1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: We have the president of baseball operations for the Saint 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Louis Cardinals, Heim Bloom, joining us right now. 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: Him. 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: Great to have you on. So how is camp with 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: We've been talking to some of the younger players. A 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: lot of those younger players now becoming more senior members 7 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: and leaders of the team as it was a busy 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: offseason for you. 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's really been the cool part of this 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 2: camp so far. Every year is different. You never really 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: know what you're going to have in terms of the vibe. 12 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: So you get in there and with a lot of 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,319 Speaker 2: these guys seeing that they can make this what they 14 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: want it to be, and they can step up and 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: they can take a leadership role. And I always believe 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: you can lead at any age. It's really about bringing 17 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: a really good and authentic version of yourself to this 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 2: and it's been cool to see some of these guys realize, 19 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: like they understand, the standard here is very high. We 20 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 2: want to keep that very high, but they get to 21 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: define what that looks like now for them going forward. 22 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: It's always better than having it imposed from the outside 23 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 2: when the group there gets to define it. I will say, 24 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 2: you know, the biggest problem I actually have with this 25 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 2: camp so far is that I thought I thought Krafts 26 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: was going to be on the NOPE and. 27 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: The big league. 28 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: I mean, did you fire him to at one point? No, No, 29 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: I never have Hadham. I did had him as a 30 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 2: player briefly and then actually worked with him a little 31 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: bit during one of the years of Boston and he 32 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: was always so reliable. I guess he's changed. 33 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 3: He's changed. 34 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 4: You know, he's got he's got a big raise now, 35 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 4: so he's getting the new palace done or new kitchen done. 36 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: So you know, we had we had a renovation here 37 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: throughout the entirety of last year as everybody could see, 38 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: and all of our Jupiter based people just worked through it, 39 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 2: got the job done. 40 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:42,639 Speaker 3: Order people grind. 41 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: Pennsylvania people together with him will. 42 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 3: Have to talk about for sure. All right, So I 43 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 3: have a couple of questions. 44 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 4: First of all, can I just ask why you guys 45 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 4: couldn't put the sauna next to the club. Also, guys, 46 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 4: there's now dudes in towels walking back and forth here 47 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 4: in the public. 48 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: You know, it's got a miss on the DNA has 49 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: that is a new feet Sure of the performance centers, 50 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: we have a sauna there and it has been very popular, 51 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: although it took about a week before before we broke it. 52 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,839 Speaker 2: I think from overuse because there's an out of order 53 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,399 Speaker 2: sign on it. The last couple of days, I will say, 54 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 2: the staff to player ratio of people who actually use 55 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: the sauna is way too high. Yeah. Yeah, I haven't 56 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: been in there yet. 57 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 4: Players are young though they haven't. They don't have they 58 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 4: don't understand that party get flush. 59 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 2: I'm going to use it. 60 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 3: As soon as we're doing this interview, I'm gonna go. 61 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I have been there yet. I keep thinking if 62 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: I go in there and then people are going to 63 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: stop the conversation just exactly, I might try it at 64 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 2: some point. 65 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 4: So, yeah, that's smart, that's smart. You're president of Baseball Offs. 66 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 4: How does the hierarchy work? You know it's different GM, 67 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 4: President Baseball off. You have the second parking spot, but 68 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 4: not the first one. 69 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: No, No, the owner has the first one, as it 70 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 2: should be. It's different everywhere. I mean a lot of it. 71 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: You know, titles are different in a lot of places. 72 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: When my career started, the sort of top person on 73 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: the front office hierarchy was almost always a GM. But 74 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: you know that being said, like when things got revamped 75 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 2: with the Rays. Andrew Friedman the whole time he was there, 76 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: never had the GM title. We actually didn't have a 77 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: GM till till much later, so everybody does it a 78 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: little differently. And then he started to see just you know, 79 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: the job has grown, the industry has grown. There's just 80 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: so many more things that we're competing on now, so 81 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: front offices have expanded just to tack all that work, 82 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: and that led to some different titles. At the end 83 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: of the day, you know, what we're called is really 84 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 2: less important than what we do and how we work together. 85 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 2: So as long as that everything's clear to everybody, it 86 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 2: shouldn't really matter. 87 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 3: Is Andrew Friedman. 88 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 4: We had him on we were in Dodgers camp and 89 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 4: I asked him, this is he the godfather of GM 90 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 4: president of Baseball offs because he was kind of the 91 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 4: first raised guy right to go to the Dodgers and 92 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: then there now they're kind of all over the league. 93 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: You mean, the godfather the title or of like the 94 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: raised tree, the race both kind of well, as far 95 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: as the race tried, I mean, I'm curious what he said, 96 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: but you know, obviously there's so many of us got 97 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: to be a part of that and then go on, 98 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: you know, whether there elsewhere to just do all sorts 99 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: of cool things. It was a really special place to 100 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: grow up and amazingly fortunate to have gotten my start 101 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: in baseball from him and gotten to work work for 102 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: him for all those years and and you know, stay 103 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: a friend, and you know, it's there's a lot, it's 104 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: a really special place. There's a lot of really cool 105 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: things that came out of that. When I think about 106 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: the people that I got to work with, the things 107 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: we got to do, I couldn't ask for anything more. 108 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: Wouldn't trade that experience for anything. As far as the title, 109 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: I think there were a couple others, Like I think 110 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: when THEO went from Boston to Chicago, that was that 111 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 2: that title came to play there, and that was a 112 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 2: little before. I'm probably forgetting one or two again. Titles 113 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 2: are you know, on some level, they're important for everybody 114 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: to understand and for there to be clarity around what 115 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 2: people's jobs. 116 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 3: You're the boss, right, so you're just like, I know 117 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 3: this title. 118 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, it's like, you know, 119 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: call us whatever you want. We're here to get a 120 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: job done, and that's what matters. 121 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, I think this town 122 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: and talking about say Lewis, has seen a ton of 123 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: success in terms of their baseball team right for a 124 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: long period of time. Do you think the modern fan 125 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: understands the process of a team going through what could 126 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: be some pain points and just whatever word you want 127 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: to call it to get to the next great Cardinals team. 128 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: Do you feel like the fan now is better equipped 129 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: with how much info we have on prospects and just 130 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: the game being covered and more extensively these days. 131 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's hard. It's hard to compare now versus you know, 132 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: something way in the past where I just wasn't around 133 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 2: and wasn't as a tune with with the Cardinals fan base. 134 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 2: I will say just from being around the last couple 135 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: of years, and I think this is generally true, especially 136 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: in a baseball town. You do yourself at this service 137 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: if you think you can pull the roll over the 138 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 2: eyes of your fans. Our fans are really smart. They 139 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 2: get this, and you know, I actually have felt you know, 140 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: and I understand that. You know, people are polite. They 141 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 2: may not tell you everything that they feel to your face. 142 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: You usually got to put them behind a keyboard for 143 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 2: that type of stuff. But what do you mean. You know, 144 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: I actually have felt that, look to the extent, that 145 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,799 Speaker 2: this is the right course for our organization. We believe 146 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: strongly that it is, and actually the best and quickest 147 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: way back to where we want to go is just 148 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: to lean into this and just make sure we're doubling 149 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 2: down on building up our young talent base, because that's 150 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 2: how the Cardinals always win. I think I have felt 151 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 2: that our fans understand that, and I think we'd actually 152 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: be doing ourselves and them a disservice if we were 153 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 2: to try to pretend that something else is appropriate. You know, 154 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: at the same time, there's not going to be a day, 155 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 2: regardless how young we are, there's not going to be 156 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: a day when we show up. It's place not expecting 157 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: to win and not looking to win, and not looking 158 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 2: to keep that standard really high. It's not a switch 159 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 2: you flip. You established that from day one, and that 160 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 2: should not change just because our strategy is a longer 161 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: term strategy that intensity, the attention to detail, the hunger 162 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: to win, whatever's on your plate that day. It's something 163 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 2: that I preach a lot within our walls to our staff. 164 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 2: You know, in any given day, whether you're a coach, 165 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: whether you're a front office person, a scout, whatever your 166 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: role is, whatever's on your plate that day, treat it 167 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: like game seven. That's the only way we get where 168 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: we want to go. 169 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: So now let's push this forward and get people excited both. 170 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: You know, I know the Cardinals fans know what's coming, 171 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: but what about even for the national scene. Can you 172 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: tell us what you've seen some exciting storylines in camp, 173 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: whether it's names that you're seeing a lot of improvement 174 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: from guys on the big league roster who haven't like 175 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: fully blossomed and now you think the next step could 176 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: be coming. 177 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. I hate answering this question because it feels like 178 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: you're tempting the baseball gods just to point out all 179 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: the things that are going right on March second. But 180 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: it has been exciting. You know what stood out and 181 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: I think give it to some of the newcomers, the 182 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: group of arms that we have in camp and the 183 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: way that they've looked early. Again, it is March second, 184 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: so this feels like playing with fire with respect to 185 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: the baseball gods, but that group has looked really good 186 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: and you could see that both the camaraderie building within 187 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: the group, and also these guys bringing some stuff to 188 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: the party, which is cool and which is something that 189 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 2: we need. Both you know, starters, bullpen guys at big 190 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 2: league experience, guys at out big League experience that that 191 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: looked really good, and then also just the energy to 192 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: hunger from the physician player group. You know, whether it's 193 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 2: you know, guys that are established to know exactly what 194 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 2: they're doing, or maybe some guys like I think about 195 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 2: Thomas a jac who was leaving us to go play 196 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: for Team Italy, But who's really who's getting the chance 197 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: now of play everywhere and really leaning into that, taking 198 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: it on with enthusiasm, working hard. You know, guys are 199 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 2: seeing that opportunity we had. I was actually tied up 200 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: in a meeting. I didn't get out to see it. 201 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 2: But we had this execution drill that the staff came 202 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 2: up with. I think there's some videos of it that 203 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: might have made it out on the internet, and you know, 204 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 2: this is a drill. This is just trying to practice 205 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: things that we're gonna have to execute in season. And 206 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: the intensity the competition. I had somebody come up to 207 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 2: me and say they were hearing like you know, it 208 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: was it was sort of a college baseball vibe in 209 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: a sense. But hearing things like hooting and hollering that 210 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 2: they hadn't heard being here for a few years, and 211 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 2: you know that's that's coming from the players, and that's 212 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 2: been cool to see. 213 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: Is that why you gave all it to your extension 214 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 3: because he came up with this drill. 215 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 2: Well the extension was well in progress. 216 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 4: But I thought you saw this drill and you're like, 217 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 4: we got to have him for two more years. Uh, No, 218 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 4: I missed the drill. I was I was starting to 219 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 4: need it. You know, you heard about it about I 220 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 4: couldn't hear you know, there's doctor Phillips graduates from it, 221 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 4: smart smart getting Sorry, I have trouble with this. 222 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: Take it off, you got it? 223 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you can take it. You can take it out. 224 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: I just want to make sure you can still hear you. 225 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: But yeah, I figured there would be some mention to 226 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 2: that at some point. No, it's actually been It's been 227 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: great to work with Ali. I mean, you know, just 228 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: you want to feel like you're on the same page. Uh, 229 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 2: you know what we're what we're parking on. It's difficult. 230 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 2: This game is hard. Everybody's competing zero some Game one 231 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 2: trophy a year. You want to feel like the organization's 232 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 2: on the same page, that we understand where we are, 233 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 2: where we're trying to go, how we're going to get there. 234 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 2: And you know that I have felt from day one 235 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: and also just seeing to get where we want to go. 236 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter if you're wearing a uniform, wearing a 237 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: polo shirt, whatever, if you're wearing a towel in thesauna, 238 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 2: You're gonna have to push yourself beyond what you have 239 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: been where You're gonna have to get out of your 240 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 2: comfort zone, push yourself to improve and not be insecure 241 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: as to so insecurious to say there's nothing I can 242 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 2: get better at. And he is a secure person who 243 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 2: is looking to get better always and looking for people 244 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: to challenge him on that. And that's the type of 245 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: person that I enjoy working with. 246 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 4: Since you're hiring ex Cardinal Catchers to come back to 247 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 4: the organization, is two doctor Phillips high school brains in 248 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 4: one room. Too much to have to ask for hair 249 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 4: since you brought back your. 250 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 2: Openings at present, But I think Yati might have taken 251 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: the last. 252 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 4: Oh, I can't believe you picked Yaudi over me. With 253 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 4: our cardinal careers next to each other. 254 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely no disrespect. You are you are remembered fondly in 255 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 2: this building. 256 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: Well that's good, thank thank goodness for that. 257 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: But yeah, but well we'll keep talking. Send me ash. 258 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 3: Okay, perfect. 259 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 4: You mentioned familiarity. Is that why you trade with the 260 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 4: Red Sox all the time? You make all these trades 261 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 4: with the Red Sox because of the familiarity with the 262 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 4: prospects or is Craig Breslo. 263 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 2: I mean, that's just about trying to get the best 264 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: return when it's time to do business. 265 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 4: Oh okay, because that means it just it just seems 266 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 4: to keep happening. Someone used to work there. You know, 267 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 4: there's players. 268 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: You know what's funny. I been asked about that a lot, 269 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 2: And like, of all the players we required there, there's 270 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: actually only one that I was in the organization with 271 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: That was Hunter Dobbins. The others were all acquired after 272 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: I was gone, So I had to study up on 273 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: some of these guys. You know, we get two guys 274 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 2: and those deals out of their twenty twenty four draft, 275 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 2: and Brandon Clark and Blake Ida and and the harder 276 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 2: they picked up in a trade fits they picked up 277 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 2: in a trade. Although I did do a little homework 278 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 2: on him my last deadline, so I hadn't I had 279 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: an eye on him, But you know, it's really looked 280 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 2: with those types of deals. Obviously moving good talent, you 281 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: just want to make sure you do the best for 282 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 2: your organization. There's there's twenty nine other clubs. Whoever's willing 283 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 2: to meet our needs and give and give us the 284 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 2: best turn. You know that that has to be about 285 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 2: the Cardinals and what's best for the Cardinals and not 286 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 2: about me. 287 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 3: Makes sense. How do you know when a guy's ready? 288 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 4: I'm not sure if JJ weatherhold who everyone is expecting 289 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 4: to be your opening day second basement and you know, 290 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 4: hitting the top of the order, maybe opening day against 291 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 4: your old team, the Rays, how do you know? 292 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 3: How do you know? How do you balance being ready 293 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 3: versus rushing? 294 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 2: Look, I think the most honest answer I think anybody 295 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 2: in the seat could give you in terms of how 296 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 2: do you know? You don't. There's like to say this 297 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 2: is a perfect science. It never is. There's always some 298 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: art to it, there's always some subjectivity to it. You 299 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 2: try to do the best you can in terms of 300 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,959 Speaker 2: having a clear eyed, objective view of the player, trying 301 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 2: to take some of the emotion out of that view 302 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: and be really honest both with the player also with 303 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 2: yourself about you know, what are we working on. What 304 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 2: do we need to see to make this decision, especially 305 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: in spring training where you can really get fooled if 306 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: you basis on spring training results, that's a good way 307 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 2: probably to make some bad decisions do play into it, 308 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 2: But there's so many other things that you're looking at. 309 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 2: And then some of it's subjective too. It's get to 310 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 2: know how the guy ticks, you know, how is he 311 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: going to respond to that challenge? When is the right 312 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 2: time to put to put him in there? Big leagues 313 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: are really hard. I think oftentimes we tend to rush 314 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: guys more than we let them overcook. But you also 315 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 2: don't want them to die in the line either, So 316 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: there is not a formula for it. Love to be 317 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 2: able to tell you there is. I wish I could 318 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: tell myself there was. I can't. But we just try 319 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: to get all the appropriate input, untrust and ask the 320 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 2: right questions the people that are closer to the player 321 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 2: that might understand this. Players a person the best, obviously, 322 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 2: look at the needs of your team, try to make 323 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 2: a good decision. 324 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: When you say tick, do you look at each player's 325 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: you know, mental components and say, hey, if it doesn't 326 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: go perfectly when he first gets called up, how do 327 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: we think it will go when we have a conversation 328 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: with someone And now just this is getting past JJ, 329 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: but just with anyone with a call up, right when 330 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: you're dealing with a prospect who's highly rare, and you're like, 331 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: I think he can handle it, but we don't know 332 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: for sure until we see it, and we might have 333 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: to have a conversation with him and say, hey, you're 334 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: going back to the minor leagues? Does that factor into 335 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: how early you call up any top prospect. 336 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: That's exactly at that and those types of questions or 337 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: where my head goes the most, you know, most guys. Obviously, 338 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: some to the nature of the game is that there's 339 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: guys that are going to go up and down, be 340 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: on the shuttle. That's just how we have to manage 341 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: our roster out thirty clubs do. But obviously, you know, 342 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 2: when you're doing something my choice, or you're doing something 343 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: with a prominent player, you'd like to only call them 344 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 2: up once. So you want to feel that they're ready 345 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 2: for it, And that is one of the questions you 346 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 2: have to ask yourself, is you know it's great if 347 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: it goes, If it goes wonderfully and everybody's having success, 348 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 2: everybody's having a good time, that's awesome. But what's going 349 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: to happen when this guy gets punched in the face. 350 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 2: What's going to happen when he fails? Is he going 351 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: to be okay? Because almost all big leaguers, including good 352 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: big leaguers, all stars, very very few guys never fail. 353 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 2: Those guys are extremely rare cats amongst the population of 354 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 2: big le years that are already incredibly uncommon. People who 355 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: are the best in the world at what they do, 356 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 2: they almost all fail at some point. Are they going 357 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: to grow for it? Are they going to be able 358 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 2: to stay with it? Are they going to drown? And 359 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: if you believe they're going to be able to stay 360 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 2: with it, you have to expect there will be failure. Yeah, 361 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: you can be wrong. I guys some of these guys, 362 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 2: especially the really good ones, you might not have seen 363 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 2: him fail. So you're guessing, but getting to know the 364 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: person and understanding how is this person going to handle adversity? 365 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 2: How are they going to handle that spotlight. There are 366 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: some indicators we can get on that, and those are 367 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: important parts of the decision. 368 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 3: How do you what do you say to people? 369 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 4: Let's say hein Bloom is just a talent evaluator, right, 370 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 4: because you've never you've never really been given the chance 371 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 4: to build the team from start to finish. It's kind 372 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 4: of Michael Olyas comes to mind in Baltimore, right. They say, oh, 373 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 4: he drafts great and he develops guys. But now they're 374 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 4: out there, they're in their so called window. Now people 375 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 4: are saying, well, does he know how to put the 376 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 4: finished product? What do you say to people that question 377 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 4: whether you're just an evaluator and you know how to 378 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 4: put a team over the top. 379 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: Well, for starters, I guess I should say thank you 380 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 2: for the compliments the extent that they think I can 381 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: evaluate talent. That's a good place to start. I'll take that. 382 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: I've been call worse. You know, there's only so many 383 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 2: things you can control about you know, you obviously control 384 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 2: a lot about how you do your job. There are 385 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: things you can control things you can't control about the 386 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: opportunities you get, and so you just try to make 387 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 2: the most of the opportunity, do right by the opportunity. 388 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 2: I understand those questions. I mean, look, we all share 389 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 2: the same goal here. We're obviously in a phase now 390 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: where the acquisition young talents first and foremost for us. 391 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 2: But like I said, there's never going to be a 392 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: time when we're going to be thinking about anything but winning. 393 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 2: It just so happens that right now where we are, 394 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: the best way to get there is to do this, 395 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: and it's on me, on us, on our whole organization 396 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 2: to make sure that we're always keeping winning first and 397 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: foremost and doing whatever makes sense that on a given 398 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 2: day to push ourselves towards that. 399 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: Well, Hian, we appreciate the time. We're looking forward to 400 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: seeing this next wave, this next brand of Cardinals baseball. 401 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: Thanks man, good to see. 402 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 2: It, appreciate it. Good to check in with you, guys. 403 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: Let's do a little season preview on the Saint Louis 404 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: Cardinals for the twenty twenty sixth season. First to quick recap, 405 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: the off season was busy for them, aj and we 406 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 1: heard it, I think most emphatically from Ali Marmole. Now, 407 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,719 Speaker 1: some veterans move on and they get to establish a 408 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: new leadership aura right, So Wilson Contras traded away, Sonny 409 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: Gray traded away. We can show some of these editions 410 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: and subtractions here. Nolan Aronado traded away, Ryan Helsley was 411 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: traded and then signed elsewhere. So those are four major 412 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: veterans that are not part of the team here when 413 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: they were part of the twenty twenty five opening day roster. 414 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: Enter Dustin May to the rotation, Hunter Dobbins acquired via trade, 415 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: Richard Fitz, Ryan Stannick signed up to be a veteran. 416 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: We've already heard his name, Sinja, who's the big prospect 417 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: coming over in the Brendan Donovan three way trade. And 418 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: Clark also a name who could be a contributing factor 419 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: from the pitching department. So first off, when we add 420 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: and subtract here, aj, we know where the team's going. 421 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: I mean, you're not going to hear the word very often, 422 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: but it's not a bad word. It's just a word. 423 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: It's called rebuilding. That's what they're doing. 424 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 3: Right now, retooling, rebuilding, reloading. 425 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 4: Every team nobody wants to use the word rebuild, and 426 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 4: I don't know why, but that's what they're doing. And 427 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 4: you saw the subtractions and those are veteran guys, but 428 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:27,479 Speaker 4: they feel like here in Saint Louis and in Jupiter 429 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 4: that they have the right mix of young players that 430 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 4: are starting to come up. And if you talk to 431 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 4: them about their system, they really like their system. So 432 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 4: we'll see how it goes. But they're definitely going to 433 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 4: take a step back even from where they were last year. 434 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 4: That's why I think it was nice of Heim Bloom 435 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 4: to give Ali Marmal a contract extension because he doesn't 436 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 4: have to worry about expectations. And the one thing that 437 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 4: the Cardinals have been though, they've been upfront with their 438 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 4: fans and they said, hey, listen, we're going to need 439 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 4: to take a step back to take two steps forward. 440 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 3: So they're doing it this year. 441 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 4: They continue to draft well, if I'm Bloom's in charge, 442 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 4: they'll continue to develop players well, and then they'll be good, 443 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 4: hopefully in a shorter time than what most people expect. 444 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would say. 445 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 5: As a Cardinals fan, you sit there and go, Okay, 446 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 5: we've had history of this, and you look at you know, 447 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 5: no other organization has had history of success, and then rebuild. 448 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 5: Wait no, they haven't rebuilt. There's a whole generation of 449 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 5: Cardinals fans that don't know what a rebuild or reboot 450 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 5: looks like, and this could be hard. And I hear 451 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 5: a lot of words coming out of the clubhouse or 452 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 5: coming out of this organization right now, like, oh, we 453 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 5: got to start new, We got to start new. What 454 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 5: are the things that they're keeping from the other from 455 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 5: the last regime, the last regime that was supremely successful 456 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 5: are how are they building to that? And I think, 457 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 5: you know, you might have pieces in this organization that 458 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 5: allow them to build on them, but what is the 459 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 5: core principles of this organization that will make this be 460 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 5: the Cardinals of old and not Okay, well we'll do 461 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 5: this for five years and then we'll rebuild. The reality 462 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 5: is they're going to need to spend money once they 463 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,199 Speaker 5: see a season like this and say, Okay, who's going 464 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 5: to step up as JJ Weatherholt an everyday big leaguer. 465 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 5: Is Mason win going to take the next step and 466 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 5: be not just the elite on defense but a three 467 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 5: hundred hitter every year? Is Jordan Walker going to be 468 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 5: that guy? So there's a lot of questions that need 469 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 5: to be asked when you go through a rebuild, and 470 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 5: those questions need to be answered here this season. 471 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: And let's show what BETEMGM is bringing to the table 472 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: for their win total projection. Fangrabs has them and they 473 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: play everybody a little bit closer to the middle. That's 474 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: seventy four point nine, so about seventy five wins. BETAMGM 475 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: has the total at sixty nine and a half. For 476 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, Giggity beat you to it. But what do 477 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: you think, aj, I. 478 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 4: Think they're closer to the fan grabs than they are 479 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 4: the VITMGM. I think that I just think that they'll 480 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 4: figure it out. They oh last year, the last couple 481 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 4: of years, they haven't, you know, supposed to be that gray, 482 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 4: but they always end up around five hundred ish Now 483 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 4: I think. I think seventy for four to seventy five 484 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 4: wins is a great number. I think the sixty nine 485 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 4: is too low, So I like the I like the 486 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 4: higher little bit of a higher number. I think there 487 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 4: were low seventies, the mid seventies win team. 488 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go below. 489 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 5: I think they're going to lose one hundred games, and 490 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 5: I think it's going to be a tough, a tough 491 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 5: build because of the fact that you're already using your 492 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 5: depth pitching wise, like had they had they re signed 493 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 5: to Miles Michaels, had they kept a sunny gray. Now, 494 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 5: all of a sudden, you're using some of these young 495 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 5: guys to be that depth. You're already using that depth, 496 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 5: and I just think I think the NL central is 497 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 5: a little bit tougher. So I'm going under the giggoty 498 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 5: that the bet MGM put out for us. 499 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's look at the lineup, and there are 500 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: a lot of numbers on here AJ that are sub 501 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: one hundred for ops plus as in league average. Not 502 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: quite there. Do we think anybody on this lineup will 503 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: emerge and get past that that vaunted one hundred number. 504 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 1: Of course, I'm not saying nobody on here is on hundred. 505 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: Von Herrera had a banger season for them and is 506 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: a name not many no, but should know. Alec Burlison 507 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: is going to get every day be mostly at first base. Great, 508 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: those are the only two guys in the projected starting 509 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: lineup from Fangrafts that were registered as above average bats 510 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: last year. 511 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 4: Anybody like, yes, it's Jordan Walker's time. It's time, Jordan here, 512 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 4: It's time. It's just time. It's time for Jordan Walker 513 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 4: to take the next step, and I know he's had 514 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 4: some and we talked to him and we talked to 515 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 4: Ali about Jordan Walker. 516 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 3: But it's time. 517 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 4: It's time for him to swing and it's time for 518 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 4: him to hit, and it's time for him to be 519 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 4: the number one prospect that everyone thought he was going 520 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 4: to be. So I think Jordan Walker is going to 521 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 4: be free. He's not going to be any worries and 522 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 4: he's going to figure it out. I mean, this kid's 523 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 4: still what twenty five years old, I think he is, 524 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 4: so he's not He's still super young. So I think 525 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 4: Jordan Walker is gonna have a huge year. And listen, 526 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 4: if I'm betting JJ Weatherholt is going to be a 527 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,239 Speaker 4: stud for the Cardinals and they're really gonna enjoy what 528 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 4: he does. 529 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 3: He's Jack. He just walked by. 530 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 4: I know he sat earlier with us, but he kind 531 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 4: of was covered up. He's walked by. He's freaking Jack, dude. 532 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 4: That's why when he brought up the Paedroia comparisons, I'm like, 533 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 4: you're way bigger than old. 534 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: One to five was Jordan Walker. By the way, He's 535 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: twenty three turning twenty four in late May. He's pretty 536 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 1: damn young. 537 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 538 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 5: To me, that guy on there is Mason Win. I 539 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 5: think you gain confidence from your defense, and I think 540 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 5: his feet are firmly on the ground and defense. 541 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: I think his. 542 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 5: From his bat speed to his speed to just another year. 543 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 5: I know we make fun of some teams who say that, 544 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 5: but I think Mason Win takes the next step. Is 545 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 5: he ever going to be a one thirty ops plus? No, 546 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 5: But I think he takes the next step in pushes 547 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 5: it over that one hundred because I also think you 548 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 5: have if the lineup's constructed where like Nolan Gorman's around him, 549 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 5: who I think is going to have a better year 550 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 5: this year. And Jj Weatherholt is what I've seen in 551 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 5: the few at bats from spring training, and I watched 552 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 5: a couple of his triple A at bats, like, now 553 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 5: you have a little bit more protection, not that you're 554 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 5: protecting Mason Win, but just that I think he takes 555 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 5: that next step because he's completely solidified, he's got gold, 556 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 5: he's got those things. And now the offense, which really 557 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 5: good defenders at shortstop in history that I've seen recently 558 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 5: of shortstops who don't hit right away, they slowly learn 559 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 5: it because they're out there every day. So I think 560 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 5: that's where he's going to take the next step. 561 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: And we didn't get to talk about this aj from 562 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: the last few days, but we mentioned it of course 563 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,479 Speaker 1: to Ali Marmole. He gets extended, so you get some 564 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: stability in there. He knows he's going to be the 565 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: guy for the next few years. 566 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 4: Yes, he does, and that's big for a manager, especially 567 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 4: a guy who's going into this process where they're going 568 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 4: to have to have young players. You have to give 569 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 4: a guy a chance to teach the young players and 570 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 4: grow with him. And Ali Marmle I believe is the 571 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 4: right guy for this. Oli Marble is only thirty nine 572 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 4: years old. He's not even forty years old yet, so 573 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 4: you know he is a younger coaching staff that a 574 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 4: lot of the players around here know most a lot 575 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 4: of them played for the Cardinals. They're people in Saint 576 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 4: Louis trust their opinion. John Jay descalso some of these guys. 577 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 4: So I think that giving Marvel the extension gives him 578 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 4: the confidence and gives him the freedom to raise these 579 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 4: young kids the way that he thinks they should. And 580 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 4: all he's been in this organization for a long time. 581 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 4: So he knows the Cardinal way and he knows what 582 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 4: he's expecting and people of Saint Louis expect out of 583 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 4: their big league team. 584 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: He's managed this team and they've had some success, and 585 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: they haven't been as good the last couple of years, 586 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: and that's probably going to be the case here. So 587 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: he knows how to do that side of the equation. 588 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: And also we're trying to get some information crats out 589 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: of some of the young guy In terms of what's 590 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: going to look different, I would say I'll look back 591 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: at a Katie Wu article that we discussed, what was 592 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: it two years ago at this point about how the 593 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: Cardinals had fallen very behind on some of the development 594 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: that they did a really nice job of in the past, 595 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: because they kind of had to make the decision, Hey, 596 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: do we want to spend a little more on the 597 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: major league roster, Yes, but then we have to take 598 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: that away from what we do on the development side. 599 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: Whether they weren't getting the best tech, whether they weren't 600 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: you know, having the most loaded coaching staff in terms 601 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,479 Speaker 1: of numbers, how many coaches they had, all of that 602 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: right that the Cardinals did so well, they kind of 603 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: sacrifice that and it sounds like the pendulum is shifting 604 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: back towards that side and that should help on the 605 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 1: development front. Now, eventually the team's going to build up, 606 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: and then fans and basically everyone's going to be like, hey, 607 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: well now you've got to support that team again, So 608 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: don't take from your development side, just add on and 609 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: we'll see if that happens eventually. 610 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 5: And talking to him, unfortunately I missed the him interview 611 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 5: and he gave me a hard time for but talking 612 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 5: to him off camera, he is and I guess, I 613 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 5: guess I'm a proponent of Hein Bloom because I worked 614 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 5: for him for a little bit and I played in 615 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 5: the organization that he was one of the assistant jams for. 616 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,919 Speaker 5: But he has a track record of understanding what it 617 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 5: takes to build up a farm system, and when he 618 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,120 Speaker 5: came in there were things lacking. Some guys come in 619 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,679 Speaker 5: and they're like, oh, we're going to re reboot this 620 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 5: farm system. We're going to do this, and they hack everybody. 621 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 5: Look at the Marlins. The Marlins came in and Peter 622 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 5: Bendex came in and just hacked coaches after coaches after, 623 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 5: you know, assistant directors of this and him came in 624 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 5: and he did it differently. He did it more like 625 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 5: what happened in Boston, where he said, okay, there's a 626 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 5: few few people that we had to get rid of. 627 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 5: But he was like, that wasn't his goal. His goal 628 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 5: was to say, there's been twenty years of success here. 629 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 5: If you've been here for twenty years, you've been doing 630 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 5: something right. Do you need and he had he attached 631 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 5: the hey, I want to I want to be I 632 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 5: want to be a help. I don't want to be 633 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 5: the you know, the person who lords over everything from 634 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 5: the Ivory Tower. And so instead of hacking jobs, he 635 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 5: added to positions that organizations had been adding, you know, 636 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 5: a fourth coach to triple A or DOUBLELA. They added 637 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 5: those ten years ago, and the Cardinals were behind on that. 638 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 5: Their their system of analyzing stuff like analytics stuff. Their 639 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 5: system was way way behind, but they didn't need it. 640 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 5: And we talked about this on this show. When they 641 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 5: got Wilson Contreras from the Cubs. There was a lot 642 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 5: of things that Wilson Contreras was asked to do that 643 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 5: Yadi Molina was doing before. And it's evaluating who you're 644 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 5: playing against. All that stuff that it was unfair the 645 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 5: organization to say, oh, hey, we're going to have you 646 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 5: do this, and him Blooms come in and he's seen 647 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 5: how two differentiations, the Rays and the Red Sox did 648 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 5: things settings up out from an in structure, and from 649 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:10,959 Speaker 5: what I heard and what he told me, it seems 650 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 5: like ownership has been like, Okay, we're we want to 651 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 5: get back on track, we want to do this. While 652 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 5: you're not seeing them spending a big league team, there 653 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 5: is some behind the scenes spending and it kind of 654 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 5: kind of starts with what AJ sees behind them. In 655 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 5: the addition that they made at the at the complex. 656 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 1: There, that's right, the complex is shiny. 657 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 4: The complex is brand new. But that was that was 658 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 4: not the Cardinals. I mean they the Marlins are will 659 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 4: be there tomorrow fifty feet down the road, and they 660 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 4: have the same thing. So that was more the city 661 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 4: of Jupiter and the county down here did not want 662 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 4: to lose the Marlins and the Cardinals, so they did 663 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 4: a nice job. I mean the Cardinals didn't. As much 664 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 4: as I love the Cardinals, the Cardinals did not pay 665 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 4: for this. Okay, let's just let's let's not go. 666 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: There, right right, Yeah, the cities put in money to 667 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: keep the teams and drive the tourist dollars. 668 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 4: And also it was time. Also it was time because crats, 669 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 4: you know you were here last year. This was outdated 670 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 4: and listen outdated. 671 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 3: But a lot of the things, a lot of a 672 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 3: lot of the things are outdated. 673 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: Yep, sauna's in place. AJ is ready to go for 674 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: it in like seven minutes. 675 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 4: When I gotta go, I gotta walk. I gotta get 676 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 4: a towel and put my underwear on and walk though 677 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 4: across the street, across the walkway here to get to it. 678 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: They call it the walk of fame, to walk to 679 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 1: the sauna. 680 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 5: Not not at as age shame. 681 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: No fame, fame crafts. By the way, I liked your 682 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: Ivory Tower drop. That's what Pat Murphy calls the front office, 683 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 1: or any front office