9/20 GDT: Nationals(Irvin) vs Cardinals(Mathews) 1:15 PM CT

[Radbird]

Final record at home: 38-43

[Birds67]

Final record at home: 38-43

Absolutely horrible.

[jagtrader]

The most celebrated losing season in Cardinals history has a week left.

[CardsofSTL]

At least they didn't get swept

[heyzeus]

Quinn Mathews will be a pretty good pitcher.

[jagtrader]

The future is bright!

Cool. Who's the third baseman next season?

Eh. One of the dudes who couldn't do it this year probably. Did you see how great Springfield is!?!?! Future!!!!!!!

[cardsfantx]

The future is bright!

Cool. Who's the third baseman next season?

Eh. One of the dudes who couldn't do it this year probably. Did you see how great Springfield is!?!?! Future!!!!!!!

my vote if he keeps it up, is Jesus Baez the SS at Springfield

and yes, I've had more fun watching the AA playoffs than anything the cards have done lately.

[jagtrader]

Maybe. Here’s hoping.

It’s been seven years since they’ve won a playoff series and they have a losing record over the past four. So, no hurry. We’re all gonna live forever.

[heyzeus]

So there are two parts to a rebuild. The first part -- the one ownership/management has always done halfassedly, is the tearing it all down and building a great farm system. Amazingly, that's accomplished. This is a top 5, possibly top 2 farm system in baseball right now. Part One: Mission accomplished!

Part two is the most show me state part. That's the part to come. It's where ownership actually commits to spending the money it will take to legitimately compete. I doubt there's ever been a farm system so great that the last pieces didn't still have to be acquired by free agency and trade. The gaps on the 2027/2028 Cardinals are significant and obvious: 3B, CF, bullpen, and at least one starting pitcher. Yes there are guys in the system that look promising (Jesus Baez for third, Tai Peete or Ragsdale at CF, Fajardo/Cjintje/Franklin/Doyle/Eagen at SP, who knows at bullpen). But none have proven anything just yet and statistically, many or most of them never will.

So there's part two, filling these holes. Will our historically tightwad owners open up the purse now that the competitive window is opening? Show me. Earn that trust back if you want to see 3mm in the seats again.