(We Hope) The Kids Are All Right - Opening Day 2026! (w/ Daniel Shoptaw)

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C70: Hello everybody and welcome back to talking about Birds. The only Cardinal podcast that like the Cardinals needs gimmicks to keep your attention. Your host is Nate Heininger, and he's joined as always by his co-host, Benmar.

Ben: Hey, how's it going?

Nate: Incredible.

If you have an idea for the opening bit, text or leave us a voicemail at 8 4 8 48 birds. And thank you to friend of the show listener and current guest, Daniel Choal at C 70. Thank you for that opening bit. Um, you legitimately tricked Ben, which is I think what we were looking for, uh, the most out of this thing.

So thank you.

Ben: knew that that was going to happen.

Nate: Yes. You know, I mean,

Ben: I

Nate: do you think, do you think I just like completely set him up and left and was completely silent for no reason.

Ben: you just kind of shut down. Yeah. You're, you're, it's like your brain's rebooting or something.

Nate: That's true, but you also know one of my personal goals is to not have to do any of this on the show anymore. And so this was like, this was the best, the best it's been yet.

C70: I'd

Ben: Yes.

C70: done the, I've done the intro. I've done the game,

Nate: Mm-hmm.

C70: this time around. I have done the mid show ad pitch.

Ben: Mm-hmm.

C70: when Nate falls off the end of the world somewhere on one of these

Nate: Uhhuh,

C70: I'm ready. I, mean, Ben and I can do it.

Nate: I, I'm, I think

Ben: move

Nate: honestly, the ideal version of this show is I think just a Daniel Choal solo show,

C70: No, no, no, that's, that's never a good thing. Never a good thing at all.

Nate: but it's good to have you back. It has been a little while, and let's make sure we do a plug up top too. We will be on your show this Friday. So we're super excited about that. We're doing a little one-two punch here to, to start the season, uh, which right now we're recording. This is tab after dark. Folks, we are recording.

And there is a MLB baseball game happening right now. The Yankees are currently smoking The Giants

Ben: to you by Netflix.

Nate: brought to you by Netflix. I all, uh, speaking of which also, I hope everyone's got all their bets in, has everyone been doing their s sport, their sports betting?

Ben: there's two gentlemen right behind home plate with huge cult hy uh,

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: on, uh,

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: advertising. So I remembered to put my bets in,

Nate: Oh, Daniel, did you do all of your, um, government

C70: bet

Nate: required bets?

C70: going to bet I have put in that's there's,

Nate: Great. We're all contractually obliged. Um, at this point. We've all done all of our bets and we hope everyone listening has done all of their betting. You can't, you can't not bet.

C70: I mean.

Nate: That'd be crazy.

Ben: Calm down.

C70: would we be?

Nate: Yeah, of course. Uh, Daniel, how's your off season been

C70: It's been good It's been?

good Um it it has been fast too and I

Nate: Yeah,

C70: have talked about it a lot on the show but the fact that we had significant happening every month at least um really kind of move that thing along Right And we were like we didn't sit around all year all I mean all winter wondering if they're gonna you know sign a guy that might make the 40 man

Nate: yeah.

C70: it was a it was an active winner and it gave us a lot of things to talk about And so Yeah. it's been it's fun It is just kind of surprising that here we are you know just hours away from Clydesdales and convertibles

Nate: Yeah Clydes, Clydesdales and Convertibles. You're right. That is a, uh, what a, um, what a, a, a picture you're painting of Cardinal opening Day. I went last year. I've not, or no, I went two years ago. I'm not gonna make it this year. Um, but I hope, I think a bunch of our listeners will be there. Um, it's always a good time and I think it's gonna be actually quite hot in St.

Louis tomorrow. So maybe the, maybe the ball will fly a little bit too.

Ben: you go. Yeah. That's a good, nice, positive way to look at it. Jordan

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: Run incoming.

Nate: Yeah. Hey, you know, we got one good game outta Jordan Walker in Spring, so I'm back on board. I don't know about you guys.

Ben: That's

Nate: I'm all in on it. Yeah. Uh, but yeah, I think, uh, you know, looking back already on this off season, I, we may never have, at least not in the foreseeable future, and frankly, hopefully we don't have another off season like this jam packed with activity.

'cause the only way you're doing it, like this is another tear down. So hopefully we're not in anything like that again. But compared to the last few off seasons, and I think all of our general, um, agreement with the moves and the direction that the team was going, like, it was a very, very fun off season.

You know, I, I think we all liked the moves, understood them, and think that they are putting the Cardinals in a better position. So, um, altogether one of the more. Fun off seasons. Despite that, it was actually like each piece was like, we're gonna be less good next year. We're gonna be less good next year.

But it is what it is.

C70: And and and like y'all and I know y'all talked about it on every on every trade it was also Losing guys that we liked Right

I mean it

was the trades made sense We understood them They were good over from a baseball sense but this team was you know we enjoyed watching So great We enjoyed watching Wilson Contreras throw high choose out ever at everybody Um you know

Nate: You ever had one,

C70: I have not I

Nate: you haven't had a high too

C70: No I meant to get one after y'all's last uh you know taste testing

Nate: Uhhuh,

C70: I have not actually gotten to that I will have to put that on my list

Nate: you coming to Blogger Day this year?

C70: I should be there Yes So I guess we

Ben: Will height you up? Yeah.

Nate: Mm-hmm.

C70: now I am now concerned Um but um and I I you know and and no Leonard Otto's been a favorite of mine for a long long

Nate: Yep.

C70: even when he was out there in uh Ben's backyard So you know to see those guys go was tough But we also saw the Cardinals pick a lane and that was that's exciting Even though the the you know we're gonna sit here and and wonder if they're gonna win 70 games or anything like that They're still On that path of turning into the next good Cardinal team the next great Cardinal team hopefully and you know at least we know that

Nate: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we, we've said it a ton, like we don't know how these moves will work out. It could, we could end up being like the nationals who people felt like, oh, there's a, some pretty good moves, like the Juan Soto trade and some of these other ones. It's like they're building a little dynasty over there, and then here we are four years after that and they, they're shipping all those guys off to completely redo the rebuild.

That is a possibility. I personally have more faith in this organization and the moves that have been made in the direction that it's going than that. But there is a, there is a reality that we just don't know. Baseball's hard and even these really good prospects could fail. Um, but feeling good about it.

Ben: they've, they, well before they did all that, they invested in the staff and, and the training and expanded the coaching and all that.

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: like, if this doesn't work out, it's everybody's gone. Right? You, you fire everybody

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: again. But I, I feel very, I feel like they did their, they did the boring stuff before they did the more flashy stuff, and now we just need to exercise a little bit of patience.

Honestly, the more we're getting closer to baseball starting, which I guess baseball has started the, the, the day this episode has come out, um, the more I'm like, I

C70: like

Ben: think 2027 as much baseball as we're gonna be able to watch, I think the Cardinals are gonna start to be competitive pretty quickly. I'm, I'm feeling very

C70: optimistic

Ben: this year, but next year.

C70: year

Nate: Well, it, I mean, this is the, this is the optimistic time of the year for basically every team, right? It's nothing.

Ben: 500 today, Nate.

Nate: Yeah. Um,

C70: and,

Nate: and but to your point, like, I, I think what we can say we know about the new organization is that they. Are good at putting together a plan and executing it. We all, like, we understood what they were going for.

And every player acquisition you could see how that fit into the plan. What, what

Ben: can

C70: can

Ben: explain the plan

Nate: that's, yeah.

Ben: it.

Nate: What we don't know is can they turn these prospects into MLB players because the, the cardinals of the past were also not terrible at acquiring good prospects. We, we can go back the last 10 years and name a whole bunch of good cardinal prospects, Jordan Walker being one of them.

Uh, but where it constantly failed was that transition from high miners or mid, mid high miners to MLB level. Like we've done it a ton of times on this show. Can you name like the last great transition, like Cardinal Prospect that became a star and. It's hard. And then if you narrow it to starting pitching, it's like, ah, Carlos Martinez for a year.

Jack Flaherty in 20 and for half of 2019. You know, it just like completely collapses. So, um, we know a lot about the, the strengths of this organization, but the really important part we're not really gonna know until, uh, later in this year. And, and to your point, Ben, that will be the defining factor of whether they are competitive in 2027, because I think what you're saying is right, like there's enough at the high miners, uh, that like if they click this, this team should be pretty good, especially if you, uh, believe them when they say the DeWitts will open the dewal again when, when it makes sense.

Ben: They have reiterated that a couple

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: which,

C70: Know

Ben: you know, I'm, I'm always ready to have my heart broken. You know, I'd rather have loved and lost than never loved at all, but

C70: but

Ben: they keep saying it,

C70: it

Nate: Yeah

Ben: gonna believe them.

C70: Yeah.

The duets are not are not Bob Nutting or any of those type of players that are uh owners that are only focused on the bottom line Now are they looking at their bottom line Sure Yes I I'm not gonna argue that but they have run consistently high payrolls right

Nate: Yeah.

C70: run payrolls way you know in the top you know top half of baseball and occasionally would get you know start nudging around that top 10 range Um they didn't always spend the money The wisest Brett

Nate: Yeah,

C70: to mind but um But they did spend And so I really don't I do think I think this is a an ownership that wants to win that has been in baseball for a long time that this is not just a you know a guy that made a whole lot of money somewhere and then came in um to buy a team because he thought it was cool I mean know

Nate: he's got that beef money

C70: well yeah I mean you know when you've got that kind of

Nate: Uhhuh.

C70: you can do whatever you want But I mean you know we we talked about it I think recently that you know bill Deitz uh juniors was the bat boy for the Browns and his jersey was used for Eddie Goodell I mean he's been in baseball

Nate: Yeah,

C70: life and he's 80 something years old So they have this tie to to the game that a lot of owners don't and I do So I do think they will spend and

Nate: yeah,

C70: be just whether they do it well

Nate: yeah. I, I, we, we obviously on this show love to, uh, shit all over every owner. Um, and I think justifiably so, uh, I won't walk any of it back, but when you, when you compare them all to each other, I do think it's fair to say that the DeWitts are, uh, on the, in the higher tier of owners, um, compared to the other ones in the group.

Ben: And you know, like with the heim bloom of it all, I think like when Hin Bloom first came over, something that we talked about was like the idea of does this mean

C70: that the

Ben: that the duets want the cardinals to be the rays or, or whatever the hell the Red Sox were doing for the hind bloom years? And, and John Henry's kind of like going back and forth on that and, and now with the Dets saying what they're saying with the team, um, communicating that they think it's gonna be a one year step back and they wanna be competitive as soon as possible.

I'm, I'm thinking, well, maybe it wouldn't have made sense for Hein Bloom to take another role where he was being asked to do the raise thing in a non raise situation. Like maybe it's, maybe we can be optimist. Maybe it's all gonna

Nate: Yeah.

C70: work out

Ben: and, and we're gonna have a fun team to watch very, very soon.

Nate: Well I think, um, one of the key factors of how fun this team is and how good they're going to be soon is

Ben: Nate, do

Nate: going to be JJ Weather Holt. Ben is clapping because I've just executed,

Ben: God,

Nate: a tremendous segue into, uh,

Ben: shockingly good.

C70: shockingly

Nate: not joking, but

C70: key word there

Nate: Uhhuh Uhhuh. Um, so the, the big news of the last few days. Thank you. Thank you. Um, the big news, of course for the last few days, it's, it's been all but certain, frankly since what February. Like, they, they basically said it back then that the intention was for JJ Weather Holt to break camp with the big league club, but it was not,

C70: not

Nate: uh, locked in until just what yesterday or the day before when the transaction was moved or made and the news was broke that, uh, he will be the opening day, second baseman, and maybe even batting lead off.

We'll talk about that later, I think, but like.

C70: Like

Nate: Great spring, you know, the, uh, I don't know what more that you could ask from the guy. And I'm very, very excited.

C70: to

Nate: Um, we've talked about him since he was drafted. Uh, so if you're looking for something to look for in 2026 and hopefully have fun with a team that may not be complete, I think, you know, he's like number one with a bullet on what to watch for.

C70: It has to be the fastest rising prospect probably since maybe Rick an hill um to be drafted in just you know be in the major leagues in just over a year Um it it's pretty impressive and and it's exciting I mean exciting to have that kind of talent Now we you know we know that we thought Jordan Walker and Nolan Goldman were those kind of talents that kind of fell in the draft Um and that hasn't hasn't clicked but it feels like JD Weather's a whole different beast And I'm I'm very interested to see how it works

Ben: He's

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: less than 140 professional games. Obviously he had a pretty nice collegiate career. Um, and. He hasn't hit a speed bump yet. He rocked a 1 54 WRC plus in 109 games across two levels. Last year,

C70: year

Ben: uh, the defense was better than we expected it to be. I mean, there's just every, everything about it.

There's also like the way that, um, Ali Maral and the Club talk about his makeup and like his, his mental approach to the game and everything like that. It seems like even if this kid does have a rough time,

C70: time

Ben: uh, in his first month of pro ball or whatever it might be, they're not worried about that affecting him or getting into his head, and

C70: and

Ben: they don't do the Jordan Walker thing where they start prescribing swing changes at the big league level and expect him to completely change his game on the fly. Um, so yeah, I'm, I feel very confident about this. I'm very excited that it happens. I think it is very telling, and this is kind of what Nate was getting at with his, a amazing transition into this topic was like. team that is just focused on the bottom line and, uh, uh, uh, uh, extending, uh, or, or sorry, uh, uh, just focused on the financial aspect of controlling players would not be calling JJ withhold up at this time.

Um, I also think it probably speaks to a certain level of confidence that Heim and, uh, the, the blue man goons think that he could legitimately win a rookie of the year and therefore earn them a pick by starting him up, up there early. So, yeah, it's, it's, for many, many reasons, it's very exciting.

Nate: Yeah. When you think about the, the last prospects that have shot up through the system, we named a couple Walker and Gorman. It was all about upside, upside, upside. You know, it's, it's toolsy, it's raw, but we think the upside is there. Let's do it. JJs the other side of that, it's the, we think he's a big league player right now.

We just, what the actual ceiling will be, we don't know. But he's gonna come in and probably be one of the most consistent at bats on the team out of day one. Like his plate approach. We saw it in spring. What did he rock like? A four 50 OBP. He struck out less than he walked. You know, he's shown that skill at basically every.

Level. And that's generally one of the skills that translates first. Now, of course, he has not seen the spin or the vlo that you see at MLB level, so it might take still some time for him to, to, to really showcase that skill. Um, but he's coming in at such a higher level of success than any of those other guys had.

It's why he is where he is on prospect lists and it's why he is a favorite, um, for Rookie of the Year and things like that. So, uh, should be a lot of fun and like, like I said, sounds like he might be leading off, which is kind of crazy, but why not? I guess let's have him, uh, open first at bat of 2026. JJ Weather.

Holt, why not? I guess

Ben: So

C70: So

Ben: do you go

C70: go

Ben: weather Holt

C70: wind

Ben: Burley, Yvonne.

C70: yon

Ben: Right.

Nate: probably.

Ben: No, you, you'd probably want, may maybe make sense to swap Yvonne and Mason, but you don't want Mason as your number four hitter, so that doesn't make a ton of sense.

C70: they just it was an article and we saw it some in spring that there was an article that they might have Mason win be your cleanup guy uh in certain situations And so I mean yeah that doesn't seem ideal but then when you look at the rest of the lineup

Nate: Well in a t if a team completely devoid of power, if, if no one's hitting home runs and you at least want the guy who has the best chance to, you know, hit one in the gap or doink one, you know, in between the, uh, what do we, what do we call those? Uh, what, in between the or or dumb little, it doesn't matter.

There's a, there's a old timey baseball slang for like a Baltimore chop or whatever. Um,

C70: was

Ben: that's

C70: off

Ben: the home plate.

Nate: yeah, yeah. But

Ben: I. Speaking

Nate: so, I'm so sorry.

Ben: speaking of no power, Daniel, what are your expectations for Nolan Gorman going into 2026? I was pretty much ready to throw him overboard. Spring training stats don't, no, don't matter. But the fact that we saw Nolan Gorman actually be successful in, in a professional environment, um, me feel pretty good.

He ended, uh, spring training with a 9 34 OPS seven walks against eight strikeouts. What, what, what are your expectations for him going into this year?

C70: Well, I mean I was like you that I did not expect much of anything out Nolan Gorman Um and I'm still hesitant obviously I think we all are just because of of his background Um it was interesting in the um In the conference call we had with Ollie Marmal um a couple weeks ago where he was talking about Nolan Gorman They were slowing his bat down so he could make contact and then the idea would be to speed it back up after he got adjusted to that kind of thing and it looks like you know those are the kind of things that we're seeing those kind of results Right You know we didn't he didn't just go out there and hit a ton of home runs but you're right he wasn't striking out as much He was doing better I'm cautiously optimistic I'm I'm you know if he he makes a turn like we think he can then 2027 becomes really a lot more likely assuming that the Cardinals don't then flip him in the off season thinking it's a you know flash in the pan

Nate: Well and control is like, either way. It's an interesting question because let's say Nolan Gorman does breakout for real in 2027 or 2026. Um, and I think for, to me, what breakout for real means is that he's doing competitive at bats consistently every single time. Uh, 'cause that's always been the thing with him.

He, he at times looks like the best hitter in baseball and, and has actually had weeks or two at, at the major league level where it is he was the best hitter for this week or this two week period or whatever. Um, but then it just completely falls off and he's one of the worst, right? Carries a 40% strikeout rate or whatever.

Uh, so let's imagine he actually maintains a good strikeout rate for the whole season and truly breaks out. I think he's a free agent at the end of 2027. Um, may,

C70: Yeah

Nate: it's 28. So are you.

Ben: 2029. He's

Nate: Is that right? Okay.

C70: He's at 3.114

Ben: of service time ARB eligible in 2027

Nate: Okay. Well, I was wrong there. I thought he only had two years at the most. Three years does change a little bit. You could still perceive him as, as part of your, uh, the core of like a good run, 27, 28, 29. Um, but it

C70: but

Nate: does to your point C 70. They still might just be like, all right, we still don't see him as a future piece, but now we actually have trade volume.

C70: Yeah I I don't know I mean it it yeah it'd be a very interesting decision to make You know how if they buy into it that's a you know that's a time to do an extension you know for two or three years and buy out maybe a year of free agency

Ben: of

C70: of

Ben: decisions,

C70: bump bump Well again y'all are y'all are putting a masterclass on tonight I'm I'm gonna have to take

Ben: boom. Tab after dark baby. Um, Nathan Church looks like he is going to be a starter and Nelson Velazquez was sent down to aaa, did not make the club even though I think we spent about,

Nate: We spent,

Ben: the last few episodes, a couple hours

Nate: uh, we, we've spent conservatively 33 hours, uh, in the last month talking about how much he's going to make the big league club

C70: league club.

Ben: How much he's going to make the big league club and how much it kind of doesn't matter. And then do. So, and, and I think this is us just really getting used to this new front office because I, I think are in charge. Nelson Velasquez, he's, know, he's, he's the talk of the town he's starting for sure. Um, but we find out, uh, uh, yesterday or today, like I said, church is going to be up at the big leagues, probably starting in left field. Velazquez is down, uh, C 70. I'd love to hear your thoughts on, on that move.

C70: Um well I wrote about it at the Substack Um I guess it went out this morning

Nate: good natural plug.

C70: yeah You know

Ben: This, this is a great episode. I

Nate: Dude,

Ben: it.

Nate: everybody. You guys, can we just stop for a minute because like, you know what, you both, you're killing it tonight. This is good.

Ben: We should record this.

Nate: We should record that. We should start a podcast. What do you guys think?

C70: A um Yeah.

I I think and and it was very surprising to see Alaska as not make it but it also makes us a sense when you start thinking about this club's going to do Now I will say I also thought that meant that they thought Newt Bar was gonna be back a little bit sooner and then they put Newt Bar on the 60 day dl

Nate: Yeah.

C70: So that's not a case Um but you know again we've talk and talk and talk Spring stats don't matter

Nate: Yeah.

C70: you know Velasquez has made some adjustments much like Joshua Baya has made adjustments last year and look good in spring But you know he's a guy that also if you bring him up you can't do anything but cut him Um he has no options He has no anything like that And so I kinda get it you know and besides I feel like Jaime said look I can't get rid of Jose Ferin because Ben's gonna kill me And so I have to keep for me And and there's really no other choice

Nate: Yeah, Yeah I, I think, you know, it was funny 'cause I think we were both assuming he was going to make the big league club and also pouring water on it a little bit at the same time last week for the same reason. Ben, I know you kept going back to what 39 played appearances or whatever. Um, and I, it is an interesting revelation 'cause I do think probably a lot of teams.

He makes the club after that hot spring. That's kind of how baseball has traditionally gone. If you're there at spring and you rake and you hit a lot of bombs and you're at that age, teams will be like, why not? Let's give it a shot. Which is what we all thought was gonna happen and clearly wasn't part of the plan.

And I guess the assumption is if he keeps doing that at AAA or wherever they sent him, uh, then we'll pull, we'll call him up and give him a real shot. But, uh, March 26th, uh, is not the time when we actually wanna see Nathan Church and we wanna see Victor Scott and we wanna see Jordan Walker. So we're not gonna derail that plan because of 39 Great play appearances or whatever it ended up being.

Ben: and, and I think C 70 like is on, I think that they're, they're listening.

C70: they're

listening

Ben: Uh, to this, this podcast because the fact that just the fact that they are agreeing with the general idea that it makes more sense to super utility forin and to jc, um, and, and, and be flexible and, and, and let those guys become, um, effective infield, outfield, whatevers, uh, and be a right-handed bat. I just think it makes a lot more sense. I do agree that if, if Nelson Velazquez goes down and for 30 or, or 60 or, or however many days continues to rake,

C70: I

Ben: I, I think you can argue to bring him up, especially with this news about Bar going onto to the 60 day ILI think that kind of throws his timetable like completely in the air.

We have no idea when Lars Nup bar is coming up at this point.

Nate: haggling will get you.

Ben: So stupid. Um.

Nate: it right now. Hamon, please give me this. Please,

Ben: The show

Nate: please give me this. I need this.

Ben: Um, another interesting, not, not a good transition, but another interesting, uh, note is that the Cardinals are bringing three catchers to the big leagues. Obviously Yvonne Herrera, uh, seems like he

C70: it

Ben: is not going to be catching anytime soon with his knee inflammation issues.

Joel Pozo, uh, is gonna be riding the bench, and what I find interesting is that his status, at least on FanGraphs, has been updated to catcher slash first baseman.

C70: Um

Ben: and then of course, Pedro Pa Hayes, uh, likely the starting catchers. So, um, I, I guess I get Joel Pozo, like, I think this is almost entirely a personality hire at this point.

I don't really get it

C70: it

Ben: than got good vibes he can hit sort of.

C70: of

Ben: very confusing way that isn't ultimately super productive. But I,

C70: I,

Ben: I don't, I don't know what to think. This, this is maybe the only move that I find a little, I, it was telegraphed. I'm not surprised by it. I just, I'm not sure I agree with it.

Nate: I I hit in the same way, confusing and not productive. Um, so

C70: so

Nate: we are, we are, uh, we are Pozo bozos here, so let's make sure we, we show we.

Ben: love Joel Pozo

Nate: Yeah, let's make, make, wait, let's make sure we put respect on the name. Um, yeah. It almost feels like they're just like, well, we've got so many other things rolling right now.

Let's just have Pa Hayes catch and Pozo backing them up. And we'll just roll with that for a little while, while we let, uh, Yvonne heal and, and we really figure out where he's gonna be long-term. And we let Crooks and Bernal cook, uh, uh, and, and the miners, and we'll get to the long-term catcher solution as we, as we, you know, more, more understanding evolves.

Ben: But if you're going to have a catcher slash first baseman, why are you not putting Yvonne Herrera? Why are you not having him take, uh, ground balls at first base and getting him trained up on that when it's,

C70: it's

Ben: it's trending in the direction that it's trending in,

C70: trending

Nate: I don't know.

C70: first base is incredibly hard as we all

Ben: as we all know.

C70: and I think and again this is all rationalization but I would say it's also You want Yvonne Herrera to hit and you don't want him thinking about a whole lot of other things And he is already gonna be spending a lot of time improving his catching So then to add another thing onto it might be just a little bit more plus again it is a situation where Poso is one of the better bats on the bench Um I mean I don't know I mean who else do you bring up in that I mean for me and if he's not sitting there

Ben: I would, I would bring up earliest Ferme and JC over Pozo.

C70: Maybe we haven't seen enough of URIs to know though

Ben: That's true.

C70: that you know historically Yes Um

Nate: got new and improved jacked Pozo. This is a different Pozo than we've had in years past.

C70: may which may wind up turning everybody against him because he needs to be a thick poso

Nate: certainly helps the whole, his brand being his last name, being Pozo, and him being kind of a big dude, certainly is a, a combo that you enjoy aesthetically, you know, so ripped Pozo. I don't know if I'm gonna be as into it, but it might help the plate approach.

C70: babe I and I agree with Ben though It is you know the fact that he got one of the uh what is it it's not the Darryl Kyle Award I don't think but it might've been he might've gotten that one But one of those you know great teammate awards that he was on from the Cardinals last year after just being there for you know what half of you know 75 of the year I do think there is something about clubhouse chemistry there Plus you know he does his bats presentable and he's easy enough to to move if you have to Um he's on a minor league he's got that minor league split contract so

Nate: Yeah.

C70: him down and so you know let him be there as your backup to to Pez And once Herrera looks like he could catch on a more regular basis then you make the decision

Ben: he and. With that. And I, I, I do think there is some sense to having the, the personality higher, especially in a year like this, this is probably gonna be pretty difficult, especially for some of the younger guys. But if he takes one at bat outta the hands of Jimmy Crooks or Leo Burnell, um, then, then we've, we've done a disservice.

We've made a mistake. But

C70: But

Ben: maybe you're right. Maybe they will jettison him when it

Nate: It is a long season.

Ben: Pa Hayes, uh, explodes in the first week of baseball and we need Joel Pozo. Who knows?

C70: Well and and if and if PA Hayes explodes then you're probably then that's when you get a crook syrup and all probably

Ben: Right.

C70: because you

Nate: Yeah.

C70: guys sitting in in in backing up you know Herrera or Pa Hayes or both Uh you want them starting So uh. I think that's why you're seeing them both switch at first base or at least bernal's getting time at first base at Memphis as well so they can both stay in the lineup

Ben: Yeah.

Nate: uh Pi Hayes explodes. That's gonna be quite a mess to clean up. That's a big boy. It's funny you said explodes. 'cause I thought you meant like, that's often like a term of someone doing very well.

Ben: uh, somebody accidentally fed him a cake with a stick of dynamite

Nate: stick a dynamite. Yeah, that's, well, I, I, I picked it up as we were talking and then I started thinking like, yeah, that would be quite a mess too. Like, I just hope, eh, I don't, I don't have to clean it up.

Ben: up, that's,

Nate: Yeah,

Ben: that, yeah. That's what

Nate: that's, that's my problem. I was also thinking are the, are the, are the jerseys a see-through this year?

Remember that whole thing last year?

C70: Was that

Ben: I think.

C70: that two years

Nate: Was that two years ago?

Ben: ago. They fixed the pants. Nate, you gotta come on.

Nate: Bring 'em back.

Bring back. If, if we're gonna watch bad baseball, at least, you know,

C70: Alright

Nate: get a little bit of a show.

C70: somewhere out there Kyle Reese just perked up

Ben: Um, we talked, we just talked about Ferme as the JC both making the club outta spring. Is there anything else that we should say about those guys? Obviously, I am very excited to see Jose Fermin. I'm hoping get a a few hundred major league played appearances and to see what he can do with them.

C70: them

Ben: Um, I'm very curious to see how they're going to use him.

C70: him

Ben: Um, but we have a, it's a very right-handed bench right now, so you have to imagine that a lot of these guys

going

to come in sub get guys off their feet, pinch head, all that kind of stuff.

C70: stuff

Nate: I, I'm hoping we have a very active, like we're moving the line. Everyone's getting in the game, everyone's getting a chance. Like we need to get

C70: get

Nate: answers on so many of these guys. And, uh, I don't know how you do that other than, than.

C70: than

Nate: Playing 'em all. Um, obviously the flip side to that is like, well, we really want Gorman to get 600 played appearances, so we have like a true answer for him.

But there's a lot of these guys, these Friender guys that's like, I just need to see 300. Uh, you know, so JC like, I just need to see him get a half a season's played appearances, uh, you know, and, and we'll have such a better understanding.

C70: Yeah I was a little bit surprised to said JC just because I thought they might start him in Memphis cause he didn't get a whole lot of spring training um with playing with Team Italy

Nate: Mama Mia,

C70: yeah obviously Um but um

Ben: So on and so forth. Of

C70: yeah I

Nate: Uhhuh

C70: you do

Nate: Uhhuh.

C70: um but you know again I think it's gonna be very interesting to see Yeah How they use it You're right I mean because trying to even you know okay if he gets 300 and for me gets 300 well you know that's that's a whole whole player And how does that all manage with everybody else So I mean injuries are gonna play a part into

Ben: right?

Nate: What I was just gonna say, someone's gonna get hurt. You know, the, these, like, the adage is these things take care of themselves and it, it is true. There was almost always playing time.

C70: Yeah,

Ben: It, it is, uh, sitting where we are right now though. It is. I'll be very curious the situations, 'cause when you have earliest for me, andjay on the bench. do you put in CJC over for mean, or, or when, when are you pulling those levers? Is it just like a timeshare thing? Are they, are these guys like, are they gonna be viewed as specialty or as specialized in certain roles?

Is it just gonna be about at bats? I'm, I'm very curious 'cause it's three very similar not crazy exciting profiles. Um,

Nate: Yeah it's like you feel like one of these guys is gonna come out of this as like, if we're imagining that 2027 Cardinals are a, um, are are competing, you're really looking for like the one super utility guy. Uh, and we've got a bunch of guys that are competing for that right now. And it feels like it, it's almost a tryout.

Like go and play wherever, play whenever, uh, and, and try to look good in the box. And whoever does the best at that, um, will likely stick around for 27 and likely won't be, uh, and the other ones won't be

Ben: Right.

C70: Yeah I know I think it's probably especially in the early going it's gonna be kind of a of an idea of okay you know like this week so J's gonna play all week you know or in these situations and stuff like that Next week it's for mean or or whatever the case be That's it's not gonna be.

matchups as much as just we're gonna script this out and these guys are gonna play no matter what the situation is

Ben: Yeah.

Nate: Mm.

Ben: Maybe one of them gets hot even. Wouldn't that be a thing?

Nate: Well, that's the hope, right? I mean, you like, you know, I, we all think the ceiling on, uh, these guys isn't like astronomical, but there is a hope that like, so JC. You know, there's, there's been times where it's like, this guy could be pretty good, could be a doubles machine who gives you pretty good de defense all over the field, you know, and, and that you need players of all sorts to have a successful team.

So, like, you know, there is a world where one of these guys breaks out and, and actually becomes a key part of the team, even if it is in a super utility role. Um,

Ben: I've said it a thousand times. Ferin has been very good at aaa. Two years in a row. maybe

Nate: yeah.

Ben: he can carry a one 30 WRC plus in the big leagues for six months. Who knows?

Nate: Yeah.

C70: the JC was MVP of the Texas League And if you're MVP of the Texas League I don't see there's any reason you can't be MVP of the National League as well

Nate: If you can hit in Texas, you can hit uh, yeah. I mean that season was crazy, right? He hit like three 50 on the whole year. Uh, you know, he was, he was, uh, really good and started to show up on like national prospect lists and things like that.

Ben: Yeah.

Nate: and then has kind of dwindled ever since. But yeah, I mean, you know, there is some upside there and, and like Ben keeps saying, Jose Fermin is basically the next pool holes and we just haven't, you know, let him out of the garage yet.

Ben: Upper pool's light. Um, I'll, I'm willing to say that. Um, so we

Nate: bold.

Ben: Lars New Bar going on the 60 day il. We also learned, uh, that Hunter Dobbins, uh, who the Cardinals acquired from the Red Sox earlier this year is going to the 15 day dl. Um, still recovering from that ACL, um, don't think very surprising there. Um, it, it is, it's kind of, um. It, it's, it's a little disappointing to me that Dobbins and Fitz are both not affecting the big league club coming out of spring training, but I, I think it does make sense along with the lines of all these other guys getting at bats. It's the same thing with innings like you do, you probably should see what happens with ante, definitely with Leahy and, and McGreevy. Um, so it, it makes sense, but I do find it a little just, um, need my instant gratification. I need to acquire Richard Fitz and put him into the big leagues to watch Richard Fitz.

Nate: Yeah. Yeah. I, I, up until just a few weeks ago, I was pretty certain that. Fitz and Dobbins would be in the opening day rotation. It's like you went and got these guys. They certainly seem better than half of the current rotation. Uh, they both have upside in their own right, like I was excited about both of their acquisitions.

Of course, they're the starting rotation now. Dobbins, it's an injury. It is what it is. He might actually have been in the rotation if he was healthy. Um, and fits we talked about a couple episodes ago. So I get all the, I totally get the decision making here, but it is a little bit disappointing, but especially with Dobbins, like all of these guys are gonna spend probably at least one, uh, stint on the IL this season.

So, you know, he's starting the season on it. Bring him back, make sure it's like he's nice and healthy and maybe that's it. Maybe he just only misses that and he's fine. Um, you know, we're gonna be seeing, I think a lot of starting pitchers this year at different, at different times. So I'm not too worried about it right now, but it is a bummer that arguably two of the biggest acquisitions are just not on the opening day roster.

C70: Of course we thought we'd see a lot of starting pitchers last year as well and everybody stayed healthy and um

Nate: true.

C70: kind of kind of wish we had And and of course the pictures that we thought we would see like Quinn Matthews did not produce at the minor league level that we thought they would

Nate: Right.

C70: you're not gonna have another year where you get all the way till September before your first pitcher gets hurt Um that's not likely to happen but if the Cardinals are doing a pretty decent job of managing workload um there may be less of that and it may be more of a you know production that pushes people out than than injury

Ben: Last year really was the worst of both worlds. It's like all of our pitchers who are ineffective, remained healthy, and none of our young guys in the miners were pushing the conversation. So we just had to keep watching. What we had to watch other

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: Gray, which is always a treat. Um, and I mean, I, he had a really good springing I am, I am, I'm not rooting for the Red Sox coming into this year, but it would be a lot of fun to see him and Wilson have a

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: playoff run.

'cause I, I really like watching Sonny Gray pitch.

Nate: As a Cardinal fan, like. You know, how dare you even discuss, uh, rooting for the Red Sox. But I have to agree, frankly, their team looks like a lot of fun. And we did our little prediction game. Well, I, I picked them to go to the World Series. So, um, I, I do like that team and I think they did some interesting things.

They just had, uh, I, if you're not watching this kid Connolly early, I think he's gonna be very good. He just knocked Johanna Oviedo out of the, uh, starting rotation. So,

Ben: Yeah.

Nate: I think they are going to be good. And Wilson Andres is probably gonna have a very good year for them there. Um,

Ben: speaking of cardinal's pitchers, oh, that wasn't as good. We'll, we'll do it.

C70: bad

Ben: Uh,

Nate: no, Ben, it was good.

Ben: need that. Um,

Nate: He, he needs it.

Ben: Matthew Lior been named as the opening day starting pitcher. It'll be pitching probably around the time that you're listening to this episode. And the colonels finalized their pitching staff. Uh, the last few bullpen spots, uh, were, uh, filled by Chris Roycroft, George, or is it George or Jorge Soriano? I don't know.

C70: I think it's George

Ben: George Soriano and Matt push hard, uh, have all been informed that they have made the team. Um, I, you know, I think the only one that I am questioning or confused by is Roycroft, just because, um. I feel like the Cardinal sees something in him that I just don't see. Um, but, but back to Libby, very excited for him. I'm, I, he might be the card. Other than jj, the cardinal I am most excited to watch in 2026 is to see the step forward that I think liberator is going to make.

Nate: Yeah, I think it was a, the obvious choice for opening day starter, um, both from the pedigree and, and hype and all that, but also just out of options. I mean, who, who else do you pick there? Maybe Dustin may out of like, uh, look at this guy. You know? Um, but outside of that, it's like, it's, it had to be liberator.

Ben: something to look at in the, in the

C70: in

Ben: red and white uniform He is. It's

Nate: Can you, can, can you believe this guy? Look at this guy. You know, that would've been like half the marketing campaign, I think. Can you believe this guy

Ben: Wow.

Nate: look looking good in spring though? Um, but I'm, I'm excited. You know, we, we've talked about it a ton on this show. Like, pitching is hard and it takes most pitchers years at the major league level to develop and really.

Um, really be good and not just treading water. Uh, it doesn't always feel that way when you look at some of the other teams that are around the league, but like most pitchers have spent a couple years in the league before they get good. And, you know,

C70: know

Nate: Lior had an up and down season last year, but at times he was really, really good.

So, uh, another year behind, uh, you know, uh, behind him, uh, a complete runway to no competition for the rotation for him, like it's his, if he performs, I don't know, I've, I'm feeling pretty hyped as well. And like you said, um, if we, if we're gonna be good in 2027, certainly feels like Lior has got to be a big part of that.

'cause there's a lot of other pictures coming, but they all have even more question marks and no time at the major League level. So Libby, Libby might end up being pretty, pretty core to this rotation more than he already is.

C70: Yeah don't I I I don't know For for me right now I think the bullpen is more interesting than the rotation Um because I mean I had a good spring I'm still not completely on board with that but you know I I also realize that he's making the arguments against look a little bit uh silly

Nate: Sure.

C70: till we get to the end of the season but I just think bullpen usage is gonna be very interesting this year because of the fact that you look I mean you look at that bullpen and there's like basically Chris Roycroft is your only guy that you can send down

Nate: Yeah.

C70: I mean you have options on Riley O'Brien you have options on Matt Swanson but hopefully you're not even considering that because they're the way that they're pitching right I mean if they pitch like they did last year you're not considering it Everybody else out there doesn't have that option right I mean you can't you know George Soo has no options Um Matt Ard has to go back to the the Marlins unless you work some sort of deal with them Um you've got those kind of veterans of Hispanic and such So I just could be very interested to see how the bullpen gets used when you don't necessarily have that you know ability to churn the two or three or four guys from Memphis up and down like they have in the past

Ben: It

Nate: Yeah.

C70: Yeah

Ben: concern for me going into 2026 is I don't see 161 games of innings in the bullpen. Like, who, where, where are all those innings coming from? And, and I think that's a great point, especially if we can't swap guys in and out if, if we have to pull or, make roycroft pitch three innings in a game to pick up for a starter. Um, I, I don't know. I think it's gonna be

Nate: Ante. Ante is gonna po ante is gonna be a long man, and Lehe might end up being a long man as well, like he was last year.

Ben: Yeah.

Nate: Um, I, it does seem like the decision was, is centered around, we got all these guys that we cannot option, so we start there. Probably some will stick, some won. Um, and

C70: and

Nate: Roy Croft, whatever it is that they see in him, like, we'll start with him and we'll just start rotating, you know, they're, they, you know, Stein

C70: Stein

Nate: or Stanek is around too.

Like, there's other options. Um, but you gotta figure out if Soriano, who you went and traded for, uh, pus hard, hard, who is rule five? You know, like you gotta get answers on these guys.

C70: And I will say uh to Roy Croft's again back to that interview with Ollie he was talking about how last year the game was too fast for him that you could tell that he was just trying to do too much too fast all that they have worked with him and things seem to be he seems to have a little bit that experience that he had last year It's helping him realize that the game doesn't move quite as fast up there And he had a good spring So um you know again take the spring stat for what they're worth which is basically nothing But um I'm encouraged to see how cause there were times where he was really good last year uh and then there were times where he was thought it

Nate: Yeah, he's very tall. How about that

C70: there is that? there is that

Nate: Does that help?

Ben: that he is.

C70: I mean you you've really nailed it right there Nate

Nate: He was the first guy who came into the room, uh, at the winter warmup that I was in, and he was like a foot and a half taller than every single other person. It's like, oh yeah, these guys are big. And he picked, he picked me up, put me in his pocket. It was cute.

C70: for you I'm

Nate: It was cute.

C70: Yeah

Nate: You guys don't like this. You're not liking this.

Like, we can move on.

Ben: Nate.

Nate: You're supposed to come in and just take it over. Don't just leave me hanging.

Ben: all I got. Uh, unless, uh, Daniel, you got anything you want to add to, uh, just getting ready for this. We're on it's opening day. Any, any, anything else I missed

C70: missed No I think that you know again we've we've we've gotten to the point where none of this stuff matters but now we see what came out of it and now everything going forward does matter

Ben: LEM.

C70: so it's gonna be a lot of fun to see what it is

Nate: We did it, we're here. Um, I couldn't be more excited. Um, and we're going to talk about, we, we have our segment where we talk about the upcoming games is back. So we'll be doing that. We're gonna be doing a little bit of League News and Daniel has a game for us. But before we get to that, Daniel, would you please remind the listeners where they can find you if they want more C 70 content in their life, which they should, uh, what's their best place?

Where's their best place to go?

C70: well probably to their nearest psychiatrist to understand what this kind of weird thing is Obviously you follow me on Twitter at C7 And that's where most of the things are getting linked Obviously I'm also at Blue Sky Um I try to put stuff up there as well Um the SUBSTACK is Cardinal seventy.substack.com I mean just search Cardinal 70 or c7 You'll probably find me

Nate: And we super recommend you do and catch us there this Friday night as we, uh, I'm, I'm not gonna be there alone. The last two times Ham Bone has missed the episode and it's, and it's been actually quite nice. Uh, it's just been me and Daniel, but Ben will be there.

C70: we buried the hatchet last time uh when you were gone

Nate: That's true.

C70: had to he he he was out of good guest uh host to come in So he got me and he said let's do this And so now I guess um I guess we home guest we're back on good terms and we'll see both of you Friday night

Ben: that last.

Nate: Yeah.

C70: Yeah

Nate: Well, we also wanna remind our listeners that this show, our show is listener supported on Patreon patreon.com/talking about birds. If you want to support the show directly, uh, consider joining. Consider subscribing at patreon.com/talking about birds, patrons of any level. Get access to our private discord server.

Uh, you can catch c

C70: C

Nate: content straight there too. He posts it in there. So if you don't want to be on social media anymore, or you want to be in a more refined version of social media, think about joining. Uh, re refine maybe isn't the right word for it, actually.

Ben: yes, Yes, yes, yes,

C70: every

Nate: Uh, hmm. Hello, Muffy. Um, yeah, refines not the right word for it, but, uh, more, um, ta Yeah.

Yeah. Well, is that even the right word for it?

C70: Yeah Trust me It's less chaotic than

Nate: Okay. Um, less bozos, but, uh, I mean, other than the pozo bozos of of which the bird scored is full, uh, check it out. patreon.com/talking about birds. If you wanna, uh, support the show in another way, leave us a review at your favorite podcast platform that still really does help.

And of course, tell your friends and tell your family. You're watching games again. You're hanging out with your fam, your friends. You're watching games. Lean over, whisper in their ear. You ever heard about talking about birds? They're gonna love it. Hand, bone. Where else can people find us online?

Ben: Obviously through Whispers.

Nate: Uhhuh.

Ben: but you can also, uh, find us on the Blue Sky Instagram TikTok. You can watch this episode on YouTube. If you'd like to do something like that, you can find all the podcast information, including t-shirts and more@talkingaboutbirds.com. You can email us at talk about birds@gmail.com and of course you can call us and leave a voicemail or send a text message to 8 4 8.

C70: 8

Ben: That's eight four. 8 4 8 2 4 7 3 7.

Nate: 8 4, 8 48 birds. And of course, we have to shout out our newest patron, Charles C. Charles, thank you so much for your support and for joining the Patreon. Uh, we, we truly appreciate it.

Ben: Thanks, Charles.

C70: it

Nate: Um, alright. Well, we know it.

C70: it

Nate: The game is happening. I, I assume a lot of you listening right now are watching the game and have the audio paused and are listening to us.

Instead, you are watching,

Ben: or muted? It'd be weird if you just paused the, yeah,

Nate: they're just staring. I, I assume many of you are just staring at a paused screen of the, uh, of the opening day.

Ben: first. You

Nate: Maybe they know something about what's gonna happen. Uh, the Cardinals are playing, the,

Ben: I please don't do that.

Nate: the cardinals are playing the race, is what I'm trying to say.

Ben: you go.

Nate: Yeah. We got three games Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. The most anticlimactic thing about baseball, I get it. I understand why they do it this way,

C70: Right

Nate: but having a game on Thursday and then nothing on Friday makes me a sad little boy.

Um, but I get it. It's fine. Uh, ham bone. What are, what are you expecting out of these rays?

Ben: Yeah. You know, I, um, for so long the rays were just good and they were kind of like inexplicably good, and they were just always there. Um, and then Wonder Franco happened,

C70: happened

Nate: Uh,

C70: uh.

Ben: and it really shot the club. the foot as far as their future prospects, I think that they're a fine team. Um, but they have a ton of question marks.

I think a huge question mark for this team

C70: team

Ben: is, is the, the offensive wins that they had last year, specifically with Junior Cameron, who I do think is good. Jonathan

Nate: uh

C70: Ronda

Ben: think is good, are their successes from last year gonna translate into a real ballpark with a dome and all that? Uh, I, I, I wonder how that works out.

Can Chandler Simpson hit the ball at all? Uh, a huge question mark. And then on the pitching side, you know, is Shane McClanahan

C70: Plana hand

Ben: guy anymore? Is can they squeeze anything out of Nick Martinez and Steven? Matts I have no idea. Th this, this is a team that has like a 20 win window where it could, they could

Nate: Yeah

Ben: competing for the east, or they could be sitting around 70 wins.

I, I have no idea what to expect from them.

Nate: Yeah.

cam

C70: Yeah, cam,

Nate: like, I think he's probably going to be one of the best power hitters in baseball for the next 15 years.

C70: 15

Nate: And I also think there's a chance he had the most home runs he's gonna have

C70: gonna

Nate: in a single season in his career last year.

C70: last

Nate: he will not play in a minor league ballpark again, probably.

C70: probably

Nate: It just completely skews everything.

It's like the athletics over in their little ballpark right now. Like when they move to whatever they move to,

C70: to

Nate: it's going to change everything. So, but I do think,

C70: think

Nate: you know, oh no, he is not gonna hit 45 or 48 or whatever it was. He'll hit 37 or something like that. He's very, very good. So I'm not worried about it.

But yeah,

C70: yeah

Nate: it's an interesting team. Uh, Yandy Diaz still kicking it. He had a great year last year, so like, they have, they have the pieces to be good.

C70: good

Nate: I dunno. Daniel,

C70: Daniel

Nate: are you, are you keeping your fingers on the pole? So the Tampa Bay rays at all?

C70: Not particularly um mainly because I don't get too far out of the cardinal circle and then

Nate: Yeah.

C70: the American League becomes lesser yeah I mean there I mean we know the the tradition and history of the raise and we know that about the time you count them out they're gonna figure out something to you know be good Um I yeah I I don't know I don't know I did see McClanahan take a a ball off his shin today at

Ben: Cool.

C70: so that should been that should be fun Uh he was throwing batting practice and one came right back at him

Ben: Perfect.

C70: so um but he's not listed to pitch this series is he

Ben: No, it looks like the

Nate: Now.

Ben: uh, game one is gonna be Matthew Lior versus Drew Rassmuson. What was that?

C70: I said that was

Ben: Oh, damnit, I stepped on it. I, well, let's turn the show off. Uh, Michael McGreevy, game two against Joe Boyle. Uh, and then for game three, it's gonna be Dustin May versus Steven Matts, which, uh, that should be a lot of fun.

Like, I would not be surprised if, if, uh, Matt's, if he's healthy, has a crazy good year this year, just because,

Nate: Well, that's been the, that's been the thing with Matt the entire time we had him too, where it's like, if he's healthy, he is good. You know, and he's healthy on Sunday at least. Sure. Seems that way. So he's probably gonna be pretty good,

Ben: yeah.

Nate: but how long does he go? You know? And the rays are, rays are real quick with the hook, you know?

C70: Yeah.

Ben: Um, it's a weird team. Like according to roster resource right now, Cedric Mullins is batting third for them. Um, and I don't know if Cedric Mullins is batting third for any other team in baseball. Not even really sure why they have 'em doing that, but

C70: Mm-hmm

Ben: yeah, they're a weird team.

C70: team

Ben: Um, I don't know what to expect. I think the Cardinal have a fighting chance in this

Nate: Yeah It's a good team to open the

C70: the

Nate: season against, like they're, they are good. And it will be a challenge. Or rather they have the capacity be to be good.

C70: good

Nate: Um, and it should be a challenge, but they also could be beat, you know? So, um, after that kind of a different caliber, uh, the Mets are coming to town, um, you know, supposed to be one of the best teams in baseball, so that might be a challenge on ba I mean, Soto Lindo, uh, the rest, you know, they're all

Ben: Uh, Bob Bette, Luis Robert Jr.

Nate: Uhhuh

Ben: Simeon Carson binge is, is making the,

Nate: Uhhuh.

Ben: league roster, which is exciting.

Nate: That's a big time lineup, you know, could be, uh, Lindo broke his little pinger though, so, you know, we'll see how he recovers from that.

Ben: Yeah. Um, this is a good team. Probably. I don't really know what to make of 'em.

C70: them

Ben: Um, I think that, uh, uh, we'll probably Ms. Nolan McLean, which just from a baseball, uh, watching standpoint, that's too bad.

C70: standpoint

Ben: Um, but yeah, I mean they're, their, their rotation is probably really good. They're

C70: They

Ben: bullpen is

C70: is

Ben: okay, and they might have one of the best lineups in baseball,

C70: baseball

Ben: but like.

C70: like

Ben: don't know. I could see Bobette and Louis Robert Jr. And Marcus Simeon all having terrible years. I could also

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: great years. I don't know what to expect from this team. They're like, for the amount of money that they spent and have spent in the roster turnover, I still feel like there's a lot of question marks.

C70: This might be a team that it's good to play the first week of the season before they get a chance to try to figure out who they are You know the Cardinals played the Mets last year at a time where they were hot and then they just fell off the face of planet You wish you'd played em later in the season This may be an advantage for the Cardinals to be able to play a team that is still trying to to figure out what they are and you know maybe sneak away with a series win that way

Ben: All right,

Nate: Possibly. Yeah.

Ben: Cardinals coming outta the first two series with the four and two record. I think that makes sense.

C70: sense

Nate: Yeah, sure. Why not? We're Cardinal fans, right? I

Ben: Um, no, I do, I do legitimately think that they have a fighting chance in both of these. Uh, that being said, the Mets could absolutely pummel our starting pitching. Um, so we'll see.

Nate: would say that's the flip side to getting 'em early is that they're all healthy or at least they seem to be like. Um, Louis Robert, I think is probably set up for an incredible year, just getting out of the White Sox, but he is off injured, so they certainly will most likely have him on Monday. I guess We don't know for sure.

Ben: the rotation looks like it's gonna be

C70: be

Ben: versus Clay Holmes. Uh, Andre

C70: Andre

Ben: versus Kode Senga, which feels like just a really bad mismatch. Uh, and then Libby's turn comes back around likely for Freddie Peralta, assuming that everything goes the way that

Nate: yeah,

Ben: think it'll go that week.

Nate: I think we're looking at three and three, and that's an optimistic view, I think. Uh,

Ben: it.

C70: it yeah.

Nate: Yeah Um, you know what, at the end of the day though, aren't we just glad that there's baseball again?

C70: Oh

Ben: beats being at the office. Am I right guys?

C70: guys

Nate: Uh, I'll take a bottle in front of me instead of a frontal lobotomy, uh,

uh, ham bone. I guess let's get into some league news. What have you got for us?

Ben: The Cubbies and Pete Crow, Armstrong, Mr. PCA, agreed to an extension six year extension covering the 2027 through 2033 seasons. It's a $115 million guarantee. Um, my quick thought on this is the, uh, cubbies are really, I, I think they're kind of going out on a limb here. I know

C70: know

Ben: that PCA is had a, had a good half of a year last year.

I know that PCA is a very good defender,

C70: tender

Ben: uh, they're throwing money at a guy who had half of season where he looked completely lost at the plate. I think the only thing that makes sense here is that you think that his floor is so high because of his defense, that you're fine with taking that risk, and I'm not really even against taking that risk.

He is a

C70: a unbelievable

Ben: in a premium position, and he is as fun to watch as they come.

Nate: Yeah. The flip side argument to that is that this has such a possibility of being at a crazy deal for them. I if, you know, he was,

C70: I don't think

Ben: I think it has more, I think it is more likely not be a crazy deal for them than it is to be a crazy deal for them, for

Nate: if he's even somewhere in between

C70: between

Nate: what he did at the first half of the season and the second half, you're looking at a guy who's gonna, you know, hit.

C70: hit

Nate: Go 2020 every year and be one of the best defensive baseball, you know, best defensive center fielders in baseball. Like, I think that's what, what's the a, a v on this, like 18 or whatever.

Ben: if he can stop swinging at everything

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: I agree with you

C70: with you

Nate: Right. Well, you're, you're, you're arguing that like

C70: like

Nate: the bottom is so low that it could end up

Ben: offensively.

Nate: Yeah. Yeah. Which, which is always the problem with the high strikeout guys, right? The, the, it's Nolan Gorman, like if you're not. Doing exactly what you need to do. You're that you have no other offensive profile.

It's, it's just bad and there's really nothing to do. Nothing else about it.

C70: it

Nate: Um, but he's also, what, like 23, uh, and he had a half season of absolutely incredible. So

C70: So

Nate: he, he probably will never have a half season as good as z. Again, most guys never do, but I don't think he'll be as bad as he was in the second half.

So even if he carried a one 15 WRC plus one 10, there, this is, this contract has surplus value, you know?

Ben: year he sw, I had to look it up. He swung at almost 42% of pitches out of the zone.

Nate: Yeah. It is not good.

Ben: He's really not

Nate: You know what I do? You know what I do? I just don't swing.

Ben: That's might be a better option for old

Nate: Yeah,

C70: c

Nate: you could super narrative, you can narrative that big time though if you want, you know, like, hey, he came out hot, he was crushing it, and then he started struggling. Then he started, uh, reaching and, and, and like grasping for it and just completely lost his mechanics. And coming into 2026, he is a better player and he is figured out his problems and all that, you know,

C70: know

Nate: um, we'll see.

But I, I think that this will likely end up being, I, I'd, I'd be very surprised if this ends up being like an albatross and with the, with the way, uh, baseball.

Ben: I, I

Nate: with, yeah.

Ben: well, I do think, I do think PCA can give you two and a half war on defense alone

C70: alone

Ben: year for the next 10

Nate: Yeah, but you don't want, like, you're not gonna keep that as your center fielder for 10 years. Like everybody's gonna move on from that. Um, but with the way baseball is going, uh, in like four years, someone's probably gonna get a, a one year, $118 million contract. Uh, so like this, uh, this is probably gonna end up looking pretty cheap overall.

Ben: it could be me.

C70: could be me

Nate: It could be you, hey, it could be any of us.

Ben: Yeah.

C70: It's not me

Nate: It's probably not me. It's, I think it's like almost, almost certainly not me getting a major league baseball contract. I think you gotta be able to see the ball in order to, uh,

Ben: yeah.

Nate: to get a deal.

Ben: C 70. Any, any thoughts on PCA before we move on?

C70: I mean I don't like him Um I don't know why but he's a player that just really

Ben: Really?

C70: the wrong

Ben: Oh, that's, I like 'em a lot actually. Do you? You can't, you can't put it into words. Why? Is it just his, his face or something?

C70: yeah I

Nate: It's the Cubs uniform.

C70: he

Ben: Yeah.

C70: a very punchable face there's no doubt about that But um yeah I and there is always a cub that just drives you crazy Um you know Contreras was a little bit of that

Ben: Yeah.

C70: you know mainly because he always seemed to get the hits that that Um I don't know I really don't know what it is

Ben: Yeah.

C70: about PCA but it he just you know when he couldn't count to three last year against the Cardinals that was a very that was like one of the highlights of the season know Um

Nate: We love that. Yeah. We super love that.

C70: wait on that

Nate: Uh, Daniel, you said he is got a punchable face. You ever been in a fight? Ben and I? You have not. You,

C70: Yeah Uh

Nate: me neither.

C70: those things Um so

Nate: I don't like, I, I got in like a tiny little thing with a, a friend basically back in like middle school, but it wasn't really a fight. Ham bone of course, has, uh, had his ass kicked 10, 15 times.

Uh, but um, yeah, I look at him.

Ben: Uh, okay. Um, let's move on to other extension news. Uh, the Philly, I, I really like this move. The Phillies extend Christopher Sanchez a six year contract, guarantees him $107 million through, uh, 2032. Uh, I got the a a V in front of me right here. It's 15.68 million per year. Um, this guy almost won a Cy Young last year.

Nate: Yeah, he's good.

Ben: to only be getting better. Um, and the Phillies, you know, they, they signed, uh, they extended Jesus Lizard a a couple of weeks ago. They're keeping Christopher Sanchez, they are extending that window. They are paying pictures. I'm, I, I love it. I think it's a great deal. I

C70: deal

Nate: Yeah, totally agree. And you know, it, he, he obviously exploded, um,

Ben: blew up.

Nate: he, he, uh, he ate the dynamite cake in 2024. Um, Uhhuh Uhhuh, but

C70: ice

Nate: I, you know, I think it's worth calling out. He, he made his major league debut in 2021. Didn't pitch a ton. Uh, pitched again in 2022. Didn't pitch a ton. Started ramping up in 2023.

Uh, started looking pretty good. And then in 2024 he became a very good pitcher and now he's great.

C70: And

Nate: Uh, and I say all that to say like. It's what we've been talking about with Lior and most pitchers, like it takes some time, it takes experience and reps and all that. And most guys don't just come into the league and crush.

And so, uh, he has ascended more rapidly than Lior. Um, but he's one of the best pitchers at baseball right now,

C70: right

Nate: and he wasn't, uh, for a couple years while he was in the league. So, uh, these things take time and, uh, you know, give, hopefully give some hope for some of the Cardinal guys who haven't like put it together yet.

C70: Yeah I mean it's obviously not the same but you I just think back to what Max Scherzer

Nate: Uhhuh,

C70: the Tigers and the Diamondbacks you know just always knew it was there And I mean even you go back farther and we may be getting beyond y'all's time but um when Randy Johnson was with the you know the expos and things you know he could throw a whole lot of a lot of fastballs We couldn't get em in the

Nate: yeah.

C70: It just took a while And and pitchers eventually Hopefully click and you know they're gonna reach that level I don't know that you know li I don't know what don't know what Laboratory's top level is but I think it's possible that he's gonna start reaching it this year

Nate: The guy right now that I think of for that is Mackenzie Gore. You know, it's like everybody knows, man, when this guy's on, he strikes out the world, but he just can't put it together. And it's like, is he gonna do it or not? We'll find out. But he, he's, he's doing the like Scherzer path to me.

Ben: He, he might be poised for a very nice year with the Rangers. I

Nate: Yeah,

Ben: in that, um. In that system that can actually develop people hanging out with deGrom? Um, I don't know. I feel like it could be, maybe

Nate: yeah,

Ben: I hope it's this year. It'd be fun.

C70: be fun

Nate: yeah.

Ben: Um, speaking of Wonder Kins, there we go back on it.

Uh, Kevin McGonigle makes the Tigers roster, uh, one of the best, um, prospects in the game. and Daniel,

Nate: Uhhuh.

Ben: like he is going to be there starting, uh, a third baseman coming into the season. This is number fifth, overall prospect in baseball. What I thought was most surprising about this is that this guy has like 140 games.

Almost all of them are below double A. and he came in Forced the tigers, I guess, to make the decision just with how he looked in spring. Uh, the pedigree by the way, over last year, over, uh, low a high A and

C70: ia

and

Ben: he did manage a 180 2 WRC plus. Um,

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: they're just trying to find some competition that can slow him down. But, uh, sky is, he is very, very young, very, very baseball young.

C70: Um

Ben: are bringing him up in a competitive national or uh, American League Central.

Nate: He, uh, he had a, a tremendous rise last year. Um, and they're, they're not the same, but he has the same, um, or it's a similar sort of approach as a JJ Weather Holt, where the assumption is that the floor is high enough that he's going to come up and not just completely embarrass himself. He's got a pretty good hit tool, pretty good eye.

The question is, how much will the power develop? Um, so in that way it's very similar to JJ Weather Holt, but, uh, he, he did kind of come out of not nowhere, but he wasn't like the same high-end pedigree that JJ Weather Holt was. He also crushed in the a FL. He's basically been crushing everything since the start of last year.

Um, and, uh, it, it moves Jave, Baez out to center field. Um, but,

C70: but

Nate: you know, the, the Tigers are trying to compete.

C70: and

Nate: They, they need help, uh, hitting help and he's one of the best in, in the minor, so why not call him up? I think it's fun.

C70: fine Yeah It's interesting to then compare that to Connor Griffin who didn't make the roster

Nate: Yeah.

C70: and then there's not I mean it's not well and then there's not the I mean he didn't have quite the the background you know he hasn't played he hasn't played above uh high a I don't think has has Griffin or am I mistaken

Nate: I don't know. I'd have to look at it. Yeah. I mean,

C70: have much and You know it was it is not in unheard of for for that He could need a little bit more seasoning especially since they have great spring But um it's still interesting that a competitive team makes this call versus um a team that's

Nate: I

C70: competitive You know I,

know y'all talked about the pirates but

Ben: yeah.

C70: see I

Nate: Griffin did play at double AA last year.

Ben: thing,

Nate: Yeah. Um. Yeah. Uh, yeah. Um, and I, I, I think it's more like, I don't think anyone would've been surprised if the Tigers didn't call him up, you know? And I actually think it's fine that the Pirates didn't call up kind of Griffin. It would've been fun. We all love a 20-year-old phenom at the major league level.

Um, but it's also, I think, super reasonable to say, Hey, why don't you go rake at AA for more than 20 games? Uh, maybe we'll actually get you into triple, I think he's probably starting at AAA and let's rake at triple A for 30 games before you call up to the major league. Like, it's what we all wish the Cardinals would've done with Jordan Walker.

So it's, it's fun that McGonigal, which is also just a fun name. You also don't get a lot of dudes named Kevin right now, so that's kind of fun too.

Ben: Oh,

Nate: Um, but, uh. It's fun, but it isn't the norm, right? I think what the pirates are doing with Connor Griffin is the norm. Um, and we'll see how these things work out, but I, I think I'm kind of fine with either decision from both teams.

Ben: Um, and final piece in news. We already mentioned 'em, but, uh, Carson binge another top prospect, uh, has made the Mets roster after having a nice spring. And as we mentioned earlier, he is gonna be starting in right field for them.

C70: them

Ben: Um, he had an 8 74 OPS in spring. Uh, was doing the ball all over the place. Uh, stole a bass.

Didn't strike out a ton.

C70: at time

Ben: Um, and I think it kind of more than anything just speaks to the Mets urgency right now. I'm not sure I would make this same move 'cause this is a kid who, again, I think we're basing this off of a handful of games. He, he really didn't show well in Triple A last year.

C70: year

Ben: Um,

Nate: I.

Ben: very toolsy, high pedigree, but, um,

C70: up

Ben: Move by

Nate: he's an, he's another one who sort of had the, the glow up last year, got the call to AAA and it didn't, didn't have immediate success, but they're saying, well, fuck it. You're up, boy. Let's see how it goes.

Ben: yeah, that's exactly what they said.

C70: Mm-hmm That was at the press release I saw it

Nate: Uhhuh.

Ben: That's all I got for League News.

C70: Can can I before we get into the game though can

Nate: Yeah.

C70: talk about the the big news of the day in Cardinal Nation the fact that Kyle Reese is now writing

Ben: Oh,

Nate: Yeah. What happened? Did,

Ben: they listened to the episode that he was on with us.

C70: I mean I figured that was that was probably it Um no that they're looking for different content creators Josh Jacobs is also gonna be

Nate: mm-hmm.

C70: weekly piece uh for mlb.com And then uh our old friend and my um nemesis uh Brenda Schafer is going to be covering the is basically like the home beat writer It sounds like he's gonna be covering the home games Um so I guess it takes like a village to replace John Denton

Ben: Yeah.

C70: know um how that happened but it and then you know will Leach is I think is also writing Cardinals once a week So um it's gonna be interesting I think that it feels like they're trying to shake some things up at the official site and and hopefully that means it's gonna be less propaganda and more actual interesting things to read

Ben: That would be great. I, I would like to note that we, that first off. That's great. Congratulations to,

Nate: Yeah

Ben: That's super exciting. And obviously I couldn't be more rooting for Kyle. Um, I wonder if we're ever gonna get an athletic writer. Um, again, uh, uh, it seems like maybe not.

C70: maybe not The idea was I mean from what I was given to understand that they were supposed to be looking for one um but it doesn't feel like they filled a lot of the positions Um I know that the Atlanta job was like advertised for it I don't know that it got filled so it could still be in process Um but even you know Katie was at least of the indication I think I've seen and I haven't obviously heard from her but other people have said there was that indication that there was supposed to be one In fact Jeremy Rutherford I think posted you know the blues writer at the Athletic posted that they are are intending to hire one But Yeah.

you think if you're gonna do that you know maybe before the season starts would be a good time

Ben: Anytime would be great. Yeah,

Nate: Yeah, and I can't imagine there's a, a talent shortage. There's plenty of people who I think would do it and do well. So, um,

Ben: here.

C70: here

Nate: yeah, we, all of our written content that everyone reads every day and, and loves that we post all the time. Um,

C70: so

Nate: yeah, we're known. Well, there is the, uh, is it Jeff Jones has launched Words about Birds, which is fine.

It's fine. But, um, it's basically our name.

If we had a,

Ben: podcast name.

Nate: if we had a blog, I think we probably would've called it Words About Birds, I guess is what I'm saying.

C70: Yeah Yeah Jeff's doing Jeff started that this week Uh it's a you know subscription based thing but

Nate: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We're not talking about any,

Ben: this show, buddy.

Nate: not on this show. Okay.

C70: Jeff kicks off every one of my seasons I have not I'm

Nate: The only about,

C70: everywhere

Nate: we're the only about birds content that anybody needs. Okay. I didn't know we were gonna get into this.

C70: And occasionally it's not even about birds So you know

Nate: Well, that's part of the appeal. Alright.

Ben: If, if you find that

Nate: He's, he's a nice guy. I'm not, but it's funny to me.

Ben: we're at war.

Nate: Yep.

C70: I'll be sure to let him know

Nate: Yeah, he's like, who?

Which I, I'm almost certain would be his response. Um. No, don't be an owl. All right. Uh, Daniel, um, you have brought the game for us completely relinquishing me of half of my duties on this show, which again, I'm all for what have you got for us?

C70: Okay. so most of you most people that follow me on Twitter know that every the last few years especially um we do this game every series It's called uh the Cardinal Six We ask six questions at a tiebreaker question about the series that is coming up Um rate track of it throughout the year All.

that kind of stuff But obviously I don't really wanna do a whole series with y'all um because y'all are coming on my show Friday night you know the day after everybody's listening to this next day So we are gonna do the Cardinal six based only on opening day and I'll take your answers I've already given my answers I'll tell you what they are um as we go through this

Nate: Okay All

C70: when y'all come on the show um on Friday night we will go over the answers So these questions on game against the race

Nate: Thursday's game alone.

C70: Game

Nate: Got it.

C70: You can answer the same obviously cause some of them are very easy you know whatever Um don't don't feel don't feel intimidated Nate with with Ben's answers Um because usually Ben's answers are wrong So um

Nate: I've never felt intimidated by Ben once in my life. Thank you. And I intend for that to continue.

C70: alright question one easy question Uh who will win the game or Race

Nate: I'm just gonna lock it in right now. Home opener, baby. You're St. Louis Cardinals,

Ben: yeah, I'm going the Libby, Libby loves facing those rays, those

Nate: Uhhuh,

Ben: of shit that left him in the dust. Um, so I, yeah, I think Libby's gonna dominate Cardinals win.

C70: All right Also I should probably point out the question question number is the same as the points value so that's a one point question

Nate: Ah,

C70: two point question Will JJ wither Holt have an extra base hit Oh I forgot to say I picked St Louis to win

Nate: yeah. Okay. Okay. Will JJ have an extra base hit? All right, that's a good one. Um, I'll, I'll say no. I think he'll have some good play appearances, but I'm gonna say no.

Ben: I'm gonna say yes, just purely as a points grab. Um, just

Nate: Uhhuh

Ben: myself from Nate here.

C70: alright I put no as well so

Ben: Cool. All right.

C70: probably in good shape

Nate: lead off home run.

C70: alright Okay Number three any Cardinal have two or more hits

Nate: Hmm. I've been answering firsthand bone. Do you wanna go first on this one?

Ben: Yeah. I am gonna go first on this one, Nathan, and I'm gonna say yes. Yes. One of them will have two hits.

Nate: It's just will they or won't they Not Who?

C70: Yeah no

Nate: Yeah.

C70: yes or no

Nate: I'll say yes. And I think Mason Win is gonna get two hits.

Ben: I was thinking

Nate: Cool.

Ben: put a little cherry burley. Two hits off Rassmuson. Let's go.

C70: All right I put no so I will be uh probably completely wrong All right number four How many a BS challenges will both teams combine in for

Nate: Okay. Uh, quick clarifying question. Will the winner be closest? Are we prices, rights, rules,

C70: No

this is

exact

Nate: it's

Ben: God.

C70: To get the points you have to be

Nate: Oh, exact. Oh,

C70: one this one There there are questions where I would have arranged I will tell you when they are but this one has to be exact

Nate: and it's, how many will they do total?

C70: Yes Both teams

Nate: Just, just challenges not wins or, okay.

C70: right

Nate: It's a fun question. Um,

I'm thinking to our spring training games.

C70: I will

Nate: Uh,

C70: me give you a little bit of a something here that might help

Nate: okay.

C70: I'm part of the MLB fan council We had a meeting this week about uh they had a zoom call with the guy people that are in charge of a BS They say their goal is for each team to have around four challenges a game That's what they're hoping you know not to go too much higher or too much lower than

Nate: Yeah.

C70: their range So maybe that helps

Nate: Well that is illuminating 'cause I was actually gonna guess four total. So I will go up a little bit. Um, I, I think I'll go six. I think there will be six a BS challenges.

Ben: I was thinking it would be higher because we were watching Lior get that high curve ball. I think he got at least one strike out using the a BS. and I think that that is gonna be a part of his game. But I also. I don't want to guess the same number as Nate, so I am going to say, I'm just gonna do right at four.

Let's go dead average or what? They're expecting to

Nate: Well,

Ben: Gimme four.

Nate: he just to, I don't want to throw you any bones here, but he was saying four per team, so they, they're actually expecting eight a game.

Ben: Oh, you said four per team. I misheard that. Um,

C70: I think that was the IMP implication was was for per

Ben: okay. Um, I'm gonna, I'll stick at four. That's fine. I'm, I'm gonna

Nate: Okay.

Ben: it. I, I think that, uh, people are gonna be weird about it. Uh, but I do think liberator is gonna

Nate: They,

Ben: of strikes high in the, in the zone.

Nate: well, there's also a possibility, I thought about four too. 'cause like they could just get all of 'em wrong

Ben: Mm-hmm.

Nate: just, and they're capped at four, so. Yeah.

C70: Yeah.

Ben: is, I have no idea what a b, s is gonna look like. I'm

Nate: Yeah

Ben: This is like the, one of the most exciting things about

Nate: Well,

Ben: is

Nate: I know what it's gonna look like. So up on the screen, they're gonna put a big box, right? And it's gonna represent the strike zone, and then the

Ben: so good.

C70: Eventually it was gonna go off the,

rails Um yeah I um I picked seven

Nate: okay.

C70: but I also think that there's something to that because you know Lior what he challenged like the very first pitch of his last start in spring

Ben: Mm-hmm.

C70: Um I think there's gonna be some he I mean it's one thing to do it in spring training when games don't matter I think I think early on there might be a little more hesitation

Ben: I think people

C70: do

Ben: are gonna be precious with it this first week or month of, of it, of it

Nate: Yeah.

C70: All right Number five many strikeouts will the St Louis bullpen have within one So you have a little bit of of leeway here So you pick a number and if you're within one of the actual answer you will get points

Nate: I see. Okay. Okay. Um, okay. I'm gonna say

C70: gonna say

Nate: four I.

C70: okay

Ben: So Libby's gonna go like five, meaning the bullpen's gonna have to cover like four. Um, I'm going to say, I'll go five.

C70: All right I, also went five so

Nate: I I did the same head math. Ben, I'm thinking four innings covered from the bullpen. I'm not convinced that the first part of the bullpen will get those strikeouts, but, uh, so I'm thinking maybe six and seven. There's either zero or one. Um, and then maybe Swanson and O'Brien or, or Romero combined.

Ben: big pus hard guy. I think he's gonna go hard,

Nate: Um, I know you're a big, I know you're a pus hard guy. Uh, we all know this. Um, I thought about five. 'cause then you also get six in there. Um, so I guess we'll see. You get four, but I get three. They might all just go out there and ground ball it,

Ben: that could happen.

Nate: so we all win if it's four or five.

C70: Right

Nate: Okay.

C70: All right And then number six six point question which cardinal batter will draw the first walk of the season

Nate: Woohoo. There's a, there's a good candidate here right out of the gates. Yeah.

Ben: first since you've been, you've been leading the way and I'm gonna go unconventional I'm brave and I want that six points. Nolan Gorman

Nate: Okay.

C70: Hmm

Ben: walked

Nate: The,

Ben: spring times last year. I think he's

Nate: yeah.

Ben: I think he's gonna draw a walk.

Nate: Where, where do you think he's batting? Probably fifth, sixth.

Ben: it has to be fifth unless Nathan Church has really, really vaulted himself into the top, into the heart of the lineup, which I don't think he has.

Nate: Yeah. Um,

Rasmussen, he's coming out. He's a little shaky. JJ locked in from the beginning. Lead off walk to start the bottom of the first.

Ben: You called it a walk, a lead off home run.

Nate: Um, also it's a lead off home run. No. Um, yeah. I'll go with jj. It's fun. JJs gonna draw a walk.

C70: that's what I picked

Nate: Yeah.

C70: um

Nate: It's gonna be funny when they have him batting ninth

C70: and he still does

Nate: Damn

C70: Um right tiebreaker question just in case we all wind up tying total time of the game in minutes

Nate: in minutes

C70: minutes. It's just the easiest way to

Nate: Uh, 157 minutes.

C70: okay

Ben: Okay. Um,

Nate: Is there, is it closest? Is it if

C70: tiebreaker so whoever gets the closest would break the tie

Nate: Okay,

Ben: saying 1 57.

Nate: but it's not Price is Right. Rules.

C70: No no

Nate: Okay.

Ben: Okay.

C70: But it also um you know it also requires the there to actually be a tie So it may be where it doesn't

Nate: very unlikely with the Yeah.

C70: these points it's possible it comes into play but we usually have a a lot

Nate: You, yeah. Yeah. While Ben's thinking, like, if y'all don't participate in this on, uh, C 70 social media, it's a lot of fun. I, I don't a ton 'cause I don't get onto the social media stuff, but I think it's super cool and I know a lot of people have a lot of fun with it so

C70: I and I will say I do email it, to some people so

if you want it sent straight to you when I do it that's

Nate: I have.

C70: option as well

Nate: Now you're just begging Daniel. I don't,

C70: I'm not talking to you Nate

Nate: I know, I know. Uh, it's awesome. It's, it's,

C70: classy

Nate: it's a really, it's a really, it's a really fun thing that I know a lot of people have some fun with. So

C70: Ben you got a number Yeah I

Ben: Yeah, I was just waiting for that to be done. Uh, I'm gonna say 1 43,

C70: You're kidding me

Ben: that what you said?

C70: I 1 43.

Ben: Okay. All right. Uh,

C70: mine to one. No, I'll change mine to 1 47. That'll

Ben: That's insane.

C70: middle of everything, so, yeah.

Nate: That's pretty funny. You guys have a quick game. You guys are really Colin for, uh, for a real quick game.

C70: they seem to move these days. I mean, it, I mean, there's times, I mean, the pitch clock is good and everything like that, but it feels like a lot of times I sit down, you know, to watch a game.

and I look up and it's the fifth inning

Nate: Yeah.

C70: know? Um, and, and that's good to, sometimes, sometimes you kinda wish it'd last a little longer,

Nate: Yeah.

Ben: I, I just don't see the cardinals stringing together a bunch of long at bats. so that's, that was my thought there.

Nate: New look Cardinals. You got jj, you got Gorman. They're all, you know, their, their, their plate approach is locked in

Ben: Oh, yeah. There's the picture of plate appearances.

Nate: Uhhuh Jordan Walker's also gonna hit two home runs and, you know, he loves a slow trot.

Ben: Oh yeah. All right. You're probably right then.

Nate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Well, all right, well, we will, uh, have the thrilling conclusion to this game, uh, in about 48 hours when, uh, we do this all over again, but over on Daniel's show.

Uh, so make sure to catch us over there. Um, and that's gonna do it for this week's episode though, so C 70. Thank you again so much for being here,

C70: I always, it's a pleasure guys. Thanks a lot.

Nate: and we'll be back next week with another episode of Regular Season Baseball, talking about birds. And until next week, go Cardinals.

Ben: Go Birds.