STLtoday.com

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm**

2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.

Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 18:17 pm**

Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.
Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.

I doubt it. Wetherholt was better in aaa than Baez in aa. And they didn't bring up Wetherholt. We have fundamental differences in the direction we think the club is going, so we aren't going to agree on this. I understand the reasons for not bringing up Wetherholt are different, but I think the colossal failure of Walker is going to stay with them for awhile. And frankly, if Baez does blow up aaa, they probably want to maximize the years he is under club control

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 19:46 pm**

Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:27 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 16:16 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:34 pm
imadangman wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:09 pm craviduce, are there any "hotshots" you'd be so kind to inform us of, right here on this here groundbreaking shady thread that has been started during the 12 o'clock hour of this here September the 20th, Two thousand and twenty-five.
Mock him if that is what your character dictates, but Shady has been proven correct about Burleson.
Nothing wrong with him wondering who else might be on the way with less fanfare than Wetherholt.
You OK,? So wrong about the UniKKKorn.

Never about me.
It is regrettable when others attempt to make it so.
I am only and always about the game.
It is boorish on your part to attempt to highjack a thread based on a perfectly reasonable question.
So won't go there - other than to say I have been perfectly correct about Gorman and remain so today.
Now, back to Shady's appropriate question.
Prospect lists change from year to year, but the position player in the STL system who interest me the most in looking at 2026, other than Wetherholt, is Joshua Baez

I have to admit......I both laughed AND cried while reading the combined absurdity and sentimentality of your post!

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 21:11 pm**

2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:17 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.
Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.
I doubt it. Wetherholt was better in aaa than Baez in aa. And they didn't bring up Wetherholt. We have fundamental differences in the direction we think the club is going, so we aren't going to agree on this. I understand the reasons for not bringing up Wetherholt are different, but I think the colossal failure of Walker is going to stay with them for awhile. And frankly, if Baez does blow up aaa, they probably want to maximize the years he is under club control

Shady asked "who behind Wetherholt"?
He was asking for a comparison as to which was better at aa or aaa.
Baez, if he shows well in 2026 in a couple hundred of PA's at AAA, could very well get a look by August.
And no, there will be zero worry about repeating Walker's story.
If Baez debuts sometime next year, he will be 3 years older than when Walker did so - and will be in his 6th professional season.

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 21:51 pm**

2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:17 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.
Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.
I doubt it. Wetherholt was better in aaa than Baez in aa. And they didn't bring up Wetherholt. We have fundamental differences in the direction we think the club is going, so we aren't going to agree on this. I understand the reasons for not bringing up Wetherholt are different, but I think the colossal failure of Walker is going to stay with them for awhile. And frankly, if Baez does blow up aaa, they probably want to maximize the years he is under club control

I hear what you are saying, but the need is different. They have multiple middle infielders and many left handed bats. They are kind of desperate for a right handed hitting outfielder.

Posted: **20 Sep 2025 22:02 pm**

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 21:51 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:17 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.
Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.
I doubt it. Wetherholt was better in aaa than Baez in aa. And they didn't bring up Wetherholt. We have fundamental differences in the direction we think the club is going, so we aren't going to agree on this. I understand the reasons for not bringing up Wetherholt are different, but I think the colossal failure of Walker is going to stay with them for awhile. And frankly, if Baez does blow up aaa, they probably want to maximize the years he is under club control
I hear what you are saying, but the need is different. They have multiple middle infielders and many left handed bats. They are kind of desperate for a right handed hitting outfielder.

Precisely.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 06:14 am**

Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 21:11 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:17 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:02 pm
2ninr wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:41 pm
Shady wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 13:38 pm Let's hope Wetherholt is the "real deal". It's about time for the highly touted Mathews to give the starting rotation some help. Joshua Baez seems intriguing. Anybody else fairly close to giving the Cardinals some much needed help?
Matthews has to lower his walk rate. Baez doesn't have a whole season in double a yet. Lots of hope at double a but I dont see them making the Springfield to StLouis jump again any time soon.
Baez could get a look after a couple hundred minor league PA's next year.
Depends on how he looks.
I doubt it. Wetherholt was better in aaa than Baez in aa. And they didn't bring up Wetherholt. We have fundamental differences in the direction we think the club is going, so we aren't going to agree on this. I understand the reasons for not bringing up Wetherholt are different, but I think the colossal failure of Walker is going to stay with them for awhile. And frankly, if Baez does blow up aaa, they probably want to maximize the years he is under club control
Shady asked "who behind Wetherholt"?
He was asking for a comparison as to which was better at aa or aaa.
Baez, if he shows well in 2026 in a couple hundred of PA's at AAA, could very well get a look by August.
And no, there will be zero worry about repeating Walker's story.
If Baez debuts sometime next year, he will be 3 years older than when Walker did so - and will be in his 6th professional season.

He was outside the Cardinals top 30 and struck out 45% of the time in A ball in 2024. So 2025 has indeed been a meteoric rise for him. He started the season in A ball. I give it a zero % chance he starts the season in St Louis. Chaim Blooms calling card is not rushing players to fix what's wrong with the major league team. However badly we need power, especially rh power, I don't see a pathway for him in 2026. Click your heels

3 times and say we aren't trying to win in 2026. He could earn a September cup of coffee I suppose if he blows up aaa. Or if they were actually winning and had an injury to an outfielder. But that's just making stuff up.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 07:56 am**

Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:27 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 16:16 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:34 pm
imadangman wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:09 pm craviduce, are there any "hotshots" you'd be so kind to inform us of, right here on this here groundbreaking shady thread that has been started during the 12 o'clock hour of this here September the 20th, Two thousand and twenty-five.
Mock him if that is what your character dictates, but Shady has been proven correct about Burleson.
Nothing wrong with him wondering who else might be on the way with less fanfare than Wetherholt.
You OK,? So wrong about the UniKKKorn.

Never about me.
It is regrettable when others attempt to make it so.
I am only and always about the game.
It is boorish on your part to attempt to highjack a thread based on a perfectly reasonable question.
So won't go there - other than to say I have been perfectly correct about Gorman and remain so today.
Now, back to Shady's appropriate question.
Prospect lists change from year to year, but the position player in the STL system who interest me the most in looking at 2026, other than Wetherholt, is Joshua Baez

I can acknowledge you have been right on several occasions and saw things the majority did not. Your assessment of Gorman is not one of these occasions.

Unless you’re taking the Shady approach on Burleson, which you curiously defend….tout his abilities and potential through 3 awful seasons and claim victory if he turns in one slightly above average season.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 08:54 am**

Hasn’t Blaze Jordan been bad since coming over?

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 08:57 am**

Next year, maybe not so much. 2027 could start getting interesting.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 09:09 am**

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025 07:56 am
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:27 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 16:16 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:34 pm
imadangman wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:09 pm craviduce, are there any "hotshots" you'd be so kind to inform us of, right here on this here groundbreaking shady thread that has been started during the 12 o'clock hour of this here September the 20th, Two thousand and twenty-five.
Mock him if that is what your character dictates, but Shady has been proven correct about Burleson.
Nothing wrong with him wondering who else might be on the way with less fanfare than Wetherholt.
You OK,? So wrong about the UniKKKorn.

Never about me.
It is regrettable when others attempt to make it so.
I am only and always about the game.
It is boorish on your part to attempt to highjack a thread based on a perfectly reasonable question.
So won't go there - other than to say I have been perfectly correct about Gorman and remain so today.
Now, back to Shady's appropriate question.
Prospect lists change from year to year, but the position player in the STL system who interest me the most in looking at 2026, other than Wetherholt, is Joshua Baez
I can acknowledge you have been right on several occasions and saw things the majority did not. Your assessment of Gorman is not one of these occasions.

Unless you’re taking the Shady approach on Burleson, which you curiously defend….tout his abilities and potential through 3 awful seasons and claim victory if he turns in one slightly above average season.

Appreciate your initial kind words.
I am only and always about the game.
Zero bias, zero agenda.
Concerning Gorman, my analysis was and remains correct.
I have said from day one that if given 600 PA's a season, we would be a 25+ HR, 80+ RBI hitter.
Which is EXACTLY who he has been.
His 162 game / 600 PA average is 28 HR and 79 RBI - and he is barely 25 years old.
That is excellent production from a 25 year old 3b/2b.
It would be impossible for anyone to be more correct than I have been, so far.
Does he need to raise his BA and OBP by 20 points, and cut down on K's?
Yes.
And that will happen with consistent playing time.
That consistent playing time may come somewhere other than STL, giving the organization's incomprehensible handling of him.
Let's see what happens.
I am confident he will continue to reach - and exceed - what I have correctly stated all along.
Now, back to the topic of this thread.
Shady asked who, behind Wetherholt, might be on a path to being a productive contributor.
He was immediately and needlessly mocked for asking a perfectly legitimate question.
I don't do that - with anyone.
Instead, I pointed out he was right about Burleson (.269/.314/.420 in '24 and .289/.342/.464 this season) when most were not.
And, I stated that Joshua Baez is the prospect position player I am most interested in seeing continues progress from in 2026.
Every portion of my post is perfectly accurate, of course.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 09:13 am**

swatski wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025 08:54 am Hasn’t Blaze Jordan been bad since coming over?

.196 BA / .242 OBP / .611 OBP in 182 PA's.
In fairness, small sample size.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 09:24 am**

Someone I've been watching with interest this summer is 21 year-old Deniel Ortiz. He isn't talked about much (maybe because he is at the lower levels?). His primary position is 3b and also plays some 1B. He is at high A in Peoria where he has hit .300 this season with an .878 OPS. He has even stolen 39 bases- not bad for a 6'1" 230 pounder. We'll see how he works through the levels, but if he continues to progress he could be ready for St. Louis by the time the work stoppage is over. I'm watching him.

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 11:01 am**

AZ_Cardsfan wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 18:00 pm What about Liam Doyle? #5 overall pick labeled closest to big league ready.

Blaze Jordan is also a possible jolt. 22 years old power bat hitting well in AAA this year.

Heck a lot of the pitching falls into the catagory of "if he finds ML command he is ready".

yup

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 11:35 am**

Melville wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025 09:09 am
CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025 07:56 am
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 17:27 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 16:16 pm
Melville wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:34 pm
imadangman wrote: ↑20 Sep 2025 14:09 pm craviduce, are there any "hotshots" you'd be so kind to inform us of, right here on this here groundbreaking shady thread that has been started during the 12 o'clock hour of this here September the 20th, Two thousand and twenty-five.
Mock him if that is what your character dictates, but Shady has been proven correct about Burleson.
Nothing wrong with him wondering who else might be on the way with less fanfare than Wetherholt.
You OK,? So wrong about the UniKKKorn.

Never about me.
It is regrettable when others attempt to make it so.
I am only and always about the game.
It is boorish on your part to attempt to highjack a thread based on a perfectly reasonable question.
So won't go there - other than to say I have been perfectly correct about Gorman and remain so today.
Now, back to Shady's appropriate question.
Prospect lists change from year to year, but the position player in the STL system who interest me the most in looking at 2026, other than Wetherholt, is Joshua Baez
I can acknowledge you have been right on several occasions and saw things the majority did not. Your assessment of Gorman is not one of these occasions.

Unless you’re taking the Shady approach on Burleson, which you curiously defend….tout his abilities and potential through 3 awful seasons and claim victory if he turns in one slightly above average season.
Appreciate your initial kind words.
I am only and always about the game.
Zero bias, zero agenda.
Concerning Gorman, my analysis was and remains correct.
I have said from day one that if given 600 PA's a season, we would be a 25+ HR, 80+ RBI hitter.
Which is EXACTLY who he has been.
His 162 game / 600 PA average is 28 HR and 79 RBI - and he is barely 25 years old.
That is excellent production from a 25 year old 3b/2b.
It would be impossible for anyone to be more correct than I have been, so far.
Does he need to raise his BA and OBP by 20 points, and cut down on K's?
Yes.
And that will happen with consistent playing time.
That consistent playing time may come somewhere other than STL, giving the organization's incomprehensible handling of him.
Let's see what happens.
I am confident he will continue to reach - and exceed - what I have correctly stated all along.
Now, back to the topic of this thread.
Shady asked who, behind Wetherholt, might be on a path to being a productive contributor.
He was immediately and needlessly mocked for asking a perfectly legitimate question.
I don't do that - with anyone.
Instead, I pointed out he was right about Burleson (.269/.314/.420 in '24 and .289/.342/.464 this season) when most were not.
And, I stated that Joshua Baez is the prospect position player I am most interested in seeing continues progress from in 2026.
Every portion of my post is perfectly accurate, of course.

is this why you got my order wrong ? - I said mayo not mustard!

Posted: **21 Sep 2025 12:32 pm**

In answer to the OP, probably cheap, mediocre-at-best “talent” to flesh out the 26-man and have enough “players” to make it through the season.

STLtoday.com

Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?

Re: Any help, besides Wetherholt, coming from the minors?