CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Church is a WAY better player than Siani. Not even close. Church has shown good offensive numbers in the minors. He is a plus defender, can handle CF, and has a very strong arm. Probably not the power numbers for an everyday corner OFer, but he has a chance to be very good.
Give the guy a shot. I think he will impress.
Well, he's not materially better in the Jim Edmonds/Mike Trout/Aaron Judge/Andy Pages type of direction that we need to climb out of 29th place in SLG.
Better players can and do exist in CF and that's where the conversation needs to be.
Do you think Scott is helping the SLG of the team?
2024- .283
2025- .296
Of course, not. Just saying that we’re wasting our breath by comparing those 2 when we should be discussing and looking for somebody who’s not in our system.
It’s like comparing the stick house to the straw house when you actually need a brick house to stop the big bad wolf.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
what makes you think Scott is anything special?
His minor league stats? And the fact he was rated highly?
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Church is a WAY better player than Siani. Not even close. Church has shown good offensive numbers in the minors. He is a plus defender, can handle CF, and has a very strong arm. Probably not the power numbers for an everyday corner OFer, but he has a chance to be very good.
Give the guy a shot. I think he will impress.
Where are these good offensive numbers? So, Siani was a plus defender too but it takes more than a glove.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Have you seen Church play in person? He has more raw power than Siani (and Scott) and it isn't close.
"Okay defensively" is really underselling him as well. He led the minors in OF assists in 2024 and has been rated by BA as the best defensive outfielder in the Cards system. That's certainly better than "okay defensively." Go watch his defensive highlights from his short stint in Aug/Sept
He hit better than Scott in college, in AA, and in AAA. His first 65 PA's in the majors were also better than Scott's first 65 PA's. He deserves regular PA's to prove what he can, especially in a rebuilding year.
More raw power? LOL
Nathan Church has shown improvement offensively, with a notable increase in his OPS to over .900 in the minor leagues, indicating potential as a solid hitter. However, his major league performance has been less impressive, with a batting average of .179 in his debut season.
To me Scott and Church seem nearly the same to be honest. Scott has more talent and speed. Church might hit for a slightly higher avg. Neither are setting the world on fire. Sure, go ahead and have a competition.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Church is a WAY better player than Siani. Not even close. Church has shown good offensive numbers in the minors. He is a plus defender, can handle CF, and has a very strong arm. Probably not the power numbers for an everyday corner OFer, but he has a chance to be very good.
Give the guy a shot. I think he will impress.
Well, he's not materially better in the Jim Edmonds/Mike Trout/Aaron Judge/Andy Pages type of direction that we need to climb out of 29th place in SLG.
Better players can and do exist in CF and that's where the conversation needs to be.
Do you think Scott is helping the SLG of the team?
2024- .283
2025- .296
Of course, not. Just saying that we’re wasting our breath by comparing those 2 when we should be discussing and looking for somebody who’s not in our system.
It’s like comparing the stick house to the straw house when you actually need a brick house to stop the big bad wolf.
You could be right here. Scott should be a hit the ball on the ground and stolen base specialist. Unfortunately nobody has told him that apparently. A single and a stolen base is as good as a double.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Sure it's a SSS but he doesn't seem like another player who's J.A.G.
I mean, I guess it's okay to give him some playing time and see if he can keep up good play. He's just such a low floor player in my eyes. Then again, I literally hated Siani getting playing time, and for good reason.
If Church breaks camp with the team and gets some PT with Noot down, then in a few months we will know indeed if he is anything more than Siani. If he still on the team by all star break, it will pretty obvious whether he is anything more than a AAAA player. I am waiting to be convinced he is anything other than a place holder until either Baez develops or someone else good arrives in one way or another. We shall see.... I would love to be pleasantly surprised.....
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Have you seen Church play in person? He has more raw power than Siani (and Scott) and it isn't close.
"Okay defensively" is really underselling him as well. He led the minors in OF assists in 2024 and has been rated by BA as the best defensive outfielder in the Cards system. That's certainly better than "okay defensively." Go watch his defensive highlights from his short stint in Aug/Sept
He hit better than Scott in college, in AA, and in AAA. His first 65 PA's in the majors were also better than Scott's first 65 PA's. He deserves regular PA's to prove what he can, especially in a rebuilding year.
More raw power? LOL
Nathan Church has shown improvement offensively, with a notable increase in his OPS to over .900 in the minor leagues, indicating potential as a solid hitter. However, his major league performance has been less impressive, with a batting average of .179 in his debut season.
To me Scott and Church seem nearly the same to be honest. Scott has more talent and speed. Church might hit for a slightly higher avg. Neither are setting the world on fire. Sure, go ahead and have a competition.
You've clearly never seen them hit in person if you're laughing here.
And you mean Church or Scott? Church hit .179 with 46 wRC+ in 65 PA's in his debut, while Scott hit .179 with a 40 wRC+ in over 150 PA's in his debut season (both are still a small sample).
The difference is Scott has an extra 450 PA's where he still hasn't hit, and that's a decent sample size. Can he improve? Sure hope so.
But we haven't seen what Church can do with 600 PA's. Scott has a career line of .206/.283/.293/.576 (67 wRC+) and 1.3 fWAR in 600 PA's. Not exactly a high bar
icon wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 21:41 pm
Church turns 26 in July. He's a little late to The Show. Give me hitters who blossom early. Those are usually the keepers.
So Walker and hopefully Baez? Scott and Church are the same league age 25 this season
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Church is a WAY better player than Siani. Not even close. Church has shown good offensive numbers in the minors. He is a plus defender, can handle CF, and has a very strong arm. Probably not the power numbers for an everyday corner OFer, but he has a chance to be very good.
Give the guy a shot. I think he will impress.
Where are these good offensive numbers? So, Siani was a plus defender too but it takes more than a glove.
Siani literally never had an above average batting line (>100 wRC+) at any level, minors or majors.
Church was 8% above average in '23, 9% above average the second half of '24, 57% above average in AA in '25, and 44% above average in AAA in '25.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Have you seen Church play in person? He has more raw power than Siani (and Scott) and it isn't close.
"Okay defensively" is really underselling him as well. He led the minors in OF assists in 2024 and has been rated by BA as the best defensive outfielder in the Cards system. That's certainly better than "okay defensively." Go watch his defensive highlights from his short stint in Aug/Sept
He hit better than Scott in college, in AA, and in AAA. His first 65 PA's in the majors were also better than Scott's first 65 PA's. He deserves regular PA's to prove what he can, especially in a rebuilding year.
More raw power? LOL
Nathan Church has shown improvement offensively, with a notable increase in his OPS to over .900 in the minor leagues, indicating potential as a solid hitter. However, his major league performance has been less impressive, with a batting average of .179 in his debut season.
To me Scott and Church seem nearly the same to be honest. Scott has more talent and speed. Church might hit for a slightly higher avg. Neither are setting the world on fire. Sure, go ahead and have a competition.
You've clearly never seen them hit in person if you're laughing here.
And you mean Church or Scott? Church hit .179 with 46 wRC+ in 65 PA's in his debut, while Scott hit .179 with a 40 wRC+ in over 150 PA's in his debut season (both are still a small sample).
The difference is Scott has an extra 450 PA's where he still hasn't hit, and that's a decent sample size. Can he improve? Sure hope so.
But we haven't seen what Church can do with 600 PA's. Scott has a career line of .206/.283/.293/.576 (67 wRC+) and 1.3 fWAR in 600 PA's. Not exactly a high bar
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
CCard wrote: ↑10 Feb 2026 11:44 am
Looks like a no power outfielder that is okay defensively. People here think he should challenge Scott for CF? Maybe you all see something I don't in Church.
Competition is a good thing. If church outperforms him he should play. I don’t think he will though I think Scott will run with it
Siani was a very flawed player, but he was not okay defensively. He was an excellent defensive center fielder.
I'm not sure why Mike Antico does not get more of a look. Similar skill set to Church or Scott but I think he might be a better MLB hitter if given the chance.
