Controversial Showings by the Cardinals Dictate the Essence of their Current Campaign
The 2025 St. Louis Cardinals Fanbase: A divided front ahead of the season
The St. Louis Cardinals fanbase hasn't seen eye to eye for a while now. The upcoming season, however, has raised questions that might just bring some clarity to the table.
Some fans still harbor high hopes for the organization, expecting nothing less than a playoff contender this year. Others are silently wishing for the team to falter, validating their growing frustrations. The majority, probably, fall somewhere in between.
Yet, it seems most fans can find common ground in one of the sentiments the organization put forward this offseason—establishing conviction in the core players and identifying those who may need to be replaced or moved.
Halfway through June, the answers are starting to surface. The remainder of the season, whether they compete for a postseason spot or not, should serve to reveal these truths to both the organization and the fanbase.
The unpredictable nature of the Cardinals team: A mirror of the 2025 season
Who would have thought just a few short weeks ago that the Cardinals team could feel both exhilarating and frustrating within the span of days? They were heating up, posting impressive records, and threatening to hit .500. But then, suddenly, everything seemed to unravel.
Brendan Donovan was showing All-Star caliber play. Lars Nootbaar was an on-base machine. Masyn Winn was excelling in the two-hole. Willson Contreras and Ivan Herrera were powering through like seasoned middle-of-the-order bats. Alec Burleson and Victor Scott II were excelling as everyday players. And Jordan Walker was, at last, swinging a hot bat. The starting pitching was an asset, not a liability, and the bullpen was finally stabilizing. They even boasted the best defense in baseball.
Fast-forward to a six-game losing streak, and everything seems different. Wins aren't coming as frequently as they used to. The pitching staff seems to have slipped. The defense is leaking runs instead of saving them. The offense as a whole has taken a step back. and Nootbaar seems to have fallen off a cliff offensively.
The wild rollercoaster of this Cardinals team is an apt reflection of the 2025 season. Players' individual performances and the collective team's performance will offer insights into the truths the organization seeks.
Let's take Donovan and Nootbaar, for instance. If the season ended today, most would likely agree that Donovan is a cornerstone player for the team moving forward. Not only is he well on his way to All-Star status this year (and leading the league in batting average, on-base percentage, and fWAR), but he's also one of the most versatile players in the game and a clear leader on this Cardinals team.
Nootbaar, on the other hand, is a player the Cardinals lack a clear opinion on. Just two years removed from free agency, they might be open to letting go of him to prioritize fresh talent. I'm not saying Nootbaar is a goner (or that he should be), but if things don't turn around for the rest of the year, I can certainly see that as a possibility.
But hey, the 2025 season has a long way to go, and there's plenty of time left for Donovan, Nootbaar, Walker, Gorman, Herrera, Scott, Winn, and others to make their mark or change their standing with the organization.
Unfortunately, the organization seems to be hindering its evaluation process in some ways. If they believe Herrera has a future at catcher, they aren't giving him the reps he needs to prove it. If they don't see him in that role anymore, then they need to figure out if he is their full-time designated hitter beyond 2025 or if he can play another position.
If Herrera needs a new position, then that cramps the opportunities available for other players, making them expendable. For example, suppose Nootbaar recovers and plays exceptionally down the stretch. The Cardinals might decide to give Herrera the left field job long term and use Nootbaar as a trade asset. Or the same conversation could happen with Walker.
Perhaps a playoff contender makes a move for Nolan Arenado. What about JJ Wetherholt or Leonardo Bernal claiming the catching job in the second half of the season? Maybe Jimmy Crooks emerges as a viable contender.
The Cardinals will eventually have to trust their young pitchers, right? Will they throw Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews, and even Tekoah Roby into the mix?
For a fanbase divided, the performance of individual players and their cementing as core or not is the far more compelling storyline the rest of the year. Not because I've given up hope for the team's performance, but because their individual performances have far-reaching significance beyond the season's wins and losses.
Ambiguous Performance Trends and Their Implications- Early in the season, the Cardinals showed great promise. Several young core players were performing at All-Star or near All-Star levels. Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras, and Ivan Herrera, among others, were delivering solid performances. The pitching staff also looked promising, even promising enough to lead the team to a high winning percentage.
- Lately, the Cardinals have struggled. Their pitching and defense have slipped, their offense has taken a hit, with Nootbaar's offensive production taking a significant dive. Despite this, the team's offense remains solid, albeit less extraordinary, and young players like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker have shown flashes of potential.
- The team's rotation boasts promising young talent, with Matthew Liberatore, Quinn Mathews, Michael McGreevy, and Tekoah Roby poised to contribute in the second half of the season.
- The inconsistency of performance, especially from star hitters and the pitching staff, is forcing the Cardinals' front office to weigh their commitment to the young core against the need for performance stabilization. Performance slumps, especially among players with less established track records like Nootbaar, are raising questions about their long-term prospects on the team.
- Some players, like Donovan, Winn, Herrera, and Contreras, seem to have already carved out a place in the long-term core due to strong performances. But, other players are facing increased scrutiny and could be deemed expendable if things don't improve. This uncertainty has necessitated a careful evaluation of each player's role in the team's future.
Ultimately, the Cardinals are walking the fine line between nurturing their young talent and making the tough decisions necessary to streamline the roster for sustained success. The 2025 season promises to be a doozy, filled with captivating performances and nail-biting decisions. Here's to a season that may support their faith in the team or reshape their opinions Post haste.
The Cardinals' slumping baseball performance, particularly Lars Nootbaar's offensive decline, echoes the unpredictable nature of the 2025 season. If Nootbaar's performance doesn't improve for the rest of the year, questions about his long-term future with the team may arise. In contrast, Brendan Donovan continues to deliver All-Star level play, solidifying his status as a cornerstone player for the team. The organization's decision to commit to its young talent or make tough roster decisions will be influenced by the players' performance trends throughout the season.
