Cardinals' Post-Break Performance & Playoff Chances

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