Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
Why would they draft a SS when we have a rookie of the year contender already in that spot and batting lead off? That doesnt seem to be a good pick for us.
A premier player with plus tools plays anywhere. No such thing as too many good hitters. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Ocotillo:
You take Rainer hoping the power plays and you worry about the position if it becomes a factor when he's ready. A shortstop has the athleticism to play anywhere else.
Look at San Diego's Jackson Merrill. He came up as a shortstop. He got moved to center fielder for his MLB debut. He's on the all-star team as a rookie CF.
I'd still take Wetherholt in that scenario, though.
Higher risk, but more star potential. You CANNOT come out of this draft, your first time in the top 10 in years, with someone that can't potentially be a cornerstone player.
If you're looking at floor, defensive versatility or your internal depth charts when you're making this pick, you're doing it wrong.
You take the guy that has the best chance of being a superstar and hang any other considerations. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I'd still take Wetherholt in that scenario, though.
Higher risk, but more star potential. You CANNOT come out of this draft, your first time in the top 10 in years, with someone that can't potentially be a cornerstone player.
If you're looking at floor, defensive versatility or your internal depth charts when you're making this pick, you're doing it wrong.
You take the guy that has the best chance of being a superstar and hang any other considerations.
I agree. Wetherholt compares favorably to Travis Bazzana with his hit tool. One can argue that Wetherholt is better than Bazzana because I can see Wetherholt as a difference maker with the glove at 3B, whereas Bazzana looks locked in as a 2B. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Ocotillo:
You take Rainer hoping the power plays and you worry about the position if it becomes a factor when he's ready. A shortstop has the athleticism to play anywhere else.
Look at San Diego's Jackson Merrill. He came up as a shortstop. He got moved to center fielder for his MLB debut. He's on the all-star team as a rookie CF.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Because you never ever ever draft for need in the MLB draft.
Originally Posted by raybec 4:
A premier player with plus tools plays anywhere. No such thing as too many good hitters.
Age is definitely still on Walker's side. The worrisome part is that he has subpar numbers in Triple-A and Triple-A pitching is considered around baseball circles a considerable step down from MLB pitching. Like the pitching quality has never been further apart than the majors.
Barring a hitting tear from Walker, I don't see him coming back up until September. [Reply]
Jordan Walker is one of the few things the Cardinals have gotten right.
He’s not a big leaguer right now. At all. And letting him continue to hit 50% of his balls into the dirt would’ve been an insane waste.
They’ve done all they can do. The rest is on Walker. He can grow up and earn his way to St. Louis (or out of St. Louis through reviving his trade value) or he can languish away in Memphis and then ride the bench for 4 years.
The Cardinals aren’t remotely to blame for Walker. His failings are on him. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Jordan Walker is one of the few things the Cardinals have gotten right.
He’s not a big leaguer right now. At all. And letting him continue to hit 50% of his balls into the dirt would’ve been an insane waste.
They’ve done all they can do. The rest is on Walker. He can grow up and earn his way to St. Louis (or out of St. Louis through reviving his trade value) or he can languish away in Memphis and then ride the bench for 4 years.
The Cardinals aren’t remotely to blame for Walker. His failings are on him.
the Cardinals will still have 5 years of control when he gets to the show, right? [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Jordan Walker is one of the few things the Cardinals have gotten right.
He’s not a big leaguer right now. At all. And letting him continue to hit 50% of his balls into the dirt would’ve been an insane waste.
They’ve done all they can do. The rest is on Walker. He can grow up and earn his way to St. Louis (or out of St. Louis through reviving his trade value) or he can languish away in Memphis and then ride the bench for 4 years.
The Cardinals aren’t remotely to blame for Walker. His failings are on him.
MLB Pipeline's final draft predictions for the Cardinals at 7.
7. Cardinals
Callis: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas (No. 5)
If the Guardians pass on Wetherholt, he could get all the way to No. 7 and be the best-case scenario for the Cardinals. Smith and Burns both would be attractive to St. Louis, which also has interest in Rainer and maybe Kurtz.
Mayo: Jac Caglianone, 1B,/LHP, Florida (No. 3)
It didn’t seem possible that Caglianone would get to this part of the top 10, but here we are. The Cardinals could go with Hagen Smith if they opt for an arm instead. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Jordan Walker is one of the few things the Cardinals have gotten right.
He’s not a big leaguer right now. At all. And letting him continue to hit 50% of his balls into the dirt would’ve been an insane waste.
They’ve done all they can do. The rest is on Walker. He can grow up and earn his way to St. Louis (or out of St. Louis through reviving his trade value) or he can languish away in Memphis and then ride the bench for 4 years.
The Cardinals aren’t remotely to blame for Walker. His failings are on him.
They forced a guy who wasn’t ready for big league pitching to play AND make a position change. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rams Fan:
They forced a guy who wasn’t ready for big league pitching to play AND make a position change.
18 months ago.
And he had a solid august/September last season afterward. I don’t think that’s something you can still hold against the team. 2023 was rocky but with the way it ended, 2024 was a clean slate for both sides.
The Cardinals learned from 2023 (at least as it relates to Walker) and Walker didn’t. [Reply]
