Cards offense is shining despite poor pitching

[ramfandan]

First, let's get the bad news out of the way . The Cardinals pitching has allowed 72 runs in 2025 (most in MLB ). The A's are next with 71 . So the pitching has been horrible . Polar opposite to the pitching staff has been the offense.

While Cards fans watch opposing players trotting across home plate , the Cardinals have been doing likewise offensively .

Some offensive Cardinals facts :

A. Cards have scored 71 runs . .3rd most in baseball. (only the Cubs 94 and NYY 78 have had more runners cross home plate ) Note: Cubs have played 3 more games 14 compared to NYY and Cardinals 11 each)

B. Highest batting avg. in MLB .291
C. Highest OPS in National League ...831 and 2nd in MLB only to NYY
D. HR's 5th best .. 16
E . Hits .. 117 2nd most in MLB (only trail Cubs by 9 hits (126) who have played 3 more games )

One stat that is far back in the pack is Stolen Bases .. 5 bags (rank 21st )

So despite Contreras off to very rocky start, Cardinal fans have been watching an offense that depicts the colors of the birds on their jersey 'RED hot ! '

Go Cards !

[Basil Shabazz]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

[ecleme22]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

[TXCardsFanX]

Yesterday's test against one of MLB's best makes me believe the offense could be real. Still a small sample, but they look really good. So different than the past 3 seasons.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

OK, as a fan who expected volatility in a reset year (yeah it still is) overall I am very pleased with what I am seeing in STL.

Pitching is sucking. Yup. And minor leaguers who find a groove will get chances later in the year to forge a role with the team in 2026. OK.

But I am over the moon with the offensive side of the team and especially the youth.

Scott - whee. If he is the real thing this team just filled CF for the next 5 years. I believe he is. Time will tell.

Walker - OK still would like to see more power but he doesn't look lost like last year. He battles and puts the ball in play.

Noot - well his only issue was health.

Herrera - wish he was better throwing but I'll take that lack if this hitting is even close to real.

Gorman/Saggese - wish one of these would get enough ABs to determine if they have also progressed.

This is 5 of 8 positions filled for several years at cost control and then add Winn who I think is coming around. 6 of 8.

This is how a team is built in 2025. Add in a veteran or two and a pitching staff and go.

Now if only STL had a high end starting pitcher in the minor league system.

[Futuregm2]

OK, as a fan who expected volatility in a reset year (yeah it still is) overall I am very pleased with what I am seeing in STL.

Pitching is sucking. Yup. And minor leaguers who find a groove will get chances later in the year to forge a role with the team in 2026. OK.

But I am over the moon with the offensive side of the team and especially the youth.

Scott - whee. If he is the real thing this team just filled CF for the next 5 years. I believe he is. Time will tell.

Walker - OK still would like to see more power but he doesn't look lost like last year. He battles and puts the ball in play.

Noot - well his only issue was health.

Herrera - wish he was better throwing but I'll take that lack if this hitting is even close to real.

Gorman/Saggese - wish one of these would get enough ABs to determine if they have also progressed.

This is 5 of 8 positions filled for several years at cost control and then add Winn who I think is coming around. 6 of 8.

This is how a team is built in 2025. Add in a veteran or two and a pitching staff and go.

Now if only STL had a high end starting pitcher in the minor league system.

Well we have potentially two, but one is hurt again and the other has struggled with command a bit in AAA to start 2025, but we’ll see how he shakes out.

But yes I agree with pretty much everything else. The young hitters have pretty much all shown progress early on, hope they keep it up.

[scoutyjones2]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

[Futuregm2]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

[Ace07]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

Only the worst of the homer fans left think this is a "solid rotation" or competitive rotation.

[makesnosense]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

Opposing teams must be shaking in their boots at the thought of facing thia rotation

[scoutyjones2]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

Only the worst of the homer fans left think this is a "solid rotation" or competitive rotation.

Lol. Agreed.

Doesn't even speak to the bully.

[thetank2]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

Opposing teams must be shaking in their boots at the thought of facing thia rotation

Except few really have better.

[Futuregm2]

Honestly, Mikolas aside, the pitching has been okay. Not great by any means, but okay.

Fedde/Graceffo pooped the bed in Boston and Fernandez isn't on track yet. Other than that things are positive.

Mikolas should be DFA'd and McGreevey should be given the opportunity to show what he has at the MLB level.

The good news is it looks like there are some AAA options that can that step up.

We could see notable pitching changes within a week or two.

I've asked before, who? Who can fill the pen and the starting rotation?

Crickets...

Well for one, McGreevy in the rotation.

A rotation of:

Gray
Fedde
Pallante
McGreevy
Liberatore

Looks like a pretty solid rotation.

Only the worst of the homer fans left think this is a "solid rotation" or competitive rotation.

All 5 of the starters had a sub 4 ERA last year. 3 of the 4 that are in the rotation right now have a sub 1.25 WHIP. The only one that doesn’t, Pallante, happens to have the best ERA of the group right now (3.86). In the end I think it would be solid enough if the team keeps hitting well.

[JDW]

So if I'd somehow known these would be the OPS's for the players after 11 games what would I have guessed the W-L to be?
Maybe, 8-3 or 7-4. It's early, but if the pitching comes around and we actually have multiple plus .800 OPS guys it should be fun to watch.
Granted some of the best OPS's are some with few AB's, not surprisingly.

Gorman 1.556 OPS
Herrera 1.506
Saggese 1.319
Pozo 1.250
Donovan 1.042
Baker .955
Arenado .944
Nootbaar .877
Pages .870
Scott .859
Walker .706
Burleson .649
Winn .643
Siani .347
Contreras .310

Another reason not to take spring training numbers, etc. very seriously.

[ilcubuffs]

Those posters who watched the debacle in Boston saw first hand the lack of leadership from Marmot and Blake. I believe the lack of MLB experience heavily contributes to the current state of Cardinal pitching.

It is extremely hard to change pitching coaches, meaning hiring a MLB competent and experienced coach, in the first quarter of season. If you want to move forward with any players you need qualified decision makers - the Cardinals are lacking. MLB pitching is not OJT.

[ramfandan]

Thought a very telling comment came from the Mad Hungarian in studio pregame show a couple nights ago. When commenting on the Cards offense Al stated , (paraphrasing ) 'When i was in Jupiter , the Cards were not hitting well but I was hearing a lot of buzz about new hitting coach, Brant Brown, and how he was impacting the guys. He was being very well received by the players .

Al isn't one to sugarcoat things . Sure enough the guys have really improved under his early tutelage with them.