Cardinals get an A-: but

[imetsatchelpaige]

St. Louis Cardinals: A-

St. Louis has been better than expected, with some compelling things: Jordan Walker might finally be having that breakout season after being a nonfactor the past two seasons; rookie JJ Wetherholt is living up to his prospect hype and looks like a future star; and Ivan Herrera is turning into an on-base savant between all the walks and hit by pitches. Are the Cardinals legit contenders? They're coming off a hot week, but their pitchers are last in strikeout rate and it's almost impossible to make the playoffs doing that. Last year, the bottom nine teams in pitcher strikeout rate all missed the playoffs.

ESPN

[3dender]

Pretty accurate

[2ninr]

And guys criticize the high velocity arms we are drafting and trading for. This is why

[Strummer Jones]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

[Jatalk]

No serious injuries and strengthen bull pen, why can’t we be a playoff team?

[WeeVikes]

No serious injuries and strengthen bull pen, why can’t we be a playoff team?

I think those are very legitimate concers, however, your point is very well taken. They may need some luck, perhaps more than if the pitching were more complete, but yeah, I'm starting to come around to your thinking.

[Talkin' Baseball]

No serious injuries and strengthen bull pen, why can’t we be a playoff team?

Because the starters don't cover enough innings and the bullpen has been combustible from day 1 on the innings they cover. This staff will be gassed by Aug 1 (if they make it that far).

[3dender]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

[dugoutrex]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

1 run games and extra innings games tend to average out by season's end so ...

[3dender]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

1 run games and extra innings games tend to average out by season's end so ...

Point being, enjoy it while it lasts and don't blow a gasket when it stops... I'm aware that's like praying for a miracle on this forum.

[sikeston bulldog2]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

More than likely on the regression, but if this result is defensive led, then maybe it has sustainable power.

[3dender]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

More than likely on the regression, but if this result is defensive led, then maybe it has sustainable power.

Giving up rockets all over the field is sustainable as long as the rockets are hit right at defenders. Some people (like me) refer to that as "good luck."

[craviduce]

all my rankings and grades are done by BillyBob. Caution, he likes to cry.

[sikeston bulldog2]

No lies detected.

The lack of a strikeout pitches on the staff concerns me. I think that's been the biggest issue with the team. I don't know how many times I've seen starters and relievers get to 0-2/1-2 on a guy, and then start nibbling or going into foul ball-o-rama.

But hey, wins are still wins. You gotta win somehow, right?

What it suggests to me is that there's serious regression coming.

E.g. Jeff Jones today was pointing out how bad Graceffo's peripherals look, while he has a 0.98 ERA. How long are we really thinking he's going to have a .167 BABIP against while giving up 92mph EV and 52% HardHit rate, with only a 15% K-rate?

More than likely on the regression, but if this result is defensive led, then maybe it has sustainable power.

Giving up rockets all over the field is sustainable as long as the rockets are hit right at defenders. Some people (like me) refer to that as "good luck."

Now that you mention it, most champions of any sport come in with luck, few injuries, and talent. Everything clicks.

Next season after a world championship, last place- injuries, loss of lucky games, etc.

We used to say you make your breaks.

[rightthinker4]

No serious injuries and strengthen bull pen, why can’t we be a playoff team?

Because the starters don't cover enough innings and the bullpen has been combustible from day 1 on the innings they cover. This staff will be gassed by Aug 1 (if they make it that far).

We’ve seen it the last 2-3 years. A bullpen cannot cover the innings left by the starters. A minimum for the starter should be 6 innings, preferably 7. Too many times, the bullpen is tasked with covering 4+ innings. That’s a recipe for losing.

[imetsatchelpaige]

No serious injuries and strengthen bull pen, why can’t we be a playoff team?

I think those are very legitimate concers, however, your point is very well taken. They may need some luck, perhaps more than if the pitching were more complete, but yeah, I'm starting to come around to your thinking.

There will certainly be injuries. And while strengthening the bullpen could conceivably get us to the tail end of the playoffs, that too is a crapshoot. But I don’t see any world in which we would go very far. Bloom has a plan. I think sticking with that plan is far more important than where we end up at the end of this year.
All of that stated, I also see a world where we are competitive next year, a team that could make a run. I would’ve given you long odds on that a month ago.

And as 3ender said, don’t blow a gasket when it all catches up to us. Because it will.