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JJW: 107 games .308/16/58 and .932 OPS at AA/AAA. Not surprising but at least positive confirmation of high expectations for a #1 pick
Josh Baez. 117 g .287/20/79 .884 OPS and 54 steals A/AA
M McGreevy 29 starts and counting. 8-3 3.72 at AAA, 7-3 4.08 at STL. 161+ IP is notable. He shouldn't suffer from Innings limit in 2026 like Libby did this year.

Its a short list unfortunately. Am I missing anyone?

Others like Crooks, Scott, Libby took steps forward or more fully established themselves but did not show special levels of success. Still others were about the same as prior years - just servicable but nothing special.

Slim pickings when compared to division rivals. Way behind.

I. Hererra

16 HR
.280 .367 .451 .817
131 OPS+

Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:57 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

These ARE young pitchers to build around Carp, I don't buy the reliever "year to year" theory like some.

These are three solid, young cost controlled arms w/strikeout ability.

Having them in place gives Bloom a leg up as he adds pieces.

They are a 2025 "success story" along w/I. Hererra.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 13:39 pm

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:57 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

These ARE young pitchers to build around Carp, I don't buy the reliever "year to year" theory like some.

These are three solid, young cost controlled arms w/strikeout ability.

Having them in place gives Bloom a leg up as he adds pieces.

They are a 2025 "success story" along w/I. Hererra.

I’m of two minde concerning this. On one hand I want to agree because you’re right they are more than serviceable and so is Herrera, which is all good.

But is it good enough to get excited about? When I look around the league and there’s 35 players will finish with 30 home runs or more and about 150 players with more home runs than Herrera, I’m not quite as excited with him being one of our leaders.

They’re nice players. Which is nice, but we need to develop some players that are within a notch or two of elite and we just haven’t done that in forever.

Saggese with an RBI double in this current game. I’d say he’s making good strides with his increased steady playing time.
Another thing overlooked is Donovan before being injured. That definitely set him back as he tried to play through it and caused a second injury. He might not have sustained it but he looked like a guy who might lead the league in hitting. He gets jerked around in the lineup so much. Donnie hit 3rd for us, drive in some runs, ok? Donnie hit lead off for us, score some runs, ok? The mind set really does have to be different when asked to do that. Donovan and Burleson have, in my mind, established themselves as big league hitters.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:57 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

What you would prefer a bad bullpen?

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 21:04 pm Saggese with an RBI double in this current game. I’d say he’s making good strides with his increased steady playing time.
Another thing overlooked is Donovan before being injured. That definitely set him back as he tried to play through it and caused a second injury. He might not have sustained it but he looked like a guy who might lead the league in hitting. He gets jerked around in the lineup so much. Donnie hit 3rd for us, drive in some runs, ok? Donnie hit lead off for us, score some runs, ok? The mind set really does have to be different when asked to do that. Donovan and Burleson have, in my mind, established themselves as big league hitters.

Correct you can add Burleson and Donovan (and Winn) as established pieces alongside the advancements/success stories also mentioned (Herrera, McGreevy, Wetherholt, Baez).

I'm also glad Quinn Mathews came around towards the end of the year.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 13:39 pm

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:57 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

These ARE young pitchers to build around Carp, I don't buy the reliever "year to year" theory like some.

These are three solid, young cost controlled arms w/strikeout ability.

Having them in place gives Bloom a leg up as he adds pieces.

They are a 2025 "success story" along w/I. Hererra.

They also stepped it up after the trades and did as good or better job than the pitchers who were considered better. It had to build their confidence tremendously and that’s a good thing for their roles going forward. I’d call it a win.

Offensively the Cardinals have some good pieces, but really lack that strong #4 hitter. There isn’t one currently on the roster, and I don’t see one in the minor leagues either. If they can come up with a decent starting rotation to go with their bullpen, maybe they can get by without a #4 hitter, but even the great teams of the 80’s had Jack Clark and George Hendrick. Successful teams have to have that guy that just knows how to drive in runs.

Hoosier59 wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 22:00 pm Offensively the Cardinals have some good pieces, but really lack that strong #4 hitter. There isn’t one currently on the roster, and I don’t see one in the minor leagues either. If they can come up with a decent starting rotation to go with their bullpen, maybe they can get by without a #4 hitter, but even the great teams of the 80’s had Jack Clark and George Hendrick. Successful teams have to have that guy that just knows how to drive in runs.

Josh Baez is the great hope in the minors to be the MOTOB. He does seem to get lift on the ball too...

To the poster who criticized Herrera's numbers, had he not been hurt, his full season numbers extrapolate to around 25-30 HRs and 90-100 RBIs. He really is giving us Matt Holliday type production. If Baez continues to develop, we may have the twin towers in the middle of the lineup we need. If Wetherholdt, Donovan and Burleson continue to hit 280/350/425 type production, then they have a good core to work around. They just then need someone like a Scott and Winn to up there OBP so these other guys can drive them in. Or they may need to add a bat from the outside. But, there is potential for next year to be better than people think if Baez can force his way onto the roster by say July. I don't want them to make the same mistake they made with Walker with him, which is to skip AAA.

Interesting fact about Ivan Herrera (before today's game):

Herrera is 10th on the team with 103 PA with RISP
Herrera is 2nd on the team with 43 RBI with RISP

I'd say Liberatore is a success. Sure he hit a wall second half of the season, but we all knew that was going to happen with the way he was jerked around.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 20:56 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 13:39 pm

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:57 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025 12:46 pm Bullpen:

-R. O'Brien
2.08 ERA

-M. Svanson
2.13 ERA

-JoJo
2.18 ERA

Yeah but what good is a pen in a year we aren’t competing. The typical thought is bullpen pitchers aren’t projectable from year to year. Too random.

These ARE young pitchers to build around Carp, I don't buy the reliever "year to year" theory like some.

These are three solid, young cost controlled arms w/strikeout ability.

Having them in place gives Bloom a leg up as he adds pieces.

They are a 2025 "success story" along w/I. Hererra.

I’m of two minde concerning this. On one hand I want to agree because you’re right they are more than serviceable and so is Herrera, which is all good.

But is it good enough to get excited about? When I look around the league and there’s 35 players will finish with 30 home runs or more and about 150 players with more home runs than Herrera, I’m not quite as excited with him being one of our leaders.

They’re nice players. Which is nice, but we need to develop some players that are within a notch or two of elite and we just haven’t done that in forever.

Excited?

No, not about RP's but nice to have for sure.

But "yes" about Hererra who is a top flight hitter!

I think he's easily be a 25-30 HR hitter w/ an .850 OPS+ if he can stay healthy and get 600 PA's.

His only problem is NO real position!

Let's hope JJW is that "elite" player Bloom can build around along w/Hererra.