What IF Walker Hits.

[sikeston bulldog2]

l

Walker will not hit.

I’m as positive a fan as anyone but Walker will not hit. It’s not a mechanical issue. I have no idea if it’s a thinking problem. I would be willing to make a really large bet he can’t hit at the big league level

Well that doesn’t help. Let’s hope. Again hypothetically if he did would the result be noticeable at the team level.

"What IF Walker Hits?"
Well, that would be a good thing.
Seems self-evident.
That said, I would prefer that question be answered with another organization - because the odds are not in his favor.

U guys are killin me. Too much personal bias. If it’s a good thin he hits, expand a bit. What does good thing entail- .500; post season.

And just think if he did, we solve RF, we get a reasonable hitter, and it’s done on the cheap, meaning moneys for real studs and aces.

[Melville]

l

Walker will not hit.

I’m as positive a fan as anyone but Walker will not hit. It’s not a mechanical issue. I have no idea if it’s a thinking problem. I would be willing to make a really large bet he can’t hit at the big league level

Well that doesn’t help. Let’s hope. Again hypothetically if he did would the result be noticeable at the team level.

"What IF Walker Hits?"
Well, that would be a good thing.
Seems self-evident.
That said, I would prefer that question be answered with another organization - because the odds are not in his favor.

U guys are killin me. Too much personal bias. If it’s a good thin he hits, expand a bit. What does good thing entail- .500; post season.

And just think if he did, we solve RF, we get a reasonable hitter, and it’s done on the cheap, meaning moneys for real studs and aces.

Absolutely it would be a win if Walker could solve the RF hole.
No doubt.
But, there is considerable doubt that he can hit well enough.
Strategically, the best option for STL is to trade him in a package while they still can - and use him to address another area of need.
Acquire a proven, productive outfielder - then give Herrera and Baez a chance to emerge.
Correct baseball decision.

[sikeston bulldog2]

l

Walker will not hit.

I’m as positive a fan as anyone but Walker will not hit. It’s not a mechanical issue. I have no idea if it’s a thinking problem. I would be willing to make a really large bet he can’t hit at the big league level

Well that doesn’t help. Let’s hope. Again hypothetically if he did would the result be noticeable at the team level.

"What IF Walker Hits?"
Well, that would be a good thing.
Seems self-evident.
That said, I would prefer that question be answered with another organization - because the odds are not in his favor.

U guys are killin me. Too much personal bias. If it’s a good thin he hits, expand a bit. What does good thing entail- .500; post season.

And just think if he did, we solve RF, we get a reasonable hitter, and it’s done on the cheap, meaning moneys for real studs and aces.

Absolutely it would be a win if Walker could solve the RF hole.
No doubt.
But, there is considerable doubt that he can hit well enough.
Strategically, the best option for STL is to trade him in a package while they still can - and use him to address another area of need.
Acquire a proven, productive outfielder - then give Herrera and Baez a chance to emerge.
Correct baseball decision.

Much better. And I’m not opposed to a move. I’m more into knowing would his insurgence solve right field long term, move money in a different direction- Stud Ace or strong left field bat or both.

And then what does his performance mean at team level. If all else remains the same I’d expect growth throughout. Thanx .

[renostl]

l

Walker will not hit.

I’m as positive a fan as anyone but Walker will not hit. It’s not a mechanical issue. I have no idea if it’s a thinking problem. I would be willing to make a really large bet he can’t hit at the big league level

Well that doesn’t help. Let’s hope. Again hypothetically if he did would the result be noticeable at the team level.

"What IF Walker Hits?"
Well, that would be a good thing.
Seems self-evident.
That said, I would prefer that question be answered with another organization - because the odds are not in his favor.

U guys are killin me. Too much personal bias. If it’s a good thin he hits, expand a bit. What does good thing entail- .500; post season.

And just think if he did, we solve RF, we get a reasonable hitter, and it’s done on the cheap, meaning moneys for real studs and aces.

They are getting into a position that Walker nor Gorman have to hit.
Which is a much better spot to be in versus counting on them to hit.
Burleson replaces Walker now in RF. Walker wins a job great, that means
his OPS is above .585

JJ will play sink or swim for a couple seasons. Depending on moves,
Nolan will need to win a job. IF he can win a job great, probably means
his OPS is above .666. If even there are not any additions these two
are becoming on equal footing with Saggese, Church, Baez and other
prospects.

[scoutyjones2]

l

Walker will not hit.

I’m as positive a fan as anyone but Walker will not hit. It’s not a mechanical issue. I have no idea if it’s a thinking problem. I would be willing to make a really large bet he can’t hit at the big league level

Well that doesn’t help. Let’s hope. Again hypothetically if he did would the result be noticeable at the team level.

"What IF Walker Hits?"
Well, that would be a good thing.
Seems self-evident.
That said, I would prefer that question be answered with another organization - because the odds are not in his favor.

U guys are killin me. Too much personal bias. If it’s a good thin he hits, expand a bit. What does good thing entail- .500; post season.

And just think if he did, we solve RF, we get a reasonable hitter, and it’s done on the cheap, meaning moneys for real studs and aces.

I hope he does...truly do

Don't you live in the Show Me state?

[Jatalk]

Sort of sounds like the classic definition of insanity. Running it all back won’t work.

[JuanAgosto]

I hope he does figure it out and has great success.

[C-Unit]

If you ask me "how far behind where they need to be in having young, cost controlled players on the ML roster to really compete are they?" I would say the "deficit" would be just about exactly:

1) Walker having not developed into the ~4+ fWAR player you could have easily hoped he would be by this time
2) Gorman having not developed into the ~2-3 fWAR player you could have easily hoped he would be by this time, and
3) To a lesser extent Liberatore having not developed into the ~3 fWAR, borderline #2/#3 SP you could have easily hoped he would be by this time

I have thought that something similar to this summary is what represented the drop-off from 2022 to 2023+. I think the organization seriously miscalculated the ability of Walker/Gorman to take up the slack of Pujols (who overperformed to a level the organization couldn't have planned).

2022 gave us career years from Goldschmidt and Arenado, and a lucky season from Albert. Perhaps those things shielded the organization from seeing certain deficiencies. The passing of the baton did not take effect. You could say it was expecting too much too soon to expect Walker (21) and Gorman (23) to take up slack as serious contributors. But, the decline of GoldyNado made their flops that much more pronounced. Contreras was a total success but it wasn't enough to cover for these several grave miscalculations.

I tend to think that the flop of Walker may have been what finally sent the red flags up that there was a serious problem in the Cardinals Player Development. Emperor with pants down moment. It was probably already understood that Mozeliak would be nearing the end of his time as POBO (... I can't remember when exactly they officially announced 2025 would be his last year). But by the end of 2023, anyways, DeWitt had made the decision to bring on Bloom to conduct an entire audit essentially of the Cardinals system. For DeWitt to do this, he had to have realized there was something seriously wrong.

I hold to the idea that DeWitt's decision to bring in Bloom was out of the same spirit that he brought Luhnow on in 2003. The circumstances were similar... in that they were both brought in first in an understudy role with an unnamed position. They were both given time to understand their assignment. Because of this similarity, I keep a candle lit on the notion that perhaps DeWitt still does infact have an inner desire for the team to be successful.

Anyways, to the OP, I sure would love to see Walker still have a chance to become a 30/100 hitter in a Cardinal uniform. Boy, we sure thought that was a lock at one point. And then when Baez comes up you might have a pair of tall, right-handed power-hitting corner outfielders on your hands.

[sikeston bulldog2]

If you ask me "how far behind where they need to be in having young, cost controlled players on the ML roster to really compete are they?" I would say the "deficit" would be just about exactly:

1) Walker having not developed into the ~4+ fWAR player you could have easily hoped he would be by this time
2) Gorman having not developed into the ~2-3 fWAR player you could have easily hoped he would be by this time, and
3) To a lesser extent Liberatore having not developed into the ~3 fWAR, borderline #2/#3 SP you could have easily hoped he would be by this time

I have thought that something similar to this summary is what represented the drop-off from 2022 to 2023+. I think the organization seriously miscalculated the ability of Walker/Gorman to take up the slack of Pujols (who overperformed to a level the organization couldn't have planned).

2022 gave us career years from Goldschmidt and Arenado, and a lucky season from Albert. Perhaps those things shielded the organization from seeing certain deficiencies. The passing of the baton did not take effect. You could say it was expecting too much too soon to expect Walker (21) and Gorman (23) to take up slack as serious contributors. But, the decline of GoldyNado made their flops that much more pronounced. Contreras was a total success but it wasn't enough to cover for these several grave miscalculations.

I tend to think that the flop of Walker may have been what finally sent the red flags up that there was a serious problem in the Cardinals Player Development. Emperor with pants down moment. It was probably already understood that Mozeliak would be nearing the end of his time as POBO (... I can't remember when exactly they officially announced 2025 would be his last year). But by the end of 2023, anyways, DeWitt had made the decision to bring on Bloom to conduct an entire audit essentially of the Cardinals system. For DeWitt to do this, he had to have realized there was something seriously wrong.

I hold to the idea that DeWitt's decision to bring in Bloom was out of the same spirit that he brought Luhnow on in 2003. The circumstances were similar... in that they were both brought in first in an understudy role with an unnamed position. They were both given time to understand their assignment. Because of this similarity, I keep a candle lit on the notion that perhaps DeWitt still does infact have an inner desire for the team to be successful.

Anyways, to the OP, I sure would love to see Walker still have a chance to become a 30/100 hitter in a Cardinal uniform. Boy, we sure thought that was a lock at one point. And then when Baez comes up you might have a pair of tall, right-handed power-hitting corner outfielders on your hands.

Your last paragraph sums up the intent. If they hit, to date that has been primarily a no go, then we solve positions but also greatly get towards the end of the rebuild.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

what if my grandma had nuts?

[sikeston bulldog2]

what if my grandma had nuts?

I know it seems a stretch. But. If he does, what does that do to the rebuild on the field, and the rebuild reference models and planning.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Just think. If Walker became a 20/80 guy, that position, combined with the stellar infield, add Scott, would be formidable.

[Rojo Johnson]

Who writes your stuff, BDawg?

[dugoutrex]

Just think. If Walker became a 20/80 guy, that position, combined with the stellar infield, add Scott, would be formidable.

first, let's see if Scott can reach harry Bader levels

[No-Mo-Mo]

Good morning.

Let’s say we do not trade Donovan or Nado. We have a GG caliber infield. Willy will hit, Donovan will hit, Winn will get better, think between Ozzie and Edgar, and Nado will be a .250 spray hitter, 10 hr and 50 rbi from third. That’s the infield.

From a defensive perspective that’s as good an impact nfield as any in baseball. Offensively middle of the pack, say 15 ish.

Scott. Superb fielder. Just think. if he hits .250. Would be the equivalent of doubles city. He can only get better. All eyes are on bloom and Walker, don’t over look a maturing Scott.

Left- new player. If Donovan is traded, I’d think a young stud left fielder would be as valuable as a stud Ace. Combined defensively with Scott stout shut down 75 percent of the outfield.

Walker. Here we go. When he hits, we should see 20 plus homeruns, and 80 ish rbi. This is not MVP numbers, or even AS numbers, but for STL it’s huge. Why. Money.

If Walker hits, we save big money in FA or trade to acquire both a left fielder and right fielder. Having the potential of Walker, his cheapness, wrapped up in house leaves other moneys for the Ace.

Walker is key and essential to a strong rebuild. In both performance and other player moves. Simply because he’s so cheap. You gotta reap this.

So let’s summarize. Superb infield. Best n baseball. Good outfield in CF. Black holes. Left and right. With Walker in house.

I say we go as Walker goes.

What if he doesn't? Will 2027 be the year he finally breaks out? I mean how many years do you keep giving "next year is the year" guys?

[blackinkbiz]

Bloom's gang down below are already hard at work w/Walker in Florida, Gorman needs to be there too.

And of course I should've said "rightfield" for Walker, not leftfield.

Is this actually the case? It'd be great to hear Walker was playing--and tearing up--Fall Ball somewhere.

Until he shows at least 30 days of above average production in any pro league, I will be thee of little faith.