(The Right) expensive veterans with lots of playoff experience seems to be the key

[Absolut]

to winning in October. And lots of them.

Snell has always been pretty good in the playoffs, but now he's dominating, and going deep into games. He's won 5 straight playoff starts.

And Freddie Freeman, who had the GWRBI HR tonight - was playing in his 69th career playoff game.

When if ever, will our cheap homegrown roster have that kind of playoff experience?

Oh my gosh. The winning formula is to have an incredibly expensive roster and gobs of money. Why didn't STL think if that?

I forgot about Dorn..

[CorneliusWolfe]

to winning in October. And lots of them.

Snell has always been pretty good in the playoffs, but now he's dominating, and going deep into games. He's won 5 straight playoff starts.

And Freddie Freeman, who had the GWRBI HR tonight - was playing in his 69th career playoff game.

When if ever, will our cheap homegrown roster have that kind of playoff experience?

They won’t. It will take them 2-3 years of development to be good enough to even make the playoffs, then a few years of taking their lumps as they gain playoff experience, then it will be time to trade them for…more great prospects!

And the hyperventilating prospect geek fraternity will fall in love with the “next big thing” kids and celebrate BDW being able to save so much money. They love that [shirt] more than winning the WS. TLR and Whitey realized kids don’t win championships.

Even if the team hits big on a handful of their picks, they’ll still need to supplement with good free agents or they’re going nowhere for the rest of this decade. They need to get their [shirt] together on international scouting too.

That would probably be true - but only if they stay out of the FA market. With the “right” signings- even this off season - they could make the playoffs in 2026. Don’t sell them short

Not sure what you mean about making “right signings”…but staying out of the free agent market.

Do you mean international development signings, or extensions to roster players?

[Ozziesfan41]

All the cardinals need are a 1 and 2 starter 2 middle of the order bats and a couple of more good relievers and cards will be primed for next season

[Carp4Cy]

to winning in October. And lots of them.

Snell has always been pretty good in the playoffs, but now he's dominating, and going deep into games. He's won 5 straight playoff starts.

And Freddie Freeman, who had the GWRBI HR tonight - was playing in his 69th career playoff game.

When if ever, will our cheap homegrown roster have that kind of playoff experience?

They won’t. It will take them 2-3 years of development to be good enough to even make the playoffs, then a few years of taking their lumps as they gain playoff experience, then it will be time to trade them for…more great prospects!

And the hyperventilating prospect geek fraternity will fall in love with the “next big thing” kids and celebrate BDW being able to save so much money. They love that [shirt] more than winning the WS. TLR and Whitey realized kids don’t win championships.

Even if the team hits big on a handful of their picks, they’ll still need to supplement with good free agents or they’re going nowhere for the rest of this decade. They need to get their [shirt] together on international scouting too.

That would probably be true - but only if they stay out of the FA market. With the “right” signings- even this off season - they could make the playoffs in 2026. Don’t sell them short

I agree. And that should be a goal, because whatever keepers we develop in 26 and 27 need to be getting playoff experience those years, which will help us immensely when we are positioned to make a deeper run in 2-3 years. We aren't going go from tanking to suddenly building a 95 win team and then realistically expect them to become world beaters in the playoffs. It will be more first round exits if they don't both get internally and bring in from the outside some October experience before '28.