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Donovan is a true gamer. He’ll play anywhere they want him to with enthusiasm and intensity. No manager wants to sit enthusiasm and intensity down. But Gorman is only 22 years old, turns 23 on May 10. He has the potential to hit 30 HR and OPS .850+. And with the shift being banned, I think he’ll strike out less because he’ll be more open to just hitting the ball. I’m going to say that Gorman opens the season at 2B, but I also agree that, one way or another, Donovan is going to get 400-500 AB’s.
There’s going to be some talented and hungry players at Spring Training this year. Carlson is the one who had better show up with his A-game, IMHO.
Well bc, he never impressed me as the next Ryno, but as I mentioned, I don’t recall him looking particularly bad over on the right side last season in the limited amount of games that he was manned up at 2B. At any rate, I’d still like to see Donovan and Edman as the defacto everyday middle IF’ers. That’s 4 GG’s on the IF to provide me with a sense of ease and comfort. Not at all unlike my security blanket when I was a very young boy…Haha!
As soon as someone has an ouchie, but can still bat, Donovan is on the move, filling in at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF.
He’s still in the lineup, still getting his PA’s, but his utility advantage to his team, is by being the primary DH / super utility.
You could start him at 2B, but it won’t last long, he’s the utility guy. You can rest almost anyone you want, put them at DH, and backfill their position w/Donovan.
I’d rather have an everyday second baseman, and an everyday infield.
Yep, he could, if you like Paul DeJong as a utility guy. Oh, here it is, Edman back to super utility, and DeJong as the everyday SS. Good call GC!
And with the shift being banned, I think he’ll (Gorman) strike out less because he’ll be more open to just hitting the ball.
Yes, I think that is so. Strike out less and make better contact. He will be able to go with his natural swing rather than trying to modify it because of the shift. Some other guys will benefit as well, including guys on the other team.
Since Gorman’s alternative to playing 2B is DH, how much he plays 2B might be affected by how other DH candidates are hitting the ball. If Yepez or Burly are smokin hot and taking the DH reps, then I doubt they will be sitting Gorman too much in favor of Donovan, at least early on.
Assuming pretty good performance and health by all the pieces, there is not room to get full value out of them all.
As to the CF question above, both Noot and O’Neill could play CF. Probably well enough. It will be interesting to see if somebody gets pushed off their position in the OF by the gaggle of hopefuls.
Timely news…
Asked Marmol earlier if anyone stood out to him appearance-wise, and he singled out Nolan Gorman as someone who showed up with the body and swing transformation they were hoping to see this winter.
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) February 15, 2023
Besides the Cardinals’ official depth chart on their official MLB website, another source of insight is ST locker placement as well as any uniform number changes that appear as players report and suit up. Being an astute observer, I picked some gems out of a Goold article.
The item that stood out is who has inherited the all important Molina corner in the ST clubhouse, where he held court for all those years. The new occupant is a group with Aranado and Goldschmidt flanked by O’Neil and Nootbaar. That’s right, the Nootster. His inclusion with the core group of thumpers speaks volumes loud and clear to anyone who can hear the voices.
The other item I picked out is that Yepez has been upgraded with a new uni number in the low teens. He takes over Matt Carpenter’s #13, the number Carp wore all through his glory days. So Yepez has been upgraded from a wannabe to an is. Hmmm. And guess who takes over Yepez’s #36? That would be Moises Gomez. That’s a pipeline clue to anyone who can connect the dots. All stuff that is good to know if you want to be in the know.
For members in the know, I wrote about all the uniform number changes on January 18. A full comparison from last spring to this spring for numbers 1-99. 64 players plus coaches in uniform.
This type of shift couldn’t happen, could it?
https://www.facebook.com/ShowcaseAndCollegeBaseball/photos/a.101613861883291/576378771073462/
Definitely could happen. I don’t think the rule says you have to keep outfielders at each spot. As you can see by the comments on the site, lots of people like shifts and stuff and think managers should be able to put players all over the place. I personally hate shifts where you vacate any position. To me there are nine positions and they have a general area and each area should have to be manned. Sure you can move them a little one way or the other but to just totally vacate the position is just wrong.
Again minority opinion here. As a strategy I should be able to place my players wherever I think best. You don’t like it hit where they ain’t and I will stop.
I’m with you on that, Oliver. As a hitter, if the shift bothers you, simply beat it and the opposition will think twice about redeploying the next time. The IF shift has been around for 100 years and I can’t remember any hitters complaining. The best way to complain about it and get their attention is to go oppo.
I’d say you may be right, gscottar, however by my count O’Neill saw 21 games in CF to Nootz’ 11 games last season. My count may very well be off by a game or two.
The shift annoys me immensely, but I think it is a perfectly acceptable tactic. Up to the hitters to defeat it.
Oliver, I respect your opinion and it’s fine, not arguing that. But I don’t believe in the mantra, hit em where they aren’t. Baseball unlike most other ball sports, the offense doesn’t control the ball. The defense, the pitcher does. Even a really good hitter on average gets a hit 3 out of ten times and that would be against a straight up defense. You add the shift and it’s even less. The way pitchers are used now makes it hard to as you say, hit it where they aren’t. That takes some good bat control for one thing but even for players that have that, it’s rediculously hard against pitchers throwing 95 to 105 with spin. If the average speed of pitches was what it once was or pitchers stayed in the game longer maybe you could justify it. Ive always considered stuff like that bush league play but to each their own. Now other leagues have went to making rules strictly favoring offense but I don’t want that in MLB. But at same time, I don’t want defense to strictly be catered to. There needs to be a balance. But like I said, I’m not hating on your opinion, just wanted to see where I come from on my opinion.
I’d say you may be right, gscottar, however by my count O’Neill saw 21 games in CF to Nootz’ 11 games last season. My count may very well be off by a game or two.
O’Neill can play CF but since he is a pulled leg muscle waiting to happen I would limit his innings in CF if I were the Cardinals.
1tough, the infield shift has not been around a 100 years. Tell me when before recent times, did you see whole positions being vacated on a routine basis. I’m not talking one game here or against a specific player. I’m talking about routine use, I don’t think you will find it. I’ve watched baseball my whole life and until recently never saw this outside just sporadic usage and usually was an outfielder being moved to infield.
I can live with the pitch clock, I like the extra innings rule, and I’m on board with the larger bases. But I hate the no shifts rule. To me, you get 9 defenders and other than the pitcher (and arguably the catcher) you should be able to start them wherever you want. If you want 7 guys standing in the right field foul territory because you’re sure that’s where the ball is about to be hit, then you should be able to do that (no matter how stupid that strategy may be). The only reason there is a standard defensive alignment is because that spaces guys out to the average places balls are generally hit – so it became tradition. Hitters just need to hit the ball where the defense isn’t. That’s the game. It’s the equivalent of forcing a football or basketball team to only be able to play zone defense. I hate it.
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