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We have no idea if Gorman can hit above A ball, much less MLB. Lot of hype but not especially robust MiLB hitting stats. If his handlers are smart they will not worry him with learning a new position this spring so he can focus on adjusting to a more advanced level of play. The speed of the game and better pitching are going to be enough of a shock.
Can’t let that happen again. I guess Mo will see the next Zac Gallen in every overhyped marginally performing pitching prospect.
Great work on that article Brian. Do you have enough info for at least a guess about how Quezada might fare with that rating scheme?
Knizner hit well enough in AA-AAA for a sound defensive catcher who can handle pitchers and keep a lid on the running game. It sounds like he will get a chance this year, but with guys behind him in the system he will have to look good in all aspects of the position. It is not beyond possibility he could step up enough at the plate to get in some DH/PH reps if situations arise. He needs to face big league pitching as much as possible.
Side note re previous Gorman 2B report. I am not sold on Gorman playing an alternative position at big league level, based mostly on what a multitude of prior touted 3B prospect washouts have looked like. I have no familiarity with Gorman himself.
I hope both these guys can raise some eyebrows this spring.
The game gets more sand lot rules year to year it seems. But yet more high tech. Virtual reality equipped batting cages or whatever it is. But you still have to hit, catch, throw and run. At least for now. Well, actually, you don’t even have to hit or run to get on second base now sometimes. And you don’t have to catch or throw to be in the lineup sometimes.
Rat, they have to say something besides “we just got here, leave us alone until we get things sorted and see where we are”.
Older people run the corporations that buy the suites and season tickets and advertising. Once they are gone it will be over.
Superbowl this year had lowest TV audience since 2007, at a time when there is little to do but sit home and watch the tube. Two small market teams didn’t help though. We will have to see how things go for MLB this year. As for me, I have no intention of trying to figure out what I need to to do to find the game on TV every night. The box score in the morning will be fine. Will probably get up to Peoria a few times. I truly do enjoy having a beer and a dog at a baseball game without getting bent over. Usually its my wife and I, we enjoy the drive. My sons can’t afford to take their kids to games like I took them, so they have mostly lost interest. Grandsons couldn’t care less.
It might be fun to see what people are thinking the opening day outfield will be. As of now, and as we go through spring training and see what guys do, who gets hurt, etc. I’m assuming its Bader, Carlson and don’t know who the third frontrunner would be as of now.
I doubt more than 1 or 2 out of the gang of 6 will be injured at any given time, so Szczur will have to wait until Mo declares a few of them non-Arozarenas. My guess is that will be Sept. 14.
cranny, Mike Tyson made $22 Million for knocking out Spinks in a minute and a half. And Spinks made $13 Million for getting the crud beat out of him for a minute and a half. Sports paydays can be insane.
I shy away from the shiny new toys and the it guys. My choices, in the order in which they will emerge as keys to success are:
1) Webb, durable/predictably serviceable git-r-done guy grinding through 162 is gold.
2) Hicks, early ramp up in load with post T.J. tools hopefully
3) Quezada, before its over, size matters and he’s in the right place now.We usually have an impressively long lineup of arms going into ST and there is talk about how we could do a 6 man rotation, etc. Then attrition sets in. A lot of times Mo has to bring in some help before opening day. A lot of times by the break he is looking to bring in somebody to answer the bell every 5 days. But this is the time of year for irrational optimism with reality just over the hill and out of sight.
btw, what do you mean by “other question marks”? Young/prospect level players can be expected to play to expectation, so we should be set.
BW, once the season is underway, and assuming Flaherty is his 2019 self, his value will never be higher with 2+ years until FA. But his value will never be higher to the Cardinals as well as to anyone else. I am happy to gamble with someone else’s money and I hope Mo is too. There is also the Arenado angle to consider. His position as to opting out depends on his perception of the team’s commitment to winning. So I think Mo should roll the dice and hope for the best this year. Go for a flag. If we crater, then take a look at offers before the deadline. Same next year. Then put out the for sale sign, assuming the gamble paid off and there is still value.
Social media and the internet along with social evolution has reconfigured the terrain. I doubt the front office sees Flaherty in the way Carleton was seen. I just think they see Jack as wanting to ultimately be elsewhere doing his thing on a more visible stage.
FA is three seasons away, but each time Flaherty takes the mound could potentially zero out his value if a serious injury happens. Mo has to play it right, play the odds. He doesn’t want to be like the guy trying to make the last dollar to be made in a bull market who ends up holding the bag.
At risk of straying too far toward politics, I think Flaherty can’t wait to get out to the left coast where he can be both a sports star and a pop cultural icon. Not good as far as a long term stay here, but he is entitled to direct his life as he wants to. Hopefully when the time comes Mo will rake in a haul. Meanwhile we could add a couple more flags flying above Busch.
