Welcome back to the Redbird Rundown!

Matt and Jonathan are joined by Kaden Joggerst for a fun round of “Buy or Sell” as we break down performances across the Cardinals roster.

From hot starts to frustrating slumps, we’re discussing which players we’re truly buying into—and which ones we’re selling moving forward. Who has earned our confidence?

Who still has something to prove? And which performances could have the biggest impact on the Cardinals season?

We’re putting our takes on the line and debating some of the biggest storylines surrounding the roster right now.

Tune in and play along with us: Buy or Sell?

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This week, we are joined by the one and only Katie Woo of The Athletic to preview the highly anticipated Cardinals vs. Dodgers series.

After five years on the St. Louis beat, Katie made the jump to Los Angeles, and she joins the crew to break down the massive contrast between these two historic franchises. We dive deep into the "Dynasty vs. Rebuild" debate: Can the Cardinals' new identity of "gritty, exhausting baseball" actually compete with the $700 million "glitz and glams" of the Dodgers?

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Hollywood" Life: Katie addresses her transition to LA, her aggressive new driving habits, and why she still misses those Busch Stadium press box pretzels.

• Shohei Ohtani & The Dodgers: What it’s actually like to cover the "Beatles of Baseball" and why there’s no ego in the star-studded LA clubhouse.

• The Chaim Bloom Era: Katie's perspective on the Cardinals' front office shift and why she believes the "Runway" (we mean, rebuild) is heading in the right direction.

• Young Core vs. Veteran Stars: Analysis of Jordan Walker’s growth and the pressure (or lack thereof) on the Cardinals' young roster.

• Series Preview: Which pitching matchups to watch and why Katie is leaning "Dodger Stadium" for the views, but "Busch Stadium" for the vibes.

Whether you're here for the high-level MLB analysis or the heated debate over the St. Louis Arch vs. the Hollywood Sign, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Follow Katie Woo on Twitter: @katiejwoo

Welcome back to the Redbird Rundown!

Jonathan and Matt are joined by Benjamin Hochman to break down the Cardinals’ rotation in a way you’ve probably never seen before—The Pitching Trust Pie.

Each of us gets 100% of a pie and has to divide it among the Cardinals starters based on one thing: who we trust the most for the rest of the season. Not who’s been the best. Not who has the best stats. Just… who do you believe in?

With another round of starts happening before this episode goes live, there’s a real chance these takes age incredibly well… or horribly wrong.

Either way, we’re all in.

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State Farm – Scott Owens (Mt. Vernon, IL)

📞 (618) 242-3770

Like a good neighbor State Farm is there.

All American Tree Experts

📞 (618) 316-2457

Your go-to crew for trimming, removal, and full yard cleanup 🌲

Stay connected for Cardinals updates, clips, and more:

• Twitter/X: @redbirdrundown2

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2020 was a season most fans want to forget, but Brad Miller’s performance is one worth remembering.

This week, Jim Plaza spotlights the ultimate utility man who stepped into the void left by a global pandemic and the Universal DH. Despite playing only 48 games in the Birds on the Bat, Miller tied for the team lead in home runs and provided a masterclass in "old school" hitting—all without a pair of batting gloves in sight.

Inside the episode:

• The $2M Bargain: How the Cardinals found elite production in a 26th-man roster spot.

• The Cincy Special: Breaking down the 4-for-6, 2-HR, 7-RBI night that remains a 2020 highlight.

• Versatility in Chaos: Playing 3B, 2B, SS, and DH while the world was upside down.

• Retirement & Legacy: Celebrating Brad's 2025 retirement and his new role in the Rangers' front office/broadcast team.

Follow the show: Like and subscribe on Spotify and check out Redbird Rundown for more deep-dive Cardinals content.

Scott, Matt, and Jonathan are joined by special guest Thomas Gauvain (Redbird Rants) for a deep dive into the state of the Cardinals’ outfield.

Is Jordan Walker’s breakout season masking a bigger issue? The crew takes a hard look at what’s really going on beyond the headlines, breaking down performances, concerns, and whether this group stacks up as one of the weakest outfields in the National League.

Tune in as we unpack the numbers, the eye test, and what it all means moving forward for St. Louis.

Join our Discord gameday chats! (https://discord.gg/cmYfEx9hFJ)

State Farm – Scott Owens (Mt. Vernon, IL)

📞 (618) 242-3770

Like a good neighbor State Farm is there.

All American Tree Experts

📞 (618) 316-2457

Your go-to crew for trimming, removal, and full yard cleanup 🌲

Stay connected for Cardinals updates, clips, and more:

• Twitter/X: @redbirdrundown2

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• Bluesky: @redbirdrundown.bsky.social

⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, follow, rate, and review — it helps more Cardinals fans find the show!

How does a player go from being released by a last-place team to hitting .385 for the St. Louis Cardinals in the span of a single week?

In this installment of Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza dives into the fascinating, "roller coaster" career of utility man Felipe Lopez. A former top-10 pick and Silver Slugger winner, Lopez hit rock bottom in 2008 with a negative WAR and a mid-season release from the Nationals. But when he landed in the St. Louis clubhouse, something clicked.

Under the mentorship of "The Secret Weapon" Jose Oquendo, Lopez didn't just find his swing—he became a statistical anomaly. We look back at his legendary two-month sprint in 2008 where he played six different positions and posted a nearly 1.000 OPS, helping bridge the gap for a Cardinals franchise in the midst of a massive front-office transition.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Oquendo Effect: How Jose Oquendo rebuilt Lopez’s defense and mental approach to transform him from a "bust" back into a weapon.

The 2008 Hot Streak: A deep dive into the 43 games where Lopez hit an unbelievable .385 and became the ultimate La Russa-era Swiss Army Knife.

The 18th-Inning Hero: On the 16th anniversary of the feat (April 17, 2010), we recount the night Lopez stepped onto the mound against the Mets and threw a scoreless inning to save an exhausted bullpen.

The Transition Era: Where Lopez fit in the roster shuffle between the 2006 championship and the 2011 "10.5 games back" miracle.

Whether you remember him for his switch-hitting prowess or his lone career pitching appearance, Felipe Lopez’s story is a masterclass in resilience and the power of a second chance in The Lou.

Listen now and subscribe to the Redbird Rundown for your weekly dose of Cardinals history!

The mailbag is loaded, and Josh Jacobs joins us to answer it all.

In this episode of the Redbird Rundown, we tackle a wide range of St. Louis Cardinals questions straight from fans — covering everything from Jordan Walker’s future to Masyn Winn’s offensive struggles and growing concerns around Ivan Herrera.

We also dig into bigger-picture topics like which players are truly untouchable, how soon JJ Wetherholt could get extended, and whether a potential salary cap is changing how teams approach young talent.

It’s a mix of serious analysis, honest debate, and a few unexpected turns along the way.

If you’ve got questions about where this Cardinals team is headed, this episode hits just about all of them.

🎯 In this episode:

• Jordan Walker’s long-term position
• Untouchable Cardinals rankings
• Winn, Herrera, and lineup concerns
• Future extensions and roster building
• Mailbag chaos (you’ll see)

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When you think of the legendary 2004 St. Louis Cardinals, names like Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen immediately come to mind. You might even think of a young Adam Wainwright. But games aren't just won by the superstars; they’re won by the guys who come jogging out of the bullpen in the 7th inning to put out a fire.

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Ray King, the durable, 250-pound left-handed specialist affectionately known as "Burger." Acquired in the blockbuster trade that brought Jason Marquis and Adam Wainwright to St. Louis, King became a workhorse for Dave Duncan’s "scrap heap" bullpen. From his chaotic MLB debut with a borrowed glove to his historic 2004 season, King’s story is one of dependability, high-stakes drama, and some of the best numbers ever posted against the game's greatest hitters.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Trade That Changed Everything: How King arrived in the deal for JD Drew and became an unsung hero of the 2004 pennant run.

The "Bonds Killer": A look at the eye-popping stats King posted against legends like Barry Bonds (who hit just .059 against him) and Ken Griffey Jr.

The Iron Man of the Bullpen: How King racked up 86 appearances in a single season—the second-most in franchise history—including a mind-boggling 30 consecutive scoreless outings.

The La Russa Fallout: The "September Slide" that led to a public spat with the skipper and a quick exit from St. Louis.

The Lost Glove Debut: The hilarious story of King’s first big league game wearing cleats bought that morning and a teammate's glove.

Whether it was his streak of 328 games without an intentional walk or his mastery of the high-leverage middle innings, Ray King was the glue that held a championship-caliber bullpen together.

"He wasn't the guy getting the final out... but when the fire needed to be put out, Ray King was the guy they called."

Listen now and subscribe to the Redbird Rundown for your weekly dose of Cardinals history!