2026 Cardinals Recap: Can a Year this Bad be Good? – From the Many Laptops of Will Saulsbery

2026 Cardinals Recap: Can a Year this Bad be Good?

September 6th 2026, what a night. The last day I maintained that glimmer of hope we faithful all cling to over 162 games of day in day out living and dying with our Cardinals. The Birds were 72-72 after a 10-8 beatdown of the Rockies. They were still in the hunt for that third Wild Card and were a good run of 8-2 away from making noise. But, like my hairline in 2004, those dreams died.

I wanted to believe, but the team and us fans finally ran out of gas. The pitchers were all being saved for the future, the bullpen had more extras than my daughter has toppings on her FroYo, and the lineup had more holes than a Days of Our Lives plot line.

There will always come a point when a final raindrop topples the bridge.

What Went Wrong

First, not enough ready for primetime players in the pen. They had a bullpen ERA of 4.40, 11th worst in MLB and had an astounding 30 blown saves. That 30 was 3rd worst in MLB, and to put it bluntly, their bullpen was as bad as the Angels. You only blow 20 instead of 30 and your record is 87-75 just one win out of the playoffs. Only 19 and you’re in a one game playoff with the Phillies.

Second, Jordan Walker’s September was disappointing. He went cold faster than a first date when you start talking about your Ninja Turtles podcast. I wrote about this previously, and my assertion was he was simply out of gas.

“My personal theory, no matter how big and strong you are, when you do more than you’ve ever done, you get tired. This season he has played more games, more innings, had more at bats, and ran more distance in the outfield and on the bases than he has in any year of his life. Yes, he is a huge human, but no matter your size you have to build up stamina.”

Third, they traded arms and saved arms for next year. I get it, you know you’re not gonna win the World Series this year, so save the young guys for the future. My only issue with the future is that it never arrives. When next year gets here, that will be the present and 2028 will be the future. Rinse, repeat until you either win or bring in another new front office.

But, I do have hope

What They Need

Here is what I know they have for 2027. Baez in left, Church in center, and Walker in right. They have Winn at short, Wetherholt at second, Burleson at first, Bernal at catcher. They need an impact bat at third, a defensive fourth outfielder that hits, and some glue/utility guys on the bench. Is Herrera the back up catcher and full time DH? If you’re going to have a full time DH his OPS needs to be in the mid 800s, not the 700s.

They have four starters in Pallante, Leahy, McGreevey, and Matthews. But, that’s four guys that should be a 3-5 in a rotation. They have no Ace. No Tudor, no Carpenter, no Wainwright, hell no José DeLeón. They need a number 1, and those don’t grow on poplar trees on Poplar Street. Imagine if this year’s squad had a guy that went 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA…that would have been awesome.

The bullpen is a more complicated story line than the final two seasons of West World. Thank the baseball gods for Riley O’Brien this year, but we cannot expect 38 saves from him again. They need a closer, three set up guys and for Gordon Graceffo to be that dude again. Is Liberatore the next set up guy…the next Billy Wagner? Will Bloom and the fellas build a real bullpen, or one that is built to be traded?

What 2027 Holds

Like Sarah McLachlan, we’re building a mystery here in the STL. All I know is we will see more and more young guys get a shot, and anyone close to or over the hill being shipped to ports unknown for “prospects with upside.” How long will we be content with building and learning before we start winning? The record was worse than the Brewers, the Cubs, and even the Pirates. The Pirates won five more games than the Birds and finished two games over .500. In what world is this real? My god, we had a worse record than the Marlins and were tied with the Nationals!

How can a year this bad be good? Only if this promised future becomes a present in the next 24 months. If that present never arrives then 2026 will not have been the year of the prequel as I predicted in March, but just another losing year after another losing year.

Personally, I have faith in Mr. Dewitt, and that faith is rooted in thirty years of some amazing teams, moments and memories. Join me in my delusion faith!  Here’s to spring training!!!!