Why our prospect pool is so much better than years past

[billybaseball]

I know all prospects are crapshoots but our farm has way more upside than ever before. I'm not going to go down the list but two big reasons why.

#1. Power pitching. Look through our farm now and there is more swing and miss cumulatively than the decade prior combined. Finally we have rid the organization of the pitch to contact that was outdated after Dave Duncan left.

#2. Power hitting. Same idea as #1. Our drafting and development has switched from plunky hit first guys to prioritizing power hitters. This is behind our pitching development but you can see it coming through even in the trades we make. The organization didn't really know how to develop power hitters which is why you see struggles with Gorman and Walker but the changes we've made organizationally are showing up with Baez, Rodriguez and Ortiz. It's very encouraging.

#3. The high floor philosophy is long gone. The Cardinals have drafting and signed guys from the international market with high floors but limited ceiling. That has changed dramatically over the last couple of years. It's hard to say if this was a Bloom on day 1 change or if MO allowed it.

[Jatalk]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

[WeeVikes]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

[Jatalk]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

Excellent point

[rockondlouie]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

+1

From what I've heard Bloom had a very heavy hand in the past two drafts which makes perfect sense since they'll end up being on his roster and not Mo's.

The OP laid it out perfectly, power pitchers + power hitters, definitely Bloom's model and not what we've seen from the other guy.

[billybaseball]

Add another power pitcher to the prospect pool!!!!

[craviduce]

Add another power pitcher to the prospect pool!!!!

yeah, Clark's an immediate mid Top 10 prospect for the Cards.

That's 50/80 prospect...that list keeps growing.

Wicked slider

[billybaseball]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

I think JJ would have been the pick no matter who was running the organization but no chance we pick Doyle over Arnold and Arquette in years past. Also taking Franklin is the type of risk we never took before

[Carp4Cy]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

We've drafted well in the first round but I think 2020 was the last time we drafted well in rounds 1-5. I'm not too excited about many of the later round guys from 2024, feels like we got way to conservative and mailed that one in, drafting short pitchers when better ones were available, and drafting a catcher that can't catch, when we need every position But C.

[mattmitchl44]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

Excellent point

Yep, Doyle was the 5th overall pick, and Wetherholt was the 7th.

If the Cardinals were in "squeak into the playoffs as a WC" mediocrity, they never get either of them.

[NYCardsFan]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

Excellent point

Yep, Doyle was the 5th overall pick, and Wetherholt was the 7th.

If the Cardinals were in "squeak into the playoffs as a WC" mediocrity, they never get either of them.

And they’d continue forfeiting 2nd round picks and associated slot money by signing FAs like Contreras and Gray in pursuit of that increasingly elusive objective.

[WeeVikes]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

I think JJ would have been the pick no matter who was running the organization but no chance we pick Doyle over Arnold and Arquette in years past. Also taking Franklin is the type of risk we never took before

Yeah, I think you’re right on in the difference between who we would have picked before and who we seem to be pursuing now. I like the direction.

[WeeVikes]

It’s an organizational change led by Bloom but I think Mo recognized the need for change. But MO’s reaction was probably dictated by the tightening of purse strings by the owners.

Let’s just call it an organizational change.

I agree with that. Also, unfortunately, I think we’ve been drafting higher as well.

We've drafted well in the first round but I think 2020 was the last time we drafted well in rounds 1-5. I'm not too excited about many of the later round guys from 2024, feels like we got way to conservative and mailed that one in, drafting short pitchers when better ones were available, and drafting a catcher that can't catch, when we need every position But C.

Very interesting take. I will investigate that, however, I trust your judgement.