Bubble4427 wrote: ↑08 Dec 2025 13:04 pm
Carp4Cy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2025 11:42 am
Bubble4427 wrote: ↑08 Dec 2025 11:31 am
rockondlouie wrote: ↑08 Dec 2025 11:13 am
TheFantasyStud wrote: ↑08 Dec 2025 10:01 am
Chaim has never called it a rebuild. The media, especially Bernie, has.
I think we will compete this year. He’s clearing the roster but he’s got a plan and will have money to spend.
I've been in agreement w/you FS.
Once the dust settles and all the trades are completed I think the franchise will be in a much better place and (IMO) the 2026 squad will be better than the 2025 team by anywhere from 5 - 10 games!
Lotta deadweight is gone (Mikolas/Fedde soon NADO too?) and while we'll likely lose a good player in Donny, they'll add possibly an even better player in JJW!
From the same article:
“Sometimes the long term might conflict with the short term … and when those things run in opposite directions,
we’re going to choose the long term because that’s where this organization needs to be,” Bloom said. “We’re trying to get back to a certain place and stay there. History has shown the way the Cardinals have always done that is with their young, talented core.”
The important thing is Bloom won't lose sight of the L-T plan even if he still wants to compete in 2026, that's rock solid.
Bloom cuts salary, it’s what he did in Boston.
The Cardinals lost their TV contract (50 million a year) and dropped a million in attendance…..News flash, the Cardinals will not spend money for 2-3 years …….especially not before a labor agreement is put into place.
The Cardinals are at least 3-5 years away from being competitive again, much less contenders.
That's not acceptable. If the Cards aren't competitive for another 3-5 years, Bloom will find himself fired, or more likely quit and find a better franchise.
I would tend to agree….but he is doing what the OWNER wants. The best way to get competitive again is if the Dewitt’s sold the team. Mo really screwed this team over, but if you don’t think he was given a firm budget number by BDW to operate under, well….you’re kidding yourself. 3-5 years plus a new labor agreement is what it’s going to take to make the Cardinals contenders again. Baseball is broken.
Baseball will also not be "fixed" in one CBA. The range of outcomes are known on both sides.
The owner whether we think he is the cheapest guy in the world or not
will want to revive demand for his product. I agree with C4C on this, and we both may be wrong.
However increased demand for a product has a vital place in any build. People care less about $10
bucks more for TV if there's demand.
I don't agree with this ownership critical POV. He has been outspent only by the Cubs occasionally
among teams in the central divisions. That's the team's economic environment. St. Louis and the surrounding
has very slow population growth. Missouri has an average wage of $54k, surrounded by AR at $48K, IA
at $53, TN $52K, KY at $51K and rural IL. NY and it surround $74K+, CA $73K higher in the cities.
St. Louis with their love for the Cards will often punch above that weight class. But demand is paramount.
Any new owner will face the same environment. You are betting on better business decisions AND
higher spending of those margins. Possible without guarantee nor longevity after the initial honeymoon.
LAD receives revenue from entire countries. The Cards bid a billion on a player and they will bid a billion
and one. I've been to car auctions with a guy like that in the crowd. Agree it needs a stronger fix beyond
the divisions sprouting out of less cost-of-living geographic regions and the current tax.
This is not defending Bill. He's at the top. He allowed MO to fail with a $178 million payroll as recent as 2024.
That was only behind the Cubs among those 10 teams, still above some teams in pricier economies.
We should, IMO, acknowledge a few hits in a row to revenue streams starting with Covid followed
by TV bankruptcy. Bill owns a little of that too it was their TV business decision. Seemed good at the time.
