1 week in

[Carp4Cy]

Libby seems on track for OD starter. No big surprise but certainly no concern there rn. Rotation might be ok. Not playoff caliber but maybe they can get thru a season.
Urias - is he healthy? Will he/or has he participated in ST?
Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?
Walker - 6 games in is early, but well, it really seems like he's 3 years plus 1 week in and still more of the same outcomes. Will need to see an inflexion point to show improvement and there's no inflexion in his performance yet.
Who the heck is Gazdar?

Lots of other injuries still to work thru, plus we will see who makes it to OD healthy. There will probably be a name or two we've never heard on the OD roster, and some familar ones on the OD IL.

[Carp4Cy]

Also Pozo/Crooks - thoughts?

[Talkin' Baseball]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

[tyoung12290]

Libby seems on track for OD starter. No big surprise but certainly no concern there rn. Rotation might be ok. Not playoff caliber but maybe they can get thru a season.
Urias - is he healthy? Will he/or has he participated in ST?
Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?
Walker - 6 games in is early, but well, it really seems like he's 3 years plus 1 week in and still more of the same outcomes. Will need to see an inflexion point to show improvement and there's no inflexion in his performance yet.
Who the heck is Gazdar?

Lots of other injuries still to work thru, plus we will see who makes it to OD healthy. There will probably be a name or two we've never heard on the OD roster, and some familar ones on the OD IL.

Jeff Jones said Urias would be in the lineup today or tomorrow.

[blackinkbiz]

Libby seems on track for OD starter. No big surprise but certainly no concern there rn. Rotation might be ok. Not playoff caliber but maybe they can get thru a season.
Urias - is he healthy? Will he/or has he participated in ST?
Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?
Walker - 6 games in is early, but well, it really seems like he's 3 years plus 1 week in and still more of the same outcomes. Will need to see an inflexion point to show improvement and there's no inflexion in his performance yet.
Who the heck is Gazdar?

Lots of other injuries still to work thru, plus we will see who makes it to OD healthy. There will probably be a name or two we've never heard on the OD roster, and some familar ones on the OD IL.

As you noted, still too early to draw any conclusions, but if Walker finishes spring with an ample amount of exposure and still looks like the same .200 hitter with no power, for his sake, I hope they start him in the minors. Because if he isn't able to earn his way back to MLB, he'll clearly no longer be with the Cardinals beyond this season.

Need more JJ!

[ramfandan]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

[renostl]

Libby seems on track for OD starter. No big surprise but certainly no concern there rn. Rotation might be ok. Not playoff caliber but maybe they can get thru a season.
Urias - is he healthy? Will he/or has he participated in ST?
Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?
Walker - 6 games in is early, but well, it really seems like he's 3 years plus 1 week in and still more of the same outcomes. Will need to see an inflexion point to show improvement and there's no inflexion in his performance yet.
Who the heck is Gazdar?

Lots of other injuries still to work thru, plus we will see who makes it to OD healthy. There will probably be a name or two we've never heard on the OD roster, and some familar ones on the OD IL.

Gazdar was a under the radar pick in 2024 according to prep base ball.

"Jon Jon Gazdar, 4th-Yr Junior, SS, Austin Peay- After posting a .361 batting average for Hyannis last summer in the Cape, the right handed hitting Gazdar is back at it again, producing a .364 average through 33 at-bats this summer. In between, he kept hitting for the Govs this spring with a .405/.484/.667 slash. Obviously, his hit tool is the one tool that jumps out, but he’s also an 80-grade competitor. At shortstop he’s a dependable defender who makes the routine plays, but a move to second base at the pro level is most likely due to fringe arm strength and run speed/range. Expect Gazdar to be considered for selection towards the end of Day Two." (Seifert)

[CNYFan]

The Springfield team won the Pennant and the Championship. Those boys know how to win.

[renostl]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

Many variables in this decision.
One affects 2026 the other beyond 2026.

None of these guys seem like a majority catcher for beyond 2026 but they still need
to play 2026.

If the injury influence happens I'd put Pages up for sale in 2026 and go Pozo/Crooks/Herrera.
I don't expect that. I think Crooks gets sent down for a playing time move with Bernal to Memphis.

[Cardinals4Life]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

Many variables in this decision.
One affects 2026 the other beyond 2026.

None of these guys seem like a majority catcher for beyond 2026 but they still need
to play 2026.

If the injury influence happens I'd put Pages up for sale in 2026 and go Pozo/Crooks/Herrera.
I don't expect that. I think Crooks gets sent down for a playing time move with Bernal to Memphis.

So you think Crooks and Bernal will both be in Memphis?

[renostl]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

Many variables in this decision.
One affects 2026 the other beyond 2026.

None of these guys seem like a majority catcher for beyond 2026 but they still need
to play 2026.

If the injury influence happens I'd put Pages up for sale in 2026 and go Pozo/Crooks/Herrera.
I don't expect that. I think Crooks gets sent down for a playing time move with Bernal to Memphis.

So you think Crooks and Bernal will both be in Memphis?

If everyone is kept yeah.
Pages won't go, Crooks bat hasn't shown up and there's little upside to
him sitting 2/3's of the time, easily wrong.

[Melville]

Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?

He's been trying for 9 years.
No luck so far.

[Melville]

Also Pozo/Crooks - thoughts?

Pages/Crooks is the starting catcher tandem, barring injury.

[Cardinals4Life]

Hererra - good to see he can finally play if only DH. I wonder if/when he will actually try to catch?

He's been trying for 9 years.
No luck so far.

Well he has made it to The Show. I'd say that's a pretty big accomplishment. Pretty rare feat for anyone to do and ever rarer for a Catcher.

[Cardinals4Life]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

Many variables in this decision.
One affects 2026 the other beyond 2026.

None of these guys seem like a majority catcher for beyond 2026 but they still need
to play 2026.

If the injury influence happens I'd put Pages up for sale in 2026 and go Pozo/Crooks/Herrera.
I don't expect that. I think Crooks gets sent down for a playing time move with Bernal to Memphis.

So you think Crooks and Bernal will both be in Memphis?

If everyone is kept yeah.
Pages won't go, Crooks bat hasn't shown up and there's little upside to
him sitting 2/3's of the time, easily wrong.

I don't see the Cardinals having 2 high priority prospects in AAA together.

[Talkin' Baseball]

The org seems to like Pozo a lot. I don't dislike him, but if you keep him and not Crooks, what do you do with Bernal? Make him repeat AA while Crooks repeats AAA? Maybe I assumed too much, but I thought this was the kind of positional logjam the Cardinals were working out of.

Would think Bloom may be following the injury list (especially playoff contenders ) where a team needs a catcher and they call the Cardinals knowing the St. Louis depth.
He can trade one of the guys then.

PS I never 'hope' any player on any team gets injured and Bloom doesn't either but injuries do happen and tough position to find a good catcher.

Many variables in this decision.
One affects 2026 the other beyond 2026.

None of these guys seem like a majority catcher for beyond 2026 but they still need
to play 2026.

If the injury influence happens I'd put Pages up for sale in 2026 and go Pozo/Crooks/Herrera.
I don't expect that. I think Crooks gets sent down for a playing time move with Bernal to Memphis.

So you think Crooks and Bernal will both be in Memphis?

If everyone is kept yeah.
Pages won't go, Crooks bat hasn't shown up and there's little upside to
him sitting 2/3's of the time, easily wrong.

I don't see the Cardinals having 2 high priority prospects in AAA together.

I guess they could, but I don't see it either.