caulfield12

Ummm…well, since this won’t be the playoff format, guess it’s as logical as trading or waiving 8-10 players.

If they can’t trust Crochet to field his position…then how is he going to be inserted into a playoff game? It’s not like Bummer has been close to automatic this year, either.

If Burger doesn’t slip it’s likely an out at third…it’s not like our offense was automatic to score, either. Letting Celestino just easily come home wasn’t the best idea, either.

Especially Vaughn, Burger, Sheets and Crochet…lol. Moncada is the one who we need to hit like a star.

Why is everyone acting like it’s a 2-3 game division lead with Bieber back in Cy Young form? Twins have nothing to lose…and White Sox perhaps letting up off the gas after two huge wins against the Astros.

That swing looked like it was going out…oh, well.

Easier said than done with a high 90s fastball reliever…sit fastball every time and try to adjust.

Well, isn’t this the same thing we faulted RR for down the stretch, not having a sense of urgency and majing the wrong bullpen choices? And maybe the Renteria hunch on Rodon vs. Fry wasn’t all that bad…it turned out to prescient this year.

He plated our only run…you’re 100% sure Moncada gets the job done?

Showcasing Robles for trade as a pseudo-closer…

Maybe TLR’s trying to make the point that Hahn needs to add 1-2 veteran arms to the pen. One for that unfilled Cordero role.

And that’s the danger of an inexperienced player at third when Moncada is one of the best…that whole move Yoan to 2B and play Jake there instead argument.

Well, that deteriorated quickly.

This always looked like it was set up to be a split…really going to have to battle their butts off now.

Of course, Cruz probably won’t go down so easily. Never should have been a tie game in the first place with such a favorable pitching match-up.

Would have been out if he didn’t slip but a really risky play.

Uh-oh.

He was locked in on a 3-0 fastball and chased one not in his zone…pretty simple. Anderson’s certainly our best hitter now, you take your chances.

Or Harold Baines…

Different sport, where the QB/Brady or in NBA 2-3 superstars can control a game…see LAA playoff record or lack thereof with Trout and now Ohtani.

Don’t we already have Moncada, Robert and Madrigal pretty much in bubble wrap? Might as well add Engel, too. That’s a lot of fragility for one lineup, not to mention Grandal.

Yeah, Willie McGee was the equivalent of Yadi from the previous generation of great Cards teams…

Donaldson’s deal and then keeping Cruz at $13-15 million for next year are really hampering their financial flexibility. In my mind, they want to keep at least one of those guys and go all in on 2022 again, or they pretty much have to blow the whole thing up. They have complementary pieces like Arraez, Kepler, Sano and Polanco from the first wave that they have to connect to the second with Kiriloff, Larnach, etc. Just like with Eddie Rosario, they will have to part ways with Kepler, Sano or both as they get more expensive and play their way out of the long term plans. Most importantly, they need to solidify spots 3-5 in the rotation, and the internal options are just not developing as quickly as needed, which necessitates more FA spending to cover for the losses of Berrios and Pineda.

Berrios would ONLY make sense (to move this year at the deadline) to an all in/win now team with a lesser payroll (think Rays, A’s, Brewers) who had the prospects to deal and the willingness to take a risk to put themselves over the top, but not much likelihood of being able to afford the 6 year, $150ish extension. Padres also come to mind, because of all the question marks around Lamet, Paddack and Snell…could see a deal with Berrios and Rogers moving together. They have the easiest schedule remaining and desperately are going to want to avoid that sudden death wild card game with SFG or LAD. 90% of the time, these big moves happen over the offseason.

Ron’s less inflammatory alternate handle?