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Posted: **30 Mar 2025 21:50 pm**

Wattage wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 19:30 pm
Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 18:59 pm I know it's just three games, but the offense is playing up to the potential that I think most of us thought that they had last year. I think having Nootbaar and Donovan at the top of the lineup helps. Arenado has looked good. Nice to see Burleson and Gorman doing well. Herrera just continues to hit. Victor Scott is looking like this might be his break out year. Contreras has started slow, but he'll be fine. Winn hasn't looked good, but his defense is enough to keep him in the lineup.

The bullpen looks good as expected. If they and the offense keep it up, then I think that's enough for them competitive all year, provided the starting pitching doesn't tank. Maton could end up a really big piece for this team. Really nice late signing.

Speaking of which, the starting pitching has been good so far, but it's also the three guys we expected to pitch well. Would love to see some combination of Libertore, Mikolas, McGreevy, and Matz performing at a decent level to fill out those last two slots. And I hope the Cardinals are quick to give the hook to Mikolas and Matz if they can't get it done. I'd rather watch a young pitcher struggle than those two.

So far a very fun, encouraging opening series to start the year. Played great in all facets of the game. Love to see it.
I actually think matz could do well in his current role of spit starter/long relief. Hes been good out of the bullpen for us and has shown flashes as a starter- i think hes just not durable enough to be a full time starter. As a swingman, i could see him doing fine. I only fear if he does well in bullpen and spot starts when we go with 6 for a couple weeks that it will convince them to promote him to full time starter.

100% this. The Cardinals have had a bad habit of not always playing to player's strengths.
* LIberatore has shown the most promise out of the BP, maybe respect his value as a lefty out of the BP.
* Matt Adams was never more than a platoon player. He raked when used against right-handed pitching, but struggled against left-handed pitching. MM liked to use him like more of a full-time player.
* Pallante had a relatively short outing today and they'd used a number of arms out of the BP in the first two games of the series. By Matz finishing the last 4 innings, he put Oli in the advantageous position of having most of the BP available for the next series starting tomorrow. This is HUGE.
* Their handling of Jordan Walker has been roundly criticized around the league.
* Alcantara literaly hid which pitch he was throwing at times.

I hope they have some sense and don't force Matz to be in the rotation if he is doing well in this role. McGreevy should get a shot if esp. if this is a 'see what we have season'. Matz is gone after this season, so utilize him in the way that he does best.

Posted: **30 Mar 2025 22:00 pm**

2025 early take away
Nootbaar, healthy, team leader, energy
Lineup construction 100% improved
Bench - much better both offensively and defensively
Pallante - velocity is back
Donavan - solid, “The Barn”, like to see him earn his second utility gold glove.
Burleson - to be determined. Can hit but needs to be more selective to reach potential otherwise he should sit more for more Gorman and Baker at bats.
Gorman - needed a fast start and delivered. That’s good.
Walker - best exit velocity in baseball ytd, showing better pitch recognition. Should break out in to the top prospect he was. Defensive will be respectable.
Scott II - could steal 50-100 bases and hit 15-20 home runs. Wow!
Winn - most likely won’t repeat last years offense but will be solid defensively.

Bullpen - solid, keeping Helsley could make us light contenders.
Staters - solid and deep.

2024 never gelled. 2025 is gelling. Cards are going to win the division.

Posted: **30 Mar 2025 22:59 pm**

TheFantasyStud wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 22:00 pm 2025 early take away
Nootbaar, healthy, team leader, energy
Lineup construction 100% improved
Bench - much better both offensively and defensively
Pallante - velocity is back
Donavan - solid, “The Barn”, like to see him earn his second utility gold glove.
Burleson - to be determined. Can hit but needs to be more selective to reach potential otherwise he should sit more for more Gorman and Baker at bats.
Gorman - needed a fast start and delivered. That’s good.
Walker - best exit velocity in baseball ytd, showing better pitch recognition. Should break out in to the top prospect he was. Defensive will be respectable.
Scott II - could steal 50-100 bases and hit 15-20 home runs. Wow!
Winn - most likely won’t repeat last years offense but will be solid defensively.

Bullpen - solid, keeping Helsley could make us light contenders.
Staters - solid and deep.

2024 never gelled. 2025 is gelling. Cards are going to win the division.

We will know after the face some of the better teams. They passed the first test. That being said there is no powerhouse in our division, so it's wide open.

Posted: **31 Mar 2025 00:19 am**

RichieRichSTL wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 22:59 pm
TheFantasyStud wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 22:00 pm 2025 early take away
Nootbaar, healthy, team leader, energy
Lineup construction 100% improved
Bench - much better both offensively and defensively
Pallante - velocity is back
Donavan - solid, “The Barn”, like to see him earn his second utility gold glove.
Burleson - to be determined. Can hit but needs to be more selective to reach potential otherwise he should sit more for more Gorman and Baker at bats.
Gorman - needed a fast start and delivered. That’s good.
Walker - best exit velocity in baseball ytd, showing better pitch recognition. Should break out in to the top prospect he was. Defensive will be respectable.
Scott II - could steal 50-100 bases and hit 15-20 home runs. Wow!
Winn - most likely won’t repeat last years offense but will be solid defensively.

Bullpen - solid, keeping Helsley could make us light contenders.
Staters - solid and deep.

2024 never gelled. 2025 is gelling. Cards are going to win the division.
We will know after the face some of the better teams. They passed the first test. That being said there is no powerhouse in our division, so it's wide open.

Not sure what we will know after facing SD, the Dodgers, and Yankees. We know a very good Braves team was whipped 4 games, shut out the last two. Neither the Cubs nor Detroit could hang with the Dodgers. But, I am looking forward to the games against better teams.

LaRussa set out to defeat the lower division teams handily and break even with the upper division teams. Too early to tell which division the Twins represent.

Posted: **31 Mar 2025 06:22 am**

Remember the Cards after Mother's day played at a 55% clip the rest of the season last year. The last month or so was below .500.

Gray had a bad spring but pitched well in his first start.

Winn looks like he needs his hitting stroke back.

Cardinals SP might do rather well this year.

Posted: **31 Mar 2025 08:53 am**

My early Cardinals takes:

-2nd fewest team strikeouts in MLB
-2nd most total team hits (given equal games played)
-2nd in OB% w/two strikes
-two out hit success
-.910 OPS vs RHP = .900 OPS vs LHP
-.323 .405 .645 1.050 w/RiSP (for you BDog)

-Lowest team WHiP in MLB
-6th lowest team ERA
-3rd fewest bases on balls
-3rd fewest hits allowed
-3rd lowest team BA against

Posted: **31 Mar 2025 10:12 am**

Cusecards wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 18:29 pm Division is wide open.
Cards played a solid all around series against an ok team.

cardinals won one more game than the twins last season.

Posted: **31 Mar 2025 10:21 am**

OldRed wrote: ↑31 Mar 2025 10:12 am
Cusecards wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025 18:29 pm Division is wide open.
Cards played a solid all around series against an ok team.
cardinals won one more game than the twins last season.

You don't learn that much from playing the Minnesota Twins or the Los Angeles Angels or from the first 6 games in general. The earliest to judge a team is about Flag Day. That's the usual fence post.

But the first 3 games show promise. We shall see.

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