Who is watching playoff- how far away are we.

[82birds]

to be determined

it is not certain how much autonomy bloom has.....

will he be allowed to bring the dramatic changes to the organization that are required

or

will he still be subject to the long term policies of ownership which has created the current situation?

if it is the former...3-5

if it is the latter.......open ended

agree

[renostl]

Good morning.

Ok teams are now eliminated. We have seen the best of baseball. You saw us all year.

How far are we from a post season appearance.

Few years
Many years
Decade

Just a few years if the FO does not go totally cheap.

Looking at the teams that made the wild card this year, some of them are not all that impressive.

Cleveland: they have one superstar - Ramirez - and a good young pitching staff led by Bibee, Williams, and Cecconi.
Detroit: they have one of the best pitchers in the game - Skubal - and two young sluggers - Carpenter and Torkelson.
Cincinnati: Good young starting pitching, but still not dominant. Lineup is inconsistent. Bullpen is weak.
Boston: they have a solid lineup, and a great pitcher in Crochet. The rest not so great.

IMO the Cardinals could be as good if not better than the level of these teams in 2 years, if Bloom makes some smart moves, and Bill opens the wallet just a bit.

Good write. Two years. That’s quick.

How much is the Guardians pitching due to Cerfolio?

[scoutyjones2]

Good morning.

Ok teams are now eliminated. We have seen the best of baseball. You saw us all year.

How far are we from a post season appearance.

Few years
Many years
Decade

Depends. Too many variables

[renostl]

Far away from what? Making the playoffs like the Reds, Red Sox, or Guardians? Or being on a level of the teams that advanced?

For both questions there are two answers, one in years if we keep the current course, and another in terms of payroll being added.

We're not far from the Reds, Red Sox, or Guardians currently, especially if we didn't sell at the deadline, and we had gapping holes that are easily identified and filled. I think if payroll was $20-25M higher (one very good player or two solid players) we could have made the playoffs over the Reds.

I don't get the impression ownership is going to increase payroll next year, and might even cut it further, so I'd say we're 2-3 years away from the playoffs (2027-2028). Probably another year or two after that to get to the level of the teams that advanced.

I think with a top 10-15 payroll (D-Backs and Giants were 13th and 14th at $178M, Red Sox were 12th at $201M, Cubs were 10th at $212M) and a smart front office we could be a playoff team, and better than the Reds or Guardians as soon as next year, and a competitive playoff team in 2027.

The current course is almost impossible to keep because a different set of eyes
are now guiding the course.

The Cards through the moves of the last 12 months, mostly passive moves of letting contracts expire, will have moved an incredible amount
of money. They will need to spend just to maintain near, not that they will, JMO to the adding payroll or cutting more take.

The Cardinals are very close to a blank canvas. Even the outlying contracts of NA, WC, and SG are short with some production
provided even if SG cannot live up to his $40 million or NA his $19 million from the Cards.

Cards need everything you have mentioned and we are aware of. They're unlikely to hit on everything.
I find it less predictable than it has been in a very long time.

[The Nard]

Good morning.

Ok teams are now eliminated. We have seen the best of baseball. You saw us all year.

How far are we from a post season appearance.

Few years
Many years
Decade

Just a few years if the FO does not go totally cheap.

Looking at the teams that made the wild card this year, some of them are not all that impressive.

Cleveland: they have one superstar - Ramirez - and a good young pitching staff led by Bibee, Williams, and Cecconi.
Detroit: they have one of the best pitchers in the game - Skubal - and two young sluggers - Carpenter and Torkelson.
Cincinnati: Good young starting pitching, but still not dominant. Lineup is inconsistent. Bullpen is weak.
Boston: they have a solid lineup, and a great pitcher in Crochet. The rest not so great.

IMO the Cardinals could be as good if not better than the level of these teams in 2 years, if Bloom makes some smart moves, and Bill opens the wallet just a bit.

Good write. Two years. That’s quick.

How much is the Guardians pitching due to Cerfolio?

It’s not just 1or 2 starters - their bullpen is much better than the Card’s. That, and both Cleveland and Detroit’s play better fundamental baseball in the field.
Cleveland was handicapped at the plate ant the beginning, especially when they traded Josh Naylor.