Cardinals on My Time

In honor of Black History Month, Random Cardinal of the Week steps away from the usual deep cuts to profile a true pioneer. Meet William Henry Greason, the man who broke the pitching color barrier for the St. Louis Cardinals.

While the story of Jackie Robinson is well-known, the integration of the Cardinals—the southernmost and westernmost team in MLB at the time—was a unique struggle set against the backdrop of a deeply segregated St. Louis.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Hero Before the Mound: Greason’s service as one of the first Black Marines, including his time in combat at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

• The Birmingham Black Barons: His years in the Negro Leagues playing alongside a teenage phenom named Willie Mays.

• Integrating the Birds on the Bat: The business and social pressures that led Gussie Busch to finally integrate the roster in 1954, and Greason’s historic debut at Wrigley Field.

• A Century of Resilience: How Greason transitioned from the mound to the ministry, serving the Birmingham community for decades during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

From growing up across the street from Martin Luther King Jr. to throwing out the first pitch at Rickwood Field at 100 years old, Bill Greason’s legacy is a testament to perseverance in the face of the "gentleman’s agreement" and Jim Crow.

Key Statistics & Facts:

• MLB Debut: May 31, 1954 (First Black pitcher in Cardinals history).

• Negro Leagues: 2.84 ERA with the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons.

• Longevity: As of 2026, Bill Greason remains the oldest living Negro Leagues veteran at 101 years old.

#BlackHistoryMonth #STLCards #NegroLeagues #BillGreason #MLBHistory #StLouisCardinals

Spring Training 2026 is underway at the newly renovated Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, and the vibes are… vibin'. As the Cardinals embrace a true rebuild, the rotation is a blank slate.

This week on Cardinals On My Time, Scott Plaza is joined by Josh Jacobs (Site Expert at Redbird Rants) to perform a "vibes check" on the pitching staff. We move past the box scores and look at the "Dude vs. Guy" spectrum: Who is a cornerstone you build a franchise around, and who is just a bridge to the next era?

In this episode:

• The Rotation Locks: We break down why Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, and Michael McGreevy are the only names written in pen—and where they fall on the "Dude" scale.

• The "Guy" Gauntlet: Sorting through the depth of Kyle Leahy, Richard Fitts, and Andre Pallante. Is Pallante a long-term piece or the ultimate trade bait?

• Prospect Heat: Why the industry is sleeping on Quinn Mathews and why Brandon Clarke might be the highest-ceiling "Dude" in the system.

• 2026 Projections: We react to PECOTA’s brutal 66-win projection. Are the Cardinals really the 5th-best team in a weak NL Central?

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If you’re enjoying the show, please Like, Subscribe, and let us know in the comments: Who is the one "Dude" the Cardinals cannot afford to lose this season?

The Cardinals made another big move — and this one might shape the next few seasons.

On this episode of Redbird Rundown, we break down the Brendan Donovan trade and all of its ripple effects. What did Donovan mean to the Cardinals during his time in St. Louis? How should fans feel about the return, and what does this deal signal about the organization’s direction heading into 2026? We also step back and give Chaim Bloom an overall offseason grade if this ends up being his final move.

Plus, we dig into a major change for Cardinals fans: a new way to watch games this season. MLB will now produce and distribute Cardinals broadcasts, with games available on traditional cable and through Cardinals.TV — no blackouts, new pricing, and more details still to come.

To wrap things up, Jonathan kicks off a new segment in honor of Black History Month, spotlighting a lesser-known Cardinal whose story deserves more attention — and why their legacy still matters today.

If you love smart Cardinals conversation without the hot-take nonsense, you’re in the right place.

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In this episode, we revisit a night in September 2001 that should have been the start of a legendary career. Bud Smith was the Cardinals' #1 prospect—ranked even higher than a young Albert Pujols. At just 21 years old, he achieved what Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines only did once, and what modern aces like Adam Wainwright never could: he threw a no-hitter.But while Bud Smith still holds the title of the last Cardinal to throw a "no-no," his story is also one of the most mysterious "What Ifs" in franchise history.In this episode, we discuss:The Ranking: A look back at the 2001 prospect list where Bud Smith sat at the top, just ahead of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.The Masterpiece: The 134-pitch marathon in San Diego where a rookie navigated a lineup featuring Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, and Ryan Klesko.The Trade: How a no-hit hero was packaged in the deal for Scott Rolen, only to never pitch in the Big Leagues again.The Curse: Why the Cardinals haven’t seen a no-hitter in over two decades since Bud walked off the mound."Sometimes the brightest flames burn out the fastest."

The Brendan Donovan era in St. Louis has officially come to an end. After months of "waiting to be blown away," Chaim Bloom pulled the trigger on a complex three-team deal with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.

On today's episode, Scott Plaza is joined by Redbird Farmhands, Aidan Gray (Redbirds on the Arch), and Roman Rodriguez to answer the big questions:

• Did the Cardinals win the trade? We weigh the loss of Donnie’s leadership against a prospect haul headlined by switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and athlete Tai Peete.
• The "Peachtree" Report: Farmhands shares his personal history playing with Tai Peete and what Cardinals fans should expect from the young outfielder.
• The Rays Factor: Why does everyone get nervous when Tampa Bay enters a trade? Roman gives us the outside perspective on Colton Ledbetter and the "conveyor belt of value."
• Vegas Disrespect: The over/under for 2026 is sitting at 69.5 wins. Are the Cardinals really a 70-win team, or is there value in the "scraps"?

Follow the guests: Twitter/X: @MrPlaztastic17, @RedbirdFarm, @AidanGraygray8, @Rome_De_Rod

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your baseball fix.

ZIPS projections are out… and Cardinals fans are once again staring straight into the void.

In this episode of Redbird Rundown, we dig into Dan Szymborski’s ZIPS projections from FanGraphs and ask the only questions that matter:
👉 Are the Cardinals actually better than they look on paper?
👉 Who’s being underrated, overrated, or outright disrespected?
👉 And how much copium is too much copium?

We break down:

• Mason Winn’s surprising place among MLB shortstops

• Why the offense still feels… thin

• Bullpen projections that don’t pass the sniff test

• Optimism (and skepticism) around Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, Nolan Gorman, and Brendan Donovan

• Why JJ Weatherholt has become the fanbase’s collective emotional support prospect

• And how stolen bases might quietly become this team’s identity

Plus:
🧠 A very real debate about truth vs. consequences
🩺 A shockingly detailed discussion of the piriformis
💸 $100 over/under bets that may or may not age terribly

This isn’t doom. This isn’t blind optimism.
It’s January Cardinals baseball discourse at its purest.

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In the premiere episode of Random Cardinal of the Week, we look back at one of the most talented—and tragic—shortstops to ever wear the uniform: Khalil Greene.Acquired in December 2008 to anchor a position previously held by legends like "The Wizard," Greene arrived in St. Louis with a highlight reel that rivaled the best in the game. But beneath the diving plays and the "monster" power he showed in San Diego, a much tougher battle was brewing.In this episode:The Trade: Why the Cardinals gave up future steady reliever Luke Gregerson to get Greene.The Hope: A blistering .408 spring training and the rare sight of a shortstop batting cleanup on Opening Day behind Albert Pujols.The Struggle: The heartbreaking reality of Greene’s battle with Social Anxiety Disorder and how the mental rigors of the game eventually led to his retirement at just 29 years old.The Legacy: How Adam Wainwright’s account of Greene’s "quiet exit" reminds us that the toughest battles in baseball never show up in the box score.Khalil Greene’s time in St. Louis was short, and it didn't end with a parade. However, his story remains a vital chapter in Cardinals history—a reminder that the "mental game" is more than just a cliché.#STLCards #MLBHistory #KhalilGreene

What stat actually defines Alec Burleson’s value to the Cardinals?

On this episode of The Redbird Rundown, we’re drafting the Baseball Savant metrics we believe matter most when evaluating Alec Burleson—both now and in the years ahead. After a quick five-word vibe check from the past week, we jump into a stat draft designed to separate the noise from the numbers that truly matter.

Using 15 Baseball Savant metrics (batting, fielding, and baserunning), Matt, Scott, and Jonathan each build their case for what best captures Burleson’s current role and future upside, with Andy facilitating and weighing in along the way.

• Burleson’s role with the Cardinals right now

• Why advanced stats and percentiles matter

• Drafting analytics with real stakes (once a stat is picked, it’s gone)

• Post-draft debate and final thoughts on Burly’s outlook

If you enjoy Cardinals talk that blends analytics, thoughtful debate, and fan perspective, you’re in the right place.

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Thanks for listening, and as always—keep those rally caps on.

Topics include:

The Cardinals are officially rebuilding, but the energy at the 2026 Winter Warm-Up didn't feel like a 73-win team. Today, we’re recapping our time at Busch Stadium, featuring exclusive interview reactions from the next generation of St. Louis baseball.In this episode:The Leadership Gap: How Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn are handling the "Veteran" tag at age 27.The Pitching Lab: Why everyone from Andre Pallante to Gordon Graceffo is throwing the "Kick Change" this spring.JJ Wetherholt is Legit: Why the star prospect isn't just looking for "experience" in Jupiter—he’s looking to make the Opening Day roster.The Bloom Checklist: Chaim Bloom has cleared the books, but the roster isn't finished. We discuss the catcher logjam and the search for a veteran right-handed bat (Bader? Andujar?).Timestamps: 0:00 – Cold Open: Winter Warm-Up Vibes 2:15 – The New Clubhouse Culture: Burleson, Winn, & Saggese 5:30 – The Pitching Rotation: Is Quinn Mathews on the outside looking in? 8:45 – Andre Pallante & Michael McGreevy: The "91-Day" Veteran 12:10 – What is a "Kick Change"? 14:30 – JJ Wetherholt’s Mission for Spring Training 18:20 – Chaim Bloom’s Remaining Offseason Checklist 22:15 – The Brendan Donovan & Jojo Romero Trade RumorsFollow Scott: @MrPlaztastic17 on Twitter/X Follow Thomas: @ThomasGauvain#STLCards #Cardinals #MLB #JJWetherholt #ChaimBloom #WinterWarmUp #MasynWinn #BaseballPodcast

It finally happened — the Cardinals traded Nolan Arenado.

On this episode of The Redbird Rundown, Andy, Matt, Jonathan, and Scott react to the long-anticipated Nolan Arenado trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks. We unpack the full deal, reflect on Arenado’s time in St. Louis, and discuss what the move means for the Cardinals’ future at third base.

Scott also joins with live insight from Cardinals Winter Warm-Up, and we kick things off with our weekly vibe check to capture the mood of Cardinals Nation.

• Nolan Arenado traded to Arizona

• Initial reactions before the details

• Cardinals receive RHP Jack Martinez

• What’s next at 3B in 2026 and beyond?

• Winter Warm-Up notes from the scene

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⚾ In this episode: