Evaluating the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals, part II: The Hitting and Managing

The St. Louis Cardinals had a very good ride as they made a strong late push to get into the postseason. They won 17 straight games en route to making it to the postseason to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2021 NL Wildcard game.  It was going to be a very tough one-game playoff.  The Cardinals had their best pitcher on the mound in Adam Wainwright, but the Dodgers also had their best pitcher in Max Scherzer, so it was going to be a pitcher’s duel.

The Dodgers had won 16 more games in the regular season, and they had won 106 games, so it was going to be a very tough game for the Cardinals to win.  The Cardinals were able to get the upper hand early, but the tide really seemed to turn  for the worse when Dodgers’ third baseman Justin Turner hit a home run off of Adam Wainwright in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1 apiece.  The Cardinals struggled to score later on, and some curious bullpen moves were made as the Dodgers ended up winning on a walk-off homer late in the ninth inning.

The Cardinals’ 2021 season is now officially over.  That begs the question, so how did everyone do?

I looked up information using Baseball-Reference.  For the WAR statistical metric, I went to Fangraphs for that.

St. Louis Cardinals' starting catcher, Yadier Molina made his 10th All-Star team in the majors, and he also became the sixth player ever to catch 2000 games while being the first to do so with one team.

(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)

C Yadier Molina
2021 (STL): .252 AVG, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 3 SB, .297 OBP, .370 SLG, .667 OPS, 5.1 BB%, 16.7 K%, 41 CS%, 1.0 WAR, made the 2021 NL All-Star team
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 OBP, .000 SLG, .000 OPS, 0 BB%, 0 K%, 0 CS%

Yadier Molina had a much bigger impact for his team that the box score statistics may have suggested.  He called a great game continuously throughout the season, and he showed great leadership skills in leading his team and the pitchers.  He also did a very good job of throwing runners out in the regular season.  His offensive production may have slowed down a bit over the years, but his defense and signal calling is still very good, and he did a good job of driving runners in this year.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting catcher of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt had a very good season this year in 2021.
(Photo: Getty Images, via CBS Sports)

1B Paul Goldschmidt
2021 (STL): .284 AVG, 31 HR, 99 RBI, 12 SB, .365 OBP, .514 SLG, .879 OPS, 9.9 BB%, 20.0 K%, 4.9 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .333 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .600 OBP, .333 SLG, .933 OPS

Goldschmidt played very well, as he hit the ball really well this year, and he consistently shined on offense this year.  His only significant mishap came late in the Wildcard game, when he struck out by being caught looking on three pitches with Tommy Edman stranded on second base late in the ninth inning.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting First Baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' starting second baseman, Tommy Edman quietly had a very good season, and he was terrific for the Cards in the postseason.

(Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images, via Viva El Birdos)

2B Tommy Edman
2021 (STL): .262 AVG, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 30 SB, .308 OBP, .387 SLG, .695 OPS, 5.5 BB%, 13.7 K%, 2.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .600 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 SB, .600 OBP, .600 SLG, 1.200 OPS, 0 BB%, 20 K%

Tommy Edman played very well for the Cards in 2021.  He showed a good approach to the plate, as he would make pitchers work the count, and he is a speedy middle infielder that excelled as a baserunner and fielder this year.  He was very valuable in the playoffs, as he consistently got on base by getting base hits, he also did great work on the base paths by stealing bases, and he made numerous stops with his glove in the field.  Overall, he had a very good season this year.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals

Nolan Arenado had a solid season with the Cardinals, and he was especially good with the glove this year.
(Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images, via Denver Fan)

3B Nolan Arenado
2021 (STL): .255 AVG, 34 HR, 105 RBI, 2 SB, .312 OBP, .494 SLG, .807 OPS, 7.7 BB%, 14.7 K%, 4.0 WAR, made the 2021 NL All-Star team
2021 (Playoffs):.000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 0 K%

Nolan Arenado proved that he can hit outside of Colorado, as he did a good job of hitting, and for power, and he also did a tremendous job with the glove on the defensive end.  While his offensive production was a bit down, he did not disappoint as he brought stellar defense to this team.  He didn’t come through in the playoffs though, but the Cards faced a really tough Dodgers’ squad this year.

2021 Player Grade: B
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Third Baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals

SS Edmondo Sosa
2021 (STL): .271 AVG, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 4 SB, .346 OBP, .389 SLG, .735 OPS, 5.2 BB%, 19.3 K%, 1.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 25 K%

He took over in the second half at the shortstop position after Paul DeJong really struggled to hit on offense, and Sosa was a pleasant surprise for the Cards this season.  He did a good job of hitting the baseball.  

On the other hand, he struggled to make plays with the glove in the Wildcard game on defense due to having the jitters, but he was able to find his footing, and it didn’t seem to hurt the team that much.  Overall, Sosa’s future looks to be pretty bright with the Cardinals.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations:  Platoon Shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder, Tyler O'Neill had a terrific season, as he hit for a .286 batting average, hit 34 home runs, and also provided stellar defense throughout the regular season.  With his tremendous 2021 season that he had, O'Neill arguably has positioned himself to be one of the best left fielders in baseball today.
(Photo: Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press, via St. Louis Post Dispatch)

LF Tyler O’Neill
2021 (STL): .286 AVG, 34 HR, 80 RBI, 15 SB, .352 OBP, .560 SLG, .912 OPS, 7.1 BB%, 31.3 K%, 5.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, .200 OBP, .000 SLG, .200 OPS, 20 BB%, 60 K%

Tyler O’Neill had a much better year than expected.  Not only did he continue to show a stellar glove in the field, but he also had a very good year offensively as well.  He hit for a high average, and he hit for a whopping 34 homers while stealing 15 bags.  He was a whiff machine though, as he still strikes out a lot, and that was magnified more in the playoffs, but overall O’Neill turned in a very good 2021 season.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 4 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Left Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Harrison Bader (pictured in the middle) had a very good all-around season, and he and O'Neill are two of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball right now.

(Photo: Justin Berl/Getty Images, via Redbird Rants)

CF Harrison Bader
2021 (STL): .267 AVG, 16 HR, 50 RBI, 9 SB, .324 OBP, .460 SLG, .785 OPS, 6.7 BB%, 21.2 K%, 3.4 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .750 OBP, .000 SLG, .750 OPS, 25 BB%, 25 K%

Harrison Bader had a solid season this year.  He did a better job of hitting the baseball, and he fielded very well defensively.  He did a great job of getting on base in the postseason, and he quietly played well this season.

2021 Player Grade: A-
2022 Player Rating: 3 stars
2022 Expectations: Starting Center Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

RF Dylan Carlson
2021 (STL): .266 AVG, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 2 SB, .343 OBP, .437 SLG, .780 OPS, 9.2 BB%, 24.6 K%, 2.8 WAR
2021 (Playoffs):.250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .250 OBP, .250 SLG, .500 OPS, 0 BB%, 25 K%

Dylan Carlson was a player that continually got better as the season progressed.  He is a solid all-around outfielder that can do a little bit of everything.  He does strike out too much, but he had a good rookie season nonetheless, and big things may be expected out of him next season.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (3.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: Starting Right Fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals

IF Paul DeJong
2021 (STL): .197 AVG, 19 HR, 45 RBI, 4 SB, .284 OBP, .390 SLG, .674 OPS, 8.7 BB%, 25.6 K%, 1.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB%, 100 K%

Paul DeJong may have lost his starting job midway through the season due to his offensive struggles, but he is still a very good fielder, and his strong physical tools will show every once in a while, as he still hit 19 homers this season.  He made a terrific catch in the postseason to show his defensive value, but he then immediately followed that up by striking out in the next inning, which pretty much sums up his season.

2021 Player Grade: C+
2022 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations:  Platoon Shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals

RF Lars Nootbar
2021 (STL): .239 AVG, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 2 SB, .317 OBP, .422 SLG, .739 OPS, 10.5 BB%, 22.6 K%, 0.6 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Considering that very few people in the baseball community knew who he was prior to the season, this year can be considered an overwhelming success for Lars Nootbar.  Nootbar did a good job of providing pop off the bench, and he also fielded well defensively.  He skyrocketed up through the minors to play well in a reserve role this year.  If there was an open starting spot for him next year, then Nootbar could then be a sleeper candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year award next season.

2021 Player Grade: B+
2022 Player Rating: 2 stars (2.5 stars potential)
2022 Expectations: 4th Outfielder on the St. Louis Cardinals

UT José Rondón
2021 (STL): .263 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .322 OBP, .413 SLG, .735 OPS, 8.9 BB%, 18.9 K%, 0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Rondon didn't make the team on Opening Day, but after playing well in AAA and as the team was hit with some injuries, he was able to show what he can do in the majors.  Rondon provided some pop off the bench, and he showed that he can hit for extra bases, but he also struggled considerably on the defensive end.

2021 Player Grade: C+
2022 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Backup Utility Infielder on the St. Louis Cardinals

C Andrew Knizner
2021 (STL): .174 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .281 OBP, .236 SLG, .517 OPS, 10.8 BB%, 21.1 K%, 23 CS%, -1.0 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Knizner didn’t hit the ball very well or throw runners out often, but he seemed to do a decent job of calling the game from behind the plate.  Whether or not if he can be the heir apparent remains to be seen, but he may have had a better year than the stats may suggest he had.

2021 Player Grade: C
2022 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Backup Catcher on the St. Louis Cardinals

2B Matt Carpenter
2021 (STL): .169 AVG, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 2 SB, .305 OBP, .275 SLG, .581 OPS, 14.1 BB%, 30.9 K%, -0.3 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Matt Carpenter is nowhere near the player he used to be, and while he can still draw walks, his numbers were down considerably across the board.  Not too long ago, Carpenter used to be a very good player that made All-Star teams, and he used to be very helpful in the playoffs.  There were questions if Carpenter or Carlos Martinez should have made the team this year, and neither of those two players really did anything to suggest that they should have this season.

But to put it nicely in terms of how good of an MLB player he is right now, Carpenter is super washed up, and it’s looking to be very unlikely that he’ll ever return to top form.  He’s been such a shell of himself that this time, he wasn’t even used for the Wildcard game against the Dodgers.

2021 Player Grade: D-
2022 Player Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: Backup Infielder somewhere in the majors, or retired

OF Justin Williams
2021 (STL): .160 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, .270 OBP, .261 SLG, .531 OPS, 12.4 BB%, 33.6 K%, -0.8 WAR
2021 (Playoffs): N/A

Williams surprisingly made it to the team’s Opening Day roster, but he struggled mightily once he played in the Majors this season.  He was able to hit for power as he showed some pop in his bat, but he struggled to hit the baseball or to field this year.  

2021 Grade: D
2022 Rating: 1 star
2022 Expectations: AAA outfielder in the minors

Hitting Coach – Jeff Albert
2021 (STL): .244 AVG, 198 HR, 678 RBI, 89 SB, 8 BB%, 22.3 K%, .313 OBP, .412 SLG, .725 OPS
2021 (Playoffs): .156 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 SB, 10.3 BB%, 25.6 K%, .289 OBP, .156 SLG, .446 OPS

It was a fairly mixed bag of a year for Jeff Albert.  The hitters did a good job of hitting the long ball and getting extra base hits in the regular season, and they also showed a decent ability to steal the bases and run on the basepaths this year.

On the other hand, their approach was still was sort of suspect, as they didn’t hit for a high average, and they struck out far too often.  The Cardinals weren’t the most consistent offensive team.  They were tremendous in September, but they couldn’t get the job done in the clutch in the postseason, even with big-time boppers, which hurts even though they faced a very tough Dodgers’ team.

2021 Grade: C+
2022 Rating: 2 stars
2022 Expectations: Hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals

The 2021 St. Louis Cardinals had a good season overall, as they did much better than expected, even though there were some curious bullpen moves that were made late in their Wildcard game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason.

(Photo: Robert Hanashiro/USA Today Sports, via Viva El Birdos)

Mike Shildt
2021 (STL); 90-72, 0-1 in the playoffs
Managerial Career: 252-199, 4-9 in his playoff career

The Cardinals overachieved in the regular season, and they were able to get to the playoffs, despite the majority of people picking against them.  Shildt gets the credit for being able to build positive relationships with his players, because he trusts them almost to a fault.  

In the playoffs though, this tendency tends to backfire because he’s reactive with his moves and not proactive, so he doesn’t always go with his best options.  He made some curious bullpen moves in the Wildcard game, so he will have to improve as a tactician in order to push the Cardinals closer to title contention.

2021 Grade: B
2022 Rating: 2.5 stars
2022 Expectations: Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals

The 2021 Season Grade for the St. Louis Cardinals:

Hitting: A-
Pitching: B
Coaching/Managing: B+
Watching Their Journey This Year: A-
Overall: B+

The 2021 St. Louis Cardinals had a good season overall, and they exceeded a lot of people's expectations.  Maybe this team wasn’t destined to win the World Series, but it was a fun ride to watch the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals, and they got a lot of mileage out of a makeshift bullpen and end of the rotation starters that they managed to cobble together.  Plus, it was fun watching Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina play for another season, and play very well in doing so.  So, there you have it, and thanks for reading.

Forecasting the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals' Season

Hello Cardinals' Nation!  The 2021 season is right around the corner, and here is who made the team on Opening Day, as well as my thoughts on them for the upcoming season as well as my predictions.

Analyzing the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals' Team

Jack Flaherty is a very talented pitcher that had a down 2020 season, but he's expected to pitch well this year.

(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images, via Sportscasting)

Starting Pitchers (5)

Jack Flaherty
2020 (MLB): 4-3. 4.91 ERA, 40.1 IP, 7.4 H9, 1.3 HR9, 3.6 BB9, 10.9 K9, 4.11 FIP, 0.6 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-1, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 9 H9, 0 HR9, 3 BB9, 12 K9

He is a young ace that had a very good 2019 season, but he struggled in the shortened 2020 season.  The Cardinals took him to arbitration and lost, and now that move may have cost the Cards, as it may have just increased the odds of them potentially losing Flaherty to free agency when his contract runs up.  This season though, Flaherty is expected to have a solid 2021 season.

Adam Wainwright
2020 (MLB): 5-3, 3.15 ERA, 65.2 IP, 7.4 H9, 1.2 HR9, 2.1 BB9, 7.4 K9, 4.10 FIP, 1.0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0 5.40 ERA, 3.1 IP, 16.2 H9, 0 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 8.1 KP

Wainwright is historically a very good pitcher, and he was the most reliable pitcher in 2020.  He's an aging veteran that is in a race with Father Time, but he is a proven pitcher that will be counted on to pitch well this season once again.

Carlos Martinez
2020 (MLB): 0-3, 9.90 ERA, 20 IP, 14.4 H9, 2.7 HR9, 4.5 BB9, 7.7 K9, 6.89 FIP, -0.2 FIP

Martinez is a former All-Star that once threw triple digits, but he really struggled in the shortened 2020 season, and he's had arm injuries.  He made the rotation, but it's uncertain if he can get back to being his former All-Star self.

Daniel Ponce De Leon
2020 (MLB): 1-3, 4.96 ERA, 32.2 IP, 6.3 H9, 2.2 HR9, 5.5 BB9, 12.4 K9, 5.64 FIP, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-1, 27 ERA, 1 IP, 18 H9, 18 HR9, 9 BB9, 18 K9

He was previously a long man that excelled in his role, and after a couple of injuries that happened to other starting pitchers, Ponce de Leon won a role in the starting rotation this season.  Ponce de Leon also throws hard, and he has strikeout stuff.

John Gant
2020 (MLB): 0-3, 2.40 ERA, 15 IP, 5.4 H9, 0 HR9, 4.2 BB9, 10.8 K9, 2.19 FIP, 0.5 WAR

He was previously a long man that excelled in his role, and after a couple of injuries that happened to other starting pitchers, Gant won a role in the starting rotation this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals' starting rotation is a little banged up, so Gant and Ponce de Leon ended up being announced as starters on opening day.  Kwang-Hyun Kim was said to be day-to-day, but he and Miles Mikolas will start the season on the injured list.

Relievers (8)

Giovanny Gallegos
2020 (MLB): 2-2, 3.60 ERA, 4 SV, 15 IP, 5.4 H9, 0.6 HR9, 2.4 BB9, 12.6 K9, 2.06 FIP, 0.6 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 1-0, 9.00 ERA, 2 IP, 13.5 H9, 9 HR9, 4.5 BB9, 13.5 K9

Gallegos was the most reliable bullpen pitcher, and he projects to pitch very well for the Cardinals this season.

Alex Reyes
2020 (MLB): 2-1, 3.20 ERA, 19.2 IP, 6.4 H9, 0.5 HR9, 6.4 BB9, 12.4 K9, 3.24 FIP, 0.5 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP, 5.4 H9, 2.7 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 8.1 K9

Reyes is a flamethrower that improved immensely from 2019 to 2020, and he projects to be a good bullpen pitcher this season.

Andrew Miller
2020 (MLB): 1-1, 2.77 ERA, 4 SV, 13 IP, 6.2 H9, 0 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 11.1 K9, 2.58 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.2 IP, 13.5 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

Miller is a solid, proven bullpen pitcher that has been reliable for plenty of years, but he is aging veteran that is in a race with Father Time to stay healthy and to pitch well for years to come.

Jordan Hicks
2020 (MLB): DNP – Injured

Hicks is a flamethrower that once threw 105 MPH, but he's been injured, and he had a rocky spring, but he still has a lot of potential to succeed in the bullpen this year.

Genesis Cabrera
2020 (MLB): 4-1, 2.42 ERA, 22.1 IP, 4 H9, 1.2 HR9, 6.4 BB9, 12.9 K9, 4.76 FIP, -0.1 FIP
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 18 ERA, 1 IP, 9 H9, 0 HR9, 27 BB9, 9 K9

He pitched well in the bullpen in 2020, and while he's had control issues, Cabrera is a hard-throwing lefty that could pitch well again this year to help solidify the Cards' pen.

Ryan Helsley
2020 (MLB): 1-1, 5.25 ERA, 6 H9, 2.3 HR9, 6 BB9, 7.5 K9, 7.02 FIP, -0.4 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.2 IP, 5.4 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 10.8 K9

Helsley is a hard throwing bullpen arm that shows promise to succeed in the bullpen.

Tyler Webb   (projected to get sent down when Mikolas returns)
2020 (MLB): 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 7.1 H9, 0.8 HR9, 2.9 BB9, 7.9 K9, 3.61 FIP, 0.3 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 0.2 IP, 13.5 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

Webb is a lefty that pitched well in the spring, and he was fairly reliably in the bullpen this year, but he will need to show that he can also get righties out.

Jake Woodford (projected to get sent down when Kim returns)
2020 (MLB): 1-0, 5.57 ERA, 21 IP, 8.6 H9, 3 HR9, 2.1 BB9, 6.9 K9, 6.71 FIP, -0.3 WAR

Woodford is a versatile, young pitcher that can start or come out of the bullpen, and he pitched well in the spring to earn a spot on this team.

Catchers (2)

Yadier Molina
2020 (MLB): .262 AVG, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .303 OBP, .359 SLG, .662 OPS, 13.5 K%, 0.5 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .462 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .500 OBP, .615 SLG, 1.115 OPS

Yadi is a future Hall of Fame Catcher, and he's historically a tremendous defensive catcher.  Numbers wise though, he seems to be on the verge or on the decline, and his offensive numbers are steadily decreasing.  Molina is the everyday catcher, but he may need some days off so he can rest up and play at full strength this season.

Andrew Knizner
2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .300 OBP, .229 SLG, .529 OPS, 24.4 K%, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0 for 2, .000, .000 OPS, 1 K

He was a former prized catching prospect who will be Yadi's backup on opening day.  Knizner has not hit well in the majors, but he's shown flashes of his potential, but most likely, he will just be there to give Yadi a breather when he needs it.

Infielders (7)

The St. Louis Cardinals' tandem of Paul Goldschmid and Nolan Arenado will be exciting to watch, that's for sure.
Photo via Getty Images

Nolan Arenado

2020 (COL): .253 AVG, 8 HR, 26 RBI, .303 OBP, .434 SLG, .738 OPS, 10 K%, 0.9 WAR, Gold Glove winner
2019 (COL): .315 AVG, 41 HR, 118 RBI, .379 OBP, .583 SLG, .962 OPS, 14 K%, 6 WAR, All-Star, Gold Glove winner

Nolan Arenado is a very good third baseman that was acquired via trade with Colorado.  He is a good hitter and he is also a tremendous fielder.  He'll team up with Goldschmidt to form a formidable force in the Cards' lineup.

Tommy Edman
2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .317 OBP, .368 SLG, .685 OPS, 21.1 K%, 0.8 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .214 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .214 OBP, .214 SLG, .429 OPS

Edman is a versatile infielder that can play multiple positions, and he is a fairly solid hitter that can hit for a pretty high average.  He had a very good rookie season that was followed by a sophomore slump, but currently he has played his way to get plenty of at-bats and playing time this season.

Paul DeJong
2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 3 HR, 25 RBI, .322 OBP, .349 SLG, .671 OPS, 28.7 K%, 0.6 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .429 OBP, .300 SLG, .729 OPS

DeJong is a power-hitting shortstop that has a good set of tools, and he is also a solid fielder, but his hitting approach leaves much to be desired.  Still, if he can hit for a decent average and get his numbers back up, he can be an upper-tier shortstop in the majors.

Paul Goldschmidt

2020 (MLB): .304 AVG, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .417 OBP, .466 SLG, .883 OPS, 18.6 K%, 2.1 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .231 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .286 OBP, .769 SLG, 1.055 OPS

Goldschmidt had a very good 2020 season, and he was the Cardinals' best hitter and player last year.  He'll team up with Arenado to form a strong punch in the lineup.

Matt Carpenter
2020 (MLB): .186 AVG, 4 HR, 24 RBI, .325 OBP, .314 SLG, .640 OPS, 28.4 K%, 0.3 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .222 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .429 OBP, .333 SLG, .762 OPS

Carpenter has a good track record, and he is a former multi-All-Star that has hit well previously in the postseason.  He hasn't hit well in recent years, and he's coming off a terrible spring.  He's on the team, but right now, he looks to be a shell of his former self.  Some are hoping that he'll come around to suddenly hit nearly as well as he used to, but I wouldn't bet on it.

John Nogowski 
2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .250 OBP, .250 SLG, .500 OPS, 25.0 K%, 0 WAR

He certainly played his way onto the team, and he had a tremendous spring this year.  He mashed the crap out of the baseball, and his ability to hit should bolster the team's bench.

Edmundo Sosa
2020 (STL/MLB): Did not play.
2019 (STL/MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, .450 OBP, .250 SLG, .650 OPS, 20.0 K%, 0 WAR
2019 (AAA): .291 AVG, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 2 SB, .335 OBP, .466 SLG, .801 OPS, 19.4 K%

I was a little surprised that Edmundo Sosa made the team over Jose Rondon and Max Moroff, considering that Rondon is a power-hitting infielder that started off by having a very good spring, but Rondon cooled off a bit towards the end.  I also thought Moroff was a good challenger for the backup utility infielder position as well, as he also hit well in the spring and is a switch hitter, but Sosa is thought to have a higher upside, and he is also out of options, and the Cards don't want to pass him through waivers without knowing how well he would play in the majors.  Sosa didn't have a great spring, but he played well enough and showed enough to make the team.

Outfielders (4)

Dylan Carlson
2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 3 HR, 16 RBI, .252 OBP, .364 SLG, .616 OPS, 29.4 K%, 0.2 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .333 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .571 OBP, .444 SLG, 1.016 OPS

He was the Cards' prized hitting prospect, but they didn't call him up right away, and Carlson struggled in the majors in 2020.  He did have a good postseason, and he is a good fielder.  He has a solid set of all-around tools, but his hitting approach was fairly suspect in the majors.  Carlson will be the starter on opening day.

Tyler O’Neill
2020 (MLB): .173 AVG, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB, .261 OBP, .360 SLG, .621 OPS, 27.4 K%, 0.5 WAR, Gold Glove
2020 (Postseason): 3 GP, 0 for 0, N/A OPS

O'Neill has a tremendous set of tools, and he has a lot of pop in his bat, but his hitting approach leaves much to be desired.  He strikes a ton, but he is also a very good fielder, as evidenced by his Gold Glove win last season.

Justin Williams
2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .333 OBP, .200 SLG, .533 OPS, 33.3 K%, 0 WAR

He is a hitting prospect that played well in the spring, and he will get some at bats in the majors this season.

Austin Dean (projects to get sent down when Bader comes back)
2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .571 OBP, .500 SLG, 1.071 OPS, 28.6 K%, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0 for 1, 0 OBP or OPS 

He is a fairly solid hitter that hit well in the spring, but Dean has historically not been a very good fielder in the majors.  His tendency to strike out as also concerning.  It was thought that Lane Thomas would win the job, but Dean played well enough to make the team on Opening Day.

Injured:

Harrison Bader (IL)
2020 (MLB): .226 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB, .336 OBP, .443 SLG, .779 OPS, 32.0 K%, 1.0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .111 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .182 OBP, .111 SLG, .293 OPS

He is a tremendous fielder, but he's not a very good hitter, and he has an even worse hitting approach.  He projects to be the starting center fielder when he returns from the IL.

Miles Mikolas (IL)
2020 (MLB): DNP, injured

He is a solid veteran pitcher who can control his pitches, and he is a mid-tier starting pitcher.  After having a very good 2018 season, he had an up and down 2019 season, and he missed all of last season.

Kwang-Hyun Kim (IL)
2020 (MLB): 3-0, 1.62 ERA, 39 IP, 6.5 H9, 0.7 HR9, 2.8 BB9, 5.5 K9, 3.88 FIP, 0.6 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 7.36, 3.2 IP, 12.3 H9, 0 HR9, 4.9 BB9, 4.9 BB

He is a solid veteran pitcher who can control his pitches, and he is a mid-tier starting pitcher.  He had a rough spring, but he's expected to provide some solid innings this year.

Dakota Hudson* (60-day IL)
2020 (MLB): 3-2, 2.77 ERA, 39 IP, 5.5 H9, 1.2 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 7.2 K9, 4.50 FIP, 0.4 WAR

He is a solid, young starting pitcher who can control his pitches, and he is a mid-tier starting pitcher.  He's out for the season though.

Sent down:

Kodi Whitley
2020 (MLB): 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3.9 H9, 1.9 HR9, 1.9 BB9, 9.6 K9, 4.48 FIP, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 27 ERA, 0.1 IP, 27 H9, 27 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

Johan Oviedo
2020 (MLB): 0-3, 5.47 ERA, 24.2 IP, 8.8 H9, 1.1 HR9, 3.6 BB9, 5.8 K9, 5.30 FIP, 0.1 WAR

Tommy Parsons*
2020 (MLB): Did not play.
2019 (College): 6-1, 2.11 ERA, 47 IP, 5.2H9, 0 HR9, 7.9 BB9, 11.9K9

Jose Rondon*
2020 (MLB): Did not play.
2019 (CHW/BAL/MLB): .196 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .263 OBP, .280 SLG, .543 OPS
2019 (AAA): .219 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .313 OBP, .356 SLG, .669 OPS

Max Moroff*
2020 (MLB): Did not play.
2019 (CLE): .125 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .176 OBP, .250 SLG, .426 OPS
2019 (AAA): .213 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, .375 OBP, .361 SLG, .736 OPS

Lane Thomas
2020 (MLB): .111 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .200 OBP, .250 SLG, .450 OPS, 32.5 K%, -0.3 WAR

Thought would make the team, but was sent down:

Jose Rondon*

Lane Thomas

Should they have made the team?

Matt Carpenter hit .186 last year, and he hit just .054 in the Spring with 0 homers, but his past proven track record helped him make the MLB roster this year.

Carlos Martinez had a 9.90 ERA last year, and he had a less than stellar 5.66 ERA in the spring, but he pitched better towards the end of the spring to be named the third starter in the team's rotation, and it also helped that Gant and Ponce de Leon were not noticeably better in the spring this year.

Current Grades for the 2021 season:
Pitchers: B-
Hitters: B-
Manager: B-

The backend of the starting rotation looks shaky, but the bullpen looks good, and I'm confident that the bullpen will pitch well.  The outfield looks a bit suspect, but I really like the group of infielders that the Cards have, and Yadier Molina is a proven, reliable veteran.

Projected Season Outcome: 3rd in the NL Central, behind the Brewers and Cubs, barely missing the playoffs

Hopefully, the Cardinals will prove my prediction wrong, but I'm not certain if the team's outfield or group of starters will be reliable enough to get this team back to the playoffs.  I am rooting for the Cardinals to win it all this year, though.

Anyways, those are my season predictions, and we'll see how everything shakes out.

Evaluating the 2020 St. Louis Cardinals' Season, Part II: The Hitting, The Management, and the Projected 2021 Outlook

 The St. Louis Cardinals were able to make it to the playoffs this year in 2020, but they ended up losing in 3 games of the NLWC against the San Diego Padres.  They did battle through the coronavirus to get to the postseason, but it’s pretty tough to expect your favorite baseball team to win a title when they batted just .234 as a team overall.  This team was not too shabby, but it didn’t do amazing, either.  Here are my thoughts on how their hitters fared this year.  In case if you want to know my thoughts on how the Cardinals' pitchers and pitching coach did, here is my review on their performance this season.

Yadier Molina recorded his 2000th hit in his career this year, and the 9-time All-Star has been one of the best catchers in the game for over a decade.
(Photo: Christian Gooden/Associated Press, via St. Louis Post Dispatch)

C Yadier Molina – B-

2020 (MLB): .262 AVG, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .303 OBP, .359 SLG, .662 OPS, 13.5 K%, 0.5 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .462 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .500 OBP, .615 SLG, 1.115 OPS

Yadi Molina had a fairly decent season, as he was able to hit for average, and he played satisfactory defense this year.  Though his offensive production continued to decline this year, Molina also hit the ball well in the playoffs.  Unfortunately, the Cards’ pitching was not very good in the postseason, and so he along with the managerial team may have to bear some responsibility for their pitching woes in the playoffs.  Regardless, he did alright, and in all likelihood, Molina will be the starting catcher in St. Louis for as long as he wants to continue playing.

2021 Expectations: Starting Catcher
2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

C Matt Wieters – C-

2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .300 OBP, .229 SLG, .529 OPS, 24.4 K%, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0 for 2, .000, .000 OPS, 1 K

After hitting 11 homers as Yadi’s backup in 2019, Matt Wieters experienced a power outage in 2020, but that didn’t stop advanced metrics from rating him as a replacement level, average level backup catcher, at least by way of the Fangraphs’ WAR metric.  Wieters did not hit the ball very well at all, but numbers suggest he played above average defense, and played competently enough to be on a major-league roster, but not much more than that.

2021 Expectations: Backup catcher
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

C Andrew Knizner – D+

2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .235 OBP, .313 SLG, .548 OPS, 29.4 K%, -0.1 WAR

Andrew Knizner was once seen as the Cardinals’ prized catching prospect, but in two seasons in the majors, he has struggled to get on base, and his defense hasn’t been quite as good as anticipated.  On the plus side, he’s shown an improved ability to make contact, but his lack of on-base skills or power in the majors may be rather alarming.  He might not be a lock to be in the majors full-time in 2021, but he’ll certainly compete for a spot as a backup catcher next year.

2021 Expectations: Backup catcher
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

St. Louis Cardinals' star first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt had a terrific year in 2020, and he was the team's best hitter, and arguably the best all-around player for them this season.

(Photo: Norm Hall/Getty Images, via Arizona Sports 98.7 FM)

1B Paul Goldschmidt - A

2020 (MLB): .304 AVG, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .417 OBP, .466 SLG, .883 OPS, 18.6 K%, 2.1 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .231 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .286 OBP, .769 SLG, 1.055 OPS

Paul Goldschmidt had a very good season in 2020.  He hit for a very high batting average, was very patient, and he played excellent defense.  His power numbers were a bit down (with the exception that he launched two homers in the playoffs), but he was very impactful, as he was probably the Cards’ most valuable player this year.  

That’s an encouraging sign, as he looks to be the team’s franchise player heading into 2021.  On the other hand, he has only reached the NLCS one time in 2019, but he went 1 for 16 as the Cards got swept by the Washington Nationals.  In judging his lack of production in big playoff games, that could be a bit concerning moving forward.

2021 Expectations: Starting First Baseman/Cornerstone, franchise player, probably will make the All-Star team
2021 Player Rating: 4 stars

Kolten Wong continued to excel in the field, as he was marvelous defensively, but he didn't hit the ball nearly as well as he did in 2019.
(Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images, via Redbird Rants)

2B Kolten Wong - B

2020 (MLB): .265 AVG, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 5 SB, .350 OBP, .326 SLG, .675 OPS, 14.4 K%, 1.3 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .214 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .200 OBP, .500 SLG, .700 OPS

Kolten Wong hit the ball well in the regular season and showed a good approach to the plate for most of the year, and he also combined that by playing excellent defense as usual.  He had a power outage this year, as he hit only 1 home run in the regular season.  In the playoffs, he regained his power, but lost his approach to the plate.  Regardless, Wong is a solid player who remains being one of the best at his position in the National League.

2021 Expectations: Starting Second Baseman
2021 Player Rating: 3 stars

SS Paul DeJong - C

2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 3 HR, 25 RBI, .322 OBP, .349 SLG, .671 OPS, 28.7 K%, 0.6 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .429 OBP, .300 SLG, .729 OPS

After having made the All-Star team in 2019, DeJong has seemed to stall as a player.  DeJong hit just .233 last year in the regular season despite hitting 30 home runs, and while he hit for a better average this year, it was still just at .250, and he hit only 3 home runs this season.  DeJong had a power outage this year, though he played satisfactory defense.  He struck out almost 30% of the time in the regular season this year though.  He is a talented player that is a upside player, but his alarmingly, futile approach to the plate could be enough to cast doubt on if he will play well next season.

2021 Expectations: Starting Shortstop
2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

3B/UT Tommy Edman – C+

2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .317 OBP, .368 SLG, .685 OPS, 21.1 K%, 0.8 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .214 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .214 OBP, .214 SLG, .429 OPS

After having a tremendous rookie season, Edman crashed back down to Earth, as he didn’t hit the ball nearly as well, but he did play solid defense, and showed versatility as a fielder in games.  He struggled in the postseason, though, but Edman could be a key contributor for the Cardinals for years to come.

2021 Expectations: Utility infielder/starting infielder
2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

UT/DH Brad Miller – B

2020 (MLB): .232 AVG, 7 HR, 25 RBI, .357 OBP, .451 SLG, .807 OPS, 26.9 K%, 0.8 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0 for 1, .000 AVG, .000 OPS

Brad Miller had a fairly good season for the Cards, and he showed that he can definitely hit for power and hit the long ball on offense.  His batting average was a bit low and he didn’t defend well, but his ability to provide extra base hits definitely helped the Cards pick up some wins in the regular season.

2021 Expectations: Starting DH/Utility Infielder
2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

3B Matt Carpenter – C-

2020 (MLB): .186 AVG, 4 HR, 24 RBI, .325 OBP, .314 SLG, .640 OPS, 28.4 K%, 0.3 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .222 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .429 OBP, .333 SLG, .762 OPS

His magical, 2018 season in which he had a tremendous second half, and had his own secret salsa seems to be an all-too distant memory.  Two years have passed since then, but for the Cardinals’ fans and Carpenter, that seems like ages ago.  

After the 2018 season, Carpenter has failed to regain the once magical touch at the plate, as he has had trouble cobbling together hits on a consistent basis, and he is striking out at an alarming rate.  He was once of the most patient, underrated, versatile infielders in the game, but now it seems that those days are permanently behind him.  That’s a shame, because he used to be a very good baseball player, and now he is a bench bat that can only give a glimmer of hope that the old Carpenter can re-emerge before returning to having the offensive woes he’s had recently.

2021 Expectations: Backup utility man
2021 Player Rating: 2 stars

UT Rangel Ravelo - D

2020 (MLB):  .171 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .244 OBP, .286 SLG, .530 OPS, 14.6 K%, -0.1 WAR

For the positives, Ravelo did not strike out very much, and he showed that he can play the corner infield positions.  However, he did not hit nor field very well.

2021 Expectations: AAA infielder, part-time backup utility infielder in majors
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

IF Max Schrock - D

2020 (MLB): .176 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .176 OBP, .353 SLG, .529 OPS, 35.3 K%, 0 WAR

Years ago, Schrock was an infielder prospect whose main allure to having him in the majors was both his ability to hit and tremendous ability to put balls in play.  This season, he was finally called up, but he didn’t really show much of an ability to do either of those things in the majors.  Schrock had trouble getting hits and struck out far too often in the big leagues this year, but he did hit a home run and played above average defense when he was up here.

2021 Expectations: AAA infielder, part-time backup utility infielder in majors
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

1B John Nogowski - C

2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .250 OBP, .250 SLG, .500 OPS, 25.0 K%, 0 WAR

He wasn’t expected to be called up, but he went 1 for 4 in his debut and went home.  He didn’t really play enough to make enough of a judgment on his time in the majors. Barely knew him when he was called up, and he was sent away perhaps too soon.

2021 Expectations: AAA infielder, part-time backup utility infielder in majors
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

Cardinals' rookie outfielder Dylan Carlson was expected to have a big season after hitting the ball really well in AA and AAA in 2019.  He didn't make the opening day roster and got off to a slow start, but he played well in the postseason in the NLWC against the San Diego Padres.
(Photo: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports, via MLB Daily Dish)

LF Dylan Carlson - C

2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 3 HR, 16 RBI, .252 OBP, .364 SLG, .616 OPS, 29.4 K%, 0.2 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .333 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .571 OBP, .444 SLG, 1.016 OPS

He wasn’t called up right away as expected, but he got off to a slow start before he managed to figure some things out in the majors.  He struggled to get hits or on base, but he showed some pop in his bat, and he fielded well.  Carlson also played very well in the postseason, which could be a solid building block for him in the future.

2021 Expectations: 3rd or 4th Outfielder, will compete for starting left field spot
2021 Player Rating: 2 stars (3.5 star potential)

CF Harrison Bader – C+

2020 (MLB): .226 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB, .336 OBP, .443 SLG, .779 OPS, 32.0 K%, 1.0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .111 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .182 OBP, .111 SLG, .293 OPS

Harrison Bader had a fairly good season this year.  He played very good defense as he fielded well, hit for power, and showed a decent ability to get on base.  However, he had trouble stringing together hits and he struck out a lot, and he struggled to hit the ball in the postseason.  Despite, he’s shown to be a reliable starting center fielder that can bring great defense to his team on a yearly basis.

2021 Expectations: Starting Center Fielder
2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

RF Dexter Fowler - C

2020 (MLB): .233 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI, .317 OBP, .389 SLG, .706 OPS, 27.7 K%, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): .286 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .286 OBP, .357 SLG, .643 OPS

He had a fairly mediocre season, as he struggled to consistently hit the ball or get on base, and he did not field very well per his position, either.  He had trouble consistently putting balls in play during the regular season, but he did hit for a fairly good average in the playoffs.  It is worth noting that he did get hurt in the middle of the season.  However, that doesn’t really wash out his inability to get hits during the regular season or general bad defense, but Fowler is a veteran who has proven to be a major-league starting outfielder, even if his best days in the majors may be permanently behind him.

2021 Expectations: Starting Right Fielder
2021 Player Rating: 2 stars

LF Tyler O’Neill - C

2020 (MLB): .173 AVG, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB, .261 OBP, .360 SLG, .621 OPS, 27.4 K%, 0.5 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 3 GP, 0 for 0, N/A OPS

It was an up and down, turbulent season for Tyler O’Neill.  He started off fast by hitting home runs, and he was tied for leading his team in home runs.  It’s clear that he is a vastly talented outfielder that has tremendous power, and when he makes contact, he can definitely hit the long ball.  He also fielded well.  

However, he really struggled to string together hits or to get on base, and he struck out a lot.  He still has a pretty shoddy approach to the plate, and his inability to put balls in play has hindered his ability to reach his ceiling on offense.  

2021 Expectations: 3rd or 4th Outfielder, will compete for starting left field spot
2021 Player Rating: 2 stars (2.5 star potential)

OF Austin Dean – B+

2020 (MLB): .250 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .571 OBP, .500 SLG, 1.071 OPS, 28.6 K%, 0 WAR
2020 (Postseason): 0 for 1, 0 OBP or OPS 

Austin Dean had a very good spring that allowed him to make the opening day roster, and he hit the ball well in his brief time up in the majors.  He shuttled in and out of the roster, but he managed to make the team’s postseason roster.  Though he didn't hit well in the majors in his previous two seasons with the Marlins, Dean's solid stint with the Cards in limited playing time gives hope that he could find a place in the majors as a slugger off the bench. 

2021 Expectations: 5th Outfielder, or AAA Starting Outfielder
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

OF Justin Williams - C

2020 (MLB): .200 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .333 OBP, .200 SLG, .533 OPS, 33.3 K%, 0 WAR

He wasn’t expected to be called up this year, but he showed a decent ability to get on base, if anything.  He didn’t seem to do much else when he was up in the majors, but he did manage to get his first big-league hit in 2020.

2021 Expectations: AAA Starting Outfielder, September call-up to the majors
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

OF Lane Thomas – D-

2020 (MLB): .111 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .200 OBP, .250 SLG, .450 OPS, 32.5 K%, -0.3 WAR

After having played very well last season where he really excelled as a hitter in limited at bats, it seemed like he was due for more playing time this year.  However, he really struggled to hit the ball in 2020, and he was unable to stay up in the majors this season.

2021 Expectations: AAA Starting Outfielder, September call-up to the majors
2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

Hitting Coach – Jeff Albert - D

2020 St. Louis Cardinals (Regular Season): .234 AVG, 51 HR, 231 RBI, .323 OBP, .371 SLG, .694 OPS, 23.7 K%
2020 St. Louis Cardinals (Playoffs): .252 AVG. 3 HR. 16 RBI, .341 OBP, .411 SLG, .752 OPS, 25.2 K%

Though the Cardinals did a better job of hitting the ball in the playoffs, it’s hard to expect your team to win the title when they hit .234 in the regular season and they strike out more than they collect hits.  They also ranked among the bottom in many categories amongst National League teams on offense, as they were last in home runs, and were near the bottom in slugging and OPS.  

Their lackluster hitting approach still is quite troublesome, and hopes of the launch-angle revolution hasn’t really taken flight in St. Louis.  On the other hand, many MLB teams this year have hit for low batting averages this year, and have struck out a ton more than they did in years past.  In fact, major league teams hit just .245 overall in the regular season, and they struck out 23% of the time in the regular season this year.  

That doesn’t give Albert a free pass, but major league baseball is trending towards the three true outcomes approach of either drawing a walk, striking out, or hitting a homer, in pursuit of going for higher OPS numbers.  The negative results of this new process is fewer players are looking to hit the ball the other way or to use the whole field, and so shifts on hitters are more effective than they would be if they actually had the approach of taking what the defense gives them.  Overall, the Cardinals did not hit well in 2020, and they may need a new hitting coach, because Albert has not gotten much out of his hitters in the past two seasons.

Mike Shildt led the Cardinals to the playoffs for a second year in a row after his team battled with the coronavirus early on in the season, but they were bounced from the postseason after losing to the Padres in 3 games in the NLWC.
(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via Springfield News-Leader)

Manager Mike Shildt (30-28)

Playoffs: 1-2 (Lost to the San Diego Padres in the NLWC)

The Cardinals had unfortunately caught COVID early on, and spent a lot of time catching up by playing double headers, but they managed to make it to the playoffs in spite of all of this.  However, after a strong start in Game 1 against the Padres, they blew leads and lost the series, as their pitching was awful in the postseason.

Grade: C+

President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak has helped the Cards win the 2011 World Series as the general manager.  This past season, the Cards didn't seem to make major moves, but they picked up a bargain by signing Kwang-Hyun Kim to bolster their pitching staff, and they allowed their younger players to get valuable playing time, as they saw improved play from young players such as Alex Reyes and Dakota Hudson.

President of Baseball Operations:

John Mozeliak

The Cardinals didn’t really make too much noise in the offseason, but he made little moves that paid off, such as signing Kwang-Hyun Kim and bringing him over from South Korea, and they managed to get at-bats for Dylan Carlson.  Still, there was little hope in Cardinal Nation that what they were doing would advance their title hopes, and while the Cardinals were competitive, they fell short of the title once again, as they lost in the playoffs in a 3-game series to the Padres.

Grade: C+

The Cardinals’ 2020 Season Grade: C+

The 2020 St. Louis Cardinals battled through so much hardship this year.  Their players contracted the coronavirus, and they had to battle through illness to compete this season, and the Cardinals played in many double headers this season.  They lost legends, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson, two Hall of Famers that were two of the best all-time in 2020.  It’s been a very hard and trying year, but the Cards managed to pull through and get to the playoffs.  

Unfortunately, they fell short, as they couldn’t sustain the momentum of the Game 1 win to get past the Padres in the NLWC.  They had some positive moments in an otherwise forgettable season, but they weren’t really seen or viewed as a title contender by many, and they didn’t get far in the 16-team playoffs, in a year where over half of baseball teams could reach the postseason.  Overall, I would say the Cards had a difficult, but adequate season in 2020.

Picks for….

Paul Goldschmidt played very well in 2020, and he was the best player on the St. Louis Cardinals' team this season.
(Photo: Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press, via Forbes)

2020 Cardinals’ MVP & Baseball Player of the Year: 1B Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt had a terrific 2020 season, and he had the tremendous season that some thought he would have last year.  He was consistently the team’s best hitter, and while some would argue that he didn’t quite have the same power numbers as he did last year, he showed a much better approach to the plate.  Goldschmidt hit .304, had a team-leading .417 on-base percentage, and he showed a terrific approach to the plate.  He also led the team in Fangraphs’ WAR, and he also consistently played well for his team in the playoffs.

St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher, Alex Reyes (pictured wearing #29) had a terrific bounce back year after recovering from a hand injury to be one of the best pitchers in the bullpen, and he was also the Game 1 closer for the Cards in their lone win against the Padres in the NLWC.
(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

2020 Cardinals’ Pitcher of the Year: RP Alex Reyes

It’s splitting hairs between Korean pitching sensation Kwang-Hyun Kim, veteran stalwart Adam Wainwright, and hard-throwing righty Alex Reyes, and one could easily make a convincing case for any of them.  For me personally, I feel that Alex Reyes was the Cards’ pitcher of the year.  

Alex Reyes bounced back from a rough 2019 season to pitch very well out of the bullpen, and he was striking out the side, reaching triple digits on the radar gun, and he was also the Game 1 closer in the playoffs against the Padres, where he had a more than one inning save.   He’s back to being one of the best young players in the Cards’ organization, and he is currently slated to project to be the best bullpen arms that the Cards may have to offer in 2021.  In short, the future is bright for Reyes.

Cardinals' starting pitcher, Kwang-Hyun Kim pitched very well this season, and he had a sub-2.00 ERA, and was the Game 1 starter in the postseason for the Cards in the NLWC against the Padres.
(Photo: AFP-Yonhap, via The Korea Times)

2020 Cardinals’ Rookie of the Year: SP Kwang-Hyun Kim

It’s hard to think of a 32-year old who won 136 games in the Korean League as a rookie in the majors, but technically Kwaun-Hyun Kim technically qualifies as a “rookie” by Major League Baseball standards as one.  That said, he had a very good 2020 season, as he went 3-0, pitched a sub 2.00-ERA in a shade under 40 innings, and he showed sharp command of his stuff.  He also was the Game 1 starting pitcher against the Padres in the NLWC.

Yadier Molina played excellent defense for the Cards, and he was terrific in the field for the Cardinals this season.
(Photo: Bill Greenblatt/UPI)

2020 Cardinals’ Fielder of the Year: C Yadier Molina

The Cardinals had many really good fielders throughout the season, and it’s splitting hairs between a bunch of players, most notably between Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong, and Tommy Edman.  Kolten Wong won a gold glove last year, and he is a rangy second baseman that made some really good web gems, and Tommy Edman is a versatile utility player that proved to be invaluable with his strong ability to play multiple positions.  

Yadier Molina to me though, would be the fielder of the year, though it’s a close one.  He is a legendary defensive catcher that shuts down the running game, and he performed his usual high levels despite having contracted COVID during the season.  He threw out 45% of the runners out this year, which is a really good rate.  He also came back in time for the playoffs, and he didn’t have a drop off in production from a defensive standpoint this season.

(Player Rating System/Grading Scale:

This is evaluated on a 0.5 to 5-star rating scale, much like how the Franchise Hockey Manager game rates players in that game.  Also, I used the Fangraphs' WAR metric as an additional means to evaluate baseball players this season.)

5 stars = Elite player, MVP/Cy Young award-caliber player
4.5 stars = Very good player/All-Star, likely top 3 at his position
4 stars = All-Star,
3.5 stars = borderline All-Star,
3 stars = good player,
2.5 stars = above average player,
2 stars = average player,
1.5 stars = backend player on a major-league team,
1 star and below means not major league quality)

Expected Group of Hitters for 2021 (13 hitters for a 26-man roster, 13 if it stays a 28-man roster):

C Yadier Molina – 2.5 stars (UFA)
1B Paul Goldschmidt – 4 stars
2B Kolten Wong – 3 stars
SS Paul DeJong – 2.5 stars
3B Tommy Edman – 2.5 stars
LF Dylan Carlson 2 stars (3.5 stars)
CF Harrison Bader – 2.5 stars
RF Dexter Fowler – 2 stars
DH Brad Miller – 2.5 stars (UFA)
C Matt Wieters – 1.5 stars (UFA)
C Andrew Knizner – 1.5 stars (2 star potential)
3B Matt Carpenter – 2 stars
OF Tyler O’Neill – 2 stars (2.5 stars potential)

Others Competing for MLB Roster Spots on the Cards’ Team in 2021:

OF Austin Dean – 1.5 stars

INF Edmundo Sosa – 1.5 stars (2 star potential)
UT Rangel Ravelo - 1.5 stars

OF Lane Thomas - 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

OF Justin Williams - 1.5 stars (2 star potential)
IF Max Schrock - 1.5 stars
1B John Nogowski - 1.5 stars

With the group of hitters returning, the Cardinals will probably need at least one or two upper-echelon level hitters to bolster the team’s offense.  The Cardinals don’t seem to have much depth on the bench, and their hitting approach has been quite lackluster recently.  

The Cards have some talented hitters that generally field well, but they have trouble hitting for a high average and they strike out too much.  With hitting coach Jeff Albert likely returning, expect the trends of hitting for low averages and striking out too much to continue in their hopes to build their version of the launch angle revolution.  The offense might be fairly mediocre next year, but the Cards’ strong fielding and decent group of pitchers could help get the Cards to the postseason next year, if nothing else.

Projected 2021 Season Outlook:

The Cards tend to make prudent moves rather than go for big, splashy moves, and so it’s unlikely that they will sign a big-name free agent.  They are rather prudent with their finances and money, so they will probably look to shop for bargain bins and to try to get reasonably priced veterans to help aid their team.  

The Cardinals have a lot of average to above average players in talent, but not a whole lot of elite players, as the best days appear to be firmly behind them for the veterans, but the young players are still trying to find ways to maximize their potential.  It’s unlikely that they will win the title in 2021, but if 16 teams can make the playoffs next year, expect the Cardinals to at least be in the field of teams that reach the postseason.

2021 Expectations for the Cardinals: Reach the postseason, but may wind up losing in the first round like they did this year.

Also, congratulations to the Seattle Storm for winning the 2020 WNBA title!  They defeated the Las Vegas Aces in three games, and both Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird played terrific basketball to sweep the Aces.

Anyways, that's all for now, and thanks for reading.

Evaluating the St. Louis Cardinals' 2020 Season: The Pitching

It was a tough and trying year for the 2020 St. Louis Cardinals.  They made almost no offseason moves, aside from signing Korean pitcher, Kwang Hyun Kim to their team this year, but they made virtually no attempt to add players to bolster their roster, and they still somehow backed their way into the playoffs despite just a 30-28 record, despite having a bout with the coronavirus, and after playing in a bunch of double headers.  

Unfortunately, after a surprisingly solid Game 1 win over the young and talented San Diego Padres’ team, the Cardinals crashed back down to Earth, and they lost the next two games, as they lost the series, 2-1 to the Padres and are now eliminated from the playoffs.  For the Cardinals, let’s just say, the expectations were quite low this year, and well, they met the low bar by making their way to the playoffs, though they didn’t do much more than that.

Here are my thoughts on how the team did, and so I’ll rate the pitchers first, and then I thoughts on the hitters will make for another article tomorrow or later on.  (Also, for the WAR metric, I will use the Fangraphs WAR metric to judge players for their season this year.)

Kwang Hyun Kim pitched very well in 2020, and he is a solid control pitcher that excelled for the Cardinals this year.
(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)

SP – Kwang Hyun Kim – A-

Technically a rookie after having been signed from South Korea, Kim pitched very well in 2020, as he showed off expert command and control of his pitches.  He was one of the best rookies in baseball, as he pitched a sub-2.00 ERA this year, and he’s basically like the Korean Miles Mikolas.  He didn’t quite pitch nearly as well in the playoffs, but the 32-year old rookie is a solid starter that proved to be a bargain for the Cardinals, and he could be poised to have a very good 2021 season next year.

2020 (MLB): 3-0, 1.62 ERA, 39 IP, 6.5 H9, 0.7 HR9, 2.8 BB9, 5.5 K9, 3.88 FIP, 0.6 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 7.36 ERA, 3.2 IP, 12.3 H9, 0 HR9, 4.9 BB9, 4.9 BB

2021 Expectations: Middle of the Rotation Starter

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

Adam Wainwright was one of the best players on the Cardinals' team in 2020.
(Photo: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press, via Belleville News-Democrat)

SP - Adam Wainwright – B+

2020 (MLB): 5-3, 3.15 ERA, 65.2 IP, 7.4 H9, 1.2 HR9, 2.1 BB9, 7.4 K9, 4.10 FIP, 1.0 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0 5.40 ERA, 3.1 IP, 16.2 H9, 0 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 8.1 KP

Adam Wainwright pitched well in 2020, and in the shortened season, the 39-year old starting pitcher showed poise, solid command, and routinely provided his team with good innings in the regular season.  He especially did a tremendous job, especially since he is one of the oldest players in baseball, and he is one of the elder statesmen of the team.  Unfortunately, he seemed to have run out of gas in the postseason, but he pitched well overall, and he will be back next year to provide his team with a steady, dependable arm in the Cards’ rotation.

2021 Expectations: Middle of the Rotation Starter

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

Dakota Hudson pitched very well prior to getting hurt in 2020, but he will need to undergo TJ, which could cause him to miss the entire 2021 season.
(Photo: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports, via Viva El Birdos)

SP – Dakota Hudson – B

2020 (MLB): 3-2, 2.77 ERA, 39 IP, 5.5 H9, 1.2 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 7.2 K9, 4.50 FIP, 0.4 WAR

Dakota Hudson started off on a rough note, and then he pitched very well before ending up going down to an unfortunate injury that will require him to undergo Tommy John surgery.  He may end up missing most of the 2021 season, but there is no doubt that he had a solid 2020 season before getting hurt this year.  His rather high FIP though suggests that he also needed the fielders in order to pitch well this past season.  Still, hopefully, he will return back to full form when he comes back.

2021 Expectations: Injured/Out for the Season

2022 Expectations: Fourth or Fifth Starter

2021/22 Player Rating: 2.5 stars 

Jack Flaherty wasn't quite nearly as effective as he was last year, as his ERA was close to 5 to end the regular season, but he salvaged his season with a strong performance in the Cards' Game 3 loss to the Padres.

(Photo: Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

SP – Jack Flaherty - C

2020 (MLB): 4-3. 4.91 ERA, 40.1 IP, 7.4 H9, 1.3 HR9, 3.6 BB9, 10.9 K9, 4.11 FIP, 0.6 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-1, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 9 H9, 0 HR9, 3 BB9, 12 K9

Flaherty had a very good 2019 season, and he was expected to continue to pitch well as the team’s ace of the staff, but he had a rocky 2020 season.  He struggled with his command at times, but he managed to salvage his season by pitching very well in the playoffs, even though his team ended up losing in the decisive third game of the 2020 NLWC.  Flaherty is a very talented pitcher who has top of the line stuff, but he will need to bounce back to pitch well next season.

2021 Expectations: Ace of the Staff

2021 Player Rating: 3 stars (4 star potential)

Does anyone still remember this guy?  

Affectionately known by diehard baseball fans as "The Lizard King," Miles Mikolas was once a very good pitcher, as he had a terrific 2018, but he missed all of the 2020 season.
(Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images, via Call To The Pen)

SP – Miles Mikolas – grade: Incomplete (I)

2020 (MLB): DNP, injured

He missed the entire season, as he was placed on the 45-day DL due to a forearm injury, but hopefully he can return to have a good 2021 season next year.

2021 Expectations: Backend of the rotation, Fourth or Fifth Starter

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

SP – Daniel Ponce de Leon – C-

2020 (MLB): 1-3, 4.96 ERA, 32.2 IP, 6.3 H9, 2.2 HR9, 5.5 BB9, 12.4 K9, 5.64 FIP, 0 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-1, 27 ERA, 1 IP, 18 H9, 18 HR9, 9 BB9, 18 K9

Daniel Ponce de Leon is a hard-throwing righty that can strike a lot of hitters out, and he received plenty of opportunities to start this year for the Cards due to injuries.  However, the talented, young pitcher also frequently struggled with his control and command, but he managed to pitch his way onto a playoff roster.  However, his performance in the playoffs was disastrous, and he pitched poorly that led his team to lose in his one stint in the postseason this year.

2021 Expectations: Spot starter/Long reliever

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars

SP - Johan Oviedo - C

2020 (MLB): 0-3, 5.47 ERA, 24.2 IP, 8.8 H9, 1.1 HR9, 3.6 BB9, 5.8 K9, 5.30 FIP, 0.1 WAR

After the Cardinals had pitchers go down to injuries and COVID, an opportunity sprung for Oviedo, as he was called into the action to pitch in the majors.  He had a fairly average season, but he showed promise with his ability to command his pitches.  There’s no guarantee that he’ll be back in the majors next year, but he can definitely help out if he’s called upon to do so by then.

2021 Expectations: Spot starter/Long reliever

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 stars)

Side note: Will still be a rookie in 2021

It was a rough season for Carlos Martinez.  He tested positive for the coronavirus, had symptoms, valiantly tried to come back, but was nowhere near at the same level that he used to be this year.
(Photo: Julio Cortez/Associated Press, Belleville News-Democrat)

P – Carlos Martinez – D-

2020 (MLB): 0-3, 9.90 ERA, 20 IP, 14.4 H9, 2.7 HR9, 4.5 BB9, 7.7 K9, 6.89 FIP, -0.2 FIP

Early on in the season, Carlos Martinez tested positive for having the coronavirus, and he had some serious symptoms, as he was hospitalized and was treated for a lengthy stay.  The two-time All-Star pitcher valiantly tried to come back, but he just could not regain the pitching form he had prior to the start of this season.  Unfortunately, I cannot give him a high grade as his performance for the Cards was nowhere near the standards he brought to the team in the past, and one has to wonder that maybe he should’ve been held out for the season as a precaution if he was not able to fully return to form this year.

2021 Expectations: Spot starter/Versatile reliever

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

Alex Reyes rebounded to have a terrific 2020 season, and he was racking up strikeouts and scoreless innings, as he did it with a flair and style this year.
(Photo: Matt Marton/Associated Press, via KMOV)

RP – Alex Reyes – A-

2020 (MLB): 2-1, 3.20 ERA, 19.2 IP, 6.4 H9, 0.5 HR9, 6.4 BB9, 12.4 K9, 3.24 FIP, 0.5 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP, 5.4 H9, 2.7 HR9, 5.4 BB9, 8.1 K9

Alex Reyes had a nice bounce back year, and he had a solid season in a relief role for the Cards in 2020.  He was one of the main bright spots on the Cards’ team this year, and he is a flamethrower that showed that he can strike many hitters out.  He also improved his command, and showed the potential to develop into a closer.  He will need to improve his control, but it’s nice to see that Reyes is finally developing into being a player that is finding his niche role in the majors.

2021 Expectations:  Set up man/Power reliever

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars 

CP – Giovanny Gallegos - B

2020 (MLB): 2-2, 3.60 ERA, 4 SV, 15 IP, 5.4 H9, 0.6 HR9, 2.4 BB9, 12.6 K9, 2.06 FIP, 0.6 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 1-0, 9.00 ERA, 2 IP, 13.5 H9, 9 HR9, 4.5 BB9, 13.5 K9

Gallegos had COVID to start the year, but he pitched well in the regular season when he was healthy.  He was one of the Cardinals’ best bullpen arms this year, but unfortunately, he really struggled in Game 2 of the NLWC against the Padres in the playoffs.  He’s been a solid, one-inning bullpen arm for the Cardinals and nothing more, and while he’s not an elite pitcher, he’s a dependable regular season pitcher that can help get his team to the playoffs.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

RP – Andrew Miller – B-

2020 (MLB): 1-1, 2.77 ERA, 4 SV, 13 IP, 6.2 H9, 0 HR9, 3.5 BB9, 11.1 K9, 2.58 FIP, 0.3 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.2 IP, 13.5 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

Andrew Miller didn’t pitch much in 2020, as he spent some time on the disabled list, but he pitched well when he was healthy this year.  Unfortunately, he didn’t pitch nearly as well in the playoffs, but he was one of the better bullpen arms for the Cards this year.  Unfortunately though, he hasn’t pitched in many innings over the past three seasons, which includes this one, and so it’s not certain how many more solid seasons that he can bring to the Cards in the future, but it’s good that he gave some solid innings to the Cards this year.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2 stars

RP – Austin Gomber – B-

2020 (MLB): 1-1, 1.86 ERA, 29 IP, 5.9 H9, 0.3 HR9, 4.7 BB9, 8.4 K9, 3.54 FIP, 0.5 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.1 IP, 13.5 H9, 0 HR9, 6.8 BB9, 13.5 K9

He is a tall lefty that pitched well in relief this season, and he showed solid command and the ability to strike out hitters.  However, he struggled at times in the playoffs, as he struggled with inherited runners, and he will need to improve his control.  He will most likely be with the Cardinals or in a major league bullpen in 2021.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars

RP – John Gant – A-

2020 (MLB): 0-3, 2.40 ERA, 15 IP, 5.4 H9, 0 HR9, 4.2 BB9, 10.8 K9, 2.19 FIP, 0.5 WAR

He had a very good 2020 season, as he did a very good job of striking hitters out and keeping balls in the ballpark, but he didn’t appear in the playoffs due to injury.  He pitched well this year, and he will likely be in the Cards’ bullpen once again next season.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars 

RP – Tyler Webb - B

2020 (MLB): 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 7.1 H9, 0.8 HR9, 2.9 BB9, 7.9 K9, 3.61 FIP, 0.3 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 0.2 IP, 13.5 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

The tall, lefty specialist had his best season this year in 2020, as he showed solid control and command of his pitches.  Unfortunately, he did not pitch well in the playoffs, but he otherwise had a very good 2020 season for the Cardinals, and he will likely be on the team next year, too.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.0 stars

RP – Genesis Cabrera – B-

2020 (MLB): 4-1, 2.42 ERA, 22.1 IP, 4 H9, 1.2 HR9, 6.4 BB9, 12.9 K9, 4.76 FIP, -0.1 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 18 ERA, 1 IP, 9 H9, 0 HR9, 27 BB9, 9 K9

Cabrera is a hard-throwing lefty that had a fairly good regular season, as he struck many hitters out, and was especially good against left-handed hitters.  However, he struggled with his control and to keep the ball in the ballpark, and those issues flared up in the playoffs, as he had trouble getting outs in the postseason.  He’ll be in the Cardinals’ bullpen in 2021, and he can really pitch well when he has his command under control.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.0 stars (3 star potential)

RP – Ryan Helsley - D

2020 (MLB): 1-1, 5.25 ERA, 6 H9, 2.3 HR9, 6 BB9, 7.5 K9, 7.02 FIP, -0.4 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.2 IP, 5.4 H9, 0 HR9, 0 BB9, 10.8 K9

He pitched well last season and he is a power pitcher that looked primed for a breakout season this year, but after he got COVID during the middle of the season, he struggled to be effective as a relief pitcher after that.  He made a valiant comeback attempt, but he just did not pitch well this season.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2 stars

RP – Jake Woodford - D

2020 (MLB): 1-0, 5.57 ERA, 21 IP, 8.6 H9, 3 HR9, 2.1 BB9, 6.9 K9, 6.71 FIP, -0.3 WAR

Woodford was called up in the middle of the season, and he showed some versatility early on as well as the ability to locate his pitches, but he struggled with his command and had trouble keeping balls in the ball park.  He will need to make adjustments in order to lock down a spot in the majors next year.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)

At the peak of his success, Hicks was a successful closer in 2019 that threw up to 105 MPH.  But he's been injured since, and he has not pitched in 1 1/2 years.  Get better soon, Jordan Hicks!

(Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images, via Redbird Rants)

RP – Jordan Hicks - Incomplete

2020 (MLB): DNP – Injured

The talented, but oft-injured flamethrower did not pitch all year long, but when healthy, he can certainly aid a bullpen.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (3 star potential)

RP – John Brebbia - Incomplete

2020 (MLB): DNP – Injured

He did not pitch the entire season due to injury, but he has been quite dependable when healthy.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 2 stars

RP – Kodi Whitley - C

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3.9 H9, 1.9 HR9, 1.9 BB9, 9.6 K9, 4.48 FIP, 0 WAR

2020 (Postseason): 0-0, 27 ERA, 0.1 IP, 27 H9, 27 HR9, 0 BB9, 0 K9

He made the opening day roster, and he showed potential as a power arm in the bullpen, but he then contracted the coronavirus, and when he came back, he struggled in his lone appearance in the playoffs.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Seth Elledge - C

2020 (MLB): 1-0, 4.63 ERA, 11.2 IP, 8.5 H9, 1.5 HR9, 6.2 BB9, 10.8 K9, 5.33 FIP, -0.1 WAR

He was decent, but not great in his stint up in the majors.  He had control and command issues, but he can strike hitters out.

2021 Expectations: Relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Rob Kaminsky - B

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 5.8 H9, 0 HR9, 3.9 BB9, 5.8 K9, 3.19 FIP, 0 WAR

The one-time prime prospect was a surprise callup to the majors this year, and the young lefty actually did a good job of pitching out of the bullpen.  He showed good command, and he induced a lot of groundballs to get outs, as he had a 60% groundball rate in fact.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to help him sustain a spot in the majors or keep his place on the 40-man roster.

2021 Expectations: AAA Relief pitcher/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Junior Fernandez – D-

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 18 ERA, 3 IP, 18 H9, 3 HR9, 6 BB9, 6 K9, 8.19 FIP, -0.1 FIP

Junior Fernandez skyrocketed through the minors in 2019, and his rapid success showed that he was more than deserving of a callup in September that year.  He also showed a strong ability to strike hitters out.  Unfortunately, he also contracted COVID, and he just did not pitch well at all this season.  He will need to have a bounce back season in 2021.

2021 Expectations: AAA Relief pitcher/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Nabil Crismatt – B-

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 3.24 ERA, 8.1 IP, 6.5 H9, 2.2 HR9, 1.1 BB9, 8.6 K9, 4.75 ERA, 0 WAR

2020 is an unusual year.  Not only was this a shortened season due to the coronavirus, but Crismatt managed to rebound from having a 9+ ERA in AAA last year to pitch reasonably well in the majors this year.  His control was sharp, and he also could strike some hitters out.  He will need to keep the ball in the ballpark more, but he showed that he can be a functioning member of a major-league bullpen.

2021 Expectations: AAA pitcher/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Ricardo Sanchez – D-

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 5.1 IP, 8.4 H9, 1.7 HR9, 8.4 BB9, 6.8 K9, 7.50 FIP,  -0.1 WAR

He was a mid-tier prospect that the Cardinals acquired from the Seattle Mariners’ organization, but Sanchez did not pitch well at all in his brief stint in the majors this year.

2021 Expectations: AAA starter/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1 star (2.5 star potential)

RP – Ryan Meisinger - C

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.2 IP, 3.4 H9, 0 HR9, 13.5 BB9, 10.1 K9, 6.57 FIP, 0 WAR

He is a power reliever that managed to pitch some scoreless innings in his brief stint up with the Cards, but he will need to improve his ability to locate his pitches to last longer in the majors.

2021 Expectations: AAA relief pitcher/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Jesus Cruz – C-

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 18 ERA, 1 IP, 27 H9, 0 HR9, 9 BB9, 18 K9, 2.19 FIP, 0 WAR

He is a power reliever that showed that he can really strike some hitters out, but he was unlikely in his lone appearance in the majors.  He will need to improve his control and command to last longer in the big leagues, but his terrific ability to generate whiffs is encouraging.

2021 Expectations: AAA relief pitcher/Potential September call-up

2021 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP – Roel Ramirez – D-

2020 (MLB): 0-0, 81 ERA, 0.2 IP, 81 H9, 54 HR9, 13.5 BB9, 13.5 K9, 82.69 FIP

In his lone appearance against the White Sox, Roel Ramirez was terrible in his lone bullpen stint up in the bigs.  He also ran into the metaphorical buzzsaw of the tremendous hitting display the White Sox showed, and Ramirez actually showed some good peripheral statistics in the minors prior to 2020, but with his abysmal showing with the Cards, it’s unlikely that we will see Roel Ramirez pitch in a Cardinal uniform in the majors anytime soon.

2021 Expectations: AAA relief pitcher

2021 Player Rating: 0.5 stars (1 star potential)

Pitching Coach:

Mike Maddux – C+

2020 (MLB): 30-28, 3.90 ERA, 7.2 H9, 1.3 HR9, 3.9 BB9, 8.8 K9, 4.58 FIP

2020 (Postseason): 1-2, 6.12 ERA, 11.2 H9, 2.2 HR9, 5.0 BB9, 9.4 K9, ~5.92 FIP

The Cardinals’ pitchers seemed to do a fairly decent job.  They struck hitters out, and showed decent command out there.  However, they will need to improve their control and keep the ball in the ballpark more.  They also really struggled to consistently pitch well in the playoffs.

(Player Rating System/Grading Scale:

This is evaluated on a 0.5 to 5-star rating scale, much like how the Franchise Hockey Manager game rates players in that game.  

5 stars = Elite player, MVP/Cy Young award-caliber player

4.5 stars = Very good player/All-Star, likely top 3 at his position

4 stars is considered to be an All-Star, 

3.5 stars is a borderline All-Star, 

3 stars is a good player, 

2.5 stars is an above average player, 

2 stars is an average player, 

1.5 stars is a backend player on a major-league team, 

1 star and below means not major league quality)

Expected Group of Pitchers for 2021 (13 pitchers for a 25-man roster, 15 if it stays a 28-man roster):

SP Jack Flaherty - 3 stars (4-star potential)
SP Kwang Hyun Kim - 2.5 stars
SP Adam Wainwright  - 2.5 stars (UFA)
SP Miles Mikolas - 2.5 stars
SP Carlos Martinez - 2.5 stars

CL Jordan Hicks - 2.5 stars (3.0-star potential)

RP Alex Reyes - 2.5 stars
RP Giovanny Gallegos - 2.5 stars

RP Austin Gomber - 2.5  stars

RP John Gant - 2.5 stars
RP Genesis Cabrera 2 stars (3 star potential)

RP John Brebbia - 2 stars (UFA)

RP Tyler Webb - 2 stars

Others That Would Compete for MLB Spots for the Cards in 2021:

RP Ryan Helsley - 2 stars

P   Daniel Ponce de Leon - 1.5 stars

P   Jake Woodford - 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)

P   Johan Oviedo - 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)

RP Kodi Whitley - 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

RP Rob Kaminsky - 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

IL:
SP Dakota Hudson - 2.5 stars

Other UFAs/Unsure if the Cards will bring back in 2021:

RP Andrew Miller - 2 stars

Judging from this assessment, the Cardinals could use one more quality starter to strengthen their pitching staff, also because Carlos Martinez is coming off his worst season as a major-league pitcher, and veteran stalwart Adam Wainwright will be 40 years old.  There's no guarantee that Martinez will reach the levels that he used to be at that helped him be a 2-time All-Star, but he was at least a decent bullpen pitcher in 2019 prior to this season.  Wainwright pitched well this season, but given his age, he's certainly at risk for decline.  In addition, Miles Mikolas missed a full season, and so it's uncertain if he can pitch nearly as well as he did for the Cards in 2018.  As for the Cardinals' group of pitchers for 2021, it looks like it will be a satisfactory group, as that squad has plenty of depth and will be competitive, as they could help get to the playoffs, but they may need one or two more upper-echelon arms that could increase their chances to win a title next year.

Anyways, those are my grades for the St. Louis Cardinals' pitchers and the pitching coach for the 2020 season.  Thanks for reading.