What to do with Walker?

[woofy25]

Some of you people love spring training. If the cardinals moved Walker and he become a stud elsewhere, you people would destroy the FO for giving up on him too early. Same with Gorman. Cmon. What’s the point of moving either of him? There is zero reason to. You guys and/or gals are funny.

Spring training?

He hit .263 for Memphis last season and .201 for the Cardinals.

I hope he becomes a star and I hope it's in St. Louis.
But right now he's a hot mess at the plate.

Not sure if I was responding directly to your original post. I think some people in the thread suggested trade him which would be insane.

To your thought about starting him in the minors and just tell him to relax and not worry about the numbers. Well, of course he’s going to worry about numbers. He needs to get out of Memphis. Just telling someone not to think of an elephant, doesn’t work.

By starting him in the majors, he has six months to figure things out. In Memphis, the pressure to produce starts on day one.

[RogerGrace]

Fellas, they told us that all that cures the YUTES is finally a full year…..without pressure….without the ups and downs…..to just run out on that MLB field and let youth run wild……All-stars will blossom That simple

Good grief. Do you make ANY posts at all that don't have "yutes" in them? Man you sure are proud of yourself for the brilliant word you lifted from a movie. Post your address and I'll mail you a gold star.

[Carp4Cy]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

[Monsieur De Treville]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

[riff raff]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

I'll take door #2 Frenchy

[Monsieur De Treville]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

I'll take door #2 Frenchy

I would as well, however, opinions wildly differ.
Time will tell...

[jrgocards]

Honestly, I think I've seen enough to know that he can't succeed in the league if he keeps his pull everything swing.

JR

[renostl]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

I'll take door #2 Frenchy

I would as well, however, opinions wildly differ.
Time will tell...

Depends on what one believes.
Players do adapt, make adjustments, learn at the MLB level
and are at least in theory around others who have and are doing it.

Does he end up in the same place regardless? IDK. However, being pegged mostly as a OFer
I think one could make the argument that if you use a solid 4th OFer then maybe you could mix
and match in a way that puts all 4 or 5 outfielders in a position to succeed more often.
It was my hope if Koperniak was kept vs Baker essentially, although I like Baker getting a chance
Kop helps the OF rotation.

[scoutyjones2]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

MLB

[renostl]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

So which is it? Do we "play the kids" to see what we've got, or make them earn jobs?

That was the question...how best to develop Walker? Do you let him play, and continue to fail, everyday in St Louis, hoping he turns it around?

Or....

Do you send him to Memphis, let him work on his stroke out of the glare of the bright MLB lights, and hope he re-discovers his hitting stroke down there, allowing him to gain some confidence?

It's not really a matter of earning a job, but rather what will be best for Walker in the long run...

MLB

It's one of those questions that gets determined as wrong when it doesn't work.
I'd keep both JW and NG up as long as they can without being detrimental. (whatever line that is)
That why I had hope for a rotation or platoon.

The organization took the heat off them by declaring a "reset" let them be where they need to produce.

As a person who hired and trained employees. I never thought new hires, new grads were fully ready. There are
exceptions, but they are exceptions. Grads from college or trade schools aren't a finished product.

[Clubmaker2]

you go two months with the latter weeks him sitting some with, if struggling, doing lots or practice on now some extra days rotated out that you dont do the first 6 weeks. Still awful, send down to work for one month. then recall and play mlb for six weeks. if awful back down for a month, then up again after the month. You dont give playing time to discover your ultra low ceiling prospects . So this guy plays. It is the point of the season. Koperniak deserves a look, at some point if no injuries they should be running a 4 person rotation with Noot, Scott, Koperniak until he slumps, Walker. Burleson needs some at bats, they really need to leave Siani in AAA. Just no room. He shouldnt play much at mlb so let him see if he finds more at AAA.

[CardsBest]

It’s the curious case of what to do with Banjamin Walker or Button.

[WABAC]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

Same as Gorman, MEMPHIS bound for both.

Thy should be. There are better options right now.

What are the better options? And then, why are we trying to compete in 2025? It's a reset...and, imo, there's not any better options for the OF in the minors. You either let him try and figure it out at the Major League level or you trade him. Sending him to Memphis is the same as Keeping him St. Louis this season. Do you want him facing Major League pitching or AAA pitching with Zero modern developmental tools at Memphis? He'll learn more with the big league club...and if he struggles, who cares? You all know we aren't trying to compete...then why are we STILL trying make moves/lineups/etc to squeeze out a win that just isn't there? So I guess if you want him in Memphis, that means you want to hide him....that doesn't help him. Again, if we had the infrastructure to deal with his ails, then I'd be for it. Let's stay the course with the "let the kids play to see what we have". Letting Barrero or Fermin get major league AB's over Walker in 2025 isn't the answer...short term nor long term.

I probably shouldn't read past this. It's an accurate depiction of where we are.

Maybe more nuggets lie ahead.