Per ESPN Interview Mozeliak, We probably won't get to see JJ Wetherholt this season

[peterman'srealitytour]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Oakland sure loves their shiny new toy Nick Kurtz, chosen just a few spots before JJ in last year’s draft. Our offense is dead last in runs scored since the All Star break. What’s to say that Wetherholt couldn’t have helped this offense in July and August? We were just 3 games back of the wild card as of Monday.

Sends an awful message to your fanbase when you don’t even try to put the best players already in your organization on the field in a pennant race.

Oakland is 54-69. I don’t think this helps your case

How does Oakland’s record even remotely factor into this? Answer: it doesn’t. It’s about player performance and Kurtz is crushing it. But hey, enjoy the Garret Hampson era while JJ hangs in Memphis.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Walker was a top 5 prospect, so no, I don’t see much of a difference. Now, jj and Walker are pretty much the same age so there is that. If they bring him up in September then I’m fine with it but it’s not a hill I’d die on. Again, fully expect him in the OD lineup next season. Would be great if they could land on a position for him around the winter meetings.

No offense, but what does their ranking have to do with anything? Just because they might be ranked similarly at certain points doesn't make them similar. Walker was highly ranked as a raw 20 year old a few years out of high school. Wetherholt is in his second year of pro ball after 3 years of college. He was pretty much a complete hitter when drafted.

You have a point, I guess it's not the worst thing in the world if they don't call him up, but it still seems dumb to me. Why not? What else do they have going for them? He might actually make them better.

[woofy25]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Or saying Scott should skip AA to the majors based on 44 spring plate appearances. Although it was fine Scott making the team this season he’s doing what siani could have done but with more stolen bases

It wasn’t the right move for the player. Typically, you need to be good in the minors before you can be productive in the majors. Some people on here salivated over spring training way too much, and chose to ignore a major regression over a larger and more reliable sample size. And those same people will do it next year if Doyle or Crooks or Baez or Bernal has a good ST.

I really hope the new regime is able to recognize that a guy who goes from .290 to .212 in the minors needs to start the next season….in the minors.

While Nootbaar hasn’t done himself any favors this season, he should have been the starting CFer. Gorman would have a lot more ABs by now. He and Walker were the poster boys for the runway garbage.

You make valid points and I agree with all of them but Scott. I like Scott. I wanted to see progression from him and he has progressed not as drastically as some who wanted him to hit .300 and steal 100 this season but he went from .179 to .219 raised his OBP from .221 to .309 because he’s walking more and raised his OPS from .502 to .618 and is also hitting .273 with a .376 OBP and .792 OPS with runners in scoring position and .241 .339 .737 with men on. On top of that he’s elite on defense and on the bases. I have no problem with him playing center and batting ninth next season. A lot of teams would love to have Scott batting ninth for them

If they’re going to have to glove first guys in Winn and Scott, then it’s all good if they have legitimate middle of the order bats.
I don’t know how many sub 100 ops+ players you can really have but I’d say two is close to the limit.

Well Gorman and walker can’t field or hit I would complain about them before I complain about elite defensive guys

Yes. Gorman and Walker are supposed to be middle of the order bats that would help make Winn and Scott acceptable. I, for one, still would not give up on either.

Well you like players who can’t hit or field I would prefer players who are elite defensively who can’t hit so I guess I will just agree to disagree

Currently, you’re correct, but I’ll reframe it for you. I like young players with high ceilings. The cardinals need at least one of them to become a middle order bat.

[woofy25]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Oakland sure loves their shiny new toy Nick Kurtz, chosen just a few spots before JJ in last year’s draft. Our offense is dead last in runs scored since the All Star break. What’s to say that Wetherholt couldn’t have helped this offense in July and August? We were just 3 games back of the wild card as of Monday.

Sends an awful message to your fanbase when you don’t even try to put the best players already in your organization on the field in a pennant race.

Oakland is 54-69. I don’t think this helps your case

How does Oakland’s record even remotely factor into this? Answer: it doesn’t. It’s about player performance and Kurtz is crushing it. But hey, enjoy the Garret Hampson era while JJ hangs in Memphis.

You’re suggesting the cardinals would be better with jj right now and used the Athletics as an example.
I don’t think anything about the cardinals has been all that enjoyable. JJ is interesting for next year. If they bring him up in Sept then great. I just don’t think it’s a must.

[woofy25]

Walker was a top 5 prospect, so no, I don’t see much of a difference. Now, jj and Walker are pretty much the same age so there is that. If they bring him up in September then I’m fine with it but it’s not a hill I’d die on. Again, fully expect him in the OD lineup next season. Would be great if they could land on a position for him around the winter meetings.

No offense, but what does their ranking have to do with anything? Just because they might be ranked similarly at certain points doesn't make them similar. Walker was highly ranked as a raw 20 year old a few years out of high school. Wetherholt is in his second year of pro ball after 3 years of college. He was pretty much a complete hitter when drafted.

You have a point, I guess it's not the worst thing in the world if they don't call him up, but it still seems dumb to me. Why not? What else do they have going for them? He might actually make them better.

My point was Walker was just as hyped as JJ. The cardinals have a recent history of bringing guys up too early. Maybe JJ is ready. I just don’t think bringing him up this season matters much in the big picture.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

My point was Walker was just as hyped as JJ. The cardinals have a recent history of bringing guys up too early. Maybe JJ is ready. I just don’t think bringing him up this season matters much in the big picture.

He was hyped, but they are different players in different stages of their careers. Konnor Griffin is the top prospect in baseball, but I wouldn't advocate bringing him up right now. Just like I didn't think they should bring up Walker, I don't think he's ready.

But JJ, he's ready. Quite honestly, you probably could have started him at the MLB level this year and he wouldn't have embarrassed himself. Is it the worst thing in the world not bringing him up come September? Maybe not, but I think it would be a nice reward to a guy who is making the team next year out of the spring, not to mention getting him some valuable experience to carry over into next season. It would at least give fans something to be excited about in a time where there's not much to be excited about.

Anyway, I'm repeating myself. I get where you're coming from. I disagree, but I can respect it.

[woofy25]

My point was Walker was just as hyped as JJ. The cardinals have a recent history of bringing guys up too early. Maybe JJ is ready. I just don’t think bringing him up this season matters much in the big picture.

He was hyped, but they are different players in different stages of their careers. Konnor Griffin is the top prospect in baseball, but I wouldn't advocate bringing him up right now. Just like I didn't think they should bring up Walker, I don't think he's ready.

But JJ, he's ready. Quite honestly, you probably could have started him at the MLB level this year and he wouldn't have embarrassed himself. Is it the worst thing in the world not bringing him up come September? Maybe not, but I think it would be a nice reward to a guy who is making the team next year out of the spring, not to mention getting him some valuable experience to carry over into next season. It would at least give fans something to be excited about in a time where there's not much to be excited about.

Anyway, I'm repeating myself. I get where you're coming from. I disagree, but I can respect it.

I think we're close. If they bring him up in two weeks, then it's all good with me.

[stlbirdlover]

Effing Mo can't leave soon enough for me!

[Slip Kid]

I have tuned this years team out except for the occasional channel surf drop in, so if they don’t promote JJW it doesn’t matter.
Hoping there is a lot of roster churn over the offseason.

[Ozziesfan41]

If they are going to keep JJ from a September call up they could have come up with a better reason than 40 man they have plenty of dead weight they could drop mo is an idiot

[Banner29]

It’s like they are just continuing their quest to alienate the fanbase. By all accounts the kid is ready. We’ve seen Nothing that suggests otherwise. So it’s not as if this is just some rush job to appease the fanbase. And he is one of the most prized prospects in baseball. Why not generate a little excitement in what has been an absolute lifeless Busch stadium and (hopefully) end the season on a high note and give the fanbase something to buzz about going into the offseason? At the very least put a few more fans in the seats to see the kid play.


It’s easier for them to be bitter and gaslight the fans being sick of their chit than it is to try to assemble anything resembling an exciting product.

The front office has been spoiled by fan support for so long that now that they aren’t getting it they are pouting.

[JuanAgosto]

Whenever Mo does his last media session, I hope the interviewr says "Thank you John boy for all the non-answers, loads of bull[shirt], and annoying arrogance you have provided the last 18 years."

[Ronnie Dobbs]

He just hit another HR. Donovan missed another game with the toe injury that has bothered him since the AS break and could result in another injury.

Seems like a good opening there.

[Carp4Cy]

Mo doesn’t want to add him to the 40 man because of who again?

They’re always worthless filler on the 40 man who can be cut for someone like this

It’s not about roster fillers, it’s about players who do have a future here who have to be added after the season to protect them from the Rule V draft.

Those “have to be’s” are overrated. Some wouldn’t get stolen in the rule 5 anyway.

[desertrat23]

Mo doesn’t want to add him to the 40 man because of who again?

They’re always worthless filler on the 40 man who can be cut for someone like this

It’s not about roster fillers, it’s about players who do have a future here who have to be added after the season to protect them from the Rule V draft.

Those “have to be’s” are overrated. Some wouldn’t get stolen in the rule 5 anyway.

Seriously. If they were worth keeping they’d be here already.

[DJ Davis]

Of course. You’re welcome, Quincy.