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Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 12:55 pm
by scoutyjones2
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:37 am
Mike Trout ...
In his first full MLB season (2012), Mike Trout began slowly, hitting below .200 in late April before a torrid May fueled his Rookie of the Year campaign. After being called up in late April 2012, his batting average was .220 on April 29, but by May 31, it had risen to .306. He was batting .182 on May 1
Jackson Chourio .. His rookie year , he hit .209 thru June 7th... then finished strong earning 3rd place ROY
Jackson Chourio overcame a challenging start to his 2024 rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers, transforming from an overwhelmed 20-year-old in April/May into a superstar by June. After hitting just .209 with a .588 OPS through June 7, he adjusted to MLB pitching, finishing the season with a .275 average, 21 HRs, and 22 steals.
Remember the season is 6 months long not the first couple months. Could Wetherholt start out decent ? Sure but more likely facing the best pitchers in the sport for the first time, he will struggle early as he adjusts just like Trout , Chourio,and others have done in the past. Be patient .
Even the good ones don't look so hot in their first few months. They need to adjust to major league pitching.
PS Of course a struggling start won't stop some on this forum to roundly criticize him . Sure Trout , Chourio and others got the same treatment .. the over hype stuff, etc.
LMAO...Mike trout? He posted a 168 OPS+ his rookie year. To parse out a 12 AB period is laughable
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 13:00 pm
by ScotchMIrish
Whether he starts fast or slow MLB pitchers will look for a weakness to exploit.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 13:38 pm
by 45s
Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:08 pm
45s wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:57 am
Not buying this...
May I refer you to Cardinals4life, who has assured me that the young man is the real deal, has all the tools, will be the club's best hitter, and a star from day one.
Is there a greater authority than that??
You are correct in your analysis. J.J. will not disappoint. (Well, he might disappoint you since you are not a Cards fan, but he will not disappoint most.)
You are correct
I have followed the cards for many years…but I am not a “fan”.
I’m not a fan of any team or athlete.
Fandom is built on emotion, which very often clouds the judgement.
I submit you as exhibit one.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 14:09 pm
by Pura Vida
ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 13:00 pm
Whether he starts fast or slow MLB pitchers will look for a weakness to exploit.
Exactly, and that needs to play out particularly in his rookie year. He will have to cope with higher level pitching daily and adjust as they probe for his weaknesses. I am feeling way too much pressure being thrown on him. Let him be a rookie.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 18:24 pm
by ramfandan
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:55 pm
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:37 am
Mike Trout ...
In his first full MLB season (2012), Mike Trout began slowly, hitting below .200 in late April before a torrid May fueled his Rookie of the Year campaign. After being called up in late April 2012, his batting average was .220 on April 29, but by May 31, it had risen to .306. He was batting .182 on May 1
Jackson Chourio .. His rookie year , he hit .209 thru June 7th... then finished strong earning 3rd place ROY
Jackson Chourio overcame a challenging start to his 2024 rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers, transforming from an overwhelmed 20-year-old in April/May into a superstar by June. After hitting just .209 with a .588 OPS through June 7, he adjusted to MLB pitching, finishing the season with a .275 average, 21 HRs, and 22 steals.
Remember the season is 6 months long not the first couple months. Could Wetherholt start out decent ? Sure but more likely facing the best pitchers in the sport for the first time, he will struggle early as he adjusts just like Trout , Chourio,and others have done in the past. Be patient .
Even the good ones don't look so hot in their first few months. They need to adjust to major league pitching.
PS Of course a struggling start won't stop some on this forum to roundly criticize him . Sure Trout , Chourio and others got the same treatment .. the over hype stuff, etc.
LMAO...Mike trout? He posted a 168 OPS+ his rookie year. To parse out a 12 AB period is laughable
Trout made his debut in 2011..He played in 40 games had 135 plate appearances ..hit .220 with a .672 OPS His OPS+ was 87
So that's what Trout did in his 40 games of the first year he came up to the majors. Should have mentioned that initially . You would not laugh as much at those numbers . lol
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 18:32 pm
by C-Unit
rockondlouie wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 09:04 am
Plant him at 2nd base for as many games as he can play....
No jerking him around between 2nd base and 3rd base, he's NOT A SUP....
Bat him #2 or lead-off....
And just leave the kid alone!
I agree with this do not move him off 2nd for Gorman or Saggese. If it was Chase Utley at 2nd different story but nobody we have should occupy that position over Wetherholt.
I would expect a .280 average with 16-18 homers out of a rookie Wetherholt if he's going to become one of the first Cardinals in a long time to live up to their prospect hype, showing to be deserving of the full-time 2nd base position.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 19:07 pm
by scoutyjones2
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 18:24 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:55 pm
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:37 am
Mike Trout ...
In his first full MLB season (2012), Mike Trout began slowly, hitting below .200 in late April before a torrid May fueled his Rookie of the Year campaign. After being called up in late April 2012, his batting average was .220 on April 29, but by May 31, it had risen to .306. He was batting .182 on May 1
Jackson Chourio .. His rookie year , he hit .209 thru June 7th... then finished strong earning 3rd place ROY
Jackson Chourio overcame a challenging start to his 2024 rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers, transforming from an overwhelmed 20-year-old in April/May into a superstar by June. After hitting just .209 with a .588 OPS through June 7, he adjusted to MLB pitching, finishing the season with a .275 average, 21 HRs, and 22 steals.
Remember the season is 6 months long not the first couple months. Could Wetherholt start out decent ? Sure but more likely facing the best pitchers in the sport for the first time, he will struggle early as he adjusts just like Trout , Chourio,and others have done in the past. Be patient .
Even the good ones don't look so hot in their first few months. They need to adjust to major league pitching.
PS Of course a struggling start won't stop some on this forum to roundly criticize him . Sure Trout , Chourio and others got the same treatment .. the over hype stuff, etc.
LMAO...Mike trout? He posted a 168 OPS+ his rookie year. To parse out a 12 AB period is laughable
Trout made his debut in 2011..He played in 40 games had 135 plate appearances ..hit .220 with a .672 OPS His OPS+ was 87
So that's what Trout did in his 40 games of the first year he came up to the majors. Should have mentioned that initially . You would not laugh as much at those numbers . lol
bull[shirt]...he was 19...
His rookie year you claimed he sucked in April
He had a 160+ OPS+. You picked his first 12 ABs to try and make some assinine point :lol:post what he did in May
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 20:27 pm
by ramfandan
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 19:07 pm
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 18:24 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:55 pm
ramfandan wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:37 am
Mike Trout ...
In his first full MLB season (2012), Mike Trout began slowly, hitting below .200 in late April before a torrid May fueled his Rookie of the Year campaign. After being called up in late April 2012, his batting average was .220 on April 29, but by May 31, it had risen to .306. He was batting .182 on May 1
Jackson Chourio .. His rookie year , he hit .209 thru June 7th... then finished strong earning 3rd place ROY
Jackson Chourio overcame a challenging start to his 2024 rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers, transforming from an overwhelmed 20-year-old in April/May into a superstar by June. After hitting just .209 with a .588 OPS through June 7, he adjusted to MLB pitching, finishing the season with a .275 average, 21 HRs, and 22 steals.
Remember the season is 6 months long not the first couple months. Could Wetherholt start out decent ? Sure but more likely facing the best pitchers in the sport for the first time, he will struggle early as he adjusts just like Trout , Chourio,and others have done in the past. Be patient .
Even the good ones don't look so hot in their first few months. They need to adjust to major league pitching.
PS Of course a struggling start won't stop some on this forum to roundly criticize him . Sure Trout , Chourio and others got the same treatment .. the over hype stuff, etc.
LMAO...Mike trout? He posted a 168 OPS+ his rookie year. To parse out a 12 AB period is laughable
Trout made his debut in 2011..He played in 40 games had 135 plate appearances ..hit .220 with a .672 OPS His OPS+ was 87
So that's what Trout did in his 40 games of the first year he came up to the majors. Should have mentioned that initially . You would not laugh as much at those numbers . lol
bull[shirt]...he was 19...
His rookie year you claimed he sucked in April
He had a 160+ OPS+. You picked his first 12 ABs to try and make some assinine point :lol:post what he did in May
Never said he ''sucked' in April. The cut/paste piece (not my words ) said he started slowly ...
If you look at Trout's start from beginning thru May 6 th .. that's his first 30 at bats (not 12) he was 7 or 30 for a .233 average .
The point of the article was that guys do not come out of the gate necessarily hitting big from the get go . That both Trout and Chourio started slowly and then took off like a rocket the remaining way .
So would not surprise me if a Wetherholt ( like Trout ) might hit .233 thru May 6th too. Maybe less who knows ?
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 20:40 pm
by 12xu
45s wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 13:38 pm
Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:08 pm
45s wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:57 am
Not buying this...
May I refer you to Cardinals4life, who has assured me that the young man is the real deal, has all the tools, will be the club's best hitter, and a star from day one.
Is there a greater authority than that??
You are correct in your analysis. J.J. will not disappoint. (Well, he might disappoint you since you are not a Cards fan, but he will not disappoint most.)
You are correct
I have followed the cards for many years…but I am not a “fan”.
I’m not a fan of any team or athlete.
Fandom is built on emotion, which very often clouds the judgement.
I submit you as exhibit one.
So if you are not a fan of any sports team, if you watch a game between the Astros and the Yankees, for example - your claiming that you don't care who wins?
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 21:33 pm
by CorneliusWolfe
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:48 am
Thanks for telling me this ..I'd have never expected a struggle...
Better get used to it. His day to day performance will be overanalyzed to death because it will be the only storyline for this potential all-time bad team.
Unless Walker or Gorman pull off some miraculous turnaround.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 21:37 pm
by 11WSChamps
Another Captain Obvious thread.
Sheesh.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 22:34 pm
by RamFan08NY
CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 21:33 pm
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:48 am
Thanks for telling me this ..I'd have never expected a struggle...
Better get used to it. His day to day performance will be overanalyzed to death because it will be the only storyline for this potential all-time bad team.
Unless Walker or Gorman pull off some miraculous turnaround.
It will be a combination of threads. Like you said, the over analyzing of JJ's play, and the new threads every time Donnt, Nado, or Willson get a hit.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 17 Feb 2026 23:04 pm
by Cardinals4Life
45s wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 13:38 pm
Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 12:08 pm
45s wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 08:57 am
Not buying this...
May I refer you to Cardinals4life, who has assured me that the young man is the real deal, has all the tools, will be the club's best hitter, and a star from day one.
Is there a greater authority than that??
You are correct in your analysis. J.J. will not disappoint. (Well, he might disappoint you since you are not a Cards fan, but he will not disappoint most.)
You are correct
I have followed the cards for many years…but I am not a “fan”.
I’m not a fan of any team or athlete.
Fandom is built on emotion, which very often clouds the judgement.
I submit you as exhibit one.
Yes, I am a fan. Why wouldn't I be? No point in watching baseball and not be a fan. Seems pointless, guy.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 18 Feb 2026 07:38 am
by The Nard
rockondlouie wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 09:04 am
Plant him at 2nd base for as many games as he can play....
No jerking him around between 2nd base and 3rd base, he's NOT A SUP....
Bat him #2 or lead-off....
And just leave the kid alone!
I’d never start a rookie who hasn’t yet seen ML pitching, at 1—-6 in the order. Put him lower in the order until he shows progression, and then move him up as he earns it.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 18 Feb 2026 07:53 am
by sikeston bulldog2
The Nard wrote: ↑18 Feb 2026 07:38 am
rockondlouie wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 09:04 am
Plant him at 2nd base for as many games as he can play....
No jerking him around between 2nd base and 3rd base, he's NOT A SUP....
Bat him #2 or lead-off....
And just leave the kid alone!
I’d never start a rookie who hasn’t yet seen ML pitching, at 1—-6 in the order. Put him lower in the order until he shows progression, and then move him up as he earns it.
Interesting take. Is that every rookie, Pujols being an outlier.
Re: Be ready for early struggles with JJ..it's happened to other fine players
Posted: 18 Feb 2026 08:34 am
by rockondlouie
C-Unit wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 18:32 pm
rockondlouie wrote: ↑17 Feb 2026 09:04 am
Plant him at 2nd base for as many games as he can play....
No jerking him around between 2nd base and 3rd base, he's NOT A SUP....
Bat him #2 or lead-off....
And just leave the kid alone!
I agree with this do not move him off 2nd for Gorman or Saggese. If it was Chase Utley at 2nd different story but nobody we have should occupy that position over Wetherholt.
I would expect a .280 average with 16-18 homers out of a rookie Wetherholt if he's going to become one of the first Cardinals in a long time to live up to their prospect hype, showing to be deserving of the full-time 2nd base position.
Amen C-u
The worst thing Oli could do to JJW jerk him all around the field (2B, 3B even SS).
I think he could reach your projections.