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Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

Probably. A number five at best. Although he only gave up a couple, he was getting tagged.

He went 2.1 after inheriting runners. But he was hit hard once he entered.

4 hits one walk, 2.1 innings, about two runners per inning. That’s too many.

He currently has a 2.72 FIP and 1.23 WHIP. I would not call him a “bust” yet.

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 05:53 am He currently has a 2.72 FIP and 1.23 WHIP. I would not call him a “bust” yet.

That’s not a bad whip, is it. What’s league average?

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

He talks less than Brad Thompson. I'll give him points for that.

when your farm is thin, some players get overhyped

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 06:11 am

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 05:53 am He currently has a 2.72 FIP and 1.23 WHIP. I would not call him a “bust” yet.

That’s not a bad whip, is it. What’s league average?

Agreed. It seems that a WHIP like that would produce better results.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 07:29 am

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 06:11 am

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 05:53 am He currently has a 2.72 FIP and 1.23 WHIP. I would not call him a “bust” yet.

That’s not a bad whip, is it. What’s league average?

Agreed. It seems that a WHIP like that would produce better results.

That’s what I was thinking. He doesn’t seem to walk more than two per game, thus the whip must be higher for hits per game/inning.

38 ip. Age 25

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

He’s more a result of the failed Cardinals’ player development system.

An Old Friend wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 07:43 am

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

He’s more a result of the failed Cardinals’ player development system.

Then maybe under a new system, he flourishes. He can pitch. Just not a consistent game to game. Nothing to lose pitching him now.

He has already passed through the system, so dont see how revamping what happens with A and AA players effects some guy on the MLB 25 roster.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 08:01 am

An Old Friend wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 07:43 am

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

He’s more a result of the failed Cardinals’ player development system.

Then maybe under a new system, he flourishes. He can pitch. Just not a consistent game to game. Nothing to lose pitching him now.

New system? Bloom has been here for two years already consulting on a new system. This is the system we’re going to get. And at this point i would expect we would see results with a guy GGs age if we’re going to see them.

Or maybe he just doesn’t have what it takes?

I think Graceffo's future is in the bullpen.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑10 Aug 2025 03:52 am Seems like a couple years back he was a very highly regarded prospect, at least by those on Ct. Hes been mostly a starter in the minors and hasn’t posted a decent ERA the past two years. Now he seems like nothing but mop up duty after several stints in the Majors. He’s already 25. ERA nearly 6.

Is he just a poor man’s Brad Thompson? Am I missing something?

I wouldn't call him a very highly rated prospect. He was a top 100 prospect a few years back, so I wouldn't limit those who saw value in him to Cards Talk either.

From what I remember, it was one spring training, maybe the year after he was drafted, that he showed up and he had gained a few MPH on his fastball and that was really impressing a lot of people, because he wasn't really that guy when they drafted him. I think that velocity has been hard for him to consistently maintain, though, and it has hurt him.

He's a 5th round pick that worked his way into top 100 status. I'm not sure I would be ready to declare him a bullpen arm if I was the team, since we're not exactly loaded with starting pitching, but at the very least he looks like a guy who could potentially close games. So I definitely wouldn't call him a bust.