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In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

They need dejong and carpenter back and there problems would be fixed

Personally I think we should all get together and develop a Venn Diagram to figure it out.

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

Horrific use of free agent dollars and foolish extensions for several years.

It took a while to kill the momentum, but it is gone.

OK

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

I don’t know I think the fans will come flooding back. Attendance was down then in 1996 new ownership came in jocketty was turned loose and a flurry of exciting moves brought fans flooding back. Same could happen if they turn bloom loose. I still remember how exciting that offseason was after years of meh. Ownership is to blame though they let mo run the franchise into the ground

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

This has been analyzed and discussed ad nauseum. You know what happened and who has responsibility. If not, go listen to Bernie's podcasts for the last 2 years.

Assign blame and bash Mo again if you need to. But it's not moving forward.

Rebuild the draft and development system like they have been. Field a fundamentally sound and competitive team.

There is no damage to the brand that winning doesn't fix. All teams go through struggles. Is the Red Sox brand damaged? The Braves?

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:54 pm

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

I don’t know I think the fans will come flooding back. Attendance was down then in 1996 new ownership came in jocketty was turned loose and a flurry of exciting moves brought fans flooding back. Same could happen if they turn bloom loose. I still remember how exciting that offseason was after years of meh

Yes. Turnover of players would help.

Since I don't see the Cards competing in 2026 or 2027, I'm okay with trading Nootbar and maybe even Donovan as long as the return is something to get excited about. Make Romero closer and trade him at the 2026 trade deadline. Need to move on from Gorman. Send Walker back to AAA for 2026 and see if he can dominate AAA. Take a look at Saggese. Look at Torres (as the super versatile 13th man).

Get back to a good defense and your pitchers will look better.

RunSup wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:57 pm

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

This has been analyzed and discussed ad nauseum. You know what happened and who has responsibility. If not, go listen to Bernie's podcasts for the last 2 years.

Assign blame and bash Mo again if you need to. But it's not moving forward.

Rebuild the draft and development system like they have been. Field a fundamentally sound and competitive team.

There is no damage to the brand that winning doesn't fix. All teams go through struggles. Is the Red Sox brand damaged? The Braves?

Well said....thank you!

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:54 pm

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

I don’t know I think the fans will come flooding back. Attendance was down then in 1996 new ownership came in jocketty was turned loose and a flurry of exciting moves brought fans flooding back. Same could happen if they turn bloom loose. I still remember how exciting that offseason was after years of meh

The lockout isn’t going to do any favors. You’re looking at 4 years of ugly baseball followed by (likely) a year of no baseball due to greed and ego. And the sport already has declining interest. Which makes the situation a bit different from the 90s strike. If Bloom is “turned loose” he’s going to have to really do some big sack things, imo. But then there’s the problem with the old man who still hasn’t figured out it’s no longer the 90s.

2028 could be another unsettling year post lockout

I am watching Mathews closely in AAA for the next 7 weeks.

If he can get his control back, he could help the starting rotation, which is the team's biggest weakness.

Gray, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, Mathews.

Leaves money to buy a good hitting corner OF to replace Nootbar (if they trade him).

Banner29 wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025 00:05 am

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:54 pm

RobbieRe wrote: ↑02 Aug 2025 23:05 pm In the business world, I learned the importance of building a “Brand”. Unfortunately, after several years the St. Louis Cardinals Brand has been terribly damaged.

Additionally, I also learned that rebuilding attendance, is not like turning a water faucet on and off. Unfortunately, we can probably not expect attendance levels to come back quickly. If attendance does not come back soon enough, will ownership spend the money.

How did we get here? The root cause of this dilemma is the severe damage to the St. Louis Cardinals Brand. Who is to blame for this deterioration?

I don’t know I think the fans will come flooding back. Attendance was down then in 1996 new ownership came in jocketty was turned loose and a flurry of exciting moves brought fans flooding back. Same could happen if they turn bloom loose. I still remember how exciting that offseason was after years of meh

The lockout isn’t going to do any favors. You’re looking at 4 years of ugly baseball followed by (likely) a year of no baseball due to greed and ego. And the sport already has declining interest. Which makes the situation a bit different from the 90s strike. If Bloom is “turned loose” he’s going to have to really do some big sack things, imo. But then there’s the problem with the old man who still hasn’t figured out it’s no longer the 90s.

2028 could be another unsettling year post lockout

I don’t disagree that the lock out could kill attendance but I guarantee when bloom fires olivine then makes a flurry of exciting moves in the offseason attendance next season jumps up

cardstatman wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025 00:06 am I am watching Mathews closely in AAA for the next 7 weeks.

If he can get his control back, he could help the starting rotation, which is the team's biggest weakness.

Gray, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, Mathews.

Leaves money to buy a good hitting corner OF to replace Nootbar (if they trade him).

(Not being smart-alec). We HAVE the money already to do this. We need to buy that hitter and a true ace and more.

Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025 01:54 am

cardstatman wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025 00:06 am I am watching Mathews closely in AAA for the next 7 weeks.

If he can get his control back, he could help the starting rotation, which is the team's biggest weakness.

Gray, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, Mathews.

Leaves money to buy a good hitting corner OF to replace Nootbar (if they trade him).

(Not being smart-alec). We HAVE the money already to do this. We need to buy that hitter and a true ace and more.

That is the frustrating part. Theyve always had the money. They just lacked the desire. Harper had interest in coming here. No offer. Scherzer had interest. No offer. Instead, they chose to waste millions on ridiculous contracts for Leake and Fowler types.

Remember the big TV deal with Fox Sports Midwest several years ago? DeWitt said that money would allow the team to sign free agents and remain competitive. Instead, only a portion was spent (squandered) on stupid signings.

BPV was supposed to be another revenue stream to keep the team competitive. But now, they don't even count that revenue in the team's earnings. Mozeliak himself admitted he has no idea how much BPV generates. If he's being honest (have my doubts), then the DeWitts are just pocketing that money.

And where do we go from here?
Which is a way that's clear?
Still looking for that blue-jean baby-queen
Prettiest girl I've ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen
Jimmy Dean
(James Dean)

Mort Gage wrote: ↑03 Aug 2025 06:53 am And where do we go from here?
Which is a way that's clear?
Still looking for that blue-jean baby-queen
Prettiest girl I've ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen
Jimmy Dean
(James Dean)

Rock On.