Quick Thoughts on the Opener

The first home game of a St. Louis Cardinals season is always something. Sometimes it’s a cold slog. Sometimes it’s a disappointing late loss. Sometimes it’s the big new acquisition hitting a huge homer that wins a ball game. But it is always something.

Today, today was surely something. Some random thoughts about the first day of the 2026 Cardinals season.

• Let’s talk about the broadcast a little bit. This was the first real test of Cardinals.tv and it passed the test. The graphics were great—the scorebug was sharp and the intros/outros were good. It was a very professional production and even though it was occasionally mentioned that it was “brought to you by bet365” it wasn’t quite as ubiquitous as the Bally’s/FanDuel product placement.

• Dani Wexelman was very good as the host of the pre-game show. It’s the old meme of “I wasn’t familiar with your game” but while I knew her name, I don’t think I’d seen her on anything save maybe one of the spring training games. She’s a solid pro and a definite positive for the company. I think she’ll cover Alexa Datt’s absence very well.

• Also in that vein, it was good to see Jim Hayes back doing what he does so well. From talking to JJ Wetherholt’s parents to bantering with Al Hrabosky and Mark McGwire, it just wouldn’t be a broadcast without the Cat getting the interviews and bringing a different angle to the game.

• The pregame ceremonies were, of course, top notch. The Clydesdales were as majestic as always and it was a real treat to see so many former Cardinals at the park. It took a while to get through everyone, but getting to see Ray Lankford, Scott Rolen, Jason Isringhausen, and others makes the day special. We see some of them throughout the year (and Ozzie is, of course, everywhere) but getting them all together is such a treat.

• The video marking the 20th anniversary of the stadium was impeccable. Set to Adam Wainwright’s anthem of playing for the Cardinals, “Time to Fly”, there were some amazing moments that were brought back to mind, from the beginning to the present day. It was a great walk down memory lane.

• The only problem was that I wasn’t at all prepared for the images of the players that have passed on. Seeing Oscar Taveras, Josh Hancock, and the legends like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Lou Brock that have left us in the last 20 years was a tear-forming moment when I was least expecting it.

• As the players went through the line, one person stood out. Chaim Bloom had a huge grin on his face as every player went through the handshake line. After two years hiding behind the scenes, he had to be having a ball being out in the open in that whole atmosphere.

• While it probably didn’t make quite the impact on former Cardinal Ryan Vilade over on the Tampa Bay side, I do wonder if players like Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan, while being happy in their new spots, sorta missed everything that goes along with being a Cardinal on Opening Day.

• JJ Wetherholt had a strong first at bat and officially added his name to the list of people that have played Major League Baseball when he flew out. His second at bat was even better, with the ball clearing the wall and landing on Freese’s Lawn. To homer in your first game is incredible, but to get a curtain call as well? St. Louis is already in JJ’s pocket.

• Jordan Walker seemed to be a bit of a different player out there. He got tested a lot on defense and passed each test. He had a couple of remarkably strong throws from the outfield as well. At the plate, his first two balls were hit to third, but the last two were in the air and his well. His double might have been a little misplayed by the center fielder but it was still good to see lift.

• While Chip Carey and Brad Thompson weren’t too hard on the ears, I continue to cringe every time Chip decides to say RISP as an word instead of an acronym.

• While it was good to see Wetherholt homer, it did remind me of the last Cardinal middle infield prospect that homered for his first hit. I hope Wetherholt’s career winds up better than Paul DeJong’s, though Pauly D’s career isn’t anything to sneeze at.

• Nathan Church made a sensational grab that kept the 1-0 lead intact (for another batter) and he had three hits to go along with it. If there is a competition for left field, Church is making sure that he’s the frontrunner. I haven’t been completely on board with him, but there’s no doubt he did well last year and the winter comparisons of his work ethic to Brendan Donovan’s is a point in his favor.

• Matthew Liberatore looked strong for the first four innings but tired in the fifth. The ball that Church caught probably should have been a homer, the next pitch was one, and two more batters reached before he finished the inning. He never seemed to have a good feel for his curve ball, at least not that I saw, but he worked through things. It also had to be odd to start a game with temps in the 90s without working up to it. Florida has been warm but not necessarily that warm.

• There’s going to be a lot of talk about the bullpen because of the six-run sixth, but very few of those balls were high percentage hits. The first one against Matt Svanson was a solid single, as was the single against Justin Bruihl, but two of the singles had xBA of .270 and .240 and another had an exit velocity of less than the interstate speed limit (at least, here in Arkansas). It was death by a thousand paper cuts and while you can’t hold the ‘pen blameless, that wasn’t “give up six runs bad” pitching.

• To see this team turn around and immediately score eight in response was incredible and may (drawing conclusions from one game is folly) say something about this squad. They may not have the experience that some other teams have and they may still be developing their talent, but it feels like they are a team that works hard and will put together a professional approach. The results aren’t always going to be there (though it was nice to see them today!) but if they are putting this kind of approach out there regularly, the results may start to show earlier than we think.

• What a day for Alec Burleson. He gets the first base hit of the season, singles to start the big sixth inning, then caps it all off with a no-doubt home run that had the whole stadium fired up. Then he spears a line drive that ends the eighth inning threat, flashing leather like Paul Goldschmidt used to do. It was quite the day for the Burly man and if there are more of those coming, it’ll be a lot of fun to watch.

• Give some love to Nolan Gorman as well. Gorman struck out in the first, but in the sixth he singled in Burleson and Masyn Winn, who had reached to start the frame. If he strikes out there, that whole inning unfolds quite differently.

• The seventh through the ninth wasn’t easy, of course. In the ninth, Ryne Stanek walked the bases loaded before getting out of it by striking out former Cardinal Richie Palacios. That means Stanek is truly a Cardinals closer because it’s not a real save unless the tying run comes to the plate.

• At the end of the first full day of baseball, the Cardinals are in the first place in the NL Central and the Cubs are in last place of the NL Central. You can’t beat that for the first day of the season!

(OK, that was supposed to be a quick look. Maybe by my standards it counts. Musial Friday night with Nate and Ben, Gateway likely Sunday. Talk with you then.)