Nathan Church

Welcome to STLtoday.com's forum for fans of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators

clayton888
Forum User
Posts: 4
Joined: 03 Jun 2024 21:58 pm

Nathan Church

Post by clayton888 »

I don’t understand why Church hasn’t been promoted and playing centerfield. He has torn up AAA/AA and plays at least as good an outfield as Scott and Scott, as the Fox announcers said last Friday, is the second worst offensive producer in MLB. It’s past time to move on there and give Church a six week look.
Futuregm2
Forum User
Posts: 7832
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:18 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by Futuregm2 »

clayton888 wrote: 12 Aug 2025 16:14 pm I don’t understand why Church hasn’t been promoted and playing centerfield. He has torn up AAA/AA and plays at least as good an outfield as Scott and Scott, as the Fox announcers said last Friday, is the second worst offensive producer in MLB. It’s past time to move on there and give Church a six week look.
If he plays at least as good of an OF as Scott then he must be the best CF in the game. Scott ranks 3rd in OAA among all MLB OFers behind PCA and Ceddanne Rafaela.

Scott’s biggest issue right now is power. His BB rate is nearly 10%, he has 31 SBs in 33 attempts, and he’s playing a stellar CF defense. If he could hit for any power (.307 SLG%), he’d be fine.
Charles King
Forum User
Posts: 203
Joined: 28 May 2024 17:11 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by Charles King »

Scott needs to work on bunting
If he could get a few bunt hits a week
JDW
Forum User
Posts: 1160
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:42 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by JDW »

VS2 with the 3rd best current position player bWAR on the team with a +2.0 bWAR.
Yes, I want to see improvement, but the team has bigger issues.
That said, If Church or Baez can earn CF playing time at the MLB level over VS2, that'd be great.
CorneliusWolfe
Forum User
Posts: 743
Joined: 02 May 2025 19:12 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by CorneliusWolfe »

clayton888 wrote: 12 Aug 2025 16:14 pm I don’t understand why Church hasn’t been promoted and playing centerfield. He has torn up AAA/AA and plays at least as good an outfield as Scott and Scott, as the Fox announcers said last Friday, is the second worst offensive producer in MLB. It’s past time to move on there and give Church a six week look.
He must be on the typical six-year “see what we got in him” plan.
greyhawk
Forum User
Posts: 670
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:34 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by greyhawk »

i realize he isn't on the 40 man roster but why are Hampson and Siani on it still?? this one is baffling as to why he hasn't gotten some run.
cosmo.kramer
Forum User
Posts: 365
Joined: 18 Jul 2025 17:51 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by cosmo.kramer »

Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
greyhawk
Forum User
Posts: 670
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:34 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by greyhawk »

cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:39 pm Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
isn't that just if you think he might win rookie of the year next season? do we think he has that kind of potential?
cosmo.kramer
Forum User
Posts: 365
Joined: 18 Jul 2025 17:51 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by cosmo.kramer »

greyhawk wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:40 pm
cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:39 pm Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
isn't that just if you think he might win rookie of the year next season? do we think he has that kind of potential?
No, it's so you get an additional year of control at the back end
Hoosier59
Forum User
Posts: 911
Joined: 16 Dec 2022 12:03 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by Hoosier59 »

As I stated in a different thread, Victor has to learn, and accept, what type of hitter he is. Right now, he’s trying to pull almost everything, and hit the ball hard. That’s probably not all his fault,Almost all hitters are taught to just hit the ball hard. In his case, however, sometimes to just slap the ball the other way and use his speed would be better for him. He has enough power to keep the outfielders playing him honest, and not cheat too far in.
I think back on Brett Butler, who had a very good career. He was an excellent bunter, and slap type hitter, who could turn on a pitch when he wanted to. If Victor would try and immolate Butler, he could become a good lead off hitter.
I have to wonder, though, what is he being told and directed to do? The Cardinals haven’t necessarily earned our trust recently on how they have handled other young hitters!
greyhawk
Forum User
Posts: 670
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:34 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by greyhawk »

cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:44 pm
greyhawk wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:40 pm
cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:39 pm Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
isn't that just if you think he might win rookie of the year next season? do we think he has that kind of potential?
No, it's so you get an additional year of control at the back end
if it weren't only 3 days away i would think this wouldn't be a consideration either but ok.
cosmo.kramer
Forum User
Posts: 365
Joined: 18 Jul 2025 17:51 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by cosmo.kramer »

greyhawk wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:44 pm
greyhawk wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:40 pm
cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:39 pm Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
isn't that just if you think he might win rookie of the year next season? do we think he has that kind of potential?
No, it's so you get an additional year of control at the back end
if it weren't only 3 days away i would think this wouldn't be a consideration either but ok.
It just has to do with the CBA. It used to be in May/June every season with the super two status etc, but now the dynamic is mid-August
Hoosier59
Forum User
Posts: 911
Joined: 16 Dec 2022 12:03 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by Hoosier59 »

Hoosier59 wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:55 pm As I stated in a different thread, Victor has to learn, and accept, what type of hitter he is. Right now, he’s trying to pull almost everything, and hit the ball hard. That’s probably not all his fault,Almost all hitters are taught to just hit the ball hard. In his case, however, sometimes to just slap the ball the other way and use his speed would be better for him. He has enough power to keep the outfielders playing him honest, and not cheat too far in.
I think back on Brett Butler, who had a very good career. He was an excellent bunter, and slap type hitter, who could turn on a pitch when he wanted to. If Victor would try and immolate Butler, he could become a good lead off hitter.
I have to wonder, though, what is he being told and directed to do? The Cardinals haven’t necessarily earned our trust recently on how they have handled other young hitters!
And there he is hitting the first pitch, a lazy fly ball to the RF’er.
scoutyjones2
Forum User
Posts: 7654
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:43 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by scoutyjones2 »

greyhawk wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:40 pm
cosmo.kramer wrote: 12 Aug 2025 18:39 pm Gotta wait until the 15th at least for rookie status
isn't that just if you think he might win rookie of the year next season? do we think he has that kind of potential?
Yes
hugeCardfan
Forum User
Posts: 1657
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:42 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by hugeCardfan »

I believe that Church's arrival is imminent.
Basil Shabazz
Forum User
Posts: 1247
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:41 pm

Re: Nathan Church

Post by Basil Shabazz »

Church should be up in place of Hampson right now.

Does it matter that Hampson hits RH when he can't hit?
Post Reply