Wetherholt rookie season with Cardinals

[ramfandan]

What Bloom and Oli had to say about JJ Wetherholt to Ben Hochman of Post in December :

Oli
https://www.tiktok.com/@hochmanstl/vide ... 6428831007

Bloom :
I asked Bloom here in Orlando about Wetherholt. I loved this description (and you will too): “His ability to hit to all fields at that age is pretty special — it’s about as good as I think I've seen in a young hitter, just the natural feel for not just slapping the ball the other way, but he can drive the baseball through all fields. That's really impressive.

“But he also carries himself in a certain way, that he just has some presence. Like, there is a calmness to what he does, but don't be fooled — he cares a lot, and he has really high standards. There's just this calmness, but also an intentionality to how he goes about his work ... and you don't see that with every player at this stage in their careers. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Wetherholt's mental preparation and dedication are two factors that we did not hear the POBO nor the manager mention regarding Walker , for example. Playing the game from the neck up is vitally important to excel in the MLB. It appears that JJ has that mental makeup that separates him from most young guys his age , according to Bloom and Oli. That should bode well for Wetherholt in his MLB future.

Nothing is a given .. no guarantees . Will be interesting to see how he does in the majors . We all wish the best for this young talented player.

[Cardinals1964]

What Bloom and Oli had to say about JJ Wetherholt to Ben Hochman of Post in December :

Oli
https://www.tiktok.com/@hochmanstl/vide ... 6428831007

Bloom :
I asked Bloom here in Orlando about Wetherholt. I loved this description (and you will too): “His ability to hit to all fields at that age is pretty special — it’s about as good as I think I've seen in a young hitter, just the natural feel for not just slapping the ball the other way, but he can drive the baseball through all fields. That's really impressive.

“But he also carries himself in a certain way, that he just has some presence. Like, there is a calmness to what he does, but don't be fooled — he cares a lot, and he has really high standards. There's just this calmness, but also an intentionality to how he goes about his work ... and you don't see that with every player at this stage in their careers. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Wetherholt's mental preparation and dedication are two factors that we did not hear the POBO nor the manager mention regarding Walker , for example. Playing the game from the neck up is vitally important to excel in the MLB. It appears that JJ has that mental makeup that separates him from most young guys his age , according to Bloom and Oli. That should bode well for Wetherholt in his MLB future.

Nothing is a given .. no guarantees . Will be interesting to see how he does in the majors . We all wish the best for this young talented player.

Heard it all before. Remember when Mo said Grichuk had more power than any player he ever saw? Did he not know who Barry Bonds was? Walker can’t miss. Dylan Carlson can’t miss. Knizer can’t miss. Carson Kelly can’t miss.
I live in Missouri. Show me.

[Ozziesfan41]

What Bloom and Oli had to say about JJ Wetherholt to Ben Hochman of Post in December :

Oli
https://www.tiktok.com/@hochmanstl/vide ... 6428831007

Bloom :
I asked Bloom here in Orlando about Wetherholt. I loved this description (and you will too): “His ability to hit to all fields at that age is pretty special — it’s about as good as I think I've seen in a young hitter, just the natural feel for not just slapping the ball the other way, but he can drive the baseball through all fields. That's really impressive.

“But he also carries himself in a certain way, that he just has some presence. Like, there is a calmness to what he does, but don't be fooled — he cares a lot, and he has really high standards. There's just this calmness, but also an intentionality to how he goes about his work ... and you don't see that with every player at this stage in their careers. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Wetherholt's mental preparation and dedication are two factors that we did not hear the POBO nor the manager mention regarding Walker , for example. Playing the game from the neck up is vitally important to excel in the MLB. It appears that JJ has that mental makeup that separates him from most young guys his age , according to Bloom and Oli. That should bode well for Wetherholt in his MLB future.

Nothing is a given .. no guarantees . Will be interesting to see how he does in the majors . We all wish the best for this young talented player.

That’s a great article thanks for sharing. A lot of times you see super gifted athletes that are lazy and don’t put enough work into becoming better because their natural gifts have carried them their entire careers and they get into lazy habits but it doesn’t carry them in the majors and they flame out or don’t reach their full potential. Then you have guys like Jon jay and Brendan Donovan who don’t have the natural gifts but work constantly to improve themselves and make themselves into good players. People had a lot of hate for jay but he was a good player when the five tool Rasmus couldn’t cut it he took over and helped the cardinals win a World Series mo replaced him with bourjous another toolsy guy he sucked jay took back over and did great. If JJ has both of those qualities like the article implies he could be special

[ramfandan]

What Bloom and Oli had to say about JJ Wetherholt to Ben Hochman of Post in December :

Oli
https://www.tiktok.com/@hochmanstl/vide ... 6428831007

Bloom :
I asked Bloom here in Orlando about Wetherholt. I loved this description (and you will too): “His ability to hit to all fields at that age is pretty special — it’s about as good as I think I've seen in a young hitter, just the natural feel for not just slapping the ball the other way, but he can drive the baseball through all fields. That's really impressive.

“But he also carries himself in a certain way, that he just has some presence. Like, there is a calmness to what he does, but don't be fooled — he cares a lot, and he has really high standards. There's just this calmness, but also an intentionality to how he goes about his work ... and you don't see that with every player at this stage in their careers. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Wetherholt's mental preparation and dedication are two factors that we did not hear the POBO nor the manager mention regarding Walker , for example. Playing the game from the neck up is vitally important to excel in the MLB. It appears that JJ has that mental makeup that separates him from most young guys his age , according to Bloom and Oli. That should bode well for Wetherholt in his MLB future.

Nothing is a given .. no guarantees . Will be interesting to see how he does in the majors . We all wish the best for this young talented player.

Heard it all before. Remember when Mo said Grichuk had more power than any player he ever saw? Did he not know who Barry Bonds was? Walker can’t miss. Dylan Carlson can’t miss. Knizer can’t miss. Carson Kelly can’t miss.
I live in Missouri. Show me.

Consider your source.. MO
See his name referenced every now and then .
The good news…. No more Mo in the state of Mo.
I could care less of his evaluations of past players . His poor evaluations got us to the present predicament.
Neither Bloom nor Oli has labeled JJ a ‘can’t miss’.

[sikeston bulldog2]

If Wetherholt plays from the get go this year, will he start off hot , so-so, or struggle ?
If JJ mirrors the 2024 start of Brewer rookie Jackson Chourio, he would struggle the first couple months acclimating to major league pitching. From June til end of season, Chourio batted over .300
finishing the year with an overall batting average of .275 , 21 HR, 22 SB in 148 games and
3rd place N.L.rookie of year. (Skenes was 1st place)
In Chourio’s case, early ‘chasing’ was an issue. Thus far JJ has not shown that tendency being quite disciplined at pitch selection.
Looking forward to JJ’s rookie year .

I’m scared to death. So much hype. Can only be less.kinda like our only egg in a single basket.

[Hofikebrucee]

For all you Nancy’s worrying like neurotic women. Just stop. The kids is gonna be really good.

[11WSChamps]

He'll be able to leap tall buildings (the Arch) in a single bound.

[JuanAgosto]

Excited to see all the agreement on JJ's on base ability, and wonder if all agree just starting him at leadoff is the thing to do. I think the kids a player, a competitor and winning ballplayer, and I personally think he will thrive being thrown right into the fire. Follow him in the lineup with Herrera and Burleson, and see what happens. Bottom line, it's gonna be his team, IMO, and if he can get all the other hitters to hit for each other, it will be the "start" of a special team.

Start adding in hitters like Baez, Bernal in late 2026, and Ortiz and possibly Rodriguez by 2027, and the Cardinals are back, baby!

I'd stick him at leadoff on Day 1.
Oli will hit him 7th or 8th, trying to protect him. FYI Oli, your lineup has no protection for him!

If Oli does that, he should be fired on the spot.

Yes and he also should have been fired years ago.

We will see how much influence Mo had on the lineups. Oli claims it was all his own decisions. Im skeptical. If oli hits Wetherholt 8th, it proves he truly is a dumb[ash].

[rockondlouie]

Excited to see all the agreement on JJ's on base ability, and wonder if all agree just starting him at leadoff is the thing to do. I think the kids a player, a competitor and winning ballplayer, and I personally think he will thrive being thrown right into the fire. Follow him in the lineup with Herrera and Burleson, and see what happens. Bottom line, it's gonna be his team, IMO, and if he can get all the other hitters to hit for each other, it will be the "start" of a special team.

Start adding in hitters like Baez, Bernal in late 2026, and Ortiz and possibly Rodriguez by 2027, and the Cardinals are back, baby!

I like him hitting 2nd DD11 where he could do some damage (remember how TLR always talked about "damage" from the two-hole?)

But he could also be a terrific lead-off man given his high OB% + SB potential.

As he learns the league and gets stronger, he might eventually end up in the #3 hole where he'd be a run producer if his HR power hits the mid 20's.

[CorneliusWolfe]

I don't think a triple crown is too much to ask for

Anything less is unacceptable!

[DewittDaman11]

Excited to see all the agreement on JJ's on base ability, and wonder if all agree just starting him at leadoff is the thing to do. I think the kids a player, a competitor and winning ballplayer, and I personally think he will thrive being thrown right into the fire. Follow him in the lineup with Herrera and Burleson, and see what happens. Bottom line, it's gonna be his team, IMO, and if he can get all the other hitters to hit for each other, it will be the "start" of a special team.

Start adding in hitters like Baez, Bernal in late 2026, and Ortiz and possibly Rodriguez by 2027, and the Cardinals are back, baby!

I like him hitting 2nd DD11 where he could do some damage (remember how TLR always talked about "damage" from the two-hole?)

But he could also be a terrific lead-off man given his high OB% + SB potential.

As he learns the league and gets stronger, he might eventually end up in the #3 hole where he'd be a run producer if his HR power hits the mid 20's.

I agree he would be a great 2 hole hitter, if we had anyone else that could get on base in front of him. If we don't end up trading Donovan, move him to 2, for sure.

[rockondlouie]

Excited to see all the agreement on JJ's on base ability, and wonder if all agree just starting him at leadoff is the thing to do. I think the kids a player, a competitor and winning ballplayer, and I personally think he will thrive being thrown right into the fire. Follow him in the lineup with Herrera and Burleson, and see what happens. Bottom line, it's gonna be his team, IMO, and if he can get all the other hitters to hit for each other, it will be the "start" of a special team.

Start adding in hitters like Baez, Bernal in late 2026, and Ortiz and possibly Rodriguez by 2027, and the Cardinals are back, baby!

I like him hitting 2nd DD11 where he could do some damage (remember how TLR always talked about "damage" from the two-hole?)

But he could also be a terrific lead-off man given his high OB% + SB potential.

As he learns the league and gets stronger, he might eventually end up in the #3 hole where he'd be a run producer if his HR power hits the mid 20's.

I agree he would be a great 2 hole hitter, if we had anyone else that could get on base in front of him. If we don't end up trading Donovan, move him to 2, for sure.

Oh man, if VSII could only slash a .330 OB% we'd have an awesome 1-2 punch at the top of the order.

They'd run wild!

Donny's actually better doing damage in the two-hole (.382 OB%/.802 OPS) than he is leading-off (.334 OB%/.732 OPS) so if he's still here, then I like your idea of JJW leading off and Donny in the two hole.

Noot is also a really good lead-off man (career .343 OB%) who could hit there w/JJW in the two-hole if Donny is gone.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I want to see Wetherholt win the Rookie of the Year award, and I think he can. If that happens the Cardinals get an extra draft pick immediately after the first round.

Of the National League top 50 prospects who were at AAA or MLB at the end of the season, retain rookie status, and are likely to start the season in the majors, this is the competition:

Nolan McLean (Mets)
Bryce Eldridge (Giants)
Bubba Chandler (Pirates)
Andrew Painter (Phillies)
Sal Stewart (Reds)

I say JJW takes it. If not, who do you think will win? (My second guess is McLean)

[rockondlouie]

I want to see Wetherholt win the Rookie of the Year award, and I think he can. If that happens the Cardinals get an extra draft pick immediately after the first round.

Of the National League top 50 prospects who were at AAA or MLB at the end of the season, retain rookie status, and are likely to start the season in the majors, this is the competition:

Nolan McLean (Mets)
Bryce Eldridge (Giants)
Bubba Chandler (Pirates)
Andrew Painter (Phillies)
Sal Stewart (Reds)

I say JJW takes it. If not, who do you think will win? (My second guess is McLean)

I'm also going JJW to win ROY!

But if not, then how about Sal Stewart of the Reds or Moisés Ballesteros of the Scrubs?

[Cardinals4Life]

Excited to see all the agreement on JJ's on base ability, and wonder if all agree just starting him at leadoff is the thing to do. I think the kids a player, a competitor and winning ballplayer, and I personally think he will thrive being thrown right into the fire. Follow him in the lineup with Herrera and Burleson, and see what happens. Bottom line, it's gonna be his team, IMO, and if he can get all the other hitters to hit for each other, it will be the "start" of a special team.

Start adding in hitters like Baez, Bernal in late 2026, and Ortiz and possibly Rodriguez by 2027, and the Cardinals are back, baby!

I like him hitting 2nd DD11 where he could do some damage (remember how TLR always talked about "damage" from the two-hole?)

But he could also be a terrific lead-off man given his high OB% + SB potential.

As he learns the league and gets stronger, he might eventually end up in the #3 hole where he'd be a run producer if his HR power hits the mid 20's.

Ideally VSII could eventually work his way into the leadoff spot, with Wetherholt hititng behind him. That would be an optimum 1-2 punch.

[CraigPaquette]

What Bloom and Oli had to say about JJ Wetherholt to Ben Hochman of Post in December :

Oli
https://www.tiktok.com/@hochmanstl/vide ... 6428831007

Bloom :
I asked Bloom here in Orlando about Wetherholt. I loved this description (and you will too): “His ability to hit to all fields at that age is pretty special — it’s about as good as I think I've seen in a young hitter, just the natural feel for not just slapping the ball the other way, but he can drive the baseball through all fields. That's really impressive.

“But he also carries himself in a certain way, that he just has some presence. Like, there is a calmness to what he does, but don't be fooled — he cares a lot, and he has really high standards. There's just this calmness, but also an intentionality to how he goes about his work ... and you don't see that with every player at this stage in their careers. It’s pretty cool to see.”

Wetherholt's mental preparation and dedication are two factors that we did not hear the POBO nor the manager mention regarding Walker , for example. Playing the game from the neck up is vitally important to excel in the MLB. It appears that JJ has that mental makeup that separates him from most young guys his age , according to Bloom and Oli. That should bode well for Wetherholt in his MLB future.

Nothing is a given .. no guarantees . Will be interesting to see how he does in the majors . We all wish the best for this young talented player.

Heard it all before. Remember when Mo said Grichuk had more power than any player he ever saw? Did he not know who Barry Bonds was? Walker can’t miss. Dylan Carlson can’t miss. Knizer can’t miss. Carson Kelly can’t miss.
I live in Missouri. Show me.

Totally agree. How many times have we heard "so and so will be the face of the franchise for years to come".

1. Oscar Tavares (I know unforseen circumstances)
2. Alex Reyes
3. Adam Ottavino
4. Pete Kozma
5. Allen Craig
6. Delvin Perez
7. Shelby Miller
8. Colby Rasmus
9. Tyler Greene
10. Brett Wallace

I'm sure there are a lot more I'm missing but these come to my mind pretty quick. No one has taken the reigns since Pujols, Yadi, and Waino. I guess the only honorable mention during that span would be CMart. I'm sure there are some who would like to claim Trevor Rosenthal and MCarp too.