GDT : Spring Training : Cardinals vs Nationals (3/20) ~ 12:10pm CDT

[82birds]

Gerson Moreno first four batters
2 walks and a HBP

[ClassicO]

Whoever Luis Pino is playing RF for the Cards - he made an incredibly bad throw trying to go home

[82birds]

another walk
Oli gets him out of there
Moreno was laughably bad
leaves bases loaded, two outs

and Love gives up 2-run double

[Hoosier59]

The Cardinals could get a better bat in the lineup and not loose anything defensively at catcher simply by playing Crooks there instead of Pages, but they refuse to do it!

[82birds]

The Cardinals could get a better bat in the lineup and not loose anything defensively at catcher simply by playing Crooks there instead of Pages, but they refuse to do it!

agree. sending Crooks down (and so early) was a head scratcher for me

[rockondlouie]

Thx Basil!

Saggese in CF

And W T F is Oli doing putting I. Herrera back behind the plate w/a gimpy knee?

He's NOT A CATCHER you MORON............be a Manager and tell him so!

TLR would...........Whitey would.........Torre would

I believe that the battery of Liberatore and Herrera clicks for Libby. Kinda like when Waino pitched near the end of his career , the Cardinals would make sure Molina called his game . With Libby being opening day starter , it seems likely that Herrera would be behind the plate for that game. Then Pages probably catches the next game with Ivan going to DH .

Libby seems to be clicking w/all the catchers this spring, not sure Herrera has been the key rfd.

But Oli/Bloom want to give Herrera his shot so you'll likely be right about OD.

Only after base stealers are 25/25 or he starts missing games w/a bad knee.will they all come to the conclusion that Ivan isn't a catcher.

AND JUST LIKE THAT ON CUE

HR HERRERA!!!!!!!

Yes, we agree that Oli gives Herrera the Opening Day nod. That is a special game for players. Yes, I also have felt that Herrera is not the primary catcher for 2026. Pages will catch more games than Herrera I believe in 2026 . PLaying Herrera at catcher with his good bat also gives Oli the option of putting a better hitter at DH vs. Pages having to bat as catcher. Herrera gets his bats at either but every time Herrera catches, Oli gets a better' 'stick' in his lineup over Pages .

100% about the better hitter option at DH vs having Pages and his weak bat in the lineup.

But is it worth the risk losing his best bat if the knee gets hurt even worse and teams are stealing bases vs him at will?

That's the $64M question .. will the Cardinals need more offense to win vs. his defense.
In some games the 'at will' don't materialize as not many guys on 1st and a stolen base doesn't always result in that runner scoring.
Especially if the base runner steals 2nd with two outs. The odds of him scoring is greatly reduced if next out gets us out of the inning .
The 0 out and 1 out steals are tougher though.. the runner on 2nd can be moved over and score on a sac fly etc. Like Cards did today with Church sequence. So it can go both ways.

Oh we need all the offense we can get, losing the teams best hitter (Herrera) would be a huge blow.

Steals do more damage along w/scoring, example they can take away double play opportunities.

Herrera is NOT the answer at catcher, we all know it's going to be Bernal or R.R. in just a year or two.

Why risk injury just to satisfy his desire to catch?

Hopefully Bloom/Oli put an end to it before the knee goes out or he gets a different injury.

[NYCardsFan]

As usual, Gastelum's changeup is filthy.

[82birds]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

[Strummer Jones]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

With a changeup that nasty, he could have hair like Travis Bickle, and I wouldn't care.

[ClassicO]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

Gastelum has some very good stuff.
I could see him in the bullpen this year earlier than the ASB.
On his one walk - two of the pitches were 95 and barely low. The change is nasty. The slider stays down, as did almost all his pitches. I’m impressed.

[ClassicO]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

With a changeup that nasty, he could have hair like Travis Bickle, and I wouldn't care.

I posted and then saw your similar one, but I failed to make the Taxi Driver reference!

[NYCardsFan]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

Gastelum has some very good stuff.
I could see him in the bullpen this year earlier than the ASB.
On his one walk - two of the pitches were 95 and barely low. The change is nasty. The slider stays down, as did almost all his pitches. I’m impressed.

One of Crav's and my favorite relievers in the system last year. For a guy who sits low-to-mid 90s, he misses a lot of bats, mostly because the changeup is ++.

[ClassicO]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

Gastelum has some very good stuff.
I could see him in the bullpen this year earlier than the ASB.
On his one walk - two of the pitches were 95 and barely low. The change is nasty. The slider stays down, as did almost all his pitches. I’m impressed.

One of Crav's and my favorite relievers in the system last year. For a guy who sits low-to-mid 90s, he misses a lot of bats, mostly because the changeup is ++.

He’s certainly better than a few other bullpen options right now!
I checked and he’s not on the 40 man — but there are many on that list who could be let go.

[Talkin' Baseball]

4-3 final
save for girly-hair Gastelum

Gastelum has some very good stuff.
I could see him in the bullpen this year earlier than the ASB.
On his one walk - two of the pitches were 95 and barely low. The change is nasty. The slider stays down, as did almost all his pitches. I’m impressed.

One of Crav's and my favorite relievers in the system last year. For a guy who sits low-to-mid 90s, he misses a lot of bats, mostly because the changeup is ++.

I really like Svanson in our bullpen. When they bring Gastelum and Hence in, that could make a nasty pen.

[Carp4Cy]

Libby looking sharp again

Is this Spring an outlier for Libby or is he suddenly improved into All Star caliber Ace?

[ramfandan]

Bruihl looked incredible.
(Incredibly bad)
Luckily escaped.

You should take Brad's job, 82 Birds ! First comment Bruihl is no libby ! Chip replies : That's for sure , 82 !
then 'Bruihl looked incredible ' Chip: Really ? 82 : yes, Incredibly bad ! Chip: You are a riot , 82 ! and I thought Brad yucked it up in the booth . He can't hold a candle to you !

82: 'Thanks, Chip, but it doesn't take much to be better than Brad ! Chip " wow talk about throwing Brad under the bus .
82 : Oh, I heard Brad slipped under the bus at one of those school programs he does with Fredbird ! Hope he is OK , but not to hurry back to the booth and regain his job over me !