TARP’S OFF!! Seemingly out of nowhere, a new movement is taking place @ Busch. TARP’S OFF is a section of the stadium along the 1B line that is completely filled with mostly young men…waving their shirts around their heads like a lasso! They have brought tremendous energy, enthusiasm, with positive cheers for the home team at many different points of the game. It seems to be “catching on” as it appears that the group is expanding. It has brought an entirely “new” atmosphere to the Ball Park.
…Mgr Ollie Marmol has already stated that he “loves it”. Their energy seems to be a catalyst for even MORE Cardinals energy. It’s really fun to see the young fans so involved in the game. I hope that the Cardinals “expand” the section for the TARP’S OFF boys.
… As I write this REWIND, the MLB NL Central Division Standings (as of today) is very, very close. Milwaukee has moved up to the top spot in the Central with a 29-18 record. The Cubs are 1.5 games behind them holding a 29-21 record. Our Cards are in the 3rd spot with a 28-21 mark. Further, there aren’t any “dogs” to this point with the Division bottom 2 teams right on their tails. Tied for the #4 spot are the Pittsburgh Pirates & Cincinnati each holding a 26-24 mark. That’s right…every team in the division is .500 or better!!! The TARPS OFF—this is a very competitive division and likely will stay a tight division throughout much of the 2026 season.
…The Cards are showing offensive balance along with some very good team speed while swinging less at pitches outside the strike zone. Jordan Walker is still being dominate as we pass the ¼ mark of the season. He’s hitting .295, with 13 HR’s & 35 RBI’s & his OPS! Kevin Wheeler suggests that the Cardinals have received production from Jordan Walker equivalent to a $40-milliion free-agent addition. Who would have expected ANY of those stats for him in late May last year or 2 years ago?? Well….I guessed the Cardinals did…they stuck with him!!! Will he remain at all those lofty levels? With the TARPS OFF boys cheering him on every home game, it’s unlikely but ya just never know. …Also emerging as a reliable hitter is catcher Ivan Herrera. He’s pushed his way into the heart of the Cardinals batting order. He’s #1 on the team in OBP (on base %)@ .386; 3rd on the team in runs scored-28; tied for 4th in RBI’s–24; has the most plate appearances on the team-219– showing durability & reliability; 3rd in total bases—remember, this is your CATCHER! Commonly, we don’t expect much offensive production from the catcher.
…The SEPARATION TARP’S ARE OFF between Univ of Missouri & St Louis U. The Tigers have agreed to come to the Lou to face the Billikens in a basketball next season. This is GREAT!! It’s a chance to see two of our favorite local teams (well…Columbia, MO isn’t that far 😊 and there are lots of MU grads in STL). SLU is coming off their best season’s EVER in school history. TARP’S OFF to both schools-let’s hope that it becomes a “regular” on the schedule—if not EVERY year, at least, regularly! …Well I’m pulling the TARP OFF of one of the hottest stories, yet seemingly kept on a low scale, in the MLB. HR hitter Kyle Schwarber (Phil) has already banged out 20 home runs–#1 in the MLB (1/3 of the home runs for Philly) in 2026. He’s on a current rate for approximately 68 home runs in 2026!!! I don’t think that he’ll do that but….Keep the TARP OFF your sports page and start to follow him!! ….The TARPS USUALLY COVER UP the Tampa Bay Rays achievements. Somehow, their 4.5 game lead in the AL East against the powerful, highly paid, NY Yankees is glossed over or missed entirely. I guess their meager salary structure, somehow, has an effect on their coverage. As I write this, the Rays sit in 1st place with the best record in the MLB—33-15. How? They are 9-1 in one-run games in 2026; the Rays are 22-5 when they score the 1st runs of the game; combined, their starting pitching staff holds an incredible 3.03 ERA; the Rays pitching staff had piled up a very impressive streak although it flew right by most of us. A streak in which their starters allowed 3 runs or fewer in 22 consecutive starts, the longest single-season streak in franchise history. …Their stars are young & durable —(playing every day has become a new thought in today’s MLB) and largely unknown..take a look. In only 5 games this year has Tampa Bay played w/o all of their 3 premier players– Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero all in the starting lineup. Díaz is hitting .316 with an .900 OPS, 33 RBIs, 8 home runs. Aranda is batting .263 with an .815 OPS and an AL-leading 37 RBIs. Caminero is hitting .268 with 13 homers and an .865 OPS. That’s a real strong, reliable back-back-back lineup that not even the TARPS CAN COVER UP! …one of the beauties of professional sports is the sudden emergence of “new” stars as the TARP had them completely covered up due to their inexperience. Of course we’ve already looked @ Jordan Walker & Ivan Herrera of the Cardinals and the Rays trio listed in above paragraph. But…while they are young, they aren’t rookies. At the top of many 2026 rookie lists is Cards 2b–JJ Wetherholt. Weatherholt was a 1st round pick by the Cardinals in 2024, the 7th overall pick. He’s taken a very fast elevator with few stops to the MLB. He really began with a hot bat this year, but the wily, seasoned MLB pitchers have studied his approach and brought him back to earth a bit. However, with the Cardinals current rebuild…oops…can’t use that word in St. Louis…in the current “new look”, he’s been the leadoff batter in the vast majority of games thus far. As of today he already has 9 home runs (2nd on the team). In May, adjustments have occurred by him AND opposing pitchers. He’s seeing fewer & fewer fastballs. In 2026, he’s hit just .178 against breaking balls. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Cardinals’ next few opponents didn’t feed Wetherholt a steady diet of breaking balls and change-ups continually to see if he can properly attack or lay off of those pitches. Nonetheless, from my view, keep him up in the MLB…he’s an integral part of the Cards future. Look @ the improvement of Walker and Gorman in their 3rd year in 2026. Many fans that I talked to last winter were ready to drop..almost give away, Jordan Walker & Nolan Gorman. In the same way, we should expect a similar “learning curve” for Wetherholt. Don’t let the TARP of lacking early success cover up the growth of a likely future Cardinals regular for years. … Well, the TARP is covering ME up now…we’ve reached the end. Thanks for your read and don’t hesitate to send me your thoughts on any of the topics. They are YOUR thoughts, you can’t be wrong!! Post them on my Facebook page (Bob Ryan) or my email to me—rjryansr@charter.net. Have a super week with TARPS OFF from covering up your fun!! Bob
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