Originally Posted by Superturtle:
For 750k? What a bunch of dipshits.
Seems like a terrible idea, now there's no mending that relationship. Maybe they would take an often injured malcontent with #1 upside in trade. [Reply]
Raw power is dead ass last on the list of concerns for Walker. When he hits 'em, they stay hit.
But he has some holes in his swing and his game power comes and goes. Granted, AA doesn't have the juiced ball that AAA has, but 536 PAs against AA pitching and he only had 19 bombs. For someone that his the ball as squarely as he does and typically takes a good approach to the plate, that's odd. 900 total PAs now in the low minors and only 33 homers?
Tells me there are some mechanical changes that should be made there if you want him to be more than another Jason Heyward sort of guy who's game power just doesn't match his size and raw power.
I also think they need to have him out in RF shagging flies unless they have no intention of extending Goldschmidt, in which case they should have him at 1st.
I don't think he's ready for the show yet, but he's a highlight reel player, for sure. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Raw power is dead ass last on the list of concerns for Walker. When he hits 'em, they stay hit.
But he has some holes in his swing and his game power comes and goes. Granted, AA doesn't have the juiced ball that AAA has, but 536 PAs against AA pitching and he only had 19 bombs. For someone that his the ball as squarely as he does and typically takes a good approach to the plate, that's odd. 900 total PAs now in the low minors and only 33 homers?
Tells me there are some mechanical changes that should be made there if you want him to be more than another Jason Heyward sort of guy who's game power just doesn't match his size and raw power.
I also think they need to have him out in RF shagging flies unless they have no intention of extending Goldschmidt, in which case they should have him at 1st.
I don't think he's ready for the show yet, but he's a highlight reel player, for sure.
If they try to force him up this year I think he's going to flame out. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
So he's a flash player that will end up being underwhelming.
Coulda just said "he's a STL Cardinals position prospect" and that would say all you needed.
I wouldn't say that.
I'd say he's the type of prospect that Oscar Taveras was sold as being. He already has a quicker, more compact swing than OT did and while OT was a guy who was FAR less athletic than his body type appeared, Walker is the opposite. Walker is a massive dude who doesn't look like much of an athlete but he's actually pretty impressive in the field and on the bases.
He'll grow out of that, IMO, but he can still play corner OF for now and do it quite well.
But think about Jose Martinez for a second. Everything about that guy suggested he should be able to hit for power and he just...didn't. It was something in his swing and they never got it out of him.
If Walker's game power doesn't develop, I'd say Jose Martinez is his floor. But he's so damn young that there's no reason to believe he can't be much better than that.
I'd say the difference in development is something between a 25 HR guy with a .360 OBP and .780 OPS or a 35-40 HR guy w/ a .390 OBP and .900 OPS.
He's just too damn young right now to know exactly where he'll end up, but I think he'll be a pretty good ballplayer either way. Then again, I was a massive Dylan Carlson stan when he was still in the low minors and there appears to be a non-zero chance that he kinda sucks. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I wouldn't say that.
I'd say he's the type of prospect that Oscar Taveras was sold as being. He already has a quicker, more compact swing than OT did and while OT was a guy who was FAR less athletic than his body type appeared, Walker is the opposite. Walker is a massive dude who doesn't look like much of an athlete but he's actually pretty impressive in the field and on the bases.
He'll grow out of that, IMO, but he can still play corner OF for now and do it quite well.
But think about Jose Martinez for a second. Everything about that guy suggested he should be able to hit for power and he just...didn't. It was something in his swing and they never got it out of him.
If Walker's game power doesn't develop, I'd say Jose Martinez is his floor. But he's so damn young that there's no reason to believe he can't be much better than that.
I'd say the difference in development is something between a 25 HR guy with a .360 OBP and .780 OPS or a 35-40 HR guy w/ a .390 OBP and .900 OPS.
He's just too damn young right now to know exactly where he'll end up, but I think he'll be a pretty good ballplayer either way. Then again, I was a massive Dylan Carlson stan when he was still in the low minors and there appears to be a non-zero chance that he kinda sucks.
There are a whole lot of "Dylan Carlson" stories in the Cardinals history. Guys who show so much promise and then just end up being below average. I'm sure Walker will be the exception though. I think he can be really good if they give him the time he needs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by raybec 4:
If they try to force him up this year I think he's going to flame out.
I can't see them bringing him north with the club. He's never played in AAA and with O'Neill, Carlson and Nootbaar they're gonna wanna get those guys ABs. You also need to find swings for Gorman, Yepez, Burleson and Donovan (though it appears Brendan is probably ticketed to start at 2b). Heck, there's even Moises Gomez who was the organizational player of the year last season. I'd imagine he'll get a shot and likely fail, but I don't think they want another Adolis Garcia debacle on their hands where they just bury an older prospect because he has flaws and in so doing ignore his strengths.
If anyone had a chance to force his way onto the club, I'd say it's probably Winn, who could move Edman back over to 2b and give you the most dynamic MI in baseball. But I don't think he's ready either.
It's all masturbating anyway - this team can't pitch. [Reply]
Originally Posted by raybec 4:
There are a whole lot of "Dylan Carlson" stories in the Cardinals history. Guys who show so much promise and then just end up being below average. I'm sure Walker will be the exception though. I think he can be really good if they give him the time he needs.
Eh - that's everyone, really.
Every organization has more failures than successes on their prospect resumes. That's why there's a school of thought that says trade them just as you're ready to call them up. For the vast majority of them, their value will never be higher.
But you've gotta have massive stones and a hell of a payroll to back you up if you're wrong. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Eh - that's everyone, really.
Every organization has more failures than successes on their prospect resumes. That's why there's a school of thought that says trade them just as you're ready to call them up. For the vast majority of them, their value will never be higher.
But you've gotta have massive stones and a hell of a payroll to back you up if you're wrong.
Our FO doesn't have either stones or payroll. [Reply]