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6:15 p.m.
RHP Andre Pallante (10-6, 4.02) vs. RHP Hunter Greene (2-1, 6.06)
Cards.TV // KMOX // WIJRCrooks started off horribly, but he has been playing better in July and slowing bringing his stat lines up. They still don’t look good but that is from how and he started.
In July he is hitting .240 with a .345 OBP and .520 SLG which is good for a 149 wRC+.
He is still striking out way too much, but he is making contact at an acceptable rate in in zone pitches but needs to improve his selection. When he does hit the ball, he is hitting it really hard at least.
Crooks needs to play more, in my opinion. I have always thought that having three catchers was counter productive. It has gotten a little better since they cut Pedro Pages playing time.
If I had my druthers (which I don’t), I would like to have Herrera moved off catcher, Leo Bernal brought up and have he and Crooks duel it out. Get some good competition going.
I have seen both play quite a bit in the minors. They are both good defensive catchers, though I give Crooks the slight edge. Crooks has not been able to show what he can do with the present catching situation.
He needs more playing time and a good long runway to show if he can catch at the major league level. He is not getting it.
Herrera should never be used at catcher. He is a full time DH. The Cardinals are trying to squeeze a square peg in a round hole.
I am fine with either Crooks or Bernal in STL but not both until they both prove they can handle the defensive duties in a good way. Pages is useful to have around for his defense and ability to handle a pitching staff.
If he would agree to it, I think Herrera can play 1b and is a good enough athlete to play LF.
Other than an older player I don’t like the idea of someone being full time DH because I like being able to rotate guys off the field while keeping their bat in the lineup.
Personally, I think Pages is a waste of a roster spot. I am sure he is well liked and all that, but to me he serves no purpose on a rebuilding club with a boatload of catchers in the pipeline. He doesn’t hit well, and I think this vaunted ability to handle a pitching staff is overblown. The pitchers seem to do just fine without him playing as much.
I don’t like a full time DH either which is why either Herrera or Burly should be traded for a nice prospect haul. I imagine Herrera could play 1B. Not so sure about LF.
The weather appears to be all clear in and around the greater downtown metro St. Louis area. At least in the early afternoon. Nothing appears to be heading in from the west either. We did get more rain here in SW Indiana last night and this morning. We’ve had 12-13 inches in the last 4-5 weeks.
And this one tonight will be a tough one. Hunter Greene can be nasty. But at least we won’t have to face Frank Burns this series.
Din-din today will be a Hungry Man’s Fried Chicken TV dinner. Along with some bar-b-q chips, an ice cold slushy Mt. Dew, and a bowl of Turkey Hill Homemade Vanilla ice cream.
r/Esteemed Rat
I have an advantage when thinking about the catcher situation because neither Crooks not Bernal seem to me like the answer going forward, so it doesn’t matter to me what they do.
Pages is ideal as a backup catcher and even though backup catcher is pretty far down the list of stuff to worry about, if he helps the young pitchers, then that is not a factor to be blown off. I don’t know if he does or doesn’t.
2B J. Wetherholt L
RF J. Walker R
1B A. Burleson L
C Ivan Herrera R
LF L. Nootbaar L
SS Masyn Winn R
DH Bryan Torres L
3B Blaze Jordan R
CF N. Church LI don’t like moving Walker to the two slot. You take the top RBI man in the game and move him to an on-base place in the order. And you move a guy who has a higher OBP and lower slugging percentage than Walker, Ivan Herrera, and put him in a run production slot. Huh??
Oh, we are going pub-grub tonight. Corn dogs, with fresh fries and onion rings cooked in the air fryer.
Not as healthy as we usually eat, but now and then we do this sort of thing. I mean you gotta let your hair down sometimes and enjoy life.
This one is probably in the Lost column. On paper, of the three games, this one would be the one we would most likely lose.
Then again, there’s a reason why you play the game.
Weather wise all appears clear in and around the greater metro St. Louis area.
I am in charge of two little granddaughters this evening, so we had McDonalds. I’ve got orange sherbet for desert.
Pallante is pitching much better. His stuff looks the same but with much better command. (Hope I didn’t jinx him)
I posted this on another thread, but I feel it’s worth repeating that, despite an extended stretch of lackluster baseball, the Cardinals remain the only team in the entire Big Leagues to have never been situated below .500 for the entire ’26 season thus far.
It’s been quite some time since Aroldis Chapman made his debut with the Reds and at age 38 he’s having quite a season with Boston over in the AL with 24 SV’s in 26 SVO’s to go along with a 1.87 ERA. After taking a close look at his 16 season career, I’d have to say Chappy’s rapidly placing himself into a position for serious HOF consideration. Anyone else think so?
Tuning in now, but that one measly run turned to 7 quickly and Greene is really good
Pallante is doing great. I know Herrera gets a lot of flack in his catching, but is it also a coincidence the two pitchers he catches have been the best on the staff? Page’s CERA is much higher than Herrera’s.
Chicken breasts baked in a cream sauce with onions, tomato slices and gouda cumin cheese on brown rice, a green salad and fruit salad dessert was tonight’s din-din.
Madame CiF had a serious case talking in her sleep tonight (nothing interesting) keeping me awake so I flipped on the tub just in time to see a nice 7-run inning.
Rah Cardinals!
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