JJ discusses possibly playing 3rd base for Cardinals

[ScotchMIrish]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that already? The only position he won't play in St Louis is SS and yet that's where they had him in the minors.

Why are you telling yourself that they didn’t play him at 3B and 2B in Memphis?

61 games at SS. 20 games at 2B. 12 games at 3B. They only position he won't play in St Louis is SS. Now the plan is to find out whether he can play 3B or 2B? That's what the minor leagues are supposed to be for.

Makes no sense to me.

They literally played him at the positions that you previously complained that they didn’t do.

Just admit that your complaint makes no sense. You have to know it’s dumb.

I did not say that. You are better than this.

[renostl]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that already? The only position he won't play in St Louis is SS and yet that's where they had him in the minors.

Why are you telling yourself that they didn’t play him at 3B and 2B in Memphis?

Or college.

[renostl]

Why are you telling yourself that they didn’t play him at 3B and 2B in Memphis?

Is there a pro shortstop alive today who played his entire career at shortstop and couldn’t play second or third?

I don’t know of many that never move off the position. Many obviously head to 3B. The only guy off the top of my head that didn’t have an arm for 3B was Eckstein.

In addition to arm strength got 3rd base is ‘arm accuracy’. Some can get the ball across the field nit are wide left, right, in the dirt, and some wild high. Arenado made it look easy…Gorman much less and yet to see how accurate JJ is. Arenado is tough act to follow.

Don’t compare them. We don’t need to.

I have a hard time judging Gorman - they had him switch to second and then just throw him back at third where’d gotten very few game reps… there should’ve been no expectation that it would be anything but difficult.

He definitely showed the yipps.
It should not be his final exam but there is reason for some concerns.

Honestly, it is his bat that will or will not bring him a MLB career. If we look at him
his hit is below average, run below average, field and arm hopefully average, power is his calling
card if he can't bring it there's not much career. He's young for all of those to be below
average since they won't get better. 1B/DH path. Cards have a couple possibilities there.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

I just hope he can hit both handed pitchers.

.278 with a .372 OBP and an .880 OPS vs lefties in 2025
.319 with a .442 OBP and a .953 OPS vs righties in 2025

That's a nice Christmas Eve gift. Thanks

[renostl]

I just hope he can hit both handed pitchers.

.278 with a .372 OBP and an .880 OPS vs lefties in 2025
.319 with a .442 OBP and a .953 OPS vs righties in 2025

He can hit

He can and always has. Good enough for 3B if that
comes forward.

The rest of the roster matters of course but what would numbers
like that cost in FA at 3B?

IMO 2B are easier to find and a Winn complimentary player
is good locking up the MI.

[hockey jedi]

I think JJ should move to 3rd base and Saggese at 2nd base. I am all for keeping Donovan, but I'd move him to left field. I'd trade Gorman and Nootbar.

[C-Unit]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

I have thought this way that perhaps Wetherholt could theoretically be moved around similar to the way Albert played a bit of this a bit of that for his rookie year. Wetherholt could probably play 2B, SS, 3B, or even outfield. There could potentially be value in both that approach or just locking him down at 2B because it's the position we view him at longterm. It's hard to say either way would be wrong. But I would also be real and say that Gorman or Saggese are not players that I want to move Wetherholt down the defensive spectrum for.

I would like to see Fermin get a crack at it, and if it's at 3B I'd be fine with it. There's a chance we would get to see our next Edman type player, if we give Fermin the chance.

In the future, I've heard the idea of moving Wetherholt to CF. Organizational need might show CF to be an empty position for us (if Scott doesnt pan out, who's on cf?). So there's an argument to be made about the future. I'd also suggest a future possibility where Wetherholt slides to SS and Winn would be the one to try CF. Tell me who plays 2B then.

Anyways for now I'm on board with Wetherholt 2B and Winn SS for as far as the eye can see.

[ClassicO]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

Mo followed his past practices! Keep Walker at 3b until the last minute. Gorman the same. Then play them elsewhere in the bigs.

[RamFan08NY]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

[C-Unit]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

Correct. And remember Javy Baez is an example of a guy who was able to move back to SS after years of playing 2B in the majors.

[ScotchMIrish]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

I'd have given him 20 games at SS and 60 at 2B if 2B was the plan. A second baseman can get taken out if he isn't adept at the pivot on a double play. You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B.

[Shady]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

I'd have given him 20 games at SS and 60 at 2B if 2B was the plan. A second baseman can get taken out if he isn't adept at the pivot on a double play. You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B.

"You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B". That may be one of the reasons to see how he does at 3B.

[AnExParrot]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

I'd have given him 20 games at SS and 60 at 2B if 2B was the plan. A second baseman can get taken out if he isn't adept at the pivot on a double play. You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B.

The Utley rule has pretty well removed that concern from the game.

[ecleme22]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

I'd have given him 20 games at SS and 60 at 2B if 2B was the plan. A second baseman can get taken out if he isn't adept at the pivot on a double play. You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B.

"You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B". That may be one of the reasons to see how he does at 3B.

Scotch doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

JJ is an elite athlete who plays SS—-meaning he knows his way around the 2b bag.

The double play ball from 2b to SS is harder because SS has to square up his body to throw. The throw from SS to 2b is more natural.

Why do you think Gorman and Schumacher adapted to 2b relatively easily?

[scoutyjones2]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

I think its good that they gave him some SS experience. If Winn were to go on the IR for an extended period, its a lot easier to put a body at 2b than it is SS.

I'd have given him 20 games at SS and 60 at 2B if 2B was the plan. A second baseman can get taken out if he isn't adept at the pivot on a double play. You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B.

"You don't want you top prospect on the ground with a trainer leaning over him at 2B". That may be one of the reasons to see how he does at 3B.

Scotch doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

JJ is an elite athlete who plays SS—-meaning he knows his way around the 2b bag.

The double play ball from 2b to SS is harder because SS has to square up his body to throw. The throw from SS to 2b is more natural.

Why do you think Gorman and Schumacher adapted to 2b relatively easily?

When were either a SS?

[RichieRichSTL]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that already? The only position he won't play in St Louis is SS and yet that's where they had him in the minors.

Why are you telling yourself that they didn’t play him at 3B and 2B in Memphis?

61 games at SS. 20 games at 2B. 12 games at 3B. They only position he won't play in St Louis is SS. Now the plan is to find out whether he can play 3B or 2B? That's what the minor leagues are supposed to be for.

Makes no sense to me.

I am pretty sure that they know he will be fine at 2B and 3B. Hence, they weren't worried about minor league reps. I am guessing Memphis had a more pressing need for someone who could play at SS.