scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 14:17 pm
No catcher has proven they deserve to take the bulk of the innings in the bigs. I see no problem.
Problem lies in that we have to provide playing time.
Also, we have to evaluate properly.
That mean MLB playing time too.
That's the issue man.
Come on.
It's tougher than you think.
Nope. We already know the 2 on the roster right now.
Pozo's gotta be Fernando Valenzuela's wet dream.
We can't possibly rid ourselves of him
There is no problem.
Possibly trade one of Pages or Pozo before the deadline and call up Crooks. See how he does in the 2nd half while calling up Bernal to Memphis to see how he progresses the rest of this season.
Rainel Rodriguez very possibly doesn't stick at Catcher.
Gee, what a logjam.
Just hoping the Cards have decent C depth moving forward.
Bully4you wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 13:55 pm
We have like 6 catchers now.
Like viable catchers.
3 in the minors
And 3 in the majors if we count Herrera.
That's a major log jam.
I guess trade bait.
The guys in the minors appear to be better than the guys in the majors.
Until they're not.
and nearly a whole 40 man roster with Catcher speed on the bases. Hmmm. Also, some wanted us to draft or later this offseason trade for Ike Irish?
How many is enough? We have holes at other positions too.
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 14:17 pm
No catcher has proven they deserve to take the bulk of the innings in the bigs. I see no problem.
Problem lies in that we have to provide playing time.
Also, we have to evaluate properly.
That mean MLB playing time too.
That's the issue man.
Come on.
It's tougher than you think.
I don’t see a real issue.
Herrera isn’t a catcher.
Pages is roster fodder.
Pozo + Crooks in 2026, Bernal at AAA.
That’s 3. Rodriguez is 18 and doesn’t even need to be considered part of the equation.
Horseradish wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 14:07 pm
Log jams like this tend to work themselves out. Herrera is already moving away from being a catcher. Pages is showing that he’s more of a backup than a starter, so is there really even a “log jam”?
Yep.
There's a log jam until the isn't a jam.
Nothing's been traded yet.
I guess you’re not familiar with the term “depth”.
First off....having quality depth at any position bodes well as it provides trade ammo to fill other needs.
Of course hopefully you keep the right guy(s) and don’t trade them!
Herrera- probably moves to DH or a different position.
Pages/Pozo- probably round out 2925 as the younger guys probably won’t be ready.
Rodriquez- his ETA I saw listed as 2029 on one sight so that is a ways off.
Crooks/Bernal- sounds like both will be ready for 2026. Do they both make the team??
In short.....best case scenario.....Crooks & Bernal arrive and they have to move on from Pages and/or Pozo. I don’t see that as a problem.
Raniel Rodriguez was recently re-ranked the #4 Cards prospect. I was stunned because he had been awful in his first month at Palm Beach (.197/.307/.342/.649 in June) after insanely good stats at Rookie League for first year and a month this year.
Well, he’s now over .800 ops and raking after a .250/.383/.604/.988 July.
They need to see what Crooks can do this September and figure out how to deal with one of the three (not Pozo or Pages, who are at best backups) for help elsewhere. Note: Pozo's defense last night made me shiver.
ClassicO wrote: ↑26 Jul 2025 10:58 am
Raniel Rodriguez was recently re-ranked the #4 Cards prospect. I was stunned because he had been awful in his first month at Palm Beach (.197/.307/.342/.649 in June) after insanely good stats at Rookie League for first year and a month this year.
Well, he’s now over .800 ops and raking after a .250/.383/.604/.988 July.
They need to see what Crooks can do this September and figure out how to deal with one of the three (not Pozo or Pages, who are at best backups) for help elsewhere. Note: Pozo's defense last night made me shiver.
glad someone mentioned Pozo's defense.. that is BAD.. neither he nor Pages is more than a placeholder.. and the shorter the term the better
ClassicO wrote: ↑26 Jul 2025 10:58 am
Raniel Rodriguez was recently re-ranked the #4 Cards prospect. I was stunned because he had been awful in his first month at Palm Beach (.197/.307/.342/.649 in June) after insanely good stats at Rookie League for first year and a month this year.
Well, he’s now over .800 ops and raking after a .250/.383/.604/.988 July.
They need to see what Crooks can do this September and figure out how to deal with one of the three (not Pozo or Pages, who are at best backups) for help elsewhere. Note: Pozo's defense last night made me shiver.
glad someone mentioned Pozo's defense.. that is BAD.. neither he nor Pages is more than a placeholder.. and the shorter the term the better
The major league level guys are of no consequence. Pages is a place holder backup. Unless Pozo can find a treadmill he has DH written on him long term. Herrera is essentially done catching. It will come down to the 4 minors guys to separate themselves as a long term solution. I would guess that 2 of them will be traded at some point simply because it is a position of need for most teams.
Bully4you wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 13:55 pm
We have like 6 catchers now.
Like viable catchers.
3 in the minors
And 3 in the majors if we count Herrera.
That's a major log jam.
I guess trade bait.
The guys in the minors appear to be better than the guys in the majors.
Until they're not.
No log jam. Herrera has been determined to not be a catcher and pages is just fillerwho can be easily discarded. Hes about the worst hitter in the league. Pozo should have been given more opportunities earlier and if he still hit maybe he would have been trade bait but the sample size is too small for teams to give up anything of value. Dont get the pages obsession. Crooks or bernal will be the future. We will see which one emerges
Bully4you wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 13:55 pm
We have like 6 catchers now.
Like viable catchers.
3 in the minors
And 3 in the majors if we count Herrera.
That's a major log jam.
I guess trade bait.
The guys in the minors appear to be better than the guys in the majors.
Until they're not.
No log jam. Herrera has been determined to not be a catcher and pages is just fillerwho can be easily discarded. Hes about the worst hitter in the league. Pozo should have been given more opportunities earlier and if he still hit maybe he would have been trade bait but the sample size is too small for teams to give up anything of value. Dont get the pages obsession. Crooks or bernal will be the future. We will see which one emerges
if you watch Pozo's defense last night, you'll understand why Pages gets so many starts. but honestly, it's just the lesser of 2 evils
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2025 14:17 pm
No catcher has proven they deserve to take the bulk of the innings in the bigs. I see no problem.
Problem lies in that we have to provide playing time.
Also, we have to evaluate properly.
That mean MLB playing time too.
That's the issue man.
Come on.
It's tougher than you think.
I don’t see a real issue.
Herrera isn’t a catcher.
Pages is roster fodder.
Pozo + Crooks in 2026, Bernal at AAA.
That’s 3. Rodriguez is 18 and doesn’t even need to be considered part of the equation.
Having a lot of Catchers doesn't mean they are top talent. I haven't seen any of them above average. Pages may be the weakest. I don't see why any team would be chomping at the bit.
I saw this idea somewhere else but I like it. Try to get Murphy from the Braves by trading a catching prospect and more.. They have Baldwin, a rookie, who has played well and can replace him. That allows them to shed salary they can use for other needs. (They'd need a third team involved that needs a catching prospect.) Murphy is signed for 3 more years. The Cardinals wouldn't have to rush anyone next year. He can tutor the prospect the Cardinals think is the best. He also crushes lefties so that addresses an offensive need.
