Is Burleson the future first baseman?

[ScotchMIrish]

Possibly a Burly/Jordan strict platoon at 1B might be ok, but then you have 2 limited defensive players taking up 2 spots on the 26 instead of getting similar 1B production in 1 player named Contreras.
Like many players, Burly has some value while he's cost controlled, but likely not much once he starts costing real money.

Taking off his Burlesque glasses once in a while might help with the OP's objectivity, but that'd be assuming he has the capability of objectivity, which we've seen little evidence for.

You need to check Burleson's stats from last year and this year. He has the potential to be much better offensively than Contrares has been at any point in his career.

I can agree to a lesser extent the cardinals won't win with contreras at 1b either --- the problem isn't who is here the current problem is we have no one better to plug in. Contreras was paid to produce these numbers while catching, that he is the best offensive producer right now is the organizations fault.

That was the big mistake. Not everybody can do what Molina did which is catch into their mid 30's. Now we have below average offense at 2 positions due to that decision.

Let us not forget that WC’s move to 1b was supposed to coincide with Herrera taking over the majority of catching.

Also, WC does have a 121 ops+. It’s not like he’s not having a solid year

How did professional baseball men not know Herrera couldn't catch or throw out runners? Bloom needs to do a major restructuring of the franchise.

[renostl]

Possibly a Burly/Jordan strict platoon at 1B might be ok, but then you have 2 limited defensive players taking up 2 spots on the 26 instead of getting similar 1B production in 1 player named Contreras.
Like many players, Burly has some value while he's cost controlled, but likely not much once he starts costing real money.

Taking off his Burlesque glasses once in a while might help with the OP's objectivity, but that'd be assuming he has the capability of objectivity, which we've seen little evidence for.

You need to check Burleson's stats from last year and this year. He has the potential to be much better offensively than Contrares has been at any point in his career.

I can agree to a lesser extent the cardinals won't win with contreras at 1b either --- the problem isn't who is here the current problem is we have no one better to plug in. Contreras was paid to produce these numbers while catching, that he is the best offensive producer right now is the organizations fault.

That was the big mistake. Not everybody can do what Molina did which is catch into their mid 30's. Now we have below average offense at 2 positions due to that decision.

Let us not forget that WC’s move to 1b was supposed to coincide with Herrera taking over the majority of catching.

Also, WC does have a 121 ops+. It’s not like he’s not having a solid year

Let’s also remember WC’s 1st 12 games of 2025:
5 for 58 with 3 RBIs. That’s a .102 BA /.170 obp /.143 SLG and .313 ops.

Since April 9th, his BA is .283. His OPS? Don’t know, but i would guess it’s around a 55 point swing, putting his OPS since 4/9 at around .840-.845.

So if you have been watching the Cards for the last four months, you have seen a team with a first baseman PUTTING UP FIRST BASEMAN NUMBERS.

Contreras, maybe after shaking off the nerves of playing a new position, has been a big asset…

Good point on the transition to a new position, and like you said, he's been a good asset since.

Kind of a funny thought, but with how good Contreras has been at 1B, can't help but think he could learn to play a pretty good 3B also.
It'd be too much to ask at his age perhaps, but .................

I believe that he was moved to C from.....3B

[Cardinals1964]

He's getting pretty slick, defensively, there.

By time the Cardinals are relevant, Burleson will be too old or too expensive.

Burleson doesn't seem like a player that will be expensive any time soon
and at 26 isn't in the old bracket.

The slate is mostly clean, at least allow 1 off season under new management. This .500
season was completely predictable.

I predict the same for next year.