Cranny wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 14:13 pm
The Cardinals are going to need to grow their own superstars. They aren't going to pay big market type FA contracts, and
if they trade for a superstar from another team, they're going to need to include top prospects, which defeats their own purpose.
"Grow their own superstars" is not a plan.
It is a crapshoot with long odds.
Did LA "grow" the superstars?
No.
They bought every one of them.
Sorry, small to mid market teams can't pay huge super star contracts. And if the try it, they will have too many eggs in one basket.
Sure they can.
STL was paying both N/A and Goldschmidt at the peak of their careers.
And the team was making money faster than they could count it.
The issue was Super Slo Mo's and The Marmot's utter stupidity and incompetence in managing the rest of the roster - starting with the lunacy of retaining Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols.
That was the TOXIC decision which collapsed the franchise.
Agree. STL can easily afford a few superstar players. Easily.
Pujols wasn't a bad decision at all. Great final year for minimal $.
Yadi's multiple legacy contracts were ludicrous. Him and Waino, if brought back, should have been back on 1 year, minimal $ amounts, since they were no longer producing at the levels the Cards chose to play them at. No problem with them on the team, but the $ was a big waste.
It wasn't just the dollars.
The playtime time - very valuable developmental opportunity - those3 took from younger, better players was inexcusable.
Ruined the franchise for several years.
And I was the only person on the planet who correctly predicted the inevitable disaster at the time.
Who were they preventing from developing?
In 2022 Wainwright had the worst season in MLB history by a pitcher with 21 or more starts.
Every pitch he threw was a pitch denied to every other, younger pitcher on the 40 man.
Molina was, charitably, the 3rd best catcher and took playing time from younger, better options.
But, there were records to set and that is all Mo cared about.
Further, without those 2 on the roster, there would have been 2 more spots available to acquire and play even more young players.
Finally, 2022 told every coach, every player on the MLB roster, every prospect in the minors, every staff person in the entire organization that there was zero interest in winning, zero accountability for performance.
It was all theatre - merely going through the motions.
It poisoned every person associated with the organization - and the result has been devastating.
In 2022, Waino had a 3.71 ERA in just over 190 IP.
Molina didn't take playing time from anyone. Knizner caught 96 games and the other option was Austin Romine. Sorry Mel, but I disagree with your analysis. Though usually precise and accurate, is off-base this time.
Cranny wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 14:13 pm
The Cardinals are going to need to grow their own superstars. They aren't going to pay big market type FA contracts, and
if they trade for a superstar from another team, they're going to need to include top prospects, which defeats their own purpose.
"Grow their own superstars" is not a plan.
It is a crapshoot with long odds.
Did LA "grow" the superstars?
No.
They bought every one of them.
Sorry, small to mid market teams can't pay huge super star contracts. And if the try it, they will have too many eggs in one basket.
Sure they can.
STL was paying both N/A and Goldschmidt at the peak of their careers.
And the team was making money faster than they could count it.
The issue was Super Slo Mo's and The Marmot's utter stupidity and incompetence in managing the rest of the roster - starting with the lunacy of retaining Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols.
That was the TOXIC decision which collapsed the franchise.
Agree. STL can easily afford a few superstar players. Easily.
Pujols wasn't a bad decision at all. Great final year for minimal $.
Yadi's multiple legacy contracts were ludicrous. Him and Waino, if brought back, should have been back on 1 year, minimal $ amounts, since they were no longer producing at the levels the Cards chose to play them at. No problem with them on the team, but the $ was a big waste.
It wasn't just the dollars.
The playtime time - very valuable developmental opportunity - those3 took from younger, better players was inexcusable.
Ruined the franchise for several years.
And I was the only person on the planet who correctly predicted the inevitable disaster at the time.
Who were they preventing from developing?
In 2022 Wainwright had the worst season in MLB history by a pitcher with 21 or more starts.
Every pitch he threw was a pitch denied to every other, younger pitcher on the 40 man.
Molina was, charitably, the 3rd best catcher and took playing time from younger, better options.
But, there were records to set and that is all Mo cared about.
Further, without those 2 on the roster, there would have been 2 more spots available to acquire and play even more young players.
Finally, 2022 told every coach, every player on the MLB roster, every prospect in the minors, every staff person in the entire organization that there was zero interest in winning, zero accountability for performance.
It was all theatre - merely going through the motions.
It poisoned every person associated with the organization - and the result has been devastating.
In 2022, Waino had a 3.71 ERA in just over 190 IP.
Molina didn't take playing time from anyone. Knizner caught 96 games and the other option was Austin Romine. Sorry Mel, but I disagree with your analysis. Though usually precise and accurate, is off-base this time.
Yeah, he must’ve meant 2023. His other points were pretty spot on though. The lack of accountability and the detrimental effects can’t be overstated.
I couldn’t believe what was coming out of Mo’s and Oli’s mouths about winning not being important. MLB is supposed to be world class level competition, not some developmental or exhibition league.
Cranny wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 14:13 pm
The Cardinals are going to need to grow their own superstars. They aren't going to pay big market type FA contracts, and
if they trade for a superstar from another team, they're going to need to include top prospects, which defeats their own purpose.
"Grow their own superstars" is not a plan.
It is a crapshoot with long odds.
Did LA "grow" the superstars?
No.
They bought every one of them.
Sorry, small to mid market teams can't pay huge super star contracts. And if the try it, they will have too many eggs in one basket.
Sure they can.
STL was paying both N/A and Goldschmidt at the peak of their careers.
And the team was making money faster than they could count it.
The issue was Super Slo Mo's and The Marmot's utter stupidity and incompetence in managing the rest of the roster - starting with the lunacy of retaining Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols.
That was the TOXIC decision which collapsed the franchise.
Agree. STL can easily afford a few superstar players. Easily.
Pujols wasn't a bad decision at all. Great final year for minimal $.
Yadi's multiple legacy contracts were ludicrous. Him and Waino, if brought back, should have been back on 1 year, minimal $ amounts, since they were no longer producing at the levels the Cards chose to play them at. No problem with them on the team, but the $ was a big waste.
It wasn't just the dollars.
The playtime time - very valuable developmental opportunity - those3 took from younger, better players was inexcusable.
Ruined the franchise for several years.
And I was the only person on the planet who correctly predicted the inevitable disaster at the time.
Who were they preventing from developing?
In 2022 Wainwright had the worst season in MLB history by a pitcher with 21 or more starts.
Every pitch he threw was a pitch denied to every other, younger pitcher on the 40 man.
Molina was, charitably, the 3rd best catcher and took playing time from younger, better options.
But, there were records to set and that is all Mo cared about.
Further, without those 2 on the roster, there would have been 2 more spots available to acquire and play even more young players.
Finally, 2022 told every coach, every player on the MLB roster, every prospect in the minors, every staff person in the entire organization that there was zero interest in winning, zero accountability for performance.
It was all theatre - merely going through the motions.
It poisoned every person associated with the organization - and the result has been devastating.
In 2022, Waino had a 3.71 ERA in just over 190 IP.
Molina didn't take playing time from anyone. Knizner caught 96 games and the other option was Austin Romine. Sorry Mel, but I disagree with your analysis. Though usually precise and accurate, is off-base this time.
Cranny wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 14:13 pm
The Cardinals are going to need to grow their own superstars. They aren't going to pay big market type FA contracts, and
if they trade for a superstar from another team, they're going to need to include top prospects, which defeats their own purpose.
"Grow their own superstars" is not a plan.
It is a crapshoot with long odds.
Did LA "grow" the superstars?
No.
They bought every one of them.
Sorry, small to mid market teams can't pay huge super star contracts. And if the try it, they will have too many eggs in one basket.
Sure they can.
STL was paying both N/A and Goldschmidt at the peak of their careers.
And the team was making money faster than they could count it.
The issue was Super Slo Mo's and The Marmot's utter stupidity and incompetence in managing the rest of the roster - starting with the lunacy of retaining Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols.
That was the TOXIC decision which collapsed the franchise.
Agree. STL can easily afford a few superstar players. Easily.
Pujols wasn't a bad decision at all. Great final year for minimal $.
Yadi's multiple legacy contracts were ludicrous. Him and Waino, if brought back, should have been back on 1 year, minimal $ amounts, since they were no longer producing at the levels the Cards chose to play them at. No problem with them on the team, but the $ was a big waste.
It wasn't just the dollars.
The playtime time - very valuable developmental opportunity - those3 took from younger, better players was inexcusable.
Ruined the franchise for several years.
And I was the only person on the planet who correctly predicted the inevitable disaster at the time.
Who were they preventing from developing?
In 2022 Wainwright had the worst season in MLB history by a pitcher with 21 or more starts.
Every pitch he threw was a pitch denied to every other, younger pitcher on the 40 man.
Molina was, charitably, the 3rd best catcher and took playing time from younger, better options.
But, there were records to set and that is all Mo cared about.
Further, without those 2 on the roster, there would have been 2 more spots available to acquire and play even more young players.
Finally, 2022 told every coach, every player on the MLB roster, every prospect in the minors, every staff person in the entire organization that there was zero interest in winning, zero accountability for performance.
It was all theatre - merely going through the motions.
It poisoned every person associated with the organization - and the result has been devastating.
In 2022, Waino had a 3.71 ERA in just over 190 IP.
Molina didn't take playing time from anyone. Knizner caught 96 games and the other option was Austin Romine. Sorry Mel, but I disagree with your analysis. Though usually precise and accurate, is off-base this time.
Yeah, he must’ve meant 2023. His other points were pretty spot on though. The lack of accountability and the detrimental effects can’t be overstated.
I couldn’t believe what was coming out of Mo’s and Oli’s mouths about winning not being important. MLB is supposed to be world class level competition, not some developmental or exhibition league.
Cranny wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 14:13 pm
The Cardinals are going to need to grow their own superstars. They aren't going to pay big market type FA contracts, and
if they trade for a superstar from another team, they're going to need to include top prospects, which defeats their own purpose.
"Grow their own superstars" is not a plan.
It is a crapshoot with long odds.
Did LA "grow" the superstars?
No.
They bought every one of them.
Sorry, small to mid market teams can't pay huge super star contracts. And if the try it, they will have too many eggs in one basket.
Sure they can.
STL was paying both N/A and Goldschmidt at the peak of their careers.
And the team was making money faster than they could count it.
The issue was Super Slo Mo's and The Marmot's utter stupidity and incompetence in managing the rest of the roster - starting with the lunacy of retaining Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols.
That was the TOXIC decision which collapsed the franchise.
Agree. STL can easily afford a few superstar players. Easily.
Pujols wasn't a bad decision at all. Great final year for minimal $.
Yadi's multiple legacy contracts were ludicrous. Him and Waino, if brought back, should have been back on 1 year, minimal $ amounts, since they were no longer producing at the levels the Cards chose to play them at. No problem with them on the team, but the $ was a big waste.
It wasn't just the dollars.
The playtime time - very valuable developmental opportunity - those3 took from younger, better players was inexcusable.
Ruined the franchise for several years.
And I was the only person on the planet who correctly predicted the inevitable disaster at the time.
Who were they preventing from developing?
In 2022 Wainwright had the worst season in MLB history by a pitcher with 21 or more starts.
Every pitch he threw was a pitch denied to every other, younger pitcher on the 40 man.
Molina was, charitably, the 3rd best catcher and took playing time from younger, better options.
But, there were records to set and that is all Mo cared about.
Further, without those 2 on the roster, there would have been 2 more spots available to acquire and play even more young players.
Finally, 2022 told every coach, every player on the MLB roster, every prospect in the minors, every staff person in the entire organization that there was zero interest in winning, zero accountability for performance.
It was all theatre - merely going through the motions.
It poisoned every person associated with the organization - and the result has been devastating.
In 2022, Waino had a 3.71 ERA in just over 190 IP.
Molina didn't take playing time from anyone. Knizner caught 96 games and the other option was Austin Romine. Sorry Mel, but I disagree with your analysis. Though usually precise and accurate, is off-base this time.
Yeah, he must’ve meant 2023. His other points were pretty spot on though. The lack of accountability and the detrimental effects can’t be overstated.
I couldn’t believe what was coming out of Mo’s and Oli’s mouths about winning not being important. MLB is supposed to be world class level competition, not some developmental or exhibition league.
Typo on my part.
2023.
I am confused? Molina retired in 2022, so who's time are you talking about taking? I see you said typo 23, but Molina was a basketball/baseball coach in Rico by that time.
mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026 10:25 am
Yeah - if someone thinks to Cardinals' current roster is just two players away from them being "contenders" in 2026, those two players have to be named Ohtani and Judge - and the Cardinals would have to get them while giving up nothing in return.
Obviously, that isn't happening.
LOL...You guys are funny. Keep up the circle-jerk. Adding an rbi guy and two top tier pitchers gets you at the least 10 wins better. The difference between sitting at home and maybe having playoff games. Especially if Walker, Scott and Gorman produce anything decent. But you guys have your schtick down pat and you won't be convinced otherwise, no matter how much reality slaps you in the face.
That is the level of mediocre they've been stuck in and are trying to get out of. They are trying to ultimately be better than "lose in the first round of the playoffs."
There is not nor will there ever be a hedge against losing in the first round. In a short series even the worst teams can win. How often does the number 1 rated team win the championship? Answer...not that often.
Only two No. 1 overall seeds have won the World Series: the New York Yankees in 1998 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. Historically, top seeds have often made it to the World Series, but winning is less common.
