Viva El Birdos
A St. Louis Cardinals Fan Community
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World Series Game Discussion: Brewers vs Rays Game 3 Monday
The Milwaukee Brewers travel to Tropicana Field with a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series. They will start Robert Gasser while the Tampa Bay Rays will counter with Freddy Peralta. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Fox.
The Viva El Birdos Podcast – Episode 88: Interview with Jacob Odle Ft: Kyle Reis
In Episode 88 of the Viva El Birdos podcast (Oct 26 2026), Cardinals right‑handed pitching prospect Jacob Odle recounts his unexpected rise from junior‑college standout to MLB Draft League player and his eventual selection by St. Louis. He shares draft‑day anecdotes, training life in Florida—including a customized workout schedule and a weekly book club on decision‑making—and connections with fellow Southern‑California draftees Ariel Armis (Cubs) and Jacob Christian (Giants). Listeners get an inside look at Odle’s development regimen and mindset as he tackles the next step toward a major‑league career.
Possible free agent target for St. Louis Cardinals: Adrian Morejon
The author weighs the slim odds of the St. Louis Cardinals signing reliever Adrian Morejon, noting his elite 2‑WAR value and 28‑year‑old status. Using Fangraphs data, he estimates a contract around 5 years for $75‑$80 million—significantly higher than $50 million but below closer‑in closer Edwin Díaz’s $100 million deal. Morejon’s recent stats (70 games, 74.1 IP, 2.58 ERA, 2.1 fWAR) suggest he could dramatically improve the Cardinals’ struggling bullpen, though his lack of name recognition and the steep price raise concerns. The piece outlines pros and cons of the potential free‑agent move.
Confidence levels among Cardinals’ lineup locks
Viva El Birdos breaks down the St. Louis Cardinals’ projected 2027 lineup as General Manager Chaim Bloom hints at limited offseason moves. The author rates JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera as Tier 1, expecting them to anchor a potent top of the order after a solid 2026 showing. Jordan Walker and Leo Bernal land in Tier 2, with Walker praised for playing through discomfort. Early-season confidence is high for Nathan Church starting center field and Blaze Jordan edging Thomas Saggese at third base, though those spots remain uncertain. The piece forecasts a similar win total to 2026, emphasizing health management and modest roster tweaks rather than blockbuster trades.
World Series Game Discussion: Brewers vs Rays Game 2 Saturday
It’s game 2 of the World Series Saturday night in Milwaukee as the Brewers will start RHP Logan Henderson. The Tampa Bay Rays have RHP Drew Rasmussen scheduled to take the mound. First pitch and American Family Field is scheduled for 7pm and the game broadcast is available via Fox.
An A+ Year on the Farm? Grading Every Cardinals Prospect
The Viva El Birdos piece grades every St. Louis Cardinals prospect that began 2026 on the preseason FanGraphs list, assigning each a status—Stock Up, Stock Ticking Up, Stock Ticking Down, or Stock Down. Highlights include Sebastian Dos Santos (Low‑A SS) jumping to a "Stock Up" with a standout age‑18 season, Won‑Bin Cho (Double‑A OF) breaking out and earning a promotion, and Jack Gurevitch (Double‑A 1B/3B) smashing 32 homers for a "Stock Up" rating. Meanwhile, several prospects slipped, such as Yordy Herrera (Low‑A LHP) who was released and Matt Pushard (MLB RHP) who failed to stick after a Rule 5 pick. The article offers a concise, tier‑by‑tier recap of the Cardinals’ farm system performance in 2026.
World Series Game Discussion: Brewers vs Rays Game 1 Friday
It’s game 1 of the World Series Friday night in Milwaukee at American Family Field. The Tampa Bay Rays will start RHP Nick Martinez while it will be RHP Jacob Misiorowski taking the mound for the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Fox.
Will the St. Louis Cardinals extend Alec Burleson?
The article examines whether the St. Louis Cardinals will lock up arbitration‑eligible outfielder Alec Burleson before his 2027 trade‑deadline value peaks. Burleson, who hit a solo homer on September 26, 2026, faces his second arbitration hearing this winter, prompting the Cardinals to consider an arbitration‑avoiding extension—a contract type that has declined since the 2022 CBA (19 deals in 2022, down to 6 in 2026). The piece compares recent arb‑avoiding deals (e.g., Crochet, Raleigh, Kirk) and assesses if Burleson fits the “goldilocks” profile for a long‑term lock‑in or simply a personal preference to skip arbitration. It also questions whether St. Louis has replacements if Burleson departs via free agency after 2028 or in a July 2027 trade.
Thoughts on the World Series
In a tongue‑in‑cheek essay, the author debates whether to root for the Milwaukee Brewers or the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series. He argues both clubs excel at analytics, run on low payrolls, and have never won a championship, making it hard to pick a side. Personal bias favors Milwaukee because the city “deserves a title,” yet he admits a schadenfreude pull toward Tampa Bay. He also notes the National League’s recent dominance and hints at future trades that could reshape rivalries. The piece ends without a firm conclusion, leaving fans to decide whose side they’ll take.
St. Louis Cardinals guide on who to root for in this World Series
Root for the Rays.
St Louis’ Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker, A Cardinals Success Story
Alec Burleson’s 2026 season cements him as a breakout power hitter for St. Louis. His chase rate lands in the 10th decile, and he swings at almost anything, turning zone extensions into home runs. Burleson boosted his hard‑hit percentage, improved his isolated power and, despite a modest 18.1% strikeout rate, led MLB in RBIs. In a neutral park he’d project roughly 31 homers. His transition to first base also shines, earning top receiver marks. The piece also notes Jordan Walker’s surge in isolated power and HR/fly‑ball ratio, but the focus remains on Burleson’s statistical rise.
Athletics, CBA and everything MLB in between
In a new MILLIONS livestream podcast, the author chats with former MLB.com and NBC Sports reporter Jessica Kleinschmidt about upcoming MLB CBA negotiations, the Rule 5 draft, and how the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals are similarly rebuilding. They note the A’s appointment of POBO Taylor Smith, mirroring the Cardinals’ Chaim Bloom, and discuss potential impacts on fringe 40‑man roster players. The episode also teases future Athletics coverage and previews a Thursday interview with Double‑A pitcher Michael Watson and prospect analyst Kareem Haq.
The Viva El Birdos Podcast: Episode 86: Interview with Moises Rodriguez
In episode 86 of the Viva El Birdos podcast, Cardinals Assistant GM and Head of Player Development Moises Rodriguez talks International scouting. He outlines how the club’s talent pipeline—featuring prospects like Rainiel Rodriguez, Yairo Padilla, Emmanuel Luna and Leo Bernal—mirrors the impact of past signings such as Carlos Martinez, Alex Reyes and the late Oscar Taveras. The discussion covers scouting evolution, biomechanical evaluation, Caribbean and Asian market investments, and the debate over an international draft, offering insight into St. Louis’s strategy to restore MLB relevance.
ALCS Game Discussion for Guardians vs Rays Monday
The Tampa Bay Rays aim to clinch a World Series berth in Game 6 against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Progressive Field. Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta will try to silence Cleveland, while the Guardians rely on reliever Shawn Armstrong to force a decisive Game 7. The matchup begins at 7:08 p.m. Central, broadcast on Fox/FS1.
The Viva El Birdos Podcast Episode 87: Interview with Josh Jacobs
In Episode 87 of the Viva El Birdos Podcast (Oct. 19, 2026), hosts Jake and Scott sit down with MLB.com writer and Dealin’ The Cards host Josh Jacobs. Jacobs shares how he broke into MLB.com, the podcast’s rise to a major Cardinals‑focused platform, and dives into hot offseason debates on third base, centre field, and the pitching staff. The conversation also touches on the Cardinals’ short‑ and long‑term strategies, bullpen concerns, trade value of Jimmy Crooks, and prospects versus rentals like Brandon Marsh. Upcoming episodes will feature Cardinals’ scouting and pitching prospects, keeping fans updated through the offseason.
Looking at free agent second baseman for possible move to 3B
The Cardinals’ off‑season strategy hinges on shoring up weak spots, and with the free‑agent market thin at third base, the author suggests scouting second basemen who could transition to the corner. Highlighting Brandon Lowe—who posted a .260/.331/.493 line, 121 wRC+ and 4.9 fWAR in 2026—the piece weighs his $70 million, four‑year proposal against defensive concerns, a low‑percentile arm and limited 3B experience. While Lowe’s 35‑home‑run power could boost the lineup, his recent uptick in strikeouts and BABIP raises red flags, making him a risky, multi‑year gamble for St. Louis.
ALCS Game Discussion for Guardians vs Rays Sunday
It’s pivotal game 5 Sunday as the Guardians and Rays clash again in Cleveland. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen while the Guardians will give the ball to Parker Messick. First pitch is set for 4pm at Progressive Field and the game broadcast is available via Fox/FS1.
Is spending money even a “shortcut” for the Cardinals?
After committing to the rebuild that was staring them in the face for a few seasons, the St. Louis Cardinals kicked off the transition with a solid 2026 campaign. By most accounts, the Cardinals outperformed preseason expectations, but many fans still believe that a successful season ends with at least one game in October. That […]
ALCS Game Discussion for Guardians vs Rays Saturday Night
The Guardians and Rays will try again Saturday to compete in game 4 of the ALCS. Assuming the weather doesn’t interfere, the Guardians will start RHP Shawn Armstrong while the Rays will give the ball to RHP Nick Martinez. First pitch scheduled for 7:08pm central time at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Cardinals Catching the Brewers, Part 3: The Offseason Blueprint
The last two weeks I have gone position by position comparing the Cardinals roster and prospect pipeline to the Brewers for both hitters and pitchers. My assessment was that the current and future position-player talent on both teams is relatively close and that the gap on the pitching side is quite substantial. As I looked […]
ALCS Game Discussion for Guardians vs Rays Friday
It’s game for of the ALCS in Cleveland Friday night as the Guardians will try to improve on their 2-1 advantage. The Rays will start RHP Nick Martinez while the Guardians will start RHP Shawn Armstrong. First pitch has been delayed due to rain and the game broadcast is available via Fox/FS1. UPDATE: Game has […]
A look back at the St. Louis Cardinals’ recent trade deadline acquisitions
Well, it’s been a few weeks since games have ended and I think it’s time to be done debating about whether or not, or how, the Cardinal 2026 was, or was not, a success. Each will have their own point of view and each has had their say. Many various takes, for sure. One of […]
NLCS Game Discussion for Dodgers vs Brewers Thursday
It’s game 4 of the NLCS in Los Angeles as the Dodgers will try to save their season. RHP Tyler Glasnow is the starter for the Dodgers while the Brewers while LHP Shane Drohan will take the mound for them. First pitch has been moved up one hour than earlier scheduled as the first pitch […]
ALCS Game Discussion for Guardians vs Rays Thursday
It’s a pivotal game 3 in Cleveland as the Guardians and Rays wills square off to see which team will grab the ALCS lead Thursday afternoon. RHP Griffin Jax will get the start for the Rays while the Guardians will give the ball to RHP Gavin Williams. First pitch has been moved up to noon […]
Re-visiting the St. Louis Cardinals top 20 VEB prospects from 2023
Coming sooner than you’d think, we’ll be voting on the top 20 prospects in the Cardinals’ system. That will be a welcome respite from the lockout that will surely be happening. In the spirit of that, I wanted to look at our very first top 20 to see how we did. I began this feature […]
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