Joe Roderick gives Sunday ST report: Herrera, Stanek, JJ
Posted: 16 Feb 2026 13:16 pm
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The report on IH was not glowing. Sounds like even he is not satisfied with his throwing. But early.
Perhaps not fixing him, but I would value Yadi's perspective on Ivan's chance of being a catcher in the major leagues.
Maybe. Maybe not. But you absolutely make an effort because if he can catch, the team is much better for much longer. Unless, of course, you think Pages is an All Star.
Can Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Herrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
The story I heard is that Herrera stated to the Cardinals that he wants to be a catcher. I think Bloom and Company are giving him a courtesy look this spring at catcher. When it doesn’t work out, he will hand it over to better defensive players.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Unquestionably correct.BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:13 pmThe story I heard is that Herrera stated to the Cardinals that he wants to be a catcher. I think Bloom and Company are giving him a courtesy look this spring at catcher. When it doesn’t work out, he will hand it over to better defensive players.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
That would make Gorman arguably serviceable I suppose. But it doesn’t replace even half of Nado circa 2022. And that’s what we need to get back to the playoffs. And Gorman will never begin to replace Nado/Rolens defense.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
Power hitting 3B's with elite defense such as N/A and Rolen come along less than once in a generation in all of MLB.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:19 pmThat would make Gorman arguably serviceable I suppose. But it doesn’t replace even half of Nado circa 2022. And that’s what we need to get back to the playoffs. And Gorman will never begin to replace Nado/Rolens defense.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
He's more than two years removed from the one time he did that- I guess that goes for a proven track record.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:43 pmPower hitting 3B's with elite defense such as N/A and Rolen come along less than once in a generation in all of MLB.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:19 pmThat would make Gorman arguably serviceable I suppose. But it doesn’t replace even half of Nado circa 2022. And that’s what we need to get back to the playoffs. And Gorman will never begin to replace Nado/Rolens defense.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
No one should ever lay that expectation on anyone else.
All Gorman needs to do is hit is hit .235-.240 with an .320 OBP (2 more singles per 100 PA's), and with his 25+HR/80+ RBI proven track record, he would be a top 5 MLB 3B, with roughly average defense.
Not that far away.
As for Herrera, the best thing STL can do is get him out from behind the plate and see if he can become more consistent with his power production - which has been nearly non-existent prior to last September.
Reality is, if STL can achieve that with those 2, have Winn and Burleson consistently repeat last year, and have Wetherholt prove to be a breakout star, they will be well on their way to returning to success.
It is not as far away as many think it is.
Gorman doesn’t have average D at 3b though.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:43 pmPower hitting 3B's with elite defense such as N/A and Rolen come along less than once in a generation in all of MLB.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:19 pmThat would make Gorman arguably serviceable I suppose. But it doesn’t replace even half of Nado circa 2022. And that’s what we need to get back to the playoffs. And Gorman will never begin to replace Nado/Rolens defense.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
No one should ever lay that expectation on anyone else.
All Gorman needs to do is hit is hit .235-.240 with an .320 OBP (2 more singles per 100 PA's), and with his 25+HR/80+ RBI proven track record, he would be a top 5 MLB 3B, with roughly average defense.
Not that far away.
As for Herrera, the best thing STL can do is get him out from behind the plate and see if he can become more consistent with his power production - which has been nearly non-existent prior to last September.
Reality is, if STL can achieve that with those 2, have Winn and Burleson consistently repeat last year, and have Wetherholt prove to be a breakout star, they will be well on their way to returning to success.
It is not as far away as many think it is.
Betting on the wrong horse Mel.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
Also we’ve had two Hall of Fame caliber third base plus one World Series MVP this century. And we’ve had three elite first baseman winning multiple MVPs in the last 30 years.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:43 pmPower hitting 3B's with elite defense such as N/A and Rolen come along less than once in a generation in all of MLB.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:19 pmThat would make Gorman arguably serviceable I suppose. But it doesn’t replace even half of Nado circa 2022. And that’s what we need to get back to the playoffs. And Gorman will never begin to replace Nado/Rolens defense.Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:06 pmHerrera can never be an adequate MLB catcher from the perspective of defense.Carp4Cy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 16:00 pmCan Gorman or Walker be fixed in that amount of time ?Melville wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026 15:48 pmOr a week.
Or a month.
Or a year.
Or a decade.
Not going to happen - pitchers will simply not permit it.
Maybe a DH, or LF, or 1B - if he can prove the brief power surge in September was not a fluke.
Gorman can be "fixed" by hitting 2 more singles in every 100 PA's.
Walker probably needs to be traded to a different organization - the current staff broke his game and is therefore likely incompetent to help him.
No one should ever lay that expectation on anyone else.
All Gorman needs to do is hit is hit .235-.240 with an .320 OBP (2 more singles per 100 PA's), and with his 25+HR/80+ RBI proven track record, he would be a top 5 MLB 3B, with roughly average defense.
Not that far away.
As for Herrera, the best thing STL can do is get him out from behind the plate and see if he can become more consistent with his power production - which has been nearly non-existent prior to last September.
Reality is, if STL can achieve that with those 2, have Winn and Burleson consistently repeat last year, and have Wetherholt prove to be a breakout star, they will be well on their way to returning to success.
It is not as far away as many think it is.