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Ace07 wrote: ↑24 May 2025 09:51 am It's apparent Herrera won't be a solution playing C daily. Pages is doing fine as a stopgap, but he's not a permanent solution. Rainiel Rodriguez is a 18 year old wild card at this point, who knows if he sticks at C and will likely be years before we may see him with big league club.

That leaves us Jimmy Crooks and Leo Bernal for future C.

Crooks is just 23 years old playing at AAA. He's holding his own with a .701 OPS, but not lighting the world on fire. He hit .321 last year in Springfield, so feels there could be more talent in that bat than he's shown this year.

Bernal is a very young catcher in AA, 21 years old. After falling off and hitting just .188, he's on a hot streak offensively. Hitting 15-41 (.366 BA) 4 home runs, 3 2Bs and even 2 stolen bases in his last 11 games. He's now hitting .257 with a .835 OPS which are very solid numbers for a 21 year old backstop in AA.

I don't know much about their defense. How is their framing/blocking, throwing out runners, etc? Are both capable of being future major league catchers? It appears Bernal is the frontrunner for catcher of the future, but a Bernal/Crooks combo sounds pretty appealing. Bernal a switch hitter and Crooks a lefty.

Ace07 wrote: ↑24 May 2025 09:51 amI don't know much about their defense. How is their framing/blocking, throwing out runners, etc? Are both capable of being future major league catchers? It appears Bernal is the frontrunner for catcher of the future, but a Bernal/Crooks combo sounds pretty appealing. Bernal a switch hitter and Crooks a lefty.

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑24 May 2025 13:11 pm We are as deep at that position as I have seen in 60 years. That’s the one position I just don’t worry about.

We have two solid MLB catchers in Pozo and pages. We have a decent third string Catcher, who also happens to be our DH it has an OPS of over 1000. We also have what you could call a fourth string catcher at first base.

Finally, we have serious talent in the minors. At some point, someone will get packaged with somebody for a major return, but right now it’s just a marvelous embarrassment of riches.

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑24 May 2025 13:11 pm We are as deep at that position as I have seen in 60 years. That’s the one position I just don’t worry about.

We have two solid MLB catchers in Pozo and pages. We have a decent third string Catcher, who also happens to be our DH it has an OPS of over 1000. We also have what you could call a fourth string catcher at first base.

Finally, we have serious talent in the minors. At some point, someone will get packaged with somebody for a major return, but right now it’s just a marvelous embarrassment of riches.

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑24 May 2025 13:11 pm We are as deep at that position as I have seen in 60 years. That’s the one position I just don’t worry about.

We have two solid MLB catchers in Pozo and pages. We have a decent third string Catcher, who also happens to be our DH it has an OPS of over 1000. We also have what you could call a fourth string catcher at first base.

Finally, we have serious talent in the minors. At some point, someone will get packaged with somebody for a major return, but right now it’s just a marvelous embarrassment of riches.

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑24 May 2025 14:24 pm

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑24 May 2025 13:11 pm We are as deep at that position as I have seen in 60 years. That’s the one position I just don’t worry about.

We have two solid MLB catchers in Pozo and pages. We have a decent third string Catcher, who also happens to be our DH it has an OPS of over 1000. We also have what you could call a fourth string catcher at first base.

Finally, we have serious talent in the minors. At some point, someone will get packaged with somebody for a major return, but right now it’s just a marvelous embarrassment of riches.

It’s funny at one point the question was who will replace yadi is the cardinals future catcher because they didn’t have a good replacement now the same question is being asked but now it’s asked because there are so many candidates

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑24 May 2025 12:09 pm

Ace07 wrote: ↑24 May 2025 09:51 amI don't know much about their defense. How is their framing/blocking, throwing out runners, etc? Are both capable of being future major league catchers? It appears Bernal is the frontrunner for catcher of the future, but a Bernal/Crooks combo sounds pretty appealing. Bernal a switch hitter and Crooks a lefty.

I think Crooks is an all around good defensive catcher. I think he's a solid major league backup at worst. Maybe platoon against RHP. Was hopeful on his offense with how he played last year, but he's been a bit slower so far this year in Memphis. Still, I think there's reason to be positive on the future for him.

Bernal is the guy I'm high on, so he'll probably fail. He struggled offensively last year at the beginning of the year too, if I remember right, and turned it around. So I'm happy to see him turning it on now, but it is Springfield, so lots of players hit there. Not as well rounded as Crooks defensively, but I think still projects to be pretty good defensively. Also, has a cannon for an arm, so that helps. Very young still for his league, so lots of potential there.

I'd agree with you, provided both remain in the organization, Bernal is the guy for the future, with Crooks in some sort of combo/platoon/backup role. But that's just my opinion. I don't watch all the games like others here. I make it to a couple of Peoria and Springfield games a year depending on my work schedule.

As for Rodriguez.... very exciting young bat. Not gonna remain at catcher based on everything I've read.

imetsatchelpaige wrote: ↑24 May 2025 13:11 pm We are as deep at that position as I have seen in 60 years. That’s the one position I just don’t worry about.

We have two solid MLB catchers in Pozo and pages. We have a decent third string Catcher, who also happens to be our DH it has an OPS of over 1000. We also have what you could call a fourth string catcher at first base.

Finally, we have serious talent in the minors. At some point, someone will get packaged with somebody for a major return, but right now it’s just a marvelous embarrassment of riches.

Baseball Savant wrote: ↑24 May 2025 12:20 pm Bernal is future C

Crooks is a great trade piece at deadline

Stlcardsblues wrote: ↑25 May 2025 11:01 am

Baseball Savant wrote: ↑24 May 2025 12:20 pm Bernal is future C

Crooks is a great trade piece at deadline

Why would they trade Crooks at the trade deadline? We will be sellers, how does trading Crooks fit that?

He very well maybe traded to fill a different area of need, but how does Mo flipping him at the deadline over Bloom doing it over the winter make sense?