Bernie’s Bird Btyes: Jordan Walker Is Back, And The Cardinals Can’t Afford To Screw This Up Again.

BIRD BYTES

I feel stupid for even having to say this, but the Cardinals absolutely did the right thing by designating Tommy Pham for assignment to make room for Jordan Walker’s return to the big club.

I don’t know if anyone out there is criticizing this swap of outfielders in a changeover of a roster spot, but I see no reason to throw rocks at the Cardinals over this.

I’m a Pham fan from way back, and I thought he’d make a difference after being dealt here by the White Sox at the trade deadline. The right-handed Pham has swell career numbers against lefty pitchers, and that was the appeal of bringing Pham in. The Cardinals have been miserable against left-handed throwers all season, and Pham presumably would strengthen a weak area. But it didn’t happen.

– The idea that the Cardinals moved Pham out to save money is absurd. No. 1, the money owed to Pham wasn’t anything to break the bank – not even ownership’s piggy bank that presumably is protected by armed security. This was a baseball decision. They were going to have to pay Pham, anyway, unless he signs with another team.

– Pham wasn’t delivering the anticipated level of offense. He hit two homers and drove in seven runs against lefties early in his St. Louis homecoming but stalled out. Pham batted only .194 vs. lefties over the last month and didn’t have a hit in his last 14 at-bats against them.

– Pham stopped hitting, period. After powering for a .471 average and .882 slugging percentage in his first five games since the trade, Pham spiraled into a downturn. In his last 51 at-bats, Pham had six hits for a .118 average and struck out 25.4 percent of the time. He wasn’t getting on base, wasn’t cranking extra-base hits, and wasn’t a threat against LH pitchers.

– So what would be the reason for keeping Pham around? The Cardinals may be technically alive in the wild-card race, but let’s be adults here. With 29 games left on their schedule (before Friday), the Cards are six games behind the Braves for the No. 3 wild-card spot.

– Not only that, but the Cardinals had two other wild-card contenders ahead of them and trail tthe Mets by three games and the Cubs by one. And the Cards were only a half-game above the Giants. As of 4:30 on Friday afternoon, FanGraphs gave St. Louis a 1.9 percent chance of earning a postseason passport. Not. Gonna. Happen.

– The remaining month of games are better used to give young players an opportunity to add more experience at the big-league level and work on ways to improve. Most of all, this applies to J. Walker. To keep Pham in a roster spot that should belong to Walker would qualify as malfeasance. Such a silly thing would be hopelessly idiotic.

– And I’m assuming the Cardinals will actually play Walker extensively this time. His brief stay with the Cards earlier this month – one week, four games, three starts and 12 plate appearances – was ludicrous and bizarre. And this nonsense only drew more attention to the Cardinals’ incompetence in their handling of young hitters.

– We’ve seen way too many failures here, and the latest Walker episode is an example of why it keeps happening. This farcical and aborted plan to use the right-handed swinging Walker as a platoon bat against lefties – even though Walker is substantially better against right-handed pitchers – told us all we need to know. But I’m sure Bill DeWitt Jr. thinks everything is fantastic. Go ahead, baseball men … keep ruining players that you draft and “develop” and don’t worry about losing your jobs.

– I give Walker credit for the way he reentered the Memphis lineup after the Cardinals foolishly told him to pack his bats and go after wasting his time. Walker went 8 for 23 (.348) with a .500 onbase percentage and .435 slugging percentage during his detour at Triple A. Before Walker was promoted for illogical reasons, he’d crushed Triple A pitching for a .343 average, .687 slug, 1.087 OPS, six doubles and five home runs over a three-week barrage.

– Walker has been summoned to join the Cardinals at Yankee Stadium for their three-game weekend series. And he needs to play every day … no exceptions other than injury. Just a reminder: as a rookie last season, Walker larruped right-handed pitchers for an impressive slash line of .292/.358/.478 and had an extra-base hit every 11 at-bats.

– Oli Marmol must commit to Walker and install him as a lineup fixture. Don’t be concerned about hurting some veteran’s feelings. Committing to Walker and seeing him come around again is a lot more important to Walker, the team and your managerial future.

— By bringing Walker back from Memphis so soon, the Cardinals are admitting they made a mistake by promoting him to (mostly) sit on the bench and watch earlier this month.

– Walker is an enormous piece for this lineup – potentially — in 2025. The remaining dates on the 2024 schedule should be reserved for investing time in him. Being patient with him. And this final month of the schedule will be a major credibility test for this team’s batting coaches. Maybe Matt Carpenter should intervene and take over the Walker project.

– For his part, Walker has to fully dedicate himself to doing what must be done to take a huge step in his career. Dig in with the intensity of a Masyn Winn. Walker is a good person but his maturity must kick in now.

– Walker can’t be yanked around. Still only 22, he shouldn’t have to fret and look over his shoulder and fear the dreaded text message that has “Memphis” in every dang time he goes 0 for 4.

Will the Cardinals screw up another opportunity to get Walker back on track in a way that’s reminiscent of his hitting performance during his final 30 games of 2023? It’s way past time to get this right.

Thanks for reading, and please have a fabulous weekend…

–Bernie

A 2023 inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Bernie has provided informed opinions and perspective on St. Louis sports through his columns, radio shows and podcasts since 1985.

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