ClassicO wrote: ↑23 Apr 2026 15:34 pm
Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.
Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.
Pages had 45 RBI in 389 PA last year (27 in 218 PA the year before). That was a better ratio than Arenado or Donovan or Winn or Noot or Gorman.
And he had 18 HR in 607 PAs in 2024-25. Again, that’s not exactly bad for a catcher.
His last full year of the minors was in AA and he had 72 RBI in 497 PAs.
I wouldn’t say it’s “foreign” to him. He’s not a good hitter. But he does somehow find a way to get runs in more than you’d think.
Maybe I was harsh! I think MLB pitchers have figured him out. He doesn't get on base (.274 OBP career and .259 this year; 3.6% BB rate), so they are going after him.
I have to think that the FO sees him as a steady influence with a pitching staff that
is trying to find themselves. They know Pages limitations as well as anybody else. Pedro
knows his own production too. There is some rationale with that even if I don't necessarily
agree. Crooks will get a shot as soon as either Pages or Herrera don't, imo, and
his SO% won't matter then.
ClassicO wrote: ↑23 Apr 2026 15:34 pm
Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.
Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.
Pages had 45 RBI in 389 PA last year (27 in 218 PA the year before). That was a better ratio than Arenado or Donovan or Winn or Noot or Gorman.
And he had 18 HR in 607 PAs in 2024-25. Again, that’s not exactly bad for a catcher.
His last full year of the minors was in AA and he had 72 RBI in 497 PAs.
I wouldn’t say it’s “foreign” to him. He’s not a good hitter. But he does somehow find a way to get runs in more than you’d think.
Lol!!! Are you seriously trying to say Pages could be considered an offensive positive? Just stop
Seems he called him "not a good hitter"
Better RBI ratio's of NA, LN, and BD who had a pathetic 52, 48, and 50 rbi's is not saying that either.
But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?
Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).
I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!
I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.
But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.
I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.
With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.
What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.
Then what are you doing when R.R. is knocking on the door?
I'm not talking about Crooks being trade material this season, likely not in 2027 either unless he goes midseason.
But Bernal is going to be ready by 2027 (defensively he's already better than Pages and Crooks now).
R.R. could be here as early as 2028 if he's as good as advertised.
I've made about a dozen post, before I learned about Cerfolio/Bloom's concern about Crooks poor contact rate, calling for Crooks to be here because I wanted Bernal to get more reps at Memphis so we're on the same page!
Pages is Oli's guy, sadly he's going to play him 4 or 5 games a week.
I hate it too.
Rock, I do not believe Rodriguez's future is at the catcher position. Not because I don't think he could handle it, but because I think Bernal is just that good a fit at catcher. RRs bat plays regardless of position. He could land at 3B, LF, DH, etc.
I pretty much agree Basil
I've been posting for a while now I'd give him a 3rd baseman's glove and see if he can handle the hot corner like some pretty famous former catchers have (Re: J. Bench, J. Torre and J. Donaldson who was drafted as a catcher but made the switch in the minors like R.R. could).
At worse gvie him an OF'ers glove and stick him in LF.
riff raff wrote: ↑24 Apr 2026 10:46 am
I hope this organization is done trying to put round pegs into square holes.
If he's a good enough defensively leave him alone.
Most players switch positions from the time the are drafted to the major leagues. Ty Van Dyke and Tanner Franklin were relief pitchers in college- starting now. JJW was a SS- playing 2B now. Ryan Mitchell (drafted last year) was a SS- now in CF. Rainiel Rodriguez came to the org as a 3B- now catching. It happens all the time.
What you can't (or shouldn't) do is get them to the majors and then toss them a new glove and send them out to a new spot. Some training and reps are necessary for a good transition.
riff raff wrote: ↑24 Apr 2026 10:46 am
I hope this organization is done trying to put round pegs into square holes.
If he's a good enough defensively leave him alone.
Most players switch positions from the time the are drafted to the major leagues. Ty Van Dyke and Tanner Franklin were relief pitchers in college- starting now. JJW was a SS- playing 2B now. Ryan Mitchell (drafted last year) was a SS- now in CF. Rainiel Rodriguez came to the org as a 3B- now catching. It happens all the time.
What you can't (or shouldn't) do is get them to the majors and then toss them a new glove and send them out to a new spot. Some training and reps are necessary for a good transition.
So, he's already had his position change. I sure hope it works. It's an advantage to have a good hitting catcher in this league.
If I recall correctly in an interview with his college coach he stated Wetherholt basically played a season each at 3B, SS, and 2B. I remember him saying that JJ would be fine at any of them. And he probably would be. I like him at second though. It seems to fit well.
