Bernie Miklasz Show: 6-man rotation for the Cardinals?
In what is supposed to be a “reset” season for the St. Louis Cardinals, I wonder if this marketing pitch to fans and media will lead to more legitimate opportunities for their younger, less experienced starting pitchers. Or will it be the outdated, old-school approach as usual?
More MLB teams are transitioning to six-man rotations for larger segments of the season. And because of that and other factors, MLB starting pitchers are now making their starts after five days of rest instead of the standard four days of rest. This is an obvious trend over the last several seasons, as MLB teams evolve. But the Cardinals have been slow to evolve, and their insistence on keeping five-man rotation in 2025 would offer another example of their close-minded outlook and an unwillingness to adapt.
I don’t know about you, but I think 2025 is ideal time clearing rotation spots for Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews and possibly Tink Hence (later in rge season) just to name a few. There are others.
And with good young starting -pitching prospects making their way to St. Louis, this situation demands creating opportunities — and one obvious way to do that is by going with a six-man rotation.
There are numerous benefits to utilizing the six-man setup — and I explain that, and more, in today’s video. Thank you.
25 comments
Well said Bernie, just because you don't like the DH rule does that mean you want your team to still pencil in the pitcher in the 9 spot? Same applies to 6 man rotation. Pitchers are so fragile now that if you get 120 to 140 innings from your starters and they are productive and you have 6 guys that can stay fresh and give you quality starts why not? Also it is not like you are taking starts away from Cy Young candidates in this rotation. A little less of Mikolas and Katz is not a bad thing if the front office insists on keeping them in the rotation.
Correction Matz not Katz
6 man rotation makes sense for all the reasons you laid out and that McGreevy will get a chance to start. It is a great solution as both Matz and Mikolas, because of their salaries, WILL start for the cardinals this year. Shouldn't be that way but it is.
Six man rotation or not, Miles and Maatz are going to start. Mo is not going to give up on those terrible signings and his yes man Oli will make sure they are in the rotation. That will put their young talent in the bullpen (even though they have always been starters) so that Mo and Oli can complain that they are not performing in their current role. I hope that Bloom shows Oli the door when he takes over the team.
I think it makes perfect sense.
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The game has changed. I’d shuttle pitchers from the minors to keep everyone at optimum level. Hearing they don’t want to use Tink and Cooper in the bullpen. Saying it would stunt their growth. Certainly didn’t hurt Waino. I think we could have the beginnings of a special year and run. Hoping I’m proven right. For once.😁 Thanks for helping the offseason pass. Imagining what could be if they can figure out how the leader in quality starts and not crater in-between.
Hey Big B,
Your take on the 6 man rotation makes sense for how the game has evolved.
Long gone are the days of a 4 man rotation. Sure made those “anxiously waiting” days for Gibsons turn to come around shorter. We thought of Gibson like a well maintenance machine that we took for granted.
Your points of a “work around schedule” are true!
Agreed on all points!
Great work Bernie! So much appreciated!! 👏😊
For the 2023 season I thought they should’ve resigned Quintana and went to a 6 man rotation. Especially with having some older guys in rotation like Waino. I thought the extra rest would keep them fresher. Plus you know the chances are slim to none of coming out of spring training with all your starters ready to go and healthy.
Everyone of all ages benefits from an extra day of rest and it’s a long long season. The only argument is sometimes it hurts a sinker baller to have a fresher arm. To that I say deal with it, throw an extended bullpen, figure it out.
Instead of a 6 man rotation, I would piggyback Mikolas with Matz. Mikolas usually pitched OK for 4 or 5 innings before they shelled him. Matz is only good for 5 or its back to the IL. Flip-flops them to give each one a chance for a 5 inning victory.
Was taken aback by Wheelers comments on Edmonds Jimmy was light years ahead Brad with his insight of the game. Gonna miss him. Would have left this comment on the Gang video but I dont think that possible if not watching live, Keep up the good work Bernie
Hi Bernie, don't think MO will go for a 6-man rotation. Don't think Marmol has the final say. I know I'm an old school guy, but don't have a problem w a 6-man rotation. Keeps Mikolas off the mound a little more! In my perfect world, go w 6 man, put Mikolas and Matz in the BP. Gives much more "runway" for the YOUNG starters. That's the whole point, isn't it? Whattaya think? Thanks Bernie! you make my day!
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Bernie. I understand the game has changed. I also understand its not going to change anytime soon. The game itself really is a bad version. Whitey ball all but forgotten. Give me 4-6 Luis Arraez type players all day. Equals effective wins. Cardinals need "baseball" men again. Too many business orientated types running a circus. You have to have business types, but the old eye test produced legendary players. Fundamentals. Oli has this mancrush on Ciani. Albeit great defender, Victor literally needs to be seasoned and possibly top 10 fastest in the game. Where are the future George Kissel's?
great to have access to you, Katie, Will and others. I sent the following question to you through Will and he said he'd pass it on to you. Here it is:
Bernie, and you to a lesser degree, have defended Mo's overall success as GM and Director of baseball operations. However, the more the team moved on from the Jeff Luhnow years – coincidentally, ending the last championship season – the less successful Mo seems to be. How much of his early 'success' would you contribute to him, as opposed to Luhnow's workings with player development? – something that has gradually caused the downfall of a once prouder organization. Mo seems, scared, sensitive to criticism, and so much of a victim of his own failures, that he is now worthless moving forward – unless of course, it's to demonstrate through his last off-season, just how impotent he has become.
Thanks Bernie
Bernie, I am anxiously awaiting your analysis on the Jim Edmonds interview 😮😮
Bernie, you spend so much time defending your ideas it derails your conversation. You don't need to defend your ideas and we know what you mean by what you say.
The hat took me back to 1969. I was a 12 yr old, still reeling from the WS game 7 loss to Detroit. Baseball changed that year, mound was lowered, playoffs, divisions, Mets WS champs! Cepeda was traded, Vada Pinson for Bobby Tolan? Beloved coach Joe Schultz left StL to manage the Pilots. The '69 expansion felt hurried. Montreal and Seattle were not ready. Bernie, maybe you could do a 1969 retrospective? Sorry for the somewhat disjointed post.
I think a six man rotation is great. It seems like some of the older pitchers were not as effective late in the season and this gives younger pitchers more opportunities. There might be more 7 inning performances for more starts. Five inning starts means you have often four relievers and all it takes is one to have a bad outing and everything falls apart.
You've said several times "You don't have to like it"………I don't have to watch it, contribute to it, or buy merchandise either. After what Jimmy "Ballgame" stated on how Legacy Player's are being treated now by this organization I'm going to check the box scores and catch some games on Sirius. But I'm very close to being done with this watered down version of what use to be great game. What they've done to baseball is a discrace.
Makes great sense to do what you suggest. Would love to hear what Marmol and Blake think.
Keeping Fedde and Helsley on the books in a rebuild year is utterly ridiculous
How could they not be in any conversations around those players? Package them up with Arenado and queue up “shipping off to Boston”
Holding out for the deadline feels like a huge mistake as far as giving the young guys more opportunities, but you said that already. I like the 6 day rest idea.
I'm much more excited by the idea of a 6-man rotation rather than a "reliever's game" any day of the week.
The 2025 schedule itself provides a good reason to use a six man rotation. There are four 13-game stretches, a 16-game stretch, and a 19-game stretch with no scheduled day off. That’s 97 games of the season.