OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dude. Winter is killing you. Ironically I’m more excited as I expect nothing for winning but expect a lot from assessment going forward.
Gotta start somewhere.
Good for you. I'm just not. I like to win.
We all want to win. What are you not seeing here. We are not supposed to win. We got in too deep. Takes time to recover. Get this- Time meaning years.
Not your ally.
You like so many others really bought into this. Really sad how they sold the fans on this.
Do you think that going “CCard” over the rebuild is going to change the fact that they are rebuilding?
They’ve made their decision as far as the direction in which they’re taking the team.
I for one am glad they’ve chosen the path they have.
You may think it’s sad; many others believe it should have happened several years ago.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
Intelligence and Marmol are not 2 words that should be used together.
Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:31 am
How did someone make it through the '70s and '90s? Good Lord, it's been 30 years since we've had a rebuild. Get a grip.
Most of you hated Mo forever, well, now we have a replacement. Can't you at least get excited about that? All the mediocre veterans that we signed to extensions are gone that a lot of people could not stand and now we're giving it over to young players. Does that not do anything for you?
I mean, hate what you hate and like what you like, but do it with some dignity.
Exactly.
The Cardinals missed the playoffs for 13 straight years from 1969 to 1981 - over a decade of wandering in the wilderness.
At least now they have a plan - apparently a plan similar to that which has actually worked for other organizations - to rebuild and put the organization on a path where they can have sustained success again.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
No they don't.
I teach success for a living.
My analysis is always built on a bias free analysis of what is attainable and what is not.
I am paid to help leaders and organizations understand how to set and achieve performance goals.
Baseball is no different.
This roster can achieve a winning record.
Can leadership get them there?
THAT, not the roster, is the applicable question.
I notice you always leave yourself an out.
Uh its the same group leading in the dugout this season minus Gray, Contreras and Donovan.
There's no thoroughbred in the corral.
72-90.
I never "leave myself an out".
This team has enough talent to produce a winning record.
Period.
If it fails to do so, it will be due to debilitating injuries (unlikely) or an incompetent manager and staff.
Unequivocally correct.
I got you pegged bud.
There's always a caveat.
How is the same incompetent manager and staff from last season going to all of a sudden become baseball savants?
How? Well if there was any truth to the thought that the former GM dictates lineups, then there may be a way forward there.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dude. Winter is killing you. Ironically I’m more excited as I expect nothing for winning but expect a lot from assessment going forward.
Gotta start somewhere.
Just how I feel. Like moving into a new house. Not much to it at first, but the excitement of watching it come together will be fun.
Last season they were loaded with high priced vets, and we still knew what the outcome was going to be. This season maybe we thrive on the energy. Im loving it!
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
No they don't.
I teach success for a living.
My analysis is always built on a bias free analysis of what is attainable and what is not.
I am paid to help leaders and organizations understand how to set and achieve performance goals.
Baseball is no different.
This roster can achieve a winning record.
Can leadership get them there?
THAT, not the roster, is the applicable question.
I notice you always leave yourself an out.
Uh its the same group leading in the dugout this season minus Gray, Contreras and Donovan.
There's no thoroughbred in the corral.
72-90.
I never "leave myself an out".
This team has enough talent to produce a winning record.
Period.
If it fails to do so, it will be due to debilitating injuries (unlikely) or an incompetent manager and staff.
Unequivocally correct.
I got you pegged bud.
There's always a caveat.
How is the same incompetent manager and staff from last season going to all of a sudden become baseball savants?
I don't expect them to.
But they do have more talent on the roster.
If the team fails to produce a winning record it will be because the manager and staff repeat their prior incompetence.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
Intelligence and Marmol are not 2 words that should be used together.
IMO it be up to how much opportunity is earned, not mandated.
If they use who is earning a spot vrs Gorman/Walker playing mandate. So spring being fun for me, will be using a performance lineup vrs a political lineups.
Rocket Scientist wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 09:14 am
IMO it be up to how much opportunity is earned, not mandated.
If they use who is earning a spot vrs Gorman/Walker playing mandate. So spring being fun for me, will be using a performance lineup vrs a political lineups.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dang, the whole point of spring training is to get all of these prospects on the field to see where the team stands for this year. Are some of these new players ready? Who makes the big team? What will the pitching look like? It is a time to watch some of the players we have heard about for years. I am really excited about spring training.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
No they don't.
I teach success for a living.
My analysis is always built on a bias free analysis of what is attainable and what is not.
I am paid to help leaders and organizations understand how to set and achieve performance goals.
Baseball is no different.
This roster can achieve a winning record.
Can leadership get them there?
THAT, not the roster, is the applicable question.
I notice you always leave yourself an out.
Uh its the same group leading in the dugout this season minus Gray, Contreras and Donovan.
There's no thoroughbred in the corral.
72-90.
I never "leave myself an out".
This team has enough talent to produce a winning record.
Period.
If it fails to do so, it will be due to debilitating injuries (unlikely) or an incompetent manager and staff.
Unequivocally correct.
I got you pegged bud.
There's always a caveat.
How is the same incompetent manager and staff from last season going to all of a sudden become baseball savants?
I don't expect them to.
But they do have more talent on the roster.
If the team fails to produce a winning record it will be because the manager and staff repeat their prior incompetence.
More talent where?
And please don't mention the rotation. Its dotted with injury histories, inexperience and guys who have yet to prove anything sustainable.
Closer by committee? When does that ever work?
The team's most productive hitter (for lack of a better term) Contreras is gone not to mention Donovan.
I'm not saying the team shouldn't have let them go I'm saying as of today the team is not "more talented".
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dang, the whole point of spring training is to get all of these prospects on the field to see where the team stands for this year. Are some of these new players ready? Who makes the big team? What will the pitching look like? It is a time to watch some of the players we have heard about for years. I am really excited about spring training.
Exactly. ST may be more exciting than the regular season. My interest will be in seeing these players work hard to build momentum for the future. I will also be interested in how they play the second half. I'd love for some momentum for '27....
Sure, I want to win in '26, but to need it is folly. .500 and/or a few breakouts would be just fine. Expectations are low but to not have hope with so much talent on the farm, makes no sense to me.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dang, the whole point of spring training is to get all of these prospects on the field to see where the team stands for this year. Are some of these new players ready? Who makes the big team? What will the pitching look like? It is a time to watch some of the players we have heard about for years. I am really excited about spring training.
Exactly. ST may be more exciting than the regular season. My interest will be in seeing these players work hard to build momentum for the future. I will also be interested in how they play the second half. I'd love for some momentum for '27....
Sure, I want to win in '26, but to need it is folly. .500 and/or a few breakouts would be just fine. Expectations are low but to not have hope with so much talent on the farm, makes no sense to me.
Spring training has seldom been about breakout young players making the opening day roster. Remember even Pujols wouldn't have made it if not for a Bobby Bonilla injury. Teams usually know their starting lineups before a game is played in spring training. Spring training has always been for veterans getting at bats getting ready for the season.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
Dang, the whole point of spring training is to get all of these prospects on the field to see where the team stands for this year. Are some of these new players ready? Who makes the big team? What will the pitching look like? It is a time to watch some of the players we have heard about for years. I am really excited about spring training.
Exactly. ST may be more exciting than the regular season. My interest will be in seeing these players work hard to build momentum for the future. I will also be interested in how they play the second half. I'd love for some momentum for '27....
Sure, I want to win in '26, but to need it is folly. .500 and/or a few breakouts would be just fine. Expectations are low but to not have hope with so much talent on the farm, makes no sense to me.
Spring training has seldom been about breakout young players making the opening day roster. Remember even Pujols wouldn't have made it if not for a Bobby Bonilla injury. Teams usually know their starting lineups before a game is played in spring training. Spring training has always been for veterans getting at bats getting ready for the season.
Spring training is not an American Legion tryout.
For your model to succeed you need vets. Who are the Bonillas of this team. So yes, in the absence of vets it is indeed a tryout of sorts.
OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:02 am
First time in 70+ years I am not excited about spring training or the start of the season. Baseball Heaven has gone to Hell.
The Cardinals have enough talent on the roster to produce a winning record.
Whether there is enough intelligence among the manager and staff to get them there in another question entirely.
just stop with this nonsense - Oli was the manager last year too so it is an apples to apples comparison - just go on the record if you think we will be better or worse than last year!
