STLtoday.com

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

One who can hit and field. Not a common commodity in MLB. We were spoiled with Molina. Matheny played gold glove level defense but wasn't a great hitter and that's better than a catcher who can hit but not field which is why Conreras and Hererra aren't catching.

IndCard75 wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 14:11 pm Burly and Pozo to IL

I don’t see Prieto ever being more than a bench piece.

Crooks-I would package him in a trade this offseason for pitching while his stock is high. Bernal should be the catcher of the future.

100% on all this.

Are things that bad with team that Cardinals are not going to Crooks for this team... isn't the crime rate high enough now in St. Louis without adding more crooks to the area ?

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

“He who dies with the most catchers wins”.

Johnny ”Moe” Mozeliak

Crooks looked very good tonight blocking balls in the dirt.
and Fernandez gave him plenty of chances.

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 15:07 pm

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

One who can hit and field. Not a common commodity in MLB. We were spoiled with Molina. Matheny played gold glove level defense but wasn't a great hitter and that's better than a catcher who can hit but not field which is why Conreras and Hererra aren't catching.

Molina was not really a very good hitter. He has a career OPS+ under 100. There were only 6 of his seasons where he was average or above compared to other catchers offensively. He got some big hits and had a couple of nice offensive years but I think people overrate his offense because he was such an amazing catcher behind the plate.

Bob Kunush wrote: ↑30 Aug 2025 00:12 am

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 15:07 pm

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

One who can hit and field. Not a common commodity in MLB. We were spoiled with Molina. Matheny played gold glove level defense but wasn't a great hitter and that's better than a catcher who can hit but not field which is why Conreras and Hererra aren't catching.

Molina was not really a very good hitter. He has a career OPS+ under 100. There were only 6 of his seasons where he was average or above compared to other catchers offensively. He got some big hits and had a couple of nice offensive years but I think people overrate his offense because he was such an amazing catcher behind the plate.

That isnt true.

There was only 6 seasons where he had an ops+ above the league average ops+ for all positions. Ops+ismt position adjusted. But there was several more where he was above league average for catchers or just around league average.

2007 he had a .708 ops vs average for catchers at .711
2008 he had a .740 ops vs catchers .711 ops
In 2017 he had a .751 ops vs catcher average of .721
In 2019 he had .711 ops vs catcher avg of .713

Those were all years where he was below the league average ops. There were 6 years where he was actually above the whole league average player offensively and not just catchers.

So that makes more like 8 seasons where he was better than other catchers offensively and 2 where he was about right there but barely.under.

And in other seasons he wasnt too far under. Even in 2020 and 2021 when he was near end of his career his 2nd and 3rd last years with .662 and .667 ops, the catcher average was only .695 those years, so he wasnt really that bad.

Not to mention molinas 3 years period of 2011-2013 he was close to an elite hitter- 124 145 and 135 ops+ bat those years
Ivan herrera is our only hitter this year with an ops+ even above 124 and he is at 125 in smaller sample size since he missed time and he is trending down and will likely finish below.

Molina in his prime, albeit a small 3 year prime would be the best hitter on this team.

Bob Kunush wrote: ↑30 Aug 2025 00:12 am

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 15:07 pm

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

One who can hit and field. Not a common commodity in MLB. We were spoiled with Molina. Matheny played gold glove level defense but wasn't a great hitter and that's better than a catcher who can hit but not field which is why Conreras and Hererra aren't catching.

Molina was not really a very good hitter. He has a career OPS+ under 100. There were only 6 of his seasons where he was average or above compared to other catchers offensively. He got some big hits and had a couple of nice offensive years but I think people overrate his offense because he was such an amazing catcher behind the plate.

Sabermetrics

CNYFan wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:41 pm Crooks will go into a platoon.

Pages is practically a rookie. I believe he has some value.

I agree and don’t understand negativity that goes his way. Not big average guy but he could develop into a good player.

sdaltons wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 14:28 pm

OldRed wrote: ↑29 Aug 2025 12:19 pm How many catchers do they need?

Well with Crooks here, Pages will need to be moved to LF. Pozo will stay as backup but also take reps at 3B.

Won't be long before all 5 are in the lineup!

Ha. Remember, Pages played 4 innings at 2b! And Pozo had an appearance at 1b. Willy can play 3b, and Ivan can play LF.