RASMUS IS TO SIZEMORE AS WALLACE IS TO PUJOLS?

by Red Blazer on Mar 13, 2009 12:21 AM EDT Comment 18 comments

I don’t know if anyone brought this up but I read that SI piece from the link that was provided by tom s.

What really stuck out in my mind was this quote…

We all saw Albert about the same way," says Allard Baird, who was then general manager of the Kansas City Royals. “We weren’t sure he had a position. He didn’t have a great baseball body. We all saw him the same way, and we were all wrong.” Blockquoted paragraph

Remind you of anyone we know?

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Read More: St. Louis Cardinals, Albert Pujols S.I. Piece(tom s.)

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At the rate Rasmus is going, he won't make his Major League debut until he's 26 years old.

So Rasmus is really more like Joe Borchard.

I like the optimistic comparision, but its hard to put Wallace on the same level with Pujols just yet.

by Czechguardsman on Mar 13, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that was what RB was saying here

I think he means that they really don’t know where Wallace is going to play, but they know he’s going to play somewhere because he’s going to hit laser shots all over the ballpark. When a guy can hit like that, you FIND him a spot on the diamond.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Mar 13, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I know, I am just pointing out the fact that such comparisions are way too premature.

I think comparing Wallace to Pujols or expecting him to match his production at this point is way too much pressure to put on someone who hasn’t even hit AAA yet. I’d rather not overwhelm or top prospects with ridiculous inner-circle HOF expectations.

And I was just using this fanpost as an opportunity to vent my frustration at the fact that we have yet to see Rasmus in the Majors as of yet. I think he was deserving of a september callup as early as 2007 but I understand the point of not wanting to start his service time too early. Still, he is now coming up on 24 years of age and I am starting to feel like he is at risk of turning into Brandon Wood. Rasmus’s time is NOW and he has get past AAA. It sometimes just frustrates me because I feel like this club can keep a deserving guy in the minors for far too long.

As far as Wallace goes, hopefully his defense will be good enough to stick at 3rd. His bat will be far more valuable there as opposed to LF or 1B.

by Czechguardsman on Mar 13, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he'll be 23 in august.

He’ll play most of this season as a 22 year old.

I guess he’s “coming up on 24” in the tibetan philosophy, “sylvia plath” sense, but he’s not there yet.

"i have a feeling the answers are bigger than the questions" -Dr Heyward Floyd

by SleepyCA on Mar 13, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

Rasmus Still Young

Unless he gets hurt, I anticipate that Rasmus will be in St. Louis by his 23rd birthday in August. Of course, he could very well be with the Cardinals on opening day.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Mar 13, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd.

by tom s. on Mar 13, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have a low bar for "deserving."

I think Rasmus will probably be a very good major leaguer, but I would think the guy needs to put up better numbers than a .251 BA with a .742 OPS during his 1 year at AAA (with significant struggles at the plate during much of that year before injuries sidelined him) to be a shoe-in major leaguer on a team with a packed OF.

It amazes me how many people are willing to shove any guy that shows potential in the minors into significant roles at the major league level. If the guy was hitting .330/.400/.500 for the year without injury concerns, then maybe you HAVE to make room for him. Barton having to stay on the 25-man last year and Skip being out of options probably didn’t help Rasmus reach the majors last year, but I don’t think it hurt Rasmus to get a feel for AAA before he had to face major league pitching. I’d like to see this guy man CF for a long time for this team. If that requires an extra year or half-year of minor league play to make that happen, then let’s all give him the time to prove he’ll be ready.

by etp_stl on Mar 13, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

He hasn’t proved anything yet. Let him put 2-3 good months together and bring him up in June if he does that and start his arb clock later. My guess is that he needs a full season in AAA and maybe we see him in June next year.I’m quite happy with what we have in the OF in the meantime.

Just win

by The Duke on Mar 15, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Colby Rasmus

is about to enter his age 22 season. That is all. (I do realize the exaggeration there, but want to set the record straight for those who do not know.) Grady Sizemore’s first full season in the majors was his age 22 season. Colby may get his shot during the same age season. However, Sizemore got a cup of joe in 2004 as a 21 year old. He got less than 150 at bats, but still got his little exposure. The comparisons between the two have been pretty startling throughout their respective careers, from what I have heard. I hope Colby gets the chance this year, whether it’s a full season or a cup of joe.

Brett Wallace will start out a little bit behind Pujols on the curve, as Albert had his age 21 season as his first in the bigs. Wallace just completed his age 21 season. I understand the comparisons that RB and you are both making here as well, but I am sure that fourstick is correct in his assumption below. Red Blazer had to have meant that neither has a position and Wallace’s bat is being said to be the best in last year’s draft no matter what his body looks like.

Good luck to both Cardinals/Redbirds.

by stlfan on Mar 13, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just pointing out that we shouldn't worry that Wallace doesn't have a "great baseball body"

It would be great though if Wallace did turn into a Pujols type and could prove the naysayers wrong and stick at 3B.

*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*

by Red Blazer on Mar 13, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Torre

at about age 30 switched from catcher to 3rd base and played an adequate 3rd. Torre’s body looked less a 3rd baseman than Wallace. I don’t see all the concern about Wallace’s build. Either he can play 3rd or not, the body is not the determining factor.

by ridgesee on Mar 13, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont we all hope

Dont take me seriously :-D
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take guitar lessons from me!

by jealousblues on Mar 13, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

where in the world is the middle of the road here

Joe Borchard, Grady Sizemore?

Beyond the Boxscore

by erik on Mar 13, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Skip Schumaker?

*Rasmus is to CF as Longoria is to 3B*

by Red Blazer on Mar 13, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Steve Finley?

I’ve heard Rasmus mentioned with him alot.

by Czechguardsman on Mar 13, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He walks a lot more

I think that he is more like Edmonds. But Sizemore is the perfect comp because of the speed.

vivaelbeñsheets

by vivaelpujols on Mar 13, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aren't we all being just a bit greedy here?

Who cares whether Colby enters the majors at age 22, 24 or 26? If the club gets ten years of Grady Sizemore-like production from him, I will not complain.

Cardinals management has been patient with its young players, and it is about to start paying dividends.

by JWO on Mar 13, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Next Year

Seems like this year is the year that they both need to prove themselves in the minor leagues. Ankiel and Glaus are both playing the last year of their contracts and the CF and 3B spots will probably be open. Rasmus and Wallace will both get their chances if they take care of business. That may happen next year or it may be at the trade deadline or it could even happen sooner. The Cards are not going to shell out the big bucks to re-sign Ankiel or Glaus so the writing is on the wall – produce and you have an opportunity.

by Warcard on Mar 15, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs