How aggressive should Cards be with Wetherholt?

[Monsieur De Treville]

He seems light on power for a world class 3rd baseman

Fair enough, but how much power did Brett or Boggs or Molitor have? If he hits 40 doubles with 15-20 HR would that work?

Sure but 15-20 seems a long way away

Nah....

Remember, this time last year he was a college player.
Now, he's raking at AA.
Soon, he'll be raking in The Show.
Beautiful swing and the ball jumps off his bat.

[The Nard]

Wetherholt is now hitting .296 with an .832 OPS in Springfield. A beautiful .383 OBP. Takes walks and doesn't K often. Six doubles & three homers.

So how aggressive should the Cards be with this kid?

1. Promote him to Memphis today?
2. Wait until July 1st to promote?
3. No real rush..let him play most of year in AA ball?

I believe in player development...but I would have no problem if the Cards decide to aggressively promote the kid throughout this season.

You?

Some can handle fast-tracking, and others can’t

So, ask his mother.

[riff raff]

I image JJ will come in about the same way Donovan did. Kid can play ss, 2b, and 3b. He'll probably end up at 3b after Nado is gone.
He's way better suited to that role than Saggese.

[Basil Shabazz]

I image JJ will come in about the same way Donovan did. Kid can play ss, 2b, and 3b. He'll probably end up at 3b after Nado is gone.
He's way better suited to that role than Saggese.

I don't disagree that he has the ability to do that, but IMO no way they treat him like that when he arrives. I think when he arrives he will be slotted in as a starter at one position on the diamond. Donny was a 7th round draft pick and Saggesse was a 5th round draft pick. Neither had the pedigree, evaluation, and hype that JJW does.

Donny is great and JJW may bust, but where your drafted matters in how you are treated and progressed.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Teams tend to be more aggressive with college players but he is blocked in St Louis so I doubt they will rush him to AAA. Turns 23 in September. Average age AA 22-23. AAA 23-24. Both he and Saggesse are shortstops. Which one moves?

Keep him at AA. Move him up maybe late in the season.

Both move. Masyn Winn.

[Futuregm2]

I image JJ will come in about the same way Donovan did. Kid can play ss, 2b, and 3b. He'll probably end up at 3b after Nado is gone.
He's way better suited to that role than Saggese.

I don't disagree that he has the ability to do that, but IMO no way they treat him like that when he arrives. I think when he arrives he will be slotted in as a starter at one position on the diamond. Donny was a 7th round draft pick and Saggesse was a 5th round draft pick. Neither had the pedigree, evaluation, and hype that JJW does.

Donny is great and JJW may bust, but where your drafted matters in how you are treated and progressed.

I would agree with JJ/Donovan obviously that they didn’t, but it’s not exactly apples to apples with JJ/Saggese. Saggese was drafted out of HS. He was given over double the slot to sign, which means the Rangers thought pretty highly of him. At the same age, he probably had more of a pedigree/hype than JJ. In what would have been his junior year of college, Saggese was the Texas League (AA) MVP hitting 26 HR, 111 RBI, and a .903 OPS.

[renostl]

I image JJ will come in about the same way Donovan did. Kid can play ss, 2b, and 3b. He'll probably end up at 3b after Nado is gone.
He's way better suited to that role than Saggese.

I don't disagree that he has the ability to do that, but IMO no way they treat him like that when he arrives. I think when he arrives he will be slotted in as a starter at one position on the diamond. Donny was a 7th round draft pick and Saggesse was a 5th round draft pick. Neither had the pedigree, evaluation, and hype that JJW does.

Donny is great and JJW may bust, but where your drafted matters in how you are treated and progressed.

Agree 100%
Some don't see this. Anyone who spends a little time around MiLB or knows some players would.

You think that $6.9 million dollar signing bonus plays a part?

[Talkin' Baseball]

If he continues to have no problem with AA pitching, I hope that they would promote him to Memphis sometime around July 1. It gives him time for more than a small sample size. If he has the same sort of success at Memphis as he is having in Springfield, then going into the offseason they will consider the possibilities for next season differently than if he struggles. Seeking answers sooner is a good thing.

[Basil Shabazz]

You think that $6.9 million dollar signing bonus plays a part?

100%

It has to play a part. This is a business. Owners of business tend to want ROIs sooner, rather than later.

[renostl]

You think that $6.9 million dollar signing bonus plays a part?

100%

It has to play a part. This is a business. Owners of business tend to want ROIs sooner, rather than later.

Indeed,
A little tongue and cheek on my part.

There's also the validation of the process. Scouts missing on a 10th rounder, "they took a shot"
1st rounder.........

[ramfandan]

I let him rake in AA all season and if he is still hot and STL is out of the playoffs give him a cup of coffee in September. never a bad idea to open their eyes to ML pitching so they understand why they are going back to AAA the next year.

I would cosign the above strategy. What on earth is the rush? We have four pending free agents and Nado that may all be moving on by 30july. Even at five games over .500, the Cards are not preparing for a playoff run. Maybe Roby, Koperniak and Sagesse and a few others get some playing time in August and September. JJ can get a whiff of MLB pitching.

The rush is the Cards may have him pencilled in for a starting role in St Louis as soon as next season.

What was the rush with Skenes? Or Pujols? Or Al Kaline? Jackson Holliday? Bobby Witt Jr? Countless other young stars.

If he's not ready, he's not ready. BUT...if he's ready, why not be aggressive?

I am not advocating for JJ but agree with you ..
Never bought into the ‘why rush a player?’ mantra.
If you can play at MLB , you play. Some think EVERY kid must ‘prove himself’ at AA, move to AAA ,etc before going to the Show.
Nationals picked Bryce Harper first pick. Some on here would have said yeah great talent but at 19 start him in minors so he can prove himself. No need to rush this teenager.
He did play at 19 hit 34 HR .270 BA in 139 games
My point is.. it’s individualized a few can play at highest level and do fine.
Years ago when I lived in Wisconsin the Brewers started an 18 yr old at SS. What was the rush ? Robin Yount was the kid. He now is in Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Did reward know thru had H of F player at 18? No, but they did know he had lot of talent so they played him in big league from the get go.
So a rare few can play.. to say all need to ‘show it in minors first’ is a preconceived idea. Have to be open minded on each player.

[Cusecards]

Not saying I’m right....and just my opinion....but I’m not as big on power as others.
We didn’t lose yesterday because of lack of power as much as lack of timely hitting.
12 hits and only one run.
Cards are winning with:
Good pitching
Very strong defense
Timely hitting
Look I love a 3 run HR as much as anyone but how about not popping up in the clutch?
Or striking out?
Or hitting into a DP.
As for Wetherholt? If he turns into Donovan+ I’ll be ecstatic!
15 HR’s with lots of doubles and high RISP works all day for me.
Watching Gorman hit an occasional bomb but whiff half the time does not.

This x10. 30+ HR hitters are rare and few and far between these days. I am okay with a high average, doubles hitter all day long. There is no such thing as a power position. There are the 9 best guys available to play, period. Timely hitting is more important than 15 solo shots over the fence a year that rarely make a difference, but pad a players payday.

Agree
Rather have a deeper lineup of doubles hitters.
Fingers crossed on JJ!

[Monsieur De Treville]

Wetherholt is now hitting .296 with an .832 OPS in Springfield. A beautiful .383 OBP. Takes walks and doesn't K often. Six doubles & three homers.

So how aggressive should the Cards be with this kid?

1. Promote him to Memphis today?
2. Wait until July 1st to promote?
3. No real rush..let him play most of year in AA ball?

I believe in player development...but I would have no problem if the Cards decide to aggressively promote the kid throughout this season.

You?

Some can handle fast-tracking, and others can’t

So, ask his mother.

Is she hot?

[ScotchMIrish]

Teams tend to be more aggressive with college players but he is blocked in St Louis so I doubt they will rush him to AAA. Turns 23 in September. Average age AA 22-23. AAA 23-24. Both he and Saggesse are shortstops. Which one moves?

Keep him at AA. Move him up maybe late in the season.

Both move. Masyn Winn.

True but both are currently getting most games a ss. Donovan and Winn are probably staying at 2B and SS. I wonder who replaces Arenado after 26?

[Bushiro]

He looks like another Brendan Donovan. Where do we fit him in at?

I'd be happy with a Brendan Donovan type player at every position.

He will be better than donovan

[riff raff]

I image JJ will come in about the same way Donovan did. Kid can play ss, 2b, and 3b. He'll probably end up at 3b after Nado is gone.
He's way better suited to that role than Saggese.

I don't disagree that he has the ability to do that, but IMO no way they treat him like that when he arrives. I think when he arrives he will be slotted in as a starter at one position on the diamond. Donny was a 7th round draft pick and Saggesse was a 5th round draft pick. Neither had the pedigree, evaluation, and hype that JJW does.

Donny is great and JJW may bust, but where your drafted matters in how you are treated and progressed.

Like with Gorman and Walker. That's not working out too well.