Cardinals Surge, NL Central Chaos, and MLB Money Talk with Tom Ackerman

Tom Ackerman breaks down the Cardinals’ recent surge, highlighting their ability to win close, back-and-forth games behind timely hitting and late-inning execution. He points to Mason Winn’s breakout performance and the team’s five-game winning streak that has pushed them into contention in a tightly packed NL Central. The conversation also covers broader MLB economics, including massive payroll disparities like the Mets’ struggles despite record spending, deferred contracts such as Shohei Ohtani’s deal and Bobby Bonilla-style payouts, and how the Dodgers’ long-term player development model sets them apart. They also touch on the Padres’ record sale price, the collapse of LIV Golf as a competitive product, and brief updates on Battlehawks football and NFL Draft talk. Hashtags: #TomAckerman #Cardinals #MLB #Baseball #NLCentral #ShoheiOhtani #Dodgers #LIVGolf #NFLDraft #SportsTalk