The good news is that if it ever comes up while stringing, now I know for sure that Dot Com’s desk is committed to the One China policy.

How to create 90 wins in the aggregate, by accident These Cardinals were not supposed to be good. They may very well not be. But also...

Since MLB expanded to three wild cards, no team has ever won 90 games and missed the playoffs. If the Cardinals go 2-4 over their next six, they'll be on that pace a month in.

Here's the weird part -- it's hard to find much that looks unsustainable:

words-about-birds.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-cre...

Reporting from Houston, @daniel-guerrero.bsky.social says Chaim Bloom informs that Richard Fitts had season-ending surgery to address his lat strain, with no longer term concerns.

Two great broadcasts, too. This one’s a banger.

This is the platonic ideal of a Wrigley Friday game. Always better when it’s a slop pile.

The only day I’ve ever gotten 48 subscribers to Words About Birds in one day was on launch day, so it’s probably not likely I can make that happen today. But that’s also my next big round number, so what the hell. Why not give it a shot?

words-about-birds.beehiiv.com

A brief dispatch from the Baseball Savant wilderness Stare at four weeks' worth of circles and dots for long enough, and information emerges.

I am not in Houston and will not be in Miami, so I did the responsible thing when it comes to covering a baseball team while not traveling -- I cherry picked numbers from Baseball Savant and used them to explain things happening in the early season:

words-about-birds.beehiiv.com/p/a-brief-di...

Cardinals say Jared Shuster cleared waivers and was outrighted.

Cardinals vs. Cleveland, 4.15.26

Great day to subscribe and learn about JJ Wetherholt’s plan to hunt fastballs and why it contributes to the height of both his floor and his ceiling:

The Cardinals go back on the road with a series win and a break even homestand. Dustin May had a second consecutive solid start, Nathan Church had three hits, and Riley O'Brien continues to be one of the NL's most untouchable relievers.

Nathan Church's third hit of the game is an RBI double to bump the Cardinals lead back to 5-3 in the seventh.

Bo Naylor goes from 3-0 to 3-2 and then crushes a two-run double that cuts the Cardinals lead to 4-3 in the seventh. Romero entering to attempt an escape.

Seeing eye single by Burleson after an IBB to Herrera cashes two, 4-1

Wetherholt sac fly with the bases loaded gives the Cardinals a 2-1 lead in the sixth.

It has been explained many many many times, yes. They like the way Pagés handles the pitching staff. Pozo is not in the conversation to start behind the plate. Herrera is catching McGreevy and Pallante.

Nathan Church comes in on a liner sailing over his head but recovers to worm burn a relay to Winn, who delivers a strike to the plate for an out. Looked like Pagés had Valera cooked at third if he so chose, but the ball is wet and the rain is pouring, so who can say.

Nathan Church comes up with a bunt single and a stolen base before a Pedro Pagés single allows him to successfully test George Valera's arm and tie the game in the second.

Sharp defense holds the Guards temporarily at bay, but a two-out RBI single for Manzardo gives them a run in the first in all three games.

On the upside, I got to listen to the entire No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls album in the clubhouse yesterday, and I still know every word.

How a "really fun week" of fastballs brought a brighter Wetherholt Please forgive both the inclusion and lack of terrible weather puns.

JJ Wetherholt spent the last week dealing with his first real slump in the big leagues. His verdict? The work was "really fun," and a few days spent mashing fastballs fed the process which saw him launch twice on Tuesday night:

words-about-birds.beehiiv.com/p/how-a-real...

Cardinals say 12:20 first pitch, a five-minute delay.

If the rain holds off:

Wetherholt 4
Herrera DH
Burleson 3
Walker 9
Gorman 5
Winn 6
Church 7
Pagés 2
Scott II 8

May 1

Cardinals vs. Cleveland, 4.14.26

The Cardinals, thus far, refuse to slip below the .500 mark. They walk it off and remain perfect in extra innings with a Nathan Church sac fly and a clutch double by Yohel Pozo. Rubber match tomorrow, pending storms.

Hit for Urías in the bottom of the ninth.

Guards do not cash their Manfred Man in the tenth. Cardinals will walk it off if they can bring Saggese around.

That is Pozo's first extra base hit since a homer on last August 17, and first double since last July 28. To the tenth.

Wow. Brito chunks a grounder that would've ended the game, Winn moves up on a wild pitch, and Yohel Pozo drives a double to the gap in right center. All square in the ninth.

That is a clean inning that Matt Svanson needed pretty badly.