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https://interact.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1514349
"the potential steal of the draft" got my attention.
Gorman, Walker...enough 3bs for my book..... but yes, Mo was awful at taking what the cardinals have, and converting some of it into what they need. Thus a team with 4 catchers and 3 3Bs on the roster.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 10:24 am He was mostly a reliever in college. Not sure we can afford to be drafting relievers this high in the draft - he could be a good one, but we still have more important holes to fill.
No 1b/3b power bats anywhere in the minors (Baker doesn't count). Very little if any MOTO bat corner OF prospects. Still short on TOR SPs.
Seems like a weird case of taking the best available instead of what we need. At some point trades need to happen.
Franklin has exciting potential, no doubt. The Cardinals definitely added some flame-throwers.HorseTrader wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 11:05 am "For Franklin, it’s the big, burly fastball and starter potential perhaps hidden by a college relief role. His coach, Vitello called Franklin “what some people think might be the steal of the draft.”
“I think a big question is why didn’t Tanner start for us,” Vitello said. “I think he profiled as a reliever the moment he got on campus. He kept evolving and became this strike-thrower with an incredible high ceiling. We just kind of dream if for some reason he was back on our campus there is no doubt he would be a starter. There’s no doubt his off-speed pitches would develop at a high level and he’d probably be one of the best starters in the country.”
A 6-foot-5, big-bodied right-hander, Franklin was a transfer from Kennesaw State who made one start and 27 appearances and struck out 52 in 38 2/3 innings. As the season progressed, so did the length of his outings.
Franklin presents a project prospect who may reveal how quickly the Cardinals are catching up with the industry when it comes to pitching development. Franklin, 21, has a blowtorch fastball that hits 100 mph.
“About as easy as a 100-mph arm as you’re ever going to find,” Vitello said.
He has a cut fastball that he plays off the heat.
“It’s in an infant stage of development,” Vitello said.
He has a nascent breaking ball that he flashed late in the season.
“That got all the scouts talking,” Vitello said.
All clips from Goold's article. Shady, I said in an earlier thread that I think he may have a higher floor and ceiling then Doyle. That's mostly based on the clips above. There are guys here way more in tone with the prospects then me. A lot is going to depend on whether the new Cards system can really help him fully develop the cut fastball and breaking ball. If so, then he may become a very good starter. IF not, he fail. My guess is at worst he's a useful bullpen guy
Dint ya know? He who dies with the most Milb catchers wins!Clubmaker2 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 11:09 amGorman, Walker...enough 3bs for my book..... but yes, Mo was awful at taking what the cardinals have, and converting some of it into what they need. Thus a team with 4 catchers and 3 3Bs on the roster.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025 10:24 am He was mostly a reliever in college. Not sure we can afford to be drafting relievers this high in the draft - he could be a good one, but we still have more important holes to fill.
No 1b/3b power bats anywhere in the minors (Baker doesn't count). Very little if any MOTO bat corner OF prospects. Still short on TOR SPs.
Seems like a weird case of taking the best available instead of what we need. At some point trades need to happen.