Locked On St. Louis Cardinals

2020 has been a year unlike any other, but there are still reasons to give thanks. The fact that there was even a baseball season is cause for celebration. When looking back at the season for the St. Louis Cardinals, there are definitely things they need to work on, but there are for sure things to be thankful for. Paul Goldschmidt being consistent, KK Kim being a nice surprise, Tommy Edman playing all over the place and Yadier Molina being Yadier Molina are just a few of those things.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There were reports of Carlos Martinez being arrested in the Dominican Republic yesterday, which caused people to call for his release. Despite the arrest reports being false, he still was a part of a large crowd gathering and will be facing a fine. The St. Louis Cardinals are "looking into the situation," and many are still calling for this as an excuse to release Martinez. Lucas looks to his results as a reason for his release, yet they are better than we realize. To close the show, Lucas looks at signing Joc Pederson as a platoon option, but based on the numbers, a platoon with O'Neill might not make as much sense as you think.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

100% of today's show is controlled by YOU! Lucas answers your questions about the St. Louis Cardinals. They range from logistical questions such as how much of the talent situation is bad luck to fun questions like who is Lucas' favorite Cardinal! As always, Francisco Lindor is brought up, but Lucas' answer might not be the one you want to hear.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's The Man's birthday tomorrow, and he would be 100 years old. The Man, for those who don't know, refers to one of the greatest Cardinals to ever do it, Stan Musial. Throughout a storied 22-year-career in St. Louis, he set records, brough world series trophies home and made impacts that have lasted a lifetime. Lucas tries to give his career some justice, as well as share the story of how he got his historic nickname. The show starts with looking at the news of Angel Rodon being added to the 40-man roster.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With top-prospect Ivan Herrera being added to the 40-man roster yesterday, Lucas goes in-depth on the catching conundrum in St. Louis. After 15 remarkable years, Yadier Molina is a free agent. If you're looking at just the stats, they probably tell you to not re-sign the 38-year-old veteran. However, you've got to look past the stats when looking at the Molina re-signing question. Lucas gives you his answer to the question, as well as answers your questions and takes a look at Herrera.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Kolten Wong all-but-gone from St. Louis, the Cardinals have a hole at second base. While Tommy Edman is a fine solution, adding DJ LeMahieu would be an incredible move for St. Louis. It's an unlikely scenario, but he would make this infield an elite one and he would lengthen this lineup, making it a deadly one. Lucas also looks at the news of Theo Epstein stepping down, and talks about a proposed trade emailed to him that sends Giancarlo Stanton to St. Louis.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cardinal offensive struggles in the outfield have been well documented by both the national media and Lucas on this show. A cost-effective solution to the problem is signing free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley. He is going into his age-34-season, but he is as consistent as they come. Beyond the numbers, his veteran leadership would be a welcome addition to this team. Lucas also looks at the 2021 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot and shares his thoughts on a thin class.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the off-season truly here, Lucas takes a look at some possible offseason acquisitions for the St. Louis Cardinals. He goes over a hypothetical trade on mlb.com for Francisco Lindor, and why the Cardinals probably won't be making it. With the limited payroll and the reports of the Cardinals wanting to minimize it, gaining a contract like Lindor's isn't likely. Even with a solid bullpen, Lucas looks at why Trevor Rosenthal might be a good match in the Cardinals bullpen.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freddie Freeman and Jose Abreu have taken the final BBWAA awards of the off-season; the coveted MVP awards. Both first basemen are extremely worthy of the award, and Lucas thinks the voters got them right. You'd be surprised at the amount of Cardinals to win the award in the past, and you'd be even more surprised at how Ryan Terpera got an MVP vote. Lucas also looks at an article giving each team's 2021 ROY Candidate, and you won't be surprised at who the Cardinals' nominee is.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The AL and NL Cy Young Award winners were announced yesterday, with Shane Bieber and Trevor Bauer taking home the honor. After winning the pitching triple crown, Shane Bieber won the award unanimously. Bauer led the league won the award after dominating teams in the NL the entire year. Lucas discusses the lack of Cardinals to win the award in the past as well as the recent news on Yadier Molina.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The AL and NL Managers of the Year were announced yesterday, with Don Mattingly taking the NL award and Kevin Cash taking the AL award. Both of these men manage in Florida and took their teams to playoff runs and had to manage different difficulties. Cash had to deal with the relentless AL East while Mattingly had to manage through COVID problems, having 61 total players making appearances. Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa also was in the news again, as more came out about his DUI and arrest back in February. Lucas also discusses his frustration about Cardinal manager Mike Shildt not getting many votes.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Delvin Williams and Kyle Lewis took home Rookie of the Year Awards for the NL and AL, respectfully, last night. Williams, the St. Louis native, had one of the best rookie campaigns by a reliever ever becoming the first reliver to win the NL award since Craig Kimbrel in the NL. Lews won the AL ROY via a unanimous vote, the first to do that in the AL. Should KK Kim have garnered more votes in the NL? Lucas takes a look at that, as well as the past Cardinals to win the award. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's finally here: the final off-season evaluation of the season! The St. Louis Cardinals Bullpen was a bright spot for the Redbirds in 2020. The entire staff showed how durable it can be and how deep the Cardinals are with pitching. Alex Reyes, Tyler Webb, Andrew Miller, Giovanny Gallegos and Daniel Ponce de Leon are just a few of the members who stepped up this season. This bullpen could be elite next year with the additions of John Brebbia and Jordan Hicks.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The off-season is a time of dreaming and hope of who teams will acquire and sign. The Cardinals have plenty of options for offensive upgrades, it's just a matter of how much money they can spend. Lucas breaks down two MLB.com articles, one discussing the 5 tiers of free agents this offseason and another discussing the shortstops in next year's free agent class. Can St. Louis swing a tier one free agent, or have to settle for a lower tier talent? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American League Finalists for the 2020 BBWAA Awards - MVP, Cy Young, ROY and Manager of the Year - have all been named and Lucas breaks them down and gives you his vote. Until the NL, the AL has favorites in all of the categories. Jose Abreu leads the way in the MVP, Shane Bieber in the Cy Young and Kyle Lewis in the ROY. That said, each finalist has a chance and Lucas gives you his pick in each award.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BBWAA Award Finalists have been announced, and Lucas gives his take on the NL finalists. Mike Shildt wasn't named a Manager of the Year finalist, which is a shock considering all Shildt and the Cardinals had to go through to make the playoffs. Each race - MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year - has close calls and toss ups. The only Cardinals to take home awards are Kolten Wong and Tyler O'Neill, who each won a Gold Glove.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The starting rotation was a bright spot for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020. Adam Wainwright led the team in starts, KK Kim had the lowest ERA, Dakota Hudson and Daniel Ponce de Leon improved immensely throughout the season. In a season full of unknowns, the starting rotation was a stable force that helped the Cardinals win some games. Lucas answers questions such as what's Matthew Liberatore's ETA and where does Carlos Martinez fit in?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The off-season evaluations continue with a look at the Cardinal outfield. Lucas takes a look at the seasons of Tyler O'Neill, Harrison Bader, Dexter Fowler and Dylan Carlson. O'Neill and Bader are both likely to have a short leash, perhaps 2021 being their final season in St. Louis. 2021 will be Fowler's final season because of his contract, but Lucas says why he has confidence in Fowler. For Carlson, 2021 will be the start of his dominance for St. Louis.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Chicago White Sox have hired the former Cardinal and current Hall-of-Famer Tony LaRussa to be their next manager. It's a hire that has a lot of fans and baseball minds scratching their heads, so Lucas shares his thought on this interesting hire. Is it ownership wanting to right a wrong from 30 years ago or is it the right move? It must suck to be Rick Renteria, who has now been fired by both the Cubs and White Sox. The show is wrapped up with a discussion on Kolten Wong and what that move might mean to Cardinal fans.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kolten Wong's option has been declined and he is officially a free agent. His seven-year tenure with the Cardinals could be coming to an end, pending a possible contract extension. Lucas gives his take, as well as answers some of your questions/comments on the Cardinals letting Wong walk. The third and final part of the mini NL Central Crossover is released, as Jeff, Sean and Lucas discuss the headlines about their respective teams heading into the off-season.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices