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Herrera’s knee issue should absolutely preclude him from any more catching. Period.
I hope this is the last we hear about him catching.
Amen!!!!
I have been worried about this all winter. He is the best hitter on the team so just let him DH for crying out loud. This ill conceived notion of him needing to catch because the WAR analytic gods say it has to happen is irritating to say the least.
If the team intends to increase our players values, Ivan “as catcher” is the best return.
For the player also, “as catcher” pays the best, so no-one on either side is screaming stop, yet. But, Herrera has to do his part.
At the rate Herrera is available at catcher the FO will run out of leash, but they seem to be a patient bunch when hunting for max value, like it’s the mandate.
DH fallback for Ivan makes his overall analytic gods value comparable to a glove first CF’r w/a .601 ops (V. Scott) in similar PA’s (2025).
If the team intends to increase our players values, Ivan “as catcher” is the best return.
Not if he is limping around trying to hit on one leg. He isn’t Kirk Gibson.
I hope Bloom continues Ivan “as catcher” until Chaim and Oli are ready to “reset” him, TBD.
If Herrera continues to wreck his best case, it’s on him, but recognizing that best case as a possibility, belongs to Chaim. His job for the entire roster.
Outsiders have no say Bud. Look in RF.
Bwahaha!Game at the Nats.
#STLCards lineup vs. #Nationals pic.twitter.com/KKxre1XZb5
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) March 11, 2026
I view Bloom and Oli’s job is to put players in the best position for success. They have done that with Burly at 1B and Gorman at 3B. Herrera at C is not that.
I understand that if Herrera puts up a .850 OPS at C that is a big boon for his value and the teams value but it is a big risk in my opinion and unlikely to happen. That position is a meat grinder. So would we rather see him put up an .850 OPS at DH or a .725 OPS at C while playing poor defense? I would choose the former.
The question is whether Herrera can/has improved enough defensively to hold down the position. You assume the answer is “no”. The Cardinals clearly aren’t there yet.
I don’t see any long term risk in trying.
We are right where we left off when we moved Contreras to 1B GS. It took a week of games in 25′ for Ivan to give way to Pages as catcher1. A replay this season wouldn’t surprise me either. Ivan is making your/our case to be the next catcher needing a reset, because he isn’t handling the workload.
Not sure how much I would put into spring training but thus far the pitching has been pretty decent both starting and relief that will likely make the team…that could change as the starters pitch more innings.
That being said, the offense has been and looks pretty woeful…a lot of strikeouts, not enough guys on base, and little power. I guess you don’t steal bases in spring training but Marmol needs to address this deficiency in his management in the regular season. He does not have enough high average/power type hitters to keep playing station to station like he has done the past few years.
If I were guessing they may be able to win a few more games than I originally thought just on Pitching and hopefully a decent defense (jury still out on defense) but I can’t see them getting over 75 wins with the Offense that we have seen up to this point in spring.
McGreevy is on the mound against the Mets today #STLCards pic.twitter.com/yHd6PDfrAG
— STL Sports Central (@STLSprtsCntrl) March 12, 2026
WATCH LIVE AT NOON!
Michael McGreevy leads the @Cardinals against the New York Mets in Spring Training today!Watch the game LIVE on Matrix Midwest! (Spectrum channel 6, channel 32 with an antenna)⚾️
More here➡️ https://t.co/JsAfO1T9ML
#STLCards #ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/WycaV4mRKz
— MatrixMidwest (@MatrixMidwest) March 12, 2026
Upcoming games:
3/12 vs. NYM 1:05 RHP Michael McGreevy vs. LHP Sean Manaea KMOX/Cardinals TV
3/13 vs. HOU 6:05 RHP Kyle Leahy vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng KMOX/Cardinals TV
3/14 at MIA^ 1:10 RHP Andre Pallante vs. TBA KMOX
3/15 vs. WSH 1:05 KMOX
3/16 OPEN DATEVelazquez put a nice opposite field charge into one to give the Cards the lead. Gorman followed with a triple down the line, then Walker looked as lost as ever in watching hittable pitches go by, only to flail at the high fastball. I feel sad for that young man. I hope he can get it together, but it’s looking unlikely.
I definitely would employ more of a running game. Whatever games Scott doesn’t start I would employ him late in the game to pinch run.
The outfield should be Velasquez, Scott, Church, and Walker. Sprinkle in Fermin or Saggesse against lefties.
It is currently pouring in the Jupiter-West Palm area. We will see if it disrupts minor league camp and the #stlcards game tonight. It had been an unusually dry spring to date.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 13, 2026
From what ive read, velasquez is more likely to not make it because he has more options. I dont like that kind of thinking. Hard to tell people that its a competition but then choose the person that didnt conpete as well over the ones that did.
1982willie said:
From what ive read, velasquez is more likely to not make it because he has more options.
Do you recall where you read that? It seems backward. Velazquez has FEWER options, zero. So, if he is added to the 40-man, he could not be sent down without being exposed to waivers. Same with Fermin. If I was Saggese, I would be getting a bit nervous.
I’ve got nothing against Saggese, but I feel like we already know his ceiling and we are looking at it. Scrappy, hard working and handy to have on the roster. If we have somebody else worth looking at, who might turn out to have a higher ceiling, then we should have a look. I doubt Fermin could be a significant upgrade, but who knows, and if he has less runway, lets look at him instead.
Cardinals may have found something in Ledbetter…may not be this year and he may be doing it against guys that will be in AAA but his approach at the plate is good
Fermin, Saggesse – guys like that are just thrilled that be playing major league baseball.
It’s cool but you ain’t winning anything with a roster full of ‘happy to be here’ types.
Three starters at the top of the lineup.
#STLCards lineup vs. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/TIpwjWlsaJ
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) March 14, 2026
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