Temperature Check

[heyzeus]

I would guess that a lot of our team health is related to hardly anyone being over 30, and few of our pitchers throwing over like 93.

[ghostrunner]

I would guess that a lot of our team health is related to hardly anyone being over 30, and few of our pitchers throwing over like 93.

I think that's true, but like i said it extends to last year and the year before. And last year for example, the A's who are pretty young had 29 separate IL stints and we had 18. It's closer this year so far - we have 4 and they have 6. So on pace for about 14 and 20 respectively, though i imagine those tend to pile up more toward the end. And again - a lot of luck involved. It'll be interesting to see if it continues.

[CardsofSTL]

I get that you're not going to trash talk your teammates but give me a break

[sighyoung]

I get that you're not going to trash talk your teammates but give me a break

Liberatore's quote is a mouthful of nothing.

[dmarx114]

A third of the way through the season, and given that we were supposed to be really bad, I think everything about this team so far has been exceptionally positive. No one projected we would be on pace for 87 wins after 54 games. Now I realize we have done well in close games and expected win/loss is worse than the actual record, but what we are seeing is a team that is competitive right now.

I didn't think we would have a realistic shot for the playoffs until 2028 at the earliest. But that timeline is moving up in a hurry. They likely won't be a playoff team this year, but I think the success of exceeding expectations this year will have an impact on how the team approaches the off season next year. I can see them being really good next year.

[heyzeus]

my main concern for 2027 (assuming there is a season at all, which isn't looking great) is how we're going to ever develop a frontline pitcher. Nothing in the minors is screaming 1/2 starter in the near term. If our window to compete is moving up, I wonder if the Dewitts will actually spend the $$$ it'll take to acquire legit (ie, not from the Gibson/Lynn tier of "one foot into retirement" starters) pitcher(s).

[go birds]

i think we go back to the well with Seattle and make a trade with them

[Joe Shlabotnik]

If our window to compete is moving up, I wonder if the Dewitts will actually spend the $$$...

Nope! No need to go any further.

[ghostrunner]

FWIW, BK and Ferrario on 101 ESPN played some interviews from this past year on Memorial Day and one was an interview with DeWitt III from that start of the season. I hadn't heard it before and they specifically asked something like "hey the Cardinals used to regularly be in the 8-15 area in payroll rankings, do you think we'd be likely to get there again?" and he immediately and pretty emphatically (for a DeWitt) said "oh, I'd imagine so".

I've been assuming that's the case, but it was the first time I'd heard it directly asked and answered. All you can do is take it at face value until they prove otherwise, but typically I'm used to them being a bit more cagey when answering any questions like that.

For reference 15th would be roughly where the Orioles and Rangers are, and about $100 million more than where the Cardinals are including money going to former players.

[jagtrader]

If the payroll was going up any time soon, they’d be signing extensions.