Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals SURVIVE Wild Win As JJ Wetherholt And The Offense RESCUE The Pitching Staff

Starting point is 00:00:00 It was one of the more infuriating wins that they've had all season. But it was still a win. And the Cardinals managed to avoid the sweep in Kansas City. We'll talk about it today on Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals fans. I'm J.D. Hafferin.

Starting point is 00:00:28 And today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase. happy belated father's day to all the dads out there on today's show. We're going to preview the upcoming series against Nolan Arranado and the Diamondbacks, which is still super weird to say. We're going to talk about the struggles for Riley O'Brien. How bad are they?

Starting point is 00:00:49 Riley O'Brien, aka Ryan Heldley, 2025 Part 2. So we'll get into that. But let me check real quick. Hold on a second. Yep, okay. Both teams are done hitting. They're done scoring runs. We can now discuss the hit parade.

Starting point is 00:01:04 that was the final game at Kaufman Stadium between the Cardinals and the Royals. One that the Cardinals would ultimately come out on top in, but my gosh, was it infuriating to watch? You know, the offense came to play. The offense showed up in a big way. Now that they weren't a force in the first two games, putting up six and five runs in those first two games, but both of them were losses. All three games in the series, the Cardinals would score first, which is usually a great sign. But they lost the first two games. But this time they seem to, I guess, let out a little bit of the frustrations with that five spot in the opening frame, which was highlighted by that lead off home run by JJ Weatherholt, who continues to just, just, he's assaulting the league.

Starting point is 00:01:53 Like, he's been so good. And we've needed a guy like him at the top of the order for so long. And he continued his assault and is beginning to run away with the SNL rookie of the year. award. It was also highlighted by the Mason Wind three run shot, which obviously was a huge part of this. Now, these home runs, they look completely different from each other. J.J.'s was immediate, right? Right off the bat, you knew it was going to go a long way. How far? I don't know. Because stat cast stuff, the tracking, none of it was working. I guess during JJ Weatherholds home run. I remember it showing up on my phone and said like 445 feet. I don't think it was that

Starting point is 00:02:33 far. But surely it was, I mean, it was far enough that he got over the wall in right center field. I mean, I guess he broke the darn thing. I don't know. Masons certainly did not look like your ideal home run swing by any means. Like he was out in front of the ball, was on that front foot, but he makes contact on the sweet spot. Sometimes that's all it takes. And he launches at 410 feet. By that point, Stapcast was working. And that home run was all you need to see and know that the ball was going to be flying at Kaufman on Sunday. And the Cardinals give Dustin May a five spot in the first inning. And you're thinking, all right, all right, we got this, right?

Starting point is 00:03:15 You know, it's Dustin May. Our guys are sitting pretty. Dustin's been lights out for the better part of two months now. No way this game is going to be a tight one, right? And Dustin May says, hold my bear. proceeds to have one of the worst outings of the season, if not the worst, by giving up two runs in the first, which, and I know if Mason win makes that incredible

Starting point is 00:03:40 over-the-shoulder catch, which he did do later in the game when he had another shot at it, did it to perfection later on. You know, maybe it doesn't happen, but the lead-off single gets down, Mason doesn't make the catch, and things transpire from there. Five to two in the second inning.

Starting point is 00:03:57 Cardinals bad say, look, we got you big red. We're good. They throw up four more runs, church doubles. JJ pops that Apotaka home run for a second of the game, 12th of the season. You get a single by Yvonne Herrera, Burley triples when Mizner in Center Field makes that do or die diving attempt. And Burley really wanted pop to send him at third base. Like he was coming towards third and he was coming in hot. He was chugging.

Starting point is 00:04:24 And you see him go, oh, when Pop gave him the stop sign, which by the way was the smart decision. Smart decisions. You had the media order, tons of firepower coming up to be able to get him in, no need to risk getting him gunned at home plate and kind of shift the momentum back into Kansas City's favor. But Walker and Newt failed to get it done. Walker pops out, Newt grounds out, and then Mason beats one into the turf too, but he gets the infield single, beats it out at first base. That brings in Burley. I was about to get really upset if that's running into score. But then at this point, You're looking at it. It's nine to two cardinals. Now, that is certainly game set match, right? May isn't going to best that up, right? Nine to two, you got a seven run lead, Dustin May on the mound.

Starting point is 00:05:12 Dustin May says, hold both my beers. I'm not done yet. Gives up not one, but two, two run home runs. First one to the number eight guy, loft him, who with that home run doubled his home run total for the season. can't give up home runs of those guys. And then it's Caglione, who the guy is on fire right now. Smash is another home run, the first of two of the day. He hit four in this series. Yeah, go ahead and light whatever the pitching plan was against Jack Caglione, because it didn't work.

Starting point is 00:05:46 It was garbage. And now it's 9 to 6. And that just can't happen. It can't happen. You can't have your top guy on the mound, have your offense go out there, put up, nine runs against a team that doesn't have Bobby Wood Jr. Or if any pass Quintino in the lineup and not be able to make that stick.

Starting point is 00:06:07 Now, he didn't lose the lead ever, but it got to a point where he had to get pulled. Like he was terrible. Just an awful outing from Dustin May who was gone after the second inning when your team scored nine runs in the first two frames. That's awful. Six runs, six hits, 44 pitch. never looked like he got into a rhythm. He was missing spots right over the plate.

Starting point is 00:06:33 And the Royals beat the snout out of him, made him pay. Royals got it to 9 to 7. They got within two runs after an RBI single by Salby Perez in the fourth. But in the fifth, two outs my guy, Nathan Church walks, JJ singles, and it was Yvonne Herrera going deep for the 10th of the 10th time this season, 12 to 7. Surely that would be enough, correct? Well, it was. It was. But the Royals didn't just go away. And of course, we had to deal with more Riley O'Brien shenanigans, which has become all too common for far too long. And we're going to jump into that stuff and discuss it and go through the gruesomeness that it was. Again, it's still a win. But my gosh, does it have to be always, always so stressful? We'll talk about it coming up on lockdown cardinals.

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Starting point is 00:10:32 Get your daily cardinals coverage completely add free by join. our everyday or club today. Start your seven-day free trial right now. Get closer to your team without the interruptions. Click the link in the show notes or go to locked on STLsportscast. Or locked on STL Cardinals.supercast.com to claim your free trial. So at this point of the game, the Cardinals are up 12 to 7. Everything seems like it's honky dory again, but it never felt like you were safe. No number felt safe because how the Royals have been swinging the sticks over the last few days. Carter Jensen steps up, takes Joe Joe Romero deep on a sweeper over the heart of the plate. Again, Cardinals pitchers missed their spots over and over and over and over and the Royals

Starting point is 00:11:13 made him pay. That makes it 12 to 8. Then in the ninth inning, you got a four run lead, a four run lead. Riley O'Brien hasn't pitched in a bit. Time to get him into the game. And here he comes. And first batter grooves a first pitch slider to guess who, Jack Caglione. Another dinger. then to say, you know, say, you know what, let's make this really interesting. He hits Salvi Perez. Then he gives up a single. Now we're sitting here with a tying run at the plate. And I am genuinely grilling out on my back deck and I can't even, I can't watch. I can't listen. I'm like, this is unbelievable. This is happening. Like he's imploding right now. Riley O'Brien has not had a clean inning since May 7th. It is June 22nd.

Starting point is 00:12:02 May 7th, he has either given up a hit, walked a guy, or hit a guy in his last 14 appearances. And he's been scored upon in half of those games. Whatever magic he had early on this season is on vacation right now. I would like to know when we can get it back. You get the tapper, the Blaze Jordan makes the smart play on. Throws home because his momentum is going that way. Didn't have a really good shout at anything at first base. somehow crooks can't get that tag on the 255 pounds Salvi Perez.

Starting point is 00:12:38 How do you miss that guy? Misses him. And they say he touched the plate. I don't know if he did. There was never an angle where it said, oh, there he is. There's his little fingernail got the plate. I never saw that.

Starting point is 00:12:50 I didn't think he touched the plate. I thought he was out. But they called him safe. They didn't find any evidence to overrule it. So it stays. It counts. Now we're looking at a 12 to 10 score. Winning run is at the point.

Starting point is 00:13:02 plate. Pass me the Tums, pass me the Pepto. Give me 10 more beers. Give me shots of Yeager. Give me something to numb this pain. I cannot believe that the Cardinals are scoring 12 runs, and we're still worried about them winning a ball game. Luckily, the Royals make the decision to give the Cardinals an out. Thanks, guys. They lay down a bun. And Riley rallies gets a strike out on a pitch that wasn't a strike. McCannys City was out of challenges. Thank God. And then Isaac Collins grounds out back to O'Brien. Of course, it had to be a tight play at first base, but that ends the ballgame. Phew, 12 runs was barely enough.

Starting point is 00:13:45 12. And this is the kind of stuff that happens at, you know, the minor league ballpark in Sacramento that the A's play at. It happens at Coors Field with the Rockies. This is not normal behavior for Kaufman. and luckily the guys still came out on top. So it's hard to get mad when you win a game, but you can say, like listen to me, so frustrating, where you just want one game where your boys go out

Starting point is 00:14:13 and just beat the snot out of somebody. And the offense did it for you and the pitching was awful. They were awful. Shout out to Jordan Walker, who did nothing at the plate, but made that defensive gem in right field, robbing Salvi Perez of maybe a home run, at least extra bases in the seventh inning, which saved the Cardinals more hard act.

Starting point is 00:14:35 Ryan Stanick owes you a steak dinner for that one. Cardinals said to use their whole bullpen, except Justin Brule, to win a game that they scored 12 runs in and had Dustin May starting. I mean, it's a win, but my goodness, wasn't frustrating. Pitching staff has got to pick it up. Like now, ASAP, in a game where you should have been able to get away

Starting point is 00:14:59 with your starter going six innings, even if he gave up like six runs. He should have been able to get away with it over six innings, not gone by the third, and you have to drain your entire pen to pick up a win. And I don't know what to do with Riley O'Brien. Leave your suggestions and comments down below on that. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:15:19 Mechanics, mental, confidence, clearly rattled for sure, who wouldn't be. But we need to find that guy from April who was mowing people down. And more importantly, walking anybody back then. And he was just making life miserable for the opposition. Through his first 15 appearances, he only had one walk, two hit by pitches, 17 strikeouts, and a given up 11 hits and just two earned runs. His next 16 appearances coming into

Starting point is 00:15:48 Sunday's game, 10 walks, three hit by pitch, 15 strikeouts, 16 hits against 11 earned runs. Now you can tack on two more hits, two more hits, two more. earned runs, another hit by pitch. It's trash. Like, how do you trust that guy right now? And you don't really have any other options to replace him with. Like, there's not anybody like, who are you going to scoach in there? You tried Ryan Stanick in that spot earlier on in the season. That it looked so good. And he's kind of found his niche. I know he had the one bad game against Minnesota, but he seems to be in a good spot where he is now. You just got to get Riley O'Brien, right? Like, there's nobody else that it's going to take on that job.

Starting point is 00:16:32 You got to get them right. So it's not that they're not working on it, and I'm sure they are. It's just like, bro, come on, man. Let's get it together. Yvonne Herrera has now been hit 21 times this season. That's crazy. Ron Hunt holds the modern day record with 50 in 1971,

Starting point is 00:16:49 in case you were wondering. Cardinals record is Steve Evans with 31 back in 1910. Fernando Vina got hit 28 times in 2000. So Yvonne well on his way to breaking both of those records. J.J. Weatherhall became the Cardinals' first lead off hitter to Homer in the first two innings of a game since Matt Carpenter did it against the Cubs back in 2018. Among qualified rookies, J.J is now fourth in batting average. First and runs scored, tied for first and hits, tied for second in home runs,

Starting point is 00:17:20 fourth in RBI, second in walks, second in OBP, fourth in slug, fourth in OPS. And a lot of the stuff that he's behind in there is the Giants Bryce Eldridge, who's in front in a lot of these things, but he's only played half the games J.J. Weatherhold has. I don't know how Bryce Eldridge is a qualified rookie, and he's only played in 36 games. I don't understand how that hurts enough to understand it. But he's played in 36 games while JJ's played 71.

Starting point is 00:17:48 Like, I don't get it. But JJ's, man, has he been good. And then, of course, defensively, like, Weatherhole. It's been one of the best defenders in all of baseball this year. So what an amazing talent and what a job he's done thus far. Cardinals overall are now seventh. This is offensively. Seventh in the NL and batting average.

Starting point is 00:18:11 Fifth and OBP, seventh and slug, eighth in OPS, eighth and run scored. Again, the offense feels like it's got the juice to keep winning, even without bringing somebody like Joshua Baez up to the team. And I know people are excited about him. And I get it. he's now up to 25 home runs and 64 rbeyes for Memphis absolutely went off this week, six games, six dingers, drove in 13. The slugging this past week was at 1.1-3-0, OPS at 1.537, off the charts, otherworldly type of stuff. He's on another planet. He's in another, in another

Starting point is 00:18:48 universe right now. But I feel like the offense isn't where the problems are. as long as people are healthy. Again, Lars Newt Park has a tendency to get hurt. And he's looked good so far. Like watching Newt run the bases right now is awesome. Like he looks super healthy and that's awesome. A healthy nude is obviously a positive for the Cardinals. Is he somebody who gets moved at the trade deadline?

Starting point is 00:19:16 And then Joshua Baez comes in and starts playing left field or center field or wherever they want to put him. Maybe. Maybe. But that's a little ways down the road. Right now, I like, like the way the offense is going. I like what they're doing. I like the matchups that Ali's been using. Like, I don't have a lot to complain there, but this pitching staff, boy, whoof, woof, rough stuff. Cardinals are home now. They're going to face Nolan Aronado in the Arizona

Starting point is 00:19:42 Diamondbacks of the next four games. We're going to talk about that series. And we'll talk about how Aronado is doing in Arizona. Plus, we'll take a quick look at the standings after the weekend. All of that coming up next year on Locked on Cardinals. Baseball season is here, and now you can trade every game on Cal She. On Cal She, you can trade every single game. The St. Louis Cardinals are trading at 56% to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, meaning a $100 trade would payout at $1.31 would payout. If they went, now if you want to go Arizona, you can do that. 218.69 would be your payout. So you make the call. It's up to you. And on Cal She, you're trading against peers in a live market, meaning there's no house. And as the probability changes. You can buy in and out of your position. And for a limited time, download the CalShe app use code locked on to get $10 when you trade 10. Cal She is spelled K-A-L-S-H-I. Cal Sheet trade on anything. 18-plus only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices, values,

Starting point is 00:20:56 and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see calshy.com slash regulatory. Thank you for making Locked on Cardinals, your first listen each and every day. And thank you for making Locked on the number one sports podcast network. Now, the end of Nolan Aronado's tenure with the Cardinals, unceremonious one, right? Got traded in the offseason along with $31 million in exchange for

Starting point is 00:21:29 former 2025 eighth round pick Jack Martinez, who not doing all that bad. Currently at Class Palm Beach, Class A Palm Beach, and he's got a record of 0 and 6, which I know you're going to be like, What the 13 starts. ERA is at 3.93 though, okay, has shown some strikeout potential, 69Ks and 50 in the third innings. Opponents are only hitting 178 against them. So record be damned. Overall, the numbers are actually pretty positive.

Starting point is 00:21:58 The Diamondbacks are in for four games. They're currently 39 and 38. Nolan Arnato is hitting 238 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs. Had a really good April, slowed down a bit. in May and June has been super rough for him. He's hitting 162 with one home run at four RBIs and 19 games. Father time is still undefeated. That is the lesson here. Father time is still undefeated. And although the Cardinals got two outstanding years out of him in 2021 and 2022, they never won a single post game with Nolan Arnato on the roster. And he went one for 12 in those three games with no RBIs, like he was ghost, which was part of the reason why they lost. The decline began in 2023 and has been steady ever since.

Starting point is 00:22:43 Still should get a nice round of applause tonight. He's certainly deserving of it. He's one of the best third baseman that I've ever seen, certainly defensively. And in his prime when he was with Colorado in those first couple years with the Cardinals, he was the best third baseman of baseball. He was amazing. I think he gets into the Hall of Fame as well. So we should show him some love tonight for the work ethic, his intensity for the game.

Starting point is 00:23:05 He was a good Cardinal. It just didn't work out. Like we thought that that trade, at least I did. I thought that was going to put us over. And you had Aronado and you had Goldschmidt and it looked like everything was going to work out. And it didn't. It just did. The Diamondbacks still, like they're one game above 500, but they still got a couple of stars.

Starting point is 00:23:26 Corby and Carole, one of my favorite players to watch in baseball. Love that dude. And Cotel Marte, absolute stud. Geraldo Pardombo is back to his normal self after going off last year. somehow perdomo hit 290 with 20 home runs at 100 rbys last year was insane. I was like, where did this come from? Annie plays, you know, gold glove defense. Previous high before those numbers, six home runs of 47 RBIs,

Starting point is 00:23:52 currently at four home runs and 27 RBI. So he's come back down to Earth for whatever reason. So let's keep him there. They got a lot of injured pitchers, Corbyn Burns, Michael Soroka, Ryan Nelson, AJ Puck, Justin Martinez, they're all out. They've been a much better home team than a road team. They're just 15 and 21 on the road, 8 and 11 overall on the month of June,

Starting point is 00:24:13 and against teams with a 500 record or better, they're 11 and 26. But we saw how records don't really mean squat when the Cardinals had to play Minnesota and Kansas City, who both took it to them and ended up winning two of three out of those series. So can't take anybody lightly, even though this feels like it should be a very winnable series for the Cardinals. Carol and Marte are the keys.

Starting point is 00:24:38 Whatever you got to do to contain them, that's what you got to do. Like, that's how you stop them. Obviously, you don't want to let anybody else in the roster beat you, but don't know that those are the two guys that are going to crush you. And if you can keep them at bay, contain them as best you can, that's how you beat them.

Starting point is 00:24:57 Pitching matchups, there's nothing special in here for the Diamondbacks. I got one guy. Merrill Kelly's going to get to start. tonight 5.81 ERA against Andre Palante. Let's keep Andre. Let's keep good Andre going. All right. Tonight is not the night to have one of his off days. Tuesday, Eduardo Rodriguez. He's the one guy for Arizona that's been really good that's healthy right now. 2.45 ERA. Soroka's been good to see if he's out. Kyle Leahy will get to start in that one. Then on Wednesday, Matthew Libertor's stat to make a start. No starter has been named for Arizona yet.

Starting point is 00:25:30 Thursday. Former Cardinals prospect, Zach Gallen. Remember how everybody wanted to sign Zach Gallen? like wanted to throw a bunch of money at him got an ERA over six. Mm-hmm. ERA of 6.10. Maybe that's why his market never kind of came about the way that some people thought it would be. So certainly beatable there. Don't want the exact Gallen revenge game. Like, I don't want to see that.

Starting point is 00:25:51 Like, take it to them. Everybody else has. Michael McGreeby will get to start in that one. All four games are nine games starting at 645. St. Louis time. Your standings wise, Milwaukee, a winner on Sunday. they're up to 46 and 29 Cardinals stay pace with them at 41 and 34. So they're five games back.

Starting point is 00:26:12 The Cubs ended up losing on Sunday. They're 40 and 37. So they're two games back of the Cardinals. Pirates even out at 39 and 39. They're back at the 500 mark after winning. So they're now, what, three and a half back. And then the Reds beat the Yankees twice in New York. They're at 37 and 39 and getting healthier.

Starting point is 00:26:35 De La Cruz is coming back. Hunter Green is set to come back. Emilio Pagan is set to come back. So I'm not counting out the Reds yet as being a threat because they just have not had their entire roster together. But like that's going to be naughty, dude. Chase Burns and Hunter Green in the same rotation. See how long Hunter Green stays there. He's always hurt. But they're coming. So I'd expect them to make a push at some point here at the, you know. before the trade deadline. So that's what's going on as far as the division goes. Wild card standings, Cardinals, still in a playoff spot, still doing their thing. They are in the, they're tied with the Phillies right now for that top wildcard spot.

Starting point is 00:27:22 Cubs have now snuck into the third spot with the Padres and Nationals falling off a little bit. Marlins are right there. They've won four in a row. So just got to just got to stay in the course. but you've got to beat these teams that are supposed to be beatable. We can't keep losing series to the twins, to the Royals. Like you can't lose this series to the Diamondbacks. You can't keep getting chipped away at one series at a time

Starting point is 00:27:46 because eventually that cushion that you've got, it'll be gone. So pitching, come on. Offense, keep doing you, pitching, come on. Thanks for making Lockton Cardinals. Your first listen every day if you haven't already give us a follow on X at L.O. underscore Cardinals, TikTok, Instagram, and Lockdown Cardinals, like, subscribe on YouTube, help our channel and love for the Cardinals grows. We make that push for 15,000 subscribers.

Starting point is 00:28:14 Never miss an episode with our everyday air club, locked on SDL Cardinals. That supercast.com to join that club. Link is down below. For those of you on video, we send you to the first ever 24-7 National Lockdown Podcast Network YouTube channel on audio. Make sure your second listen is Lockdown, MLB. You're the best fans in baseball for a reason, and I will see you next time on Locked on cards.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - St. Louis Cardinals SURVIVE Wild Win As JJ Wetherholt And The Offense RESCUE The Pitching Staff

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