Cardinals At Midseason: Rebuild Reality Meets Playoff Math

The Cardinals are 45-39, the All-Star break is creeping closer, and the vibes are somehow both optimistic and exhausted. We sit down and ask the question that’s making every St. Louis Cardinals fan argue in the comments: when a “rebuilding year” turns into meaningful games in July, do you push your chips in at the MLB trade deadline or do you stand pat and protect the long-term plan?

We dig into what’s actually realistic to change right now, from the bullpen issues that keep turning wins into losses to the uncomfortable truth that there may not be many clean trade options. We also get into the debates that matter most for roster direction: what a young lineup means for patience, how to think about players like Lars Nootbaar, what Jordan Walker’s breakout signals, and why internal development might be more valuable than a splashy move. Along the way, we talk about Ollie Marmol, clubhouse buy-in, and how a team learns to win while it’s still growing up.

Then we zoom out to the bigger storm cloud hovering over the whole league: the next MLB collective bargaining agreement and the possibility of a lockout. If the rules of spending and roster building change, the Cardinals’ strategy could change with it, which makes the MLB Draft and that 13th overall pick feel even more important. We close with what’s next on the schedule, why the Cubs and Brewers stretch is pivotal, and how fans can show support with All-Star voting.

If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share it with a Cardinals fan who needs to hear it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What would you do at the deadline: make a move or ride it out?

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Transcript

Welcome Back And Summer Catch Up

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome to the Dalen Show. What's going on, people? So good to see you. Good to be back with my guy, Russ Eddins. Welcome to episode number 11 of Cardinals Talk 3. So excited for you to be here. If you're new, welcome to the Daylon Show. I'm Daylon Flowers. Hit that subscribe button. Leave a like. Comment something funny so we can laugh afterwards. My friend, what's going on, man? I know it's been about a little over a month now, but how are you doing? Well, first of all, we were in Omaha for the College World Series. Fun experience. So I know we were kind of out of the way for about a month. A lot of things have been going on, but good to be back. Good to you, man.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

Yeah, it's been a busy summer. I know you've been on the recruiting trail a little bit. Sounds what it sounds like. A lot going on here in uh here in Oxford, and we're getting ready for uh for media days here in a couple weeks. But uh the Cardinals um kind of going 500 right now, uh past couple months. Um took just took a big series from the Braves, another big series coming up tonight. Um All-Star break is I think in 11, 11 games, 11 days, something like that. So right around the corner. But uh school will be before you know it for me. I I guess you're you're done. But I'll I'll be back in the office here in a couple weeks, or I guess a month.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Yeah, it is crazy to think about it. I am done. No more going back, no more first day. Uh that's why. Yeah, it's been a crazy month. Uh, I know you were been went to Lincoln. Uh then you went to Auburn World Series. Fun month for you, busy on recruiting trail for me. But good to be back, man. Uh, I'm be brutally honest with you guys watching or listening. Have not been watching much Cardinals baseball the last month, been so occupied with other things. But this is gonna be like a curiosity episode for us, honestly. We're also gonna try our best to talk about things. But like Russ said, Cardinals currently sit at 45 and 39. Um, third place in the central, seven and a half games back from the Brewers who lead the division. Um, I know you mentioned a stat earlier before we got on, I think talking about how we were like, what were we 500 in the month of May or June or something below that?

SPEAKER_00 2:09

Yeah, 500 in May, and and then uh one game over 500 in June.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Okay, so I mean, look, we talked about this in April and then thinking

Midseason Record And Reset Expectations

SPEAKER_01 2:20

around the started points of May, how important was the month of June. And I mean, still six games above 500. I know I I've seen things on social media, I've watched some highlights and kept up with notifications and stuff like that. Obviously, things aren't going exactly how you would, I think, continue to hope for the way they were, but at some point you kind of remember if you're a Cardinals fan, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. This is supposed to be a year where you were gonna see a lot of changes and kind of seeing a fluctuate of consistency from certain guys. I think you're just kind of reaching that point now, getting into the month of July. I, at this point, I'm not gonna lose my mind about anything. And I've said this to you since the beginning because when we first got back when the season, before the season started, our expectations were very low. I didn't think we were gonna be a playoff team at this point in July. We're still in content to be a playoff team. Um, Jordan Walker is still one of the best baseball players in baseball. I think there are still pieces around him that are still playing well. I think we can get into different things about pitching and et cetera, et cetera. But here's the thing for me, I mean people losing their minds. I get it, losing the game suck and performances. You have the right to voice your opinions about the performances being below standard, etc. etc. But in the day, like for me, losing my mind about anything that happens this year, really for the next, I would say, two or three years, is just something I'm not really gonna do.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Yeah, and it's well, we kind of get in this in a little bit, but what happens after the season? You know, how do you well, where do you go from here? Yeah, I feel like the lineup is so young. The only person you can really trade, I guess, would be Dustin May. You know, who else who else could you really trade? I mean, you would want to trade a bullpen, but none of them are good enough to get a good return. But the thing is there are so many competitive teams in the National League. Any of them could use Dustin May. And alternatively, in the American League, there are so many bad teams that it's so close right now, despite being five games or five hundred, like the Red Sox are like you know, five or seven games under 500, but they're still like four and a half games out of a playoff spot. Yeah. So even they could use they could really use Dustin May, by the way. They could really use uh uh uh a Dustin May, um or you know, just a right hander. They just make left is in Boston. But um, you know, where do you go from here? You know, if you are in the playoff spot in two weeks from now, what do you do with the deadline? And then kind of you know, what do you do at the end of the season? I think that's something we can kind of get into today or you know, in the next uh next episode or something. But I think right now uh the lineup is is is pretty good. It's full of young players. Um I think Weatherholt's still likely the rookie of the year, you know, front runner. Mason Wynn is still you know really good defensively. The bat has improved a little bit since May. Gorman, your guy, got sent down, Scott got sent down, um Blaze Jordan's back up, or he's up. Um Crooks is up, Newt Bar, he's off the injured list. By the way, do you know do you know how old Lars Newt bar is? Uh I do not. Off top of your head, how old do you think he is?

SPEAKER_01 5:25

In his I would say like 30. Is he 30?

SPEAKER_00 5:31

He's 28.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Wow, okay. So he's got some years left. I didn't know that. I thought he was in his 30s.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

He's he is just 28 years old.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

He's been trading like forever.

SPEAKER_00 5:40

I know. I but like do you trade a Lars Newpar, the deadline who's batting and has an 850 OPS right now and and um only 80 at bats, to be to be fair. But like, what do you do with Lars Newpar? I feel like he could give you a good return, but would that return yield long-term impact for your team? You know, that's that's the rest of the big question. Um, but right now, I mean, they're they're playing, you know, decent in baseball. I think a lot of teams, if they went 500, you know, for a month,

Deadline Choices With Few Trade Chips

SPEAKER_00 6:10

you know, for the the dog day or not quite in the dog days yet, um, they'd be happy with that. I think the Cardinals fans, you know, in the month of June were a game over 500, but the issue was they have aside in the Braves series, they um they lost series to the Royals. Should I pull it up? Yeah, they they went they lost two out of three to the to the Twins, took a series in the Padres, and then the fall kind of started, lost two out of three to the Royals, lost two out of three to the Diamondbacks, and that that was a four-game set before games got canceled or postponed. Lost two out of three to Miami, so you lost three straight series, and and that's kind of where we're at right now. Um they they lost those those three straight series, took one from the Braves, that that was really, really good. But you had a lot of blown leads in that in that three consecutive losing um series streak. Had a lot of blown, a lot of blown wins, uh blown saves, blown games. So um I think the bullpen is always a concern. But um yeah, right now they're they're playing decent baseball and they're about to go through a really pivotal stretch with eight straight games against the Brewers and Cubs.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Yeah, I I think you bring up a good point because I honestly think that no one expected us to be at this point right now, and it's brought up the question now do you try to make a a moment of a move if you can, if it's even possible to try to continue winning right now because things have been going relatively well and uh I would say above expectations, or do you just kind of sit and simmer and see how things play out for the rest of the year? I mean, from that perspective, like I don't know what moves could be made at all besides internally, and then if so, would it even be like what's the end goal? Like, I feel like your goal is to win a championship, but wholeheartedly, I don't think anything can happen for this team to do that, anyways. But even if that isn't the case and making the playoffs is the goal, what moves can be made at all that would allow this team to say, okay, yes, we're still six games above 500, but how do we turn the things around from the bullpen aspect or from the inconsistency that we're seeing for some of our offensive talent that would allow us to be a playoff team? Or do you just scratch all that and say our goal at the start of this last summer was or not last summer, at the end of the last fall was rebuild, build for the next you know, four or five years, and then when that four or five year standpoint comes, then you say, Okay, now this team is ready to compete. But at the same time, I say two things. Number one, what is the the date for a rebuilding for this franchise? Like, how long do you go and say, okay, we've been at this point for three years now, now it's time to take the next step? Because also, if you look back at the last couple years since 2022, since that loss to the to the Phillies, this team hasn't hasn't been consistent, like it hasn't been competing for anything. And so, do you eternally say those are rebuilding years or those are just dead years in the water that you know you didn't really know were going on, etc. etc.? Now you're at this point, and it's like, what is the next step? If these guys are performing as fastly as they were this year, do you continue to make those moves happen to keep those young guys here? Do you kind of move other pieces around? Because, like, you're talking about Lars Newport. I'm like, I don't know what you do with him if he's 28 now that I know that. It's like, yes, you can make a move for him, but will the return that you end up getting be something that can affect you now for the future? And what if it doesn't affect you at all? And it's something that doesn't work out for you at all. So, like, that's a move that could be talked about. I think there are other moves that could be talked about that you could take a risk in making, but does it really affect you positively? And I don't know, that's why I'm not a general manager. Like, I'm gonna leave all that to bloom, and you know, he's gonna have to make those tough decisions, but I think it's uh a lot to be talked about internally, and I think as good as it's been of a year so far for the Cardinals, and yes, there's obviously been down moments, but this has still been a really good year. It now brings a bigger question into what do you do for the future? Because you said this before, and I'll kind of reiterate it really quick. I I just don't there are not many moves to be made from this team, there's just it's as simple as that from a contract standpoint, from a talent standpoint, from a potential what are you getting back for right now or for the future, there's just not many things that can happen, and so do you really want to do that to affect what you have going on right now? Because I personally think there's no new move to be made. Like, I just wholeheartedly believe that I think that there are things can be changed internally from a coaching standpoint, from a a roster standpoint, and just hope other you know potential players get better from going down or guys coming up and make better moves. But like, other than that, you just have to play your brand of baseball, let the guys you have continue doing what they're doing. Um, and from the bullpen standpoint, I I I obviously they've been bad, but like I also don't want to lose my mind about them either. We knew this before the season started, my friend. They they weren't gonna be that good. Like they've they've showed sparks, sparks of good moments, but from a consistent standpoint, we knew they weren't gonna be that good. So it's not like yes, I get it, yes, I was watching the games uh before the last month that I would get upset when things didn't go our way from the bullpen perspective. It happened the very first game against Tampa Bay when we made a change and the bullpen kind of collapsed. But like I it's not something that I'm losing my mind because it was something that I expected from the very beginning from this team.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Yeah, you know, I mentioned Dustin May going Red Sox. Um probably not gonna happen, but you know, it's a good example of any team could use him. Yeah, Dustin May actually was a f he played the Red Sox last year. I thought he might have. Um, so Red Sox, front office making interesting decisions there because they really need they have no right-handed pitching. They have they have none. They have that they have uh Sonny Gray, one of one of five. The rest are like injured, and Garrett Couchet is not one to five right now, by the way. Anyway, um so yeah, I I think all of this you have to kind of preface it with do we play baseball next March? Yeah, is there baseball next year? You know, how many months are we delayed? Because uh, I think that is gonna have a big effect. What that effect is, I don't know. I don't know enough about it yet. I feel like that's where not watching the team like we haven't been able to do because we've been on the road for a month, because our our uh our our hometown team was uh or my hometown team anyway, was was playing really good baseball, really good baseball. So I was busy with them. But um uh you know, I think you kind of have to preface

Youth Movement And The Nootbaar Question

SPEAKER_00 12:45

all this with saying what do you do about that? You know, yeah. Um I think the the the window to you know extend or to sign Weatherholt to a long-term contract is kind of over. Yeah, you know, it's kind of like it's kind of like posting an article, you know, um, about a football game three weeks late, you know. It's it's too late, no one cares anymore. You know, you had that window where like everybody was getting signed, minor league players were getting signed to to mega deals for like 10 years or mega, it's like 80 million dollars or whatever. But you know, it was for long-term contracts. That window is gone now, and no one's doing that anymore because it's it's already happened, and I feel like the Cardinals League missed their chance to do that. And I'm really curious to know why they they they didn't do that with with Weatherhole. You know, you know, what do you do with Walker? Walker's he's in what year policy band in the league. He made his day he's he's got two years service time, yeah. So he's a free agent in 2030, by the way, so he's got some time, but at the end I think at the end of next season, he is arbitration eligible. So he's through his first three years after this, and then I think he hits Arb pretty soon. Um so you know, what do you do with him? You know, what do you do with all these young players? You know, are you gonna have like a a Briver situation where you have this like really great prospect that you developed, and then all of a sudden you have you have to let him go? I don't think the Cardinals really will want to do that, considering their entire lineup is made up of those homegrown talents for the most part, I I think. You know, Burlesim's drafted by the Cardinals, Mason win, Weatherholt, I think Church was. Uh Herrera, I think he came from international pool. Um if I did if I had to get I don't think he was drafted. Um yeah, something like that. So, you know, I'm really curious, you know, what what do you do with these players? You know, what w there is a much better product on the field this year, but I still don't know the direction the team is going. You know, because this team as it stands probably can't win a World Series, so what do you need to add to do that? I don't think you can just add a couple bullpen arm and say it's a World Series team, you still need, you know, there's still some holes in the in the lineup, you know, that you gotta fill, but how do you fill those? Is it with free agency? Well, who knows what that's gonna look like next season? It may not be a thing anymore. It may be completely different, you know, it may be something totally different. You know, is there gonna be a salary cap? Is there gonna be a floor? If it's a floor, by the way, we're in big trouble because we think we need like another 70 million dollars in in um in uh expenses or something, you know, in play revenue or player salaries to reach that number. So I'm really curious what the direction of the franchise is right now, not just the year-to-year, you know, uh product. But the product's been better, but where are we going with this?

SPEAKER_01 15:28

Yeah, I I think that um you bring up a great point. Honestly, I've forgotten about the lockout or potential lockout that is uh supposed to be happening next year. And that's a big topic that um you make a great point about because it can be two years before some of these guys end up playing again, and then that two-year bounce for a lot of guys is really huge. You mentioned Large Newbar, 28 to 30 is going to be a huge bounce, and

Bullpen Blown Leads And Internal Fixes

SPEAKER_01 15:50

some of these other guys, that that extended break for them can be very detrimental to their careers and their playing and the consistency that they need to continue improving. Uh, but it also from a financial standpoint of contracts and you know, kind of delegating who are we bringing back, who are we letting go, trades and off-season signings, things like that. That's a very big talking point because I think you also now being into conversations about Ali Marmo and some of the staff when you're considering things of that nature, and you know, who do you bring back and moves that need to be made in that standpoint? So I I think that's a really big point, and it's something I've forgotten about, but and it's also something that I don't know if people are talking about enough in terms of this this situation for the baseball in general, but also for the Cardinals. You bring up that point because it it seems like some people are content with where the team is, and um also again, I think it brings back to the point I was making earlier. How do you kind of evaluate, like you said, where we're going if it's something that is a three-year is a three-year plan, right? And then next year you're off, is that still the same plan? Does that change up things for the future? I don't know how you really evaluate stuff like that in that time being because I think with this team, there are so many moving pieces, and it may not necessarily seem like that, but literally everyone has opportunity to be moved around in certain situations, and I think, especially with the outfield right now, there is so much uncertainty that every single day is a battle for competition for those guys out there, and not obviously not Jordan Walker, but uh you see Victor Scott being moved around, you you you see other guys in the outfield, Lars Newbars coming back from NG now, he's kind of been fluctuating to the start of lineup. I think the third baseman situation is very competitive as well. I don't know what competitive is where, but it's kind of a question mark at times, you know. So uh and and the same thing with the bullpen like how does this affect Liam Dole? You know, how does this move some of the draft picks you're gonna have this year into the situation of where you want to be in the next two years? So I I and and money too, from that standpoint. This is a baseball team that has a rich history, but you know, just like I know, man, we have not been big spenders in the offseason for much of my lifetime, as long as I can remember. So, how does that affect things like that? If you want to bring in a few guys, etc. etc., when you're you're ready to say, okay, this team is ready to compete again. So I I don't know, man. Like, I I think that's something that we could talk about all day. I think it's something we definitely need to continue to talk about to move forward throughout this season. But from my standpoint, I I just I don't know, man. Like, I think this team is doing well enough where they are right now. And I know that may sound crazy to some, but from my perspective of it being July, and yes, I know I have not been watching much the last couple weeks, but they figure things out properly. Like, yes, there have been moments where it's like, okay, head scratching, what is Ollie doing? What are what is our bullpen doing? But like, that's baseball at the end of the day. You have a young team out there, you have a manager, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this is his first time being a manager of any team. So let's say this was his first real job at the professional level. So he's gonna believe it or not, I know it's been what four years now, but he's still making mistakes and he's still learning about things that you know he's still processing at the time, especially with this team. You got to remember this team is so young, but you have a guy like JJ Wather, who's a who's a rookie, you have Jordan Walker, who's been around for a few years, but he's still developing in a lot of things. This has kind of been like his first, I would say, year where he's developing into the next level, what he can't be. Uh, the the catcher situation is so fascinating. The the starting rotation has a lot of new pieces this year. Then you have some older guys and you have younger guys, but this is also a lot for Ollie Marmolto, and now it's new management that he's still learning and you know building relationships with those two. So I I think when you look at it, like I'm I'm really just wanting this team to continue to be where they are, keep their feet wet and stay where they are, and allow these guys to figure it out. I I think this year has taught us if anything that Ollie knows how to win games. Uh it may not have been, it may not have it's it's not always been pretty this year, and it definitely hasn't been in the past, but this year has taught me that he knows how to win games. Like he's he's bought into the fan base, the fans are buying into him. I think he's becoming more of a fan favorite from Cardinals fans for a lot of different reasons. And the players are are are behind him, and he's become a guy that is a locker room guy that players are really being able to relate to, and vice versa, to the fans, and I think it's gonna be able to win in the long run. So for me personally, even with the lockout, you know, supposedly coming on next year, I really just want this team to stay set where they are, figure it out. I think there's a good relationship with the players to players and the players to stab and management right now. Uh, and I really just think it'll be something

CBA Uncertainty And A Possible Lockout

SPEAKER_01 20:40

that is successful in the near future for this team. But right now, I just I don't see anything worth moving around in that standpoint.

SPEAKER_00 20:46

Yeah, I think they should they just stay, I I imagine they're gonna stand pat, especially you know, with like I said, the only really tradable person on the team having a mutual option for next year and him not really outplaying that contract. He's played about what he's I mean, $12.5 million is decently cheap for a starting pitcher, decently. Um, but uh, you know, it's uh he's he's played about two that number, I would I I would imagine. He's had you know a couple really good games, a couple of bad games. He got two outs last night. Only got two outs and five runs uh in the first inning. Um so I don't I think they're gonna stand pad ultimately, you know. I at deadline, I think that would be the smart thing to do because you know Kyle Leahy isn't really a starter. You know, he's probably been you know, Liberator, it's again just not not quite where you you know you'd want him to be um with the ERA wise. But he's he you know he's he's had 80 innings. I think Kyle Leahy is the kind of guy you can bump to the bullpen and then you bring up one of your several other pitching prospects, you know, maybe Liam Doyle in a couple years. Um there's several others, we've got a guy from Stanford, um, you know, a couple other guys who can probably fill that spot in, you know, you and you move Leahy. The bullpen and that really reinforces the bullpen. You know, maybe that that moves Stannik or Savantson out who have not been good. That adds a little bit of depth. I mean, uh aside from Savanton and Stannik, the bullpen really isn't that bad, honestly. I mean, O'Brien's got a 3-8, Christoph's got a 3-3, and Rawls 3-6. Um, uh Romero, one of your you know, uh your setup guy has got a 3-7, and then Sor Soriano 3-3. So I mean, really not awful. I mean, they they've been good. It's just those two Savant and Stanic who have combined for you know 70 nearly 70 innings, um, have been really, really bad, honestly. Um and so I'm curious, you know, if maybe you know bringing Leahy in and not having him pitch for so many innings, you know, as much as he has, although he hasn't been bad by any means, really. The ERA isn't quite what you want it to be, but ultimately he's probably more of a reliever, you know, type guy, you know. And I think putting him back in that more his more traditional role would help. Um, you know, if you can give get May for uh a second year and after that he's a free agent, but he's got a mutual option. I think that would be really good for both sides. But um yeah, I mean I think they're gonna stand Pat. I think they should stand Pat. I don't really see them doing much else. But uh as far as the future goes, I I think they're they're they may just try to really benefit from this new CBA. That's what I see the Cardinals do. I see the Cardinals setting up the next winning era through this CBA and finding ways to be competitive with it, you know. Kind of kind of like the Brewers have found a way to be successful in their own small market, you know. I I kind of think the Cardinals are this team that will, you know, find a way to succeed with the new rules in place, with the new strategies, with the new tactics of, you know, managing money and whatnot. Now, what that looks like, I I don't know, but I I think that's the kind of person Bloom is to kind of try to not cheat the system, you know, by any means, but try to win in the margins, you know, like like the Brewers have done. The Brewers have found really good ways to develop pitching, and they've won in these small areas that no one else really looks in. And I think Cardinals can kind of do that, maybe with this next set of um of regulations, if you will. Um, but what that looks like is so up in the air to fans right now. I I'm still curious about the direction that they that they would go in, you know.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

Yeah, okay. I I want to ask you really quick based on what you just said, because the future is obviously important, but this this MLB draft this year, Cardinals picked 13 overall. How important is

MLB Draft Pick 13 Priorities

SPEAKER_01 24:35

that pick for the Cardinals to get it right? But also, where do you go with that 13th pick?

SPEAKER_00 24:40

I mean, I I wouldn't be surprised if they went, you know, our starter like uh Taylor Reeb.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

You know, that would be that would be good for us. Good marketing for old miss. Um, but I I think what what what do you need? I mean, you've got more catchers than anybody just about. Um I I wonder how deep the first I mean you got Alec Burleson with their whole, you know, the the the middle infield is locked up. And I feel like with Blaze Jordan, third base is good. Outfield's still pretty solid. They love getting outfitters. I mean, there was they got a few outfitters for years in a row. They loved, I mean, obviously there's three positions, so you gotta fill that up. But I feel like they just need somebody who can hit. You know, they they they they're probably gonna go for a power hitter. Um, and that's that's what I would want as a fan, because I feel like you know, the roster itself is is pretty good. Um, but maybe somebody who's just a really good, you know, all around hitter. You know, we don't really have uh I think Burleson's the closest thing we have to that. Weather hole obviously is really, really good. Um the pop isn't how how how good is he? He's he's got 12 homers, uh, those weren't on here. So I mean the pop's still there, but I I would think more of a Paul Goldschmidt type, you know, type bat, you know, somebody like that. A good contact with the pop potential. Um and I think you don't care about the position. If they can hit the ball, it's really all that matters. Um but I would want them to go get a bat, honestly. And I say that as if it's gonna like affect the team next year, but I just feel like they they they should go after a uh after a uh a really good college bat.

SPEAKER_01 26:25

Yeah, um we'll see what they do. Uh it's obviously important for us to be able to draft properly, especially right now when there's I feel like not much to do from the outside perspective of that. So I I would love to I'm loving to see what they're gonna do with that. Um right. Like I think that's where, honestly speaking, behind the scenes is where more pressure comes from this team right now than anything, in my opinion. Like, I think you have to make the behind the scenes move, the the transactions, the trades, the signings, the drafts, make those moves right happen more right now, then potentially what you have to do, you know, playing wise. So I think that's very important. Um what do the Cardinals got coming up, man? Just finished the Braves series. Uh Cubbies are in town, knew that this weekend. Or we're in Chicago, I believe. Yeah, and then Milwaukee,

Cubs Brewers Stretch And All Star Push

SPEAKER_01 27:15

then Atlanta again, and then Arizona. Hopefully, we'll get back to you guys before that Brave series again. But this is um this is when the onions get tough, man. This is uh I think that you've obviously learned a lot about this team in the last month, and I'm now gonna be able to start watching a little bit more over the next week or two. But like I I this is the point where you're at. If you're what are we, four and a half games, seven and a half games back from the Brewers, and two and a half back from Chicago in the standings, those are the two teams you play next. Those are the two teams ahead of you. If you want to be competitive this year, it's it's do or die right now. Um, and I think those are important series, not only just for confidence, but two series that you are against your I think my the teams I hate the most personally, other than the Reds. So like I think that you don't ever want to lose those teams with the Cardinal Swings, but I think right now, especially you're getting a little bit, I would say, of momentum back after getting a very, very important strong series win uh uh against the Braves. So you kind of want to not kind of you want to build on that against uh Chicago, especially on the road. We we've had some great wins in regularly over the last couple years. Continue that it's gonna be big. Uh shout out. I don't was it announced the MLB, the all-star team yet? I don't was it announced or was the voting the voting's still going, yeah. Okay, make sure, yeah, go vote for Jordan Walker. He should be a starter, deserves to be a starter. Uh, I don't know if he was in the ranks or not. I believe I was seeing that he wasn't at the time. You go vote, make sure you vote. He deserves to be a starter, been one of the best players in baseball this year, uh and really deserves to be out there playing as All Star, representing the Cardinals this year. Um, so yeah, I think he uh has earned his flowers, and I'm very, very proud of what he's been able to do this year. He stayed healthy, he stayed the course. Uh his hitting mechanics have improved so much, and which is funny. We'll get in, I guess I'll talk about him real quick and then we kind of get out of here. Um I was concerned in spring training about him. I think we've talked about this before really quickly, but like I was concerned. So the fact that he has turned it around the way he has to start this season and still being one of the best hitters in baseball. And he's defensively, he's been really strong in right field as well. His arm is obviously uh a one of kind of talent, but his positioning, his footwork, his mechanics has also been very strong this year. So my props given to Jordan Walker and his team for working with him. Um, I'm seeing the improvements, and I hope Carlos fan continue to relish what he's been doing this year. Let's see. Uh yeah, that's it, man. Cubs, Brewers, Braves again. Big weekend for the Cardinals, I believe. That game is on national TV tonight, Fox Sports, I believe. So huge. We can actually watch it finally. Uh dad will be kicking off. Uh I said tonight, 305 today. Uh is that is that game tonight is that on TV tonight or is it tomorrow?

SPEAKER_00 30:27

I I've seen some ads for it. There is a game soon.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

I believe it's tomorrow. I'm looking at the Google. I believe the game tomorrow at seven o'clock is on Fox Sports. Tonight is at three, and that will not be on national TV. So excuse me for being correct, but I think that'll be on national TV tomorrow. But regardless, none of the fact big weekend gets the our arch heated rivals in Chicago. Should be a fun one. Good to see you, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Any last thoughts before we head out? I'm really excited about this series. Um, I'll be able to sit down and watch it, should be really good. Um I'm really excited to see what PCA does. I feel like whenever the spotlights on him, he always does something either really, really cool or really, really stupid. Um PCA is

Rivalry Talk PCA And Final Wrap

SPEAKER_00 31:10

one of the most interesting players in the sport because you either hate him or you really, really love him, you know. Like you really, really, really hate him. And he said some I I do like that um in the last Cardinal series, I think he said something about the fan base. He he was talking more positively about St. Louis. I kind of respected that it's been a while. He was he was saying, you know, fan base was good and it was nice to have it filled up to have the rivalry kind of back, which is nice. I respect him for saying that like that a lot. But of course, um he's a cub, he's like he embodies the cubs a lot. Um, he's got weird hair, you know, whatever. But uh I I think PCA could um have another really bad error or a really big home run, and that will determine you know how what we think about him for the next two weeks, pretty much, because that's how it works. PCA. He goes on these big two-week runs or something, or two-week big error sprints. That's what it's what's what it feels like. I don't know. I mean, you can fact check it, but that's what it's what it really feels like with PCA.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

Yeah. Man, it should be a phone. I'm not a PCA guy at all, but uh we'll see it. Uh Bron Braun going back to Cleveland. I'm gonna call it it right now. Shout out LeBron, headed back home. I don't know that for a fact, but I hope he does. But appreciate you guys tuning in. Welcome to episode 11 of Cardinals. So I hope you enjoy. Like I said, at the beginning, if you're new, hit that subscribe button. It's free, keeps us keeps us going with this. It's allowing us to grow better. Uh, leave a like and comment something funny, or whatever you liked about us talking about, or something you want to hear us talk about in the next episode, or just your overall thoughts about the Cardinals. We want to hear you in the comment section. So appreciate you guys tuning in, man. See you guys next time.