STLtoday.com

Red Bird Classic wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 12:03 pm

ecleme22 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:54 am

Red Bird Classic wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:46 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:35 am

Red Bird Classic wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 10:33 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 10:05 am

Red Bird Classic wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 09:46 am

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 09:37 am

sdaltons wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 08:44 am I remember wanting this guy 2-3 years ago. Decent signing.

Yeah, I don’t get why people are whining about this.

Because it's a short term move for a team that isn't gonna be competitive in the short term.

Essentially, the Cardinals are rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Sigh....

Please research the "Chapman for Ragans" trade 2 years ago.

Thanks...

You've lost me here. Are you comparing Maton to Aroldis Chapman?

Sticking with the nautical theme: That's a bit like comparing the SS Minnow to the Queen Mary.

2022 Royals: 65-97
2023 Royals ended up being: 56-106

So, why would the 2023 Royals sign Chapman to a 1 year deal when they wren't expected to be competitive in the short term?

Because they were hoping to trade him for Cole Ragans?

The record says you can flip Chapman for a decent prospect. After all, Chapman is/was a HOF caliber closer. But comparing Maton to Aroldis Chapman is, as I said before, like comparing the SS Minnow with the Queen Mary.

We all hope for good things, but We're not getting a decent prospect for a street free agent signed in Mid March who last season was traded for cash and a PTBNL.

Yes, a HOF-caliber closer who one of the worst teams in baseball was able to land for 3.75M/1 year.

So let's stop acting like KC had a prize pig. They made a modest gamble for a pitcher no one wanted at the time, and it paid off.

Cards sign Maton for 1 year/2mil. They could flip him too if he has an upswing 1st half.

Also, Maton helps fill out a relatively thin bullpen from the right side.

You're the one who took umbrage with a team like the Cards signing a pitcher to a one year deal, but the practice is very common and makes sense...

Well, I'm not god, so it's okay to disagree with me about these things.

Who's right? We'll see.

Me: Yeah, I don’t get why people are whining about this (deal).

You said: Because it's a short term move for a team that isn't gonna be competitive in the short term.


I showed you why a team like the Cards would make such a move.

Yours truly,
God

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

Agreed.

And this has been my general sentiment about all the borderline long term prospects. If you have ANY questions if theyre ready for the big leagues (Scott, Saggesse, Graceffo, Matthews, etc), then let them work in the minors away from the scrutiny with the newly hired instructors.

By the end of this season, plenty of spots will be available (Hels, Matz, Mikolas, Fedde, Arenado, etc).

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

^^This^^

But McG deserves a spot in the OD rotation, unfortunately the idiot Mo will send him to Memphis while Mikolas & Matz remain in the SR.

thetank2 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:09 am

Strummer Jones wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:01 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 10:51 am John Denton
@JohnDenton555
Eager to add to a bullpen that lost key set-up man Andrew Kittredge in the offseason, the #STLCards signed RHP Phil Maton on Thursday. Maton, who is from Chatham, Ill., grew up a Cards fan and went to dozens of games at Busch Stadium II and III.


John Denton
@JohnDenton555
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol said newly signed reliever Phil Maton will appear in a live BP session against hitters on Sunday on a back field at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.

Maton has been working out for weeks in Arizona and pronounced himself as “fully built up.”

So eager to add, that they could hardly wait until the mid-March opening of free agency!

Well 29 other teams could have made a bid. There are ~230 relievers in mlb.

They could have… yet he was still on the street in mid-March.

The Cardinals were so eager that they waited and waited and waited to see who no one else wanted to sign before making their first move.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 12:30 pm

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

^^This^^

But McG deserves a spot in the OD rotation, unfortunately the idiot Mo will send him to Memphis while Mikolas & Matz remain in the SR.

Heard an interesting thing on a podcast when I was on the road this morning… that scouts and data are suggesting the Cardinals should have Liberatore in the rotation and that Pallante hasn’t looked good at all… with bad statcast data.

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 13:04 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 12:30 pm

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

^^This^^

But McG deserves a spot in the OD rotation, unfortunately the idiot Mo will send him to Memphis while Mikolas & Matz remain in the SR.

Heard an interesting thing on a podcast when I was on the road this morning… that scouts and data are suggesting the Cardinals should have Liberatore in the rotation and that Pallante hasn’t looked good at all… with bad statcast data.

If they retain any notion that Liberatore could still be a SP at the ML level, they should plan for him getting 20+ starts this year.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 12:30 pm

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

^^This^^

But McG deserves a spot in the OD rotation, unfortunately the idiot Mo will send him to Memphis while Mikolas & Matz remain in the SR.

+2

My hopes for this team as there is growth and improvement from opening day till the end of the season. And that Oli wakes up realizes that the younger players need room, time and commitment so that clear acknowledgement of their play is apparent for JB to place Fedde, MM, Helsley, NA and potentially a couple of the OF’s on the trade deadline list for shaping 2025. And it’d be nice to see Oli mature and utilize speed, aggressive base running and other ways to maximize the skills that some of the players possess.

At this point it is clearly Oli’s responsibility to utilize the youth within the jumbled strategy of Mo.

Maybe Maton is good in the room and can provide some leadership for the young guys? Just trying to think about other possible benefits.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 13:07 pm

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 13:04 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 12:30 pm

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 11:37 am A positive if it means they don't stick McGreevy or Graceffo in the ML bullpen and let them continue developing as SPs at Memphis (given they are not in the STL rotation).

^^This^^

But McG deserves a spot in the OD rotation, unfortunately the idiot Mo will send him to Memphis while Mikolas & Matz remain in the SR.

Heard an interesting thing on a podcast when I was on the road this morning… that scouts and data are suggesting the Cardinals should have Liberatore in the rotation and that Pallante hasn’t looked good at all… with bad statcast data.

If they retain any notion that Liberatore could still be a SP at the ML level, they should plan for him getting 20+ starts this year.

Agree 100%. I think he and McGreevy should be in the rotation, Matz in the bullpen...

This was the first that I'd heard any noise about Pallante, and it isn't coming from Cardinals camp. But apparently, velocity has pulled back a couple of ticks and the movement profile is not what it was last year... could be just spring stuff, but it is typically not a good sign when the drops are meaningful. The commentary was that Liberatore could be in the conversation to take Pallante's spot. They also said Liberatore's velo and movement profile were improved.

I don't believe that the Cardinals will do that, just sharing what I heard.

This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

sdaltons wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 13:44 pm Maybe Maton is good in the room and can provide some leadership for the young guys? Just trying to think about other possible benefits.

can he hit?

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:14 pm This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

Had similar inclinations… either a trade or someone is hurt and they haven’t divulged it yet.

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:33 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:14 pm This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

Had similar inclinations… either a trade or someone is hurt and they haven’t divulged it yet.

I likewise considered the 2nd scenario - and would not be one bit surprised if you are very quickly proven correct.

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:15 pm

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:33 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:14 pm This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

Had similar inclinations… either a trade or someone is hurt and they haven’t divulged it yet.

I likewise considered the 2nd scenario - and would not be one bit surprised if you are very quickly proven correct.

It's got to be O'Brien. He hasn't pitched in a game since Feb 27 vs Yanks. He has 2ip all spring.

wkycards wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:29 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:15 pm

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:33 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:14 pm This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

Had similar inclinations… either a trade or someone is hurt and they haven’t divulged it yet.

I likewise considered the 2nd scenario - and would not be one bit surprised if you are very quickly proven correct.

It's got to be O'Brien. He hasn't pitched in a game since Feb 27 vs Yanks. He has 2ip all spring.

Or…..Helsley

ecleme22 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:34 pm

wkycards wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:29 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 18:15 pm

An Old Friend wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:33 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Mar 2025 14:14 pm This signing strongly suggests STL is expecting to trade a pitcher before opening day

Had similar inclinations… either a trade or someone is hurt and they haven’t divulged it yet.

I likewise considered the 2nd scenario - and would not be one bit surprised if you are very quickly proven correct.

It's got to be O'Brien. He hasn't pitched in a game since Feb 27 vs Yanks. He has 2ip all spring.

Or…..Helsley

Yeah, he could be traded. I was referring to someone being injured.