I’ll say again, maybe prep. Herrera for LF?

[Jobu's Rum]

I mentioned this last year, and this injury doesn’t make squatting at catcher all day any easier. Even when he heals. He seems young and athletic enough to be serviceable in LF, anything to preserve the much needed bat long term. I guess the question is, what is easier on his knees. Squatting at catcher all game or chasing fly balls in LF some of the time. I say the latter

The catching depth with Pages, Crooks, Bernal and even Rodriguez also helps make this a reasonable option.

[rockondlouie]

I floated the same ideal ("give him an OF'ers glove and teach him how to play LF") last year as well, got laughed at by a couple of morons in my thread who couldn't see what a disaster he was throwing behind the plate.

The kids a HITTER, potentially an all-star caliber one if he moves positions.

If not the OF, then first base and put WillyC back behind the plate (at least Willy has a cannon arm).

Let's hope C. Bloom has some ideas, unfortunately Mo had none.

[okcardfan]

Agree 100%. He's athletic enough, at this point, to be serviceable in a corner OF.

Same is true for Saggese, imo. He's likely to be able to adapt to the OF pretty easily. Don't know why, when they send him back down to Memphis, that they don't have him play LF and/or RF for a couple of games a week, maybe half of the games, and other half in the IF, where he has been splitting time before this season. Versatility is nice. Witness Brendan Donovan.

[11WSChamps]

With the supposed catching depth everyone says we have and if Scott continues to shine then that affords moving Hererra to LF and trading Nootbar for a more than serviceable arm.

The team is not going to excel in the future with Hererra behind the plate.

[imadangman]

For the most part I would say don't mess with the current outfield. It's done well as a unit and it is projectable for the future. If Herrera has a use case in the outfield it would likely be solely as a platoon option for Nootbaar if he proves to still have trouble with LH pitching. Any work Herrera gets in the outfield for now, would have to take a backseat to the current starting 3 IMO. I'd look at Herrera more as a DH/1B long-term. I don't see why Herrera and Contreras couldn't do pretty much a 50/50 split of DH/1B. Work Herrera in LF occasionally, maybe a little more as the season winds down.

[Whatashame]

I don’t know that the issue is messing with the outfield as much as trying to find a workable solution for Herrera. I know I’m not the only one but I floated this out there a few days ago about switching Contreras and Herrera around.

I know we were just trying to help Contreras by taking some of the burden of catching off of him but it appears that the Cardinals haven’t gauged Herrera’s catching abilities correctly. His catching skills are average at best and his throwing skills are subpar. We need his bat in the lineup but we have better catching options available.

If Herrera can play the outfield great but maybe 1B is a better option.

[Monsieur De Treville]

I would think DH is an option. I mean, it's not as if Burleson and his career 96 OPS+ is irreplaceable, is it?

[Talkin' Baseball]

I have mentioned this too and it seemed unpopular. I saw someone mention Craig Biggio, who moved from catcher to second base. I don't know if Ivan could do this, or not. What a bat for second base. I don't really want him primarily as a DH because there is always someone a little banged up, needs a breather, or positionally challenged for the spot. However, I DO want his bat in the lineup for 150+ games if I can get it. Agree that moving to the outfield makes that crowded, but as mentioned, one of them could bring back a good pitcher.

[Chubbs0910]

Its basically gonna be Contreras and Arenado taking potential AB's from Herrera and Gorman. Which isn't exactly ideal long term.

Pages is the best catcher anyway.

[Jobu's Rum]

All great points, I wouldn’t mind Contreras and Pages splitting time at C, Herrera between LF, 1B and DH. For his bat you make room SOMEWHERE. Yeah as we all know, C won’t be a good fit for him long term. Biggio went to OF after catcher as well

[Talkin' Baseball]

Contreras is 33 and will probably never be a catcher again.

[11WSChamps]

The time where Contreras is going to be even a part time catcher for the Cardinals has come and gone.

Its either 1B or DH.

Injuries and time have taken its toll and his bat is needed in this lineup 135-plus games at least. Him catching and chance for injury are too great not to mention a mindset of again having to be in the midst of game planning and nurturing pitchers along.

I'm not saying Herrera would be playing the OF tomorrow or even later this season but at some point that move would have to be more than a consideration if Contreras remains the team's 1B.

[Slip Kid]

If Herrera has such a weak throwing arm that he is a liability at catcher, wouldn’t the same hold true if you stick him in left field. Teams would always challenge him to try to take the extra base on balls in the gaps or in the corner. And that’s assuming he would have even average range as an outfielder which has not been displayed. First base or dh is his future.

[Ozziesfan41]

If Herrera has such a weak throwing arm that he is a liability at catcher, wouldn’t the same hold true if you stick him in left field. Teams would always challenge him to try to take the extra base on balls in the gaps or in the corner. And that’s assuming he would have even average range as an outfielder which has not been displayed. First base or dh is his future.

+1 if he has trouble throwing runners out from at second from catcher they would be taking second on him on singles and scoring easily from second

[Basil Shabazz]

Pages is the best throwing catcher anyway.

Fixed it for you

[Basil Shabazz]

If Herrera has such a weak throwing arm that he is a liability at catcher, wouldn’t the same hold true if you stick him in left field. Teams would always challenge him to try to take the extra base on balls in the gaps or in the corner. And that’s assuming he would have even average range as an outfielder which has not been displayed. First base or dh is his future.

+1 if he has trouble throwing runners out from at second from catcher they would be taking second on him on singles and scoring easily from second

-2

The liability of exposure due to a rag arm is much less in LF than it is at catcher.