Pedro Pages: Is he the long-term solution (Just named defensive player of the month)

[Cusecards]

Pages should at least make a solid backup.
Like others have said there seems to be quality depth in the system.
I wouldn’t sleep on Pozo and there is still Herrera.
Will be interesting to see it play out.

Pozo’s a better hitter than Pages.

Definitely

[Monsieur De Treville]

The long-term solution is Bernal. Love Pages and what he brings to the table.

Bernal and Crooks will fight it out.

Bernal is the better prospect. I wouldn't be shocked to see Crooks in a trade this summer or in the offseason.

I rate them about equal.

And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I prefer defense-first catchers and Bernal's arm is elite. Bernal is also a switch hitter and only 21 years old.

Time will tell...

[Monsieur De Treville]

he cant hit at all so no

Pretty much this^. Yadi couldn't hit at first either, so maybe Pages can make himself into a serviceable hitter. We shall see. He will certainly hold the position until one of the kids in the minors can take it away from him.

Love Pages and what he has done...but...Yadi is a bad comp as he was 21 when first brought up. Pages will be 27 in September.

[imetsatchelpaige]

An embarrassment of catching riches.
Such a rarity.
I enjoyed watching Pozo at the plate last night too. That chunky dude gives nothing away.

[Cranny]

The long-term solution is Bernal. Love Pages and what he brings to the table.

Bernal and Crooks will fight it out.

Bernal is the better prospect. I wouldn't be shocked to see Crooks in a trade this summer or in the offseason.

I rate them about equal.

And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I prefer defense-first catchers and Bernal's arm is elite. Bernal is also a switch hitter and only 21 years old.

Time will tell...

Totally agree. Pretty amazing that MLB.com, in their most recent Cardinals Top 30 Prospects, have 3 catchers in the top 7 -

#4. Jimmy Crooks
#6. Leonardo Bernal
#7. Rainiel Rodriguez

[Futuregm2]

I've said all along people are sleeping on Pages.

The two kids may have better offensive upside but intangibles behind the plate are tantamount to having a solid pitching staff. Pages apparently has that.

It may be tough to wrestle the job away from the underdog.

I think he’s a solid backup. But guys like Bernal and Crooks are going to force the issue, especially Bernal.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Agreed. Pages would make a great b/u catcher, but we should aim higher for a starting catcher.

Also, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to trade Crooks. There is nothing wrong with having both Bernal and Crooks cost controlled sharing the duty. Whether it is a 70/30, 60, 40, or 50/50 split - it is cost controlled and both seem to have legitimate upside.

Yea, I like Pages. Very solid backup. He won't kill you if your starter gets hurt for awhile or if you have a really good offensive team that can handle a bat like that in the lineup, but I hope he's not starting for the Cardinals next year.

I'm fully on board for the Crooks/Bernal tandem in the future. Let Crooks get the majority of the playing time when Bernal first comes up to stay (2027?), buy Bernal could easily force the issue. But yea, some form of those splits should work. I would expect Bernal to eventually be the guy, though.

I guess if they can trade Crooks for some stud in a position of need, go for it, but I don't know how likely that is either.

[passthebuck]

he cant hit at all so no

Two thought- he can hit but not consistent. And if he is good behind the plate, that in itself is worthy. This helps his pitchers tremendously.

I’d love a hitter too but on our infield we can surface some offense for the best defense.

Correct.
Also consider this.
Pagnozzi: .253/.299/.359/.658
Pages: .228/.270//.368/.639
Pagnozzi played 12 years and caught 90+ games 4 times.
Pages may be capable of something similar.

I was actually going to make a Ton Pagnozzi comparison myself. Solid if unspectacular player. A few gold gloves even. Hold on to the position until someone better can take it away from him or he retires.

That's what Pages can be. If only he can get better at hitting..

[icon]

he cant hit at all so no

Pretty much this^. Yadi couldn't hit at first either, so maybe Pages can make himself into a serviceable hitter. We shall see. He will certainly hold the position until one of the kids in the minors can take it away from him.

Love Pages and what he has done...but...Yadi is a bad comp as he was 21 when first brought up. Pages will be 27 in September.

No kidding. Yadi was basically a kid when brought up. Pages was a longtime minor leaguer. Huge difference. Pages doesn't have as much time to "make himself a better hitter." He turns 27 in September. Let's hope Bernal is the real deal.

[BrockFloodMaris]

The long-term solution is Bernal. Love Pages and what he brings to the table.

Bernal and Crooks will fight it out.

Bernal is the better prospect. I wouldn't be shocked to see Crooks in a trade this summer or in the offseason.

I rate them about equal.

And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I prefer defense-first catchers and Bernal's arm is elite. Bernal is also a switch hitter and only 21 years old.

Time will tell...

Totally agree. Pretty amazing that MLB.com, in their most recent Cardinals Top 30 Prospects, have 3 catchers in the top 7 -

#4. Jimmy Crooks
#6. Leonardo Bernal
#7. Rainiel Rodriguez

^^^^This^^^^tells me that the Cards won’t keep Pages past his arb years, and maybe not all the way through them. No big catcher contracts are on the horizon for the Cards for a long time. A stacked prospect pipeline equates to great cost control.

[hugeCardfan]

I've said all along people are sleeping on Pages.

The two kids may have better offensive upside but intangibles behind the plate are tantamount to having a solid pitching staff. Pages apparently has that.

It may be tough to wrestle the job away from the underdog.

The stats on Sonny Gray certainly seem to bear that out. Tony used to say he'd play Molina if he never hit. Fortunately we never had to test that comment.

[Ozziesfan41]

I've said all along people are sleeping on Pages.

The two kids may have better offensive upside but intangibles behind the plate are tantamount to having a solid pitching staff. Pages apparently has that.

It may be tough to wrestle the job away from the underdog.

I think he’s a solid backup. But guys like Bernal and Crooks are going to force the issue, especially Bernal.

+1

[renostl]

I've said all along people are sleeping on Pages.

The two kids may have better offensive upside but intangibles behind the plate are tantamount to having a solid pitching staff. Pages apparently has that.

It may be tough to wrestle the job away from the underdog.

The stats on Sonny Gray certainly seem to bear that out. Tony used to say he'd play Molina if he never hit. Fortunately we never had to test that comment.

Perhaps having players with .850+ on the roster affords the stance.
Tony had 4 or 5 guys over .900 that help carry the .600 guys. Pedro is also not
Yadi on either side of the ball.

That's not banging on Pedro as much as they can afford glove guys true just
not multiples without the bigger bats.

[ClassicO]

1000000000% NO!

No to what.

The OP title ???

Let me paint you a future WS picture- Pallante on the mound pitching to Paige’s. Now that is a vision, haha, sorry couldn’t resist the temptation.

BDog you're.........

No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy

I figured you could use some humor on this Friday morning. From Jackson Browne- “ do not remind me of my failures;I have not forgotten them.”

Great song. He is an incredible lyricist.

[hmoss859]

No he is a backup once Crooks and Bernal come up

Pages needs to chill his facial expressions

[Baseball Savant]

No he is a backup once Crooks and Bernal come up

Pages needs to chill his facial expressions

Like when he takes one in the nads.

He is a bit dramatic