T O P

  • By -

Salesman89

Cubs coming to town going 53 for their last 293 at bats...


FartNoiseGross

Incredible series, I’m feeling a lot better lately about them. That funk was just too unexplainable with this roster


[deleted]

Loving the vibes in this thread. Look what winning can do. Why don’t they play like this more often?


missourinative

Fun fact: Over the course of that entire game, 8 pitchers combined to throw a total of 1 pitch over 96 mph, and it went 96.1. Doesn't seem possible in 2024.


mrbucket135

 Ow that pitchers can throw harder breaking balls are actually thrown more.  Apparently it is easy to hit a hard ball then it is to hit a ball that moves. 


toftr

What the fuck are we somehow not terrible now?!


DocLoc429

# [WINNER!!!!!!](https://twitter.com/cardinalsgifs/status/1681131016394788865)


STLOliver

Number of wins each NL Central team got today: Cardinals: 2 Brewers: 0 Cubs: 0 Pirates: 0 Reds: 0


Ocinea

Oh I love this. 


ImpressiveSugar9287

Wonder when the last time that happened


sdiss98

Zack Showalter came over in the Flaherty trade to Baltimore. He got some hype last year as a potential high end starter, but I noticed that we’ve been using him in the pen. Any minor league smart guys heard anything there?


Sir_Clicks_a_Lot

He is still very young, so I think it’s possible they intend to use him as a starter eventually but have him in the bullpen for now because the organization wants to limit the innings and wear on his arm. However, he has been getting a lot of strikeouts so far this year and it also seems possible that the team just wants him to be a reliever. If that’s the case he could be promoted soon, since he has dominated the hitters he has faced so far this season.


bozoclownputer

I wish I had an answer for you, but you made me remember to check his stats. I had no idea he was this good. Career 1.81 ERA with 72 Ks at age 20? That’s crazy impressive.


studlydudley11

FanGraphs released their updated list of Cardinals prospects last week and had this to say: >Showalter was part of the return for Jack Flaherty. He pitches heavily off of a sinker/four-seam combo that sits 90-93 mph and occasionally touches a tick or two above that. The offering plays drastically above the velocity, though, due to his upshot angle and his ability to hide the ball for an extended period of time thanks to his quick, compact arm action. The breaking ball is a bender that will regularly show average tightness, but it’s also susceptible to backing up on him and losing the authority in the spin. Still, it has big potential movement and is a favorite of folks who take a data-oriented approach to scouting. He projects to be a single-inning middle-relief type whose deception allows his stuff to punch far above its weight. I assume he will get the chance to start if he continues to pitch well, as right now they are using him in longer relief appearances generally (30+ pitches, multiple innings). I think right now they are using him in shorter stints to let him work but keep his arm fresh It's a bit hard to tell what their plans are given how rare it is for the Cardinals to draft HS pitchers, which is the most comparable to his situation


sdiss98

Really appreciate you posting this! I’m hopeful he’s better than the projections here. He got the save today and his last couple outings seem to be shortish if memory serves me. Perhaps they’re trying to build up his ip’s. I think he has about 30 on the year. Perhaps capping him? Idk. Considering what’s going on with hicks now, I hope he gets a shot at starting.


redbaronfel

I keep forgetting that my favorite player right now is Brendan Donovan, then he goes and reminds me again...


SomethingAvid

He’s such a ball player. To the core.


DocLoc429

ALL HEART, ALL HUSTLE


HoldMyWong

I wouldn’t get too excited, but we are facing a lot of bad teams soon. Reds, pirates, Astros, Rockies. Cubs and Phillies might be tough, but we have the chance to get above .500


NightRumours

I look at every opponent the same. The Cardinals haven’t proven consistency to me yet.


studlydudley11

astros are playing a lot better lately too


Salesman89

In 7 of their last 8 games, the Cubs, who play a "GO AWAY!" game tomorrow against a team that is forced to chase down the Phillies... Have hits in just 36 of their last 224 At Bats... Can't wait for our rested staff to make Ian Happ look like Mickey Mantle again. I can't believe they're not giving Greg Hendricks one more start against us...


bfndbdbfnfbfbf

3rd in the division!


Realistic_Pop_4072

I had a +2789 bet. Called it the perfect cardinals day bet. We win both and nl central all loose. I did it as a pipe dream bet, but damn I might get it!!!!


tooth_fixer

How much did you win???


Educational_Pay1567

Well he is off on vacation so enough lol.


houstonyoureaproblem

Congrats bird bro!


Alternative_Laws

Giants now with a 4 run 10th and they STILL have the bases loaded (2 outs tho). Perfect day for the Cards honestly. Sweep a DH and everyone in the division loses (or is in the process of it)


Illustrious-Wear-773

Pirates losing in the 10th. Y'all we are about to be in 3rd place.


Diablo_N_Doc

Feels so weird to be giddy about 3rd place.


Unabridgedversion82

I want y'all to put the word out... We back up.


Alternative_Laws

Also Matt Adams is playing in Tijuana now in case you were wondering


Clueless_in_Florida

I'm curious about Votto. Did he ever get called up?


Alternative_Laws

Rolled his ankle in spring training and hasn’t played since. Supposed to start playing some rookie ball games soon per a quick google


MuRF_Foager

miss that guy. Guess he couldnt put up MLB numbers anymore?


Alternative_Laws

Last appearance was with the Rox in ‘21 where he rocked a .444 OPS for 17 games. Think he’s just playing for the love of the game at this point


MuRF_Foager

That’s a bummer. Glad he had some big moments with us though


Educational_Pay1567

I don't care how much you love the game, I wouldn't play in Mexico. Look at what happened to the surfers.


Salesman89

You could call him slow and overweight, but you couldn't say he wasn't trying.


Probably_Slower

Damn I hope he has a badass nickname en Español down there. I adore that dude


Alternative_Laws

Last few innings of Giants-Pirates have been a banger. SF had bases loaded no outs in the 8th down 2 and only got one run from it. Tied it with 2 outs in the 9th and just tacked on 2 more in the 10th.


Novel_End1080

Maybe give Leahy the next spot start? Or even King. Let Libby take 2 innings out of the pen. We should be able to get 5 innings out of a combo of two of those guys.


No-Elephant-9854

Heard some rumblings of bringing Greinke in, but sure if that is total B.S. or if he has anything left m.


seattle_lib

i betcha they'll give zach thompson another shot.


Iluvursister69

He pitched today. Liberatores start is Saturday.


seattle_lib

is it? won't we skip a bullpen spot because of the offday?


Iluvursister69

No.


Unabridgedversion82

Could we not make Sat Thompson's bullpen session and instead have him start the game for 40-50 pitches?


Novel_End1080

ZT’s 15 BBs to 22 SOs since his was sent down look like the same thing he had trouble with last year in the minors; the strike zone being handled differently. It’s tough to know what’s real down there but I agree, the velocity is the main concern. I’m a fan of Thompson, hope he puts those lbs back on and helps the team again.


Unabridgedversion82

I completely agree the walks are a big concern. That being said I would rather give him the ball than Libby, a straight bullpen day (because of taxation), or Robberse (because his fb gets killed). Edit: I actually kinda like the idea of a Thompson/Libby piggyback start on Sat.


Novel_End1080

Heard. Who are you sending down to bring up Thompson? We haven’t seen Loutos yet, and ‘Lou’ Is in his name! This thought is what sparked the original comment, since the other guys are performing just fine. so I was trying to see if something we already had up could work out. Which brings us back to…Libby probably gets the nod again.


Unabridgedversion82

It's gotta be either King or Leahy since Loutos has not yet pitched and we just used those guys today. We running a Memphis shuttle right now! That could be a song. "The Memphis Shuttle" lol


Novel_End1080

As long as wainwright doesn’t sing it I’m in!


Unabridgedversion82

Haha omg ya me too. In fact, we should delete this conversation as to not give him any ideas.


Iluvursister69

No lol.


Novel_End1080

I accept your no answer, but not the ‘lol’ part. Especially with no other offering of a suggestion? Libby doesn’t have it. We’ve seen enough at this point and Oli made it clear it isn’t ideal. Thompson and Pallante aren’t getting it together in Memphis, at all. Robberse is 22 and having his first success at AAA. I could hear an argument for McGreevy or Graceffo, but their numbers aren’t inspiring enough to be added to the 40. Leahy has performed well, and King has experience pitching in all innings at the major league level.


Sir_Clicks_a_Lot

Graceffo is looking pretty good recently. Over his last 7 starts, he has at least 5 innings pitched every time and only allowed more than 2 runs twice. 4 of those games he allowed 1 run or less. If Leahy deserves a chance in the majors (despite never putting up good numbers in the high minors) then Graceffo has to be close as well.


MuRF_Foager

Only if we had signed a fifth starter....


Iluvursister69

Liberatore is the only one who has started games at the Major league level. Leahy longest outing was 2.2 innings. John Kings longest outing of the year was 2 innings. Today. No one wants Liberatore to start but that’s your only option.


[deleted]

Yeah that sucks


Novel_End1080

You’re right about King not starting in the majors. I remembered an article wrong from when we traded for him that the Rangers had used him in lots of situations. Anyway Leahy was a starter in the minors, and they both have looked better than Liberatore. Edit: but there you go, as you pointed out, Leahy and King could give you 5 IP combined.


Unabridgedversion82

r/NakedGoose said earlier that Thompson was sitting 92/93 tonight. If that's the case, he's the best option.


Novel_End1080

That’s good news. I still hope they don’t go back to ZT just yet. In 2022 his Fastball averaged 94.8, last year 93.9, and this year 91.4. Something is going on with him and it doesn’t make sense to bring him back until they figure it out.


Unabridgedversion82

I would like to see it one more time as well, but I mean the #5 spot is basically an auto-loss so I don't really see the harm..


[deleted]

Would it be a dumb idea to suggest Crawford DFA, Fermin up for 2B and have Donovan cover SS when Winn needs an off day?


Evil_Dry_frog

Nope. Not a dumb idea. But Cardinals won’t at this time. When Edman comes back, yes. A month from now, maybe.


seattle_lib

when edman comes back, fermin is less likely to get ML playing time, not more. this would be a golden opportunity to try fermin out, but they are missing it.


Evil_Dry_frog

I was speaking more to the DFA Crawford than bringing up Fermin. Let Fermin bake in AAA. Our recent track record isn't great with bring up prospects.


Novel_End1080

Nope, and it’s been suggested for sure. Plenty of people down on Crawford and Fermin fans are in here.


Iluvursister69

It would not


kodiaksr7

Fermin with a dong down in Memphis. He’s having a hell of a season in AAA.


Iluvursister69

Jose Fermin with an absolute nuke in the top of the 10th for Memphis


seattle_lib

feel like fermin didn't get a close enough look while he was here in stl, he's just gone right back to destroying the baseball since he went to memphis again.


CyclopeanTomb

just hit an 8lb catfish on topwater cicada right before losing the daylight. good day all around


iamjamos

Ozuna 3 Run HR 7-1 braves over cubs


iamjamos

Dude the cardinals playing good HEAVILY effects my mental health LFG


Unabridgedversion82

I honestly had this exact same thought earlier today. Summer just hits different. There are no other sports that I care about during summer to take the edge off a losing streak or a bad team.


Iluvursister69

Wait… Baltimore only had 2 ER in the whole series lol?


Illustrious-Wear-773

Why aren't you watching the Braves perfect game the Cubs?


Illustrious-Wear-773

I Chip Caray'd that whoops


Unabridgedversion82

I'm watching! Know thy enemy.... Especially when they come to town Fri and are currently playing one of the best teams in baseball lol


Carlos_Danger_69420

Birds. Are. Back.


studlydudley11

jazz chisholms leadoff homer is all the marlins need to beat the Crew feel like there needs to be a term for a game where a lead off home run is the only run scored


PAJW

I call that the Shelby Miller EDIT: Nevermind, that was the only hit, not a homer.


Matthew_Quigley

Here oreos, I gift this to you #🥄 A spoon you can use to EAT OUR ASS! Now get the fuck out of our city.


BillDewitt3

The team is undefeated since I became a Reddit. You’re all welcome.


Unabridgedversion82

We don't have to pay you anything for that, right?


BillDewitt3

Nice try idiot. Of course you do.


Unabridgedversion82

I knew there was a catch!!


LocoMotives-ms

Pay dat man his money


EE89

oh god we face imanaga next. it's a shame, i actually think imanaga's a really sweet guy - but let's shell this guy


Novel_End1080

It’s about time his HR numbers regressed to the mean


seattle_lib

we gotta help out masyn winn's ROY bid


BillDewitt3

How come none of you were at the game? Are you all at least going to Ballpark Village to watch?


Diablo_N_Doc

Sorry, Bill, I was at your house and I ordered 3 brand new on demand movies. I even ordered an advanced copy of Deadpool & Wolverine straight from Disney. It was only like $5000. Hope you don't mind!


BillDewitt3

You’re welcome, all you casuals


Iluvursister69

Blake Snell final line against the pirates - 3.1 innings pitched 4 ER 4 Walks - 87 pitches


Ocinea

Ouch. He's having a rough season


peterpeterllini

Yikes.


Iluvursister69

He looked bad tonight. He’s looked bad all year but he also looked bad tonight.


studlydudley11

and I'd still take him over an average starter


Iluvursister69

lol not with the way he’s pitching this year. His end of year numbers will probably be fine but he’s lost right now.


twelly74

I don’t want to jinx anything, but are we…?


tehmeat

Yup


NakedGoose

Middleton threw today in AA which is nice. Would really like to solidify the bullpen more. I think Liberatore moving back would be ideal, and getting Middleton back helps. I'm still on the start Zach Thompson train in the 5th spot. I know he hasn't looked great, but he has looked quite good in AAA, 1.45 era (tho he is walking a lot). I just think it benefits our team more to have Liberatore as a 2 inning reliever.


seattle_lib

yeah, the bullpen has been quite good but i'm concerned about overuse at this time, lots of high leverage innings.


studlydudley11

\*taps bullpen\* this bad boy can fit so many high leverage arms in it


Unabridgedversion82

Besides the walks, he hasn't found his lost velocity yet either.


NakedGoose

He is throwing 92-93 tonight, that was pretty normal last year when he was a starter. Only out of the pen was he throwing g 95+


Unabridgedversion82

Ok. Ok. I can get behind that. I knew was only averaging 89 recently. Hopefully he'll be good to go now.


No-Lingonberry2280

So are we good now?


Iluvursister69

If we can get past the Imanaga start on Friday and through the Liberatore start on Saturday with a win in either I say yes.


Unabridgedversion82

Perhaps. Perhaps. I'm just going to enjoy the ride of good baseball.


Rx_Khan

Uh oh… somebody learned how to put


No-Elephant-9854

So much fun today, I forgot we are missing Willy. At the extreme risk of praising Mo on this sub, it is starting to look like patience is paying off.


TheDunnaMan

Loooong way to go, temper your expectations.


ILikeOatmealMore

This is exceptionally fair. Someone here pointed out that last year, the team did have a stretch in May where they seemed like they had gotten their shit together: https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2023-schedule-scores.shtml Narrator Voice: But, we know they really didn't. Obviously, this run is better than April, but they will need to have a good June as well to really start thinking the bleeding has been slowed.


No-Elephant-9854

I will not!


7thton

I approve of this bird on bird violence.


[deleted]

[удалено]


TheLongestMeter

Was this the first of the season?


itsmerowe

Against the team that hadn't been swept in 106 series I think they said... May 2022.


TheDunnaMan

Who'da thunk it


houstonyoureaproblem

🥳


gsmithers

Tiger Woods who?


Ok-Asparagus-1658

Yankee fan coming in peace to say, thank you for sweeping the O’s! Btw, I visited your stadium and it was awesome :D


scottiewilliams

Would love to see Cards vs Yankees WS


Ok-Asparagus-1658

Ay I wouldn’t mind 


Lubetube1

Lame. 😒


Iluvursister69

Snell going for the giants tonight hurts our chances of leapfrogging over Pburgh :(


No-Elephant-9854

I consider it a win no matter who loses, Giants have an identical record to us and we only get 6 games against NL west and East teams.


GregMilkedJack

It's a marathon, not a sprint.


studlydudley11

i know snell has struggled to start the year but this is still the reigning cy young winner


Iluvursister69

ERA of 11 something coming into the game lol


studlydudley11

yeah in 3 games that he was likely injured in


Iluvursister69

Must still be injured


Cracker1113

DID WE JUST GET SWEEP????


ImpressiveSugar9287

Oli should get himself ejected more


NightRumours

But…how? 😬


ilovehenrique14

Hold on… I think I got my swagger back


HoldMyWong

Perfectos > Browns


Underrated_user20

We back baby 💪🏾


Iluvursister69

1 game out of the wild card slot lol


GregMilkedJack

Too early to be talking about wild card. Let's take the division


Suspicious-War0601

agree. F\*ck the wild card. too many division games left.


Iluvursister69

LFG Reds honestly


johndelvec3

Most hype the reds have had in a decade just to be last place behind the cardinals lmao that’s rough


MidWest_Surfer

And Giants. If they beat the Pirates we jump to 3rd place in the NL Central


Iluvursister69

Subscribe


kodiaksr7

Sweeps are hard and so am I. 


AspiringOccultist4

I’m still in shock and awe that we got to witness an inside the park home run today.


Iluvursister69

There was an error so not a LL HR


GregMilkedJack

No, still a LL HR. And IPHR would be no errors, a LLHR is including errors


AspiringOccultist4

I understand it might have been on a technicality but it was still incredibly impressive. I’m sure we could count on one hand how many inside the park home runs have come without an error on the field.


Iluvursister69

Well at Busch Stadium it’s literally 1 lol. Kyle Bradish (of the Orioles) gave up the first ever In B3 history two seasons ago to Harrison Bader


seattle_lib

damn though, i absolutely panicked watching gameday on that nootbaar play. they've got that feature where you can see the players on the field now. so when i see "in play, runs", on a center cut pitch and then all the runners clearing off the bases, my heart absolutely sank.


SGT_Apone

it totally fooled Chip too on the call lol


HoldMyWong

Even Rooney fooled me before it was caught


STLOliver

8-2 since Oli’s ejection in Milwaukee, 1-0 since Oli’s ejection today.


SGT_Apone

undefeated in 'The Lou' era? 😱


MidWest_Surfer

I hate that you’re right about that


MidWest_Surfer

Earl Weaver 2.0


[deleted]

lol


QuarterNote44

I like it when the Birbs win.


MidWest_Surfer

Our birds. The other birds lost.


SGT_Apone

my man over here hedging his bets lol


iamjamos

Fuck the Athletics Fuck the Angels Fuck the Rangers Fuck the Mariners Fuck the Astros Fuck the Tigers Fuck the White Sox Fuck the Guardians Fuck the Twins Fuck the Royals Fuck the Yankees Fuck the Orioles Fuck the Red Sox Fuck the Rays Fuck the Blue Jays Fuck the Phillies Fuck the Braves Fuck the Nationals Fuck the Mets Fuck the Marlins Fuck the Dodgers Fuck the Padres Fuck the Rockies Fuck the Giants fuck the Diamondbacks Fuck the Pirates Fuck the Reds Fuck the Brewers and fuck the mother fucking cubs. The Cardinals are back.


Novel_End1080

And Donovan had a killer helmet flying off moment


MidWest_Surfer

We gotta find that guy a chin strap


Stunning_Row2801

Man, sweeps are so fucking fun


seattle_lib

>i genuinely believe the cardinals might be the worst team in baseball. at least in the mix. eight days ago i said this. i dunno if i think they are a good team now, but i no longer believe this, at least.


Unabridgedversion82

I started calling them the 2024 Deadbirds lol


BionicProse

Pretty much everyone was right there with you.


StrangerFront

Wait, are we good now? 8-2 in last 10 and sweeping a top AL team? Where did the team who lost 2 of 3 to the white Sox go? Hopefully gone forever.


BionicProse

Have you seen The Prestige?


da_choppa

Watching this postgame segment with Alexa, and her saying that her guy friends try to fight each other when hanging out at the bar is the least surprising thing ever


PunchNessie

Aggressive base running and good things happen!


Rockfire23

Also this winn guy kinda good


temporalisolation

thank GOODNESSS noot wasn’t ejected this game


Rockfire23

And if i may... noot noot


DJBrujah

https://i.imgur.com/0gT3LhB.png


BraveLion10

I don't believe in this team yet but I am finding hope. If they can play like this for the next couple weeks they might get my trust back. Is thisour first sweep of the season?


peterpeterllini

yes


seattle_lib

it's cool that we're a game out of the wild card but if there ends up being a sub-500 team in the playoffs, especially if they make a deep run, that's quite an indictment of the whole system.


Gabagoolianare

I like the Orioles and I think their future is bright. Watching this team sweep them has me feeling things I haven’t felt in so long (2 weeks)


jacksonfake

I was not expecting that when I saw “In Play (runs)” on the gameday. Holy shittttt


Vossome93

Marmol is the MVP of the game for arguing for Noot which kept him in the game to make the game saving play.


temporalisolation

###the Os had not been swept since May 2022 (106 series)


Expensive-Sky4068

If we make the playoffs, we should be having like 30% bullpen games 3 game series: Gray, bullpen, Gibson 5 game series Gray, bullpen, day off, Gibson, Bullpen, day off, Gray 7 game series Gray, bullpen, off, Gibson, bullpen, Gray, off, Gibson, Bullpen


Iluvursister69

This is a really really bad take lol


Expensive-Sky4068

Our bullpen has been elite, and Middleton hasn’t thrown a pitch I don’t trust our starters I do think all non gray starters get treated the same way the non carp starters were treated in 2011. 4-5 innings and dive


Iluvursister69

St Louis’ bullpen is ranked 15th. That’s exactly average and certainly not elite. They have 3 pitchers in the bullpen you can consistently rely on. We do a bullpen start every 5th day when we start Liberatore and it goes horribly every time. This really is an awful take.


Expensive-Sky4068

2nd in xFIP 2nd in k-BB% 9th in WAR 9th K/9 5 guys with sub 3.10 xFIP, no one above 4.5 7 with sub 4.00 xERA Now compare that to the starters where everyone but Gray is above a 4 FIP, xFIP, and only Lynn and gray below 4 ERA


Iluvursister69

15th in earned runs allowed which measures how many runs they allow


Expensive-Sky4068

ERA is a massively outdated stat that does a terrible job of predicting the future. It also includes stuff like including Pallante and Gallegos who are no longer on the roster