The New Cardinal Way | For the Lou

[ShireNiner]

Swept by Philly and swept Houston. What a weird set of series.

Yes it was. Houston has been struggling to start the season but Phillies pitching was unreal.

[redsox907]

When we pitch great, we can't hit. When we hit, our pitching sucks. Hard to get them all on the same page. Hence should be 2-0 with the way he's pitching.

tis the nature of re-learning The Show

I'd say should be able to get some wins against Mets and D-Backs, but they both have good pitching staffs

[ShireNiner]

When we pitch great, we can't hit. When we hit, our pitching sucks. Hard to get them all on the same page. Hence should be 2-0 with the way he's pitching.

tis the nature of re-learning The Show

I'd say should be able to get some wins against Mets and D-Backs, but they both have good pitching staffs

It is embarrassing at times when I’m swinging at pitches above my head. But I’m getting back into it and starting to take more pitches.

[ShireNiner]

Another split road trip as Cardinals struggle to gain momentum early in the season, stay in third of the NL Central


Wilson Contreras celebrates his double giving the Cardinals the lead/ShireNiner PS5 Images

By: Tim O’Rourke
April 24, 2025 | MLB

ATLANTA — A pattern is forming for St. Louis this season and it is not one that Yadier Molina or Cardinal fans want to see continue. The Cardinals ended another two series set staying around the .500 mark for the season, not able to complete the sweep or put wins together.

“It has been a grind.” shortstop Masyn Winn said after Wednesday’s win in Atlanta. “We have great games in a row but the results are not the way we want. It’s a long season though so nobody is worried yet.”

The Cardinals traveled to New York, dropping 3 of 4 to the Mets after winning game 1 7-1. Michael McGreevy and Tink Hence continue to put up good numbers but end up with losses, both pitchers now with losing records this season despite ERA’s being under 3.00.

“Stay focused and keep pitching. I’m not worried about individual wins or losses. Keep runners off base and put my team in a position to win. That is all I’m thinking about.” Ace McGreevy said after allowing two runs in a 2-1 defeat to the Mets.

The trip to Atlanta that followed was more fruitful, two wins out of three with the final win coming in extra innings to give the Cardinals a happy flight back. Trailing 8-7 in the 8th, Wilson Contreras singled to make it 8-8, Atlanta scored in the bottom half to go ahead 9-8 before Victor Scott hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th to force extra innings. In the 10th, it was Contreras again, with a runner on second and one out, Contreras doubled to the right field gap to give the Cardinals a 10-9 win.

“These are wins we can build on.” Molina said of his team. “Early in the season, any spark like that can boost us into a winning streak.”

Box Scores
| 7 | 12 | 1 | W: Fitts (2-1) 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 6 SO
| 1 | 8 | 0 | L: Holmes (1-1) 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB

Notable: Lazaro Montes (STL): 3-4, 2B, RBI, R
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| 1 | 6 | 0 | L: Pallante (2-2) 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R
| 4 | 9 | 0 | W: Sproat (2-0) 6 IP, 4 H, 2 SO

STL HR: Gorman
Notable: Nick Raquet (STL): 2 IP, 6 SO, 0 H in relief
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| 1 | 5 | 0 | L: McGreevy (1-2) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 SO
| 2 | 7 | 1 | W: McLean (3-1) 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 SO | S: Diaz (6)

STL HR: Donovan
Notable: Nolan Gorman (STL): 0-4. 3 SO
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| 1 | 7 | 1 | L: Hence (1-3) 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER
| 4 14| 0 | W: Senga (2-0) 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 10 SO | S: Diaz (7)

NYM HR: Baty, Mullins
Notable: Brett Baty (NYM): 3-4, 2B, HR, St. Louis rejected trade for Baty in Arenado deal earlier this season
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| 7 | 8 | 1 | W: Liberatore (3-1) 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R
| 1| 5 | 0 | L: Lopez (1-2) 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB

STL HR: Herrera, Contreras
ATL HR: Riley
Notable: Liberatore gave up lead off single in 9th before being pulled, missed chance at complete game
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| 0 | 2 | 0 | L: Fitts (2-2) 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB
| 7| 9 | 1 | W: Waldrep (5-0) 8 IP, 1 H, 6 SO

ATL HR: Olson
Notable: Braves stole 4 bases, Eli White (2), Ronald Acuna Jr (2)
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| 10 | 14 | 0 | W: Granillo (2-1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO | S: Romero (5)
| 9 | 15 | 0 | L: Iglesias (2-2) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R | BS: Jimenez (2)

STL HR: Scott II, Saggese
Notable: Scott II tying homerun in 9th, Contreras winning double in the 10th
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NL Central Standings
(19-7)
(15-10, 3.5 GB)
(13-12, 5.5 GB)
(13-13, 6.0 B)
(13-13, 6.0 GB)

Cardinals Transactions
Placed LF Lars Nootbar on injured list
Promoted RF Lazaro Montes fromTriple-A Memphis

Upcoming
(13-13)
Notables: Quinn Priester (3-1, 33.1 IP 23 SO, 1.23 ERA)
Jackson Chourio - .277 avg, 2 HR, 3 steals
Christian Yelich - .232 avg, 7 HR
Rhys Hoskins - 6 HR

@ (15-10)
Notables: Zack Littell (5-0, 36 IP, 15 SO, 1.25 ERA)
Miguel Andujar - .339 avg, 6 HR, 21 RBI
Austin Hays - .230 avg, 5 HR, 13 RBI
Rece Hinds - .378 avg, 2 HR, 4 SB



Tim O’Rourkeis a senior writer for ShireNiner Nation covering the St. Louis Cardinals. He previously covered a variety of sports and events for the St.Louis Post-Dispatch. He is based in St. Louis, MO. Tim does not have social media.

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Comments

[ShireNiner]

What Should St. Louis Do With Nolan Gorman? A Power Bat Searching for Stability


Nolan Gorman is thrown out after a dropped third stike/ShireNiner PS5 Images

By: Sofia Morales
April 25, 2025 | MLB

Nolan Gorman has always been a riddle the Cardinals have tried to solve: a left-handed thunderbolt of a bat with the potential to change games in a single swing — and the swing-and-miss tendencies that can evaporate that value just as quickly. Through his first 79 at-bats of the season, the contrast has never been sharper.

Gorman is hitting .203/.241/.430 with 5 home runs, 9 RBI, and 16 hits, while posting a 28.9% strikeout rate (24 K) and -0.1 WAR. He leads the team in homers but is last in batting average and owns the most strikeouts on the roster. He is, in every sense, the Cardinals’ most polarizing offensive player.

The case for patience

The power is real, and it’s not going anywhere. A .430 slugging percentage despite a .203 average shows just how efficiently Gorman converts contact into damage. Even when he’s off-balance or behind, the ball still jumps. Opposing pitchers still treat him like a middle-of-the-order threat.

He’s also just 24. His approach has improved incrementally each season, even if the box scores don’t fully reflect it yet. The Cardinals have invested years into developing Gorman’s bat speed and swing decisions — abandoning that now would be premature, especially on a team that has lacked consistent power threats.

The Case for Urgency

St. Louis is also not in a position to carry dead weight. A sub-.250 OBP and nearly 30% strikeout rate aren’t sustainable for an everyday player on a team trying to claw back into contention. When Gorman isn’t homering, he is too often a nonfactor, and the Cardinals’ bottom-third have repeatedly stalled because of it.

He can be seen as someone taking valuable at-bats and innings away from more promising players like Thomas Saggesse and JJ Wetherholt.

So What Should the Cardinals Do?

On NL executive said they could see St. Louis trading Gorman for pitching and teams would be interested. His power numbers show a player that teams fighting for October would be interested in. He can be a DH, come off the bench and provide a big hit, just as likely as he is to strike out. A chance many clubs would be willing to take.

Another exec from the NL Central said he hopes Gorman stays. As long as Gorman is in the lineup, guys like Brandon Donovan, Saggesse and Wetherholt will lose opportunities and slow down the Cardinals rebuild.

From the Cardinals office, nobody is talking trade yet. Everyone inside the clubhouse has faith in Gorman and wants to give him every chance to succeed.

Gorman’s season — and possibly his future in St. Louis — hinges on whether he can blend power with enough contact to avoid long slumps. Right now, he is a paradox: an essential source of homers and a major anchor on the lineup’s efficiency.

The Cardinals don’t need him to hit .300. They need him to hit the ball a little more often.

Until that happens, St. Louis is stuck balancing potential with production — and deciding whether Nolan Gorman remains a centerpiece of their future or a valuable trade chip for the present.



Sofia Morales is a senior writer for ShireNiner Nation covering the MLB. She previously covered college softball and baseball for ESPN. She is based in Washington DC. Follow Sofia on Twitter @SofiasFake.

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Comments

[Captain Canada]

That NL Central is real tight. Gotta avoid the basement somehow. Time to string a couple of W's together.

[ShireNiner]

That NL Central is real tight. Gotta avoid the basement somehow. Time to string a couple of W's together.

luckily Pirates will keep dropping so we wont be last. Reds pitching is surprisingly really good.

[James]

I'd get rid of Gorman. He just is mediocre for me.

[ShireNiner]

I'd get rid of Gorman. He just is mediocre for me.

I'm going to. Just waiting a little longer into the season to see what teams emerge as trade targets—probably trading Contreras to a contender soon, too.

[redsox907]

TRADE EM ALL

then go full Dodgers and sign every international FA