Pretty sure DeWitt wants to challenge for most losses this season.

[bccardsfan]

Does anyone really think they are trying to lose?

Well they aren't trying to win.
Semantics???

Is management going to extraordinary lengths to win this year….no.

Does every kid on that roster….whose lifetime dream is to be in the major leagues…trying as hard as they can to stay in the major leagues…yes

Precisely. ...and whose dream is to play for the big payday as well. I think Bloom is doing just fine so far. A plan is in place. The only thing I disagree on is the retention of Marmol and Blake. But I am not in charge.... and I am looking forward to watching JJW, see if Winn bounces back offensively after the knee cleanup, whether any of the young pitchers show promise, and a whole lot of other things. I expect they will be around 75-81 wins one way or another. We shall see. I certainly have no illusions of even a WC spot. Next season is in doubt due to a potential strike or lockout. It is 2028 where they will hopefully challenge for at least a playoff spot again.

[82birds]

If (when) they lose a whole lot of games, it won't be because they are trying to lose but rather because they just aren't very good.

I'd like to be proven wrong.

[ScotchMIrish]

Dewitt Jr and Dewitt III don't want to lose money.

[craviduce]

If (when) they lose a whole lot of games, it won't be because they are trying to lose but rather because they just aren't very good.

I'd like to be proven wrong.

they aren't very good. But people want to continue to throw big money at declining veterans believing that will make the bad team pretty...delusional....but understandable, I guess.

It's not fun, but there was a serious need for this reset.

[Ozziesfan41]

If (when) they lose a whole lot of games, it won't be because they are trying to lose but rather because they just aren't very good.

I'd like to be proven wrong.

they aren't very good. But people want to continue to throw big money at declining veterans believing that will make the bad team pretty...delusional....but understandable, I guess.

It's not fun, but there was a serious need for this reset.

+1 some love sustained mediocrity

[rage-STL]

Rockies and White Sox: “Hold my beer…”

[Banner29]

The moves being made to shed talent (and salary) can only lead to one conclusion. Losing is the objective. They don't care about the fans suffering or making the Cards the laughing stock of the league. They're willfully destroying the franchise and its value. Is it in preparation to sell the team? Or is it due to the CBA? Or both? In two decades they haven't acted this way. They've always played the "Let's look for a deal" game, but they did spend some. Enough to be at least average or better. This is something different. They may have changed some bells and whistles in the minor leagues. Maybe added some coaches and made some tweaks to regimen. But they're essentially the same system they were for two decades minus the professional talent they traded away. The team that not that long ago was considered to be the best run organization in MLB is now in free fall. How low can they go? Apparently we're going to find out. Some of you on here grinning from ear to ear and salivating at the imminent prospect of losing big, I just don't get.

How do you reconcile "willfully destroying the...value" of the team and preparing to sell?

How does that make any sense?

More likely - they recognize that what they have been doing for about the last decade has led them into a dead end. That strategic approach - try to be just good enough to make the playoffs most years and hope for the best - gets them no farther in modern, 2026 baseball than high level mediocrity.

So now they are trying something different - a willingness to take a bigger step back for 1, 2, 3 years to rebuild the organization in order to provide the foundation to be better than high level mediocrity further into the future.

I mean this whole situation isn’t something that just same out of of the blue. It’s been obvious for sometime and they only now are making changes now that Mo walked out the door, by his own choice.

Dewitt chose not to make the changes and just let Mo do whatever he wanted.

No matter what the reasoning behind that was, it’s willfully destroying the franchise

I have said repeatedly that they should have started tearing the whole thing down at the 2023 trade deadline. So you won't get any argument from me that the last two seasons have been, mostly, just wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.

Whatever Mo had on the old man hopefully it’s all behind us now and he can start showing he’s not the out of touch, complacent owner we all believe him to be

Same with Oli, I’m ye of little faith with the guy but maybe we see a different manager going forward

[mattmitchl44]

I expect that what everyone in the organization wants is for every player on the roster to meet or exceed their expectations for whatever their role is for 2026. If they do that, they will be a lot closer to being ready to compete again and will win a few more games than might be expected this season.

[Clubmaker2]

They had 3 starters contracts coming off the books and needed a number 2 pitcher (cause they are not paying for a 1) and an outfielder. When the cba is over, they will need a number 2 pitcher and an outfielder and the forum thinks they will get every missing part they need then, and nothing will be unavailable or overpriced. Eventually they will return to the same old model but hopefully just not be as bad at bigger contracts as Mo was. Not sign centerfielders when they need corner outfielders.... not offer non middle of the order bats huge contracts....(Donovan not worth paying but offer Jason Heyward 190mil lol)

[alw80]

The moves being made to shed talent (and salary) can only lead to one conclusion. Losing is the objective. They don't care about the fans suffering or making the Cards the laughing stock of the league. They're willfully destroying the franchise and its value. Is it in preparation to sell the team? Or is it due to the CBA? Or both? In two decades they haven't acted this way. They've always played the "Let's look for a deal" game, but they did spend some. Enough to be at least average or better. This is something different. They may have changed some bells and whistles in the minor leagues. Maybe added some coaches and made some tweaks to regimen. But they're essentially the same system they were for two decades minus the professional talent they traded away. The team that not that long ago was considered to be the best run organization in MLB is now in free fall. How low can they go? Apparently we're going to find out. Some of you on here grinning from ear to ear and salivating at the imminent prospect of losing big, I just don't get.

The Cardinals have finally decided they want to compete for division titles and win more than low 80s games and its killing you. I love it.

[CCard]

The moves being made to shed talent (and salary) can only lead to one conclusion. Losing is the objective. They don't care about the fans suffering or making the Cards the laughing stock of the league. They're willfully destroying the franchise and its value. Is it in preparation to sell the team? Or is it due to the CBA? Or both? In two decades they haven't acted this way. They've always played the "Let's look for a deal" game, but they did spend some. Enough to be at least average or better. This is something different. They may have changed some bells and whistles in the minor leagues. Maybe added some coaches and made some tweaks to regimen. But they're essentially the same system they were for two decades minus the professional talent they traded away. The team that not that long ago was considered to be the best run organization in MLB is now in free fall. How low can they go? Apparently we're going to find out. Some of you on here grinning from ear to ear and salivating at the imminent prospect of losing big, I just don't get.

The Cardinals have finally decided they want to compete for division titles and win more than low 80s games and its killing you. I love it.

Obviously you're a sycophant.

[CCard]

The moves being made to shed talent (and salary) can only lead to one conclusion. Losing is the objective. They don't care about the fans suffering or making the Cards the laughing stock of the league. They're willfully destroying the franchise and its value. Is it in preparation to sell the team? Or is it due to the CBA? Or both? In two decades they haven't acted this way. They've always played the "Let's look for a deal" game, but they did spend some. Enough to be at least average or better. This is something different. They may have changed some bells and whistles in the minor leagues. Maybe added some coaches and made some tweaks to regimen. But they're essentially the same system they were for two decades minus the professional talent they traded away. The team that not that long ago was considered to be the best run organization in MLB is now in free fall. How low can they go? Apparently we're going to find out. Some of you on here grinning from ear to ear and salivating at the imminent prospect of losing big, I just don't get.

How do you reconcile "willfully destroying the...value" of the team and preparing to sell?

How does that make any sense?

More likely - they recognize that what they have been doing for about the last decade has led them into a dead end. That strategic approach - try to be just good enough to make the playoffs most years and hope for the best - gets them no farther in modern, 2026 baseball than high level mediocrity.

So now they are trying something different - a willingness to take a bigger step back for 1, 2, 3 years to rebuild the organization in order to provide the foundation to be better than high level mediocrity further into the future.

Because the team becomes more lucrative to potential buyers. They know that if they take the plunge and buy the team, then do what it takes to make the team a winner again that they'll add a lot of value back to the franchise in a hurry. Not burdened by expensive contracts that they have to deal with makes the team more valuable to a potential buyer.

Decade? 2011 world champion, 2013 world series appearance and national league champion, 2023 playoff berth and the lead of game one until the 9th inning debacle. Tell me, what have the Brewers won in the last decade? Or Cleveland. Or Tampa. You speak of this mythical foundation and have zero chance of achieving it. If it were that easy there would be perpetual winners doing the same thing in the MLB. There are not. Why? Because winners buy the talent they need to win. Losers talk about rebuilding.

[CCard]

I am sure DeWitt will go in the clubhouse now and then saying 'Ok guys , go out there and lose today ! We want to challenge for the most losses this season .

OR ' thought I would stop by today guys, I noticed we have won two games in a row. Let's cool it and try harder to lose today . Otherwise we won't challenge for the most losses this year. Get with the program , boys !

I doubt he talks to the players at all. Certainly he won't come right out and say lose. He just gut payroll and trade away viable talent. Then he'll talk about the need to keep our powder dry by grabbing some low hanging fruit.

[82birds]

I expect that what everyone in the organization wants is for every player on the roster to meet or exceed their expectations for whatever their role is for 2026. If they do that, they will be a lot closer to being ready to compete again and will win a few more games than might be expected this season.

agree with ya MM
but, IF is the biggest word in the dictionary.

[CCard]

It's clear that you have recognized that things are different. That's good. You seem incapable, or unwilling to see, understand, or accept the new model or any potential benefit. You only seem capable of seeing a salary dump, or tanking. I'm not going to spend any words trying to explain it. I am sorry that it causes you so much unhappiness- baseball shouldn't be that way. Suffice to say, there is more depth to the conversation than the thread title implies.

That's cool. You enjoy your loser Cards team. And while you're enjoying all those losses you can dream about all the great seasons from the juggernaut that Dewitt will build from all the savings of dumping talent and not signing any top tier talent back. While you're dreaming make sure you envision Dewitt and company laughing and pointing at you about how you bought it all, hook, line and sinker. That should keep you warm at night knowing you've been played.

[CCard]

The moves being made to shed talent (and salary) can only lead to one conclusion. Losing is the objective. They don't care about the fans suffering or making the Cards the laughing stock of the league. They're willfully destroying the franchise and its value. Is it in preparation to sell the team? Or is it due to the CBA? Or both? In two decades they haven't acted this way. They've always played the "Let's look for a deal" game, but they did spend some. Enough to be at least average or better. This is something different. They may have changed some bells and whistles in the minor leagues. Maybe added some coaches and made some tweaks to regimen. But they're essentially the same system they were for two decades minus the professional talent they traded away. The team that not that long ago was considered to be the best run organization in MLB is now in free fall. How low can they go? Apparently we're going to find out. Some of you on here grinning from ear to ear and salivating at the imminent prospect of losing big, I just don't get.

How do you reconcile "willfully destroying the...value" of the team and preparing to sell?

How does that make any sense?

More likely - they recognize that what they have been doing for about the last decade has led them into a dead end. That strategic approach - try to be just good enough to make the playoffs most years and hope for the best - gets them no farther in modern, 2026 baseball than high level mediocrity.

So now they are trying something different - a willingness to take a bigger step back for 1, 2, 3 years to rebuild the organization in order to provide the foundation to be better than high level mediocrity further into the future.

I mean this whole situation isn’t something that just same out of of the blue. It’s been obvious for sometime and they only now are making changes now that Mo walked out the door, by his own choice.

Dewitt chose not to make the changes and just let Mo do whatever he wanted.

No matter what the reasoning behind that was, it’s willfully destroying the franchise

I have said repeatedly that they should have started tearing the whole thing down at the 2023 trade deadline. So you won't get any argument from me that the last two seasons have been, mostly, just wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.

So you think that the Cards who made the playoffs in 2022 should have gutted the team? That's not the way to win a championship.