Is the rebuild becoming built sooner.

[Cusecards]

I’ve always admitted to being an optimist.
Only 1/4 of a season played but certainly encouraging so far.
Fun team to watch but still have realistic expectations.

Explain/ realistic expectations. .500 finish? Worse?

.500+ finish

[sikeston bulldog2]

I’ve always admitted to being an optimist.
Only 1/4 of a season played but certainly encouraging so far.
Fun team to watch but still have realistic expectations.

Explain/ realistic expectations. .500 finish? Worse?

.500+ finish

My thread prediction was 81-81.

Check this out- from August 3 - September 27, the Dog Days, we play a great schedule. 49 games. 16 series. Nine on the road.

Rox x 2
Phil’s x 2
Giants x 2
Rats x 2
White Sox
Nats
Orioles

16 against Central.

[Cusecards]

Good info....thanks!

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good info....thanks!

Yes. It means we gotta navigate the next 75 ish games. We accomplish that, very interesting times

[Strummer Jones]

I’ve always admitted to being an optimist.
Only 1/4 of a season played but certainly encouraging so far.
Fun team to watch but still have realistic expectations.

Explain/ realistic expectations. .500 finish? Worse?

.500+ finish

My thread prediction was 81-81.

Check this out- from August 3 - September 27, the Dog Days, we play a great schedule. 49 games. 16 series. Nine on the road.

Rox x 2
Phil’s x 2
Giants x 2
Rats x 2
White Sox
Nats
Orioles

16 against Central.

I think I will adjust my prediction to a straight.500 record. I predicted 75-78 wins if I remember correctly.

I certainly didn't see a team appreciably worse than last years. Even before this season started.

[thetank2]

I think what is obvious that signing ballplayers or trading for them that have multi
million dollars long term contracts is extremely risky. See New York Mets, San Diego
Padres and Angels.

Its pitching that will get us to the promise land and if the BP could be a top bullpen...

Do we miss Contreras, Nado and Gray?

[thetank2]

I’ve always admitted to being an optimist.
Only 1/4 of a season played but certainly encouraging so far.
Fun team to watch but still have realistic expectations.

Explain/ realistic expectations. .500 finish? Worse?

.500+ finish

My thread prediction was 81-81.

Check this out- from August 3 - September 27, the Dog Days, we play a great schedule. 49 games. 16 series. Nine on the road.

Rox x 2
Phil’s x 2
Giants x 2
Rats x 2
White Sox
Nats
Orioles

16 against Central.

I think I will adjust my prediction to a straight.500 record. I predicted 75-78 wins if I remember correctly.

I certainly didn't see a team appreciably worse than last years. Even before this season started.

Strummer: good luck with prediction. You are about as good as the talking heads
Like Bernie.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Yes, I think so. It was always going to depend on Walker getting it together and Wetherholt being the guy we thought he was when he was drafted. Just look at this team since then. You’ve got Wetherholt, Herrera, Burleson, and Walker as the core of the lineup, with JJ having the lowest wRC+ out of all of them at 120. Would like to see Gorman be better, but he can still hit one out if you walk Walker to get to him. And Winn continues to be solid and bouncing back offensively since he’s been healthy. And we have Noot coming back, so maybe he’ll benefit from being more of a role player and not so dependent on him at the top of the order.

So, at least the offensive rebuild looks to be moving faster, especially with Baez, Crooks, Bernal, and Rodriguez on the cusp.

The pitching is still looking a bit rough. I am doubtful they extend May for any length of time, since you never know when he will get hurt. McGreevy and Liberatore are looking at some solid rotation pieces. I’m not including Leahy or Pallante as long term options. Was looking forward to seeing more of Fitts and Dobbins, but Fitts is hurt and I wouldn’t really consider them more than solid rotation pieces with McGeevy and Liberatore.

That’s good, but we need more higher tier options. Hopefully we’ll see Doyle and Cijntje becoming those guys before too long, but it’s not happening this year and probably not next year. Maybe they could look to trade from some lefty depth if they get an opportunity.

But, yes, if anything, our rebuild is becoming much more focused. So far this year the arrow is pointing up, which is more than a lot of people thought.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Yes, I think so. It was always going to depend on Walker getting it together and Wetherholt being the guy we thought he was when he was drafted. Just look at this team since then. You’ve got Wetherholt, Herrera, Burleson, and Walker as the core of the lineup, with JJ having the lowest wRC+ out of all of them at 120. Would like to see Gorman be better, but he can still hit one out if you walk Walker to get to him. And Winn continues to be solid and bouncing back offensively since he’s been healthy. And we have Noot coming back, so maybe he’ll benefit from being more of a role player and not so dependent on him at the top of the order.

So, at least the offensive rebuild looks to be moving faster, especially with Baez, Crooks, Bernal, and Rodriguez on the cusp.

The pitching is still looking a bit rough. I am doubtful they extend May for any length of time, since you never know when he will get hurt. McGreevy and Liberatore are looking at some solid rotation pieces. I’m not including Leahy or Pallante as long term options. Was looking forward to seeing more of Fitts and Dobbins, but Fitts is hurt and I wouldn’t really consider them more than solid rotation pieces with McGeevy and Liberatore.

That’s good, but we need more higher tier options. Hopefully we’ll see Doyle and Cijntje becoming those guys before too long, but it’s not happening this year and probably not next year. Maybe they could look to trade from some lefty depth if they get an opportunity.

But, yes, if anything, our rebuild is becoming much more focused. So far this year the arrow is pointing up, which is more than a lot of people thought.

Excellent work/ much more focused is a great description. Seldom used.

[rockondlouie]

The future may be sooner than we think.

So that means BDWJr will start spending some money?

A payroll under $50M is

[Strummer Jones]

I’ve always admitted to being an optimist.
Only 1/4 of a season played but certainly encouraging so far.
Fun team to watch but still have realistic expectations.

Explain/ realistic expectations. .500 finish? Worse?

.500+ finish

My thread prediction was 81-81.

Check this out- from August 3 - September 27, the Dog Days, we play a great schedule. 49 games. 16 series. Nine on the road.

Rox x 2
Phil’s x 2
Giants x 2
Rats x 2
White Sox
Nats
Orioles

16 against Central.

I think I will adjust my prediction to a straight.500 record. I predicted 75-78 wins if I remember correctly.

I certainly didn't see a team appreciably worse than last years. Even before this season started.

Strummer: good luck with prediction. You are about as good as the talking heads
Like Bernie.

Good luck with it?

Right now we're on pace to win 89. If anything, I am severely underestimating the team.

[JohnTudor1985]

The offense side of the rebuild is nearing completion, although it will always be a work-in-progress. The pitching side needs attention.

With the 5 top 70 picks in the July draft, the Cards minor league system is going to be highly ranked. Also, we may be adding to it at the deadline.

If Hererra really is a MLB catcher, we definitely have a logjam at that position that needs to be addressed.

The Cards are currently 16th in MLB attendance, and that will improve this summer if they keep playing well. Given all that, the active payroll has a lot of flexibility to move back above $100m in 2027 if they want.

[Cusecards]

Yes, I think so. It was always going to depend on Walker getting it together and Wetherholt being the guy we thought he was when he was drafted. Just look at this team since then. You’ve got Wetherholt, Herrera, Burleson, and Walker as the core of the lineup, with JJ having the lowest wRC+ out of all of them at 120. Would like to see Gorman be better, but he can still hit one out if you walk Walker to get to him. And Winn continues to be solid and bouncing back offensively since he’s been healthy. And we have Noot coming back, so maybe he’ll benefit from being more of a role player and not so dependent on him at the top of the order.

So, at least the offensive rebuild looks to be moving faster, especially with Baez, Crooks, Bernal, and Rodriguez on the cusp.

The pitching is still looking a bit rough. I am doubtful they extend May for any length of time, since you never know when he will get hurt. McGreevy and Liberatore are looking at some solid rotation pieces. I’m not including Leahy or Pallante as long term options. Was looking forward to seeing more of Fitts and Dobbins, but Fitts is hurt and I wouldn’t really consider them more than solid rotation pieces with McGeevy and Liberatore.

That’s good, but we need more higher tier options. Hopefully we’ll see Doyle and Cijntje becoming those guys before too long, but it’s not happening this year and probably not next year. Maybe they could look to trade from some lefty depth if they get an opportunity.

But, yes, if anything, our rebuild is becoming much more focused. So far this year the arrow is pointing up, which is more than a lot of people thought.

Lots of good points!
I especially wanted to comment on your mention of Doyle & Cijntje(some day I’ll remember how to spell his name and don’t ask me how to pronounce it!) and other high ceiling pitching prospects.
I get that our pitching needs upgrading but rather than spend on FA’s it might be better to WAIT on those guys???

[greyhawk]

I think what is obvious that signing ballplayers or trading for them that have multi
million dollars long term contracts is extremely risky. See New York Mets, San Diego
Padres and Angels.

Its pitching that will get us to the promise land and if the BP could be a top bullpen...

Do we miss Contreras, Nado and Gray?

tough question -- the kids don't have anyone to defer to so are taking it on themselves....would the team be better with Contreras at 1b and Burly in lf? Maybe but at what cost(not inferring financial)? I think in this case it truly was addition by subtraction taking nothing away from the players who were traded but it opened things up for the young guys to take more ownership of their team. Just my $.02

[hugeCardfan]

I am in agreement with those suggesting that the hitting is pretty much there. Not sure about Scott II but he's been swinging a better bat lately. We have Baez and others lurking. I want to see Torres get a chance, but that's just me.

Pitching is not terrible. I think Chaim did a pretty good job trading for prospects and adding Dobbins and May. May is a ML pitcher with a near perfect contract. He is either a one year of two year deal. If 2 years we bought some time for the prospects to continue to develop. Libby and McGreevy are studs and making Chaim look good. Pallante and Leahy have done credible jobs as #5's and kept us in many games. None of our starters are in desperate need for replacement. We don't have #1's or #2's yet, but, we have decent facsimiles on a good day.

The bullpen is scary, but, O'Brien and Romero are studs. Graceffo plays a stud on most pitching nights. 6 of Stanek's last 7 outings have been masterful as have 7 of Soriano's last 8. We are slowly building a bullpen without paying much of a price. Oli deserves a lot of credit for all of this.

We could us a multi inning reliever; perhaps Dobbins. Later, I would love to see Hjerpe rehab and be given a shot. He has great stuff...just don't know if that will happen in '26.

I don't think Matthews is very far from being a starter option in the event of injury.

We aren't there yet. We could really use a #1. But, we aren't very far away.

[The Nard]

They should contend for the Central Div title , if injuries don’t curtail them. But seriously, they still lack the pitching to effectively compete in the playoffs.

I think they’ll need a minimum of 3 arms - 2 starters and 1BP, or the opposite. It will be interesting to see if they buy, sell, or stand pat at the break.