The Bernie Miklasz Show

The St. Louis Cardinals pledged that 2025 season would be a "reset" after the team ranked 22nd among 30 teams in winning percentage over the past two seasons. But the reset never happened.

The reset became a "transition," but I that only applies to the project to refurbish a horrendously outdated minors/development operation. I don't see a transition underway at the major-league level. Maybe later in the season, yes. But now? No.

Reset. Transition. Those words don't apply. So here's my word of the day: REWIND.

Over the weekend, the great Albert Pujols told reporters that he's ready to manage in the big leagues, and even presented a timetable: sometime this season (if a job opens) or in 2026.

The Cardinals have a manager, Oli Marmol, under contract through the 2026 season. But nothing prevents St. Louis from changing managers, and John Mozeliak already fired two managers -- Mike Matheny and Mike Shildt -- who won more than Marmol has in St. Louis.

If Albert Pujols sends word that he would love to manage the Cardinals, how could the Cardinals say no? Do the DeWitts want to lose more fans, more ticket-buying customers, and have a low-subscription rate in their new direct-to-consumer streaming service? And can you imagine what the reaction among Cardinals fans if the Cardinals say "no thanks" to Pujols and he becomes a successful manager for another team?

In this video I discuss Chaim Bloom, MLB's shift to hiring inexperienced managers, and talk about how great MLB players HAVE become good big-league managers.

Greetings. Once upon a time, the St. Louis Cardinals were one of the best organizations in the majors in drafting and developing starting pitching. But that has changed, and I took a look at their epic failure in a crucial area. I reviewed their drafts from 2015 through 2021 -- seven years -- and their absolute ineptitude is was even worse than I thought. And I thought it was pretty bad. I explain all of this in today's video -- and why I am so happy that Chaim Bloom and Rob Cerfolio are on the scene to fix it.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has worked for the organization for 18 consecutive seasons, startng when John Mozeliak selected him in the 6th round of the 2007 MLB draft. Between then and now, Mozeliak has promoted Oli every step of the way, moving Marmol up the ladder as a coach and manager in the minors and majors.

But after the 2025 season, Chaim Bloom will take over for Mozeliak as president of baseball ops. And for the first time ever in his career as a Cards coach or manager, Marmol will be working for a new boss.

What will that mean for Marmol's future? Please watch the video as I look at some questions that are on the table as the Cardinals prepare to pivot in a new direction.

Hello again. In today's video -- posted much later than planned because of technological issues -- is about the Cardinals "open competition" in center field.

Listed alphabetically, the candidates are Lars Nootbar, Victor Scott II, and Michael Siani. If the priority is offense, then Nootbaar is the one. But do the Cardinals really want to go with Noot a lot in center field? I'm not sure.

For this video, I narrowed the focus to the other candidates who are natural center fielders. Siani and Scott.

If this is a true "Runway" season the Cardinals like to promote so much, I can't think if a position player that fits the "Runway" mission statement more than Victor Scott. Translated, runway means giving a full opportunity to young players, and Scott certainly fits that description. I explain why in today's video.

The great Derrick Goold (STLtoday) had an interesting story over the weekend, reporting (via sources) that teams are saying the Cardinals are "open" to the idea of trading starting pitcher Erick Fedde.

Any such trade is a matter of timing. Sooner or later? Well it depends on what is being offered by a team (or teams) at the time.

In this video, I talk about why trading Fedde makes sense ... why trading him for the wrong reason would be unacceptable.

Katie Woo of the Athletic reported some fresh news Friday: Nolan Arenado rejected a trade to the Astros even though the Astros were on his five-team list of approved destinations. And then he said no when a deal with Houston was on the verge of completion.

That is Arenado's contractual right, of course. I don't blame him for that, though I certainly can question the decision. But what I won't do is rip St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak for this.

Mozeliak had five approved teams to deal with. Three said no. Arenado said no to the Astros. It was down to Boston as the last realistic option. And that possibility blew up as soon as free-agent Alex Bregman decided to sign with the Red Sox.

The Missouri Tigers are having an exceptional season that's even more impressive if we remember (which we do) the sad 0-18 record the team had in the SEC in regular-season play. Including a loss in the 2024 SEC Tournament, Tigers played 19 games against SEC rivals without having one happy-postgame reason to celebrate.

To say that coach Dennis Gates has done an amazing job of elevating his program after last season's calamity -- well, I don't know if "amazing" captures the magnitude of what we've seen.

In this video I talk about Wednesday's scintillating win over visiting Alabama. I take a look at how this victory showcased everything that Mizzou has done well this season -- including a relentless drive to compete to the max. I update where MU is ranked at KenPom and Bart Torvik. I update why this coaching performance by Gates is entering the one-of-a-kind realm.

And where does this Missouri rank in program history? I have an answer for you. Thanks for watching and please subscribe.

Greetings. In my opinion the two most important people at St. Louis Cardinals spring training are Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman. If they successfully rebound from their brutal 2024 seasons, the 2025 offense will fly. If Gorman and Walker have another busted season, the St. Louis offense has little chance of taking flight. Yes, they are that important. \

In this video I explain why I have confidence in these two young hitters to bounce back -- perhaps even dramatically -- in 2025. And I explain why the new hitting coach, Brant Brown, can make a positive difference.

Chaim Bloom will take over for John Mozeliak after the 2025 season and take office as the president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals. The change is long overdue but welcome. Bloom correctly has spent most of his time overseeing the hugely important project of modernizing the antiquated and comically inadequate player-development/farm system operation.