3 reasons to remain positive about the St. Louis Cardinals

Here are three reasons why the dejected St. Louis Cardinals fan should continue to believe in the team.

The St. Louis Cardinals have begun their season horrifically, and there is a multitude of reasons one could point to, including lousy pitching and underperforming hitting. Some incensed fans have also aired their grievances toward manager Oliver Marmol as a source of the Cardinals’ struggles after he had a rough week.

Among the Cardinals struggling are pretty much every starting pitcher except Jordan Montgomery as well as catcher Willson Contreras, utility player Brendan Donovan and outfielder Tyler O'Neill. The Cardinals rank toward the bottom of the league in hitting with runners in scoring position and haven't shown too much power, and the starting pitching has been abysmal for the most part, with the Cardinals tied for 22nd in team ERA.

Despite all the tribulations the Cardinals are enduring, the Cardinals have shown time and time again that they have the ability to adapt. Several people have compared the Cardinals' start to that of the World Series-winning 2011 team, where they began the season with a record of 4-7. The main difference between those teams was the presence of a bona fide No. 1 starter in Chris Carpenter through the 2011 season.

Even though the Cardinals have shaky pitching and the offense hasn't delivered the way many fans expected, it’s far too early for fans to give up on the season, especially after the latest promising game in Colorado. This is a talented squad, and there are some stats that suggest a turnaround should come soon.

The underlying hitting stats are elite

The Cardinals have had flashes of offensive dominance, including in the April 11 comeback against the Colorado Rockies. The Cardinals currently rank fourth in the major leagues in batting average and second in on-base percentage, and several underperforming players have peripheral stats that suggest a turnaround.

Tyler O’Neill is one player who is poised to break out of his slump. Although his 2022 season was a step back from 2021, consistent injuries were almost certainly a factor. This season, O’Neill’s hard-hit percentage is 52.2%, which is equal to his stat in 2021, where he was among the best in the league. 

More obvious to the eye is Jordan Walker’s 11-game hitting streak and the fact that he has been hitting the snot out of the ball, with a 55.9% hard-hit percentage. Tuesday's game with the Rockies should portend great days ahead for the offense.

The outfield is deep and could net a pitcher

The Cardinals have outstanding depth in their outfield, and when Lars Nootbaar comes back from his injury, it will be just like making a trade. Sarcasm aside, the Cardinals have depth that can compete with any team in baseball, and the Cardinals could afford to deal from that vast resource and acquire a solid starting pitcher. 

I mentioned a potential trade of Tyler O’Neill to the Tampa Bay Rays for Tyler Glasnow, which is just one of several potential moves that would make sense for the Cardinals. Fans should pay attention to the team all season, but especially near the trade deadline, when the Cardinals could deal for a starter. Given the above two reasons to tune in to games, they should right the ship soon and have the opportunity to shore up a weakness on the mound.

The latest game against the Rockies, where the Cardinals scored nine runs, probably gave many fans a flicker of hope that the Cardinals will be back on track soon. The numbers back that up.