With a 71-91 report, the St. Louis Cardinals completed final within the NL Central.
This can be a crew that’s used to October success.
They’ve made the postseason 16 occasions within the 24 seasons performed since 2000.
That’s an incredible ratio of success, and so they have additionally received two World Sequence since that 12 months.
That’s why it got here as such a shock to see the redbirds end lifeless final in 2023.
The pitching was simply terrible, and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and his workers labored laborious to usher in some arms.
Mozeliak is aware of followers anticipate a bounceback season from the Cardinals.
He is aware of he might be underneath scrutiny.
“Expectations are excessive. I get it. We have to get again to the place we as soon as had been.” After one of many busiest offseasons of his tenure, has John Mozeliak carried out sufficient to place the Cardinals again on prime? We’re about to search out out,” Cardinals insider Katie Woo tweeted.
“Expectations are excessive. I get it. We have to get again to the place we as soon as had been.”
After one of many busiest offseasons of his tenure, has John Mozeliak carried out sufficient to place the Cardinals again on prime? We’re about to search out out.
Extra from Mo’s QA with The Athletic: https://t.co/kGGHvVPyI1
Within the offseason, the Cardinals introduced in an ace in Sonny Grey.
Grey had an exceptional season in 2023 and is a revered, gifted veteran who will dramatically enhance the standard of the pitching workers.
The remainder of the rotation additions had been extra oriented to depth: Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson are not any stars, however they’re regular veterans (notably the latter).
Additionally they traded for relievers Andrew Kittredge and Nick Robertson, and added veterans Matt Carpenter and Brandon Crawford to the pool of place gamers that features Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, and prime prospect Jordan Walker.
The rotation is previous and skilled, however may very well be sneaky good nonetheless.
It could be laborious, however the Cardinals are significantly better than final 12 months and will compete for a Wild Card spot.