Cardinals Aim for Control

After a much-needed break from everything negative in June, the Cardinals celebrated turning the calendar. This week brings plenty of optimism for the organization as multiple players sporting the Birds on the Bat are honored in Colorado. It started with the Future Stars game as Memphis teammates Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore earned spots on the National League squad. That honor also made the St. Louis decision to hold back Liberatore from the Olympics a little easier given a call-up isn’t out of the question.

Both highly-touted players started and showed off to the rest of baseball why they shouldn’t be traded for anyone not named deGrom or Tatis. Gorman played third and had highlights at the plate as well as the field. Good friend Liberatore breezed thru his one inning but might be on his way to a big league rotation desperate for production and innings. Continuing the trend with a new-look MLB Draft, it was a fairly easy call to say the Cards needed to add more impact pitching to the mix. The only real question was whether it would be from the right or left side.

As the first round closed in on the 18th selection, a number of quality arms were still available. Given the strength of the college ranks, Flores and company were poised to add a piece to the Top 10 rankings that could also help replenish some depth that has been dealt the last few years. One deciding factor may very well have been looking for a fresh arm that is suited to step into the rotation in the very near future.

St. Louis could have snagged the sliding Ty Madden out of Texas or even potential Top-10 pick Gunnar Hoglund who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. What they opted for instead was a control artist who is relatively new to pitching full time with a stacked arsenal at his disposal. Michael McGreevy just turned 21 a few days ago and will be rewarded with a trip somewhere east as soon as he signs. For the UC Santa Barbara hurler, that just might be a tour of many different Midwest stops.

With a sudden lack of strike throwers at every level, the Cardinals have added the perfect piece to kick off their Draft. McGreevy works fast, pounds the strike zone and as a former infielder likes to keep his defense engaged. If that doesn’t sound like a perfect match, I’m not sure we can be friends. Tomorrow finds an extra pick plus more reinforcements on the way.

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