Jordan Walker “will play every day” down the stretch for the Cardinals, manager Oliver Marmol told The Athletic’s Katie Woo and other reporters yesterday after St. Louis recalled the top prospect from Triple-A Memphis. After debuting with a solid rookie season in 2023, Walker has hit only .151/.229/.233 over 83 plate appearances at the MLB level this season, and the Cardinals have kept him at Triple-A for much of the season. While his production in Memphis this year was only decent, the Cards have seen enough to bring Walker back for an extended stretch of playing time that will ideally set the table for Walker to stick as a lineup regular in 2025 and beyond.
Some space in the Cardinals’ outfield was cleared for Walker when Tommy Pham was designated for assignment, a day after the team first put Pham on irrevocable waivers. Woo writes that Pham welcomed the news and had even discussed such a move with the Cards, as he’ll now have a chance at more regular playing time on another team. If he joins another club before Sunday, Pham will also be eligible for that new club’s postseason roster.
More from the NL Central…
- Reds manager David Bell updated MLB.com and other media on the status of a pair of injured starters, as Hunter Greene has started playing catch and Andrew Abbott is expected to start a throwing program next week. Greene hasn’t pitched since August 13 due to right elbow inflammation and there were concerns last week that his season could be over, but Bell indicated that Greene is aiming to return before the year is out. Abbott is also planning to pitch again in 2024, even though Bell said the left-hander is still feeling “a pinch” in his bothersome shoulder. Abbott has been sidelined since August 20 due to a shoulder strain. Since Cincinnati has fallen out of the playoff race, it stands to reason that either or both Greene or Abbott could be shut down at the first hint of a setback, but naturally both pitchers would prefer to keep playing and try to finish on a high note.
- Andrew McCutchen was activated from the Pirates’ 10-day injured list yesterday, as the franchise icon returned after missing two weeks due to left knee inflammation. The franchise icon went 2-for-5 with a home run in Pittsburgh’s 10-8 loss to the Guardians, and McCutchen is now hitting .238/.337/.415 with 17 homers over 442 plate appearances in his 16th Major League season. In the corresponding move to activate McCutchen, Pittsburgh placed right-hander Ben Heller on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his right shoulder.
The Cardinals are a clown show. And I say that as a Cardinals fan.
don’t forget that they also released Robertson, who seemed ok, because they needed a spot on the 40 man roster, before they released Armstrong.. And they acquired Robertson when the dumped O’Neill to make room for guys like Carlson.
It has become a clown show.
you aint seen a real clown show until you’ve been a Pirate fan watching Barnum and Nutting’s 3 ring variety for almost 20 years
As a Brewers fan it’s tough to watch all the great pitchers cycle through Pittsburgh only to wind up playing for the teams that can surround them with talent. Almost maddening…
Everyone should have sympathy for Pirates fans. The Pirates have had no World Series since 1979. Think about that. That was way back when there were no cell phones, no internet, and when Jimmy Carter was President.
Newbucoprojectory
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You have TDS. Seek treatment.
Completely oblivious to a hint of sarcasm, which explains a lot.
You mentioned politics first.
What’s your obsession with flushing toilets?
Did you just call me “baby boy”?
1. A little creepy. Especially since your username is a reference to another mans …..
2. Assuming my gender goes against your regimes bible.
You’re embarrassing yourself. This is next level Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Bold forecast….Carlson will be the starting LF for the Rays next season. He has some nice skills.
I see your LF and raise you a CF
“Clown show”…Take a deep breath my friend. The Cards have definitely hit a few speed bumps lately in the fog, but “clown show” is overly harsh and the Cardinals have still been one of the more consistent teams in the last 20+ years.
They clearly need some changes and upgrades, but that applies to 75% of the teams in MLB most years. And I say this as one not particularly fond or enamored of the St. Louis Cardinals, but a huge fan of MLB.
So you just observe games without having a strong feeling of who you want to win?
“Without having a strong feeling of who you want to win”…Definitely. My rooting interests change almost every yr. I watch the Yankees(and Mets) almost everyday just hoping they will lose. I never really had a favorite team growing up, because my family moved every 3 yrs due to military obligations.
And then I joined the military myself and moved again every 3-4 yrs for quite a long time. As a West coast guy, I’ve always been a sap(sentimental)and always hope EVERY team thrives and succeeds. Except the Yankees and sometimes Mets too.
We all hate the Yankees and Mets. Even the Yankees and Mets fans do most of the time.
I’ve never, ever rooted for the Yankees, but there was that one year I fell in love and rooted for the Mets. This was the year(’15) of Degrom, “Thor” and the “Dark Knight” “super rotation” and I couldn’t help myself.
mlb fan;
The trajectory is down, and has been for a while. It’s not the W-L record. They have a lot of money for salaries as the fans support the team so they can buy some sort of respectability. But the moves they’ve made are unlike the St. Louis Cardinals over the years….
They aren’t developing many position players out of the minors, and next to no decent pitchers. They don’t play fundamental baseball.
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They released a manager a few years ago that spent his life learning and implementing ‘The Cardinals Way’ because of “Philosophical Differences’ and a hint of ‘Toxic’ – this from public statements from the Cardinals. Recently they gave a 3 year extension to the current manager, that is best regarded as a puppet and a lightweight.
I went back and looked at news reports from the Schildt firing:
“Shildt’s first three calls and messages were from Cardinals’ veterans Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, and Adam Wainwright. Fellow managers immediately reached out, and five months later, still are paying homage. Los Angeles Angels Joe Maddon called him over last week to hug him. Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona shook his hand and told him that he’d be back. Three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy had dinner with him in Nashville, Tennessee. Former Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little reminded him that the landscape is filled with managerial greats who have been fired.
And, just a few days ago, there was an impromptu meeting behind home plate with Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa. (Who had led the Cardinals to Championships.)
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mlb fan;
I’m older. In many ways the Schildt firing reminded me of when Manager Davey Johnson resigned from the Orioles after the 1997 season, after too many years of owner Peter G. Angelos interference. The O’s didn’t suddenly collapse. It was a slow process. After making the playoffs in 1997 it was 15 years before they got back. 3 of the following 5 years after that they made the playoffs, but fell out again when they started a 6 year rebuild to get where they are today – a true contender.
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Note that as the Cardinals quality veterans retire and/or leave, no one of worth is repleading them.
The signs are there. The trajectory is obvious.
Cardinals fans are rooting for the Padres.
Go Padres!
Have you watched any games this year or last? Dylan Carlson sucks. His defense even looked worse this year.
Had the Cardinals not made the trade for Carlson for Armstrong, the Cardinals likely would have gotten nothing for Carlson anyway because they probably would have non-tendered him after the season.
He may have been gone before the end of the season.
But they gave up 2.5 years of Carlson for 3 weeks of Shawn Armstrong!
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A lot of this is fallout from their insistence on holding onto Arenado & Golder last year. Had they traded them, their lineup would be:
C-Contreras
1B-Walker
2B-Edman
SS-Winn
3B-Gorman
OF/DH-O’Neill, Carlson, Donavan, and Burleson
Had they eaten a ton of money on Goldie & Arenado, they’d have gotten decent prospects back. Next April, they will still be completely unsettled.
The Cardinals are a three ring Circus for sure ,MO, Marmol and our statistician coaches (who never played pro ball ), lets not forget the ring leader Dewitt.
The Cardinals have done some tweaking with Walker’s swing again. Despite all of his success with his usual batting stance before he ever reached the majors, they will now have him swing with the barrel and hit with the knob.
Geez for the love just trade him if you won’t just let the guy do his thing
Even if for the sake of argument we accept that the changes are needed for him to have sustained succcess, why didn’t they work on these changes earlier, in the low minors?
He wasn’t there long enough, and he always hit everywhere he was. They should have never brought him up last year and kept him in AAA where he would see better off-speed stuff, which is one of the areas he’s had problems with.
mike q.1 day ago
why didn’t they work on these changes earlier, in the low minors?
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They did Mike, they demoted him for 6 games. Surely that is long enough to change a lifetime of bad habits.
Is Andy Haines your hitting coach too
Paul-No He is not.Legally they can work for only one team at a time.
But next year he will be.Haines has a contract with MLB that he has to serve with every team in the NL Central Division.
Mendoza line: Believe me, Haines has never “worked” in Pittsburgh, and when he and Shelton are fired on September 30, neither one should ever be in a major league dugout again.
I’m sure they’re wondering why attending is trending down too.
Attendance*
I was very surprised at the available seats during the recent Padre series… the Busch was almost hairless.
Featherless
Fans want to cheer for a winner. How many teams with a worse record have more fans in the stands?
The Cardinals very well might be the toughest place in MLB for a young player to break in. Seemingly, they are very reluctant to move on from old stars and fan favorites and rarely cut them loose to open up some opportunity for the young players.
Arenado and Goldschmidt aren’t producing like they once did, but like you said, I’m not sure the Cardinals front office is going to move on from them anytime soon.
I can already hear Mozeilak after the extension is announced in the off-season “Goldy hit 20 home runs last year, and we still think he has a lot of good baseball in him”
Unless your name is Tommy Pham
The irony is when Pham was a Cardinal years ago he was looked past and not given opportunities so that lesser players could play in front of him. Then they go get him at the trade deadline and do the same thing to him. Again.
As a Cardinal fan of 60 years I agree with everything above. Dewitt has run his good investment into ground by poor judgements . Mo did a nice job at one time but time has past him by and he never adapted. Marmol may be a nice fellow but he is a horrible manager. Maybe the worse in baseball. Their pitching coach or lack of one,is a joke. Complete mess and everyone but them know it. That’s why fans have quit coming out last few months. Not enjoyable product to watch!
I’m a Cubs fan so I know first hand the dominance this team had over the NL Central. You guys would bring up young prospects and bring in players from other organizations and turn them around year after year. Did you guys change your player development or something? I’m not being a jerk, this is a serious question.
Um The Reds have the worse manager in Bell. They have not won a playoff series since 1995!! Not been to a World Series since 1990… The Cards have how many playoff and World Series Championships since?? Not to mention winning seasons. Reds ownership is a joke..
Reds- We can tRump you on that one!
I am surprised that the Reds have kept him as long as they have but he is John McGraw compared to the Pirates manager.
And the Pirates are the worst team in the division,not the Reds nor the Cardinals.
There are probably only two or three managers worse than Shelton in MLB.
I will consider it a successful season now if they beat out both the Reds and Cardinals to finish third.
Now that would be progress!
Cardinals are 1 game under .500 and much of the fanbase is about ready to lose their mind and the attendance numbers suggest many are jumping ship. This is a mediocre team, no more no less. They think this is mlb pain?
Why is it Walker doesn’t have to earn the job when everyone else does? This is the same team that has McGreevy repeating AAA and playing well. Graceffo same thing he’s repeating AAA and playing well. Why do they not get a chance?
And if you want to talk about outfielders good gosh. Tyler ONeill sat behind Dexter “the contract” Fowler for years eventhough he clearly was the better player. Then Carlson came up and ONeill sat behind him. Carlson actually earned the job but then Carlson had to sit behind Walker last year.
This isn’t a beauty pageant. You have to play the guys who deserve to play not the ones who have the highest prospect rating.
The problem with the younger players with the brighter future having to sit while Fowler played was caused by the Cardinals making the mistake of providing Fowler with a 5 year $87 million contract. In addition to O’Neill having to wait, the Fowler contract also came into play with the Arozarena decision and Adolis Garcia decision. The Fowler contract is an example why it is foolish of owners to provide over the age of 30 free agents with multi-year contracts.
You can’t say all multi year contracts for older guys are bad. Goldschmidts has worked out well. Holliday was good. But Fowler had 1 solid year besides that he was garbage. Many deals end poorly like the Goldschmidt deal but you get good years in there to make up for it. Fowler had 1 decent year that’s it. And yeah it led to getting rid of Arozarena and Garcia too.
If Abbott is still feeling a pinch, bag it for the year and find out why before next March instead of waiting til then as usual.
Plus stop being cheap and get a better medical and training staff. These guys are valued assets not a damn expense.
Now that they’ve brought up Walker can’t help but wonder what will happen to Siani once he is back?
This is cringe-worthy. They should never have promoted him, but did. Then demoted him when they realized their mistake. But then promoted even though his AAA stats didn’t change much from his previous AAA stint. Then played him four games and demoted him again. And the promoted after only 6 games?