Mozeliak: "Some Changes" Coming For Cardinals, But Not A Rebuild

[phins]

Matz has been terrible most of this season and can’t be trusted.

If he pitches well, it’s a pleasant surprise.

Matz has a better ERA than Flaherty, Mikolas, and the others not named Montgomery.

Matz has a better FIP than Flaherty, Mikolas, and the others not named Montgomery.

Matz has a better xFIP than Flaherty, Mikolas, and the others not named Montgomery.

Matz is on pace for a two WAR season, even with an injury. Two WAR is considered an average starter (#3/4 starter).

Tough crowd if this is considered terrible for most of the season. He’s just fine as a #4 starter.

He’s had a good July. He was horrendous in April and May, and a big reason we got off to a bad start. He pitched out of the bullpen in June cause he was so bad early on.

Yes, if we get the July matz, he will be great as a 4 starter. If we don’t, Mo gets fired.

His numbers include all that. If we get July Matz for an entire season he’s an ace.

You’re simply wrong- objectively- on your argument in this case.

He was bad early on, great lately. Sounds exactly like a #4 starter, who is earning exactly his money.

[cardsfantx]

Matz also gets paid dirt cheap for a starting pitcher; a FA pitcher for 11 mil AAV is crazy low

Hell waino got, what? 17 mil?

[Lesson]

He’s had a good July. He was horrendous in April and May, and a big reason we got off to a bad start. He pitched out of the bullpen in June cause he was so bad early on.

Yes, if we get the July matz, he will be great as a 4 starter. If we don’t, Mo gets fired.

Matz was bad last year and injured. Not defending him.

However, if he pitches to his career norms, he's a valuable starter.

Signing Matz wasn't/isn't a bad move per se - I wouldn't have targeted him because of his injury history + inability to go deep into games. However, the Cardinals didn't do anything beyond adding him in the off-season in 2022 or 2023. Due to the lack of pitching depth, his flaws were exacerbated.

He's perfectly fine as a #4 if the options behind him aren't complete dog [expletive] and if both Flaherty AND Mikolas weren't viewed as top 3 starters within the rotation.

Matz also gets paid dirt cheap for a starting pitcher; a FA pitcher for 11 mil AAV is crazy low

Hell waino got, what? 17 mil?

The reason he got that much is because of his injury history. When he's healthy, he's a serviceable starter.

[dmarx114]

Sorry guys. Matz had to have a lights out July just to get to his “4 starter” level. This isn’t someone we can rely on for next season as the number 4. And he hasn’t even been hurt this season, like he typically is.

I wouldn’t even want him on the team next year. Too bad we are locked in. But he should be the 5. We can’t afford to have Matz, and someone worse than Matz on opening day.

[Lesson]

Sorry guys. Matz had to have a lights out July just to get to his “4 starter” level. This isn’t someone we can rely on for next season as the number 4. And he hasn’t even been hurt this season, like he typically is.

I wouldn’t even want him on the team next year. Too bad we are locked in. But he should be the 5. We can’t afford to have Matz, and someone worse than Matz on opening day.

Using this logic, Arenado shouldn't be counted on either due to his terrible start in April.

[phins]

I didn’t expect “defending the virtue of Matz” to be on my bingo card, but here we are.

It’s really dang hard to be a 2-WAR player in the major leagues. Players get there through different ways, but plenty of players get there by hot streaks and bad stretches overall.

If he had no injury history, he’s a $20M pitcher on the open market. He’s getting paid about what he should and is someone almost every team would have as a perfectly fine #4 in their rotation.

The real problem was not doing more/relying on pitchers it was quite easy to see weren’t going to be able to fill their roles.

As the season has gone off the rails, the FO has inexplicably played the scapegoat game and that has had Matz and others portrayed as the bad guys, when in reality, they’re going to end up right where they should be expected to end up.

If the Cardinals trade Matz away in the offseason I won’t be sad. But I won’t be upset if he’s seen as a solid piece of the rotation, either.

[Magneto2.0]

Matz last year was more bad luck than bad performance. Last season his numbers were:

SIERRA: 3.22
xERA: 3.67
FIP: 3.78
xFIP: 3.15

I get he's injury prone, so that's his biggest flaw. But his underlined stats show he has the peripherals of a number 3.

[jagtrader]

A lot of talk about three rotation spots to fill. The Cardinals will more likely fill two and let a cluster of guys occupy the fifth spot. Until someone gets hurt and they’re short. We’ve seen this show before.

[Lesson]

Also going on record that I would fire Mozeliak in a heartbeat if it meant Silverman or anyone else from the Rays brain trust would take Mozeliak's place.

I don't think Mozeliak's done a bad job for what DeWitt's asked him to do.

I do think he's done a bad job at allocating the resources he's given as well as overseeing player development.

Rays do much more with less.

[dmarx114]

Steven Matz has been pulled from the rotation both years he has been with us. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

3 starters next year please.

And 5 relievers.