Advertise on podcast: Redbird Rundown: a St. Louis Cardinals Podcast

In this episode, we revisit a night in September 2001 that should have been the start of a legendary career. Bud Smith was the Cardinals' #1 prospect—ranked even higher than a young Albert Pujols. At just 21 years old, he achieved what Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines only did once, and what modern aces like Adam Wainwright never could: he threw a no-hitter.But while Bud Smith still holds the title of the last Cardinal to throw a "no-no," his story is also one of the most mysterious "What Ifs" in franchise history.In this episode, we discuss:The Ranking: A look back at the 2001 prospect list where Bud Smith sat at the top, just ahead of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.The Masterpiece: The 134-pitch marathon in San Diego where a rookie navigated a lineup featuring Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, and Ryan Klesko.The Trade: How a no-hit hero was packaged in the deal for Scott Rolen, only to never pitch in the Big Leagues again.The Curse: Why the Cardinals haven’t seen a no-hitter in over two decades since Bud walked off the mound."Sometimes the brightest flames burn out the fastest."

The Brendan Donovan era in St. Louis has officially come to an end. After months of "waiting to be blown away," Chaim Bloom pulled the trigger on a complex three-team deal with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays. On today's episode, Scott Plaza is joined by Redbird Farmhands, Aidan Gray (Redbirds on the Arch), and Roman Rodriguez to answer the big questions: Did the Cardinals win the trade? We weigh the loss of Donnie’s leadership against a prospect haul headlined by switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and athlete Tai Peete.The "Peachtree" Report: Farmhands shares his personal history playing with Tai Peete and what Cardinals fans should expect from the young outfielder.The Rays Factor: Why does everyone get nervous when Tampa Bay enters a trade? Roman gives us the outside perspective on Colton Ledbetter and the "conveyor belt of value."Vegas Disrespect: The over/under for 2026 is sitting at 69.5 wins. Are the Cardinals really a 70-win team, or is there value in the "scraps"?Follow the guests: Twitter/X: @MrPlaztastic17, @RedbirdFarm, @AidanGraygray8, @Rome_De_Rod Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your baseball fix.

ZIPS projections are out… and Cardinals fans are once again staring straight into the void. In this episode of Redbird Rundown, we dig into Dan Szymborski’s ZIPS projections from FanGraphs and ask the only questions that matter:👉 Are the Cardinals actually better than they look on paper?👉 Who’s being underrated, overrated, or outright disrespected?👉 And how much copium is too much copium? We break down: Mason Winn’s surprising place among MLB shortstops Why the offense still feels… thin Bullpen projections that don’t pass the sniff test Optimism (and skepticism) around Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, Nolan Gorman, and Brendan Donovan Why JJ Weatherholt has become the fanbase’s collective emotional support prospect And how stolen bases might quietly become this team’s identity Plus:🧠 A very real debate about truth vs. consequences🩺 A shockingly detailed discussion of the piriformis💸 $100 over/under bets that may or may not age terribly This isn’t doom. This isn’t blind optimism.It’s January Cardinals baseball discourse at its purest. Follow Redbird Rundown:🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/redbirdrundown2📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedbirdRundownPodcast🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/redbirdrundown.bsky.social📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbirdrundownpodcast🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redbird.rundown.p

In the premiere episode of Random Cardinal of the Week, we look back at one of the most talented—and tragic—shortstops to ever wear the uniform: Khalil Greene.Acquired in December 2008 to anchor a position previously held by legends like "The Wizard," Greene arrived in St. Louis with a highlight reel that rivaled the best in the game. But beneath the diving plays and the "monster" power he showed in San Diego, a much tougher battle was brewing.In this episode:The Trade: Why the Cardinals gave up future steady reliever Luke Gregerson to get Greene.The Hope: A blistering .408 spring training and the rare sight of a shortstop batting cleanup on Opening Day behind Albert Pujols.The Struggle: The heartbreaking reality of Greene’s battle with Social Anxiety Disorder and how the mental rigors of the game eventually led to his retirement at just 29 years old.The Legacy: How Adam Wainwright’s account of Greene’s "quiet exit" reminds us that the toughest battles in baseball never show up in the box score.Khalil Greene’s time in St. Louis was short, and it didn't end with a parade. However, his story remains a vital chapter in Cardinals history—a reminder that the "mental game" is more than just a cliché.#STLCards #MLBHistory #KhalilGreene

What stat actually defines Alec Burleson’s value to the Cardinals? On this episode of The Redbird Rundown, we’re drafting the Baseball Savant metrics we believe matter most when evaluating Alec Burleson—both now and in the years ahead. After a quick five-word vibe check from the past week, we jump into a stat draft designed to separate the noise from the numbers that truly matter. Using 15 Baseball Savant metrics (batting, fielding, and baserunning), Matt, Scott, and Jonathan each build their case for what best captures Burleson’s current role and future upside, with Andy facilitating and weighing in along the way. Burleson’s role with the Cardinals right now Why advanced stats and percentiles matter Drafting analytics with real stakes (once a stat is picked, it’s gone) Post-draft debate and final thoughts on Burly’s outlook If you enjoy Cardinals talk that blends analytics, thoughtful debate, and fan perspective, you’re in the right place. ⭐ Follow, rate, and review the show—it really helps us growTwitter/X: @redbirdrundown2 Facebook: Redbird Rundown Podcast Bluesky: @redbirdrundown.bsky.social TikTok: @redbird.rundown.p Instagram: Redbird Rundown Podcast Thanks for listening, and as always—keep those rally caps on. Topics include:

The Cardinals are officially rebuilding, but the energy at the 2026 Winter Warm-Up didn't feel like a 73-win team. Today, we’re recapping our time at Busch Stadium, featuring exclusive interview reactions from the next generation of St. Louis baseball.In this episode:The Leadership Gap: How Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn are handling the "Veteran" tag at age 27.The Pitching Lab: Why everyone from Andre Pallante to Gordon Graceffo is throwing the "Kick Change" this spring.JJ Wetherholt is Legit: Why the star prospect isn't just looking for "experience" in Jupiter—he’s looking to make the Opening Day roster.The Bloom Checklist: Chaim Bloom has cleared the books, but the roster isn't finished. We discuss the catcher logjam and the search for a veteran right-handed bat (Bader? Andujar?).Timestamps: 0:00 – Cold Open: Winter Warm-Up Vibes 2:15 – The New Clubhouse Culture: Burleson, Winn, & Saggese 5:30 – The Pitching Rotation: Is Quinn Mathews on the outside looking in? 8:45 – Andre Pallante & Michael McGreevy: The "91-Day" Veteran 12:10 – What is a "Kick Change"? 14:30 – JJ Wetherholt’s Mission for Spring Training 18:20 – Chaim Bloom’s Remaining Offseason Checklist 22:15 – The Brendan Donovan & Jojo Romero Trade RumorsFollow Scott: @MrPlaztastic17 on Twitter/X Follow Thomas: @ThomasGauvain#STLCards #Cardinals #MLB #JJWetherholt #ChaimBloom #WinterWarmUp #MasynWinn #BaseballPodcast

It finally happened — the Cardinals traded Nolan Arenado. On this episode of The Redbird Rundown, Andy, Matt, Jonathan, and Scott react to the long-anticipated Nolan Arenado trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks. We unpack the full deal, reflect on Arenado’s time in St. Louis, and discuss what the move means for the Cardinals’ future at third base. Scott also joins with live insight from Cardinals Winter Warm-Up, and we kick things off with our weekly vibe check to capture the mood of Cardinals Nation. Nolan Arenado traded to Arizona Initial reactions before the details Cardinals receive RHP Jack Martinez What’s next at 3B in 2026 and beyond? Winter Warm-Up notes from the scene If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate, and review — it truly helps us grow.Follow The Redbird Rundown on Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for daily Cardinals talk. ⚾ In this episode:

Scott Plaza is joined by Jake Wood of Viva El Birdos to break down the blockbuster trade sending Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks. We discuss the $26 million cash swap, the return of Jack Martinez, and why Chaim Bloom finally hit the "reset" button on the veteran core.We also dive into the fallout for the rest of the roster: • The Winners: Who takes over at third base? Weatherholt, Gorman, or Saggese? • The Rumors: Is Brendan Donovan the next to go? Analyzing the Giants' aggressive pursuit. • The Rankings: Ivan Herrera cracks the MLB Top 100—is he a catcher or a future DH?Follow Jake! • Read Viva El Birdos: vivaelbirdos.com (http://vivaelbirdos.com) • Jake Wood on X: @Woodbat28 (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://twitter.com/Woodbat28)

Welcome back to Redbird Rundown, your go-to podcast for everything St. Louis Cardinals ⚾️ Andy is joined by Matt, Jonathan, and welcoming Scott Plaza as a new regular voice on the show. You’ll be hearing a lot more from Scott (@MrPlaztastic17 on X) moving forward — on this podcast and beyond. On this episode, we start with a quick vibe check from the past week (five words or less), then dive into recent Cardinals bullpen moves, including: The trade for LHP Justin Bruihl from the Cleveland Guardians The signing of veteran reliever Ryne Stanek After that, we take an analytical deep dive into Masyn Winn. Cardinals fans already know the elite defense — but what does Winn need to improve offensively to take the next step? Why has power been slow to develop? What changes could unlock his bat? Can Winn become a true two-way star for the Cardinals? If you enjoy the show, please share, subscribe, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it really helps us grow. Follow Redbird Rundown: Facebook: Redbird Rundown Podcast Twitter/X: @redbirdrundown2 Bluesky: redbirdrundown.bsky.social Watch full episodes on YouTube and stay locked in for all things Cardinals baseball.

In this family fun version of Redbird Rundown, the wives of the guys hop on to give hot takes, play some games, and offer advice to all those people out there with a spouse or partner who just can't quit the Birds. Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help grow the community.

Willson Contreras was an awesome part of the Cardinals in a bad era. The guys reflect on his time in St. Louis - including what worked and what didn't. Then, they speculate on the position player side of the roster as is and dive into the prospect return. Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help grow the community.

With the offseason creeping along, the guys do a proper deep dive into Dustin May. They talk about his repertoire, pedigree as a prospect, injury history, and what might make him more successful as a Cardinal. After this pod, you'll know Dustin May as well as his own mom does. Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help grow the community.

A lot has happened in the last week and the guys assemble to review it all. Dustin May (Gingergaard!), the Winter Meetings, and whether Chaim Bloom's recent comments about Ivan Herrera were a shot at John Mozielak's regime. We anticipate more trades coming, but we react to the news we have! Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help us grow the community.

The guys run down some of the brightest prospects coming on the horizon of the franchise. Along the way they offer upside and downside comps for each player and estimate when we'll see each prospect at the big league level. It's the most exciting part of the Cardinals franchise - let's dig in! Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help grow the community.

Chaim Bloom strikes with the first big move of the offseason for the Cardinals in dealing away team ace Sonny Gray. The guys come together to say so long to Sonny and then think through the return. What should we expect from Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke? What does it tell us about the way Chaim Bloom will continue to operate? Thanks for supporting the show! Follow, rate, and review to help grow the community.