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As good fortune would have it, I took a photo of Torres hitting yesterday. It is in today’s report, but also here.
Regarding him making the team as an infielder, he would have to beat out Saggese or Fermin or hope for an injury. Torres not playing SS hurts his chances. So far, he seems to be in the OF, where his main competition would be Church. However, Nootbaar’s injury has created a short term opening. Right now, it might be Velazquez or new guy not yet here.
My version of the bench right now is Pozo, Saggese, Fermin and OF guy, with Church the fill in for Noot.
I really enjoy these snippets with Walton and Reis. I’m still pushing for “Weekdays with Walton and Reis” to be a thing.
As for Torres, he’s been so successful at Memphis the last two years, sort of like a Koperniak+, that you would hope he would get a little chance to prove his mettle while Noot heals (or heels, as it were). All of these guys (Torres, Church, Koperniak, Fermin, Saggese) are end of roster guys in all likelihood, but you never know. One of them might just click and become a starter for a few years, a la the Cardinals magic from a decade past.
Don’t players often say they feel they perform worse offensively when DH’ing only because they have more time to think and often don’t feel like they get to stay loose in the dug out? I know Herrera himself said that he doesn’t like DH only because of sitting still so long.
I suppose different players view it differently. Some players get distracted or frustrated learning a new position or trying to learn their current position and it carries over into the batter’s box. If Herrera can put up an OPS of between .850-900 while playing the field then I am all for it. I am just skeptical it will happen that way and we desperately need his bat.
Ivan will have better trade value if they can find him a field position the next couple of seasons, but there’s time for that to play out.
I’m guessing Noot will need some off the field games at DH once he returns. Our 10man bench better have D flexibility, If Ivan is a fixture at DH.
Seems like a catcher would be open to DH once or twice a week. In the pre-DH days now and then a catcher might take a turn at first base. But obviously it depends on the guy.
I’m not ready to give up on Herrera in left field yet. It’s just that I’m not at all confident that he can throw the ball where it needs to be thrown. I’m not at all confident at that. I’d like to see some more of how he does playing left field. If he is just not cut out for the outfield, then so be it. But I want to give him some more reps before calling it a day. Love his bat and the way he stands in at the plate.
Brian. Thanks for posting the photo of Torres. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. There’s still hope for him.
Seems like a catcher would be open to DH once or twice a week. In the pre-DH days now and then a catcher might take a turn at first base. But obviously it depends on the guy. e>
Agree. I’m just not sure that a ‘catcher’ that cannot throw the ball withing 10 feet of the bag during a steal attempt can really be called a catcher. I wish him the best and the Cardinals the best.
I heard some grousing about Nolan Gorman being awarded the 3B job, but none about Jordan Walker being awarded the RF job.
For their careers:
Gorman – 4 seasons – positive 3.5 career WAR, one season with an OPS above .800, 0 seasons with and OPS below .600.
Walker – 3 seasons – (negative 2.7 career WAR), zero seasons with an OPS above .800, 1 season with an OPS below .600The Cardinals brought in Urias to back up / compete with Gorman. Who have they brought in to back up / compete with Walker?
Not to mention, the Cardinals infield is still overflowing…
Where the players are stationed defensively during practice helps alot to hear who’s working out where. Who is receiving backup SS reps? LF? Much appreciated info going forward.
In drills, Saggese was backup SS and 2B, but that was before Urias arrived. Fermin started Game 1 in LF. We will need to keep watching.
Podcast time! @kyler416 and I discuss implications of the addition of Ramon Urias, backups on the infield and standouts from the #stlcards early spring games and why to not get excited over them. Coach Yadier Molina, two hitters transitioning to pitching and the opening of the… pic.twitter.com/zlTT0ic6oA
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) February 25, 2026
Thanks guys.
As much as we all hope Noot can return well from injury, it doesn’t change his “short-term sacrifices” status.I hope non-tendering his arb3 salary next winter isn’t a topic. Move him if you can, before then. Best of luck Lars.
In our #STLCards podcast, @kyler416 and I discuss Oli, camp cuts, position battles, 6 draft picks in the top 86 but spend the most time on a Minor League Sim Game that featured five HRs, including a grand slam and a three-run blast by top prospects. Listen in, then go to TCN for… pic.twitter.com/1gpHkfhUy8
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 4, 2026
Really upbeat show. Easy and entertaining to listen to. BW, in particular, was lighting it up today. Thanks.
Just got to the podcast. Really good insight about how the lack of draft choices has affected the organization. Really magnifies the importance of keeping the farm system healthy and stocking the major league club with players developed in the system instead of free agents.
The podcasts are now also on YouTube and are always really good.
Yes, for the Cardinals to be an actual WS contending franchise on the regular they must have a strong, deep farm.
. @kyler416 and I discuss the early roster for the 3/19 Spring Breakout Game and especially Yairo Padilla (p). Three sets of cuts from #stlcards camp are noted, including Jimmy Crooks, Tink Hence and Joshua Baez. We look at remaining candidates for the second lefty reliever and… pic.twitter.com/0UkT8FNqDQ
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 11, 2026
In this week's podcast, @kyler416 and I cover #stlcards roster battles, Masyn Winn’s contract, Minor League rule changes, TCN’s series on Cardinals top prospect rankings and backfield observations from Jupiter. https://t.co/ELqx8YojgK pic.twitter.com/1bLWJ71ULu
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 18, 2026
I have to tell you, I think this is one of the best podcasts that Brian and I have done.
We go over the hot roster topics, Brian dishes on the minor leaguers still in Florida, and we get into what to expect in Memphis https://t.co/1JmowjxVtI— Kyle Reis, 58% Neanderthal (@kyler416) March 25, 2026
This is in addition to, not in place of, Kyle’s other projects. He has earned this opportunity and will do a tremendous job.
This is going to sound fake, but I haven’t something VERY REAL to share:
Starting on Monday, I’ll be a contributor to https://t.co/UlpYDtn3KG via a weekly prospects newsletter that will also be an article on the site! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!https://t.co/p9td1zphdo
— Kyle Reis, 58% Neanderthal (@kyler416) March 25, 2026
Congrats to Kyle! I think Kyle and Brian make the finest duo of prospect raters on this site. Generally since I’ve been here there have been great “others” who cover the prospect lists. Derek Shore and Blake have been two other good ones (are either of them still in the baseball business?)
After being a newspaper reporter for several years, Derek moved into the business world. Blake was already there and is in the process of getting his MBA while working for a major accounting firm. They were both great long-term contributors to the site.
We open with an overview of @kyler416's new Monday column at https://t.co/nOT7lw0km5. We cover standouts and opinions of players in the early action by Triple-A Memphis and #stlcards, pitching transactions, and potential roster standouts at Double-A Springfield, High-A Peoria and… pic.twitter.com/co9IhSqqpw
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) April 1, 2026
Many congrats to Kyle in the MLB writing role. I missed this news and was reading one of his articles but didn’t know it was him. I really liked the content and writing style and checked the author and was pleasantly surprised to see the author was Kyle.
Noon – 2 on the Iowa Sports Radio Network with @imKenMiller & @trentcondon
12:25 @johnbohnenkamp #Hawkeyes 🐤
1:02 @MattSnyderCBS #MLB ⚾️
1:25 @MattNorlander #CollegeHoops 🏀
1:50 Trent's Picks presented by @CircaSports https://t.co/iBt8bPtuJy
— Miller & Condon on The Iowa Sports Radio Network (@MillerAndCondon) April 7, 2026
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