Here's why I think the 2026 team will surprise many

[redbirdfan51]

I love the optimism in Spring Training. Just hope the Cardinals don't fizzle out early in the season and give us some competitive and exciting baseball this season. Then we will see where they land. There are always surprises and disappointments over the course of the season.. My only NL prediction is that you can bet the Dodgers will be in the post season.

[rockondlouie]

I've been saying the 2026 Team > 2025 Team all Winter.

Here's why:

I think they can shorten games to 5 - 6 inning affairs and it's the BULLPEN that will make the difference.

If they can get the ball to Svanson/1.94 ERA--O'Brien/2.06 ERA--Leahy/3.07 ERA (I keep him in the pen')--and JoJo/2.07 ERA (I'm keeping him), then they can win many low scoring games.

The BULLPEN is the key to the Cardinals having a way more competitive 2026 season than many of the naysayers believe.

Keep an eye on the pen', it's going to be THE KEY to the 2026 team surprising to the upside.

JMO

Team doesn't have the depth of arms to do as you believe plus Romero will be gone at the deadline if not sooner as will Leahy if performs as he did last season leaving the pen even more depleted for the last two months of the season.

Not to mention a rotation that has no proven inning eaters and numbers which in this case doesn't translate to depth except with the unproven.

Third strike is a team which will finish in the bottom third in runs scored which will tax any pitching staff let alone this one.

Disagree 100% WSC

I didn't even list R. Stanek in that STRONG foursome.

And I'm not so sure C. Bloom is in a hurry to trade JoJo unless some team bowls him over w/an offer.

I don't see K Leahy being traded, no sense since he's under control and makes no money.

The return you'd get for either in a solo trade would be "MEH".

As for the rotation, you have to give it to me that they'll be better than M. Mikolas/E. Fedde/A. Pallante, three of the WORST starters in all of 2025 MLB.

Runs will be at a premium, why I underlined low scoring games won w/a well above average pen' and strong defense (sans 3rd base and RF).

I don't give Oli much credit but the one thing he does do well is manage his bullpen.

I prefer to base my choice on experience, knowledge and logic and not hope and pray sprinkled with pixie dust.

Palllante may very well be part of a rotation with no anchor like Gray and a host of backend starters with Liberatore perhaps the exception and there's May who until last season had managed to make 20-starts in three seasons. And as bad as the rotation was at one tie this team was 9-games over .500. That won't happen this season.

That in itself makes the bullpen scenario you envision as moot with the numbers not there to support such low starter innings.

As for Romero he'll be a valuable commodity come trade deadline time return notwithstanding..a contender will make a viable offer and Leahy the same as Bloom is stocking the organization with young arms that can at some point replace Leahy on a rebuilding team with Leahy bringing back something of value.

To believe Romero and or Leahy will be here the final two months of the season is more than wishful thinking.

As for the offense as of now we don't have one OF'er who's going to have anything sniffing a .700 OPS.

Your hope for winning a chunk of 3-2 and 2-1 games is another pipedream.

72-90.

I'll put my years of playing experience thru college, knowledge, season tickets for over a dozen years and logic up against yours any day.

Only if there's injuries will we see Pallante in the rotation, he's no better than a last ditch option.

And show me an article where it stated that Leahy was on the trading block, JoJo I'll give you could be dealt but not Leahy.

80 - 84 wins unless they're beset by injuries or do trade off even more players.

Keep your pixie dust, you'll need it to wash away your 90 loss prediction.

I'll take you on or anyone else in a baseball discussion any day.

I'm saying Leahy will be on the market if he repeats his effectiveness from last season. I don't need any help in realizing he would be a viable asset a contender might be willing to overpay for.

No Gray, no Contreras and no Donovan and this team is somehow going to be better and score more runs? Haven't seen anything from you on how that's supposed to happen.

Good luck.

And you'd lose against me.

Still disagree on Leahy, especially given they might even give him a shot at starting. That's not a player you're thinking of dealing.

If you haven't seen anything from me addressing that, then you're not looking very hard as I've laid things out dozens of times why I think.........here you go again.......2026 Team > 2025 Team:

No Gray, no Contrerasand no Donovan.............but D. May, a full year of Hererra, a soon to be healthy Noot w/two good heels and a lineup igniter like JJW..........plus NO starts from Mikolas and Fedded (hopefully not Pallante either).........tells me the starting pitcher is already better and they won't score fewer runs.....ANY upside (how could they go lower?) from Winn, VSII, Gorman and Walker could see them score a lot more runs than the 2025 team.

Enjoy the debate

Bad Luck to your pitiful W/L prediction

Well we'll see.

Nootbar? Too much of him isn't good.

I believe Winn will hit more..thought so last year. As you know he plays a demanding position and besides Burleson will likely more starts than anyone.

Rebuild or no the rotation with young arms could use an anchor to keep things from snowballing into oblivion and May's past injury history doesn't bode well if he's supposed to be that guy.

As for your boy Stanek his WHIP approached 1.6 last season and that was for a playoff team. How long will it take to establish roles which everybody seems to cater to?

Leahy's value is multiple innings out of the bullpen. I believe that will bear itself out. There's nothing to lose in stretching him out but if he indeed is here after this season I believe it will be in the BP.

As for Gorman and Walker the inability of them to become the heir apparent MOB's as planned could be as big a reason for a rebuild as anything else.

-Noot 2022 - 2024 when he played on two good heels: .351 OB%/.777 OPS/116 OPS+........"...isn't good"

-While I won't disagree on Mays spotty injury history I do think he's capable of equaling S. Gray's 2025 4.28 ERA sans the KO's.

-Not sure where you get Stanek is "my boy--- " since all I did was mention his name since he's going to be in the pen'.

-We're in agreement on Leahy, I prefer him in the pen' this season and beyond

-I've been on record for some time saying C. Bloom has no skin in the game when it comes to Gorman & Walker who fall onto Mo's resume.

He can cut the cord at any time this season should they continue to flounder.

[11WSChamps]

I've been saying the 2026 Team > 2025 Team all Winter.

Here's why:

I think they can shorten games to 5 - 6 inning affairs and it's the BULLPEN that will make the difference.

If they can get the ball to Svanson/1.94 ERA--O'Brien/2.06 ERA--Leahy/3.07 ERA (I keep him in the pen')--and JoJo/2.07 ERA (I'm keeping him), then they can win many low scoring games.

The BULLPEN is the key to the Cardinals having a way more competitive 2026 season than many of the naysayers believe.

Keep an eye on the pen', it's going to be THE KEY to the 2026 team surprising to the upside.

JMO

Team doesn't have the depth of arms to do as you believe plus Romero will be gone at the deadline if not sooner as will Leahy if performs as he did last season leaving the pen even more depleted for the last two months of the season.

Not to mention a rotation that has no proven inning eaters and numbers which in this case doesn't translate to depth except with the unproven.

Third strike is a team which will finish in the bottom third in runs scored which will tax any pitching staff let alone this one.

Disagree 100% WSC

I didn't even list R. Stanek in that STRONG foursome.

And I'm not so sure C. Bloom is in a hurry to trade JoJo unless some team bowls him over w/an offer.

I don't see K Leahy being traded, no sense since he's under control and makes no money.

The return you'd get for either in a solo trade would be "MEH".

As for the rotation, you have to give it to me that they'll be better than M. Mikolas/E. Fedde/A. Pallante, three of the WORST starters in all of 2025 MLB.

Runs will be at a premium, why I underlined low scoring games won w/a well above average pen' and strong defense (sans 3rd base and RF).

I don't give Oli much credit but the one thing he does do well is manage his bullpen.

I prefer to base my choice on experience, knowledge and logic and not hope and pray sprinkled with pixie dust.

Palllante may very well be part of a rotation with no anchor like Gray and a host of backend starters with Liberatore perhaps the exception and there's May who until last season had managed to make 20-starts in three seasons. And as bad as the rotation was at one tie this team was 9-games over .500. That won't happen this season.

That in itself makes the bullpen scenario you envision as moot with the numbers not there to support such low starter innings.

As for Romero he'll be a valuable commodity come trade deadline time return notwithstanding..a contender will make a viable offer and Leahy the same as Bloom is stocking the organization with young arms that can at some point replace Leahy on a rebuilding team with Leahy bringing back something of value.

To believe Romero and or Leahy will be here the final two months of the season is more than wishful thinking.

As for the offense as of now we don't have one OF'er who's going to have anything sniffing a .700 OPS.

Your hope for winning a chunk of 3-2 and 2-1 games is another pipedream.

72-90.

I'll put my years of playing experience thru college, knowledge, season tickets for over a dozen years and logic up against yours any day.

Only if there's injuries will we see Pallante in the rotation, he's no better than a last ditch option.

And show me an article where it stated that Leahy was on the trading block, JoJo I'll give you could be dealt but not Leahy.

80 - 84 wins unless they're beset by injuries or do trade off even more players.

Keep your pixie dust, you'll need it to wash away your 90 loss prediction.

I'll take you on or anyone else in a baseball discussion any day.

I'm saying Leahy will be on the market if he repeats his effectiveness from last season. I don't need any help in realizing he would be a viable asset a contender might be willing to overpay for.

No Gray, no Contreras and no Donovan and this team is somehow going to be better and score more runs? Haven't seen anything from you on how that's supposed to happen.

Good luck.

And you'd lose against me.

Still disagree on Leahy, especially given they might even give him a shot at starting. That's not a player you're thinking of dealing.

If you haven't seen anything from me addressing that, then you're not looking very hard as I've laid things out dozens of times why I think.........here you go again.......2026 Team > 2025 Team:

No Gray, no Contrerasand no Donovan.............but D. May, a full year of Hererra, a soon to be healthy Noot w/two good heels and a lineup igniter like JJW..........plus NO starts from Mikolas and Fedded (hopefully not Pallante either).........tells me the starting pitcher is already better and they won't score fewer runs.....ANY upside (how could they go lower?) from Winn, VSII, Gorman and Walker could see them score a lot more runs than the 2025 team.

Enjoy the debate

Bad Luck to your pitiful W/L prediction

Well we'll see.

Nootbar? Too much of him isn't good.

I believe Winn will hit more..thought so last year. As you know he plays a demanding position and besides Burleson will likely more starts than anyone.

Rebuild or no the rotation with young arms could use an anchor to keep things from snowballing into oblivion and May's past injury history doesn't bode well if he's supposed to be that guy.

As for your boy Stanek his WHIP approached 1.6 last season and that was for a playoff team. How long will it take to establish roles which everybody seems to cater to?

Leahy's value is multiple innings out of the bullpen. I believe that will bear itself out. There's nothing to lose in stretching him out but if he indeed is here after this season I believe it will be in the BP.

As for Gorman and Walker the inability of them to become the heir apparent MOB's as planned could be as big a reason for a rebuild as anything else.

-Noot 2022 - 2024 when he played on two good heels: .351 OB%/.777 OPS/116 OPS+........"...isn't good"

-While I won't disagree on Mays spotty injury history I do think he's capable of equaling S. Gray's 2025 4.28 ERA sans the KO's.

-Not sure where you get Stanek is "my boy--- " since all I did was mention his name since he's going to be in the pen'.

-We're in agreement on Leahy, I prefer him in the pen' this season and beyond

-I've been on record for some time saying C. Bloom has no skin in the game when it comes to Gorman & Walker who fall onto Mo's resume.

He can cut the cord at any time this season should they continue to flounder.

Availability is everything and Nootbar hasn't proven to be that.

He predictably goes down and now you have to scramble compromising your bench and depth.

I just mentioned Stanek because you I thought implied he'd be a real asset.

Looking forward to the season and see how all this pans out.

Two of the biggest things I want to see this season going towards the cornerstone of a rebuild is Herrera establishing himself as a real threat and Liberatore hopefully becoming not an ace but at least a solid 2 in the rotation. Burleson, Winn and JJ should be fine going forward. Call me cynical but I don't have much optimism for Walker, Gorman or Scott.

[MrPostman01]

JJ helps build winning attitudes wherever he goes. While it may take a little while for him to start hitting like Rodney Carew, it should spread like wildfire to Walker and maybe Gorman. It will be interesting to see if vamos con Ramos is a better option at third. And Stanek could throw that heat late in the game. People forget that our new 1B was hitting lefties better last year in the second half..

[rockondlouie]

I've been saying the 2026 Team > 2025 Team all Winter.

Here's why:

I think they can shorten games to 5 - 6 inning affairs and it's the BULLPEN that will make the difference.

If they can get the ball to Svanson/1.94 ERA--O'Brien/2.06 ERA--Leahy/3.07 ERA (I keep him in the pen')--and JoJo/2.07 ERA (I'm keeping him), then they can win many low scoring games.

The BULLPEN is the key to the Cardinals having a way more competitive 2026 season than many of the naysayers believe.

Keep an eye on the pen', it's going to be THE KEY to the 2026 team surprising to the upside.

JMO

Team doesn't have the depth of arms to do as you believe plus Romero will be gone at the deadline if not sooner as will Leahy if performs as he did last season leaving the pen even more depleted for the last two months of the season.

Not to mention a rotation that has no proven inning eaters and numbers which in this case doesn't translate to depth except with the unproven.

Third strike is a team which will finish in the bottom third in runs scored which will tax any pitching staff let alone this one.

Disagree 100% WSC

I didn't even list R. Stanek in that STRONG foursome.

And I'm not so sure C. Bloom is in a hurry to trade JoJo unless some team bowls him over w/an offer.

I don't see K Leahy being traded, no sense since he's under control and makes no money.

The return you'd get for either in a solo trade would be "MEH".

As for the rotation, you have to give it to me that they'll be better than M. Mikolas/E. Fedde/A. Pallante, three of the WORST starters in all of 2025 MLB.

Runs will be at a premium, why I underlined low scoring games won w/a well above average pen' and strong defense (sans 3rd base and RF).

I don't give Oli much credit but the one thing he does do well is manage his bullpen.

I prefer to base my choice on experience, knowledge and logic and not hope and pray sprinkled with pixie dust.

Palllante may very well be part of a rotation with no anchor like Gray and a host of backend starters with Liberatore perhaps the exception and there's May who until last season had managed to make 20-starts in three seasons. And as bad as the rotation was at one tie this team was 9-games over .500. That won't happen this season.

That in itself makes the bullpen scenario you envision as moot with the numbers not there to support such low starter innings.

As for Romero he'll be a valuable commodity come trade deadline time return notwithstanding..a contender will make a viable offer and Leahy the same as Bloom is stocking the organization with young arms that can at some point replace Leahy on a rebuilding team with Leahy bringing back something of value.

To believe Romero and or Leahy will be here the final two months of the season is more than wishful thinking.

As for the offense as of now we don't have one OF'er who's going to have anything sniffing a .700 OPS.

Your hope for winning a chunk of 3-2 and 2-1 games is another pipedream.

72-90.

I'll put my years of playing experience thru college, knowledge, season tickets for over a dozen years and logic up against yours any day.

Only if there's injuries will we see Pallante in the rotation, he's no better than a last ditch option.

And show me an article where it stated that Leahy was on the trading block, JoJo I'll give you could be dealt but not Leahy.

80 - 84 wins unless they're beset by injuries or do trade off even more players.

Keep your pixie dust, you'll need it to wash away your 90 loss prediction.

I'll take you on or anyone else in a baseball discussion any day.

I'm saying Leahy will be on the market if he repeats his effectiveness from last season. I don't need any help in realizing he would be a viable asset a contender might be willing to overpay for.

No Gray, no Contreras and no Donovan and this team is somehow going to be better and score more runs? Haven't seen anything from you on how that's supposed to happen.

Good luck.

And you'd lose against me.

Still disagree on Leahy, especially given they might even give him a shot at starting. That's not a player you're thinking of dealing.

If you haven't seen anything from me addressing that, then you're not looking very hard as I've laid things out dozens of times why I think.........here you go again.......2026 Team > 2025 Team:

No Gray, no Contrerasand no Donovan.............but D. May, a full year of Hererra, a soon to be healthy Noot w/two good heels and a lineup igniter like JJW..........plus NO starts from Mikolas and Fedded (hopefully not Pallante either).........tells me the starting pitcher is already better and they won't score fewer runs.....ANY upside (how could they go lower?) from Winn, VSII, Gorman and Walker could see them score a lot more runs than the 2025 team.

Enjoy the debate

Bad Luck to your pitiful W/L prediction

Well we'll see.

Nootbar? Too much of him isn't good.

I believe Winn will hit more..thought so last year. As you know he plays a demanding position and besides Burleson will likely more starts than anyone.

Rebuild or no the rotation with young arms could use an anchor to keep things from snowballing into oblivion and May's past injury history doesn't bode well if he's supposed to be that guy.

As for your boy Stanek his WHIP approached 1.6 last season and that was for a playoff team. How long will it take to establish roles which everybody seems to cater to?

Leahy's value is multiple innings out of the bullpen. I believe that will bear itself out. There's nothing to lose in stretching him out but if he indeed is here after this season I believe it will be in the BP.

As for Gorman and Walker the inability of them to become the heir apparent MOB's as planned could be as big a reason for a rebuild as anything else.

-Noot 2022 - 2024 when he played on two good heels: .351 OB%/.777 OPS/116 OPS+........"...isn't good"

-While I won't disagree on Mays spotty injury history I do think he's capable of equaling S. Gray's 2025 4.28 ERA sans the KO's.

-Not sure where you get Stanek is "my boy--- " since all I did was mention his name since he's going to be in the pen'.

-We're in agreement on Leahy, I prefer him in the pen' this season and beyond

-I've been on record for some time saying C. Bloom has no skin in the game when it comes to Gorman & Walker who fall onto Mo's resume.

He can cut the cord at any time this season should they continue to flounder.

Availability is everything and Nootbar hasn't proven to be that.

He predictably goes down and now you have to scramble compromising your bench and depth.

I just mentioned Stanek because you I thought implied he'd be a real asset.

Looking forward to the season and see how all this pans out.

Two of the biggest things I want to see this season going towards the cornerstone of a rebuild is Herrera establishing himself as a real threat and Liberatore hopefully becoming not an ace but at least a solid 2 in the rotation. Burleson, Winn and JJ should be fine going forward. Call me cynical but I don't have much optimism for Walker, Gorman or Scott.

No argument on Noot although even on two bad heels that required surgery he did get 583 PA's in 2025 sooooooooo..........

Nope on Stanek, why I didn't mention him in my bullpen Big 4, just added him since he's going to be there and does bring that veteran presence.

Me too, I'm actually getting pumped to see how these younger players come together.

I honestly think they're going to surprise a lot of people around MLB w/just how competitive they are.

Same here on Ivan and Libby.

And you're not being cynical at all on Walker, Gorman and even VSII (although I tend to not lump him in w/the latter two) as I have the same doubts..............but like you I'm hoping they at least leap back to their 2023 seasons!

If they do, then we've got something.

[Goldfan]

I've been saying the 2026 Team > 2025 Team all Winter.

Here's why:

I think they can shorten games to 5 - 6 inning affairs and it's the BULLPEN that will make the difference.

If they can get the ball to Svanson/1.94 ERA--O'Brien/2.06 ERA--Leahy/3.07 ERA (I keep him in the pen')--and JoJo/2.07 ERA (I'm keeping him), then they can win many low scoring games.

The BULLPEN is the key to the Cardinals having a way more competitive 2026 season than many of the naysayers believe.

Keep an eye on the pen', it's going to be THE KEY to the 2026 team surprising to the upside.

JMO

Team doesn't have the depth of arms to do as you believe plus Romero will be gone at the deadline if not sooner as will Leahy if performs as he did last season leaving the pen even more depleted for the last two months of the season.

Not to mention a rotation that has no proven inning eaters and numbers which in this case doesn't translate to depth except with the unproven.

Third strike is a team which will finish in the bottom third in runs scored which will tax any pitching staff let alone this one.

Disagree 100% WSC

I didn't even list R. Stanek in that STRONG foursome.

And I'm not so sure C. Bloom is in a hurry to trade JoJo unless some team bowls him over w/an offer.

I don't see K Leahy being traded, no sense since he's under control and makes no money.

The return you'd get for either in a solo trade would be "MEH".

As for the rotation, you have to give it to me that they'll be better than M. Mikolas/E. Fedde/A. Pallante, three of the WORST starters in all of 2025 MLB.

Runs will be at a premium, why I underlined low scoring games won w/a well above average pen' and strong defense (sans 3rd base and RF).

I don't give Oli much credit but the one thing he does do well is manage his bullpen.

I prefer to base my choice on experience, knowledge and logic and not hope and pray sprinkled with pixie dust.

Palllante may very well be part of a rotation with no anchor like Gray and a host of backend starters with Liberatore perhaps the exception and there's May who until last season had managed to make 20-starts in three seasons. And as bad as the rotation was at one tie this team was 9-games over .500. That won't happen this season.

That in itself makes the bullpen scenario you envision as moot with the numbers not there to support such low starter innings.

As for Romero he'll be a valuable commodity come trade deadline time return notwithstanding..a contender will make a viable offer and Leahy the same as Bloom is stocking the organization with young arms that can at some point replace Leahy on a rebuilding team with Leahy bringing back something of value.

To believe Romero and or Leahy will be here the final two months of the season is more than wishful thinking.

As for the offense as of now we don't have one OF'er who's going to have anything sniffing a .700 OPS.

Your hope for winning a chunk of 3-2 and 2-1 games is another pipedream.

72-90.

I'll put my years of playing experience thru college, knowledge, season tickets for over a dozen years and logic up against yours any day.

Only if there's injuries will we see Pallante in the rotation, he's no better than a last ditch option.

And show me an article where it stated that Leahy was on the trading block, JoJo I'll give you could be dealt but not Leahy.

80 - 84 wins unless they're beset by injuries or do trade off even more players.

Keep your pixie dust, you'll need it to wash away your 90 loss prediction.

I'll take you on or anyone else in a baseball discussion any day.

I'm saying Leahy will be on the market if he repeats his effectiveness from last season. I don't need any help in realizing he would be a viable asset a contender might be willing to overpay for.

No Gray, no Contreras and no Donovan and this team is somehow going to be better and score more runs? Haven't seen anything from you on how that's supposed to happen.

Good luck.

And you'd lose against me.

Still disagree on Leahy, especially given they might even give him a shot at starting. That's not a player you're thinking of dealing.

If you haven't seen anything from me addressing that, then you're not looking very hard as I've laid things out dozens of times why I think.........here you go again.......2026 Team > 2025 Team:

No Gray, no Contrerasand no Donovan.............but D. May, a full year of Hererra, a soon to be healthy Noot w/two good heels and a lineup igniter like JJW..........plus NO starts from Mikolas and Fedded (hopefully not Pallante either).........tells me the starting pitcher is already better and they won't score fewer runs.....ANY upside (how could they go lower?) from Winn, VSII, Gorman and Walker could see them score a lot more runs than the 2025 team.

Enjoy the debate

Bad Luck to your pitiful W/L prediction

Well we'll see.

Nootbar? Too much of him isn't good.

I believe Winn will hit more..thought so last year. As you know he plays a demanding position and besides Burleson will likely more starts than anyone.

Rebuild or no the rotation with young arms could use an anchor to keep things from snowballing into oblivion and May's past injury history doesn't bode well if he's supposed to be that guy.

As for your boy Stanek his WHIP approached 1.6 last season and that was for a playoff team. How long will it take to establish roles which everybody seems to cater to?

Leahy's value is multiple innings out of the bullpen. I believe that will bear itself out. There's nothing to lose in stretching him out but if he indeed is here after this season I believe it will be in the BP.

As for Gorman and Walker the inability of them to become the heir apparent MOB's as planned could be as big a reason for a rebuild as anything else.

-Noot 2022 - 2024 when he played on two good heels: .351 OB%/.777 OPS/116 OPS+........"...isn't good"

-While I won't disagree on Mays spotty injury history I do think he's capable of equaling S. Gray's 2025 4.28 ERA sans the KO's.

-Not sure where you get Stanek is "my boy--- " since all I did was mention his name since he's going to be in the pen'.

-We're in agreement on Leahy, I prefer him in the pen' this season and beyond

-I've been on record for some time saying C. Bloom has no skin in the game when it comes to Gorman & Walker who fall onto Mo's resume.

He can cut the cord at any time this season should they continue to flounder.

Availability is everything and Nootbar hasn't proven to be that.

He predictably goes down and now you have to scramble compromising your bench and depth.

I just mentioned Stanek because you I thought implied he'd be a real asset.

Looking forward to the season and see how all this pans out.

Two of the biggest things I want to see this season going towards the cornerstone of a rebuild is Herrera establishing himself as a real threat and Liberatore hopefully becoming not an ace but at least a solid 2 in the rotation. Burleson, Winn and JJ should be fine going forward. Call me cynical but I don't have much optimism for Walker, Gorman or Scott.

No argument on Noot although even on two bad heels that required surgery he did get 583 PA's in 2025 sooooooooo..........

Nope on Stanek, why I didn't mention him in my bullpen Big 4, just added him since he's going to be there and does bring that veteran presence.

Me too, I'm actually getting pumped to see how these younger players come together.

I honestly think they're going to surprise a lot of people around MLB w/just how competitive they are.

Same here on Ivan and Libby.

And you're not being cynical at all on Walker, Gorman and even VSII (although I tend to not lump him in w/the latter two) as I have the same doubts..............but like you I'm hoping they at least leap back to their 2023 seasons!

If they do, then we've got something.

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

[Goldfan]

I've been saying the 2026 Team > 2025 Team all Winter.

Here's why:

I think they can shorten games to 5 - 6 inning affairs and it's the BULLPEN that will make the difference.

If they can get the ball to Svanson/1.94 ERA--O'Brien/2.06 ERA--Leahy/3.07 ERA (I keep him in the pen')--and JoJo/2.07 ERA (I'm keeping him), then they can win many low scoring games.

The BULLPEN is the key to the Cardinals having a way more competitive 2026 season than many of the naysayers believe.

Keep an eye on the pen', it's going to be THE KEY to the 2026 team surprising to the upside.

JMO

Team doesn't have the depth of arms to do as you believe plus Romero will be gone at the deadline if not sooner as will Leahy if performs as he did last season leaving the pen even more depleted for the last two months of the season.

Not to mention a rotation that has no proven inning eaters and numbers which in this case doesn't translate to depth except with the unproven.

Third strike is a team which will finish in the bottom third in runs scored which will tax any pitching staff let alone this one.

Disagree 100% WSC

I didn't even list R. Stanek in that STRONG foursome.

And I'm not so sure C. Bloom is in a hurry to trade JoJo unless some team bowls him over w/an offer.

I don't see K Leahy being traded, no sense since he's under control and makes no money.

The return you'd get for either in a solo trade would be "MEH".

As for the rotation, you have to give it to me that they'll be better than M. Mikolas/E. Fedde/A. Pallante, three of the WORST starters in all of 2025 MLB.

Runs will be at a premium, why I underlined low scoring games won w/a well above average pen' and strong defense (sans 3rd base and RF).

I don't give Oli much credit but the one thing he does do well is manage his bullpen.

I prefer to base my choice on experience, knowledge and logic and not hope and pray sprinkled with pixie dust.

Palllante may very well be part of a rotation with no anchor like Gray and a host of backend starters with Liberatore perhaps the exception and there's May who until last season had managed to make 20-starts in three seasons. And as bad as the rotation was at one tie this team was 9-games over .500. That won't happen this season.

That in itself makes the bullpen scenario you envision as moot with the numbers not there to support such low starter innings.

As for Romero he'll be a valuable commodity come trade deadline time return notwithstanding..a contender will make a viable offer and Leahy the same as Bloom is stocking the organization with young arms that can at some point replace Leahy on a rebuilding team with Leahy bringing back something of value.

To believe Romero and or Leahy will be here the final two months of the season is more than wishful thinking.

As for the offense as of now we don't have one OF'er who's going to have anything sniffing a .700 OPS.

Your hope for winning a chunk of 3-2 and 2-1 games is another pipedream.

72-90.

I'll put my years of playing experience thru college, knowledge, season tickets for over a dozen years and logic up against yours any day.

Only if there's injuries will we see Pallante in the rotation, he's no better than a last ditch option.

And show me an article where it stated that Leahy was on the trading block, JoJo I'll give you could be dealt but not Leahy.

80 - 84 wins unless they're beset by injuries or do trade off even more players.

Keep your pixie dust, you'll need it to wash away your 90 loss prediction.

I'll take you on or anyone else in a baseball discussion any day.

I'm saying Leahy will be on the market if he repeats his effectiveness from last season. I don't need any help in realizing he would be a viable asset a contender might be willing to overpay for.

No Gray, no Contreras and no Donovan and this team is somehow going to be better and score more runs? Haven't seen anything from you on how that's supposed to happen.

Good luck.

And you'd lose against me.

Still disagree on Leahy, especially given they might even give him a shot at starting. That's not a player you're thinking of dealing.

If you haven't seen anything from me addressing that, then you're not looking very hard as I've laid things out dozens of times why I think.........here you go again.......2026 Team > 2025 Team:

No Gray, no Contrerasand no Donovan.............but D. May, a full year of Hererra, a soon to be healthy Noot w/two good heels and a lineup igniter like JJW..........plus NO starts from Mikolas and Fedded (hopefully not Pallante either).........tells me the starting pitcher is already better and they won't score fewer runs.....ANY upside (how could they go lower?) from Winn, VSII, Gorman and Walker could see them score a lot more runs than the 2025 team.

Enjoy the debate

Bad Luck to your pitiful W/L prediction

Well we'll see.

Nootbar? Too much of him isn't good.

I believe Winn will hit more..thought so last year. As you know he plays a demanding position and besides Burleson will likely more starts than anyone.

Rebuild or no the rotation with young arms could use an anchor to keep things from snowballing into oblivion and May's past injury history doesn't bode well if he's supposed to be that guy.

As for your boy Stanek his WHIP approached 1.6 last season and that was for a playoff team. How long will it take to establish roles which everybody seems to cater to?

Leahy's value is multiple innings out of the bullpen. I believe that will bear itself out. There's nothing to lose in stretching him out but if he indeed is here after this season I believe it will be in the BP.

As for Gorman and Walker the inability of them to become the heir apparent MOB's as planned could be as big a reason for a rebuild as anything else.

-Noot 2022 - 2024 when he played on two good heels: .351 OB%/.777 OPS/116 OPS+........"...isn't good"

-While I won't disagree on Mays spotty injury history I do think he's capable of equaling S. Gray's 2025 4.28 ERA sans the KO's.

-Not sure where you get Stanek is "my boy--- " since all I did was mention his name since he's going to be in the pen'.

-We're in agreement on Leahy, I prefer him in the pen' this season and beyond

-I've been on record for some time saying C. Bloom has no skin in the game when it comes to Gorman & Walker who fall onto Mo's resume.

He can cut the cord at any time this season should they continue to flounder.

Availability is everything and Nootbar hasn't proven to be that.

He predictably goes down and now you have to scramble compromising your bench and depth.

I just mentioned Stanek because you I thought implied he'd be a real asset.

Looking forward to the season and see how all this pans out.

Two of the biggest things I want to see this season going towards the cornerstone of a rebuild is Herrera establishing himself as a real threat and Liberatore hopefully becoming not an ace but at least a solid 2 in the rotation. Burleson, Winn and JJ should be fine going forward. Call me cynical but I don't have much optimism for Walker, Gorman or Scott.

No argument on Noot although even on two bad heels that required surgery he did get 583 PA's in 2025 sooooooooo..........

Nope on Stanek, why I didn't mention him in my bullpen Big 4, just added him since he's going to be there and does bring that veteran presence.

Me too, I'm actually getting pumped to see how these younger players come together.

I honestly think they're going to surprise a lot of people around MLB w/just how competitive they are.

Same here on Ivan and Libby.

And you're not being cynical at all on Walker, Gorman and even VSII (although I tend to not lump him in w/the latter two) as I have the same doubts..............but like you I'm hoping they at least leap back to their 2023 seasons!

If they do, then we've got something.

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

So no one can logically and reasonably explain how the lineup consisting of these players will score more runs than the other team?

[rockondlouie]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

[Goldfan]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

[rockondlouie]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

Unless his throwing has dramatically improved, then it's going to be Ivan.

If he's behind the plate, then you could be right to start the season (and those two are a horrible option).

[Goldfan]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

Unless his throwing has dramatically improved, then it's going to be Ivan.

If he's behind the plate, then you could be right to start the season (and those two are a horrible option).

Herrera won’t stay healthy behind the plate. Very obvious clear baseball decisions still seem elude this organization

[rockondlouie]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

Unless his throwing has dramatically improved, then it's going to be Ivan.

If he's behind the plate, then you could be right to start the season (and those two are a horrible option).

Herrera won’t stay healthy behind the plate. Very obvious clear baseball decisions still seem elude this organization

Or throw out runners

I have no issue w/him getting a shot in meaningless STing games.

But it won't take long for them to see it won't work if teams are 15 for 15 in SB attempts vs him by mid March.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

Unless his throwing has dramatically improved, then it's going to be Ivan.

If he's behind the plate, then you could be right to start the season (and those two are a horrible option).

Herrera won’t stay healthy behind the plate. Very obvious clear baseball decisions still seem elude this organization

Or throw out runners

I have no issue w/him getting a shot in meaningless STing games.

But it won't take long for them to see it won't work if teams are 15 for 15 in SB attempts vs him by mid March.

I disagree. I have issue with him wasting his time, if as you state, he won’t last. This is MLB. Not Tee Ball. This is a tryout of sorts. Best man takes the cake.

[rockondlouie]

Nootbaar
.234,.325,.686
Gorman
.205,.296,.666
Walker
.215,.278,.584
Scott
.216,.305,.601
Pages
.230,.272,.635
Who is the DH on this team??
If Herrera is DHing then Pages is starting.
Rock, please address this offense. How can anyone expect this team to score runs??

Those number do look ugly.........only place to go is UP!

(I think they'll score more runs than the 2025 team)

They required 2 additional bats WITH WC, Donny and JJ arriving…..
Who is the DH as of today? Saggesse….Fermin??? I genuinely have no idea.

Unless his throwing has dramatically improved, then it's going to be Ivan.

If he's behind the plate, then you could be right to start the season (and those two are a horrible option).

Herrera won’t stay healthy behind the plate. Very obvious clear baseball decisions still seem elude this organization

Or throw out runners

I have no issue w/him getting a shot in meaningless STing games.

But it won't take long for them to see it won't work if teams are 15 for 15 in SB attempts vs him by mid March.

I disagree. I have issue with him wasting his time, if as you state, he won’t last. This is MLB. Not Tee Ball. This is a tryout of sorts. Best man takes the cake.

Have to disagree BDog

STing is exactly the place where you can "experiment" w/new positions.

We'll likely see T. Saggese and Fermin w/outfielders gloves this spring, same as we use to see T. Edman and B. Donovan at multiple positions during STing.

May even see Ivan at 1st base a few innings.

He's NOT taking any valuable playing time catching away from anyone that matters (re: Pages, Pozo or Crooks).

Again, if teams are 15 for 15 in SB attempts by mid March, then they'll likely shut him down.

But if he's throwing out runners at an acceptable clip, then you have a potential all-star catcher given his big bat.

My only concern is injuries, but they've happened to him no matter where he's played.