Velazquez

[NotAFathersDay9871]

Not every right-handed platoon bat off the bench can be second-half 2022 Albert Pujols

If Velazquez's OPS and OPS+ are still hovering around .734 and 108 at the end of the season, this will have been a successful signing.

But to your point, WOW has his July been bad.

Velazquez in June:
BA: .290
OBP: .371
SLG: .548
OPS: .920
OPS+ 146

In July:
BA: .074
OBP: .161
SLG: .222
OPS: .384

OPS+: 4.... 4.... Four.... Velazquez's OPS+ in July is.... FOUR.

How in the world can someone have an OPS+ of four? It's such a low number, the rules of English state that I actually write the word instead of the numeral. With the league average of 100, this is the OPS+ of some other low-performing Cardinals this season:

Nolan Gorman: 70 OPS+
Thomas Saggese: 48 OPS+
Victor Scott II: 54 OPS+

One thing to note about Velazquez's July performance: his batting average on balls in play is .071, compared to .368 in June. It's not reasonable to expect it to return to .368, but .071 typically suggests there's quite a bit of bad luck involved, so I think there's reason to be optimist...I'm sorry, I just... How the hell do you have an OPS+ of 4? How is that even possible?

[JuanAgosto]

This is all hindsight at this point. In March, he looked like a better choice than Saggese. And pointing at some front office plan is a weak argument. A true rebuild wouldn't have Pages starting a majority of the games early in the season. It wouldn't include a veteran like Stanek in the bullpen. It would be extended looks at young players. Not a mismatch of young guys and (bleep) veterans.

It's really not hindsight at all, though. At the time there were people arguing against a portion of the fan base who made a big deal out of him not making the team. They stated their reasons for it and things so far have turned out like they thought. And the things that many of those people warned about came true. So, the opposite of hindsight.

And sorry, but no rebuild is going to consist of all young prospects. You have to have some veterans on their to round out the team. You don't some prospect sitting on the bench and getting like one start a week. Why not Stanek? Any other relievers out there in the system that was kicking down the door for a spot?

Why wouldn't Pages start games early in the season? Who else should have started them? Crooks wasn't ready. He tore up AAA for a few months and is playing like (bleep), so why would he get starts early in the year? Pozo? Why not Pages? No one said he was the answer, but he's not a bad stopgap until Crooks got called up.

Then dont say its a [fork]ing rebuild if you are playing guys who absolutely aren't (or shouldn't be) in future plans. You do not need veterans like Pages and Stanek wasting space. That isn't "rounding out a team". That is a half-[ashed] rebuild. Play the guys you want to get a look at. The 40 man should consist of guys in your future plans.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Then dont say its a [fork]ing rebuild if you are playing guys who absolutely aren't (or shouldn't be) in future plans. You do not need veterans like Pages and Stanek wasting space. That isn't "rounding out a team". That is a half-[ashed] rebuild. Play the guys you want to get a look at. The 40 man should consist of guys in your future plans.

You can clearly do both. You want a prospect as the 26th man, last off the bench, getting like 20 PAs a month? That's not how this works.

[RunSup]

Then dont say its a [fork]ing rebuild if you are playing guys who absolutely aren't (or shouldn't be) in future plans. You do not need veterans like Pages and Stanek wasting space. That isn't "rounding out a team". That is a half-[ashed] rebuild. Play the guys you want to get a look at. The 40 man should consist of guys in your future plans.

You can clearly do both. You want a prospect as the 26th man, last off the bench, getting like 20 PAs a month? That's not how this works.

Yeah. They still want Baez getting nightly ABs at AAA. Not a 4th outfielder in the bigs.

Velazquez isn't long for this team. An easy throw in on a trade if a team wants a bench bat. But the off season should shake things out again.

[JuanAgosto]

Then dont say its a [fork]ing rebuild if you are playing guys who absolutely aren't (or shouldn't be) in future plans. You do not need veterans like Pages and Stanek wasting space. That isn't "rounding out a team". That is a half-[ashed] rebuild. Play the guys you want to get a look at. The 40 man should consist of guys in your future plans.

You can clearly do both. You want a prospect as the 26th man, last off the bench, getting like 20 PAs a month? That's not how this works.

A competent manager would find the pt. The focus wasn't going to be winning in 2026.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Less than zero defense and can't hit righties. In 2024 he was barely able to carry a 600 OPS in ~160 PA's and his year he is sub 500 vs RHP. I would rather see a young player, who isn't going to be fulltime get a chance but who knows....