STLtoday.com

What about Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins
Both will start before Pallante

ICCFIM2 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 12:47 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:42 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

Way off from what it should be given those players:

1-Noot
2-JJW
3-Burly
4-Hererra (DH)
5-Gorman
6-Walker
7-Winn
8-Pages
9-VSII

Libby, May, McG, Fitts, Leahy

Pitiful for them to place JJW behind Winn, Walker and Gorman in their lineup.

But one of Oli's BIGGEST weaknesses is his inability to set a lineup correctly so it wouldn't shock me if he does.

And H E L L NO on Pallante in the SR, Fitts will get that spot (IMO).

We are all more or less using the same starting 9. I think Saggese and Fermin will earn significant playing time as well. In particular since it is unclear if Noot will be ready on opening day.

Dobbins is the higher rated of the two starters acquired from Boston between Fitts and Dobbins. I expect they will go with a 6 man rotation and see who performs well. Pallante could pitch himself back into the rotation with a good spring. Any of the pitchers except probably Liberatore or McGreevy could pitch themselves out of the rotation with a bad spring.

I am pretty happy to see what this group can do. They might be bad. They might also surprise a lot of people.

Agree, until Noot gets Saggese/Fermin, who are getting looks this spring in the OF, will get playing time.

Is Dobbins going to ready by OD?

Again, H E L L NO to Pallante back in the SR. He was one of the worst starters in MLB and his second half should've gotten him DFA'd!

May will also 100% be the SR along w/Libby & McG.

Me too, I'm actually getting excited (but not stupid) to see what this group can do and I've said for some time they could be the surprise team of MLB if most things go right.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 13:32 pm

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

If those are our starting rotation, what was the point of trading really good players plus serious cash for Dobbins and fits?

Yeah, those 2 need to be in the rotation instead of Pallante and Leahy. Leahy is too valuable in the pen for quality and innings.

Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:23 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

I saw that.
It displays deep and profound ignorance of what Bloom has in mind.

Ok.
Yours?
I’ll agree the it looks a lot like last year, which leans to horrifying.

cosmo.kramer wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 13:21 pm Looking at last year's lineups, these were the most common placements for each guy:

Nootbar (1, 436 of 583 PA's, 75%)
Winn (2, 273 of 537 PA's, 51%)
Herrera (2, 288 of 452 PA's, 64%)
Burleson (3, 296 of 546 PA's, 54%)
Gorman (7, 124 of 402 PA's, 31%)
Walker (7, 157 of 396 PA's, 40%)
Pages (8, 253 of 389 PA's, 65%)
Scott (9, 346 of 463 PA's, 75%)

My comment in the other lineup thread discussed Wetherholt and Church in Memphis (they mostly hit 1/2)

So to recap, the leadoff guy is injured, there's no 4-6, and the two decent RHB both hit 2nd. They need another lefty in the top half, and the only guy who makes even a little sense there is Wetherholt.

Not what I would necessarily do, but prediction:
Wetherholt (L)
Winn (R)
Burleson (L)
Herrera (R)
Gorman (L)
Walker (R)
Church (L)
Pages (R)
Scott (L)

Gulp

Gulp may be the best hitter in the lineup

Whoever decided that this is lineup with life does not know Jack. Put names in a hat and pull a last place lineup out starting with Nootbaar. Huh? Half the players are placed whereby their best skills are automatically negated. Take a chance for a change. This is a self-fulfilling, negative prophesy of where they are being predicted to finish.

This team has a lineup consisting of
4-5 hitters with
Mid-low .600 OP
And
Low .300 OBP or LOWER
You would require Hornsby, Musial, Pujols with a MVP Goldschmidt at the top of the order to even think about competing….

82birds wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:55 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

now there's a lineup that will strike fear in the opposing pitcher.

And that starting rotation may be worse than that lineup.

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 14:14 pm

Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:23 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

I saw that.
It displays deep and profound ignorance of what Bloom has in mind.

Ok.
Yours?
I’ll agree the it looks a lot like last year, which leans to horrifying.

Mootbaar won't be ready when the season begins.
Zero chance Wetherholt hits in front of Pages.
STL gave Scott a look at leadoff last year and doubtless would like to attempt it again before giving up on that.
If both are healthy, at least one of either Dobbins or Fitts will be in the rotation.
Potentially both.
Neither are suitable for a BP role, whereas both Pallante and Leahy have that experience.
With starters being asked to cover fewer innings than any other time in MLB history, and teams valuing deep and flexible BP's capable of covering 3-4 innings every game, at least one of those two will be a reliever.
Also, don't discount the possibility of a 6 man rotation, or a trade.
In other words, the odds of the rotation being Liberatore/May/McGreevy/Pallante/Leahy are almost non-existent.
Bottom line: whoever wrote that click bait for MLB has no idea what he is typing about.

Melville: let’s hear your lineup from the existing roster.

helmsdeep wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 13:56 pm What about Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins
Both will start before Pallante

Obviously, they should.
But remember this.
The Marmot gave Pallante 31 starts last year.
And 31 to Mikolas.
Never underestimate his weakness and foolishness in "managing" a starting rotation.
He is amazingly bad at it.

Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 17:01 pm

helmsdeep wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 13:56 pm What about Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins
Both will start before Pallante

Obviously, they should.
But remember this.
The Marmot gave Pallante 31 starts last year.
And 31 to Mikolas.
Never underestimate his weakness and foolishness in "managing" a starting rotation.
He is amazingly bad at it.

Don’t forget the great Fedde starting and throwing batting practice until he was Mercy released…..
I’m not sure what else fans need to see out of this simpleton…..the excuse making for him makes these posters look like fools

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 11:24 am

TopofthePerch wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:42 am

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:03 am

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:46 am What I think gets overlooked a lot is batting guys in the order they are comfortable in. Wetherholt for example. Does anybody think he’s ever hit 7th in his whole life? It’s tough enough adjusting to the Majors, why not put him in a position where he’s always been? Why have him try and make another adjustment? Some people will Pooh, Pooh all over this, but it is a real thing. The Cardinals have been notorious for doing this! Kolton Wong, and Harrison Bader are just two examples of this. These two were always the catalysts of their teams and fed off of that. With the Cardinals, they were always trying to prove that they weren’t “ bottom of the order” hitters.
A players mental status is just as important as their physical state!
So, I hope Oli does not mess with JJ. He has always hit at the top of the order, that’s where he needs to stay!

What is the “adjustment “?

Do they use a different ball? Does he not get four balls and three strikes…?

If he leads off the third inning, is that different from leading off the second inning?

See the ball…hit the ball.

If the young man is that fragile, perhaps he’s not ready for the bigs?

Also it's very normal for a young player to not immediately be thrown into the top 4 spots in the lineup. J.J hasn't even played one spring training game yet

May I refer you to card4life….

His mancrush on the player notwithstanding, he has apparently followed the young man around the minor leagues and watched him do well …

What I didn’t realize, is that apparently good minor league numbers always translate to MLB success

The fact is….the waiver wire is full of guys who had minor league success..

As noted, I wish the player well, but the exalted status cards4life has conferred upon him is premature.

No mancrush 45, just a baseball crush. Love seeing dudes who have "it" - meaning know how to freaking play the game! I know a ball player when I see one. JJ is a natural. He will be a star.

And whoever said he hasn't even had a ST AB yet, obviously didn't watch last spring when he came to Big League Camp.

Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 18:48 pm

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 11:24 am

TopofthePerch wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:42 am

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:03 am

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:46 am What I think gets overlooked a lot is batting guys in the order they are comfortable in. Wetherholt for example. Does anybody think he’s ever hit 7th in his whole life? It’s tough enough adjusting to the Majors, why not put him in a position where he’s always been? Why have him try and make another adjustment? Some people will Pooh, Pooh all over this, but it is a real thing. The Cardinals have been notorious for doing this! Kolton Wong, and Harrison Bader are just two examples of this. These two were always the catalysts of their teams and fed off of that. With the Cardinals, they were always trying to prove that they weren’t “ bottom of the order” hitters.
A players mental status is just as important as their physical state!
So, I hope Oli does not mess with JJ. He has always hit at the top of the order, that’s where he needs to stay!

What is the “adjustment “?

Do they use a different ball? Does he not get four balls and three strikes…?

If he leads off the third inning, is that different from leading off the second inning?

See the ball…hit the ball.

If the young man is that fragile, perhaps he’s not ready for the bigs?

Also it's very normal for a young player to not immediately be thrown into the top 4 spots in the lineup. J.J hasn't even played one spring training game yet

May I refer you to card4life….

His mancrush on the player notwithstanding, he has apparently followed the young man around the minor leagues and watched him do well …

What I didn’t realize, is that apparently good minor league numbers always translate to MLB success

The fact is….the waiver wire is full of guys who had minor league success..

As noted, I wish the player well, but the exalted status cards4life has conferred upon him is premature.

No mancrush 45, just a baseball crush. Love seeing dudes who have "it" - meaning know how to freaking play the game! I know a ball player when I see one. JJ is a natural. He will be a starter.

And whoever said he hasn't even had a ST AB yet, obviously didn't watch last spring when he came to Big League Camp.

Amen….this is BASEBALL…..if you’re logging in here then posters have been religiously playing, watching, analyzing, this game for DECADES. Why anyone would think that it takes some sort of special position in MLB collecting a paycheck to recognize Talent, Drive, and winning players is laughable. The people who think this have NO ability to see these skills themselves and default to some higher power to tell them what to think.

Goldfan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 18:54 pm

Cardinals4Life wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 18:48 pm

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 11:24 am

TopofthePerch wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:42 am

45s wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 10:03 am

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:46 am What I think gets overlooked a lot is batting guys in the order they are comfortable in. Wetherholt for example. Does anybody think he’s ever hit 7th in his whole life? It’s tough enough adjusting to the Majors, why not put him in a position where he’s always been? Why have him try and make another adjustment? Some people will Pooh, Pooh all over this, but it is a real thing. The Cardinals have been notorious for doing this! Kolton Wong, and Harrison Bader are just two examples of this. These two were always the catalysts of their teams and fed off of that. With the Cardinals, they were always trying to prove that they weren’t “ bottom of the order” hitters.
A players mental status is just as important as their physical state!
So, I hope Oli does not mess with JJ. He has always hit at the top of the order, that’s where he needs to stay!

What is the “adjustment “?

Do they use a different ball? Does he not get four balls and three strikes…?

If he leads off the third inning, is that different from leading off the second inning?

See the ball…hit the ball.

If the young man is that fragile, perhaps he’s not ready for the bigs?

Also it's very normal for a young player to not immediately be thrown into the top 4 spots in the lineup. J.J hasn't even played one spring training game yet

May I refer you to card4life….

His mancrush on the player notwithstanding, he has apparently followed the young man around the minor leagues and watched him do well …

What I didn’t realize, is that apparently good minor league numbers always translate to MLB success

The fact is….the waiver wire is full of guys who had minor league success..

As noted, I wish the player well, but the exalted status cards4life has conferred upon him is premature.

No mancrush 45, just a baseball crush. Love seeing dudes who have "it" - meaning know how to freaking play the game! I know a ball player when I see one. JJ is a natural. He will be a starter.

And whoever said he hasn't even had a ST AB yet, obviously didn't watch last spring when he came to Big League Camp.

Amen….this is BASEBALL…..if you’re logging in here then posters have been religiously playing, watching, analyzing, this game for DECADES. Why anyone would think that it takes some sort of special position in MLB collecting a paycheck to recognize Talent, Drive, and winning players is laughable. The people who think this have NO ability to see these skills themselves and default to some higher power to tell them what to think.

Thanks GF! I have been around the game of baseball a LONG time. Seen and worked with lots of players. You know a true player when you see one. JJ has that, very clearly.

ramfandan wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 09:17 am as posted on the crawl on MLB Network .. listed their projected batting order and rotation lineup
1. Noot
2. Winn
3. Burly
4. Herrera
5. Gorman
6. Walker
7. Wetherholt
8. Pages
9. Scott II

Rotation order: Libby, May, Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy

Take it for what it's worth

When I read that lineup, my mental image was the Sherriff of Rottingham