Dream Scenario

[Cardinals4Life]

What would happen/where would we be if the following all came to fruition?:

Burleson - Puts up solid #'s equal to last season.

Herrera - Blossoms into our best hitter and takes hold of the C position and the leadership role on the team.

Winn - Continues his GG play and improves his hitting to be above league average.

Wetherholt - Breaks into the league in a big way. Becomes a true star on both sides of the ball and contends for a batting title; Wins ROY.

Gorman - Plays average, passable defense at 3rd. Hits 30 HRs and hits .230.

Scott II - Jumps his D to GG level and becomes an actual leadoff hitter who can get on base and utilize his speed; Hits .250 with 65 stolen bases.

Walker - Gets back to his rookie numbers.

Saggese - Becomes the new utility man, a la Brendan Donovan.

Church - Provides great defense and becomes a solid contributor.

Liberatore - Becomes the new leader of the staff and pitches to a 3.50 ERA.

McGreevy - Also co-leads the staff with a sub 4.00 ERA.

May - Stays healthy and pitches to a low 3.00 ERA by mid-season.

If all of these things happen, where would we be in the "build" ? Would we be in playoff contention this year? What would we need to add next off-season?

Thoughts?

[Jatalk]

Sorry too many what ifs for me to comprehend.

[DewittDaman11]

I don't think your scenario should have to be a dream, it sounds quite plausible, IMO. I think it also depends on what kind of OPS you're thinking about for Gorman and Walker. If you're saying they are both around .750, then I think it is realistic. Likely... If those scenarios do play out, we would/should contend for a playoff spot. I think we should all expect what your scenario is to happen, and if it doesn't, we'll know more about who we need to move on from.

[C-Unit]

All of that, and then the ultimate dream: we sign back Donovan in 2 years as a free agent

[3dender]

They'd be competing for division title.

Noot didn't make your dream?

The problem is that only Burleson and Herrera are definitely legit hitters. All the others are question marks at best, and at worst have a floor beneath the sub-basement.

[JohnnyMO]

If 4 of those 12 happen I’ll be happy.

[Cardinals4Life]

They'd be competing for division title.

Noot didn't make your dream?

The problem is that only Burleson and Herrera are definitely legit hitters. All the others are question marks at best, and at worst have a floor beneath the sub-basement.

No, he didn't. Sorry. Time for him to goof around in some other dugout.

Agree, we have A LOT of question marks. That's why the question was about the dream scenario.

Ok, division title possibly. What other pieces would we then need?

[Cardinals4Life]

If 4 of those 12 happen I’ll be happy.

Which four?

[Cardinals4Life]

All of that, and then the ultimate dream: we sign back Donovan in 2 years as a free agent

I'd take him back in 2 years. Who else would we need??

[sikeston bulldog2]

I don’t see one entry that won’t happen. I think every single line item happens; just not simultaneously. Timing is everything.

[JohnnyMO]

If 4 of those 12 happen I’ll be happy.

Which four?

The best 4 would be Herrera, JJ, Libby, McGreevy. But honestly if any 4 of those happened it would bode well for the future.

[2ninr]

Least likely-Herrera grabs the catching job
Most likely-Burleson repeats his 2025 #'s
I expect that from Winn and Lib
The rest is possible

[Cardinals4Life]

Least likely-Herrera grabs the catching job
Most likely-Burleson repeats his 2025 #'s
I expect that from Winn and Lib
The rest is possible

Here's to hoping 2ninr!

[TheFantasyStud]

I'm a believer in your dream scenario. This team is so much better then the pundits claim. Walker is going to come around and carry the team. Pitching is going to be an assett. The #2 farm system in all of baseball is going to elevate the team to the top. It starts now.

[clemonsonroots]

What would happen/where would we be if the following all came to fruition?:

Burleson - Puts up solid #'s equal to last season.

Will probably happen

Herrera - Blossoms into our best hitter and takes hold of the C position and the leadership role on the team.

Won't play catcher as he can't throw, but should be a really good hitter in the middle of the lineup.

Winn - Continues his GG play and improves his hitting to be above league average.

will be a gold glover but the hitting likely a slow burn unless there is drastic sudden improvement.

Wetherholt - Breaks into the league in a big way. Becomes a true star on both sides of the ball and contends for a batting title; Wins ROY.

Who knows, but he does look like he should break in and be an above average hitter right out of the gate. May be a bit before you can say true star.

Gorman - Plays average, passable defense at 3rd. Hits 30 HRs and hits .230.

Has shown no growth whatsoever. More than likely, this is the end of the road with him, but one can hope.

Scott II - Jumps his D to GG level and becomes an actual leadoff hitter who can get on base and utilize his speed; Hits .250 with 65 stolen bases.

His defense is so good, he is fine being a 9 hitter who just attempts to get on base and cause problems. Not a lot of hope in the peripherals that he will ever be more than a below average, bottom of the order hitter.

Walker - Gets back to his rookie numbers.

Man, the talent is there. 2nd hardest swing in the game. It is possible.

Saggese - Becomes the new utility man, a la Brendan Donovan.

He is a subpar defensive player. Donovan is a great defensive player. He will not replace Donovan...but can he hit at a high average and bring value to the team...probably.

Church - Provides great defense and becomes a solid contributor.

He could be a solid 4th outfielder. Need his offensive profile to translate to the majors...not sure he is ready or ever will be, but maybe.

Liberatore - Becomes the new leader of the staff and pitches to a 3.50 ERA.

He just is not that good. He is a low to mid 4 era, pitch to contact pitcher. He will not be a top 3 of a roation (in a good one), but being a solid 4 or 5 looks like it will happen. You can win with that...but not as your number 1 or 2 pitcher.

McGreevy - Also co-leads the staff with a sub 4.00 ERA.

Right handed Libertore. See above.

May - Stays healthy and pitches to a low 3.00 ERA by mid-season.

Most likely, he is the next Kip Wells. If somehow he is good again- which there are zero signs pointing to improvement from the last couple of seasons-he is likely dealt by deadline.

If all of these things happen, where would we be in the "build" ? Would we be in playoff contention this year? What would we need to add next off-season?

Odds that all of these things happen- maybe 1 percent.

Thoughts?

[Basil Shabazz]

Honestly, if Walker turns into a .270/.350/.450 hitter and Gorman settles in around .230/.330/.470, this team is probably a .500 club and hanging in the Wild Card race deep into the season.

The trajectory of those two will either accelerate the rebuild or drag it out — it really hinges on which way their development goes.