My hope with Herrera at catcher.

[ecleme22]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

[Dicktar2023]

My hope is that he could learn how to throw the baseball to second base.

I'm not optimistic.

[CardsBest]

My hope is that he could learn how to throw the baseball to second base.

I'm not optimistic.

You have high expectations. I hope he learns how to catch the ball.

[Melville]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

[Melville]

My hope is that he could learn how to throw the baseball to second base.

I'm not optimistic.

You have high expectations. I hope he learns how to catch the ball.

Yep.
He drops more pitches and mishandles more pitches in the dirt than any catcher I have ever seen at the MLB level.

[Cardinals4Life]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

The narrative about Herrera not being a good C is ridiculous and is fueled by many on here who have never even seen him catch a lot. They act like the guy can't receive a ball or throw the ball more than 20 feet.

I'll bet that Herrera not only starts the year as our C, but is an All-Star come July.

[Banner29]

My hope is that he could learn how to throw the baseball to second base.

I'm not optimistic.

You have high expectations. I hope he learns how to catch the ball.

I am optimistic about Bloom and mostly like what he’s done so far and his plan going forward. But this is one instance thus far where I am genuinely at a loss for words with him.

It would be different if Herrera had shown any flashes of tru potential behind the plate. But he honestly has only shown that he needs a restraining order from any catchers mitt ever made.

I wish they would have brought in an established vet that could control the run game and pitchers could rely on to block bad pitches and no I wouldn’t care if he didn’t know what end of the barrel to hit with. Just a guy that the young kids could count on. But these kids will be sweating bullets any time they put a runner on first. And anyway Herrera has way too much potential at the plate to be wasting time and/or risk getting more injuries.

[Dicktar2023]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

The narrative about Herrera not being a good C is ridiculous and is fueled by many on here who have never even seen him catch a lot. They act like the guy can't receive a ball or throw the ball more than 20 feet.

I'll bet that Herrera not only starts the year as our C, but is an All-Star come July.

And if Liberatore wins 20 games and Gorman hits 40 home runs, this team will be right in there for the division

[Melville]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

The narrative about Herrera not being a good C is ridiculous and is fueled by many on here who have never even seen him catch a lot. They act like the guy can't receive a ball or throw the ball more than 20 feet.

I'll bet that Herrera not only starts the year as our C, but is an All-Star come July.

Fact: in 2024 and 2025 Herrera was forced out of the starting role by the coaches and pitching staff due to his poor defensive skill set.
Herrera not being a good C is not a narrative.
It is an established fact.
The facts may change - though after 9 years as a professional catcher, it is incredibly unlikely.

[The Nard]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

The narrative about Herrera not being a good C is ridiculous and is fueled by many on here who have never even seen him catch a lot. They act like the guy can't receive a ball or throw the ball more than 20 feet.

I'll bet that Herrera not only starts the year as our C, but is an All-Star come July.

And if Liberatore wins 20 games and Gorman hits 40 home runs, this team will be right in there for the division

You used up 2 of your 3 wishes. And no, you can’t wish for more wishes.

[Carp4Cy]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

Good points. We can't afford to keep needing 162 game auditions. Our org has to be better run than this.

[Melville]

My hope is that he could learn how to throw the baseball to second base.

I'm not optimistic.

You have high expectations. I hope he learns how to catch the ball.

I am optimistic about Bloom and mostly like what he’s done so far and his plan going forward. But this is one instance thus far where I am genuinely at a loss for words with him.

It would be different if Herrera had shown any flashes of tru potential behind the plate. But he honestly has only shown that he needs a restraining order from any catchers mitt ever made.

I wish they would have brought in an established vet that could control the run game and pitchers could rely on to block bad pitches and no I wouldn’t care if he didn’t know what end of the barrel to hit with. Just a guy that the young kids could count on. But these kids will be sweating bullets any time they put a runner on first. And anyway Herrera has way too much potential at the plate to be wasting time and/or risk getting more injuries.

Bloom is an intelligent guy.
But every now and then he says something he knows to be, to be charitable, lacking in candor.
I suspect that to be the case with Herrera.
Since it is not possible that he believes Herrera is acceptable defensively, the most logical explanation is that he is merely placating the kid.
The fact that STL has yet to acquire, or identify internally, any potential RH hitting DH/1B candidate to replace Contreras, is a very strong indication that role is what Bloom actually has in mind for Herrera.

[Carp4Cy]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

Mike Piazza.
Jorge Posada
Both won pennants while never sniffing a gold glove. C doesn't have to be glove first for team success.

[Melville]

So for the last few years:
1. 2023: Woodford is the 6th starter! Crashes.
2. 2023: Willson knows the pitchers! Maybe not…
3. 2024: Scott is ready! Nope.
4. 2024: Thompson is our 6th starter! Nope.

With Herrera, I respect he wants to catch. And, I respect the cards org for giving him the opportunity.

But, I’m hoping the Cards’ talent eval will be able to QUICKLY evaluate his readiness before the season begins.

The way the Herrera thing goes, I think will give us insight to the talent evaluation in the system.

Good luck, Herrera.

You respect an organization for attempting to force fit a player into a role for which he is not suitable?
I give to respect organizations and leaders who are truthful with associates and set them up for success rather than failure.

The narrative about Herrera not being a good C is ridiculous and is fueled by many on here who have never even seen him catch a lot. They act like the guy can't receive a ball or throw the ball more than 20 feet.

I'll bet that Herrera not only starts the year as our C, but is an All-Star come July.

And if Liberatore wins 20 games and Gorman hits 40 home runs, this team will be right in there for the division

12 and 25 would be sufficient, provided others make contributions which are similarly reasonable, to compete for a W/C.

[Cusecards]

Herrera probably catches more negativity for his defense than he deserves.
I could see him being average with more experience.
However:
*They desperately need his bat in the lineup.
*The system has multiple catching prospects on the way.
*Has struggled to stay healthy.

I still think he gets moved.
Just my opinion.

[Mort Gage]

My hope is they realize he belongs at LF, DH, or 1B.