cardstatman wrote: ↑16 Aug 2025 17:11 pm
IMHO...
Winn is the SS of the near future. We should build around him.
I don't know that Wetherholt's defense at SS is what makes him special, it is just nice that he could stick at SS because of his bat.
Donovan is playing 2B because Arenado is a fixture at 3B. If Arenado goes, then Donovan could go back to 3B.
It is great that Donovan is flexible. He seems to work hard on his agility. However, he's better at 3B than 2B.
Currently playing Gorman at 3B and Donovan at 2B is backward but maybe Oli just doesn't want to rock the boat yet with Arenado returning soon. We aren't trying to win anyway this year.
I'm pretty sure Wetherholt has 74 games at SS, 19 games at 2B, and only 4 games at 3B so far. So he has barely tried 3B.
The sample size is tiny but the early stats say he's been good at 2B... I see him better there than Donovan.
Arenado has not been blocking anyone, but when Wetherholt is ready for MLB, then he will be blocking someone significant ... unless we move Donovan somewhere else... and we can... but I like Donovan at 3B better.
Second baseman rankings by RF/9 (Total = milB + MLB)
Total RF/9 G miLB RF/9 G . MLB RF/9 G Player
5.18 025 5.18 025 0.00 000 Winn SS
4.67 019 4.67 019 0.00 000 Wetherholt SS
4.55 372 4.62 123 4.51 249 Gorman 2B
4.30 324 4.08 130 4.45 194 Donovan 2B
4.29 241 4.30 225 4.13 016 Fermin 2B
4.23 217 4.17 192 4.70 025 Saggese 2B
4.14 156 4.14 156 0.00 000 Prieto 3B
Shortstop rankings by RF/9 (Total = milB + MLB)
Total RF/9 G miLB RF/9 G . MLB RF/9 G Player
4.97 022 4.60 010 5.18 012 Donovan 2B (SSS fluke?)
4.20 147 4.24 138 3.60 009 Saggese 2B
4.10 560 4.12 273 4.09 287 Winn SS
3.78 074 3.78 074 0.00 000 Wetherholt SS
3.77 152 3.77 152 0.00 000 Fermin 2B
3.55 075 3.55 075 0.00 000 Prieto 3B
Third baseman rankings by RF/9 (Total = milB + MLB)
Total RF/9 G miLB RF/9 G . MLB RF/9 G Player
3.03 069 2.37 040 3.94 029 Donovan 2B
2.96 2204 2.91 412 2.97 1792 Arenado 3B
2.76 218 2.85 186 2.21 032 Gorman 2B --- I have a theory that the speed of the MLB game makes it tough on Gorman at 3B.
2.38 126 2.39 113 2.30 013 Saggese 2B
2.36 139 2.31 126 2.48 013 Fermin 2B
2.34 195 2.34 195 0.00 000 Prieto 3B
2.21 000 2.21 004 0.00 000 Wetherholt SS
I'm liking the defense of Wetherholt 2B, Winn SS, Arenado 3B. Donovan goes to UT.
I'm liking the defense of Wetherholt 2B, Winn SS, Donovan 3B. Arenado goes elsewhere.
If Arenado stays (he does have a NTC), then we could trade Donovan or Nootbar or Burleson and let the other 2 play LF/RF.
We control Arenado, Donovan, and Nootbar for 2 more years each after this season. We control Burleson for 3 more years.
The other option is to keep them all and use Donovan at DH/1B/2B/3B/LF/RF to give everyone 1 day off every 7 games. I like that (injuries happen and off days are good) but I'd still trade high on Burleson and sign another corner OF with power and better speed. I admire that Burleson seems to be working to get better but I just hate bad defense.
The Cardinals pitching staff is 6th in FIP but 20th in ERA! Defense, defense, defense. It matters.
Gorman (392 games) needs to go to another team and Walker (247 games) needs to spend 2026 in AAA. We have seen quite a lot of them both. Saggese is utility depth. He should learn OF to add that to his UT value.
