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TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:25 am Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:24 am And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:29 am

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:24 am And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

I understand that. I accept the Industry Wide bias.

I'm just looking at the overall draft board...and I see a normal 2nd round with Hernandez and Holliday standing above them all. And Hernandez outshining Holliday.

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:29 am

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:24 am And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

I understand that. I accept the Industry Wide bias.

I'm just looking at the overall draft board...and I see a normal 2nd round with Hernandez and Holliday standing above them all. And Hernandez outshining Holliday.

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 10:20 am I think...and I could be wrong, but it's looking more and more like the 1 and 2 picks in the draft will look like this:

1. Nationals ~ Anderson ....or Holliday
2. Angels ~ Doyle ....what the pundits are hearing is this pick is done. That's the Angels pick.


Nationals could still pick Holliday, maybe Willits, I'm not saying they won't. The trend and the buzz is it's down to a clear 1a / 1b strategy....1a is Anderson, and that's how they're currently leaning...there's still the Holliday crowd in their draft room....Bonus Demands/Signability are a major concern, too

---------------

If the Anderson and Doyle scenario plays out....you have the next 3 teams (M's, Rox, Cards) with a big crowd of 45/50 rated players to choose from....outside note ~ Seth Hernandez is the only one of the bunch, imo, rated 55-60...you can't have arguably the best FB, Curve, Change, and Control in the class and be rated 45/50 just because you're a HS/RHP....that bias is annoying to be honest.

this draft is so weak up top, that it's allowed players such as Irish, Aloy, Parker, Steele to jump into the conversation @ #5....those players are good in their own right, I'm not besmirching them, but they're #20-30 picks in last year's draft...easily. I really like Irish and Parker, I wish we were picking #7 to 15 this year b/c of them.

Again... I'm leaning back on my philosophy from a few weeks ago...."5 that I want, and 5 that I wouldn't be Unhappy with"....that's how bad of a draft it is up top....nothing has changed....and it's the biggest reason I keep Hernandez as my #1 player overall . He's just that much better than everyone else, but he has an unfair taboo tied around his neck.

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:55 am

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:25 am Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

those were my two favorite players. And I thought Kurtz would be available at #7. I really thought JJ was going 2nd or 4th if didn't go 1 to the Guardians.

There wasn't a scenario that existed once Braden Montgomery broke his ankle to where both Kurtz and JJ would've been available.

To your scenario...what would St. Louis do? The Big 12 scouts in the Org scream louder than the ACC scouts....JJ it is.

Hit and Less K's vs. the Power-hit and More K's.

I would've loved to have Kurtz manning 1B for his career....that would've been awesome.

82birds wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 11:10 am

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:55 am

TraveledLessRoad wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:25 am Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

those were my two favorite players. And I thought Kurtz would be available at #7. I really thought JJ was going 2nd or 4th if didn't go 1 to the Guardians.

There wasn't a scenario that existed once Braden Montgomery broke his ankle to where both Kurtz and JJ would've been available.

To your scenario...what would St. Louis do? The Big 12 scouts in the Org scream louder than the ACC scouts....JJ it is.

Hit and Less K's vs. the Power-hit and More K's.

I would've loved to have Kurtz manning 1B for his career....that would've been awesome.

not going to lie. I liked Kurtz and JJ about equally.
what I liked about Kurtz besides his power is he is lefthanded throwing 1bman.
that is a BIG advantage IMO.

of course, thrilled with JJ.

btw, in his rookie season for far, Kurtz:
.256
.317
.835
12 of his 42 hits are HR
32 RBI
acquitting himself quite nicely I would say.

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:12 am Baseball America Mock 5.0

1. Nationals ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Angels ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla.
5. Cardinals ~ Elli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton, Okla

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 14:09 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YdkxR3y_bg

Perfect GameUSA's Daron Sutton (Don's son) and Vinnie Cervino with a full Mock Vod. Uploaded last night

Cards ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla.

00

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 12:49 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 09:12 am Baseball America Mock 5.0

1. Nationals ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Angels ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla.
5. Cardinals ~ Elli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton, Okla

Ethan Holliday falls to the Cardinals....so you're telling me there's a chance!!