***Official 2022 STL Cardinals Thread***

[BigRedChief]

2022 Opening Day Lineup

Spoiler!

#stlcards on opening day:

Carlson 9
Goldschmidt 3
O’Neill 7
Arenado 5
Pujols DH
DeJong 6
Molina 2
Bader 8
Edman 4

Wainwright 1

— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) April 7, 2022

2022 Opening Day roster

Spoiler!

Pitchers: Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Dakota Hudson.

Relievers: Jordan Hicks, Drew VerHagen, Jake Woodford, Giovanny Gallegos, Ryan Helsey, A. Pallante, Genesis Cabrera, TJ McFarland, Nick Wittgren, Kodi Whitley, Aaron Brooks.

Catchers: Yadier Molina, Andrew Knizner.

Infielders: Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Tommy Edman, Paul DeJong, Albert Pujols, Edmundo Sosa

Outfielders: Tyler O’Neill, Harrison Bader, Dylan Carlson, Corey Dickerson, Lars Nootbaar.

On the injured list are Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes

For the new Cardinal fans that joined the Planet since last year, here are some of the historical threads going back to 2006.

Spoiler!

2021 Thread
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=337124
2020 Thread
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=329273
2019 Thread
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=320239
2018 Thread
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=312812
2012 Thread
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=254619
etc.
All the way back to 2006 WS
https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=312812

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I only see one unicorn on “Would it Dong” and that was one of them on Saturday. Most of the rest of them have been pretty legit.

Baseball savant has been a buggy POS lately but it would tell you exactly what he’d have.

I read somewhere that his 36 homer season a few years back would’ve been 52 in NY. The park truly couldn’t play any better for him. But he’s crushing the ball right now, short porch or no.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He’s not Chris Sale.

Sale threw 99-101. Sale still throws 99 with a decade as a professional under his belt.

Being a levery lefty with a sidearm delivery doesn’t make you Chris Sale.

He’s a probable mid-rotation arm who may develop into a 2 someday. But he doesn’t have anything in his arsenal that looks to project even at a 70, let alone the two 80 grade pitches Sale had.

At 22 he’s a solid selection but I don’t imagine he’s going wow anyone for most of his career.

I was in the Royals thread before the draft hyping up Hjerpe. Then the Cardinals got him and I was like dammit I'm gonna have to open that Cardinals thread for the first time and make sure they are sufficiently optimistic.

When he gets Cy Young votes in a few years I am going to remind you that you didnt think of him as a Cy Young candidate, DJLN!

Mark my words!

Also I didnt know JR was a Cardinals fan. I thought Cardinals were catholic? Lol!!!!!

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Eh - I like the pick quite a bit. I don't think this is really an amazing draft through the middle of the 1st. And yes, he's a higher floor guy, but it's a REALLY high floor and right now the high majors is a tough spot for the cardinals pitching depth.

I'd probably put Hjerpe immediately ahead of McGreevy. I think he's probably immediately no worst than the #6/7 prospect in the system and with as disappointed as I've been in Liberatore at the big league level, I think there's an argument that he's the #1 pitching prospect in the system.

Now I wouldn't put him there - I think that's Graceffo and Hence may not be far behind. But when considering polish and proximity, Hjerpe may be higher.

It's a fine pick. And when a top prep arm falls like Porter is falling, there's usually a really good reason for it.

I like him ok too, like I said it fits their philosophy. I do think he could ascend quickly, maybe even as a bullpen arm later this summer.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by VAChief

I like him ok too, like I said it fits their philosophy. I do think he could ascend quickly, maybe even as a bullpen arm later this summer.

Never works.

Cardinals are still sitting on Thompson in AAA.

He doesn’t have the kind of raw stuff to make mistakes and survive them. And as a kid straight out of college, he’ll make plenty. He also pitched plenty at Oregon and hasn’t pitched in awhile.

Bring him online slowly, get him 3-5 appearances and maybe 10-20 IP at the end of the season in A+ and start him out in Springfield next year.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Never works.

Cardinals are still sitting on Thompson in AAA.

He doesn’t have the kind of raw stuff to make mistakes and survive them. And as a kid straight out of college, he’ll make plenty. He also pitched plenty at Oregon and hasn’t pitched in awhile.

Bring him online slowly, get him 3-5 appearances and maybe 10-20 IP at the end of the season in A+ and start him out in Springfield next year.

DJ, saying he pitched at Oregon is an insult. He did not pitch at Oregon because Oregon is a trash school that didnt even have a baseball program until Oregon STATE won a national championship. Hjerpe went to Oregon STATE.

OSU proceeded to win 2 more national championships after Oregon threw their Nike money at baseball and failed.

Confusing Oregon and Oregon State is like calling a Jayhawk a UK grad, to put it into midwestern terms.

That is all.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by VAChief

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/...-hjerpe-687309

True to form. Passed on Brock Porter the highest HS pitcher on the board with a high ceiling for a lower ceiling college pitcher.

I don’t hate this guy just not sure you couldn’t have got him in the supplemental round.

Porter still on the board and may be there at 59.

He’s not signing or his medicals are garbage.

Hjerpe was a good pick.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Hjerpe was a good pick I will settle for that and leave you Cardinals to your Cardinalling.

Btw DJ - I didnt mean to come across as angry in that last post I was being tongue in cheek. But it is true that Oregon and Oregon State are two very unfriendly schools.

[DJ's left nut]

Brycen Mautz - there’s your probable fast-tracked lefty reliever.

Sure seems like a below slot guy. Not seeing a ton there.

[VAChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Brycen Mautz - there’s your probable fast-tracked lefty reliever.

Sure seems like a below slot guy. Not seeing a ton there.

Definitely rated below slot.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by VAChief

Definitely rated below slot.

College junior so he could go back to school.

I’d advise against it though - he’s not the kind of profile likely to perform his way into the 1st and as a SR his leverage would suck. So he’d get scalped in the draft next year.

So he should sign and probably about 1/3 below slot. But I seem to get that wrong more often than I don’t. He’s a fringe top 100 guy who went at 59. That’s not a massive reach so those guys usually end up at slot.

[O.city]

"Gotta keep the powder dry fellas, you can't sign shitty players in free agency if you spend it all on a player like Soto".

[O.city]

There is a zero percent chance Soto is ever a Cardinal.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

"Gotta keep the powder dry fellas, you can't sign shitty players in free agency if you spend it all on a player like Soto".

Again - our little boy has grown up. Moe would never say "dry powder" these days.

He'd use 2500 words to say the same thing.

"We're an organization built around our pipeline and we have an organizational philosophy built on next man up and organizational redundancy to ensure our paradigm is focused on competition and dynamic flexibility. Will we reach out side of the organization to supplement the roster? Of course, if the situation is right and the player has the correct mindset, we'll look to buttress our internal talent. But we're just not going to deviate from our organizational archetype...."

Blah blah blah blah.

He knows how to say "We don't want to put all of our eggs in one basket" (actual Mozeliak statement from 5+ years ago) in a way that crosses your eyes so you tune out before he actually says it.

Yeah, he's not gonna have the stones to pull the trigger. But again - this is a 23 yr old Ted Williams. I'd like to tell myself that he could pivot here, but he won't.

And hell, if it's one of those situations where Boras requires an opt-out every 2 years starting in 2025, I don't want him involved anyway. The opt-outs so radically alter the calculus of these deals. It makes it truly impossible to build a team and when that guy is your anchor tenant, it puts you in an untenable situation long-term. And there's nothing but downside in the deal.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

There is a scenario where a team like the Cardinals could get Soto. The move would be to unload the farm for him (Gorman, Liberatore, and a whole bunch more) and then take your 2 shots at a World Series title with him. Then trade him after those 2 shots (he would have 1 year remaining then) for as much as you can get back to replenish the assets originally given up. If it worked well, you could get a lot for that last season (or half season) of Soto.

It wouldnt be a long term acquisition, and would be risky, but a midmarket team might make that play.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Vladimir_Kyrilytch

There is a scenario where a team like the Cardinals could get Soto. The move would be to unload the farm for him (Gorman, Liberatore, and a whole bunch more) and then take your 2 shots at a World Series title with him. Then trade him after those 2 shots (he would have 1 year remaining then) for as much as you can get back to replenish the assets originally given up. If it worked well, you could get a lot for that last season (or half season) of Soto.

It wouldnt be a long term acquisition, and would be risky, but a midmarket team might make that play.

The Gnats won't.

They don't so much care if you can't get him re-signed, that's a YOU problem. They're not going to give a shit what happens after he's dealt.

So they're not going to price him at 'rental' rates. If for no other reason than they won't have to, IMO. If you're the Mets you absolutely pay what it costs. By 2025 (when a Soto deal gets up to full throat), virtually all their long-term liabilities are gone. They'll have one more year of Marte at $20 million, they'll have the Lindor deal and then they'll have probably come up with a LTC for Alonso.

So like $55 million committed, let's say $85 million with Alonso (and even then, Marte's commitment is only 1 more year so it doesn't really matter). For a team that can/will likely carry a $250 million payroll.

To get a hitter who's likely on his way to the HoF w/ a 99% vote total on his first ballot? Yeah - they'll make the money work. And the Nationals know it, so they likely won't offer a negotiating window but they'll make it cost the same as if they had.

Maybe the entire market freezes them out and a 'rental' price tag is the best they can do. But it seems damn unlikely.