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Watching Cardinals rookie starting pitcher Michael McGreevy’s last outing against the Chicago Cubs and listening to both McGreevy and manager Oli Marmol’s thoughts after the game, it spawned both optimism and frustration.

First, the encouraging and optimistic part. McGreevy’s learning curve has only accelerated since his insertion into the rotation for the major league club. He’s working through game situations and learning from experiences that the minors simply couldn’t offer him.

So what’s frustrating about that? Well, the aggravation comes when you ask yourself the inevitable questions: What if McGreevy had been getting this chance in the majors earlier? Wouldn’t he be that much further along? He’s made just seven starts (eight appearances) in the majors this season.

Now, every prospect is different. Every player needs to spend time in the minors, adjusting to a wide range of changes on the field and off the field as part of the jump to the professional game.

But McGreevy isn’t a fresh-out-of-college prospect being rushed to the bigs.

McGreevy, 25, entered this season with 89 career starts in the minors plus another four appearances (three starts) in the majors. The former first-round draft pick (2021) logged nearly 500 innings (478) as a professional pitcher before he stepped on a pitching rubber in 2025.

All of those innings were necessary, critical, essential and served multiple purposes. But at this stage of his career, the innings with the most impact for McGreevy are innings like that shaky five-run third inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on June 24.

He white-knuckled his way through that inning like a ride without a seat belt on an aging wooden roller coaster about a decade past its latest upkeep and with a highly questionable safety inspection record.

But McGreevy survived that ride — the Cardinals won the game — and it gave him and the coaching staff plenty to pick apart and analyze.

Like, for example, the two-run single by Tucker on a center-cut sinking fastball. Those were the first two runs scored in that five-run inning.

“The sinker is a super high strike percentage pitch for me, and against Tucker, against (Ian) Happ, last time I was at home I was just going to it — 2-1, lets get just get back in the count and throw a sinker,� McGreevy said.

“Instead of being like, ‘Hey, I’m going to make a competitive pitch here. It’s 2-1. I don’t need to give in.’�

The great thing about McGreevy now being in the rotation and making a start every fifth or sixth day is that it offers more than just lessons. It allows him to put those lessons into action.

On Friday, that meant offering another start for McGreevy against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.

That also meant matching up with the likes of Tucker, who ranks among the top 10 in the majors in slugging percentage, OPS and wins above replacement (WAR) since the start of the 2021 season.

McGreevy responded with six scoreless innings on Friday. He allowed six hits, all singles, and the Cubs went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against McGreevy. Tucker’s lone hit came with two outs and the bases empty in the first inning.

“I thought the last outing we faced them to now, there were some pitches I gave in like ‘Oh, let’s just throw a strike,’� McGreevy said. “‘Let’s get something over there. Maybe they’ll hit weak contact.’

“Those are gifts to good hitters. So I thought the mentality was just better going forward. There’s room to miss. There’s room to be aggressive here and not give in to guys like Tucker.�

It’s not just about Tucker, specifically, as much as it is about McGreevy figuring out how to get outs and building confidence against that type of hitter — a bona fide left-handed hitting major-league hitter. This season, between his starts in the majors and minors, lefties have batted .291 against McGreevy.

He’s beginning to make his changeup a factor against leftie-heavy lineups. Against the Cubs, he used it the second-most of any of the six different pitches in his arsenal. He paired the changeup with his four-seam fastball, and that combination helped yield a whiff rate of 36% on his changeup in that game.

McGreevy also used his changeup with success in his previous start against the San Diego Padres. One changeup, a pitch he threw to get a strikeout against left-handed hitting all-star slugger Ryan O’Hearn, stood out in his mind almost a week later.

“That was the best one I’ve ever thrown in my life,� McGreevy said. “Continuing to build off of that is going to be huge. Having that be a weapon in my back pocket, like the slider is to righties, is going to be huge for me moving forward.�

That is the importance of McGreevy getting these starts. Pitches like that. Moments like that. Making corrections from one start to the next.

“That’s what you’re looking for, how big-league guys are responding to him,� Marmol said. “And then, once he sees them a second time through, if there’s some changes there.

“We’re excited with this progress, and we’ve got to keep working.�

If you’re looking to be optimistic, then be encouraged that McGreevy is now getting these chances and is making the adjustments.

If you’re wanting to point fingers and assign blame, well, the organization’s lack of pitching depth caused the Cardinals to keep McGreevy in the minors as a fail-safe. Perhaps he could’ve been doing this earlier.

So there’s truly something for everyone when you examine McGreevy’s year.

Oh, it happened.

A meandering game started with Miles Mikolas teasing a no-hitter into the sixth inning, lulled like the Cardinals’ offense for long stretches, and continued with the lowly Rockies taking a lead in the seventh before ultimately luring Donovan from the dugout in the eighth. The Cardinals’ lone All-Star missed two games due to an injury that has its roots before the All-Star break and has contributed to his .188 average since it. He emerged as a pinch-hitter with two runners on and zero swings in a game since Friday.

Donovan scooped a low, two-strike slider into the right-field corner for a two-run double that flipped the score and hoisted the Cardinals to a 3-2 victory Monday at Busch Stadium.

“Donnie getting of his butt after a three-, four-day vacation and finally doing something, right?� Mikolas deadpanned after the win. “That’s huge. He’s an All-Star. That’s what he’s supposed to do. He’s got to carry that All-Star badge with him so he’s got to do those things on a regular basis. Save us when we need him.�

The Cardinals’ fifth win in their past seven games and sixth in their nine games since selling at the trade deadline was arguably their most complicated yet.

Down three reliable arms in the bullpen due to trades, the Cardinals also did not have their late-inning relievers JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien on Monday due to their roles in winning the weekend series against the Cubs. Donovan was not in the starting lineup, and until the moment he went to the plate the Cardinals had no plans to use him in the field. That changed when a) they had a chance to win and b) injuries shortened their bench further. Lars Nootbaar left the game with a bruised left knee after cracking a foul ball off of it. That forced Jordan Walker into the game for Nootbaar, and when Garrett Hampson came off the bench to pinch-run as the potential tying run, manager Oliver Marmol was assured of exhausting his bench.

All 13 position players appeared in the game, three of them off the bench in the eighth as part of the decisive rally.

“A lot of moving parts,� Marmol said.

And there was a part not working in the batting cage.

The torrential rains Sunday before the Cardinals’ victory against the Cubs flooded the dugouts and batting cages on both sides of the field. The water in the Cardinals’ cage meant their cutting-edge Trajekt pitching machine was not operable Monday, Donovan said. Trajekt allows hitters to see specific pitches from specific pitchers, and without it that changed some of Donovan’s preparation for his pinch-hit appearance.

He had not faced live pitching since Friday, not taken a swing since Saturday before going through Monday’s workouts — and then into the game to face a fastball.

“And 98 mph with cut,� he said.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead on a rally spurred by Victor Scott II’s 30th stolen base of the season and lost that 1-0 lead on three singles against Mikolas. During the shifting score, Donovan sat beside fellow pinch-hit candidate Yohel Pozo and read the game. They agreed they were likely to face Rockies reliever Juan Mejia when they entered the game. They called up video of the right-hander on the iPad.

Without the Trajekt, Donovan said they dialed the pitching machine to throw a cut fastball and a hard breaking ball to simulate Mejia.

In his at-bat, Donovan saw both of those pitches.

With Hampson at second base pinch-running for Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese at first after his third hit of the game, Mejia started Donovan with three consecutive fastballs. The second touched 98 mph and Donovan fouled it off. Ahead in the count, 1-2, Mejia sent a slider at 84.2 mph and diving in on Donovan. He pulled it for the game-winning double.

“Hasn’t played in a couple of days and to go out there and take a big at-bat in a big moment,� Marmol said. “That’s an awesome swing there. Worked out perfectly.�

Donovan has not felt so awesome with his swing recently.

The Cardinals’ leadoff hitter came out of the break and went 13 for 69 (.188) with a slugging percentage (.261) hugging close to his on-base percentage (.260). The stretch sank his batting average from flirting with .300 to .278 before his pinch-hit double. Donovan recently looked at the underlying metrics during the skid and was encouraged by the exit velocity of his hits and lack of chase from his swings — but something still felt off.

For two months, Donovan has been playing through a toe injury, and adjusting for its pain led to other issues. He traced the soreness in his groin to the body compromising one area to compensate for an injury elsewhere. A hitter’s base is essential to his swing, and Donovan has felt that shift as well. Just seeing the advanced data on his swings wasn’t enough because he sensed a change to the angle of his swing.

His posture at the plate drifted due to the sore toe or the sore groin, and that is finally what prompted him to relent to the injury Saturday and take two days to remedy it.

“I think it was just getting my leg healthy,� Donovan said. “The reason why I decided to say something was I thought the leg started to kind of mess with me a little bit. For me, I’m big on angles. And my angles aren’t good. Why aren’t my angles good? Posture. I haven’t been in good spots. Why haven’t I been in good spots with my posture? Well, my back leg was kind of bugging a little bit. That’s what I had it boiled down to.�

Two days off the leg helped him feel better about his posture at the plate.

Then all he had to do was, ho-hum, the difficult role of delivering in the eighth inning, down by a run, as a pinch-hitter.

And, because Hampson went in the game, they had to do what they planned on not doing: Donovan was at the plate when he realized he would play the field. The second out of the ninth inning came bounding to him and he converted it. A popup to Pozo finished the game and Kyle Leahy’s scoreless 2 1/3 innings of relief. Donovan’s double and the win it provided trimmed a ½ game off the Mets’ lead for the National League’s third wild card. The Cardinals are now three games behind a playoff berth – with a friendly schedule in the coming weeks.

A question about the trade deadline and moving veteran relievers for the future prompted Donovan late Monday night to remind the media of one thing they did not trade elsewhere.

Belief.

“Even though we did do a sell at the deadline, you still don’t lose belief,� Donovan said. “If you lose belief, you have nothing. I think that’s one thing this team has done a really nice job of — responding.�

The Cardinals failed to provide starter Miles Mikolas with any semblance of the lead he deserved for toying with a no-hitter early and providing nearly seven sturdy innings.

Chances came and chances went for the Cardinals.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position and struggled to produce anything against Rockies starter Chase Dollander and his 6.68 ERA in the majors. The Cardinals trailed by a run when an eighth-inning uprising reached the final two spots in the lineup. Nolan Gorman earned a walk, and Thomas Saggese followed with his third hit of the game. That brought catcher Pedro Pages to the plate – until it didn’t.

Donovan was a late scratch from Saturday’s game against the Cubs due to soreness in his left groin. He remained out of the lineup Sunday night as the Cardinals won that series. The Cardinals harbored hope that he would return to the lineup Monday when the Rockies came to town, but instead opted to use that day to give Donovan a chance to test how he felt through warmups. He darted around the field chasing grounders. He took batting practice. He pelted right-field with line drives.

And in the eighth he came up to the on-deck circle instead of Pages to take the game’s pivotal at-bat against Rockies reliever Juan Mejia. Donovan fell behind on the first two pitches. He ignored one out of the zone.

He planted a slider in right field.

Pinch-runner Garrett Hampson scored easy to tie the score, and Saggese scored from first for the lead. That made a winner of Colorado native Kyle Leahy (3-1) for his 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief after Mikolas. The veteran right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and both of the runs came in the same inning, the seventh inning, and his final inning.

From no-no to oh-no

In his first start since a frustrating one in Los Angeles that dinged him for five runs in only three innings at Dodger Stadium, Mikolas whipsawed through the Rockies lineup twice and teased a no-hit bid through the first half of the game.

Unfazed by the error that put the first runner on base against him, Mikolas took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He retired the first seven Rockies he faced and got into the sixth inning by retiring eight of his previous nine. A walk in the midst of his start was quickly forgotten when Mikolas got a groundout from the next batter.

When the no-hitter vanished, it wasn’t long before the lead did, too.

Mikolas pitched most of his 6 2/3 innings with only one run of support.

Three of the four hits he allowed came in a burst that ejected him from the game.

Two batters into the sixth, and leadoff hitter Tyler Freeman cracked the no-hitter in his third look at Mikolas. In the seventh, Freeman’s teammates in the back half of the lineup saw Mikolas for a third time and let loose three hits.

The rally began with an infield single that third baseman Nolan Gorman attempted to barehand. Since Nolan Arenado went on the injured list and the Cardinals could commit starts to Gorman – the third baseman they had in mind if they traded Arenado – the new everyday third baseman has struggled with the throws. He committed two throwing errors in Monday’s game, and those were his third and fourth errors in his past eight games at third.

His error in the seventh allowed Jordan Beck to turn that infield single into standing at second base. He took third on a line-drive single to center by Mickey Moniak and scored on a groundout to tie the game, 1-1.

Mikolas got two groundouts to slow the inning.

Then No. 8 hitter Brenton Doyle dropped a single into right field to score Moniak for a 2-1 lead. What had been a no-hitter just an inning earlier was now a deficit and a reason to relieve Mikolas from the mound.

Steal No. 30, run No. 1

A leadoff walk in the third inning gave Victor Scott II a license to steal and continue his run toward the league lead for the season.

Scott stole second base in the third inning for his 30th of the season. He became the seventh player in the majors to steal at least 30 this season, the fourth in the National League. And when he stole second again in the sixth inning, Scott moved within three of tying Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz for the NL lead.

The center fielder’s first steal of the game put him in scoring position for what became the game’s only run of the first six innings.

Scott watched from second as two teammates were unable to advance him, and then with two outs Alec Burleson pulled a single to right field. Burleson’s 52nd RBI of the season gave Mikolas the 1-0 lead he spent most of his start protecting.

In the sixth, Scott was one of two runners in scoring position that the Cardinals failed to advance to add to the lead. That proved costly the next inning.

Bruising foul ball hobbles Nootbaar

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar crashed a foul ball off his back (left) knee during an at-bat in the third inning and hopped away in clear pain. He required the assistance of the trainer to take weight off of his left knee for awhile before being able to flex it, bend it, and stand on it to remain in the game. The comfort did not last.

Nootbaar was removed from the game three innings later and taken for X-rays on his left knee. They did not show any structural damage, a club official said during the game.

Nootbaar was ruled day-to-day with a bruised left knee.

In the third, Nootbaar grounded out and attempted to outrun the throw. He took another at-bat in the fifth inning and popped up, looking uncomfortable as he ran toward first. Jordan Walker replaced Nootbaar in right field for the top of the sixth inning – and the first three balls put in play were to right field.

Fernandez and the trio of coaches reviewed his pitch mix and saw his “stuff� looked similar to what it did in 2024, when he posted a 3.51 ERA and had a 31.5% whiff rate, per Statcast, in 62 games as a rookie. The meeting helped him realize how, along with the mechanical changes, he could turn around a 2025 season that began with a 10.38 ERA in 14 games in the majors.

“I just wasn’t throwing them for the strikes,� Fernandez said on Monday. “That kind of really beat it in my head that it was kind of just a mental thing going on. I think ever since that meeting, it had really sealed the deal on that’s what I needed to focus on. From that day, I genuinely just flipped a switch in my head and then told myself that I’m just going to go out there and attack guys, and ever since it’s been really good.�

He said his success in the majors from a year prior gave him the confidence he could “at the very least shove� while in Class AAA.

During his time in Memphis, Fernandez posted a 3.12 ERA in 29 appearances. He allowed one run, which came on a homer, in 17 1/3 innings and had a 41.5% whiff rate before he was recalled to the majors on Aug. 1 following the Cardinals’ trade deadline sell-off. Over a stretch during which he had a 0.52 ERA, the righty kept opponents to a .155 batting average and notched 20 strikeouts.

“I just told myself, like, these guys got nothing for me,� Fernandez said of his time in the minors. “I’m going to go out there and just throw it in the zone, and I know they can’t hit it. I just kept doing it, and it was working out very well.�

Back in the majors with regained confidence, Fernandez returns as one of the young arms the Cardinals could turn to for innings over the final two months of the regular season. He’s provided 4 1/3 innings of relief and allowed four runs in three outings since being recalled.

He points to his most recent outing as an example of his adjusted mentality.

In a lopsided loss to the Cubs on Saturday, Fernandez completed three innings and allowed one run on two hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. Fernandez collected nine whiffs as he flashed a fastball that touched 96.4 mph as a part of a four-pitch mix that got a 38% whiff rate.

The appearance against Chicago provided Fernandez some satisfaction after he allowed three runs in 1/3 of an inning against the Dodgers earlier in the week.

“I just told myself, this next outing, I’m just going to say, ‘F it, get ahead.’ ... I had one bad pitch where he hit it out, but overall, I’m very happy about the last outing,� Fernandez said.

Donovan tests groin injury

Absent from the Cardinals’ lineup for a third consecutive game because of a left groin injury, All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan went through pregame workouts to test out the injury.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol referred to Monday’s workout as a test day to see how Donovan’s left groin responds. He noted that the workout would have to go “really poorly� for Donovan to require a placement on the injured list.

Wetherholt highlights minors awards

Top prospect JJ Wetherholt was one of four Cardinals prospects to earn an organization or league-wide honor Monday.

Wetherholt, 22, was named the Cardinals’ minor league player of the month for July after he hit .306 with seven homers and a 1.103 on-base plus slugging percentage in 19 games for Class AAA Memphis.

Braden Davis, the Cardinals’ fifth-round pick in 2024, was named Cardinals minor league pitcher of the month for July after he went 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA and struck out 38 batters in 23 2/3 innings across five starts — three of which came in Class Low-A and two in Class High-A following a promotion.

Quinn Mathews, the Cardinals top pitching prospect at the start of this year, was named International League pitcher of the week after he threw seven scoreless innings and nine strikeouts during a a Thursday start for Memphis and Brycen Mautz, the club’s second round pick in 2022, earned Texas League pitcher of the week honors for a 10-strikeout, six-scoreless inning performance on Friday for Class AA Springfield.

Extra bases

Lefty John King (left oblique strain) plans to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday at Busch Stadium after his bullpen on Sunday, which had about “80%� intensity, went well. King may have a Cardinals coach stand in on Wednesday’s session to simulate a hitter and would be at “100%� intensity. King could join Class AAA Memphis for a rehab assignment this weekend if all goes well on Wednesday.

Left-hander Anthony Veneziano made his organizational debut on Saturday with a scoreless inning for Class AAA Memphis. Veneziano, 27, was claimed on waivers by the Cardinals on Aug. 4 after the Marlins designated him for assignment.

On Sunday, former Cardinal Luken Baker was outrighted to Class AAA Oklahoma City in the Dodgers’ system. Baker, who was on the Cardinals’ opening day roster this year, was claimed on waivers by the Dodgers on Aug. 4 and designated for assignment two days later to clear a spot on their 40-man roster.

I'll do my best to provide answers.

As always, there will be a real-time transcription of the chat below the interface window. That should make it easier to read on your tablet, phone, or desktop -- or however you prefer to read your chats. Questions are not edited for grammar or spelling. They are immediately deleted and expunged from the site for vulgarity or threats of violence.

There will be an intermission today. The chat will have tor relocate to the ballpark in the middle of the afternoon before speeding toward assignments there.

Enough prelude. Onward into the mosh pit ...

Bernadette V: With the Mets dismal play allowing Cardinals to stay in the wildcard race…shouldn’t Quinn Mathews be given a chance to take Pallante’s or Mikolas’ spot in the rotation?

DG: The current plan being discussed by the Cardinals is how could Kyle Leahy fit into the starting rotation, and if that happens in the near future. On their mind is the workload and performance of Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore. The Cardinals consideration is that Leahy and one or both of those starters could piggyback. That's not been an approach used in the majors by the Cardinals before, and it involves essentially "splitting" starts with a defacto six-man rotation. It does require some planning on the bullpen side, and there could be a time when it goes sideways and one of the piggyback starters has to wear a tough start. That's all being sorted through. Manager Oliver Marmol stressed in his office Sunday that they had no plans on making that decision before at least another turn of the rotation.

Quinn Mathews did not come up as an option, nor has he in other reporting. He had a standout start on TV that fans got to watch, but he's also had an inconsistent season beyond that, especially when coming back from injury. The Cardinals are eager to see him in the majors. They are more eager to see him get through a healthy stretch that he can build upon to slingshot him into their plans for next season.

Jason S.: test...

DG: Pass.

JB: Were you surprised that the Cardinals did not get a better return in trading Maton? He doesn’t have the saves or the fastball that Helsley does but arguably has had a better season than Helsley and still strikes out batters at a high rate.

DG: I thought they got a fine return on Phil Maton -- and it was bordering there on not trading him at all. Which would have meant no return on Phil Maton. It's two months of a strong reliever who had good success -- but doesn't have what teams usually seek for October and at the deadline: power, power, power. Saves, saves, saves. stuff lefties, stuff lefties, stuff lefties. The Cardinals got talent in return that aren't just depth.

KAW: Barring something unforeseen, what are the odds we see Wetherholt and Mathews join the big league team before the end of the season?

DG: Not nearly as high as some fans want it to be, and no one likes the answer why. The 40-person roster is a real consideration here. Add two, that's two fewer that they can protect. Add two, and that sets them up to lose an option year when it's just not necessary in the coming spring. And, yeah, neither of the players should need their option years and that's all fine and good but that also was said about Jordan Walker. In both cases, when they arrive they need to be priorities.

So let me flip the chat on you.

The Cardinals roster at the moment is a jam of similar players needing similar playing time and blocking some similar players from that playing time. How does adding another player at the same position who also needs the playing time alleviate or answer any of the snarled overlaps of the Cardinals' roster? Just more of the same, no? But more appealing to fans ... I get it ... because it would mean new players who haven't struggled yet.

Lu: Morning, DG. What, if anything besides win, can the cardinals do to get fans back in the stands?

DG: That's the question confronting the team, and every fan is going to have a different opinion -- as I've encountered on social media when I even make reference to possible improvements that the Cardinals could learn from other teams. To me, San Diego has to be a lesson. Sure, St. Louis isn't going to get that weather, or that beach, but hey it has a strong craft beer scene too. No, let's have an honest conversation that removes the geographic aspect and looks at how that ballpark has become a thriving, alive, entertaining place that reminded me of peek Cardinals at Busch III. Seriously, what you remember of the Cardinals and their ballpark from 2011-2014 is the vibe San Diego has now -- but with a modern twist.

1) They are winning, contending, challenging, and they have a big bad rival that they are trying to take down, and the city feels like it is in together. So winning first, compelling community unifier second. Good places to start.

2) They have star players. They perform, produce, and are promoted like star players. Some are imported. Some are homegrown. But they stand out.

3) The ballpark experience is electric. They do this with creative videos that introduce the players on the video board, they lean into the humor and personalities of the players, and they have videos that would be equally at home on social media as they would be on the scoreboard. They have fun with the tidbits -- do their research, skewer visiting players, and so on. And they have crowd participation moments that aren't "get loud" and "clap." They have a genuine sing-along moment that the crowd joins in and screams the punchline. It's Blink 182's "All the Small Things," and there are thousands of people who all at the same time shout, 'work (stinks)!' Laugh if you will. It looks like they're having a blast. Like Phillies fans singing together when Bryson Stott comes to the plate. Imagine doing that for a Cardinal -- the whole stadium signing a walk-up song together for a favorite player. It's got to happen organically.

It's got to happen.

We're seeing some of this already at the ballpark. They are focused on enhancing and improving the game-going experience at Busch. They've looked at other teams, and that's a good thing. And Todd Thomas remains a force when it comes to in-game interaction, but he cannot do it alone, and the Cardinals have started introducing things at the ballpark that should help.Ìý

Ryan: What is Nootbaar worth to other teams? Could he fetch a 1yr arb #4 SP?

DG: Maybe. Probably. Maybe even not yet in arbitration.

The more I think about this, yes, definitely. Not sure the benefit of that trade, but sure. The Cardinals have traded away an outfielder for less.

John George: Do you think any other former Cardinals might make a surprise coaching spot, similar to Molina's?

DG: Adam Wainwright has been invited to join the staff for a bit this coming spring training, and he's likely to accept for an appearance there. Oliver Marmol made the invitation awhile back.

Rich from Denver: Hi Derrick, Any chance that movie reviews from Ian Goold become a regular feature of the Write Fielder? Really enjoyed his first one of the Fantastic 4 and looking forward to more. Chip off the block as he writes like his father.

DG: Let's hope he breaks that habit real quick! He used to do movie reviews for the podcast and a short-lived, much-beloved radio show I was on called The Writers' Block, starring Benjamin Hochman and Ben Frederickson. I enjoyed having Ian be a part of it. He's back to film school soon so that's about to dominate his time. I will ask, though, for sure. Thanks for the idea and for reading the newsletter.

Bryan from SLC: Why do the 3 veterans with no trade clauses (Gray, Arenado, Contreras) want to stay besides lucra

DG: It may come as a surprise, but -- stay with me here -- maybe believe them when they say they like playing for the St. Louis Cardinals? Been trying to tell people for awhile now how much Nolan Arenado appreciates the history of the Cardinals -- and how much he (and others) wish the recent seasons were more like that, with the packed house and contending. We've been in a wild spot here for a year or so where some of the players are a bigger fan of the team than some of the most vocal fans. But that's where we're at, and it's been a slow trip to get there, and then understandably it happened fast. Fan frustration is high. But maybe believe players -- yes, highly paid players -- when they say they want to be part of the solution not part of the exodus.

Walt: When do you expect Bloom will talk to the media? Afterall he is unofficially IMO running the team. Seems like his thoughts should be available to the fans.

DG: That is entirely fair opinion to have. It does not line up with the facts, sorry.

If you believe that he is 'unofficially' running the team than any current frustrations you have with the trade deadline or the roster should be directed at him, and what does that say for where things stand -- or where things are headed, when there are already reasons to be critical of how he's 'unofficially' running things.

The opinion cannot have it both ways.

Things you like cannot be Bloom because he's 'unofficially' running things and then things you don't like be heaped on Mozeliak because he's running things. That's a convenience.

Here's the deal: Bloom is advising on all things. Mozeliak is making the call, and he's made a practice of relying on his staff for all the years he's been in charge, and that hasn't changed and now Bloom is part of the staff. Bloom has spent a lot of his time this summer with the minor-league structure and the staff he's hired there. Some of the work being done there and traits of pitchers sought have clearly influenced everything from the draft to recent waiver pick ups. His and his hire's influence is on the display there. In the past few weeks, month, there has been more of a shift to his presence with the major-league staff, and as that grows so too will his public profile. There is definitely some push internally for him to speak publicly sooner than later. I made a case here recently for that exact thing -- because his vision for the future is now part of the conversation for the present with the lineup, with pitching use, and with prospect arrival. This is the roster he's going to inherit and then have to repair, and you're absolutely right fans should hear about his view of that. There are folks within the Cardinals who agree with that.

Pam: I do not hear Michael Girsch's name this season. Busy working on special projects or has he had an early exit ahead of MO?

DG: He's with the team. He is on special projects -- that's his title. He was heavily involved at the trade deadline and part of the group in the room where the moves happened and putting them together with his contact and relationships with other teams. He's also been involved in building out the staff -- not only what hiring practices look like but what are some of the positions that need to be filled for a cutting-edge organization, what are those roles, responsibilities, and titles. Free from the transaction game, he's been able to dig in on the modern game and what a organizational infrastructure looks like not just today -- but for tomorrow.

Bryan from SLC: Do you think the Cardinals would hire Yadier Molina for HC this off season?

DG: I apologize for not knowing -- is HC head coach? No. That's not likely.

That's not on the club's mind.

Not at the moment, not in the works.

Tackleberry: I know to most media people this notion sounds crazy but there will be a post-Mo Era attendance bump. Fans come to support the team but there is a point where they actively do not want to throw their support behind an ideology that hangs over an organization. Mo represents that and the DeWitts are not far behind. DeWitt needs his best public relations off-season since he bought the team this winter.

DG: The best part of your assertion is we'll have information to find out. We will all get to see. There will, of course, be other factors, but the fans will have the chance to prove you right. And -- as I've said in previous chats ... I'm reluctant to believe that the front office and who sits in the big chair drives ticket sales, but if Cardinals fans prove me wrong, then that makes sense. They have certainly contributed to that argument with what some describe as front office fatigue. But, that too, may be just what the media calls it.

Empty Seat: There’s another thing the cardinals could do to help get fans back. How about messaging transparency to fans? Their messaging to fans has been so bad for almost a decade. Don’t discount that when looking at fan angst.

DG: Entirely fair point. And I recognize how the media is involved in that, too. Do you have a few hours for us to discuss?

Nick: Do you, personally, believe that there is going to be a lockout that disrupts the 27 season?

DG: I am concerned, yes. All signs point to a labor tussle with both sides bunkered in and ready for it to hurt, and I'm not where the pressures are at the moment to push them together to avoid losing games.

Expansion is one possibility, one chip to play, and we'll watch for others in the coming year.

BryanB: Sorry HC was supposed to be Bench Coach about Yadier. Manic Monday

DG: Bench coach? If Daniel Descalso gets a chance to be a manager somewhere or makes a decision about leaving the Cardinals staff for another reason, then I can imagine they'd have that conversation with Yadier Molina ... but ... but ... but ...

Molina has already said publicly and he's told the Cardinals as well that his plan is to see his son's career through to the draft and college. His son is starting his senior year high school this month. Molina will manage Team Puerto Rico in the WBC this spring, and then his summer plan is to be there with his son going into the draft and his first fall in college. I asked Molina about the timing of this specifically, and he said that would mean pursuing a major-league coaching role for 2027. That's his thinking at the moment. Does the right opportunity change that? Maybe. But he was detailed in his current plan.

cbow: There’s another thing the cardinals could do to help… more

Isn't that part of what the FO (Mozeliak) does?

DG: He has long been the forward face and messaging of the Cardinals, yes, and that only further centralized during 2020 and coming out of the pandemic. We're seeing that shift some this past year or so. And that includes more public appearances and statements from team president Bill DeWitt III all the way to what you've probably noticed about Rob Cerfolio's availability to discuss player development and new approaches there.

Kingsoak: Nathan Church has built a case for his value as a centerfielder. Unfortunately, he, like Victor Scott II, is a lefthanded hitter. Is one of these two talented centerfielders likely to be traded?

DG: Doesn't have to be. It's OK for a team to have two good outfielders covering ground. They could also compete with each other for the job and improve as a result. Lots of possibilities before either of them must be traded. They could play beside each other ...

Tom H: You have mentioned numerous times that the Cardinals need to modernize and energize the gameday environment at Busch. You also mentioned in your most recent BPIB that the Cards have sent personnel to other stadiums to look into the issue. I am curious as to who is in charge of gameday operations and event management? Does that fall into the lap of the GM as well or is that somebody completely different?

DG: Gameday operations is under the business side of the team, not run by the GM (the Cardinals do not have one at the moment) or the president of baseball operations. Think of the baseball club as two houses, or bicameral -- there is the baseball ops and there is the business ops. Ballpark falls under business ops mostly (some of the clubhouse etc. is baseball ops). The Cardinals made a new hire to oversee a lot of that when the brought in Anuk Karunaratne from Toronto as senior VP of business operations. He's been part of the leadership for the rework of the TV deal, the streaming launch, and the ballpark improvements.

Nick: Were there any sort of serious trade talks around Arenado at the deadline? Related question, assuming not, the it seems like none of the teams on his list have any interest anymore. Houston has moved on. LA and NYY never had any interest. Maybe Boston if Bergman goes elsewhere with his opt out? I feel like Arenado playing out his contract in STL is the safe bet

DG: None that I could unearth, none other than the Cardinals reaching out to teams, looking for ones who had traits that Arenado preferred and might want to make a pitch for a trade. That didn't develop. Arenado was candid about how his recent play was a part of that. I do this knowing it may not matter but allow me to correct something: The Yankees did talk to the Cardinals, so "never had any interest," is incorrect. The level of that interest, sure let's debate, and nothing came of it. But "never" is not correct. Just as there were other inaccuracies that were reported at the time that persist.

Lu: To your craft beer point, they have 1 craft beer draft stand. They have not changed the beers they offer in the last three years (Its the first thing I check every opening day). I really think taking a look at their food and drink offerings would help the situation. Take a look at what the other sports teams down market are doing...integrating the fantastic food and beverage scene we have in our city. Could you imagine being able to get Anthonino's t-ravs in the stadium?

DG: Credit where credit is due -- the Cardinals have made attempts this year to change the food game at the ballpark, and they're not still looking to do that. The soccer team bringing in local places has been a big deal there, and the Cardinals have worked to do the same. Mayo + Ketchup is an example, and there were popups this weekend with new offerings. This is an area where they are looking to make strides, for sure.

Walt: What is the active roster size allowed Sept 1st? Piggyback situation would be of less concern IMO.

DG: Rosters expand to 28. Pitchers capped at 14. So, not like it used to be, but yes it would help.

Bryan from SLC: Will JJ Get a promotion in September when rosters expand and what position would he be eyed at playing.

DG: That is not a guarantee (see above roster limit), and that is part of the question. He played third recently at Class AAA Memphis. He'll play a variety of positions there, and yes the major-league staff is part of that conversation as Wetherholt readies for a position other than shortstop in the majors.

Nate: I am blown away by the Brewers success model, and imagine that's exactly what the Cards want to emulate. To that end, I wonder how many underperforming major league and minor leaguers are out there that just need a tweak or different approach to ultimately find success?

DG: It's a great question, and yet every year seems to suggest there are plenty. Enough to make a difference. Heck, it wasn't too long ago that national media outlets were talking about the Cardinals brand of "Devil Magic" because they found them. A decade ago the list of players the Cardinals found and turned into contributors (sometimes All-Stars) was lengthy and the envy of teams like the Brewers, who spent millions to sign Jeff Suppan and Kyle Lohse after their success with the Cardinals. Plot twist!

JB: Why didn’t the Cardinals trade JoJo Romero? He likely could have fetched a strong return given his performance this season and extra year of control. Were the Cardinals concerned that it would signal to fans that they don’t expect the team to be competitive next season? Their decisions to target prospects farther away from the major leagues in other deals already signaled that.

DG: Evidence suggests they did not get the offer they sought and he did not "fetch a strong return" as you suggest. They also weren't actively shopping him, adopting a stance with him and a few others that they would listen but the offer would have to be significant. At least one team approached the Cardinals about trading for a lefty reliever, and the Cardinals, according to a source, let them know they would listen on an offer for John King, knowing they might get a higher return for Romero but preferring to start with that conversation.

As for the signal that "they don't expect the team to be competitive next season" -- that hasn't landed yet? Actions speak loudly. And as of right now the Cardinals are not lining up actions that say they intend to spend this winter to create a contender. We'll see what Chaim Bloom outlines as his view for 2026, and that will tell us a lot. But everything indication from the Cardinals is that they are going to look to reduce spending and the factors there are their internal expectations, their revenue, and the oncoming expiration of the CBA. That signal should already have landed, and it has nothing to do with keeping or trading JoJo Romero.

bigron: Derrick, have all the players drafted by the Cards signed, and if so are they playing in the minors?

DG: They've all signed. They are mostly in Florida, either on the complex league roster or Class A Palm Beach or not yet assigned but working out at the complex there in Jupiter.

rabidmonkeyfish99: Happy Monday Derrick! It seems to make sense to give Leahy an opportunity to compete as a starter, but do you get the impression he will get some starts (limited pitch counts) this year or wait until ST next year?

DG: That is TBD right now and it is dependent on the performance of others, not just him.

rabidmonkeyfish99: Does the fact that the Cardinals got international $ as part of Maton deal suggest that the international market may be more of a focus for Bloom than under Mo? If so, do you think that is due to Bloom prioritizing it more than Mo or is it something that Dewitt for a variety of reasons is more agreeable to funding now?

DG: It does not. It just gives them more money that they can use to get a quantity of players, not a windfall to change how much they can offer folks at the top end. A lot of the deals are already in place for the class that they got added cash, so this is a play to add more signings, more upside, more quantity from which quality might emerge. It's a play that the Cardinals made under Mozeliak's guide, too.

Ron: I think there is no good ending for the nado in st louis. No trade value and subk

DG: A red jacket, Cooperstown speech, and guest coaching appearances as an infield instructor every spring training isn't a good ending?

Donald N: Derrick; Trade deadline question: Did the Cardinals choose long term higher ceiling prospects over trades that would have netted closer to big league/but lower ceiling players? You are the reason I subscribe to the PD and thank-you for the terrific reporting. Donald Nahnsen

DG: They did in most cases, for sure. That was the big takeaway for me going into the trade deadline and then coming away from it. Two reasons why: One, in Colorado, I asked Mozeliak if he would look for moves that didn't add more complications to the 40-player roster ahead of this winter's decisions. He agreed. More flexibility for Bloom when he takes over the roster. Two, Mozeliak's comments about adding players not for the "immediate future." In 2023, there was a rush to add depth now to the pitching at the minor-league level. This was a different approach, one that acquired upside players -- but not exactly guarantees. I looked at the Giants trade with the Mets as an example. All three of the players the Giants received in exchange for a reliever from the Mets will reach the majors. How much they will impact or contribute there is a question. They may only arrive, briefly contribute, but never star. All three of the players the Cardinals received from the Mets for Ryan Helsley ... well, there's no guarantee any of the three will reach the majors but there's the potential that they make a greater impact if they do. That captures the deadline approach for the Cardinals to me.

Thanks for subscribing and for the kind words, Donald.

Let me add a quick caveat that Cardinals fans might find interesting, and I've had this conversation with a few folks now within baseball and part of clubs.

They noted that the teams who were in buy mode and trying to contend made deals that included players in the lower minors, mostly, with upside, just like the Cardinals received. So, I was challenged with this question: If the Cardinals are in buy mode a year from now and looking to contend -- aren't these the players that they would trade? So the acquisitions may not signal this long-range view. And that's fair.

The official comments certainly did.

BryanB: Does Winn have a strong chance for gold glove if he finishes season well

DG: He has it within his grasp, so to speak, and he can tighten his grip.

U R ON THE INTERNET BUDDY: Good afternoon, Derrick. Thanks for your continued work. A couple seasons ago, the Cardinals acknowledged their pitch-to-contact philosophy needed updating.

Fast forward to this season and the 2025 rotation included/includes: Miles Mikolas (6.2 K/9), Erick Fedde (5.6 K/9), Andre Pallante (5.8 K/9), and Matthew Liberatore (6.8 K/9), and Sonny Gray (9.8 K/9). How does the club explain itself?

DG: Strikeouts are costly either in cash or trades. See: Gray, Sonny. And the Cardinals have not spent on starting pitching with the exception of really Gray, extensions, and Mike Leake.

So, they've leaned into their ballpark and their defense and believed they can get better bang for the buck with pitching by sticking with that approach. Look at the signings they made ahead of 2024 and how they made the play for Gibson, Lynn, and Gray -- at a time when starters were throwing fewer innings, the Cardinals were banking on being a quality start machine, and then added Fedde to the group in a move that was predictable in spring training. They thought that their ballpark and defense could give them an edge to maximize the return on their spending, and they have gotten results from it. But increasingly the game is changed. That kind of pitching is pricing. And the Cardinals haven't had success developing it. Now they have to figure out one way to do it -- and if it's not spending on it, they must develop it to contend in the modern game.

aliveforoverhalf: What was the "45" on the caps yesterday about? Presumably some sort of recognition of Bob Gibson.

DG: Sonny Gray has a collection of retro-style hats with numbers on it for great players. Yes, 45 for Gibson is one of them, and he has it on a red retro hat. I believe he also has a 21 one for Clemente.

Derek F: Were u a bit shocked that no AAA & AA guys came back in the trades even tho we need a starting arm or two next season? And can u expand on their strategy to only get A guys so as not to clutter the 40man?

DG: This is not the first time I've seen this question or this assertion, and I'm not sure where this information is coming from.

They did get Triple-A and Double-A guys.

Full stop.

Blaze Jordan is in Triple-A, at Memphis, right now. And he came from a Class AAA team. Ah heck, let's just run through the list ...

1B/3B Blaze Jordan (Red Sox): Class AAA Memphis. SS/3B Jesus Baez (Mets): High-A Peoria. RHP Nate Dohm (Mets): High-A Peoria. RHP Frank Elissalt (Mets): High-A Peoria. RHP Skylar Hales (Rangers): Class AAA Memphis. LHP Mason Molina (Rangers): High-A Peoria.

Alright, there isn't a Class AA player in the group -- my fault -- but there's a good chance and discussion of one of the pitchers from High-A going to Class AA. I apologize for not being correct on that. But there's a mix. The trade that got all of the attention -- and should -- is the one with the Mets that yielded the Class A players. That's the one that is telling and revealing, but it's not that the Cardinals didn't get any Class AAA return.

South City Steve: The two most successful North American sports, NFL and NBA, have revised their contract structures to shorter-term, higher AAV/bonus structures, do you see MLB trending that direction? I just think any contract over 7 years is irresponsible for both the athlete (economics change) and owner (human beings change). It feels like MLB is where the NBA was like 10 years ago when a guy like Chandler Parsons got 4 years and $94m.

DG: I think MLB was ahead of both of those leagues in doing so. Look back to Clemens, and then how other deals have worked since when it comes to opt-outs and chasing high, high AAV. MLB, with its strong union, set the table that other professional athletics sought. And while there are some outliers with length of contract (Soto, Ohtani) you're talking about the top percent, while many other players -- even stars -- have been aiming for the kind of deals you describe. Strong AAV, more bites at the apple, etc.

Jose from Des Moines: Hey DG, watched the Statcast ESPN2 telecast last night, it was fascinating to see how small most MLB hitters Honey Holes are (Danger Zone). Sonny Gray was able to get key strikeouts utilizing the outer upper corners to their LH and Imotanga exposed the Cardinals weakness to high fastballs. combined with his splitter. Well pitched game on both ends and fun to watch

DG: It was superbly pitched game. Entertaining, and the pitchers were two craftsman. Really liked the juxtaposition of the two three-strikeout innings with Imanaga working the levels and getting strikeouts with several different pitches, and then Gray comes in and knows what he does well and the Cubs had no answer even when they knew the sweeper was being setup and then was coming. Excellent stuff.

Ron: How is FO going to clean out the logjam of IF and OF? Someone got to go especially with nado having two more years

DG: Trades are the most likely to tool for a winter cleaning, especially because the Cardinals would prefer not to just be in a spot where they release players. Trades will be discussed.

The Cardinals are going to explore what deals they could make with their position players for starting pitchers with control and stuff.

Jose from Des Moines: Bernie Miklasz says the 40 man roster debate is a red herring. I agree, i dont think the 35-40 men on the 40 man make a difference going forward with this organization. That argument just doesnt't hold up.I think Winn cup of coffee in 2023 prevented a bad start to 2024, same could be true for JJW.

DG: Cool.

At least he didn't call me a red herring.

Moon: Hi Derrick, sorry if you've already covered this. It sees it right make sense to really see what they have in their younger players. This means to bench Arenado for the rest of the year and have Gorman play third. Move Contreras to catcher or bench him and play Burleson at first. That then allows to see Walker, Scott, and Nootbar for the rest of the year. It would help the Cards make decisions for the off season. I know it sounds harsh, but there is no other way to see what they have. Thanks for your time.

DG: I don't see the benefit both in the micro and macro. Yes, you clear playing time for what you perceive to be the future at the cost of the present big-ticket players. But you also are moving a player you promised you wouldn't use at catcher to catcher -- a position where he's concerned about being injured. Oh, and you're doing this to the same player you once put in LF for BP as you discussed moving him off of the position that at the time meant so much to him. Goodness. I get the sentiment. And I'm sure someone has a strong argument to support your moves here. I just don't think it works out well or sets the organization up well for its reputation with free agents and veterans.

JB: Is there a possible version of Jordan Walker that doesn't fully live up to his power potential but still becomes a star for the Cardinals? Maybe if he becomes a 20-20 player with above average defense and a great arm instead of a middle of the order masher?

DG: If that's a star, then yes. There is that possibility. There is definitely an outcome where he is a higher-average hitter than a high-total power hitter, and that speed plays.

Evil Calvin: WOULD Arenado get a red jacket? Hasn't won a single playoff game here and only one MVP type season. Don't think that will get him a jacket.

DG: Fans will get to decide.

Amir: 1.) Derrick, has your role at the PD changed this season? Noticed you don't do the chat as often, your presence there is missed

DG: It has not. The schedule plays into it, travel which can change from year to year -- and so do assignments. All that changed this year was Daniel Guerrero's promotion and his role on the baseball beat and Lynn Worthy's promotion to sports columnist. If anything that has meant more chats from me due to there being two baseball writers instead of three.

Mark: Do you think that Winn or Donovan get long term deals this off season?

DG: I don't know. Donovan expressed and interest in one this past winter, and there was mutual interest from the Cardinals, but the talks lost steam and into arbitration he went. Winn would be on deck for those discussions, and he has brought up the idea of being with the Cardinals for a long time and being the face of the team, a representative for the city. One of the first questions that will be asked of Chaim Bloom is his view of those deals, how they factor into the roster he wants to be build, and the self-sustaining model that the Cardinals want. From that vantage point, Winn will be the first player Bloom gets to show how those kind of deals factor into the team he's aiming to build.

alabama cards fan: Looks like Bloome prefers Blaze Jordan to Luken Baker.....Is that your thought? Baker was blocked here - but seems to have had more success. What are your thoughts?

DG: That was not my thought other than the age and spot in their career. Luken Baker is 28 years old and about to be out of option years. Blaze Jordan is 22, just entering the first year where he'll have an option used. If you're talking about similar skill sets or even the potential for similar skill sets 30 out of 30 teams are going to take the younger by six year players who is not yet using options.

Ken: Derrick there’s been a lot of talk about messaging from you, from me from the fans. It’s been atrocious for years. If you were the messenger talking to the fans what would your message be to the fans going forward? Mine would be we’ve started a rebuild and can and will continue to rebuild until we can sustain a team that can challenge for titles now and in the future.

DG: I hope this is a good and fair answer:

Whatever the message is -- rebuild, retool, reload, reestablish -- the actions need to match the message. Period. That is what needs to happen. The Cardinals cannot have the actions sometimes dovetail to meet the message or change the message when the actions suddenly are different. The message and actions have to align, and not only when it's convenient. Just look how "reset" became "transition" in a way that wouldn't fully commit to not contending when the team suddenly was. ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ want their message and their contention and their reset all at the same time, and it muddied all three. Set a message. Be honest. Be forthright. Trust the fans to understand. Let the actions match -- so that the media isn't the one stuck having to reconcile them.

And, again, I recognize the media's role in this, and look forward to having that conversation at some point.

Maybe when I get a chance to teach journalism. Should be a hoot.

Nolan: Is it true the Cardinals ticked off Donovan in their arbitration hearing by stating his value was less because he is a utility player, that’s absurd when they ask him to do so, and it is true that all players that went to arbitration with Cardinals have been eventually traded

DG: It is a) true that teams irritate players in arbitration hearings and b) that teams often use how they use players against the players in arbitration hearings. The Cardinals did this some with Ryan Helsley when they talked about his availability, which they played a role in determining when he was available, and they did some of this -- as you'd expect -- with Brendan Donovan by pointing out how his offense compared to left fielders, and how he was a contributor at multiple positions but a starter at none, which is for some reason a plank that resonates in the arbitration room. Did that "tick him off"? Not from what he said. He knew what was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear from the team, but he knew that was how arbitration goes.

Arbitration isn't a fan club meeting.

It's, by definition, adversarial.

The team wants to win.

The player wants to win.

To win the player talks about all the good things the player does and brings to the team. How does a team win? By talking about all the good things the player does for the team? This is the issue with arbitration -- and players and teams recognize it. And there's one other thing.

The pressure on teams to not settle, to not move the market up, to control the market through arbitration is real, and it's coming from the commissioner's office, and MLB is very involved with teams to help them make the case to win. That's the goal, and teams with good arbitration records are celebrated.

But it's the media that asks the players.

DCG: Does Arenado really deserve a red jacket? Only two seasons in STL with an OPS over .800, and one of those barely made it (.807). He'll likely end up with as many or more sub-.700 OPS seasons. No playoff series wins. His numbers barely outdo Todd Zeile. Great fielder, but if he was elected, it would be because his Colorado career managed to rub off on the evaluation of his STL career.

DG: That's up to the fans decide. And they're not voting today.

First Time Caller: You asked about signs from the front office for 2026... they may not have said anything about contending in 2026, but with a lot of money coming off the books, and emails going out to season ticket holders that the team is raising prices by 15% and asking for a commitment four months earlier than normal (Sept vs Jan), they better make some good moves for 2026.

DG: Don't say I didn't warn you.

MS Bird Brain: What level draft pick would you equate to the international money they got at the deadline?

DG: I had not thought of it those terms because it sure seems like the plan is to use it to sign many players, not affix the value to a single pick. That kind of cost/return is lower in the draft that the comp picks that can be traded.

Nolan: Derrick how is Colorado, an awful team with NO stars outdrawing STL in attendance

DG: It's the ballpark and ballpark experience.

RodgerM: Hot rumor: Mozaliak will return to his roots as head of baseball operations for the Rockies who are rebuilding . Your thoughts?

DG: Tepid at best. He says no. He insists no. He says he doesn't see the appeal. He considers himself from St. Louis now and it's home, as he raised a family here and lived here far longer now than he did in Colorado. And so on. One other thing to consider is timing -- he's ready for less of the grind, as he's said. And not looking to leap from one POBO chair to a more difficult POBO chair. Could an advisor role be in his future? Sure. Could he stay on with the Cardinals and oversee the Jupiter project to completion after all these year? Absolutely ...

Jim: My weekly question about TInk Hence...any chance he gets back on the bump this year?

DG: At last check, there is, yes. But it's OK to check every week.

Mick from Denver: Hi DG!

1. Will the Bloom era include someone like Chris Carpenter returning as a coach of some sort ?

2. Does Bloom have an opinion on the fences being moved in ? For a team looking to do more damage offensively should that be on the table again ?

3. How much does a looming lockout affect how they will approach someone like Donovan? Perhaps I’m wrong but assume they will move on from Nootbar this offseason so I didn’t include him though they both have two years of control left. Thx.

DG: 1) Chris Carpenter works for the Angels, and he's enjoyed his time there, and I haven't heard whether he's looking to return to the Cardinals only that he's found a good spot with the Angels. Bloom, it should be noted, is open to past Cardinals having a presence.

2) I haven't asked him, and I shouldn't guess.

3) A lot.

Ben: I appreciate all of the reporting you've done on this organization over the years. Given that wealth of knowledge, I'm curious as to your thoughts - for an organization that spent so much time being held up by those around baseball as a model organization, it has been baffling to me that they have fallen behind in so many areas. Not just on the field, but development behind the scenes, staffing, analytics; further, facilities not just in StL, but also at Roger Dean; then perhaps most important, the ballpark and ballpark experience of fans at/around Busch... What on earth has this organization done really well the past 10 years other than ride the coattails or historical success?

DG: From a personal standpoint -- and I'm not being flip here -- I hope it offers some perspective on why I asked about the organization becoming so committed to consistency that it risked becoming stagnant. Ownership did not like my question and stressed the power of continuity, and my questions about outside voices to see what the industry was doing was met with dismissal. And that was before 2020.

The ramifications of the pandemic for the Cardinals are significant, and we all could see some of them coming: staff reduction as a result, reduced ticket sales, and the choices coming out of the pandemic for the farm system. A gap in the pitching production that was going to cost money to cover ... and then the hitters didn't develop at pace ... and so on. The impact of the 2020-2021 season on the Cardinals and their model was significant, and it came at a time when they were already running behind, so it only added to that ...

What have they done well? Well, they've continued to win for the most part at the major-league level and not cratered into a tank job. They do cultivate a season-ticket base. Their team Hall of Fame has really flourished in the past 10 years and become something that could be timeless. They've found what appears to be a good solution on the TV side -- with an eye on more improvements and awareness they're needed. They've maintained a style of play and instruction that helps them, and they stand out according to scouts for the sharpness of their play and how it covers for other flaws. They have been true to that and you see it in the players that arrive and players that other teams covet (Edman and Donovan are the examples from the past 12 months, Winn's rise, too). They've made several cagey trades such as the Montgomery in/Montgomery out maneuver. And they started bringing in outside voices -- notably someone even with St. Louis Cardinals roots like Skip Schumaker. That was significant. And helpful. And even other moves like that spurred the team to where it is now.

Walt: i remember it well. Cardinals were insulted you would even ask such a question.

DG: I thought it was a fair question.

I still do.

And others then started to ask it, too.

Ben: He is still very young, but are we to the point in his development where they should be more focused on him as a potential Lamborghini in the bullpen? The Alex Reyes vibes are getting uncomfortably strong with Tink...

DG: That will be a discussion this offseason and it's one that the new development group is preparing to have, yes.

DCG: Omigosh, thank you so much for articulating this! I think you've hit on the problem perfectly (or at least my perception of them and frustration from them) and offered the solution, clear as day.

DG: You're welcome. Successful chat!

Taguchi99: Hi Derrick, I'm sorry if this has been answered, but broadcasts have mentioned a few times that Mason Winn is playing through knee pain. If that's the case, why isn't he taking the time to heal? I would understand if we were in the division hunt, but since the trade deadline was obviously positioning us for the future, why are we letting a part of that future play hurt?

DG: Fair question. He is playing through knee soreness, and he receives treatment on it. Why play? Because he can and because he wants to and because he's still productive and managing it. Masyn Winn has made it clear to the Cardinals that he wants to be as close to the 162-game shortstop as the game allows, and that he is working to commit himself and learn about himself to make that happen, and managing soreness and knowing the difference between playing sore and playing hurt is part of that equation. This does matter to him, and to date he remains an elite defensive player and since the break he's one of the top hit-producers in the league. Hard to say, oh, it's dragging his performance down when he and the Cardinals see it as something that he can power through, learn from, and be better in the years to come as a result. This is important to him, and the team respects that.

Need to relocate to ballpark and begin some reporting there. Will return for a lightning round. Stay tuned.

Cardinals are leaving the field after BP, Brendan Donovan gave his body a test during workouts, and it's time to plunge back in for the sprint to the finish here at the chat ...

Sue: Hi Derrick. Thanks for doing these chats! Would it be fair to say if Chaim Bloom had wanted Mozeliak to trade from the active roster redundancy, and been pleased with the return, that some of those left-handed bats might have been traded? It seems fans are giving Bloom credit for the return for the three pitchers, but blaming Mozeliak 100% for not trading anyone else. I feel the real story is somewhere in between those two options. Thanks for taking my question!

DG: Not necessarily. Chaim Bloom would have offered his opinion, but ultimately the current decisions are Mozeliak's to present to ownership, and it's ownership that ultimately makes the call on what they do and what it means for the future. Mozeliak is in charge. Ownership gives approval. Bloom gives advice. That's the setup.

Uncle Redbird: It seems like some of the best players on this team represent the floor, rather than the ceiling, of a contending club. And yet some of those players also seem like the best candidates to be traded to reduce overlaps in position and handedness (Burleson, Gorman) and maximize their peak value (Donovan), especially with Wetherholt pushing for a role. What's your take on that conundrum?

DG: It's a knot of a roster that will take some creativity to unknot.

Simple.10: The 40-man is a red herring huh? Maybe should ask Randy Arrozarena and Adolis Garcia…

DG: I don't believe it is. It's a factor. How much of a factor? Now, let's have that discussion. But just to dismiss it as part of the equation when roster spots mean missing depth and missing depth has been a point of criticism, then let's at least be clear on what we're saying and take it all in. I know that's sooooooooooo damn boring, snorefest, geez, hard to fit on a sizzle reel, yawn. But that doesn't make it any less of a factor and worth pointing out and discussing.

David in CA: Sorry, late arrival to the chat here...but my question for you, DG, is what's your opinion of Bloom? Do you think he's the right man for this next era of Cardinals baseball? My questions stem from the fact that he didn't really last long in TB or Boston, whereas some of the more talented execs from the TB talent tree have had longer, and arguably, more successful stops (Friedman being #1 based upon the Dodger's results in the past decade). Thx.

DG: I am eager to find out and learn the answer along with readers and Cardinals fans. It will be interesting. I am also intrigued to see what he does with a team that wants to have Tampa Bay's efficiency and development with a mix of Cleveland's and pledges to then spend above its market and respond to its history. Could be the hybrid that fits his skill set, and some of the folks I talk with consistently outside of the Cardinals and inside baseball share that intrigue about how Bloom will do in that setup -- if that's the setup the Cardinals still offer.

MS Bird Brain: Here's hopefully an intriquing question. It's December 2024. Someone asks you in the chat the chances that in 2025 we will see a home game where Gorman makes an error at third and then makes up for it by driving in Walker with the winning run.. And Arenado was in Florida watching on TV?.

DG: It's 2025. He may have been watching on his phone!

larry harnly: is there a possibility that mathews could replace mikolas in the rotation? if so, what would happen to mikolas?

DG: Have not heard this being discussed, no.

Mike in KC: Does Arenado really deserve a red jacket? Only two… more

Perhaps the best 3rd baseman to ever put on a Cards uniform. Even with his lackluster offense, I think he's worthy.

DG: There's one fan with a vote to make it happen. Or, well, votes. Fans can vote multiple times.

Ed: A question regarding Miles Mikolas … he’s on an expiring contract, and I doubt the Cardinals will re-sign him for next year. So why wouldn’t he want to chase a pennant for the next couple of months instead of staying aboard a sinking ship ?

DG: Maybe he likes it in St. Louis. He has said that he didn't want to have a "good riddance" season, and he also wants to pitch well enough to get offers this offseason. He's taking all of that into account, and he's also thinking about time with family. He was away from his family for a long stretch to the start the year, and that's on his mind, too.

aliveforoverhalf: Somewhere in the last day or two in the P-D I read that Yadier Molina was not in the Cardinals immediate future because he was moving to Texas where his son would be playing for UTA (Texas-Arlington, which has a former Cardinal minor leaguer as head coach). Now today you indicate Yadi is busy preparing his son for the (presumably MLB draft). So is Yadi II headed for the DFW area or not?

DG: I hope you didn't read that in the Post-Dispatch. I'm pretty sure it was accurate in the Post-Dispatch: He's not moving; he's moved to Texas. His son played this past season for an Austin-area high school, was all-conference or district, and Molina moved there to Austin ahead of the season. That is where he lives now, and has going for most of this year. His son has committed to UT-Arlington. His son is entering his senior season, and after his senior season in HS is when he is eligible for the MLB draft for the first time -- and as mentioned earlier in the chat -- his father wants to be available for that. I don't really know how to answer your question about Dallas-Fort Worth, sorry.

rabidmonkeyfish99: I know it is extremely early to consider O'Brien a success, but based on early returns and the fact that flame throwing relievers are relatively plentiful compared to 10 years ago, i struggle to see why any teams beyond the top 5 - 10 in payroll would pay big $ for a closer. I see Helsley's market quite limited as a reliever, unless he pushes to try to start. What are your thoughts?

DG: You have outlined how several teams approach the ninth and see the late-game innings. Signing a pitcher like Phil Maton in spring and trading for Andre Kittredge also reinforces that notion -- they can find the bridge at their price, not pay the market price. I think that risks volatility because you pay for certainty. And that has to factor in. For a team that doesn't expect to contend it's a lot easier to take low-cost gambles in the bullpen and count on hitting right for a year, and hope the timing works out. For a team that is looking to contend, some level of certainty in the bullpen is necessary and that has to be developed (as Helsley was) or signed at a cost (as Helsley can be).

BradJ: I absorbed the San Diego game environment last week and was blown away by it. Thanks for your thoughts on it. Let me add a couple observations. First, they're located near the Harbor which is beautiful and full of shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions. There are *nearly free trams ($1.25) running that make it super easy and quick to get to the ballpark. The downtown area is chocked full of fun bars and restaurants. The stadium runs constant videos that engage the crowd between innings - my favorite was the Salsa Cam. Such a blast! And I must point out that the crowd was much younger than in St Louis, and included many hispanics who LOVE their Padres - the Machado, Bogearts, and Tatis jerseys were literally everywhere. AJ Preller knows how to build a team, too, and the fans I talked to love the guy. There was nothing annoying about any of the experience and I enjoyed simply watching the fans enjoy their team. It was a good time for all. It will be hard for the Cardinals to match the Padres, all things considered.

DG: As for the love of Preller, in the afterglow of a trade deadline that landed a 103-mph throwing closer for the next four years -- no wonder. They should.

BradJ: Hey Derrick, A new MLB dot com Top 100 is out today: Cards have Wetherholt at #6, Doyle at #34, Bernal at #74, and Rainel Rodriguez at #99. Sounds reasonable in my opinion. I have a question about Liam Doyle, the Top 100 says he's in Rookie Ball but I haven't heard one thing about his placement since the MLB Draft. Can you shed light on where he is and how he's throwing? Thanks.

DG: Spoke to Rob Cerfolio about the schedule this past week, and wrote about it for Doyle and others in the coverage from Los Angeles. He's in Florida, and there's more on the plan here.

Brian: Just wanting to note a few things notably not mentioned in the chat today:1) The Cardinals just took 2 out of 3 each from the Dodgers and Cubs, and sit 3.5 back of a wild card spot, with 43 games and one of the weakest schedules in MLB in front of them2) Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen … guessing a few chatsters are coming to see maybe these ex-Redbirds weren't the Cooperstown-destined losses many have bemoaned the past few seasons3) The big-budget Mets have lost 7 in a row, the highly touted Braves are 12(!) out of the 3rd wc … baseball seasons are long and sometimes unpredictable. (I want, and expect, the Cards to be better, and agree they a) lack star power and b) need some major strides in development [in Chaim we hope!]; simply thought some perspective was warranted)

DG: To be fair, I mentioned the series wins against the Cubs and dodgers in the lede to the chat. Maybe chatters just accepted that as enough reference and moved on.

MS Bird Brain: I must gently disagree on the value of the international dollars. If teams include it it a trade, it's absolutely guaranteed that they each had a relative value in prospect capital for it. Yairo Padilla cost them $750,000 and was considered a higher end signing. Hpw does he compare to Winn in high school? Jesus Baez cost the Mets $275,000 and was probably considered a value as a long term risk at that price. Contreras cost them something like 600K? off their dollars for that year. You know Mo figured that in to the cost to the organization. I think the relative value of those dollars to the Cards a fair question?

DG: You are welcome to disagree -- with a premise I didn't make? I said I had not thought of it in those terms because my expectation was that they would use it for multiple signings, not one signing. And then I referenced how the total value would be lower than the draft. All of which you then outline. Absolutely the Cardinals take into account the value of those dollars. It is the premise of their model as we've detailed here many times, and as many other teams also use. I just gave you an honest answer -- that I ... me ... the person answering your question ... did not consider that number because the expectation is that they would use it for multiple signings not one.

Mark J: Hi Derrick! Thanks for the chats as always. If this season is about giving the young guys the runway and seeing what they can do, I'm a little baffled by Hampson getting a roster spot that could be for a young outfielder of the future. I can't see him being a part of the future...is there just no one ready in the system as of yet?

DG: Hampson gets limited playing time, and can go days without appearing in a game. If you put a young player in the same position and he got the same playing time, there would be complaints that he wasn't getting a runway -- and there should be. Not every spot on the 26 man roster can play let alone start every day, and there will be a spot on the roster with limited playing time and none for days at a time. Why put a young player in that spot to gather rust and not grow?

Craig: Derrick, what do you make of the offense and Brant Brown's work with the hitters thus far? Nootbaar has cratered after a strong start. Donovan is in a 2 1/2 month swoon. Scott seems lost. Yet others have thrived or made strides as the season has progressed. It's just hard to understand how some of these guys seemingly make no course corrections for months on end...

DG: It's part of the natural ebb and flow of the season and of the game in general. Look to the Mets and their offense -- which is vanished and their fan base is livid with the hitting coach. Or the Yankees. Players struggle and some players don't thrive in the majors -- and rarely is that some indictment of a coach, but rather just another example of how damn hard the game is at this level and how much talent it takes beyond the best preparation possible from a coach.

Also, one other thing that is related to what you're mentioning is the cycles of a season -- when pitchers get back ahead of hitters because of their approach and unless hitters adjust it can lead to some really tough late-season or mid-season stretches. We're seeing some of that on both ends. Pallante had an answer for left-handed batters, and word got out and they've now countered what he's trying to do. Thomas Saggese is getting pitched like a hitter they now know and he's going to have to adjust. We're seeing pitchers challenge Alec Burleson in different ways, and he's in the process of adjusting. It's the cycle of the game, and teams are able to identify and neutralize hitters quicker than ever.

pugger: It seems so strange, that the Cardinals and Blues teams have run into similar situations the past few years---each working on a 'retool/rebuild/rework/re-whatever' but the Blues fans feel informed if not happy about the reality of that. It's because their leadership was direct, and honest, and explained what they were doing and why. You didnt' see season ticket holders running for the hills, fans moaning and groaning (well, a few, but they always do, about something). They just went with the flow, and tapped into the energy of the Blues building thru youth. Fans get excited about youth. How could the Cardinals miss so bad on the messaging?

DG: Maybe the expectations for a baseball team with a century of history and 11 World Series championships is different than the local hockey team with a strong history for 60 years, great players, long run of playoff appearances, and one Stanley Cup. I can only speak from experience of covering the two teams and interacting with fans. Granted, I have not been a Blues beat writer in the time of social media, so perhaps the tone has changed.

And it could also be the messaging, for sure.

And, again, the media plays a role in that -- whether it's by sharing the teams explanation for things with fans or challenging the messaging when the actions don't line up.

Ken: Derrick you’ve been around a long time . You have seen a lot of baseball. How long do you see it taking for this team to be a consistent team again? They have such a rich history I’m glad changes are coming.

DG: The answers for their pitching questions -- particularly in the rotation -- are not readily apparent, and that could take years to develop or it could take months to sign (definitely, at a cost) or trade for (possibly). What we'll watch is to see which route they take. As of right now, they're a roster that needs a lot to go right to contend, not a lot to go right to be a favorite.

Kevin h: Hi. When will the owners get smart and start requesting “opt outs� in contracts like the players get

DG: They have for decades, for generations. You just know them as team options. Same things. They've been around for the free agent era and before.

Heck, the very nature of the CBA gives teams the power of the opt-out. They have six years of control of a player before that player can become a free agent -- but every December, the team can opt-out and say so long.

Well, NOW it's November. Same idea.

Ken: I know Derrick a lot has to go right but it’s sad. As a life long fan man do I miss the magic this team used to have. I hope they can recapture it….

DG: I appreciate how you phrased this. No anger. No accusations. But also no acceptance.

Kevin h: If the Cards sign someone this year to a 5 year contract and the players wants an “opt out “ after year 2 why doesn’t team ask for an “opt out� after year 3

DG: They do all the time. They just call them team options. They've been doing it for years. And contracts are laced with them. Wasn't too long ago the Cardinals signed Kolten Wong to an extension, and the Cardinals could "opt out" after the 2020 season. They just called it a team option, didn't exercise it, and opted out.

Millo: Derrick, my question is in regards to the design of Busch Stadium III. Why is the playing surface at BS III like BS II below street level? Also has the construction of Ball Park Village changed the wind patterns at BS III since it opened in 2006 thus turning it into a pitchers park?

DG: The lower the field, the less build up of structure to support all those seats. If the field was surface level then the entirety of the stadium would also be that way, like a heavy anvil -- not to mention the aesthetics and traffic flow of fans arriving at street level and walking DOWN to their seats, not everyone walking UP to their seats. Then there is the skyline to consider, the cost of such a high structure, and so on and on.

Busch Stadium III has always been a pitcher's park. When it was designed and when it opened, the Cardinals wanted a ballpark that leaned toward pitching. That was always apart of what they wanted in the ballpark. And, they have looked into how the ballpark has changed with the construction of BPV. That goes back to Harrison Bader's time in center at least, because he was one of the first players I remember talking to about it. The Cardinals commissioned a wind study for opening the ballpark. Less clear is how it's changed with the huge building beyond center, but the team is curious too and pinning down why is trickier.

MS Bird Brain: Just got done with your "high socks" piece DG. That's a veteran baseball scribe writing a story about baseball in a Cubs-Cards baseball game. I grew up listening to Jack and Harry telling me about baseball plays in baseball games and including Derrick Goold in the same breath works just fine for me.

DG: That is a mighty high compliment -- and if can get one story that even gets a whiff of that compliment, that's a good year, maybe a good career. I appreciate this, and it's a welcome reminder to try to meet that challenge every day.

Nolan: Hi Derrick, I think two of the following have to be dealt to acquire SP: Donovan, Burleson, Nootbaar, Walker, Gorman

DG: Entirely possible. Those are the conversations ahead for the new front office and its leader.

Mike in KC: I think this is the story of the offseason. How does Chaim Bloom manage this? Who does he move out to create less of the logjam? Mo had a chance at the deadline but from reporting it sounds like he didn't seriously entertain may offers on the position guys. Arenado's injury has helped create time for others... but where will they go from here?

DG: That's well said, Mike in KC. It very much is the story as the offseason begins.

Patrick D.: Hi Derrick. I've been trying to read the tea leaves as we've seen changes to how the Cardinals acquire players and ultimately rebuild the roster to see how things will be run differently with Bloom taking over as POBO. Also, I've been seeing a lot of angst about what it will take to get fans back at Busch and I'm wondering how the one will inform the other. Winning baseball certainly helps draw fans back, but do you think the higher roster churn style of the Rays model will be accepted by Cardinal's fans who have been sold the idea that baseball is built on the backs of legends?

DG: Fantastic question. This is a conversation that I had with David Stearns (and others) during spring training. Stearns was talking about how smaller budget teams have a nimbleness to move through rosters, not be bogged down by contracts when players underperform, etc., and he said that gives them a competitive edge. We can debate that. But what he could not answer was when I came back with your question -- yeah, but, how do you sell churn to a fan base? Do they need a new jersey every year? Do they get to grow up with a player -- ever? That is a real factor here for the Cardinals perhaps as much as any other team. If they want to be nimble and payroll efficient and move like a smaller club just with a slightly larger budget, then what about the history of keeping stars or at least holding on to them for awhile. IO

I am so glad that you articulated and asked that question because I don't think any of us know how the fan base will react to it -- but we should be hesitant, given the history, to think they will. And MLB should really be alarmed if this is what they're going to try to sell to smaller market teams. Hey, come see your club contend until it churns and the stars you love go to the teams you love to hate.

Here is that story I wrote after talking to Stearns, etc., on this topic:

Goold: Stars gravitating to big spenders on the coast…

South City Steve: If the Cardinals think that the stands are empty because of the results on the field, then they are no closer to solving the problem. 3.2 million fans showed up in 2009 when they had missed the playoffs 2 years in a row, and 3.4 million fans showed up in 2018 when they were en route to missing the playoffs for a 3rd straight year (with Wainwright and Yadi missing significant time). Fans aren’t showing up because they are sick of hearing the billionaire owner complain incessantly about money and profitability. They are tired of his son launching veiled threats towards his consumers about the team not spending if they don’t show up. DeWitt was once the toast of the town as an owner, especially amid the debacles of Laurie and Kroneke, but in the last 5 years he has exposed himself as nothing more than a bottom-line baron who is no longer serious about winning. He’s been lazy and unimaginative as an owner, all while letting the inmates run the asylum into the ground. DeWitt’s problem is DeWitt, fans have nothing to do with it. We just woke up to the grift.

DG: I'm going to tread into this cautiously, because I fear how this may go, but it has been on my mind a lot recently, and this offers an interesting example.

You reference how being tired of hearing a "billionaire owner complain incessantly about money and profitability." And no wonder, who wouldn't? But one interview is not "incessant," what is "incessant" is how often it's referenced, and it's entirely fair to be tired of that. I do find it interesting that what you don't hear "incessantly" are any of the followup interviews from the owner or acknowledgement from the team about how that could have better explained or any of the attempts to do so. Those just don't get any attention at all -- as if they didn't exist. Perhaps that's because they're not recreated "incessantly" on social media or elsewhere. Same with the comments that you took as "veiled threats" and there were subsequent interviews where the president elaborated on his comments -- and even agreed with fans about the product driving attendance. He said as much in the press conference this past year about message fans had sent about the quality of baseball.

But comments that agree with fans are rarely remembered let alone repeated "incessantly" and I find that to be a fascinating aspect of today's climate. And an alarming one for someone tasked with reporting what is accurate and dull when the sensational gets so much more attention.

It's a question is one I think a lot about.

Moon: Contreras on the whole has played very well at 1B and has greatly improved from his terrible start. But, might he not be more valuable with his stats as a catcher? That would open up first for Herrera, Burleson or even Blaze Jordan?

DG: He would be -- sure. He's an above average first baseman when it comes to production, and that would be even more superior for a position like catcher. The drawback would be him playing a position he was promised he wouldn't go back to, and one that he's been concerned about getting injured playing. It would be an odd conversation for the Cardinals to have just a few years after already approaching him about a new position, getting his buy-in, and then going whoops, hey, no, you're catching again. If the goal is to get him to drop the no-trade clause, maybe that works.

U R ON THE INTERNET BUDDY: What's one thing most Cardinals fans would be interested in learning about John Mozeliak?

DG: You might find this interesting, especially because there's a real grassroots baseball element that gets overlooked (especially by comments fixated on his fashion): In an era when front office leaders were coming out of Ivy League schools with business backgrounds as teams tried to find the next Theo Epstein or the first Jeff Luhnow, John Mozeliak was a public-school kid who went to a state university and got a break throwing batting practice to the Rockies and turned that fondness for the game, that opportunity to be around Baylor/Gebhard/Zimmer, and an acumen for business and competitive curiosity into a long career as a baseball executive swimming in those same waters with the Ivy Leaguers. He also is really committed to several charities, including Foundation Fighting Blindness.

(He also grew up by this place that had a really good burger called the "pizza burger." Yes, this was the 1980s. But it was really good.)

Simple.10: DG - Regarding MO’s reluctance to trade position players at the deadline, how much do you believe Mo simply thought that was a situation for Bloom to resolve this off-season?

DG: I think it was the offers -- and the fact that he didn't want returns that only layered on the roster, not solved it. They didn't think they were going to pull in the kind of offers to make sense after hearing from interested teams who wanted to poach overlaps, not pay for them.

Amir: 2.) Feel free to correct me if wrong, but I believe I heard on a broadcast that Kyle Leahy had the most innings at the All-Star break of any reliever in several decades. Well before the stat cast era. How does the team weigh the fatigue from this when compared to the workload that starting in September might add? He's been very adaptable, but I can't help but wonder if starting would be asking too much of him and his health

DG: That checks out, and he also has one of the lowest ERAs of any pitchers with that may innings. Pitch well -- pitch a lot? His workload is on the Cardinals' mind and it's factoring into that piggyback conversation. In a recent interview session with the manager he stressed that Leahy's workload had to be a factor too and monitored. He brought it up.

U R ON THE INTERNET BUDDY: Internally, do the Cardinals feel as though they'll average 40,000 fans per night once ownership re-commits to the level of payroll it had set prior to this season? That's a heck of a gamble, and by telegraphing their intentions for 2026 and 2027, it's likely they alienate even more fans between now and whenever they determine to be in the market for impact players.

DG: They do not feel that way, no. They don't see that as a given that one assures the other.

Ed AuBuchon: Position player with most trade value has to be Donovan. Will Bloom trade a fan favorite?

DG: Ivan Herrera is probably the position player with the most trade value currently on the Cardinals' active roster. If not him, then it's Masyn Winn. We could debate between those two.

Jose from Des Moines: The Padres have Stars (Tatis, Machado, Merrill, loaded K flavored pitch staff) on their team, the Cardinals do not, that explains the sell outs in SD and not STL. It's just that simple Derrick

DG: I mentioned the stars. One of my premises. And it is far more complex than that -- because how they get the stars is the next step, not just having them.

Jose from Des Moines: Hii DG, How in the world are the Colorado Rockies outdrawing the Cardinals in attendance

DG: Beautiful ballpark. A happening place to see and be seen. The experience there beyond the baseball. And transplants who are going to see the visiting team.

RedbirdLarry: The winning run of the game with the Cubs yesterday had a Whitey Ball aspect to it that was nice to see rather than Walker and Gorman just swinging for the fences and hope the stolen base can get to be more of a part of the game again...

DG: High socks. Smart plays. That's why I called them the Sandlot Cardinals for the paper today. Thought that was a good line ...

Florida Obiwan: Thanks for the Chat as always. How much leeway does Nootbar get to show he can be the everyday outfielder for next year ? His injury problem doesn’t help. Could it be a possibility if he can’t then is there a possibility of trading him and the Cards look outside the organization for another OF. Obviously it won’t be one that will cost a ton of money. But not sure this roster has the guy to hold down that position. We don’t need more .230 hitters with no OBP or lack of any power. I think Burelson has for sure claimed the job for next year. Maybe even package Nootbar/gorman and something to get a legitimate bat as this team needs more power/rbi producer but can atleast hit .250-.275 and produce. Thanks again.

DG: Less than Burleson. The same as Scott and Walker. That's the current setup. Burleson is everyday, and the play for the others is carved up between the three.

Kingsoak: Do you think that Nolan Gorman's recent defensive difficulties at 3B and Wetherholt's success in Memphis may have the Cardinals thinking that they might as well keep Arenado to be their primary third baseman next year while Wetherholt studies under Arenado while subbing there and at 2nd and short as well?

DG: I think that Arenado makes that call, not the Cardinals.

I'll add that Wetherholt should be a starter when he arrives. Like Winn. Maybe the position is second, but whatever the position is -- the position is his.

The pre-game is starting at the ballpark. Time to pivot from chat to deadline game coverage. Thanks for the exceptional, challenging, and thoughtful questions. Thank you for the compliments, too. I will be back at the keyboard again next week with the team in Miami.

See you in the paper.

-

Then he made it poetic.

“It’s just taking me back to my roots,� Gray said. “I wore my socks up when I was a kid. I wore my socks up all through high school, my socks up all through college. It’s just taking me back to my roots. That makes me feel like a baseball player, not a pitcher. I’m a baseball player now. Just making baseball plays. I want to be a baseball player.�

With the ringtail tops of his red socks showing for the first time this season, Gray authored seven sterling innings against the Chicago Cubs in a 3-2 victory. As the Cardinals claimed the series against their archrivals, he captured the zeitgeist of the clubhouse at Busch Stadium. They had a blast as baseball players. Catcher Pedro Pages shed the fog of mechanics that have dogged him at the plate and hit a two-run homer — and then threw out a runner in the ninth to secure the one-run win. The Cardinals asked the umpires to keep the Cubs base coaches in the designated areas to avoid peering in or signaling and then had to do the same with their bases coaches, toes to the chalk. Jordan Walker stole second to get in position to score the winning run. Nolan Gorman committed an error that led to a run for the Cubs and then delivered the run that won the game for the Cardinals.

Gray struck out seven, but one of his biggest throws of the evening was to second base to squelch the Cubs’ momentum with a pickoff called by bench coach Daniel Descalso.

Just making baseball plays.

“We had to be on point,� manager Oliver Marmol said. “And the guys were.�

The majority of the players arrived Sunday afternoon, hours before first pitch of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for an early workout. The Cardinals intended to do their pregame warmup on the field, including batting practice. The torrential rain arrived immediately after their hitters meeting and soon the dugout was flooded. Sandbags were stacked to keep the batting cage dry. Marooned in the clubhouse, the Cardinals treated it like a clubhouse.

They played cards.

They played ping pong.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ watched the golf tournament — and did a lot of it as a group.

“Kept us engaged,� Gray said.

“Kept him loose,� Pages said.

And then, when the storms cleared and the dugout drained, Gray hiked up his cuffs and went to work.

While Cubs starter Shota Imanaga was nearly flawless through six innings, Gray pitched around two baserunners in the first inning and then found his groove and entered the spin cycle. Imanaga struck out the Cardinals in order in the second inning. Gray (11-5) opened the third with an counterpoint — by striking out the side in order and all of them on sweeping sliders.

The only two baserunners Imanaga allowed in the first six innings also scored as the game’s spotlight began to find the batter who drove those runs in — Pages.

“He had a game didn’t he?� Gray said. “He had a game. He had a great game. He made a major impact in this game.�

In addition to calling the game for Gray and later shepherding lefty JoJo Romero through a troublesome ninth for the save, Pages provided the first lead of the game. Thomas Saggese fouled off a couple of pitches from Imanaga to prolong his at-bat and then pull a single to left field for the Cardinals’ first hit. Pages followed by drilling a home run 407 feet toward center field. Pages’ eighth home run of the season staked Gray to a 2-0 lead.

The way Pages described his approach and what he’s trying to rediscover at the plate sounded a lot like a pitcher wearing high socks.

Get back to his roots.

Clear the clutter of data to find the kid.

“I’m trying to get back in the mindset of just get in the box and compete, stop trying to think so much mechanically,� Pages said. “That is something I dove into a lot this year, and it hasn’t benefited me. So I kind of went back into it. Just talking with the hitting guys: ‘Hey man, I just want to compete. Get in the box, forget about everything, and go compete.’�

Be a baseball player.

Make some baseball plays.

In the fourth, Cubs center fielder and speedster Pete Crow-Armstrong singled off Gray. He stole second base to get into scoring position, down by Pages’ homer. Wise to the Cubs’ skullduggery when it came to requesting the base coaches remain in their boxes, the Cardinals also kept an eye on Cubs at second base for gamesmanship. With Crow-Armstrong freshly off his slide to steal second, bench coach Descalso called a pick off. Gray sprang it expertly, and shortstop Masyn Winn applied the tag.

The Cubs didn’t even challenge the out call.

“If you have guys trying to look into your glove or trying to relay signs from second, if you can execute plays like that you can eliminate some of that stuff because they’re not fully engaged,� Gray said. “They’re going to get beat. It was a baseball play that we executed very well.�

Said Marmol: “That killed a lot of momentum.�

The Cubs regained it in the top of the fifth with some help.

Gorman committed a throwing error that allowed Dansby Swanson to reach first. No. 9 hitter Matt Shaw then tagged a two-strike sweeper for a two-run, game-tying homer. The pitch that struck out three batters in the third stayed up and broke into the strike zone against Shaw. But, Gray noted, the game came back around to give one specific Cardinal a chance to undo what he contributed to that inning.

Walker made a baseball play by stealing second.

That gave Gorman, two innings after his error, the two-out shot to retake the lead his throw helped misplace, and Gorman brought balance to his evening.

“That’s the thing about this team,� Gray said. “We’ve had our ups and downs and a (trade) deadline like that. That is the thing. You can also say the same thing about Gorman. Misplays a ball. Then I let the game speed up on me. For him to then two or three innings later have the go-ahead RBI — he picked us up. He feels like he may have let us down. But he picked us up. Same thing with Pedro. He picked us up. That’s just what it is to me.�

With one lefty in the bullpen, Marmol had to be targeted with his use of Romero — and rather than jump to use him against the Cubs’ leadoff hitter Michael Busch he waited for the chance to face All-Star Kyle Tucker. That came in the eighth with a runner on base. Tucker flared a single that put runners at the corners and brought right-handed cleanup hitter Carson Kelly to the plate. Pages guided Romero through an at-bat that tried to tease Kelly into getting himself out, and on a full-count pitch Romero got a groundout to end the inning.

In the ninth, Romero allowed two singles, and either one of them would have tied the score if not for Pages throwing out Jon Berti when he attempted to steal second.

Pages’ caught stealing shows up in the box score.

What doesn’t is how he mellowed the pace in the ninth to keep the inning from hastening on Romero. Marmol credited Pages’ “cadence� and with the tying run at third, Romero remained cooler than a pair of high socks and collected a groundout to end the game.

Baseball players making baseball plays.

“We take our job obviously very seriously,� Pages said. “At the end of the day, it’s just a kids’ game, and we want to go out there and compete. If we can simplify that and just keeping going out there and having fun, we’ll be in a good place.�

Winn, unmistakably, is a rising star. Statistically, he’s the best defensive shortstop in the National League. He’s sixth among NL shortstops in on-base percentage. And since the All-Star break, he’s hitting .329.

But come to think of it, Walker actually might not count as a rising star. Baseball journalists, like myself, indeed prematurely anointed him as one — the touted 6-foot-6 slugger debuted at age 20. But 830 at-bats into this thing, there’s still doubt.

All I want for Christmas is for Jordan Walker to become a star. St. Louis fans deserve one. And while Winn brings flair and smacks a lot of singles and doubles, it would be very cool to have a slugging star — a giant in the league — for years to come, as a role model and perennial All-Star.

But even the most faithful Walker followers might’ve wanted to walk away this summer. On June 22, he was hitting .210 with an absurdly low .562 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage). He’d only homered three times. Walker went on the injured list that day with appendicitis.

Since his return, in 70 at-bats entering Sunday, his batting average was fitting for St. Louis — .314. His OPS in that stretch was .803, which would be eighth-highest of NL outfielders for the full season. On Friday against the Cubs, the night before the fan experience at the Rawlings Experience, Walker uncorked three balls for hits — 107.9 mph, 111.4 mph and 111.7 mph, the latter sailing for a 434-foot home run, his first homer since May 17.

He’s resuscitating his promise.

He’s saving his career.

It’s too early to say he’s definitely a Cardinals starter in 2026 (which would’ve been a laughable sentence to hear during the sunny days of, say, 2023). But he’s playing his way into the outfield competition right now, along with Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott II, Alec Burleson and even Ivan Herrera (Burleson and Herrera will likely play everyday, but with times at designated hitter and, for Burly, first base). Of course, it’s possible that Chaim Bloom, the executive who takes over the team in the winter, will move a player or players.

Now, regarding Walker, I admit you’ve been reading articles about his hitting optimism for years. Every month it seems, he’s working on this new tweak to his swing or this new motion to his leg kick.

But in three conversations with Oliver Marmol, spanning the past weekend, the manager spoke with conviction about Walker’s progress to the assembled writers.

“I would say that he is more committed to the plan than I’ve ever seen,� Marmol said Friday, just hours before Walker’s offensive showcase. “And that’s a really good thing, because I feel like, and I’m being very honest, I think there was a little bit of hesitancy in — (him) committed to it, not committed to it, committed to it. And we saw the inconsistency in play. And now there’s a full buy-in on what he needs to do in order to get to where he’s capable of. Now it’s a matter of continuing to run him out there and see what comes from it. But I think that the conviction behind what he’s doing right now gives us a much better shot of getting there.�

In May, the Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold detailed how the hitting coaches had Walker, essentially, show them the swing he truly wanted to swing. From there, the coaches could work off of that, not the other way around.

“That led to more key moments, because it opened up just more dialogue. …� Marmol said Sunday. “‘You’ve done it the way you want. Now let’s talk.’ … You have to give time the guy with the high ceiling. … But you have to be making some sort of progress.

“I felt like with Jordan, a couple months ago, we were stalling out — ‘I can’t point towards anything at the moment that says we’re headed in a better direction.’ That’s not the case anymore.�

For the season, Walker is hitting .240 in 246 at-bats, along with four homers and a .631 OPS.

And his strikeout rate is 30.5%, which is in the bottom 4% of all Major League Baseball players.

But since his return from the appendicitis, his strikeout rate dropped to 25%.

And he’s always had a powerful stroke — just one that hits too many grounders. For 2025, Walker is in the 99th percentile for bat speed on the stat site Baseball Savant, and he’s in the 87th percentile for average exit velocity.

“This is the first time I feel that he has 100% bought in to the process ...� Marmol said Saturday of Walker’s swing. “The path is better. The setup is better. It allows his body to move the way he actually wants to move without having to force it. I think that’s an important part of this. …

“There’s conviction behind the work. He’s had early success (since his July 18 return from the IL), which allows him to buy into that process a little better. Sometimes you buy in and you don’t have the early success and you start to doubt. He’s doubled-down on — ‘This is the direction that I want to go.’ We’re starting to see some quicker adaptation to what we want.�