JJ

[JuanAgosto]

My projected 2026 lineup

Donovan 2b
Wetherholt 3b
Herrera LF
Contreras 1b
Burleson DH
Winn SS
Walker RF
Catcher
Scott CF

[Ozziesfan41]

My projected 2026 lineup

Donovan 2b
Wetherholt 3b
Herrera LF
Contreras 1b
Burleson DH
Winn SS
Walker RF
Catcher
Scott CF

I like it.

[Othawhitemeat]

My projected 2026 lineup

Donovan 2b
Wetherholt 3b
Herrera LF
Contreras 1b
Burleson DH
Winn SS
Walker RF
Catcher
Scott CF

Maybe Church instead of Scott? Think either Noot or Walker and other traded?

[2ninr]

Good luck getting the fans back with that group

[sikeston bulldog2]

I’ve been squawking about him at third, Winn at short, Donovan at second as the best fielding and hitting infield in baseball.

Now Herrera in left, need a stud bat and a stud Ace in the reset.

You don’t waste a stud like JJ at second, the infield dumping grounds, for a potential George Brett.

[ClassicO]

JJ Wetherholt in 16 AAA games so far:

19 runs scored
21 hits
5 doubles
6 HR’s
12 RBI’s
9 BB’s

And oh by the way he started at 3rd today

The future is taking shape.
Gorman 3b.
Winn SS.
Wetherholt 2B.
Donovan LF.
Herrera fighting Walker for RF.
Burleson / Contreras 1b and DH.
CF TBD, with Scott getting a competitor for the job.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Donovan does not have a corner OF bat. Need a power-hitting RH OF badly.

We do not disagree.
I should have clarified that the above is what I expect STL to do based on what is on hand.
Herrera is a good BA/OBP bat; Walker is a mystery.
Neither is a middle order RH power bat - and one is unquestionably needed.
Not a coincidence who STL acquired at the deadline.
But Baez and Jordan are more wishful thinking than an actual solution.
You will note I did not list the catcher position.
I would like to see STL acquire Murphy from ATL.
That would certainly help.

Gorman at 3b!! Have you seen him play defense? Won't happen.
Trade for Murphy? And trade who?! What would it cost in a trade? Or do you not have a clue and it's just a knee-jerk statement w/o forethought?
The team already has roster construction issues, and you want to deal for a position that blocks Bernal and/or Crooks?

[Goldfan]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

[Melville]

JJ Wetherholt in 16 AAA games so far:

19 runs scored
21 hits
5 doubles
6 HR’s
12 RBI’s
9 BB’s

And oh by the way he started at 3rd today

The future is taking shape.
Gorman 3b.
Winn SS.
Wetherholt 2B.
Donovan LF.
Herrera fighting Walker for RF.
Burleson / Contreras 1b and DH.
CF TBD, with Scott getting a competitor for the job.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

…and unfortunate. Not seeing much of a future there. Rotation outlook even worse. Don’t expect a winner for several years.

The rotation plans are indeed a mess.
Gray is on the downside.
Liberatore is promising but inconsistent.
McGreevy looks like a safe #4.
Pallante is a waste of time.
Hence is fool's gold as I alone have correctly stated for several years.
Leaving the team betting heavily on both Doyle and Mathews to emerge quickly as top of the rotation starters - which is not practical.

[Melville]

JJ Wetherholt in 16 AAA games so far:

19 runs scored
21 hits
5 doubles
6 HR’s
12 RBI’s
9 BB’s

And oh by the way he started at 3rd today

The future is taking shape.
Gorman 3b.
Winn SS.
Wetherholt 2B.
Donovan LF.
Herrera fighting Walker for RF.
Burleson / Contreras 1b and DH.
CF TBD, with Scott getting a competitor for the job.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Melville, I’m typically in agreement with with you but at this point you might be last one on the island for Walker and Gorman.

Again, not an endorsement - merely a description of how STL "leadership" currently views the matter.
I am never for or against any player.
Walker is a mystery - and that mystery may be best solved by another team.
Gorman has been the team's most productive hitter other than Contreras since June 1.
If left alone, he is a 25+ HR, 80+ RBI, 80 runs scored, .240/.310 LH power hitter.

[Melville]

My projected 2026 lineup

Donovan 2b
Wetherholt 3b
Herrera LF
Contreras 1b
Burleson DH
Winn SS
Walker RF
Catcher
Scott CF

Maybe Church instead of Scott? Think either Noot or Walker and other traded?

Yes, I suspect Bloom intends to trade Mootbaar and Walker.

[Melville]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

He does not need more time at AAA.
But there is zero downside to him being there until September.
STL has more infielders that they can deploy currently so there is no need to dilute the number of PA's by cutting the pie into smaller pieces right now.
When he arrives, he will be playing every day.
Doing that today accomplishes nothing.

[Bully4you]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

He does not need more time at AAA.
But there is zero downside to him being there until September.
STL has more infielders that they can deploy currently so there is no need to dilute the number of PA's by cutting the pie into smaller pieces right now.
When he arrives, he will be playing every day.
Doing that today accomplishes nothing.

Yes, it does.
It grants him experience for his inevitable start next year.
Dopey reply.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

He does not need more time at AAA.
But there is zero downside to him being there until September.
STL has more infielders that they can deploy currently so there is no need to dilute the number of PA's by cutting the pie into smaller pieces right now.
When he arrives, he will be playing every day.
Doing that today accomplishes nothing.

Yes, it does.
It grants him experience for his inevitable start next year.
Dopey reply.

have to disagree. no reason to start his clock right now. it can wait and he can keep gaining experience at AAA. when he comes up later this year, which he should, he should be given ample playing time. no reason to rush that. besides, it's only a few more weeks till that happens

[12xu]

I’ve been squawking about him at third, Winn at short, Donovan at second as the best fielding and hitting infield in baseball.

Now Herrera in left, need a stud bat and a stud Ace in the reset.

You don’t waste a stud like JJ at second, the infield dumping grounds, for a potential George Brett.

If JJ has the arm for 3B, and he likely does, since he has primarily played SS, the hot corner would be a fit for him.

As for 2B being the "dumping grounds" of the infield, I think Joe Morgan, Lou Whitaker, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Ryne Sandberg, Chase Utley, Bobby Grich, Jackie Robinson, Red Schoendienst, Charlie Gehringer, and Rogers Hornsby would beg to differ with you.

[Melville]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

He does not need more time at AAA.
But there is zero downside to him being there until September.
STL has more infielders that they can deploy currently so there is no need to dilute the number of PA's by cutting the pie into smaller pieces right now.
When he arrives, he will be playing every day.
Doing that today accomplishes nothing.

Yes, it does.
It grants him experience for his inevitable start next year.
Dopey reply.

Diluting limited number of PA's with no practical reason for doing so accomplishes nothing.
September is soon enough.
The team has other questions to answer than Wetherholt alone.
Unless injuries reduce the logjam, he is right where he belongs.

[Bully4you]

Only a Fool could see that JJ was a pure hitter……
How many think he needs considerable more time at AAA?
Please chime in

He does not need more time at AAA.
But there is zero downside to him being there until September.
STL has more infielders that they can deploy currently so there is no need to dilute the number of PA's by cutting the pie into smaller pieces right now.
When he arrives, he will be playing every day.
Doing that today accomplishes nothing.

Yes, it does.
It grants him experience for his inevitable start next year.
Dopey reply.

have to disagree. no reason to start his clock right now. it can wait and he can keep gaining experience at AAA. when he comes up later this year, which he should, he should be given ample playing time. no reason to rush that. besides, it's only a few more weeks till that happens

I read Mel's post too quickly.
Didn't see the Sept. comment.
I retract the statement.