Redbird Rundown: a St. Louis Cardinals Podcast

Should the St. Louis Cardinals buy or sell at the 2026 MLB trade deadline? Porque no los dos? On this episode of Cardinals on My Time, host Scott Plaza is joined by Caleb Noble (Hard Nine Podcast), AJ Stone (Just Baseball Media), and Matthew Blaker to tackle the messiest trade deadline in recent memory.The guys dive deep into the recent front-office transition to Bill DeWitt III, Chaim Bloom's telling press conference comments, and whether "just getting into the postseason" is enough for this young core. Then, they play a high-stakes game of "Confidence Out of 10" on which players are good as gone by late July.On the chopping block:Will the Cardinals capitalize on Dustin May's insane trade value?Is it time to pull the trigger on a Lars Nootbaar or Nolan Gorman trade?Why Andre Pallante might be the ultimate "sell-high" candidate.Plus, surprise targets like Royce Lewis and the future of the "Tarps Off" fan section at Busch Stadium.Rate, review, and follow Cardinals on My Time on Spotify so you never miss an episode!

The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season is officially underway, and if Game 1 is any indication, fans are in for a wild ride. Host Scott Plaza is joined by Jake Wood (Viva el Birdos) and Roman Rodriguez (Baseball Banter) to break down a thrilling, "nail-biter" Opening Day victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.From a 425-foot bomb by rookie sensation JJ Wetherholt to an explosive eight-run 6th inning, the crew discusses whether "Devil Magic" has returned to Busch Stadium. They debate the fallout of the Matthew Liberatore/Randy Arozarena trade, analyze Oliver Marmol’s unconventional lineup choices (including Masyn Winn in the cleanup spot), and give their early-season overreactions.Daniel Shoptaw (the "Podfather" @C70) also stops by to weigh in on the resiliency of this young roster and what to expect from the upcoming pitching matchups against Joe Boyle and old friend Steven Matz. Is JJ Wetherholt already the Rookie of the Year frontrunner? Are these "Gritty Cardinals" for real? Tune in for all the highlights, stats, and heated debates from the first livestream of the season.The Wetherholt Impact: Analyzing JJ’s massive home run and his defensive poise.The 6th Inning Chaos: How the Cardinals responded to a 6-run deficit with an 8-run explosion.Bullpen Blueprint: The roles of Matt Svanson, Ryne Stanek, and the "firefighter" mentality.Defensive Gems: Nathan Church’s home run robbery and the overall defensive outlook post-Goldschmidt/Arenado.Series Preview: Scouting reports for Michael McGreevy and the St. Louis debut of Dustin May.

When Jason Motte went down with Tommy John surgery in 2013, the Cardinals' championship aspirations were in jeopardy. Enter Edward "The Chief" Mujica—a journeyman reliever who went from a mid-season acquisition to an All-Star closer almost overnight.This week on Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza breaks down the dominant, high-stakes, and occasionally sleepy tenure of one of the most efficient closers in St. Louis history.Inside this episode:The 2013 SOS: How Mujica stabilized a bullpen reeling from injuries and early-season struggles.The Yadi Factor: The mechanical tweak suggested by Yadier Molina that turned Mujica into a strike-throwing machine.Elite Company: Why Mujica’s 37-save campaign puts him alongside legends like Bruce Suter and Lee Smith."The Chief": The hilarious story of how manager Jack McKeon gave Mujica one of baseball’s most unique nicknames.The Legacy: How Mujica bridged the gap to the Trevor Rosenthal era and helped secure the 2013 NL Pennant.Join us as we revisit the "magical season" of a pitcher who proved that sometimes, the best solution is the one you never saw coming.Support the Show:Patreon: Get access to bonus content, game day chats, and exclusive episodes.Subscribe: Like and subscribe to Redbird Rundown on Spotify and YouTube.

The computer models are out, and Cardinals fans have thoughts. We’re joined by Jake Wood (Viva El Birdos) to break down the most controversial 2026 ZiPS Projections for the St. Louis Cardinals.We put our reputations on the line with our "Locks" of the year and debate the over/under for:Victor Scott II (36 Steals)JJ Wetherholt (.338 OBP)Nolan Gorman (21 HR)Dustin May (8.06 K/9)And more!Is Jordan Walker being unfairly projected? Is Michael McGreevy the secret ace of the rotation? We dive deep into the numbers so you know what to expect on Opening Day.PROMOTION: Join our Patreon today for just $1 through Opening Day! You’ll get access to exclusive bonus content and be entered to win Coca-Cola Unlimited seats for the May 4th matchup against the Brewers. Search "Redbird Rundown" in the Patreon app to join.patreon.com/redbirdrundownConnect with us:Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky, and TikTok @RedbirdRundown. Rate and review us on Spotify if you love the show!

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