Cardinals' Post-Break Performance & Playoff Chances
The St. Louis Cardinals started strong but have faltered since the All-Star break, grappling with difficult trade decisions as their playoff chances wane.
Video Transcript
When you mention the Cardinals with this loss, I It, it's been a tale of two halves here, right?
Even if you wanna call the All-Star break the half.
There was, you know, the Cardinals of May and June that I, I, I didn't expect them to win as many games as they had to begin with.
And then there's kind of the Cardinals here from about mid-July to where we are now, and they have just not They're kind of playing themselves out of the conversation.
But they're It's not easy with the Cardinals, 'cause I don't know who they're s- who they would sell, or even who they might buy or go.
That pitching staff, you're not beating anybody with that pitching staff one way or the other.
So the Cardinals, if anything, feels like are they just gonna stand pat?
Is that kind of what they're gonna do?
Yeah.
I mean, gosh, it's really not the right move for them.
I, I think that- It's not their, their odds are under, like, 10% now maybe to make the playoffs with this loss.
And, look, I, I mean, the reason why they signed Dustin May was to do exactly what he's done and then trade him.
And now, Joe, are they really gonna- Right keep him for the rest of the season?
And I guess, I guess if the CBA stays the same, then they could offer him the qualifying offer.
But Joe, they're talking about getting rid of the qualifying offer in baseball at the end- Yep of the season, too.
So, like, I think that has to be part of the conversation.
Look, I, I, I, I believe in, Chaim Bloom.
I believe that Craig Breslow right now in Boston, Joe, is reaping the benefits of everything that Chaim Bloom did.
I mean, the Red Sox- Yep all these players and everything that they have and all these trades that they can make are because Chaim Bloom rebuilt this farm system.
Chaim Bloom got- Yep fired 'cause he traded Mookie Betts for nothing, and we all understand that, and I'm sure Chaim Bloom understands that, Joe, that that trade didn't work out.
And because they traded a generational player for nothing, he lost his job.
I think that's BS.
I think he did a good job in Boston.
I think he's gonna do a good job in St. Louis.
It's a tough spot to be in if you're him, because he fully expected this team to be five, six games under, making trades and training for the future.
Instead, they've been around 500.
So long story short, if I'm him, Dustin May is playing on another team in a week.
If I'm the Cardinals, I'm not completely punting the season, but I definitely am trading anybody that I can to get value back that I, they may not be able to r- re-sign next year.
So if I'm him, I'm making a deal.
I agree.
I, I think now is the time.
If you're gonna do it, now is the time.
We kind of felt like the Cardinals were gonna be in one of those transition years anyway, and that would be, like you said- It's fine Dustin May's exactly the kind of guy that you I mean, get some return back for the effort that you, that you put in there.
Because, my goodness, it feels like there would be some teams that will always overreact and probably overpay and, and look to help the Cardinals here by getting him.
And to his credit, it, I mean, when he Remember when he first came in with the Dodgers?
I mean, there was some hype around him in a big, big way.
Oh, yeah.
Massive.
Did some injuries.
Had to kind of change his philosophy, where he was going, what he was doing.
Didn't work out.
And then he comes to the Cardinals, and all of a sudden, I mean, my goodness.
I mean, he's been one of the most steadiest pitchers that they have had, and that's gonna get noticed by teams who are contending.
Now they're gonna have offers on him, are they not?
Absolutely.
Yeah, he's not a star, and he's not gonna start- But- game one of a playoff game or maybe even game two.
But, you know, he's cheap in terms of money, and- Yep he seems like a, a Look, he's not going eight innings, but he seems like a solid five-inning pitcher that can help you in the postseason chase.
And if his ERA's around late threes, early fours, Joe, and he can stay healthy, he, you know, may be able to pitch in an ALCS or NLCS out of the bullpen or maybe even game four or game five.
What's wrong with that?
And that's a good point you mentioned.
When he's with the Dodgers, he was thought to be a superstar, right?
Like it was- Yep I, I think if I'm not mistaken, it was him as a pitcher, and remember Gavin Lux.
That was the hitter.
They had those- Yep two guys that, that those are the two guys that were gonna carry them, and neither of them really worked out.
I think Gavin Lux is actually in Tampa Bay.
I, I don't think he's played much at all, at all this year.
But, but yeah, I, I think, it, it's hard- Yep because the Cardinals fans, Joe, they still show up at Busch.
They have such a great fan base, and then now you're sending this message like, yeah, like it's over.
This tarps off stuff, that's done.
No one, you know, we're not having fun anymore here.
I understand it, but it is the right baseball move because in that National League Central, and we certainly, could look at the, the Cubs and Brewers.
They're not gonna beat those teams out.
So it's just the wild card, Joe.
And I don't- Yes think they're beating out the Cubs for the wild card, and I don't think they're beating I'm gonna still throw the Phillies out there.
That's the American League Central, by the way, guys.
I don't think they're- Yes beating the, Phillies, for the wild card.
I think they'll get it going eventually.
And then, Joe, it comes down to do you think the Cardinals are better than the Marlins?
Do you think they're better than the Padres?
Do you think they're better than the Diamondbacks?
I think all those three teams that I mentioned are better than St. Louis, so if, if And Pittsburgh.
So I, I think it's- Yep there's too many teams to climb for me.
Too many.
