Here is the ideal off season plan

[NYCardsFan]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

Per BTV:
Nootbaar: 7.7
Gorman: 1.5
Walker: 0
Total: 9.2

Please gives us some actual names for the "couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers" that you think you can get for that "package."

And why would you "pony up" market prices in FA--or gut the farm system in a trade--for a win-now "big bat" to tack on to a team that just won 78 games and had a win-expectancy of 74 games?

And to think for the first half of the season, Nootbaar had a trade value higher than Eury Perez. (He and Donovan were each at about 52)

Yeah, I try not to look back--the Cardinals had some serious fast-fallers this year on BTV.

Gets back to a couple of recurring themes: they have to get (much) better at evaluation, and they have to be more decisive. Obviously, those two things are related: hard to be decisive if your evaluation processes/systems are wonky, broken, or unreliable.

[Shady]

and pay every speed coach you can find to teach Burleson how to be fast. That way he can bat 9th. They can utilize his weak RISP Power in the 9 spot. If he comes to camp as the slowest player on the team again, I'm afraid he has no home.

Old Shady has started his same stench over at the Mizzou forum recently. Such a joy getting to see his incredible insights on multi forums now! He is not just a baseball "Wiz".

But I doubt if you'll not click on my OPs and posts. Please try to if they bother you. It's really quite a simple solution.

[Cusecards]

I got it right with Burleson. Screw the superstar talk. He's a fabulous MLB hitter that some of you JOs didn't have a clue seeing coming. I did.

First off I like Burleson as do many others on CT and if he progresses in 2026 similar to 2025 he could be a valuable core player moving forward.
But.....please stop acting like you alone discovered Burleson. You did not!
You’re imitating that narcissistic fraud ME-ville who probably has chronic issues with both wrists from constantly patting himself on the back!
And again....I like Burleson but he is NOT a “fabulous” player!

[icon]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

A couple- will be hard, decent- we have several docents, for five players. You still have to replace those five with a warm body, more than likely a prospect.

Let’s say you get two number three, no Gray. Who is your one and two?

Pony up for a bat, somehow- what is that.

[Shady]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

A couple- will be hard, decent- we have several docents, for five players. You still have to replace those five with a warm body, more than likely a prospect.

Let’s say you get two number three, no Gray. Who is your one and two?

Pony up for a bat, somehow- what is that.

I didn't say it would be easy. Bloom is going to need some luck. Ex. Some teams over-valuing some Cardinals' trade chips. And trading for a minor leaguer or two that come on strong as MLB productive players, fairly soon. Wishful thinking, indeed. It would help if DeWitt would "pony up" for a quality hitter.

[Bully4you]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

A couple- will be hard, decent- we have several docents, for five players. You still have to replace those five with a warm body, more than likely a prospect.

Let’s say you get two number three, no Gray. Who is your one and two?

Pony up for a bat, somehow- what is that.

I didn't say it would be easy. Bloom is going to need some luck. Ex. Trading for a minor leaguer or two that come on strong, fairly soon. Wishful thinking, indeed. It would help if DeWitt would "pony up" for a quality hitter.

Everybody has a plan, till they get punched in the face.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

A couple- will be hard, decent- we have several docents, for five players. You still have to replace those five with a warm body, more than likely a prospect.

Let’s say you get two number three, no Gray. Who is your one and two?

Pony up for a bat, somehow- what is that.

I didn't say it would be easy. Bloom is going to need some luck. Ex. Some teams over-valuing some Cardinals trade chips. And trading for a minor leaguer or two that come on strong as MLB productive players, fairly soon. Wishful thinking, indeed. It would help if DeWitt would "pony up" for a quality hitter.

Nice response. Yes your plan is accurate. Execution is the challenge. We’ve gotten below mediocre, so any progress seems liked dragged feet.

[NYCardsFan]

Ideally, get a couple decent, fairly young, controlled, starting pitchers for a Nootbaar/Gorman/Walker/a catcher, even Gray combo. It could happen. Keep Donovan to go along with Wetherholt at the top of the batting order. Then, pony up for a big bat, somehow.

That's not a plan. That's a fantasy.

A couple- will be hard, decent- we have several docents, for five players. You still have to replace those five with a warm body, more than likely a prospect.

Let’s say you get two number three, no Gray. Who is your one and two?

Pony up for a bat, somehow- what is that.

I didn't say it would be easy. Bloom is going to need some luck. Ex. Trading for a minor leaguer or two that come on strong, fairly soon. Wishful thinking, indeed..

So to summarize this thread, your "ideal off-season plan" is to engage in "wishful thinking"?

[Shady]

I laid out the plan, hotshot. Obviously, it won't be easy. What's your plan?

[HorseTrader]

I got it right with Burleson. Screw the superstar talk. He's a fabulous MLB hitter that some of you JOs didn't have a clue seeing coming. I did.

Get your nose out of Burly's (donkey). Then maybe you will see the truth. The truth being that on a good team (say the Dodgers) Burly's (donkey) will be on the bench.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I’ve been trying to get to the heart of the matter; and the rumors will burn, then the ashes will scatter,,

[Shady]

I got it right with Burleson. Screw the superstar talk. He's a fabulous MLB hitter that some of you JOs didn't have a clue seeing coming. I did.

Get your nose out of Burly's (donkey). Then maybe you will see the truth. The truth being that on a good team (say the Dodgers) Burly's (donkey) will be on the bench.

Where would Walker and Gorman be? Would they even be on the Dodgers team? Live and learn, for some again next season, when Burleson continues to improve as as MLB hitter. My hope, it includes more power. And it could.

[Hazelwood72]

I’ve been trying to get to the heart of the matter; and the rumors will burn, then the ashes will scatter,,

But I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness…

Even if, even if, you don’t love Mozo any more.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I’ve been trying to get to the heart of the matter; and the rumors will burn, then the ashes will scatter,,

But I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness…

Even if, even if, you don’t love Mozo any more.

Or even if, even if, you love Burly ever more.

[Hazelwood72]

I’ve been trying to get to the heart of the matter; and the rumors will burn, then the ashes will scatter,,

But I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness…

Even if, even if, you don’t love Mozo any more.

Or even if, even if, you love Burly ever more.

Nicely played, Bulldog!!