Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - The IMPACT of Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt! Enough For A St. Louis Cardinals PLAYOFF PUSH?

Starting point is 00:00:00 What's to make of the Cardinals with the first half of the season in the books. The good, the bad, are they a contender or a pretender? This is 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. Haffernan.

Starting point is 00:00:25 On today's show, we've got new power rankings out. And as you can guess, the Cardinals have slipped a little bit. We'll tell you how far. And if it's warranted, we're going to check in on the demoted. guys at Memphis. How have the the guys that were once on this team at the major league level? How are they doing so far since being demoted down to Memphis to try to get right? We'll talk about that. But we're going to start with the good and the bad of the first half of the 2026 season, which kind of leads into those guys getting demoted. We're 81 games into this thing. And for the

Starting point is 00:00:55 most part, I think the Cardinals have exceeded expectations that probably most of us had for them this year. I think I was more of the positive side of things. where I thought they'd be right around 500 at the end of this whole thing. A lot of people thought they were going to be way worse, right? The predicted collapse and demise of this team to a stellar dwelling afterthought. It hasn't happened, much to the dismay of my colleagues here at the Lockdown Sports Network, who were really hoping to kick a little dirt on the Cardinals this season, especially in my division.

Starting point is 00:01:30 Honestly, more the Reds and the Brewers get, well, maybe not even Chuck. Was it more like the Reds, really? We're the ones that we're hoping that, hey, you guys are going to stink this year, right? Like, we don't have to worry about you. And here we are, 81 games into the season. And look who's in the basement, Cincinnati Reds. But season isn't over. Yeah, a lot of stuff can change over the next 81 games.

Starting point is 00:01:53 But the Cardinals have been a nice surprise in the first half. We've seen a lot of good things, a lot of good things from this scene. And the first thing that pops to my mind, it's not science-based, nothing to do with staff. or analytics, but it's simply the entertainment value and the vibes that have surrounded this team so far this season, the energy that they had been able to bring to the ballpark well until recently, where they've been kind of DOA. But for the most part, it's been tremendous, right? It's been a fun team to watch.

Starting point is 00:02:26 There's been an attitude and a spirit around them that was extremely attractive early on. And it really kind of took off when the tarps off thing happened. They got the chain, which you can see behind me if you're watching on video. They got the home run chain. That was something that they never really did before. They didn't have that kind of stuff. It was always like business. This is business.

Starting point is 00:02:50 And it's a game and you're supposed to be having fun. And when you have fun, the fans have fun. And it just kind of spreads that way. And fun was being at Bush Stadium. A lot of that can be attributed to the age group. that the Cardinals are, you know, the average age, at least at one point, was the youngest in the league. Like 26.7 was the average age of the player. So I don't know where it is right now, but that was the lowest in the league, youngest team in the league, one of the lowest payrolls as well. And what was good

Starting point is 00:03:21 about them is that a lot of them had already played together in the minor leagues. And also, they had one thing that was common about most of them was that they all had something to prove. Now, sure, there were some spots on the team that were already designated for certain guys, but nobody was really guaranteed anything. And you started to see that later on as the season continued, certain people struggled, and they aren't here anymore. And you were seeing that this youthfulness and this drive that these young guys had, you saw that showing up on the field each day, day and day out, maximum effort.

Starting point is 00:04:00 And Cardinals fans appreciate that. Of course, we want to see a winner. We want you to win more than you lose, but we also want to see you play the game in a certain way. The cardinal way, as we call it, the right way. You know, we pay attention to how you hustle, how you act on the field, the competitiveness, the attitude that you display on the diamond.

Starting point is 00:04:23 Pay attention to that stuff. And the cardinals, for the most part, were playing the right way during the first half of this season. It led to a lot of victories and some exciting victories. some fun games. We saw the emergence of two big guys, Jordan Walker and JJ Weatherhole. The organization has been trying to produce their next star player for quite a while now. Yeah, they've gone out and they've made trades for some big names like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Aronado, but these weren't homegrown talents. They had to go get those guys.

Starting point is 00:04:55 But the development of homegrown stars, you know, the good old days when you had the Molinas and and poo holes. And, you know, I know they traded to get Adam Wainwright, but, you know, he's been with the team pretty much his whole lives, at least while I was a pro. But, you know, you had these guys that were homegrown talents, guys like Harrison Bader and Tyler O'Neill, they went and traded for, obviously, but they, he came up through the system after they traded for him. He wasn't a big leaguer at the time. So, you know, guys that, you know, you considered your dudes, right? And they haven't been able to do that. You know, Dylan Carlson, Jack Flaherty, high hopes for those guys.

Starting point is 00:05:34 Alex Reyes, high hopes. Never worked. The struggle continues still. Like if you go to MLB Pipelines, top five guys for the team just back in 2024, Mason Wynn was at the top. He's been outstanding defensively. But, you know, still trying to find his way consistently at the big league level with the bat. Teen Kins was number two.

Starting point is 00:05:54 Can't stay healthy. Still trying to get to the big leagues. To Coal Roby was ascending. But he's out in. right now. Victor Scott's at Memphis again. Thomas C. He's at Memphis again. But for Jordan Walker to finally emerge, as the guy that many predicted he'd be after three rough years bouncing between St. Louis and Memphis, it's been an absolute joy to watch this. A middle of the lineup, bat, thump, speed, just a massive dude in general, right? Is now holding his own perfectly fine

Starting point is 00:06:26 in right field. He's armed with a cannon for an arm. arm. The Cardinals really, really needed that. And it's just turned 24 like a month ago. The hope is that this is still just kind of the tip of the iceberg that we're just starting to see the beginning of what he still can become. And he will continue to ascend. That's the, that's the hope, right? They also have another guy who appears destined for superstardom and J.J. Weatherhole. He's on the right path. Has been as good as any second basement in baseball this year, both offensively and defensively in his rookie year, mind you. Among all second baseman coming into today, the 30th, tied for third in runs, walks, home runs among all second baseman, not in out, all second baseman, tied for seventh and hits

Starting point is 00:07:17 and stolen bases, seventh and ribby, seventh at batting average, fourth in OBP, eighth and slugging, sixth and OPS. Defensively, he's number one. He's first in DRS, defensive runs saved. and first announced above average. The kid is on his way to winning the NL rookie of the year and a gold glove in his rookie season. And personally, I think he should be an all-star. Like, the argument is there that he belongs on the NL All-Star team. Will it happen?

Starting point is 00:07:45 I don't know. I doubt it because he's a rookie, but I think he deserves to be there. And his presence at the top of the lineup has been huge for guys like Herrera and Burleson and Walker behind him. and as he and Walker go, so do the Cardinals offensively. Lately, nobody's been hitting. It's not on anybody's shoulder. Nobody's been hitting.

Starting point is 00:08:05 So I'm not putting blame on anybody there. But because of that, the Ls are adding up a lot more because can't get the offense going. But you do have your two pillars to build around. And you got nice additional guys surrounding him. Both of them, I should say. Yvonne Herrera, been an on-based machine in that number two spot. He's scuffling right now.

Starting point is 00:08:25 Everybody's scuffling. I don't have to go into that, but he's been an on-based machine. And remember, this is just his second full season in the big leagues. His highest games ever played was last year at 107 games. And he's at 81. He's played in every game so far this year. So he's going to blow past that, barring anything catastrophic. Alec Berluson continues to mash in his third full season in the big leagues and the first

Starting point is 00:08:49 one where he actually has a position to call his own. He's been fantastic. pitching wise you've seen Dustin May stay healthy flirt with a couple of no hitters he's been able to boost his stock michael mcgrie has become a reliable starter now that he finally got a spot in the rotation andre polante much improved dramatically improved from last year calahey much better recently we hope that he continues down that path bullpen arms like george sorriano gordon grecifo young guys even though he's not young, Raleigh O'Brien has turned into a viable closer. I know he makes us all have some issues from time to time in his games.

Starting point is 00:09:32 But, I mean, 20 saves here in the first half of the season. I mean, it's not an easy job. I know we expect him to mow everybody down, one, two, three. It ain't that easy. Or everybody would have somebody like him. So there are reasons to be excited for sure. But not everything has been sunshine and rainbows. It hasn't. Now we've got to go take a look at the not so good side of the first half.

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Starting point is 00:11:06 about Germany and Paraguay soccer but there I was watching it like oh my gosh this is crazy stuff and we've all seen those matches where it's scoreless for what feels like forever and then one goal one call flips the whole game and the crowd comes alive and it's very very exciting and now we get the benefit from each goal scored. Now, the U.S. is going to take on Bosnia on Wednesday night in Santa Clara, California. They're favored by one and a half. Can they avoid the upset in the knockout round? Will they play better than they did in their last time out on the pitch? We will find out from the opening whistle to the final kick. Let there be goals on Fandle. Visit fandle.com to get started now. Thanks for making a lockdown cardinals first listen of the day.

Starting point is 00:11:54 Thank you for making a lockdown on the number one sports podcast network. Get your daily cardinals coverage completely ad free by joining our everyday or club. start your seven-day free trial right now. Get closer to the team without those interruptions. All you have to do is click this link in the show notes or go to lockdown SEO, cardels.supercast.com to claim that seven-day free trial. All right, so it has been all great.

Starting point is 00:12:15 The Cardinals' first half is positive as it's been. Hasn't been void of its issues. The team gave some guys a longer leash to see what they have moving forward. So when this CBA thing gets figured out, whenever it gets figured out, hopefully sooner rather than later, they would know which areas they would need to focus on when it comes to free agent contracts.

Starting point is 00:12:36 At least that's what I'm telling myself. There's no guarantees that going to go sign anybody. But my heart tells me that when they get it all figured out that they are going to spend money again. It just, you know, why go spend money when the CBA can change everything? That's the least the way I'm looking at it. And all you got to do, really, is look at Memphis. Go look at their roster right now.

Starting point is 00:12:56 And you can tell where the disappointment. has happened. Where were the major issues after the first half of the season? Nolan Gorman, he is the poster boy for a guy that was expected to do more, has not lived up to his end of the bargain. Is it because of lack of effort? I don't think so. I think we've heard Ali and the boys talk highly about everybody's ability to work on whatever it is they need to work on.

Starting point is 00:13:27 sometimes you just don't have the talent. Sometimes that's just the thing. Like I can sit there in a batting cage right now and take batting practice for two hours a day. Does that mean I'm going to be a major league player because of that? No. Sometimes the talent's just not there. Now we thought Nolan Gorman had the talent.

Starting point is 00:13:44 We saw it on display just a few years ago. We saw him mash in the minor leagues. And they thought that they had somebody there. They moved him to second base so they could get him in the lineup more. He went back to third after they traded Aeronado in hopes that he would find that comfort spot and get back to hitting the way he was in 2023 when he burst onto the scene and almost hit 30 home runs. And it just hasn't happened. Blaise Jordan has taken his job, at least for now. I don't know how long it'll be, but he's been very productive in a short period of time, something that Nolan Gorman wasn't doing.

Starting point is 00:14:22 He was almost an automatic strikeout every time he came to the plate and you just couldn't watch it anymore. We're still waiting on Blaze Jordan to kind of unleash the power, manifest that a little more, but I think we're overall been pretty pleased with what Blaze Jordan has brought this team offensively and defensively. Gorman so far at Memphis, three for 18, two home runs, nine strikeouts. He has struck out half the time. That it can't happen. It just can't.

Starting point is 00:14:56 And that's what he's working on it. He's down there working on it. So will we ever see Nolan Gorman up in the big leagues as a member of the Cardinals again? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe at the end of this season. Maybe he gets called up again. We'll see. We'll see.

Starting point is 00:15:10 It depends on how injuries and stuff go. Victor Scott the second, somebody that I think we all think is a very exciting talent was given the center field job. He's got speed. He's got the glove. But you've got to get on base to use that speed. to steal bases, to cause havoc. And his inability to hit anything but fastballs was an issue. It has been an issue for two years.

Starting point is 00:15:37 Same thing with Gorman. They can't hit breaking balls or off speed pitches. They just don't recognize it and they aren't hitting it. Nathan Church has now taken his job. Nathan Church has shown the ability to be a better weapon offensively. We've seen what he can do defensively. and he's holding down center field just fine. Victor Scott since being sit down.

Starting point is 00:16:02 214 batting average, 17 strikeouts and 56 at bats. Not nearly good enough. Not even in the same vicinity as good enough. Will we see him back up? I don't know. Thomas and Jacey. Another guy that was expected to be kind of like that ultimate utility dude wasn't guaranteed everyday playing time,

Starting point is 00:16:22 but they wanted to find him spots. They wanted him to be able to play second. short, third, left, center, wherever they could plug him in at. They believed in his talent. And he never got anything going in his limited playing time and eventually lost his job to Jose Fermin, who's been fantastic in that role. Thomas and Jayce has lost his job. Will we see him in the big leagues again with us?

Starting point is 00:16:47 I don't know. He's batting 211 and 57 at Bats with Memphis. That is not going to get it done. All three of them. these guys. Like what they're doing in Memphis is not going to get them anywhere close to getting back to Bush Stadium. Like they're becoming AAA guys for now. The other guy that is still in the big leagues that continues to be a disappointment. And we've talked a lot about him recently is Matthew Libertory. A lot of regression going on with Matt. Three and five on the year, ERA pushing six.

Starting point is 00:17:25 This was your opening day started. That's what the Cardinals thought of him. the guy who was supposed to be leading this pitching staff, not getting left behind by them. And in my opinion, Matthew Libertor is the biggest disappointment of anybody for the Cardinals this year. More than Gorman, because my expectations were higher for Libby. And outside of a couple of games this year, he's been a total bust. Go look at any statistic and he's terrible. And it sucks. It really sucks.

Starting point is 00:18:01 that he has not been able to fulfill all the potential that teams saw in him when he was drafted in the first round, that the Cardinals saw when they traded for him. Again, I am more than happy to see him go to the bullpen and become really useful there because he was last year before, or not last year, but the previous year before they decided to turn him into a starter. And I don't blame him for doing that at all because if you can turn that guy into a starter, what they're doing with Kyle Leahy. If you can turn a reliever into a starter, like, that's huge because it's not easy to find starting pitching. Bulp and guys, they kind of come and go.

Starting point is 00:18:43 But you got to find a spot that Libby is at least productive then. And as a starter, it's not working. And I don't know how long that leash is going to be because there are guys behind him that are kind of deserving of a shot at a spot in the rotation right now. other bullpen arms. Matt Fonson, disappointment, although he's been much better recently, 2.3-1 ERA over his last 10 appearances. All four runs that he's given up in his last 10 appearances

Starting point is 00:19:11 came against him in one game. So for the most part, he's been all right. So hopefully he's getting back on to what we thought he was going to be, but he was supposed to be one of those late inning guys that they were going to trust. You know, and when that guy falls, people have to step up in the order, and now you're seeing George Soriano stepping up.

Starting point is 00:19:31 You're seeing like Ryan Stannock have to take on a bigger role than I think they wanted for him. Matt Pushart did not work as a Rule 5 pick. Got hurt. Chris Roycroft did not work for three seasons. Ryan Stannock, Justin Bruill, they've had their ups and downs, which is what happens with bullpins.

Starting point is 00:19:49 These aren't premium bullpen arms. So that was kind of to be expected. This is why spending on bullpen arms is very true. very volatile spot from year to year. Catching wise, Yvonne Herrera still has not thrown out a runner attempting to steal this year. And I know he hasn't caught a ton since, you know, he first got called up in 2024, but this year he's nobody and he hasn't thrown out of guys since 2024. Pedro Paez got demoted on the depth chart because of his offensive shortcomings.

Starting point is 00:20:19 But Jimmy Crooks, who they thought would be the answer, has got to prove he can hit in the big leagues. small sample size. I'm not throwing Jimmy Crooks aside by any means, but in 103 plate appearances, Jimmy Crooks has an OPS plus of 29 at the big league level. And this is his second stint in the big leagues, and he looks like the same guy that he was the first time he got called up last year when he was a rookie. So still waiting. Still waiting on you, Jimmy. These next 14 games are going to be huge. You're going to be tested against the Braves, the Cubs, the Brewers. And if you come out with a five, 500 better record against them, then I'll deem them a contender.

Starting point is 00:20:58 But if you can't, then I think it's pretty easy to see that the path for Hime Bloom will be selling assets. And they're going to go to the highest bidder and letting more of the youth like Joshua Baez offensively. And particularly on the pitching side, because offensively, I feel like the pieces are kind of there. Like you're not going to move on from church or Walker or Burley or JJ or Mason, uh, Blaze.

Starting point is 00:21:22 You're not moving on. from those guys. Like you're, they're going to be your dudes. Lars Newport could get traded and that would open up the spot for Joshua Baez in left field. But pitching wise, you know, I, I'm kind of, I kind of want to see somebody else. I want to see Hunter Dobbins again and Quinn Matthews and Bryson Mott's and Luis Gastilum. I want to see them get their shot in the show. And if they trade guys away like like, like Newt, that would open up the Baez part. But if they trade guys away like Riley O'Brien or Jojo Romero or Ryan Stanick, any of these guys that are in the pin right now,

Starting point is 00:21:56 if they move on from them, that opens up more doors for other people. So I'm kind of excited to see the young guys take that next step. But if they do well over these next 14 games going into the All-Star break, I mean, you kind of got to reward them by trying to put some other pieces in there with those guys. And maybe Heim can pull off the trade but add at the same time type of maneuvers. We'll see. We'll see. Power rankings coming up next. Preview of the series against Atlanta. We'll get into all of that coming up on Lockdown Cardinals. Thank you again for making Lockdown, Carlos, your first listen of the day.

Starting point is 00:22:43 Thank you for making Lockdown on the number one sports podcast network. Latestim will be rankings, power rankings, I should say, have the Cardinals slipping from 9 to 12. And that's about right. That's with good reason. They keep losing. It's two of three to the twins, Royals, D-backs, Marlins. Yeah, you're supposed to fall when you're doing that. The ride up on them has them saying last year on June 30, if the Cardinals were 47 and 39, right in the thick of the wildcard chase,

Starting point is 00:23:11 then it all came crumbling, and they immediately started trading players away before the deadline. Is that happening again this year? A miserable week in which the hitting has fallen apart, they scored three total runs against the Marlins at home this weekend. As the pitching has faded, certainly raises some potentially urgent and uncomfortable questions. I disagree.

Starting point is 00:23:30 I don't find them uncomfortable at all. this whole season, the expectation was that you were trying to improve for the future, not 2026. Now, if you prove you can play with the big boys, as I mentioned, you prove you can play with three of the top four teams in the national league. You come away with a 500 or better record against the Braves, the Brewers, the Cubs. And we can talk about, all right, well, what can we do? What can we add here without, you know, blowing up what we think the future is going to be for this team, which they're not going to do.

Starting point is 00:24:06 There's not going to be some major trade that takes place where, you know, one of our big catchers and Joshua Baez get moved for like some massive. It's not going to happen. All right. That's not what this is about. But if they if they don't do well over these next 14 games, then it's business as usual with the rebuild continuing like it was. meant to from the get-go. So I don't find it uncomfortable at all. All you got to do is look at the standings. You're in the third wildcard spot right now, but you're coming up against a really tough portion of the schedule. And if you find that you were not capable to play with those guys,

Starting point is 00:24:46 then why would you continue wishing that you were a better team than you are? It's okay. It's okay. Just be realistic with yourself. To work. when you need the offense to wake up from this slumber that they're in right now. You need the pitching to avoid the big innings, which continues to be the downfall. In this Brave series, like, we're going to start with Matthew Libertory. Again, two or three good innings, and then he implodes. It's a lefty matchup tonight. Libby versus Martine Perez, not a big strikeout guy in Perez, has won three or four starts in June over the Pirates, the Mets of the Brewers.

Starting point is 00:25:28 He's got an ERA of three this year. he doesn't get hit around very often. Runs will be at a premium. You've got to figure out a way to get this offense going. You can't just rely on waiting for that big two run, three run, home run. I want to see something different. I want to see more bunting, more moving runners over. I want to see something else.

Starting point is 00:25:47 Get back to the little things, the simple things, the basics. Because the slugging is not there right now. We're not getting extra base hits. We're not getting home runs. All right. How else can you score runs? You got to figure that out. and this is a guy who doesn't give up a lot of runs in the first place.

Starting point is 00:26:02 And if Libby gives up four or five in an inning, it's probably over anyway. So keep that in mind. Wednesday, Michael McGreevy against Raynaldo Lopez. He is not a normal starter for Atlanta. He's like one of those relievers that's going to make the start, which I don't know why they don't just do that with Libertor. Like, why can't he just go three innings and go, all right, have it planned. Somebody else is coming in right after that.

Starting point is 00:26:26 why do we leave him in for four and five where we know he's going to get pummeled eventually? So I don't know, Braves doing it. Seems to work out. But that'll be the matchup on Wednesday. Thursday, Dustin May I'll be back on the mound after getting his last start skipped as he was dealing with some back tightness. I think that's what it was. Braves are TBD for now. I think it was Bryce Elder was the guy that was supposed to be on schedule, but he's had a rough go recently.

Starting point is 00:26:55 but Braves are 9 and 13 in June, a far cry from their 40 and 20 start. So they've lost two in a row. They've lost seven of their last 10, just like the Cardinals. They're struggling as well. This is a good time to be playing them. There are a much better home team than a way team,

Starting point is 00:27:09 but Cardinals have been a really good away team. So we'll see how it goes. See how it goes. Then it's off to Wrigley where I hate it. I hate that the Cubs are hot again right before the Cardinals get there. They just walked off the Padres last night against me. Miller, major league leading 10th walkoff of the year. They love playing at home at Wrigley Field.

Starting point is 00:27:30 The places, it's like a rock concert every single time. The Cubs have now won three in a row, eight of their last 10. They are surging, and the Cardinals are showing up on a holiday weekend where the place is going to be packed as usual. And personally, I'm just hoping they don't get embarrassed. I really am. I don't think my heart and stomach can take getting swept in an embarrassing way at Riggily. I don't want the Cubs to be the final nails in the coffin of the 2026 season.

Starting point is 00:27:58 I really don't. I would rather it be somewhere else if it's going to happen. Yeah, it's going to be a rough going, Wrigley. It's going to be rough. So what are these kids made of, you know, what do we have been saying all year? Hey, they get down, they fight back. Are they able to fight back after what's been a rough couple of weeks? Are they able to turn this thing around against some of the best in the business. We're going to find out. Thanks for making Locktown Cardinals. First listen every day.

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Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - The IMPACT of Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt! Enough For A St. Louis Cardinals PLAYOFF PUSH?

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