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I'm expecting zero games to be played next season. I'm open to being pleasantly surprised.cosmo.kramer wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 10:58 amHopefully they can at least do a shortened spring training like '22Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 10:55 am Hope you can find a way to enjoy it, there probably won't be a spring training next year.
Lots of hurdles to overcome, that's for sureTalkin' Baseball wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 11:46 amI'm expecting zero games to be played next season. I'm open to being pleasantly surprised.cosmo.kramer wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 10:58 amHopefully they can at least do a shortened spring training like '22Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 10:55 am Hope you can find a way to enjoy it, there probably won't be a spring training next year.
So, for the first time in what, a dozen years, the Pirates MIGHT be a threat to finish in the top half of the division and it happens to coincide with the Cardinals first re-build since before the turn of the century, and this has you bummed for ST?OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:19 amEven the Pirates have made an effort to improve their team.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:18 amWell if I did, and as you stated, so many others, means that quite a few see it this way. Why is that bad.OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:16 amsikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:15 amWe 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.OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:12 amGood for you. I'm just not. I like to win.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:05 amDude. 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.
Not your ally.
You like so many others really bought into this. Really sad how they sold the fans on this.
You raise some good points and it makes me wonder if “2” helps explain “1”. Given what you state about those guys, maybe other GMs saw not enough value in guys like that, even in a package, for Bloom to get MLB ready talent in return. It would be interesting to know about the trade proposals that didn’t work.ilcubuffs wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 11:49 am Support Bloom's process and approach. My only disappointments are:
1. Did not get a ML ready player (position or pitcher - no catcher) in return. Seems as though could have created "packages" with Burleson and any of the catchers and obtained such a player.
2. Gorman is still taking up space in MLB. The idea of yet another "runway", evaluation, etc year is galling. They know what they have in Gorman, Burleson, and Herrera. None are even close to complete MLB players. None are competent defensive players. Cannot and/or do not know how to run the bases. Offensively, are not part of foundation of winning team. Winning championships in MLB requires majority of a team have players who are above avg in all facets of game.
Are you suggesting the Cardinal players of today want to win less than the players of the 70s? Can you provide any evidence to back that up? If you aren't suggesting that, why wouldn't you be excited to watch these young, hungry players earn their stripes?OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:36 amDon't lecture me on dignity. I had season tickets in the 70's, at least they had a team that wanted to win, they just didn't have the talent, but they were fun to watch. I can't get excited about what they will be putting on the field this year. Hopefully, I'm wrong and can again enjoy Cardinal baseball. It would be wonderful to see a few of the younger players have a terrific year.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.
I’ll take a Danny Cox or Darryl Kile type.Strummer Jones wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 12:41 pm I'm excited. I'm not particularly optimistic about the season, but I'm excited for it.
Ready to what these young guys do with their opportunity. I expect to see some stretches of inspired, great, baseball. I also expect to see stretches of baseball where nothing goes right. It's much more exciting to me to see younger players struggle and overcome than watch a lot of old and expensive warhorse has beens/never weres not answer the bell.
I'm bullish on some of the newer and younger talent coming through this year:
-I think JJ is going to hold his own. Not dominate, but show that he belongs and that he will be the gold standard at 2B for major league baseball.
-I think the bullpen will remain a strength.
-I think at least one of the new pitchers from Boston will prove to be a stabilizing force in the rotation. Not a top guy, but a glue guy for the rotation. Kind of like Lohse in '08 or '11.
Seems Red was the kid who took his ball and went home when he didn't win.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:05 amDude. 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.
Could be worse. He played alone.AnExParrot wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 13:08 pmSeems Red was the kid who took his ball and went home when he didn't win.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:05 amDude. 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.
Can't agree with you on manager Melville. Oli was in a lame duck situation last year. He had to try and win with the hand he was dealt. Do you really think even the best manager in the sport could have made that rotation better? And even the best manager in the game doesn't teach hitting. We'll never know, but i hope Chaim let's Oli actually manage from the dugout. I dont think he had that freedom last year.Melville wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 09:06 amI don't expect them to.11WSChamps wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:49 amI got you pegged bud.Melville wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:42 amI never "leave myself an out".11WSChamps wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:37 amI notice you always leave yourself an out.Melville wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:32 amI teach success for a living.11WSChamps wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:23 amNo they don't.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
The players we do have will go out there and bust their butt to win on Opening Day (and subsequent games ) . One of them JJ Wetherholt , the top rated prospect, will make his major leauge debut that day. Why not go out and cheer him on and the rest of the players wearing the 'birds on the bat' .OldRed wrote: ↑11 Feb 2026 08:21 amWhere is the talent? Start with the pitching and then go to the lineup and their bench.
I've gone to many opening days in the past, but you won't see me in Section 148 this year.