January 2021 Instructional Camp

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  • #146635
    krbpackfan
    Participant

    I have read in multiple places that we will be having an instructional camp in January. Is this true? If so, what is the start date and when will we see who will be invited?

    #146640
    Brian Walton
    Keymaster

    Paid - Annual

    Chances are high that the multiple places where you read that all go back to Mo’s call last week.

    I would say the answer to your primary question is not certainly, but probably. As you can see below, the specifics remain vague.

    From my notes, Mo said:

    No intention of running a camp now (fall). (No kidding since most of the other 28 teams are already done or wrapping up soon.)

    Considering a hitting camp, but no dates set.

    Not until December or more likely January for instructional camp. (Nobody would have a December camp of two or more weeks.)

    On a Performance camp, the performance group already has processes through bi-monthly discussions with players. Might have a performance camp, but I (Mo) cannot say.

    Still concerns with COVID about assembling. (OK, but 28 other orgs are having/had in-person camps this fall.)

    I will get dates for instructs when they will give them to me. They will not release the roster until the camp opens. Even then, once I get down there, I find there have been changes more often than not.

    #146641
    stlcard25
    Participant

    It would be astounding if the Cardinals willingly harpooned their development group to save the money it will cost to run an instructional camp. If that’s the case, I would expect the team to stand fully pat money wise and not resign Yadi or Waino to try to cut costs to the bare bones. Having players take over 12 months off doesn’t seem like a way to get your guys to the big leagues eventually.

    #146643
    Brian Walton
    Keymaster

    Paid - Annual

    I am not suggesting they won’t run a 2021 camp. I think they will. I am just pointing out he wasn’t totally firm about anything.

    The next layers of the onion will be to compare the number of players invited and the duration of the camp.

    #146710
    14NyquisT
    Participant

    A big portion of our prospects have already been away from the game for +/- 6 months and have lost a year of development. This is true for the other 29 organization as well and not unique for our guys.

    I think that they deserve to return to some form of normalcy ASAP. They have already lost some consideration on the team’s depth charts as the players higher up then them have been playing since July.
    Caution… tough decisions ahead.

    #146712
    Brian Walton
    Keymaster

    Paid - Annual

    To slightly correct what you said, a majority of the Cardinals prospects have been away for 14 months currently. The exceptions are the group from last January’s instructional camp and the few prospects in Springfield this summer.

    28 other organizations (the Yankees also excluded) did not have a January camp. They held theirs this fall, with some still going on and others having recently wrapped up. That broke up the long time out somewhat.

    But it does not change your primary point. 2020 was mostly a lost year for player development and it will be felt going forward.

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