Herrera taking balls as OF in Memphis

[alw80]

That should keep him off the IL.

[imetsatchelpaige]

In practice from Willy M.

Do you think maybe try him in LF ?
Replace Noot thus keeping DH spot open for Gorman
And possible Pozo/Pages combo C/DH sometimes too.

Let's slow the roll and see if he can do it. Kid gets hurt running bases and has never played the OF.

Ye I would be surprised and disappointed if they throw him in OF this year. But I do hope he can learn the position.

It will be a process.
As LaRussa once observed, any infielder can learn to play the outfield.
As long as the legs work.
The bar to be a LF is quite low.
Herrera should pick it up fairly well over time.

The reality is that catchers track balls much better than most position players.
I agree-he will adapt quickly, although his long-term health in LF is more of a question to me.

I also think that Noot could get moved in a package which changes the outfield equation.
IMO, in a positive direction.

[Melville]

In practice from Willy M.

Do you think maybe try him in LF ?
Replace Noot thus keeping DH spot open for Gorman
And possible Pozo/Pages combo C/DH sometimes too.

Let's slow the roll and see if he can do it. Kid gets hurt running bases and has never played the OF.

Ye I would be surprised and disappointed if they throw him in OF this year. But I do hope he can learn the position.

It will be a process.
As LaRussa once observed, any infielder can learn to play the outfield.
As long as the legs work.
The bar to be a LF is quite low.
Herrera should pick it up fairly well over time.

The reality is that catchers track balls much better than most position players.
I agree-he will adapt quickly, although his long-term health in LF is more of a question to me.

I also think that Noot could get moved in a package which changes the outfield equation.
IMO, in a positive direction.

You are correct on every point, of course.

[StlMike1969]

In practice from Willy M.

Do you think maybe try him in LF ?
Replace Noot thus keeping DH spot open for Gorman
And possible Pozo/Pages combo C/DH sometimes too.

Let's slow the roll and see if he can do it. Kid gets hurt running bases and has never played the OF.

Ye I would be surprised and disappointed if they throw him in OF this year. But I do hope he can learn the position.

It will be a process.
As LaRussa once observed, any infielder can learn to play the outfield.
As long as the legs work.
The bar to be a LF is quite low.
Herrera should pick it up fairly well over time.

The reality is that catchers track balls much better than most position players.
I agree-he will adapt quickly, although his long-term health in LF is more of a question to me.

I also think that Noot could get moved in a package which changes the outfield equation.
IMO, in a positive direction.

I concur with this. Right now, it would seem that as position players go Donovan, Herrera, Winn, Weatherholt are the true base of this team moving forward. Everyone else is movable. Which is why Bloom will add 3 solid position starters in the off season via trade or free agency. Not superstars but solid guys that not every team is willing to jack the price up on in bidding wars. We will also see guys like Crooks getting a chance to show their worth with other guys moved on.

[DwaininAztec]

I know we have an overload of infielders, but would also ask him to take some groundballs at 3B. His body isn't the usual chunky (see Pages & Pozo) catcher body type. Less running and just learning how to use the glove. Notice Craig Biggio's transition to the infield.

[Basil Shabazz]

Seems taking balls in the outfield would indicate a healed player.

Finally! A common sense observation!

Thanks SBD!

[Basil Shabazz]

Good to see the Cardinals doing that which I was first and best to understand, 3 years ago when I correctly advised precisely this move.
My perfect branding of Super Slo Mo confirmed yet again.
Best of luck to Herrera - this will unquestionably enhance his career

Agreed, if he can DH and just play LF sometimes, that'd be a pretty great outcome. His bat looks very legit.

Even better outcome is if he were to become a serviceable LF.

I don't see why he couldn't.

[Basil Shabazz]

Nootbaar at CF would be nice too.

Stop exposing your baseball unintelligence

[imetsatchelpaige]

I know we have an overload of infielders, but would also ask him to take some groundballs at 3B. His body isn't the usual chunky (see Pages & Pozo) catcher body type. Less running and just learning how to use the glove. Notice Craig Biggio's transition to the infield.

Herrera cannot throw out runners at 2nd. What makes you think he can make the off balance, power throw to 1st from 3rd?
I think not.

[Melville]

I know we have an overload of infielders, but would also ask him to take some groundballs at 3B. His body isn't the usual chunky (see Pages & Pozo) catcher body type. Less running and just learning how to use the glove. Notice Craig Biggio's transition to the infield.

Herrera cannot throw out runners at 2nd. What makes you think he can make the off balance, power throw to 1st from 3rd?
I think not.

Exactly.
Plus, STL can't find playing time now for Gorman, Winn, Donovan, and Saggese on the infield with N/A blocking a spot.
That will only get worse once Wetherholt arrives next year.
So why add yet another - who obviously is a far worse glove than any of them at this moment?
Would make zero sense.
Reality is, Herrera must be given a shot as a corner outfielder - as I alone have correctly analyzed and advised for the past 3 seasons.

[ClassicO]

I know we have an overload of infielders, but would also ask him to take some groundballs at 3B. His body isn't the usual chunky (see Pages & Pozo) catcher body type. Less running and just learning how to use the glove. Notice Craig Biggio's transition to the infield.

Herrera cannot throw out runners at 2nd. What makes you think he can make the off balance, power throw to 1st from 3rd?
I think not.

Exactly.
Plus, STL can't find playing time now for Gorman, Winn, Donovan, and Saggese on the infield with N/A blocking a spot.
That will only get worse once Wetherholt arrives next year.
So why add yet another - who obviously is a far worse glove than any of them at this moment?
Would make zero sense.
Reality is, Herrera must be given a shot as a corner outfielder - as I alone have correctly analyzed and advised for the past 3 seasons.

Melville the A.jpeg (7.21 KiB) Viewed 55 times

[rockondlouie]

And there it is!

I got laughed at by someone in CT last season when I suggested the Cardinals covert Hererra into an OF'er, where is that guy?

Been saying since then to give him an OF'ers glove and have J. Jay work with him all winter + spring training 2026.

If he can catch a flyball w/o getting hurt, then we've got our power hitting leftfielder!

I and you have been right about this for a very long time.
Stunning it took the team "leadership" this long to see the obvious.

It's only logical given he can't cut it behind the plate and w/the teams desperate need for a RH power bat in the OF.

And we both know why (Mo) it took so long.

[scoutyjones2]

I know we have an overload of infielders, but would also ask him to take some groundballs at 3B. His body isn't the usual chunky (see Pages & Pozo) catcher body type. Less running and just learning how to use the glove. Notice Craig Biggio's transition to the infield.

Herrera cannot throw out runners at 2nd. What makes you think he can make the off balance, power throw to 1st from 3rd?
I think not.

Exactly.
Plus, STL can't find playing time now for Gorman, Winn, Donovan, and Saggese on the infield with N/A blocking a spot.
That will only get worse once Wetherholt arrives next year.
So why add yet another - who obviously is a far worse glove than any of them at this moment?
Would make zero sense.
Reality is, Herrera must be given a shot as a corner outfielder - as I alone have correctly analyzed and advised for the past 3 seasons.

Melville the A.jpeg

[Melville]

And there it is!

I got laughed at by someone in CT last season when I suggested the Cardinals covert Hererra into an OF'er, where is that guy?

Been saying since then to give him an OF'ers glove and have J. Jay work with him all winter + spring training 2026.

If he can catch a flyball w/o getting hurt, then we've got our power hitting leftfielder!

I and you have been right about this for a very long time.
Stunning it took the team "leadership" this long to see the obvious.

It's only logical given he can't cut it behind the plate and w/the teams desperate need for a RH power bat in the OF.

And we both know why (Mo) it took so long.

As I have said for several years, when Mo falls in love, he falls hard.
Only after his heart is broken are necessary changes made.
This has defined - and undermined - the team for the past decade.

[rockondlouie]

And there it is!

I got laughed at by someone in CT last season when I suggested the Cardinals covert Hererra into an OF'er, where is that guy?

Been saying since then to give him an OF'ers glove and have J. Jay work with him all winter + spring training 2026.

If he can catch a flyball w/o getting hurt, then we've got our power hitting leftfielder!

I and you have been right about this for a very long time.
Stunning it took the team "leadership" this long to see the obvious.

It's only logical given he can't cut it behind the plate and w/the teams desperate need for a RH power bat in the OF.

And we both know why (Mo) it took so long.

As I have said for several years, when Mo falls in love, he falls hard.
Only after his heart is broken are necessary changes made.
This has defined - and undermined - the team for the past decade.

And I've finally seen the light on Nootbar too, ready to deal him.

I got fooled for too long by the metrics and decent production when he was healthy.

But time to move on, clear a spot in the OF for Hererra!

[Melville]

And there it is!

I got laughed at by someone in CT last season when I suggested the Cardinals covert Hererra into an OF'er, where is that guy?

Been saying since then to give him an OF'ers glove and have J. Jay work with him all winter + spring training 2026.

If he can catch a flyball w/o getting hurt, then we've got our power hitting leftfielder!

I and you have been right about this for a very long time.
Stunning it took the team "leadership" this long to see the obvious.

It's only logical given he can't cut it behind the plate and w/the teams desperate need for a RH power bat in the OF.

And we both know why (Mo) it took so long.

As I have said for several years, when Mo falls in love, he falls hard.
Only after his heart is broken are necessary changes made.
This has defined - and undermined - the team for the past decade.

And I've finally seen the light on Nootbar too, ready to deal him.

I got fooled for too long by the metrics and decent production when he was healthy.

But time to move on, clear a spot in the OF for Hererra!

He is indeed another of Mo's failed love affairs.
There was a reason I tagged him with the perfect branding of Lars The Human Sushi-baar.
A little flavor - but always leaving an empty feeling, always hoping for something with more substance.
Eventually becomes clear there are better choices on the menu.
Agree that he is far more expendable than Donovan, or Scott, or Burleson and is therefore the obvious LH hitting outfield trade piece.
Of course, I have been saying that correctly for 4 years now.