St. Louis Cardinals Catching Decision SHAKES Spring—Why Jimmy Crooks Was Sent Down

A decision has been made about the catching situation and there's an argument to be made both for and against it. This is Lockdown Cardinals.

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Hey there, Cardinals fans. I'm JD Hafer and a former National Radio Sports anchor, born and raised in St. Louis and a lifetime Cardinals fan and welcome to another episode of Lockdown Cardinals, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Now the number one sports podcast network.

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All right, on today's show we will be discussing everything that we saw over the weekend. Watch to get to which had the Cardinals go one one and one like a hockey team.

They were one one and one. Yes, we had a tie in there on Sunday. So we're going to go over those games. We had some very impressive starts from Michael McGreeby Calahe, Andre Palante and some flashes of offense here and there.

So we'll check in on you know how everything went over the weekend. How people are doing that are affiliated with the Cardinals how they're doing in the WBC thus far.

But we're going to start today with the latest camp cuts and what appears to be a decision that was made on the catching situation for at least the start of the season right.

There's a long way to go in this thing and just because certain things go down for opening day doesn't mean that's the way it's going to be the rest of the year.

I hope we all know that. But this is news and what do we do when it comes to opening day stuff. We have a react to it. We like to do that right. That's what most people do so.

Here's what happened on Saturday. The Cardinals announced that they have reduced their spring training roster to 51 players, six players moving to minor league camp.

The team option to pitch your team kents in field. There sees our Prieto in field. They're outfield. They're Brian Torres and catchers Leo Bernal and Jimmy Crookes to the Memphis triple a roster and reassign non roster pitchers gather hails to minor league camp.

The Cardinals currently have 34 major league roster players and 17 and non roster in vitis in major league camp still. Now you're going to recognize a few of those games.

Team kents, former top 100 prospect, says our Prieto came over in that Jack Flair, he trade with Baltimore, scabber hails came over in the film, Matan deal with the Rangers.

Brian Torres got added to the 40 man this off season. He's currently in the WBC. And then you've got top 100 catching prospect with the Cardinals, the number six prospect.

According to the MVP pipeline for them in Leo Bernal, who's also in the WBC. And then the Cardinals number eight prospect, Jimmy Crookes.

Now the name that's going to stick out, at least to me, when this move went down was Jimmy Crookes, who got a taste of the big leagues last year and was fighting for a spot on the opening day roster.

And apparently he has lost that spot. And I say lost, but I really don't think it's so much that he's done anything wrong. It hasn't done anything good for the Cardinals so far.

And I think it's more that joel Pozo has been too good to deny a spot. And it's a spot that probably needs a veteran presence at so let's break it down.

Crookes appeared in five games this spring, only got 12 events. Got four hits, which obviously is very good.

Batting 333 one home run for ribbies to run scored not too shabby, right. And then you've got joel Pozo, who came to camp in the first thing that we all saw was that he lost some weight 30 pounds to be exact down 30 pounds from last season.

Put in a lot of effort this off season. And then so far this spring, he's been the team's best hitter. After Sunday, he's seven for 16 is betting 438 with one home run six ribbies, four runs scored three walks and has not struck out yet.

So the catching situation, give me looked at in two different ways.

You can look at and go, we've got a crowded catching position. Or you can say, we are very deep at the catcher position. So you can take your pick. However you want to look at it, you've got your your your primetime prospects in Bernal and Rodriguez who were still developing.

But with the Von Herrera attempting to become a full time catcher again, Pedro Paz has still considered a solid receiver behind the dish at a hit on Sunday, big hit on Sunday.

Pozo, who can play catcher and first face and be a right handed bad off the bench that you've seen do well in a major league setting.

So you have all of those up against crooks. So the deck kind of stacked against crooks when you think about it. Now, Crooks does have some things going for him that you can argue should have given him a better chance to make the team in the first place.

One left handed stick. We know the cartels have a lot of left handed bats in their lineup already, but between Herrera, Paz and Pozo and then Crooks.

He's the only guy that swings from the left hand side. So on days that you face a righty, which statistically is going to happen more times than not.

Herrera might be deaching. You would have crooks for your backstab. He also offers power, something that the cartels don't have a ton of.

Now, he's not a 30 home run guy, but he has had double digit home runs is last two years in the minor leagues and it both in less than 100 games.

So you're thinking 15, maybe 20 home run type of power that that seems feasible, which means that he's got more power than Paz and probably Pozo to.

He's also a solid defensive catcher, not going to hurt you behind the dish. He's been very good in the minors. Also, number four, this is a youth movement.

So why not let someone who is seemingly going to be one of your future backstabs, take the wraps instead of a Paz or a Pozo who have a lesser ceiling and we don't really know how long they're going to be around.

Why would you just let Crooks do it? Then you've got the argument to send them down and that really is playing time.

Is the reason why you're doing it. If Herrera and Paz are going to get the bulk of the time and you got Pozo who can be like that third catcher.

You'd rather not have Crooks rotting on the bench, making only one start a week like Pozo already comfortable in the bench.

We've seen him do it. He was good at it last year coming off the bench as a bench at her.

And appears he's going to dabble a little bit of first space as well. So he's going to be there to help when early needs a day off or something.

You know, I'm sure they're going to work these guys in, you know, Paz.

I'm sure Herrera will see some time at first base at some point just feels like it makes sense for that to happen.

But you've got Herrera coming off the elbow cleanup. He was scratched on a Saturday with the knee inflammation. So we're already off to kind of a kind of a shaky start hoping that he's going to be somebody who's going to be available day in and day out the way you want him to be.

But at least it meant this Crooks and Bernal can make the bulk of the starts together. Right.

Like they'll be able to do that together, switch off. People can be eight, you know, Bernal's a switch header.

So you got that going for him. And just because Crooks isn't up now, I do want to remind you just because not up right now doesn't mean he's not going to be later.

But for now, it appears that they're going to go with this trio. It's going to be Herrera who said the knee, by the way, was feeling much better on Sunday, which is great news.

So hopefully it's only a couple of days and the inflammation will go down.

Pahez and then Pozo.

Are you cool with this plan to start the season or do you think they're making a mistake would rather have Crooks up now and he should be catching more times than not.

Let me know. Obviously they want to give Herrera a shot at doing this catching thing and I think that's a big part of it because if he's going to be doing it and then you got Pahez and you don't need Crooks is that third guy that's

just not going to get as much playing time as you want him to at this point in his career.

So I feel like it kind of makes sense, but I understand why you'd be a little little peed off that Crooks got sent down.

But again, anything can happen. Things can change. He can come back up and he will at some point in the season.

But for the start of the year, you cool with this. Let me know in the comments section below and we can discuss it in our next cardinal confession.

I'm next we're going to talk about the standout performances over the weekend, which was headlined by the starting rotation, which continues to be a very bright spot for the Cardinals so far this spring.

This is locked on Cardinals.

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Thanks again for making lots on Cardinals you first listen of the day thank you for making locked on the number one sports podcast network with baseball back on and gosh we can close the opening day aren't we flying by you can lock in by joining the every day or club if you haven't already which is going to get you the add free episodes access to our group chat on discord we can talk with other Cardinals fans and baseball fans alike.

For the next week or so we got the code spring for a free month at spri and g check out locked on STL Cardinals that super cast that camera tap the link in the show notes for more information so as I mentioned the team goes one one and one over the weekend and let's start with Friday's game where they they clobbered the Baltimore Orioles either way why don't we got a sugar code and they beat up on them by a score of 10 to 2 but a lot of that offense it did come later on in the game.

Micah McGreevy got the starting nod and once again nothing spectacular but solid solid four innings allows one run of four hits but he also struck out four for the spring so far McGreevy has gone eight and a third innings is allowed three runs on nine hits one home run he has struck out eight but has walked only one so you like that ratio that's what you expect out of McGreevy and he's a pitch to contact guy you see nine hits and eight and a third innings that shouldn't shock anybody that's who he is.

He's not a strikeout guy the eight strikeouts and he's got already that's a little surprising but he's going to give up his fair share of hits but not allowing a ton of damage that's how he survives that's been a plus so far and we've also heard how he's you know taking on that leadership role among the pitchers which is also a positive so good stuff for the most part from Michael McGreevy so far here in the spring and I love the interviews like when we have had TV games and like Brad Taylor.

And like Brad Thompson was able to talk to Michael McGreevy the other day and just hearing the guy talk about pitching like he sounds like he's going to be a coach right like he's going to be a pitching coach one day.

He just has a good head on his shoulders knows what he's getting into so impressive for a young man of that age to be where he is mentally for this game.

Joe Alposo and two hits and two ribbies for error was two for three with a ribby Nelson Velasquez Joshua bias finally hit their first home runs of the spring in the game on Friday.

Jeremy Reeves was two for three with a ribby Nathan shirt shed ahead he walked a couple of times Jordan Walker had an RBI offensively this was one of the better days for the Cardinals so far this spring.

He got out to the bullpen as well push yard Soriano packing Norton Chris Roycroft they all through scoreless innings Max Ratchet was the only guy that gave up a run out of the bullpen gave that up in the ninth inning heads that's a control issues but it's okay you don't spring Saturday they face the Mets and it was Kyle Leahy on the bump and he looked outstanding okay.

No Joe Kyle Leahy is good as anybody this spring in this game against the Mets through four no head innings just 47 pitches a complete 180 from what he did the last time he was out when he got touched up for four runs he had three walks two and two thirds innings against the pirates it was an ugly game he knew it was bad he knew he's better than that and he came out and he shoved against the Mets for the spring eight two thirds innings he struck out nine but that bad game against Pittsburgh obviously.

It really makes the numbers overall a pretty bad a lot worse than what you know they could be 5.19 ERA so far in the spring five earned runs but four of those games in that game two home runs a lot of so far this year then the three walks again all of that came in the one game the walks there so honestly I would expect some of these inconsistencies to be a thing for Leahy early on in the season if he does end up winning a rotation spot

which I still believe he will I just it's going to be a bit of a transition for him to get back into starting picture mode and then going up against full major league lineups you know that wasn't the Mets full lineups a lot of their good guys were in there but you know swan sodas off doing his thing with the WBC Francisco indoor is hurt right now so you know he still look good you know but we know he's got the stuff to be a very good picture

we've got high hopes for him this year but I believe you're going to see some of these ugly days to like you did against the pirates and I think that's just going to be kind of who he is early on in the season and hopefully he'll work his way through that and become better off overall.

The offense got two runs off of met starter code isenga one of the second ending thanks to Joshua by as the second home run of the spring and then in the third inning when McGow get to took him yard for his first home run of the spring Alec Burleson had a good day three for three but that's really about it offensively as the Cardinals ultimately lost that game by a score of three to two the other good news that came out of this one reliever Riley O'Brien did make his first return to game actions and stealing with that calf issue early on in the season.

He's got to be in camp so good to see that he is progressed and he looked healthy looked all right they don't Sunday was another nail by her with Andre Palante getting the start and I know he's kind of the punching bag of the rotation right now after the tough season he had last year we've all taken our swings at Andre Palante we get it but he did turn in another solid outing on Sunday he went four innings allowed just one run on two hits one of those hits was an opposite field home run by Griffin co-9 on an absolute me

ball of the fastball like just right down the shoot for Seamer 94 miles an hour big leaders don't miss those very often and Griffin co-9 drove it out over the boards in left field he also walked a guy but he did strike out three and overall this spring whether you want to admit it or not Andre Palante has been decent give him credit he's now gone nine innings allowed three runs on five hits a strike out seven is walked two and he hit a guy but opponents are

only hitting one fifty six against him so far this spring he's only had to pitch against the violence in the nation also know not exactly offensive juggernauts that he's facing but the bottom line is you've got to get out the people that earned front of you

and that's who's been in front of Andre Palante so far and against them he has done quite well overall the only other run the fish got in the game on Sunday was against Justin Brull that was in the seventh inning but Ryan

Stanic Jojo Romero Scott Bluett and Gerson Marano All-Tos scoreless innings and the Marlins only got three hits in the game somehow the Cardinals tied because the offense stuck couldn't get much going again the Cardinals got one run in the first inning against Braxton Garrett who's going to be one of the Marlins main starters

RBI double by Pedro Pias that scored Jose for me and all the way from first base and then another in the seventh inning on a

sack fly by a 21 year old outfielder Jornal and Pena who was at Palm Beach all year last year so you're probably not all that familiar with him but good size 6 3177 so certainly some room to grow into his body but that was it it was pretty boring of a game to be honest with you on Sunday

another low scoring day for the offense which was it was comprised of mostly minor leaguers I mean Nathan Church was in there over three for me was in there over two had a walk Pahez was one for two Pozo was there one for three

but the Cardinals only had five hits in the game so another kind of stinker offensively that's really been the issue for the Cardinals in the spring so far we haven't really seen a lot of guys

do much damage you know it's been exciting to see Joshua by as starting to you know break out a little bit here in the spring we saw early stuff from JJ weather hole although he's cooled off a little bit but it just hasn't been a lot of a lot of damage which is something that I fear is going to be

the real for the Cardinals in the regular season I think the pitching sure there's going to be off nights but I feel like the pitching for the most part

it's they've got a better chance to win the last year let's put it that way I think you're going to see some pretty good outings from some young guys who have a lot to prove but I don't know where the offense is going to come from I'm really nervous about that if you look at spring stats which take up from what they're worth because you know you've got a lot of people who are playing in these games but the pitching has been outstanding and in the heading has been you know bottom third and a league so far in the spring so

take it for what it's worth but you got to be someone impressed from what you've seen from not only the starting rotation guys but a lot of these open guys that are going to have major roles with the team in 2026

how are the guys in the WBC do it because now that they're not here if you're not watching them in the WBC you're like wait wait how many we say guys that are that are off the WBC that are in the Cardinals organization and a few of them have been opening up some eyes so I'll tell you how they're doing next

next plus entry news on Hunter Dobbins houses rehab coming along we'll talk about it next on Lockdown Cardinals

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all on our on team Italy who was also to an ogre cephal through one inning allowing one hit and a walk but he struck out three which was great

showed some attitude when he came off the mound to which was awesome I love seeing my dudes especially my bullpen guys with a little bit of fire I like that

meanwhile sujace he's had a tough go over five to strike out so far outfield or mac capperniac is on great Britain they're oh and three so far but capperniac is in the problem

he's one for five three strikeouts but he's also walked four times so he's been getting on face but they have not been able to get a win of cool play

Zach Levinson and Noah Mennlinger are on ten a teen israel who has gone one and one so far they are both tied they've had a good start

here both tied for the team lead in hits Levinson's three for seven with two ribbies of walking through strikeouts while Mennlinger is three for six

scored one RBI and a walk and last but not least we got Brian Torres with Puerto Rico who was two and oh so far

Torres has only had three at bats he's one for three with a run scored and a walk and a strikeout

former cardinal no one are not oh also on that team oh for six so far with one RBI

Wilson Catreras is on team Venezuela two for four two RBI's and one of the players that the cardinals got in return for him in that trade with the Boston Red Sox was picture hundred dobbins if you remember

you haven't seen him yet though right because he is still coming back from the ACL injury that knocked him out last year prematurely

apparently things are going well progressing here reportedly scheduled to throw five innings in a controlled setting later this week so that is great news

I think you guys going to be pretty impressed with hundred dobbins when you do finally get to see him on the mound

he's got some good stuff man I thought like just looking when the trades happen I thought dobbins was the better picture than Richard fits

and we've seen what Richard fits is that so far in the spring so I have high hopes for a hundred dobbins as a St. Louis Cardinal speaking of Richard fits we got split squad action scheduled for Monday

Orioles coming to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter while the other half will face the Astros and West Palm Beach Matthew Libertor will get the start against Baltimore

while Richard fits is getting that start against Houston he's been very impressive so is Libby both of them have been very impressive

so far this spring both of these games will be starting in 1205 St. Louis time but only the home game with Libby getting the start is actually going to be televised so do with that information what you must

but I'll be watching the game and if you want to follow along on social media while we watch that game by all means give us a follow

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