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I still really like Dylan Carlson and haven’t given up on him one iota. But watching Edman play CF last season left no doubt in my mind that Edman is the better CFer. Carlson is average – slightly above average at best on defense. Edman looked Bader good in CF. The guy is just a defensive wonder everywhere he plays. I do believe Carlson is the better hitter of the two but not by a whole lot. I think he’ll get better as he plays more though as he still has age on his side. Edman is what he is as a hitter. Very average.
The Crawford signing is fine for what it is. I just wish the farm was a little more productive of late, but that is more on the pitching side than the lineup anyway. Having two guys who need to find the fountain of youth to bring much help to the team is a bit concerning, although they are the last guys on the bench.
One contributing factor is that they collected a glut of second basemen, none of whom are good enough at short to play the spot in MLB. That starts with Gorman and Donovan on down to Fermin, Saggese, Prieto, etc. Some were trying to dig as deep as Double-A to breathe life into Gamboa as a possible answer. The reality is that having no viable internal answers forced the Cards to go outside. In the process they strengthen short but weaken the bench overall.
Maybe Fermin will be DFA’d!
There are white jerseys with the requisite ad patches hanging in lockers today. There is not one at José Fermín’s locker, since there’s about to be a new owner of number 35.
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) February 27, 2024
I am still a bit pessimistic on this Crawford signing. It seems that management is overly worried that Winn will not be able to handle shortstop. Even if he is overmatched or gets injured, is an Edman-at-short-Carlson-at-center worse than Crawford-at-short-Edman-at-center?
Based on last year the answer is no. Now obviously it is a new year and guys may not be the same as last year. Younger, talented guys will probably be better, older guys probably worse. But you never know.
Edman’s glove plays wherever you put him, but his bat is pretty light. I like him as an infielder, not real big on him as an outfielder.
I would have passed on Crawford, kept the plan in place of Winn at short and Edman at center, with Carlson pushing Tommy and Tommy as middle infield insurance and late inning defense at second base. Then have the bench as Herrera, Carlson, Donovan, Burleson and Carpenter.
The Cardinals are never honest/accurate about their injuries. This situation with Edman shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been paying attention. He’s not close in my opinion.
Here are the July 1, 2024 ages of the players acquired over the winter to most likely start the season on the 26 man roster.
K. Middleton- 30
A. Kittredge- 34
S. Gray- 34
K. Gibson- 36
L. Lynn- 37
B. Crawford- 37
M. Carpenter- 38Part of it is six of those guys were fairly cheap but the big overall reason has to be that the Cardinals feel like our leadership was very lacking last year. Not a good reflection of Arenado, Goldy, Contreras, and Marmol.
The Cardinals have gotten carried away with this push for veteran presence.
Carlson is 25 years old, 26 next October, and he still can’t hit right-handed pitching.
GS, correct my memory if it’s wrong, but didn’t this leadership thing start with our vet players wanting a larger veteran presence in the clubhouse next season?
Wasn’t Goldy connected to the Carpenter signing for that reason? Your list above; isn’t that Mo also catering to the players clubhouse chemistry? I hope he is.
I suppose that is true JJ. My impression was Arenado and Goldy were basically saying that they couldn’t or didn’t want to take on the leadership role because of their personalities.
I mean I get that we need a mix of veterans in the clubhouse but we also need players who can actually play the game at a reasonably high level.
Carlson is 25 years old, 26 next October, and he still can’t hit right-handed pitching.
Carlson’s lifetime OPS splits:
Vs righty .672
vs lefty. .848Edman’s lifetime OPS splits:
Vs righty .699
Vs lefty. .803They are really similar hitters, although Edman has had a lot more ABs and is at an age where players often decline. Carlson, in my opinion, has the higher ceiling. I think he is the guy who will likely be better going forward.
What they did earlier in their careers hardly matters.
2023 OPS splits:
Carlson
VS RHP .592
vs LHP .771Edman
vs RHP .694
vs LHP .731Since most is vs RHP, that is really what matters most, and Edman has 102 points over Carlson. It is no contest.
I don’t know, Bling. You are saying 2023 is a greater indicator of their next few years. I am saying their career-to-date numbers are a better baseline, with the younger Carlson probably better than he has been to date, and Edman similar to what he has been to date.
No wrong answer to that, as time will tell. You certainly could be right that Carlson will continue to trend more like he did in 2023. One factor to consider in 2024 is health. If Tommy’s wrist is still bothering him, and Dylan’s ankle still a nuisance, that could play in to their playing time and production, especially early.
As KCB said, the Cardinals have played it close to the vest on injury news in the past. Maybe one or both of those guys are more compromised than management is comfortable with, hence the Crawford signing.
I figure they both have enough PAs under their belt so we know what we’ve got. Either way we could stand a better center fielder.
JJ – I’d say either Fermin (who would then be the 3rd SS) or Baker (if Baker absolutely mashes during ST). But really he has no competition. It would be Burleson.
Carlson confuses me at times. He’s from a baseball family and I just think he should be better than what he is. He’s a smoothe player, which at times makes it appear he isn’t trying that hard. I hope his injury is healed. This may be his last chance with the Cardinals.
jj asked:
Is there no CF friendly outfielder that could push Burley for the 5th OF role?
Siani is the only obvious answer, but he hasn’t shown he can hit enough, and with Scott in camp, he isn’t going to get to play enough to really compete, I imagine.
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