Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Why Was Masyn Winn Scratched

Starting point is 00:00:00 A bit of a scare before the game today for the Cardinals, who scratched shortstop Mason win with an injury. How serious is it? You are Locked on Cardinals. Your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals. I'm Jady Haffertan, and I'm your host for Lockedown Cardinals, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network covering your team every day. You can follow me on exit JD Sports Radio. You can follow the podcast at L0 underscore Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:00:34 Also on YouTube, be sure to like, subscribe, and comment and hit that notification button so you know when new episodes are posted or the new shorts that we put out all the time. Also available on TikTok and Instagram and Locked on Cardinals, this is a show serving Cardinal Nation and giving the best fans in baseball all of the info about the birds on the bat. Today's episode being brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code locked on MLB at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. So the Cardinals offense is, it's going to continue to be scrutinized this season until guys like Nolan Aronado, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Mason Wynn, finally start stinging the ball on a regular basis. So you're going to hear chirping about this offense and how bad it is until those things happen. They haven't happened yet this spring. Not yet. There's still a little bit of time, but not a whole lot. And we got some not so great news right before the game today

Starting point is 00:01:40 when Shortstop Mason win was scratched, scratched for precautionary reasons due to a sore right wrist, which allowed Jose Barrero to get the start at shortstop instead. Now, reports didn't make it seem like this is anything to be alarmed about. No need to hit my new panic button that I, I've got here behind me in case something bad goes down where we need to do it. Doesn't feel like that's a situation yet. But when you look at Mason Wins numbers this spring,

Starting point is 00:02:13 perhaps he's been dealing with a sore wrist or something that has led to some of his struggles because it hasn't been good for Mason Wynn. One of your best hitters last year, one of your more consistent hitters last year, is batting 98 for the spring going forward. for 41, no extra base heads. Just two runs scored. He's got one RBI. He's only walked three times, and he struck out 12 times. That's really, really bad. And I know you're not supposed to worry about spring training stats, so to speak, but at the same time, you do want to see some positive progress. And there has not been much of that with Mason win yet this spring.

Starting point is 00:03:04 So much to the point that there's been conversations among media members, fans, of course, who are always discussing things, which is great, thinking outside the box about whether or not Mason Wynn should even be the leadoff hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals. And there's some merit to that for sure. People wonder if someone like Lars Newport would be better suited to handle the leadoff role with his ability to get on base more. He just does.

Starting point is 00:03:34 Newt has an on-base percentage of 3-42 last year. That's what he had in 109 games. Hit lead off today, by the way, after Mason Wynn was scratched. He's got a 348 on-base percentage in his career. Mason Wynn really only has last year to go off of, but is at 314 in his first full season. Newt has one of the best eyes in the league. It's really fun to watch him.

Starting point is 00:04:03 using the ABS in spring training and just embarrassing umpires who continue to miss calls and they're going to. They're human. It's okay. They're not robots. But it is funny when Newt sees when he's like, more times than not. I don't know if I've seen him get one wrong yet, where he's like, well, that was a ball, dude. He walks a lot. He has that ability. had 52 of them last year in 109 games while Mason played in 150 games last year and had 41. So there's a big discrepancy there. What are elite off hitters supposed to do? Set the table.

Starting point is 00:04:45 Get on base. Be on base for your dangerous hitters when they came up so that there's problems. There's chaos on the base paths for that starting pitcher. Make him go from the stretch. Make them think about things. And perhaps it's something that that Ali will toy with at some point. Obviously, the key to anything like that is trying to keep Lars Noop bar on the field, which so far, fingers crossed, double fingers crossed here.

Starting point is 00:05:13 He's been able to do so far this spring. He's looked healthy, had two more walks in today's game, giving him 12 this spring, which is the second highest total of all players in Major League Baseball this spring. And he's got an on-base percentage of 457, which is fourth on the team, actually, behind Victor Scott the second. We know how outstanding he's been. Wilson Contreras, Andy von Herrera.

Starting point is 00:05:36 So whatever you got to do to keep Newt, healthy, whether it is bubble wrap, we've talked about that. Saunas and ice plunges, acupuncture, massages, whatever it's got to go down, whatever it takes to keep him on the field because he's obviously going to be

Starting point is 00:05:57 a big part of any of the success that this team wants to have in 2025. So with Mason out, it gave the Cardinals a chance to see Jose Barreiro and Jose Vermean in the lineup again as they continue to battle for that utility role on this roster, which one had the better day. You're going to find out about it next on Lockdown Cardinals. When it comes to fueling your body, quality matters. It really does.

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Starting point is 00:09:32 Leave your comments on YouTube as well as on X. Anytime you want your feedback, always welcome and encourage the Battle of Jose's. Continued on Tuesday between Jose Fermin and Jose Barrera with when getting scratched. It was Berrero who ended up getting the started shortstop. Fermine was in left field today, and both of them contributed in the team's four to four tie with the Marlins. Barrero was one for four. He did strike out once while Jose Fermin went two for four had a massive go ahead home run in the seventh inning to give the cartels a four to three lead at the time. This was Fermin's first home run of the spring. And all those stab cast says 366 feet, trust me when I tell you, if you didn't see it,

Starting point is 00:10:13 you knew it was a no-doubter right off the bat. 101.6 miles per hour off the bat according to Stadcast. It was not one of these wind-aided dingers that we've seen a lot of the spring at Radjardine Stadium. This one, so I had some zip, had a little mustard on it. How are these guys comparing to each other right now? Because they're the ones that are battling for one of the final spots on this opening day roster.

Starting point is 00:10:40 They're trying to take over that utility bench roll, both of them. play outfield and infield, although Barrero has played more of both over his career. But for Mien, like I said, was in left field today. Barrero is now hitting just 222. He's got two home runs, seven RBIs and three stolen bases. Meanwhile, Jose Fermin is now hitting 282 with a home run and nine ribbies. Most people agree that Barrero kind of has the upper hand in this whole thing because of his ability to play shortstop. And his ability to also play center field.

Starting point is 00:11:13 not easy things to do. But I mean, it's not like Fermin is going away here, right? He's making his claim to be a part of this opening day roster. Other pluses today came from catcher Pedro Pahas, who had tied the game up before Fermin hit his home run. Paix had hit one himself. His first long fly of the spring was an opposite field shot that wasn't quite the no doubter that Vermeens was, but still 368 opposite field, right center, 96.9 off the bat. Pahas also singled up the middle earlier in the game. He finishes two for three at the plate today. Plus, he gunned down Marlon, center fielder at second base on an attempted steal. So a very well-rounded day for Pedro Pahas,

Starting point is 00:11:59 because it is still a battle of catchers who's going to get the more playing time between Pahas and Yvonne Herrera, who did not play today. But it's really, you know, there's, there's the ying and the yang together to fill this catcher spot for the st louis cardinals herrera being the more dominant offensive player while paas is clearly the better defensive player herrera just going through his offensive stats here is writing a four game hitting streak the spring average now up to 360 for a bond with a home run seven rb excuse me seven rbis the obp 471 he's slugging 720, the OPS at 1.191 is WRC plus 189 this spring. Like off the chart stuff for Ebon Herrera.

Starting point is 00:12:47 The dude might be him when it comes to offensive catchers around the league. Like he might be one of those guys that needs to be talked about, you know, among some of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball. We'll see if he can do it when the regular season starts. But you saw glimpses of it last year, some pretty good numbers. coming into his second year here. But he's had his struggles with throwing the ball from behind the plate. It's real.

Starting point is 00:13:15 It's a problem. It's tough to ignore. You know, you saw other teams when he was catching last year abuse the Cardinals. And no, it's not always on the catcher when it comes to giving up stolen bases. Part of that is the team effort with the pitchers trying to hold runners even more close and making sure that they're not getting great jumps. against them using slide steps, using pitchouts. But your eye test.

Starting point is 00:13:42 Just go watch Herrera throw a ball down to second base and then go see some of these other guys. And you can tell it's a deficiency for Ivan Herrera. Even though he worked on it this offseason, it's still not anywhere near good enough. At least it hasn't been so far this spring. And then you got Pahas, who has the superior arm. He's got the superior build for an everyday backstop. He's a thicker guy.

Starting point is 00:14:07 I'm not going to say he's fat. That's not what I'm saying. But he's a thicker guy who's got some meat on his bones, which is something that a lot of pitchers like. They're like a big target behind the plate. Herrera's, you know, a more athletic guy. Still like, you know, very much in shape and, you know, filled out. But it's just, you know, it's a different build.

Starting point is 00:14:27 The pitchers loved Pedro Pahas last year. They love his energy and the way he communicates with them. But he's handcuffed by, his lack of offensive capabilities. He's just not as good of a hitter as Ivan Herrera. Pah is now hitting 241 this spring, one home run, two RBIs, the OBP 313, slugging for 14, OPS 727, WRC Plus, 46 before today's game.

Starting point is 00:14:55 I mean, it's night and day of what these guys are good at and what they're bad at. Together, that'd be an incredible catcher, right? we're talking Johnny Bench type of stuff here where the guy can hit. He can build. He would be incredible. But unfortunately, they're like the perfect halves of each other. And on a team star for offense and output, which is what the Cardinals are going to be. If there's a worry about this team, it's definitely,

Starting point is 00:15:21 are they going to be able to score enough runs to keep up with people? It's hard to believe that Herrera won't be the guy most of the time, despite the issues that he has with throwing runners out. at second base trying to steal. But I'm sure Ali will work on that and try to get a nice balance with both of them. You never want to wear down a certain catcher anyway. So those days of like Molina starting 160 games, it's not like that anymore. So there'll be days that, you know, Pahas will come in and sub in later in games as a defensive

Starting point is 00:15:54 replacement for Herrera. Maybe, you know, there's a pinch runner for Herrera after he's on base or something like that. It's going to happen. There's going to be nights where Herrera probably deep. H's just so you don't take his bat out of the lineup. So that'll be on Ali's shoulders and he'll figure it out. And I'm going to bring this up again because it just appears to be that where this is trending, Herrera's days as a catcher might be dwindling. You know, he could be the Cardinals future first basement. The way Contreras has become one. You know, the bat looks like it's going to

Starting point is 00:16:27 play in the major leagues at a high level. But if he's not a good catcher, And you're not going to keep them back there anymore. Changes need to be made. And the Cardinals got some depth in their organization at the catching position. And guys like Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, right on the heels, Pahez and Herrera. So there's not like, well, we're kind of stuck with them. Not really. You can move them around, which is something that I thought they were going to do.

Starting point is 00:16:55 And maybe start teaching them out of play a little bit of first base. But apparently not yet. Other offensive numbers today were good. Lars Nupar O for two, but he did have two walks at a run scored. Contreras was one for two with a double in a run scored, a walkout and a strikeout, now hitting a robust 375 this spring, which is tops among the normal Cardinals starters. Willie has always been a good hitter, but so far, what are you been noticing the most?

Starting point is 00:17:23 That you're not noticing him down at first base, that he's not making egregious mistakes. You're like, I can tell he doesn't play first base very often. It hasn't looked too bad. Now, I haven't seen him having to scoop a lot of bad throws or anything like that. But when it comes to the basic routine type of plays that a first baseman has to handle, he's done all right with it so far. I've seen some good throws out of him to the plate and turn double plays. So I'm encouraged by how Wilson has taken to being a first baseman.

Starting point is 00:17:56 Brennan, one for four today, one out. did have a line drive out that, you know, hit it right on the screws, but it was caught in center field. So hopefully he's starting to feel a little bit more comfortable up there. He's still hitting just 194 this spring and has just one extra base hit and seven strikeouts. So need to get Donnie going with the season just around the corner.

Starting point is 00:18:16 Aronado, O for two today. He did have an RBI sack fly in that first inning, which was a good piece of like creating office for the Cardinals when they had a couple of walks to start the game. and they didn't shoot themselves in the foot with strikeouts or double plays or anything like that. They were able to hit a couple sack flies and get a run in. So that worked out. Nato just had a nice day against the Blue Jays on Saturday with a couple of hits.

Starting point is 00:18:41 But so far in March, awfully quiet, awfully quiet for Nolan Arnano, hitting just 115 with one extra base hit, zero home runs. A lot similar to what we saw last year. Burley, Biscuits. O for three did have an RBI in this one. Jordan Walker over three now. He's down to 136 batting average this spring. Lucan Baker was one for two with a single is now at 289.

Starting point is 00:19:06 All in all, the Cardinals ended up getting nine hits today. They were one for eight, though, with runners in scoring position and seven left on base, which is something that we saw a lot of last year, which made this team miserable to watch because it was just so frustrating that there would be guys on base a lot and they would do nothing. They couldn't get them in. They couldn't get them over. And it was awful. It was awful.

Starting point is 00:19:31 And you saw some of that again today, which, you know, it's going to happen from time to time. But, you know, it's, again, when you bring back the same team that you had last year, for the most part, a lot of the same issues are going to remain because these are the same guys. Like, it doesn't matter how many different coaches you bring in and stuff, they're going to magically turn things around for a lot of people. So you're just hoping a lot of these guys who had down years last year. are going to be a little bit better, more like themselves, specifically Nato, Gorman, you know, Walker, you need them to be better. So, yeah, pitching wasn't bad again today, by the way. Miles Michaelis did have a little bit of an injury scare in this one.

Starting point is 00:20:12 I don't know if you caught this replay or anything, but we'll talk about that in his outing next. That's coming up on lockdown cartons. Get the supplies you need from the site made for the skilled trades supply house. Whether you're in plumbing, HVAC or Electrical Works supply house is the reliable way to order products online. Their easy-to-use website is packed with helpful resources and the latest product information to help you get the job done right. Plus, with a complete inventory of over 200,000 parts from 400 plus top brands, you'll find exactly what you need, delivered fast from coast to coast. And if you need help with an order supply house will offer you expert support and industry-leading service.

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Starting point is 00:22:23 on all of the teams during spring training. You can find Lockdown MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast. The Miles Michaelis experience is never a dull one. If you go to a game and Miles Michaelis have. to be the starter in that one, you are more than likely going to see some action. All right. The ball is going to be in play a lot. You're going to give up some hits.

Starting point is 00:22:50 And on Tuesday, it was a very normal Miles Michaelis type of day for the most part, except for at the very beginning when he did something that he doesn't normally do. And that's walk people. Miles doesn't walk batterers very often. If there's one thing, Miles Michaelis is pretty. freaking good at. It's throwing strikes, being around the zone, not putting people on. He makes people hit the ball to get on base. And they've been able to do it against him a lot the last couple of years. But in this particular game, first hitter walks the lead off hitter. Xavier

Starting point is 00:23:24 Edwards thought he had him struck out. Xavier Edwards ended up challenging, ended up being a ball, ends up working a walk, and it came back to bite him because the next hitter gets a single, making it first and third. Miles limits the damage, though, with the double play. So at least it didn't spiral out of control, which some of his games tend to do. But he was able to limit the damage there. fifth inning is where we started to get some more of the Miles Michaelis drama. First pitch, double to start things off. Then you get another double on a meatball, curveball, which just floated right over the middle of the play, almost like a softball pitch, just cranked for a double. That made the score two to one.

Starting point is 00:24:07 Then there was a lineout, then another single making it three to one. And then we had our, oh, crap moment. when Marlon's center fielder, Derek Hill, lines one up the middle, 106.1 off the bat, like right on the meat of the bat, just wop. And it goes right up the middle and hits Miles in the leg. And you weren't really sure where it made that thud, though, where like it sounded like it hit something thick. So maybe the thigh or something, but the scare was like that when you thought it hit him like in a bone or something.

Starting point is 00:24:41 but Miles being the elite athlete that he is, ends up picking up the ball, turns, throws to second, ends up getting the force out at second base. And then he started walking. He was like, oh, my God, this is so painful. And I'm sure there's a massive wealth wherever that ball struck him. And it appeared like he was going to come out of the game, actually, which you wouldn't blame him since it's spring training.

Starting point is 00:25:07 But Miles is a man's man. And not only did he stay in the game, finish the inning, came back out for the sixth inning. And after another leadoff walk, got another ground ball double play, six, four, three style this time around, and then struck out the final hitters to end his day. So 86 pitches, and very Miles Michaelis, 86 pitches, six innings, three runs, six sets, two walks, four strikeouts. You get that for Miles Michaelis for the majority of his starts. you're going to be happy in life as a Cardinals fan and one big welt. But a very solid outing for Miles, you know, when he, when he avoids that big inning that often plagues him, he usually gives the Cardinals a very good chance to win.

Starting point is 00:25:58 It's real. Behind him, you ended up getting two shutout innings from Chris Roycroft and Joe Joe Romero. Romero had a very interesting and wild sequence himself in his inning of work where he, he challenges a pitch. It was called the ball. He goes, uh-uh, that was a strike, uh, ends up being overturned to a strike. Then he picks off the runner that he walked in the first place with a sneaky

Starting point is 00:26:21 quick throw. And he did it very Willie May's Hayes style, diving back to first base, didn't even get back to the bag, just stuck in the dirt. So it was kind of funny. Then he struck out the next hitter and his, his inning was over. So that was impressive.

Starting point is 00:26:35 Roycroft and Romero, they've been impressive all spring, have yet to give up a run so far. Roycroft, eight scoreless innings, eight strikeouts, Romero, eight scoreless innings and 13 strikeouts. The only cardinal with more scoreless hitings in the spring is Kyle Leahy, who has 10 of them with 12 strikeouts. And all three of them appear to be parts of this bullpen moving forward.

Starting point is 00:26:57 So hard to not be impressed with everything that's going on with the Cardinals' bullpen so far here in spring training. Speaking of relievers, newly signed Phil Maton will pitch in a simulated game on a backfield on Wednesday and then we'll likely pitch in an official game either Friday or Saturday. The Cardinals have the nationals coming to Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday. Stephen Matt's is scheduled to make his fifth start of the spring. And similar to Lars Neupar, keeping him healthy is the key. You know, Matt's has looked healthy so far over the 13 and 2 thirds innings that he's pitched

Starting point is 00:27:31 in spring training. And when he's healthy, he's pretty good for the most part. Not great. but when you're hurt and you're always coming back from being hurt, it takes a while to get back into the swing of things for both of those guys. And their numbers suffer for it. There have been rumblings about a six-man rotation to start the season for the Cardinals so that Michael McGreevy, who's been so good this spring and was so good last year,

Starting point is 00:27:57 can be on the team. But we'll see if it comes to fruition or not. Personally, I'm just hoping that they don't start doing that freaking yo-yo thing. that they just keep doing to people, you know, where they're going, oh, rotation, and then you're going to be a bolt pen, and then we're going to bring you back to the rotation, and then we're going to stick you back in the bullpen, and if we have a double header, then you can start again.

Starting point is 00:28:17 Like, no, do not do that. They did it with Jordan Hex. They did it with Zach Thompson. They did it for Matthew Libertor. Knock it off, man. He's a starter. Michael McGreevy is a starter. Let him be a starter.

Starting point is 00:28:36 whether it's in St. Louis or whether it's in Memphis, let him be a starter. Odds are one of these veteran guys at some point or another is going to get injured. It's going to happen. And instead of trying to build Michael McGreevy back up to be a starter or try to build Matthew Livertore up to be a starter again, just leave McGreevy as a starter and have him ready to rock. something goes down. Don't overthink it. Seriously. Don't overthink it. It's simple. It's very simple. It sucks from a grievey personally, I'm sure, to have to go down to Memphis after proving everything he needed to prove at spring training last year in his four appearances in the major

Starting point is 00:29:32 leagues. He's got nothing left to prove. But the way things are right now with the roster, if you want to go six-man rotation, as long as he's starting, I'm cool with it. But if you start putting him into the ballpen and, you know, well, you can be a long, no, you immediately, you lose me on that part. I don't want to see that happen. And I don't think anybody else does, too. I can't find anybody who's like, yeah, let's do that. Let's, let's mess with him. It just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense and it hasn't worked out all that well for the Cardinals when they've tried it.

Starting point is 00:30:05 All right. Thanks for making a lockdown cardinals. Your first listen every day. If you haven't already, give us a follow on X at L.O underscore Cardinals and a JD Sports Radio. TikTok, Instagram, a Lockton Cardinals. Like, subscribe on YouTube, help our channel and our love for the Cardinals grow.

Starting point is 00:30:18 You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason and we will see you next time on Locked on Cardinals.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Why Was Masyn Winn Scratched

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