Crooks

[Talkin' Baseball]

If they promote Crooks you'll lose Pozo off the roster not Pages.

If they don't take Pages off the roster, Crooks won't play. They didn't play him much last year after calling him up and barely played him this spring before sending him down. JMO.

[riff raff]

If they promote Crooks you'll lose Pozo off the roster not Pages.

If they don't take Pages off the roster, Crooks won't play. They didn't play him much last year after calling him up and barely played him this spring before sending him down. JMO.

There you go. I wish they'd give Pozo some ab's.
Idk what the strategy is here. Not sure they know either.

[Basil Shabazz]

But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?

Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).

I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!

I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.

But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.

I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.

With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.

What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.

[Talkin' Baseball]

But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?

Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).

I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!

I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.

But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.

I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.

With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.

What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.

IMO that's one of the biggest mistake the new folks have made since they've been here.

[Basil Shabazz]

Crooks hit .133 last year in the MLB in 46 PAs, and a huge reason was the 17 K’s that he had there. I’m sure the front office isn’t looking at his AAA numbers and seeing 28 K’s in 80 PAs and going “YAY he’s surely improved, let’s call him up!” Yes it’s all small sample size, but logically I see why he’s not there yet.

Once again, SAMPLE SIZE. You are really starting to sound like a Kool-Aid kid the way you manipulate data to make a point. I am very excited about the direction Bloom is going and looking forward to the future. That does not mean everything is currently perfect and well executed. It is okay to offer criticism when it is warranted.

[rockondlouie]

But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?

Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).

I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!

I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.

But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.

I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.

With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.

What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.

Then what are you doing when R.R. is knocking on the door?

I'm not talking about Crooks being trade material this season, likely not in 2027 either unless he goes midseason.

But Bernal is going to be ready by 2027 (defensively he's already better than Pages and Crooks now).

R.R. could be here as early as 2028 if he's as good as advertised.

I've made about a dozen post, before I learned about Cerfolio/Bloom's concern about Crooks poor contact rate, calling for Crooks to be here because I wanted Bernal to get more reps at Memphis so we're on the same page!

Pages is Oli's guy, sadly he's going to play him 4 or 5 games a week.

I hate it too.

[Futuregm2]

Crooks hit .133 last year in the MLB in 46 PAs, and a huge reason was the 17 K’s that he had there. I’m sure the front office isn’t looking at his AAA numbers and seeing 28 K’s in 80 PAs and going “YAY he’s surely improved, let’s call him up!” Yes it’s all small sample size, but logically I see why he’s not there yet.

Once again, SAMPLE SIZE. You are really starting to sound like a Kool-Aid kid the way you manipulate data to make a point. I am very excited about the direction Bloom is going and looking forward to the future. That does not mean everything is currently perfect and well executed. It is okay to offer criticism when it is warranted.

How is anyone manipulating it? Ok, how about this?

2023 A+ 21.7%
2024 AA 21%
2025 AAA 26.5%
2025 MLB 37%
2026 AAA 35%

That’s not a good trend. And it’s something he needs to work on. It obviously hindered his MLB time last year. And it really hasn’t improved.

[riff raff]

Crooks hit .133 last year in the MLB in 46 PAs, and a huge reason was the 17 K’s that he had there. I’m sure the front office isn’t looking at his AAA numbers and seeing 28 K’s in 80 PAs and going “YAY he’s surely improved, let’s call him up!” Yes it’s all small sample size, but logically I see why he’s not there yet.

Once again, SAMPLE SIZE. You are really starting to sound like a Kool-Aid kid the way you manipulate data to make a point. I am very excited about the direction Bloom is going and looking forward to the future. That does not mean everything is currently perfect and well executed. It is okay to offer criticism when it is warranted.

How is anyone manipulating it? Ok, how about this?

2023 A+ 21.7%
2024 AA 21%
2025 AAA 26.5%
2025 MLB 37%
2026 AAA 35%

That’s not a good trend. And it’s something he needs to work on. It obviously hindered his MLB time last year. And it really hasn’t improved.

Trending along with his home run power?

[Basil Shabazz]

Crooks hit .133 last year in the MLB in 46 PAs, and a huge reason was the 17 K’s that he had there. I’m sure the front office isn’t looking at his AAA numbers and seeing 28 K’s in 80 PAs and going “YAY he’s surely improved, let’s call him up!” Yes it’s all small sample size, but logically I see why he’s not there yet.

Once again, SAMPLE SIZE. You are really starting to sound like a Kool-Aid kid the way you manipulate data to make a point. I am very excited about the direction Bloom is going and looking forward to the future. That does not mean everything is currently perfect and well executed. It is okay to offer criticism when it is warranted.

How is anyone manipulating it? Ok, how about this?

2023 A+ 21.7%
2024 AA 21%
2025 AAA 26.5%
2025 MLB 37%
2026 AAA 35%

That’s not a good trend. And it’s something he needs to work on. It obviously hindered his MLB time last year. And it really hasn’t improved.

It is quite disengenious not to mention the last two numbers in terms of sample size compared to the rest of the numbers.

Once again, I couldn't care less if he Ks 30% of the time and hits for power with a decent average and OPS from the left side of the plate with good defense at the catcher position while also freeing up all the AAA playing time for Bernal. There is so much more to the Pages love affair that is a problem downstream than gets discussed.

[Basil Shabazz]

But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?

Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).

I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!

I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.

But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.

I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.

With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.

What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.

Then what are you doing when R.R. is knocking on the door?

I'm not talking about Crooks being trade material this season, likely not in 2027 either unless he goes midseason.

But Bernal is going to be ready by 2027 (defensively he's already better than Pages and Crooks now).

R.R. could be here as early as 2028 if he's as good as advertised.

I've made about a dozen post, before I learned about Cerfolio/Bloom's concern about Crooks poor contact rate, calling for Crooks to be here because I wanted Bernal to get more reps at Memphis so we're on the same page!

Pages is Oli's guy, sadly he's going to play him 4 or 5 games a week.

I hate it too.

Rock, I do not believe Rodriguez's future is at the catcher position. Not because I don't think he could handle it, but because I think Bernal is just that good a fit at catcher. RRs bat plays regardless of position. He could land at 3B, LF, DH, etc.

[renostl]

For those very concerned about high strikeouts let me present this tad food for thought.

Would you trade a high number of strikeouts for 56 homeruns ?

Well, Kyle Schwarber had 56 home runs in 2025 and had the 197 strikeouts 3rd highest total in MLB.
Despite the enormous number of whiffs, he was highly coveted by several teams in free agency.

Not saying Crooks would hit 56 but the point is you can be productive with quite a few whiffs.
Catcher is a premium defensive position ( one of 3 with SS and CF)
Having a good defender like Crooks along with plus power is tough to find.

IDK how correct your POV turns out but I do agree with it.

Big guys who are base to base have to bring SLG or they will not
have an MLB future. His chase rate may, or may not improve at MLB level
from the current 30% but it is possible. It's improving in Memphis as the sample size grows.

He is already walking 15% of the time. Expecting more at AAA from a guy
trying to hit his way to MLB to me isn't realistic.
His numbers are strong .288/.413/.667/1.080 supported with a .367 BABIP is
IMO better than the Pages/Pozo could do regardless of level.

The deal is as long as Herrera is still a C/DH it hurts Crooks who needs to be a
majority catcher as part of a tandem.

Crooks/Herrera works and the Cards keep Pozo for their comfort zone of emergency C/PH
That moves Pages which the Cards seem to want for now for their reasons.
Crooks/Pages works but Herrera needs to move from catcher another option they're not yet
ready for, or an injury speeds the plan up.

To bring him up with both Pages and Herrera in the mix for catching isn't as good for him.
He should play.

[ClassicO]

Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.

Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.

[Futuregm2]

Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.

Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.

Pages had 45 RBI in 389 PA last year (27 in 218 PA the year before). That was a better ratio than Arenado or Donovan or Winn or Noot or Gorman.

And he had 18 HR in 607 PAs in 2024-25. Again, that’s not exactly bad for a catcher.

His last full year of the minors was in AA and he had 72 RBI in 497 PAs.

I wouldn’t say it’s “foreign” to him. He’s not a good hitter. But he does somehow find a way to get runs in more than you’d think.

[renostl]

But you'd agree that Crooks is eventually a trade piece, right?

Given Bernal is the way better defense catcher (MiLB Gold Glove winner) and a switch hitter.........then of course behind him is R.R. on a rocket ship to St. Louis (although he could change positions?).

I get the SSS but let's not gloss over Crooks hit an anemic .133 .152 .244 .397 in those 46 PA"s last season, that's below A. Wainwright level!

I'm pulling for the kid, hope he does get that call-up sometime this season.

But let's trust the new team (Bloom, Cerfolio etal), this isn't Mo the idiot running the show anymore.

I don't necessarily think that Crooks is trade bait. I could see a scenario where Bernal and Crooks are the tandem with a 2/3 Bernal and 1/3 Crooks. Bernal is my overall favorite to be the majority catcher long-term. I could see Rodriguez being a 3B or OF, maybe as well. His bat plays like Herrera's does, so they will find a spot for him. Herrera at DH is probably that fit as well.

With all that said, Crooks could definitely be trade bait as well.

What I don't like is Bernal not getting the full run at Memphis due to a roadblock at the MLB level caused by inferior players like Pages and Pozo.

Then what are you doing when R.R. is knocking on the door?

I'm not talking about Crooks being trade material this season, likely not in 2027 either unless he goes midseason.

But Bernal is going to be ready by 2027 (defensively he's already better than Pages and Crooks now).

R.R. could be here as early as 2028 if he's as good as advertised.

I've made about a dozen post, before I learned about Cerfolio/Bloom's concern about Crooks poor contact rate, calling for Crooks to be here because I wanted Bernal to get more reps at Memphis so we're on the same page!

Pages is Oli's guy, sadly he's going to play him 4 or 5 games a week.

I hate it too.

Rock, I do not believe Rodriguez's future is at the catcher position. Not because I don't think he could handle it, but because I think Bernal is just that good a fit at catcher. RRs bat plays regardless of position. He could land at 3B, LF, DH, etc.

Bernal could be a Memphis guy next season too or the one
who is dealt before Crooks.

I can easily be wrong here but in the WBC and the last year of MiLB his bat seems less ready, less
SLG from a profile that needs it. This may change, full acknowledgement.
Bernal has the much better SO% but what's that get in the SSS of 2026.

......LB....JK
PA's 74 to 80
H's 16 to 13
1B 12 to 10
2B 2 to 1
HR 2 to 8
R's 9 to 16

Depends on what you want or like, I guess. I don't think either catcher is a liability and both
are probable to be an improvement on defense. Who sequences pitches better. Neither
will score on a single from 1B and will be limited how often they get to 3B on a single etc.
I don't find it clear cut though and respect either path but lean toward the club finding
any XBH they can since it hasn't been very high and the likelihood of signing a FA who
has that quality seems low.

[ClassicO]

Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.

Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.

Pages had 45 RBI in 389 PA last year (27 in 218 PA the year before). That was a better ratio than Arenado or Donovan or Winn or Noot or Gorman.

And he had 18 HR in 607 PAs in 2024-25. Again, that’s not exactly bad for a catcher.

His last full year of the minors was in AA and he had 72 RBI in 497 PAs.

I wouldn’t say it’s “foreign” to him. He’s not a good hitter. But he does somehow find a way to get runs in more than you’d think.

Maybe I was harsh! I think MLB pitchers have figured him out. He doesn't get on base (.274 OBP career and .259 this year; 3.6% BB rate), so they are going after him.

[Basil Shabazz]

Herrera has only played catcher 9 games.
Pages has played 16.
Pages adds nothing and his previously ok defense has gone in the toilet. A statue. Already three errors.

Crooks will strike out a lot but he’ll drive in runs - something foreign to Pages. And he’ll play a lot better defense. And remember, our DHs are atrocious, so maybe he could do that 1/4 of games.
Bring him up and let Bernal get more PT.

Pages had 45 RBI in 389 PA last year (27 in 218 PA the year before). That was a better ratio than Arenado or Donovan or Winn or Noot or Gorman.

And he had 18 HR in 607 PAs in 2024-25. Again, that’s not exactly bad for a catcher.

His last full year of the minors was in AA and he had 72 RBI in 497 PAs.

I wouldn’t say it’s “foreign” to him. He’s not a good hitter. But he does somehow find a way to get runs in more than you’d think.

Lol!!! Are you seriously trying to say Pages could be considered an offensive positive? Just stop