The Cardinal Sin

Welcome back to the Cardinal Sin podcast, a sequel absolutely no one asked for, yet much like Hollywood’s worst impulses, we are cramming it down your throats anyway. After defying all statistical odds to secure a whopping three listeners last week, Charles Haas and John Rabe return to see just how much lower the bar can go. Humor. Pain. Analytics. Bloom & the St. Louis Cardinals. It's all in this weeks episode of the Cardinal Sin.

--------------------00:00 – Intro

(03:48) – NLCS: Brewers up 3-0 on the Dodgers and what it means for small markets and labor talks.

(05:11) – Payroll myths, salary-cap arguments, and the awkward success of low-spending teams.

(11:50) – Why no team is unbeatable in October and the outsized role of luck in short series.

(24:03) – Brewers/Rays success is advanced analytics, not “old-school” baseball.

(34:26) – Clarifying analytics basics people still get wrong and the invention of the “Keith Law effect”—yelling at people until they agree with you.

(55:08) – Modern pitching usage, 30 Cardinals arms, and how Dizzy Dean & Bob Gibson actually worked.

(1:21:46) Hopeful but cautious take on Bloom’s Tampa Bay background, the need for multiple voices, and the massive task of not just catching up after years of falling behind under Mozeliak.

(1:31:49) – Rejection of simplistic payroll comparisons. Cardinals’ low spend this year reflects a non-contending cycle, not inability to spend.

On "The Pilot Episode" of The Cardinal Sin, Charles⁠ (@OnlyCardsFans)⁠⁠ and JBIF Stupid Town™ (@johnrabe⁠) dig into Chaim Bloom’s latest sermon on patience, take a deep dive in Oli Marmol’s decisions, prospects who’ve been “developing” longer than most marriages last, and a bullpen so catastrophic that lighting the entire thing on fire would actually improve them.

The front office says be patient.

The standings say seek professional help.

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(00:00) Intro

(05:54) Balancing criticism and support of the Cardinals, and whether media coverage is fair.

(14:19) Revisiting Jeff Albert and the Cardinals’ approach to hitting development.

(22:16) Chaim Bloom, front-office direction, and rebuilding trust with fans.

(32:32) Evaluating the season, developing young talent, and whether the Cardinals are close to contention.

(55:50) Oli Marmol’s relationship with the media, managerial decisions, and areas for growth.

(1:09:31) Young player development, playing time, and the debate over the Cardinals’ bullpen strategy.

(1:28:35) Memorable Cardinals moments, baseball nostalgia, postseason rooting interests, and the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry.

(1:30:27) Postseason rooting interests and the Tampa Bay Rays. They discuss the Dodgers' financial advantages and explain why the Rays' ability to compete with limited resources makes them an appealing underdog.

(1:40:32) Closing remarks and plans for future episodes.