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That’s been the approach for quite some time. I happen to think Johnny’s best FA signing was Phat Elvis…Haha! Fowler was the worst of the position players.
The rebuild needs to be continuous, not something we re-visit each offseason. The FO used last deadline to restock the minors. They then renovated the rotation over the winter, and added pen arms, but “rebuilding the pitching” also includes the mlb staff.
J, lineups may be the safer investment, but against quality starters, they can go cold in the postseason.
That’s when we need to match the quality of SP’rs faced. Now I’m back to sp2 and 3, broken record 🙂
I hear you. But the current plan is to grow our own numbers 2 and 3 pitchers and then pair them with our position players. And we’re doing that by our signing of some innings eaters and packing the minors full of pitching potential. That’s a plan. It makes sense to me. Suddenly blowing that up and trading away our cheap core to get pitchers who may break and who we also may potentially not have as much of a need for in the future seems risky. But even more risky is trying to then replace our hole in position players with guys who will almost assuredly be of less total value than Walker and Gorman. I just don’t get that logic. And I think that’s the kind of move that gets a GM fired quickly if it doesn’t go perfectly.
I’m not fully on board with the current plan. I didn’t want Lynn and wanted Imanaga instead. And I’m clearly disappointed in the lack of pitching development labs. And I didn’t want Walker up so quickly last season and I’d have preferred to not have put Scott on the 40-man so soon this season – although that last move is at least justifiable given the injuries to the outfield. And we could go further back in time to the obsession on big bats that helped get us to this point. But given where we are, I like the plan going forward. It finally seems like we have one. And I would hate to blow it up.
I think the Cardinals have decided to do things differently now. I like the talent that was brought in for the pen. I like that they cut Knizner despite his best season and brought up Herrera and then promoted Pages. I like that they didn’t do the Goldschmidt extension that seemed inevitable. I like that they traded O’Neill away to make room – even though I’m well aware that he suddenly looks good again. I like that they’ve flooded the minors with starting pitchers to force some guys down a level and others into serious competition. I like that they chose to use Liberatore as a reliever and quit trying to force him into being a starter to show value from the Arozarena trade. They are being more pragmatic than they used to be. Their days of indecision look to be more behind them.
That could be, but at only two weeks into the season they haven’t had to make anything remotely resembling a hard decision. Those will be forthcoming as the season progresses and we’ll see if they’re indeed decisive or if they continue to talk out of both sides. Especially Johnny…Haha!
My problem with Gorman and Walker (and to some extent Burly) is that they were drafted as an attempt to replicate what the Cubs did during their run in 2015-16, which is to beef up the lineup with young sluggers. That is all well and good but we did it at the expense of defense. Gorman and Walker do not have a place on the field. They were both drafted as 3B but we have Arenado there so they are both now being shoehorned into positions that don’t work for them. It is a bad strategy and makes no sense. It depreciates their value tremendously.
A better idea would be to have players at 2B and RF who are comfortable with those positions (maybe Donovan and Carlson) and use Gorman and Walker as trade bait to bolster the rotation or lineup or both.
And by the way Baseball Trade Values has Gorman valued at 43.7, Walker at 58, Logan Gilbert at 65.9, and Bobby Miller at 67.5, so the Mariners and Dodgers wouldn’t do those one for one trades either. Our guys aren’t good enough.
My problem with Gorman and Walker (and to some extent Burly) is that they were drafted as an attempt to replicate what the Cubs did during their run in 2015-16, which is to beef up the lineup with young sluggers.
I don’t think the intent was to replicate the Cubs. The Cubs did it with college bats drafted in the first five or so picks. The Cardinals draft high schoolers in the late teens/early twenties. Do you think the Cardinals should only draft pitchers in the first round? They haven’t exactly been having much success with their first round pitchers.
With Gorman, the Cardinals drafted a prospect that wasn’t expected to be there – he was considered a likely Top 10 or so prospect. This is the same thing they did with Delvin Perez.
With Walker, the Cardinals just had better scouting intel on him due to the pandemic.
They were both drafted as 3B but we have Arenado there so they are both now being shoehorned into positions that don’t work for them
Gorman was slightly below average at 2B last year. By no means is he atrocious. His bat more than makes up for it.
Walker was never going to play 3B in the big leagues, whether or not Arrenado was there. Walker was Juan Yepez-level bad at 3B.
I will say, Walker is much better in the outfield so far. I have only seen one major gaffe so far.
Do you think the Cardinals should only draft pitchers in the first round?
Of course not but are there are not position players available in the first round who can both hit and field? I don’t consider that to be too much to ask for.
Contreras/Burly combo at 1B in 2025…. Just a thought
That is a likely scenario if Goldy doesn’t return. It would save some money but would not help the defense.
GScott, agreed, but have you watched the lineup…. Pathetic is an understatement.
Mo especially, then Oli and Ward all need to go. It’s not that “early” in the season anymore.
Oh I agree that the offense is putrid. In the above scenario Herrera would essentially be replacing Goldy in the lineup, which wouldn’t be a huge boost to the offense but it would save $25M. The question is what would the Cardinals do with those savings?
Actual attendance (no souvenirs, food, drinks, etc) is undoubtedly going to drop this season. The “reported” number last night was definitely not folks walking into the park.
That being said, we will hear in the winter that they have to cut payroll due to lack of 2024 attendance.
Most people miss half the attendance picture. In MLB road attendance also figures into revenue. I don’t know if this hurts ou helps ( my guess it makes the picture worse) but needs to be considered.
The visiting team used to receive a percentage of gate revenues, but when revenue-sharing was put in place in 1997, it changed. There is no longer a gate split in MLB.
Has anybody noticed if the rooftop deck seating at ballpark village is getting much use? I am guessing BPV in general is less busy that when the Cardinals are a hot ticket.
The annual Arenado to the Dodgers article.
https://t.co/cbv614qjNz 13 stars — from Arenado to Verlander — who could possibly (maybe) be traded by the deadline
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 10, 2024
I think they should Trade Oliver Marmol and John Mozeliak.
I am willing give up draft picks to get rid of themI have read that the Orioles will be looking for a closer at the deadline. If the Cardinals are in sell mode I would like to see them send Helsley to the O’s for Heston Kjerstad. I saw this guy play in college in person many times and he can really rake. He is a LH hitting RF with some power. If I had to offer up a comp I would say he is kind of in the mold of JD Drew and the late Oscar Taveras. I think he has a bright future and would look good in the Cardinal lineup.
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