Is Jimmy Crooks turning the corner?

[Ronnie Dobbs]

He’s hitting .231 .333 .500 .833 in July.

He still hasn’t looked very good defensively to my eyes, but I’ll take it as a positive that he is actually hitting some. No one else has been since like end of June through now. He only started 9 of 24 games in July, while Pages started 6. Pages has also been much worse than Crooks in July. So maybe they should give Crooks some more starts and see what happens. Why not? It’s a runway year. Let the guy face some lefties.

Anyway, I’m looking for positives for Jimmy Crooks and I’d call this a positive.

[okcardfan]

As Russell Westbrook always says about possibilities, Why Not?

[DewittDaman11]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

[CCard]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

[BrockFloodMaris]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

The Cards and their opponents will certainly be competing every game this year.

[CCard]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

The Cards and their opponents will certainly be competing every game this year.

Competing for last place? It's not really a competition when you aren't competitive.

[OldRed]

He’s hitting .231 .333 .500 .833 in July.

He still hasn’t looked very good defensively to my eyes, but I’ll take it as a positive that he is actually hitting some. No one else has been since like end of June through now. He only started 9 of 24 games in July, while Pages started 6. Pages has also been much worse than Crooks in July. So maybe they should give Crooks some more starts and see what happens. Why not? It’s a runway year. Let the guy face some lefties.

Anyway, I’m looking for positives for Jimmy Crooks and I’d call this a positive.

As I mentioned several times. He should be the everyday catcher and see what he is capable of producing. It is very difficult for young players when they just get occasional playing time.

[sikeston bulldog2]

He’s hitting .231 .333 .500 .833 in July.

He still hasn’t looked very good defensively to my eyes, but I’ll take it as a positive that he is actually hitting some. No one else has been since like end of June through now. He only started 9 of 24 games in July, while Pages started 6. Pages has also been much worse than Crooks in July. So maybe they should give Crooks some more starts and see what happens. Why not? It’s a runway year. Let the guy face some lefties.

Anyway, I’m looking for positives for Jimmy Crooks and I’d call this a positive.

As I mentioned several times. He should be the everyday catcher and see what he is capable of producing. It is very difficult for young players when they just get occasional playing time.

Extremely difficult to perform in any industry when you only get to perform sparingly.

You must keep rythm and sync razor sharp .

[BrockFloodMaris]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

The Cards and their opponents will certainly be competing every game this year.

Competing for last place? It's not really a competition when you aren't competitive.

Do you know any professional athletes? They compete. Period. Full stop.

[Basil Shabazz]

I think the Cardinals need to make Jimmy Crooks a priority for the rest of the 2026 season. At a minimum, he should be starting 3 out of every 5 games behind the plate.

Pedro Pagés has shown he can be a useful major league backup, but he's unlikely to be a long-term cornerstone. If another club values him, the Cardinals should be open to including him in a trade package or moving him for bullpen help or even a lower-level lottery-ticket prospect.

The bigger priority is finding out exactly what they have in Crooks. He needs consistent at-bats and regular work with the pitching staff. Catchers don't develop by playing once or twice a week. If the Cardinals believe Crooks has a chance to be part of their future, they owe it to themselves to give him a legitimate opportunity to prove it.

A reasonable split would be Crooks catching roughly 60% of the remaining games, with Ivan Herrera catching the rest while continuing to get additional at-bats at DH. That keeps Herrera's bat in the lineup while allowing Crooks to gain valuable experience behind the plate.

This isn't just about 2026. Leonardo Bernal is pushing toward the majors, and Rainiel Rodriguez is emerging as another legitimate catching prospect. The organization is going to have decisions to make over the next 12-24 months. Before those decisions arrive, they need a clear evaluation of Crooks. If he's the catcher of the future, great. If not, he'll either establish himself as a quality backup or increase his trade value by proving he can handle major league pitching.

The worst outcome would be reaching next spring still wondering what Jimmy Crooks is. The Cardinals have enough information on Pagés. Now it's time to gather meaningful information on the player who could actually factor into the organization's long-term plans.

[Banner29]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

It’s not non competitive for a young player trying to earn a spot. Especially for Crooks with Bernal nipping at his heals and top prospect Rainel not too far behind.

[OldRed]

I think the Cardinals need to make Jimmy Crooks a priority for the rest of the 2026 season. At a minimum, he should be starting 3 out of every 5 games behind the plate.

Pedro Pagés has shown he can be a useful major league backup, but he's unlikely to be a long-term cornerstone. If another club values him, the Cardinals should be open to including him in a trade package or moving him for bullpen help or even a lower-level lottery-ticket prospect.

The bigger priority is finding out exactly what they have in Crooks. He needs consistent at-bats and regular work with the pitching staff. Catchers don't develop by playing once or twice a week. If the Cardinals believe Crooks has a chance to be part of their future, they owe it to themselves to give him a legitimate opportunity to prove it.

A reasonable split would be Crooks catching roughly 60% of the remaining games, with Ivan Herrera catching the rest while continuing to get additional at-bats at DH. That keeps Herrera's bat in the lineup while allowing Crooks to gain valuable experience behind the plate.

This isn't just about 2026. Leonardo Bernal is pushing toward the majors, and Rainiel Rodriguez is emerging as another legitimate catching prospect. The organization is going to have decisions to make over the next 12-24 months. Before those decisions arrive, they need a clear evaluation of Crooks. If he's the catcher of the future, great. If not, he'll either establish himself as a quality backup or increase his trade value by proving he can handle major league pitching.

The worst outcome would be reaching next spring still wondering what Jimmy Crooks is. The Cardinals have enough information on Pagés. Now it's time to gather meaningful information on the player who could actually factor into the organization's long-term plans.

I'm glad to see some are coming around to what I've said since the end of June. Also, Jordan and Church need to be playing every day to see what they can contribute going forward also.

[scoutyjones2]

He’s hitting .231 .333 .500 .833 in July.

He still hasn’t looked very good defensively to my eyes, but I’ll take it as a positive that he is actually hitting some. No one else has been since like end of June through now. He only started 9 of 24 games in July, while Pages started 6. Pages has also been much worse than Crooks in July. So maybe they should give Crooks some more starts and see what happens. Why not? It’s a runway year. Let the guy face some lefties.

Anyway, I’m looking for positives for Jimmy Crooks and I’d call this a positive.

Can't make claim yet...where'd you get those numbers? BR shows different.

30 ABs in July. 81 so far in his stint.
He hasn't had consistent, committed playing time to get a read yet.

The trend is "positive.". I'm not impressed but not troubled.

[rockondlouie]

Doing exactly what C. Bloom obviously planned when he (likely) ordered Oli to sit P. Pages and give Crooks more playing time so he could.....

BUILD HIS TRADE VALUE!

Crooks has no future as a F-T catcher here w/L. Bernal being a superior defensive catcher and equal hitter ready at Memphis and of course R.R. on a fast track to Memphis, then here.

BUILD that TRADE value Crooks!

[RamFan08NY]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

Non-competitive for you? Or them? I can assure you that every time these young players take the field, its with a competitive mindset.

[CCard]

Unless Crooks gets traded before the deadline, he should get the majority of starts after the deadline. Don't have to worry about winning games anymore, so great time to see what we have.

Seeing players in a non-competitive environment really doesn't show you what they have though does it?

Non-competitive for you? Or them? I can assure you that every time these young players take the field, its with a competitive mindset.

Cause everybody knows that if you're 12 games out and down by 7 in the second inning that you're going to be in the mindset to give it your all. I can assure you that you don't live in a reality based world. No offense.