordering on F.
Anyone could have done what he did.
[/quote

A+ for moving N/A.
B+ on the Gray trade.
B on signing May.
C+ on the Contreras trade (I would have kept him until July at a minimum.
D- on the Donovan trade - by trading for an odd fitting assortment of long shots rather than acquiring MLB ready talent, Bloom needlessly surrendered the season (barring any addition) for little more than a far off dream unlikely to ever come to fruition - Bloom will need a huge amount of dumb luck for this move to be a win.
Obviously, if Bloom was dead set in trading Donovan he should have put together a package which would have produced return to improve the team both short term and long term.
And, if he fails to add a quality RH bat before opening day, than non-move would merit an F.
Bottom line: too soon for a final grade.
Let's see what decisions are made between now and opening day.

Thanks for posting.
You are much more diplomatic than I.
I think this off season has been a disaster.
Just selling it all off at bargain prices and receiving the other team's junk.
I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Prospects are a losing bet in my opinion.
They've gone all in on prospects and nothing else.
Manager is the same.
No meaningful additions.
Just a throw in the towel mentality.

[bfib]

You don’t like the offseason because you were under the delusion that the club was going to try to compete this year and not rebuild like they told you they were doing all along.

They absolutely cleaned up on the Donovan trade. Gray trade was good too. Dumped Arenado. All good things

[Melville]

I want it straight from the horse's mouth.
What does Mel think.
Because I think this was a disastrous off season.
I give Bloom a D- bordering on F.
Anyone could have done what he did.
[/quote

A+ for moving N/A.
B+ on the Gray trade.
B on signing May.
C+ on the Contreras trade (I would have kept him until July at a minimum.
D- on the Donovan trade - by trading for an odd fitting assortment of long shots rather than acquiring MLB ready talent, Bloom needlessly surrendered the season (barring any addition) for little more than a far off dream unlikely to ever come to fruition - Bloom will need a huge amount of dumb luck for this move to be a win.
Obviously, if Bloom was dead set in trading Donovan he should have put together a package which would have produced return to improve the team both short term and long term.
And, if he fails to add a quality RH bat before opening day, than non-move would merit an F.
Bottom line: too soon for a final grade.
Let's see what decisions are made between now and opening day.

Thanks for posting.
You are much more diplomatic than I.
I think this off season has been a disaster.
Just selling it all off at bargain prices and receiving the other team's junk.
I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Prospects are a losing bet in my opinion.
They've gone all in on prospects and nothing else.
Manager is the same.
No meaningful additions.
Just a throw in the towel mentality.

I agree that the failure to leverage Donovan to improve the roster immediately and the failure (so far) to address the massive need for a RH bat currently outweigh the other moves.
Stupid and unnecessary to punt the 2026 season if that is what Bloom is up to.
It also would completely contradict his prior statements - which would immediately damage his credibility.
Let's see what happens over the next 6 weeks.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I want it straight from the horse's mouth.
What does Mel think.
Because I think this was a disastrous off season.
I give Bloom a D- bordering on F.
Anyone could have done what he did.
[/quote

A+ for moving N/A.
B+ on the Gray trade.
B on signing May.
C+ on the Contreras trade (I would have kept him until July at a minimum.
D- on the Donovan trade - by trading for an odd fitting assortment of long shots rather than acquiring MLB ready talent, Bloom needlessly surrendered the season (barring any addition) for little more than a far off dream unlikely to ever come to fruition - Bloom will need a huge amount of dumb luck for this move to be a win.
Obviously, if Bloom was dead set in trading Donovan he should have put together a package which would have produced return to improve the team both short term and long term.
And, if he fails to add a quality RH bat before opening day, than non-move would merit an F.
Bottom line: too soon for a final grade.
Let's see what decisions are made between now and opening day.

Thanks for posting.
You are much more diplomatic than I.
I think this off season has been a disaster.
Just selling it all off at bargain prices and receiving the other team's junk.
I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Prospects are a losing bet in my opinion.
They've gone all in on prospects and nothing else.
Manager is the same.
No meaningful additions.
Just a throw in the towel mentality.

I agree that the failure to leverage Donovan to improve the roster immediately and the failure (so far) to address the massive need for a RH bat currently outweigh the other moves.
Stupid and unnecessary to punt the 2026 season if that is what Bloom is up to.
It also would completely contradict his prior statements - which would immediately damage his credibility.
Let's see what happens over the next 6 weeks.

Who will shocked when you get around to claiming to know more than Bloom about how the Cardinals should be run?

[ClassicO]

Really?

Yeah really.
Regardless of what you think, some of us think he offers so good insight.
Me being one of them.

So tell me which of Mel's brilliant predictions you agree with?
1. The Cards should have given Helsley a 4-yr./$17M per annum extension last May? Mel's great idea. Ha.
2. His take on Ivan last August after a brief slump? “Herrera's problem isn't August. His problem is he just isn't very good.” Ha.
3. They should have "Acquired [Sean] Murphy from ATL" last summer? Ha.
4. They should have played Pages full-time because he was another Pagnozzi! His "insight" compared Pedro to a 3-time gold-glover who hit a lot better. Ha.
5. They should have played Gorman at 2b (where he's a disastrous -12 DRS and -19 OAA)? "Play the UniKKorn at 2b. "Never been a LH hitting 2B in MLB history with his HR power ceiling."
6. They should have signed Michael Conforto for 3 yr/$60M. ("He should be the #1 target for the Cardinals.")
7. They should have signed Chris Taylor for 3 yr./$45M - to play second base!! Ha. The guy has been a disaster, and again, cannot play 2B.
8 . They should have kept his alleged ace = Dakota Hudson - "the most irreplaceable player on the Cardinals." Ha.
9. They should have kept Dylan Carlson as he was a future star. He constantly derided Bader and said HB was far worse than Carlson. Ha.
10. They should play Gorman at 3B in 2026. "Is he plenty good enough with the glove to handle 3B? Yes." Ha.
11. They should have kept Sonny Gray (one-year from FA) because he's their only strikeout pitcher? Ha.
12. “Mathews is a Top 5 prospect - but is expendable."
13. Bernal is "expendable." Ha.

And let's not forget his assertion that it was "as certain as sunrise" that "Bloom releases Oli and hires a new manager for 2026 season."

His "insight" that you value is sophistry.

[Dicktar2023]

I want it straight from the horse's mouth.
What does Mel think.
Because I think this was a disastrous off season.
I give Bloom a D- bordering on F.
Anyone could have done what he did.

[3dender]

You don’t like the offseason because you were under the delusion that the club was going to try to compete this year and not rebuild like they told you they were doing all along.

They absolutely cleaned up on the Donovan trade. Gray trade was good too. Dumped Arenado. All good things

Bingo

[blueboys69]

D- on the Donovan trade - by trading for an odd fitting assortment of long shots rather than acquiring MLB ready talent, Bloom needlessly surrendered the season (barring any addition) for little more than a far off dream unlikely to ever come to fruition - Bloom will need a huge amount of dumb luck for this move to be a win.
Obviously, if Bloom was dead set in trading Donovan he should have put together a package which would have produced return to improve the team both short term and long term.
And, if he fails to add a quality RH bat before opening day, than non-move would merit an F.
Bottom line: too soon for a final grade.
Let's see what decisions are made between now and opening day.

What is odd fitting about these guys? A live arm with upside. And a boom or bust teenage outfielder?

What am I missing? You wanted to pieces to fit perfectly? I think it is pretty obvious he is stockpiling the system. Some will make it. Some will be traded. Some won't make it.

At least there is direction.

We are in a new era of roster management and talent acquistion of Cardinals baseball. It's a place we really have not been before. It is going to take sometime to get use to. But, this feels a lot like the Brewers to me. And having lived in Wisconsin the last decade, I've had a firsthand look.

[ScotchMIrish]

I can't answer for Melville but at the moment we have some names on a piece of paper for Gray, Arenado, Contreras and Donovan. We don't know how any of them will turn out. Could be hall of famers. Could flop. I understand not getting much for Gray, Arenado and Contreras but I thought would get more for Donovan.

A 5'11" ambidextrous pitcher, 2 outfielders and a round B draft pick. I thought we'd get more. Maybe we did get more and I just don't recognize it but it looks to me like instead of getting one or two solid prospects we got a group of guy hoping one or two would pan out.

[blueboys69]

Let's be clear about the picks.

Not only is it 2 Comp B picks.

It is more slot money that will allow for them to adjust strategy within those 1st 100 picks.

That is being dismissed a little and it shouldn't be.

[blackinkbiz]

lol - ME-ville thinks the team is better than last year - that girl ain't right!

I would not be at all surprised if they finish with a better record.

Addition by subtraction.

EDIT- I also wouldn't be surprised if they lose 100 games. lol

[dugoutrex]

lol - ME-ville thinks the team is better than last year - that girl ain't right!

I would not be at all surprised if they finish with a better record.

Addition by subtraction.

EDIT- I also wouldn't be surprised if they lose 100 games. lol

currently, we are much much worse than last season

[blackinkbiz]

lol - ME-ville thinks the team is better than last year - that girl ain't right!

I would not be at all surprised if they finish with a better record.

Addition by subtraction.

EDIT- I also wouldn't be surprised if they lose 100 games. lol

currently, we are much much worse than last season

That's the fun part of playing (and watching, hopefully) a bunch of kids. No one REALLY knows just how good--or bad--they'll end up being.

[blueboys69]

currently, we are much much worse than last season

This team played 162 games last year.

82 of those 162 games (over half) were started by Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante, and Erick Feede.

Tough for me to conceive that they are "much much worse" than that.