The Randy Karraker Show

By STL Sports CentralSports

The Randy Karraker Show episodes

July 28 Which Teams Should Trade For Cardinals Dustin May & Lars Nootbaar?
Another Cardinals game…another tough loss. And this one might have been the last we see from “starting pitcher” Matthew Liberatore.
At least Dobbins looked solid in the second half.
And the deadline is coming, so let’s figure out where Dustin May & Lars Nootbaar could be going…
Any other deadline moves the Cardinals need to make? Could they still find a reliever…somewhere?

0:00 -- Was that the final start of Liberatore's 2026 season?
6:55 -- Any reasons Libby shouldn't move the pen? Apparently there are...
11:00 -- Fans need more patience after they clamor for young player call-ups
18:25 -- Moving May & Nootbaar is a NECESSITY...how about the Yankees
24:45 -- Are we buying the Astros as a buyer? Could they be a Noot (and JoJo) target?
32:35 -- Why do people want to trade Ivan Herrera?
40:00 -- The Cardinals project Herrera as a 30HR player
43:50 -- Is Herrera as a LF or 3B a realistic future?
46:15 -- Nootbaar to the Phillies? Dustin May to the White Sox?
49:55 -- LIVE Postgame show from BPV on Thursday!
51:00 -- Show Close

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54 min
July 27 Are Reinforcements On the Way? Will Bloom Promote Prospects? Would you give Burleson $12mm a year?
The Cardinals offense over the weekend went quiet more often than not, but what is the team just had a bullpen it could rely on?
Would we be seeing more results like the Cardinals had in April and May?
Chaim Bloom made the moves he could make to reinforce the offense back in June, and it helped keep them afloat while the top of the order went quiet. But now the offense is struggling, the starting pitching is hitting a groove (for the most part) and the bullpen has become the fans biggest complaint.
The Cardinals system has plenty of arms—will they finally decide to use them?
Will they put Hunter Dobbins into the rotation full time? And will that only happen once a Dustin May deal is completed? And don’t even get us started on the trade deadline questions…

And despite all of that talk we someone got on an Alec Burleson conversation that took over the show...
0:00 -- Show Open
1:00 -- The offense has gotten rough & there aren't many reinforcements to lean on...
6:55 -- Could Bernal get a chance in 2026?
13:00 -- The bullpen continues to fall apart--what about some help there
21:00 -- The starters are doing their job, the bullpen needs to step up
24:10 -- Andre Pallante is a great example that none of us know anything
29:00 -- Different teams have different models & we have no idea what they actually think
34:00 -- Will the Cardinals use any other young starters to help the bullpen?
40:50 -- And here's where the Burly conversation takes over the show...Randy thinks he's worth 6AAV!!
49:00 -- If the Cardinals think Burleson is over-producing, should he be a trade piece?
59:00 -- Is Burly the kind of player you need to lock up early?
1:06:00 -- Would you rather have Olson at $21mm a year or Burleson at $14mm?
1:14:55 -- The Cardinals don't seem to be rushing to sign him long-term...
1:20:45 -- Is baseball finally moving away from "3 outcomes" baseball
1:24:40 -- Burleson's (and most everyone else's) power is being suppressed by Busch
1:29:05 -- Does it matter which day this week that Dobbins starts?
1:34:25 -- Show Close

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1 hr 36 min
July 25 Bernie Says Only TWO Cardinals Should Be Untouchable at the Deadline | Randy Karraker Show
The Cardinals were outscored 26 to 5 in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings during their recent slump, and Bernie Miklasz says that number explains more than the bullpen ever could. He also names the only two Cardinals he would refuse to trade before the deadline, and says the front office should be taking calls on everyone else.
Randy Karraker is joined by Bernie Miklasz for the weekly visit at STL Sports Central. Bernie calls this a team in decline and walks through how bad the offense has been, including three runs in 18 innings against the Angels.
Randy notes the Cardinals are 11 and 33 when they score three runs or fewer. They also cover Jesus Baez emerging from the Ryan Helsley trade, concerns about Joshua Baez, and the real story of what happened to Chaim Bloom in Boston.
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55 min
July 22 Are Herrera & Burleson BOTH a Part of the Cardinals’ Future Core? | Losing Streak Reaches Four
The Cardinals lose another one last night, but at least there wasn’t much drama?
No, instead it was one of the most unwatchable evenings of baseball this season…but we move on…
After talking about Ivan Herrera for a LONG show yesterday, we have to address some of Randy’s recent claims around his expectations for Alec Burleson, how that compares to Ivan and what it means for the future core of the Cardinals rebuild.

0:00 -- Well those first 3 Libby-Herrera starts were nice but it's time to move on
7:30 -- Randy blindly picks between Cardinals' PLAYER A vs. PLAYER B
11:10 -- Why is Ivan Herrera's value so much higher than Alec Burleson
16:30 -- Herrera's perception & projection is still higher than Burleson
22:30 -- If Burly is having a "career year", should he be a trade piece this winter?
27:45 -- Looking deeper: How do Burly & Herrera compare over 2025 & 2026 on Baseball Savant?
32:45 -- Is this conversation pointless with much larger holes in the offense?
37:25 -- Does Herrera lose value if he's not able to play catcher long-term
43:30 -- Why are we using any time to talk about trading good players like Burly & Ivan?
48:00 -- Do Herrera's lack of exit velo, barrels & other numbers worry you? Is he injured?
53:30 -- Some show fans didn't like the Herrera conversation we were having...
59:45 -- Kansas is spending HOW MUCH to get the Chiefs?!
1:01:35 -- Show Close

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1 hr 5 min
July 21 Herrera’s Power Outage is Now a Full Blown PROBLEM (or are we just overreacting?)
The Cardinals dropped ANOTHER heartbreaker, this time losing 2-1 thanks to a stupendous effort from Riley O’Brien that finished with him WALKING THE GAME WINNING RUN for the Angels
There’s a lot of doom & a fair amount of gloom and one reason comes down to a Cardinals’ top hitter who has now been STRUGGLING for over a month and a half...
What’s the answer for Herrera? Should they move him down in the lineup? Change his workload?

0:00 -- Show Open
1:05 -- Randy tries and fails to find a post-All Star break silver lining
8:15 -- Is Ivan Herrera's power struggles in 2026--and terrible last month--a cause for concern?
11:50 -- Randy isn't accepting any Herrera slander
18:00 -- Do other teams in MLB see Herrera as having power potential
27:00 -- Trade Herrera? Just move him down?
36:00 -- Have the Cardinals trade pieces lost value? Does that change the plan?
45:30 -- Randy has some more thoughts for those doubting Ivan Herrera
54:20 -- Could you trade Herrera for a legitimate starting pitcher?
1:01:20 -- An MLB executive texted into the show about Herrera's perceived value
1:09:50 -- How much more leash does Chaim get?!
1:14:00 -- Are you just dealing with the karma from firing Matheny?
1:22:15 -- No LeBron decision yet + Show Close

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1 hr 24 min
July 20 The Small Change That Turned Jordan Walker Into a Slugger | Nate Schwartz from Pitcher List
Jordan Walker changed one small thing, and it may have turned him into a 30 home run hitter. PitcherList analyst Nate Schwartz joins The Randy Karraker Show to reveal the under-the-hood numbers behind the Cardinals' most surprising first half in years.
Nate breaks down the mechanical tweak and approach shift fueling Jordan Walker's breakout season and Home Run Derby win, explains why Michael McGreevy keeps winning games despite metrics that say he shouldn't, weighs Dustin May's trade deadline value, and makes the case that Alec Burleson has quietly become a middle of the order bat worth keeping.
Follow Nate: https://x.com/_nateschwartz
🍺 STL Sports Central is brought to you in part by Budweiser.
It's Budweiser's 150th Anniversary and they're celebrating with a Heritage Can Series that honors their legacy of being Made of America. Collect all four designs. For 150 years, This Bud’s For You.
Enjoy Responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch. Budweiser Lager Beer, St. Louis, MO.
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26 min
July 20 Cardinals Pitching Doesn't Have an Easy Answer | Brandon Clarke Wows with 103MPH
The Cardinals lose last night has a lot of Cardinals' fans questioning the status of the 2026 season and for some the sky appears to be falling...
The congested schedule means the Cardinals will be shifting the staff around, but will that make a difference when you look at some of the numbers the pitchers are putting up?
Should Mautz or Mathews be the next call-up for the rotation?
Are the answers for the questionable bullpen in the organization already?
And is it easier to preach patience when Brandon Clarke is going THIS in the minors?
Plus a tricky interview with Ole Miss broadcaster Brett "Stats" Norsworthy to talk about the SEC Commissioner's comments on the league schedule & threatening a break from the NCAA

1:00 -- Trying to pick up the pieces after a rough Cardinals weekend...
4:45 -- The Cardinals depth, and quality, is starting to get strained thin
10:30 -- How much are you worried about Nathan Church & the CF spot
12:30 -- Walks continue to plague every level of the Cardinals pitching
14:15 -- but is there some hope after Quinn Mathews last month in Memphis
16:45 -- Will the Cardinals bring Brycen Mautz back as a starter or reliever
23:05 -- Patience paying off: Brandon Clarke breaks 103MPH
29:30 -- The Baez situation has gone from hopeful to frustrating
34:00 -- Live from SEC Media Days with Ole Miss' Brett Norsworthy
37:20 -- Every single SEC coach hates the 9-game schedule--now what
43:40 -- The SEC changed their schedules, got nothing & are now mad
48:30 -- Mizzou just lost their blindside protector at RT, what does that mean for the offense?
1:00:00 -- Will the Cardinals get back on track against the Angels?
1:04:00 -- Show Close

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1 hr 7 min
July 17 The Cardinals’ Next Great Core May Already Be Here | Bernie Miklasz Joins Randy Karraker
The Cardinals’ next great core may already be taking shape. Bernie Miklasz joins Randy Karraker to explain why this young St. Louis team, its rapidly improving farm system and the organization’s new development philosophy feel different from anything fans have seen in years.
Bernie and Randy break down the Cardinals’ emerging group of young players, the organization’s growing prospect depth and a 2026 MLB Draft class that received praise from several respected evaluators. They also discuss the Cardinals’ catching surplus, possible trade deadline decisions and why the front office is finally positioned to build a sustainable contender.
Later, Bernie revisits some of the greatest Cardinals moments from the Bill DeWitt ownership era, including Fernando Tatís Sr.’s two grand slams in one inning, Adam Wainwright’s legendary curveball against Carlos Beltrán, Rick Ankiel’s unforgettable comeback and the dominant 2004 Cardinals.
🍺 STL Sports Central is brought to you in part by Budweiser.
It's Budweiser's 150th Anniversary and they're celebrating with a Heritage Can Series that honors their legacy of being Made of America. Collect all four designs. For 150 years, This Bud’s For You.
Enjoy Responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch. Budweiser Lager Beer, St. Louis, MO.
Follow STL Sports Central:
https://www.instagram.com/stlsportscentral
https://www.facebook.com/stlsportscentral
https://www.tiktok.com/@stlsportscentral
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52 min
July 17 What Is Your IDEAL Cardinals Trade Deadline Plan? | ( The Cardinals Are Willing to Take On Salary??)
We're live on a Friday! And the Cardinals play baseball tonight!'

Share YOUR Cardinals trade deadline plans with @stlsprtscntrl across socials
We're back to talking about the trade deadline, and taking a little break from contracts, as the 2nd half is about to start.
What do you want the Cardinals to do?
What is Chaim thinking now?
Did we find a 3B trade?
And is there a new avenue we haven't mentioned yet?
0:00 -- Show Open
0:40 -- Cardinals are taking advantage of the break
3:30 -- The Cardinals maintain they are sticking to the plan
4:55 -- Randy gets greedy & wants an upgrade at 3B
10:00 -- Can the Cardinals win with an offensive negative at 3B (and CF)
15:00 -- Do you want to chase the "sugar rush"?
19:20 -- What are YOUR trade deadline wants for the Cardinals?
37:45 -- Would taking on money to get a trade done send a message
40:40 -- Show Wrap

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44 min
July 16 $300 Million?? We Thought TOO SMALL on a Potential Jordan Walker Extension
We tried to get a handle on what a Jordan Walker extension could look like for the St. Louis Cardinals and it appears we very much UNDERSHOT the entire idea.
Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold joined 101 ESPN earlier this week and completely changed the expectations, saying that DOUBLING Wetherholt’s guaranteed money ($112.5 million) would be the ‘starting point’ in the Walker negotiations…
Can the Cardinals pull that off?
Would you want them to?

0:00 -- Did we shoot TOO low on a potential Walker extension?
7:00 -- Compare Walker to other ~300mm players--does the resume match up?
14:35 -- Does it make sense for the Cardinals to go *that* high?
20:50 -- Teams are using generative AI during the game, & MLB wants to stop it
33:30 -- The chat has some thoughts on the Jordan Walker conversation...
38:00 -- The Cardinals cannot let Walker go to arbitration
47:00 -- We can't ignore the Walker side of this whole thing
52:20 -- Jordan Walker with $300mm & a doctorate could save the world...
57:45 -- Quick preview of STL CITY SC returning with a rivalry matchup vs. SKC
58:45 -- Show Close

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1 hr 1 min