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I’d say the lead-off slot is certainly up for grabs and I’m in full agreement with the notion that Tommy Edman needs to scuffle to improve his OBP in the form of working more counts for BB’s and possibly honing some bunting skills. The Cardinal manager will certainly approach the lead-off slot with a work in progress concept, but I think Edman will get the first chance to take on that role simply because he hits from both sides and when he does indeed reach base there’s a very good possibilty that the ensuing SB will place him in scoring position without having to sac to move him over. Neither The Nootz nor Donovan can provide those two advantages. In any event, I’ll be surprised if Eddie doesn’t get the vast majority of PA’s leading off for the first month or so of the season. Obviously if that approach produces success he’ll remain in that role.
Man, that’s a lot of paper, Oliver. Imagine the stress produced by simply knowing that the vast majority of all that money sitting in the bank is uninsured…
Re: Mikolas
Now two rotation members signed for 2024. Known value at a fair to both rate.
I hope they wait on Monty until near the end of the season to make an offer. I’d like a longer look, but they likely have tape on his entire career.
By then we’d have a good read on Flaherty’s season / future, also.
We scored some runs in the 9th off Wily Peralta who’s trying to hang on. I think he’s signed to a minor league contract. But against the real pitchers we didn’t do a whole lot. Offense has been kind of dead the last few games. Or maybe inefficient is a better word. Not pushing them across to well. The pitching has been looking good though. Several good starts and solid relief.
This is the last weekend of ST, with opening day just 5 days from now. The last ST game is Teusday. It seems like Ollie should be rolling out his opening day lineup by now rather than what we saw yesterday. Maybe Monday and Teusday. Maybe we’ll get a surprise or two when the active roster and the 40 man is set. Good luck to the bubble guys.
Good job by Woodford passing a couple guys to move into the 6th starter slot, which looks like it puts him in the rotation for now. Hypo: What happens if Woody clearly out pitches Jack while Waino is out?
Noon game
1. Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
2. Lars Nootbaar (L) LF
3. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
4. Nolan Arenado (R) DH
5. Willson Contreras (R) C
6. Tyler O’Neill (R) CF
7. Jordan Walker (R) RF
8. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B
9. Tommy Edman (S) SS
Cabrera5 PM game
1. Masyn Winn (R) SS
2. Alec Burleson (L) RF
3. Juan Yepez (R) LF
4. Taylor Motter (R) DH
5. Pedro Pages (R) C
6. Luken Baker (R) 1B
7. Oscar Mercado (R) CF
8. Kramer Robertson (R) 3B
9. Juniel Querecuto (S) 2B
PallanteNoon game
1. Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
2. Lars Nootbaar (L) LF
3. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
4. Nolan Arenado (R) DH
5. Willson Contreras (R) C
6. Tyler O’Neill (R) CF
7. Jordan Walker (R) RF
8. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B
9. Tommy Edman (S) SSOpening day lineup?? Save for swapping Arenado and Gorman.
Yeah, the ’23 edition is less than a week away from being unveiled. I’d say everyone should be up to game speed, so Marmol may simply want to get as many looks as is possible at the handful of guys who don’t already have a stamp of approval.
I don’t know, stlcard25. The opening day order I’m hoping for is…
Edamn SS
Donovan 2B
Goldschmidt 1B
Arenado 3B
O’Neill CF
Gorman DH
Contreras C
Walker LF
Nootbar RFEdman is a low OBP player. Increasing his steals might help mitigate that a bit this year. Nootbaar has the low average but good walk rate to help his stats. Then you’ve got Donovan with the OBP up near .400. He would seem to be the logical leadoff guy.
I guess it’s close between Noot, who has the potential, and Edman, who is the known. It’s a good problem to have this year.
Yeah, I think Edman will get the first look. Maybe not on opening day, but probably the majority of lead-off PA’s for the first month or so, simply because he’s had the most time in that slot of the 3 guys in the conversation.
I’m not sold on Gorman despite his good showing this spring and even with the shift ban helping him. He looks like the same hitter as last year. We will have to see how it goes for him when he is facing MLB level pitchers and defenses all the time.
I’m curious how pointed the conversations were with each leadoff candidate in prep for this season. Things like, “we need to see you do more of XYZ in Spring Training to put you in that spot.”
Competitors respond to clear challenges.
I’d say in all likelihood, that Carlson will be the CF’er on opening day and get plenty of looks thereafter. I simply posted my personal preference for the opening day Redbird line-up. I’ll also say that it’s probably a good idea that if Walker’s name is indeed placed on the 26 man, that he make his debut in the starting line-up while the team is playing on the road. Less pressure to perform and all. At any rate, that used to seem like it was the orthodox approach.
I agree that Gorman’s swing does look the same as it did last year. Earlier in ST his swing looked like he had leveled it off a bit, but I guess he didn’t develop the muscle memory to maintain it. His strikeout rate will probably stay high because of that. I still think he’ll hit for average because of the banned shift and the way he stings the ball when he does makes contact.
I’m not sold on him either, Bling, and I chose Gorman as the guy who would really settle in and consistenly feature a nice performance in ’23. Heck, I wasn’t entirely sold on Albert Pujols until about June of his third season…Haha! I once bought a used truck and the gearbox scattered during the first month of ownership. I’m real careful now…
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