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You did ask for "bold".Adam2 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 12:37 pmlibby sub 3.60? bold indeedrockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:05 am 2026 Team > 2025 Team
JJW wins NL ROY
VSII steals 50+ bases
Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA
Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason
Just my unique spin…
I did lol. We will circle back to this around all star break. Maybe your boldness is accurate?rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 12:41 pmYou did ask for "bold".Adam2 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 12:37 pmlibby sub 3.60? bold indeedrockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:05 am 2026 Team > 2025 Team
JJW wins NL ROY
VSII steals 50+ bases
Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA
Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason
I can see trading Burly if we think Hererra is a better option at 1B and we have no other position for him. But sill, why do we need even more prospects? Seems like he could be traded for equivalent current young production at another position of need and help us out even more with less risk.rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 10:23 amMay is essentially on a one year contract (mutual 2027 option he surely will opt out of) so he's definitely trade bait mid year if he's off to a good start, could bring back a solid return.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:55 amcertainly hoping for #2.rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:05 am 2026 Team > 2025 Team
JJW wins NL ROY
VSII steals 50+ bases
Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA
Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason
#5 is a curious decision, especially May and Burly. I can see trading Noot because he just never seems to give us quite what we need. But the eternal counterpoint is - if he doesn't give us value, what can we expect in return? So his trade becomes a nothing burger more/less.
The same goes for May and maybe Burleson, with a caveat. If they are inconsistent or hurt, then what value do we get back in the trade? If not needle moving, then that decreases the impetus. But if they improve and contribute at a significant level, then why not keep them and make them part of the future? Both have an option or control for next year and are young enough to extend for much much longer, IF they are the real deal.
It comes down to a broader question of, do we get addicted to eternally trading everyone at age 2x, in a greedy collection of uncertain prospects, or do we at some point decide to actually utilize those we have developed and try to add more to that and actually improve the ML team incrementally over a couple of years? The fact that we've already traded the guys who are 34, 36, and 34, and now the next batch we would consider trading are Significantly younger indicates that continuing to just trade away for prospects sake is now a different exercise, and could maybe lack the focus of eventually building a healthy core of 24-32 yo producers who can stay here a while still making a lot lot less than Ohtani and Tucker (affordable in realistic 2026 terms).
Burly (IMO) is another strong trade asset who can bring back a solid prospect.
The easy replacement would be to give I. Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt (he's not a catcher, no future behind the plate once Bernal and especially R.R. are ready) this spring and prep him to takeover once Burly is traded.
Of course both May and Burly have to not only be healthy but off to good first halves to maximize the return.
And no, I don't see us ever becoming the Pirates.
2026 should be the final season dealing away players who really don't fit, either because of their age or pending free agency status, into the L-T plan.
The players I listed should be the final tranche of players C. Bloom needs to deal before BDWJr starts to allow him to add via an increased payroll.
JMO
You are unquestionably correct.Adam2 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 08:43 amI agree on that, I have posted many times in here over the years that his optimal place is the pen. He will never be able to handle the workload of a competent starter.Melville wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 08:13 amPoint being, it will not happen unless he is moved to the bullpen - as I have correctly advised for the past 4 years.Adam2 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 06:32 amNumber 3 certainly is bold with his history.Melville wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 22:15 pmAnd now 3 on the pitching side.Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 19:29 pmI could see 1 & 3. I have trouble seeing the #2- but maybe???Melville wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 19:03 pm 1. Burleson/Wetherholt/Winn/Gorman will be a top 4 NL infield if The Marmot, and health, allows each of them to start 125 games or more.
2. Walker will lose the starting RF job within the first 100 games.
3. Crooks will start more games in the final 80 games than any of the other catchers.
1. May leads the team in strikeouts on July 1, but not after game 162.
2. Svanson takes over the closer ole.
3. Hence finally makes his MLB debut this season - and it will be as a reliever - and avoids the DL.
So to be clear, Marmol will be an idiot if he doesn’t continue to play Gorman, even if he turns out to be a huge defensive liability (as he has been), and is a well below average base runner (which he is)? Hmmm.Melville wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 08:16 amAll depends on health and The Marmot.alw80 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 06:41 am1 is not possible if Gorman is at 3b.Melville wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 19:03 pm 1. Burleson/Wetherholt/Winn/Gorman will be a top 4 NL infield if The Marmot, and health, allows each of them to start 125 games or more.
2. Walker will lose the starting RF job within the first 100 games.
3. Crooks will start more games in the final 80 games than any of the other catchers.
Unless his stupidity gets in the way yet again and he prevents any of this group from starting 125 or more games, there is a 100% probability that my analysis will be proven correct.
It is more certain than sunrise.
My hot take is none of that happens. Wish it would. My predictions- jj finishes 2nd to the Pittsburgh kid in roy voting. Walker figures some things out and hits .270 with 20 hr. Our wins leader is Leahy with 13. Svanson leads team in saves with 21 and is our lone all star representitive. Team surprises with 80 wins, but still under .500. Playoffs interrupted not by a labor dispute but by a world wide global disclosure/event.Adam2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 13:43 pm For 2026 what are your bold predictions/hot takes. 1 -3 things that are unlikely to happen but not impossible...Mine...
1 - Victor Scott has more stolen bases than any player has home runs this year
2 - Nolan Gorman hits 32+ home runs and gets his career back on track
3 - Dustin May gets at least 1 Cy Young Vote
yours? anything goes
Very kind of you. Thank you.HighHeat23 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:40 am Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.
RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.
Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!
Nomination for most accurate post in this thread!!!HighHeat23 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:40 am Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.
RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.
Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!
Unless you want him to be a F-T DH then giving Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt this spring would be the wise move IMO given he's got the greater upside over Burly as a hitter.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 16:48 pmI can see trading Burly if we think Hererra is a better option at 1B and we have no other position for him. But sill, why do we need even more prospects? Seems like he could be traded for equivalent current young production at another position of need and help us out even more with less risk.rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 10:23 amMay is essentially on a one year contract (mutual 2027 option he surely will opt out of) so he's definitely trade bait mid year if he's off to a good start, could bring back a solid return.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:55 amcertainly hoping for #2.rockondlouie wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 09:05 am 2026 Team > 2025 Team
JJW wins NL ROY
VSII steals 50+ bases
Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA
Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason
#5 is a curious decision, especially May and Burly. I can see trading Noot because he just never seems to give us quite what we need. But the eternal counterpoint is - if he doesn't give us value, what can we expect in return? So his trade becomes a nothing burger more/less.
The same goes for May and maybe Burleson, with a caveat. If they are inconsistent or hurt, then what value do we get back in the trade? If not needle moving, then that decreases the impetus. But if they improve and contribute at a significant level, then why not keep them and make them part of the future? Both have an option or control for next year and are young enough to extend for much much longer, IF they are the real deal.
It comes down to a broader question of, do we get addicted to eternally trading everyone at age 2x, in a greedy collection of uncertain prospects, or do we at some point decide to actually utilize those we have developed and try to add more to that and actually improve the ML team incrementally over a couple of years? The fact that we've already traded the guys who are 34, 36, and 34, and now the next batch we would consider trading are Significantly younger indicates that continuing to just trade away for prospects sake is now a different exercise, and could maybe lack the focus of eventually building a healthy core of 24-32 yo producers who can stay here a while still making a lot lot less than Ohtani and Tucker (affordable in realistic 2026 terms).
Burly (IMO) is another strong trade asset who can bring back a solid prospect.
The easy replacement would be to give I. Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt (he's not a catcher, no future behind the plate once Bernal and especially R.R. are ready) this spring and prep him to takeover once Burly is traded.
Of course both May and Burly have to not only be healthy but off to good first halves to maximize the return.
And no, I don't see us ever becoming the Pirates.
2026 should be the final season dealing away players who really don't fit, either because of their age or pending free agency status, into the L-T plan.
The players I listed should be the final tranche of players C. Bloom needs to deal before BDWJr starts to allow him to add via an increased payroll.
JMO
Anytime buddy!sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:49 amVery kind of you. Thank you.HighHeat23 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:40 am Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.
RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.
Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!
For fun- pull up some utube classics- live venues- Lynard Skynard-Free Bird Oakland coliseum 1979.HighHeat23 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 11:17 amAnytime buddy!sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:49 amVery kind of you. Thank you.HighHeat23 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 06:40 am Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.
RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.
Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!