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With all the talk of a generational pick for cards, did they play it too safe, trying to make sure they didn’t completely miss? Hernandez would have been the swing for the fences pick…

RunSup wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:37 pm Nate Snead another Vols pitcher off the board at pick #105. 8 Vols taken today according to the MLB.net desk.

Pitching factory.

RunSup wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:36 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:27 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:17 pm Cards with the #89 pick select ~ Jack Gurevitch, 1B, USD

BIG BAT

6'0"

The first true 1B taken in the draft.
And roughly 50 spots higher than projected.
Clearly they see something they like.
Interesting bet - and one that looks like it is an attempt to sign him below slot value.

BA had him at #90 on their rankings. The Cardinals took him at #89. So not a reach if the rankings matter now.

I wouldn't read that much into the rankings going forward. If the player is not even in the top 500 list for the next few rounds, that may be notable. What did the team see?

MLB had him around 150 as I recall.
Two things probably in play here.
Team sees something they like in order to have him slotted there.
Probably an opportunity to save a little slot money which might be needed elsewhere.

Janssen wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 04:18 am Appenzeller or Bauer. Both tall lefties who were initially expected to go in round 1.. can never have too many lefties

I would have preferred that.

Melville wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:48 am

RunSup wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:36 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:27 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:17 pm Cards with the #89 pick select ~ Jack Gurevitch, 1B, USD

BIG BAT

6'0"

The first true 1B taken in the draft.
And roughly 50 spots higher than projected.
Clearly they see something they like.
Interesting bet - and one that looks like it is an attempt to sign him below slot value.

BA had him at #90 on their rankings. The Cardinals took him at #89. So not a reach if the rankings matter now.

I wouldn't read that much into the rankings going forward. If the player is not even in the top 500 list for the next few rounds, that may be notable. What did the team see?

MLB had him around 150 as I recall.
Two things probably in play here.
Team sees something they like in order to have him slotted there.
Probably an opportunity to save a little slot money which might be needed elsewhere.

unless the kid's a stud, I don't understand drafting a 1bman... you make those, not draft those

moose-and-squirrel wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:34 am

Melville wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:48 am

RunSup wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:36 pm

Melville wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:27 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑13 Jul 2025 21:17 pm Cards with the #89 pick select ~ Jack Gurevitch, 1B, USD

BIG BAT

6'0"

The first true 1B taken in the draft.
And roughly 50 spots higher than projected.
Clearly they see something they like.
Interesting bet - and one that looks like it is an attempt to sign him below slot value.

BA had him at #90 on their rankings. The Cardinals took him at #89. So not a reach if the rankings matter now.

I wouldn't read that much into the rankings going forward. If the player is not even in the top 500 list for the next few rounds, that may be notable. What did the team see?

MLB had him around 150 as I recall.
Two things probably in play here.
Team sees something they like in order to have him slotted there.
Probably an opportunity to save a little slot money which might be needed elsewhere.

unless the kid's a stud, I don't understand drafting a 1bman... you make those, not draft those

He was the first 1b picked - and as you say that alone makes it an interesting pick.
Not an area of need and not the best player on the board.
Which suggests the Cardinals saw something they like and saw a chance to sign below slot.

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:39 am With all the talk of a generational pick for cards, did they play it too safe, trying to make sure they didn’t completely miss? Hernandez would have been the swing for the fences pick…

Franklin is not an example of "playing it too safe".
He is a high risk / high reward lottery ticket.

Melville wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:39 am

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:39 am With all the talk of a generational pick for cards, did they play it too safe, trying to make sure they didn’t completely miss? Hernandez would have been the swing for the fences pick…

Franklin is not an example of "playing it too safe".
He is a high risk / high reward lottery ticket.

I was referring to Doyle, with their generational hasn’t happened in 27 years drafting this early pick.

I posted this about a month ago on this thread. It's still my favorite Liam Doyle clip.

You gotta love the attitude!


https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunt ... nal-final/

Here's the link.

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunt ... nal-final/

St. Lew wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 09:02 am Here's the link.

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunt ... nal-final/

Thanks for the clip. I love that he's an insane competitor. Let other teams get ticked off at his antics. Eff them.

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:58 am

Melville wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:39 am

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:39 am With all the talk of a generational pick for cards, did they play it too safe, trying to make sure they didn’t completely miss? Hernandez would have been the swing for the fences pick…

Franklin is not an example of "playing it too safe".
He is a high risk / high reward lottery ticket.

I was referring to Doyle, with their generational hasn’t happened in 27 years drafting this early pick.

Hernandez would also have been a great pick. Different Risk than Doyle but similar high ceiling FOTR reward.

Doyle may be closer to the bigs if he can harness secondary pitches quickly. But could see the Pirates move Hernandez quickly if he is that good

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:58 am

Melville wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 08:39 am

Absolut wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 07:39 am With all the talk of a generational pick for cards, did they play it too safe, trying to make sure they didn’t completely miss? Hernandez would have been the swing for the fences pick…

Franklin is not an example of "playing it too safe".
He is a high risk / high reward lottery ticket.

I was referring to Doyle, with their generational hasn’t happened in 27 years drafting this early pick.

Let's hops so since it is still just an educated guess. He could blow out his arm. Be an Alex Reyes or Shelby Miller. You can blame Mo if that happens or the Cards development system or many possibilities or similar things I have read from all of the brain power on here.

Call this the Nuke Laloosh draft.

With Doyle and Franklin, Two college SP's with big time fastballs.

This will be a test of the new and improved development system to refine and harness secondary pitches and help these guys reach their ceiling.

I'll just assume that Bloom has hired a couple of Crash Davis's to help groom these pitchers. Plus put the technology and development infrastructure in play.

Now on day 2 if they can land a HS fire baller like Jack Bauer, that will complete the trifecta. There are a couple of others, but Bauer has a grade 80, 103 mph fastball. *AND* he is wild enough to hit and maim the Bull.

College NIL money will play big on being able to sign day 2 prospects.

I'm at work. Have fun today.

Day 1

My 2 cents or noncent's depending on who you ask?

First of all this draft feels different, almost like they focused on statistical outliers and asked what can we do with these talents? A real upside draft that can lead to rare talents or a lesson in why trusting data instead of scouting 101 can be fools gold. We won't know until we know, obviously but at least they seem to have a plan this time around. This draft so far will be test on the player development side, especially with the 2 Volunteer power arms

1st.....Doyle has a John Rocker floor with lefty Spencer Strider upside, if we'd taken that profile in last years draft I would've pitched forked my way to Flores's office, but in this draft it sure seemed like a good use of a draft pick.

2nd.....The Mitchell kid has a hit tool w/o much of a defensive home. But as they say, the bat plays and they'll figure out what to do with him if he does hit. I'd rather take a kid like this all day over a 5 tool guy that they hope the hit tool clicks (i.e. Chase Davis)

3rd.....Tanner dude is one of those lottery tix kind of selections, odds are it's not going to work but if it does you can life off that prize for awhile. He is either going to be Jeff Samardzija or Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh.......you can't teach that arm, but maybe you can teach them how to harness that talent?

4. Gurevitch is the most typical Cards profile so far of this draft. He is in the Allen Craig, Burleson mold...the simple see ball, hit ball hard and we'll worry about the whole where do we play them part later? This dude is too short to play 1B, isn't athletic enough, chases too much.....yadayada, but if he hits it works. .....See Justin Turner.

As for the remaining pics today, stick with the outliers, find the 70 arms, legs and trust that your development process that you say you've made a priority can develop this skills.

PS....reminds me of the draft I destroyed the Cards for taking Joe Kelly in, b/c his draft profile in terms of stats, competition etc was crapola, but the scouting dept saw a 70 arm with a solid mentality (Joe's a wacky dude but tough minded), something you can't see on baseballreference.com....so find those type of guys and use your system to develop what they do.....easy, right?!

PS #2....anyone else think Liam Doyle looks like actor who played the Joker in the latest Batman, Paul Dano? Just sayin