Agreed with the commentators on the needed ability to adjust to left-handed hitting (and whatever other holes may be exploited next year).

One thing I have to disagree with however is Fraley’s contention that Rasmus has a better arm than Edmonds. He doesn’t have Edmonds’ arm. A good arm, but not Edmonds’. That said, the placement of his overall abilities somewhere between Rowand and Edmonds seems a pretty apt description to me. He is a 20+ homer guy, but his RBI total is going to be highly dependent upon where he’s hitting in the order.

As for his much made of weight loss, we should keep in mind that he’s 23. I’m sure he and the training staff are doing something to deal with it now, but chances are that this will obviously cease to be an issue at he gets older.

He’s definitely an upgrade over Ankiel if, for no other reason, than consistency and an ability to hit in close and late situations.

Don’t mean to take anything from Colby, but i have not seen that arm that is better than Edmonds

Rasmus looks to me like he struggles most against breaking pitches. He stands in very well though, so I just think he needs time. I noticed, especially attending the San Diego series, that he would pop out of the clubhouse for batting practice only when his time came, then immediately returned. He did this every day I watched BP. Most of the guys hung around the cage. Would be good for a rookie to do the same, I would think.
I have high hopes for him, his baserunning is the best on the team already. He’s aggressive without taking huge risks like Albert. He’s really smooth there.

IMHO, Ank’s arm is better than either player. He just hasn’t (and probably won’t) get a chance to consistently showcase it due to his inability (at this point) to make adjustments in his offensive approach. He’s made several throws that were just insane– but again we probably just haven’t seen enough of him.

He is 23. He is displaying enough talent to make the scribes describe him as if he were a 28 year old minor league call up. Most players don’t reach their hitting potential before age 27. He has plenty of time to be a Jim Edmonds type all star. I would bet on it.

I keep hearing all these things about his diet - eating habits effecting his stamia and energy. Just what is or was his diet? Was it junk food? Not enough food?

I dont want it to come across that Colby has an absolute cannon from the outfield, but having a better arm than Edmonds isnt that difficult for a big league outfielder to posess. Jimmies arm was average in strength, above average in accuracy. Accuracy is aquired with age, arm-strength a player has at birth or he does not! Colbys arm is at very least, the same as Jimmies.. I would give Raz the nod probably. For the guy that said he has never seen an arm like Edmonds before-Do you watch the Cardinals much?
They have this guy Rick Ankiel. He throws strikes from the left center gap, off his back foot(with no crow-hop) to every base around Busch. He could probably hit Ft. Leonardwood if he wanted too! Rick has an absolute cannon. Jose Gullien, Ichiro, and Ankiel-best OF ARMS. Edmonds would look like he was throwing with the wrong hand if he was next to any of these players. Never seen an arm like Edmonds?

Colby, don’t listen to these hacks.

Dude, you’re wearing the “Birds-on-the Bat” in front of the best fans in baseball.

No pressure, we just want everything, eh?

If you give your all, listen to the guys like Pujols and Schmoltzie who’ve been there, you’ll be OK.

Oh, and hit the lefties better, too, eh?

Rasmus seems to have a little J.D. Drew in him. Not the constant soft injuries, but the complacency of a talented player who knows he’s talented, and intends on letting that talent carry him. I question whether he’s the kind of guy who will put in the effort to become a great player. Among other things, I’m recalling his refusal to attend the AFL last off season. That attitude could limit his upside.

Sorry Joe I have to wonder what you are talking about “bunts well”. I’ve seen Colby attempt to bunt twice…and he failed miserably both times trying to move a runner over in a couple of key situations. Even the announcers for the game commented on how bad his form was, citing that he wasn’t asked to bunt very often in the minors where he was a middle of the order hitter. The rest of your comment has merit but jeesh, are you making this stuff up or what.

I am surprised that not one writer mentioned Rasmus has shown the ability to be a clutch hitter. Without researching it, I can think of two game winning home runs and a huge clutch single that led to a win against the Mets. He seems to dig in and hit well against hard throwing closer types like K-Rod and Broxton. Most rookies struggle mightily against the great pitchers, but Colby as a rookie shows some promise that many players never show.

Rasmus has the potential, and is very good as is. All he needs is experience. He gets that by playing every day.
As far as hitting lefty’s, You put a good lefty on the mound and the whole team has trouble with him, not just Rasmus. He is probably as good with lefties as 55% to 60% of the team now. I’ve kept score sheets on the team all summer and I think I can prove that.
As far as being as good as Edmonds, in my opinion after watching Rasmus play and also Edmonds his whole career, I think he will be better at some things and maybe not quite as good at other things. All and all it will be close.
It will take playing time, if he can get it. If he can’t get it here, a lot of teams are watching him and he can get a job with ease.

Here is the difference between Coby and Ankiel (Defensively)

Coby makes a lot of balls look easy, whereas Ankiel might make the play look more flashy. This has a lot of to with Coby experience in the outfield, whereas Ankiel is still learning.

What’s up with the diet thing? christ how long can it take to get straightened out or is this kid a sugar junkie?
Diet aside, if he hits the southpaws he’s gold.

Colby reminds me of Grady Seizemore. I would take that kind of production everyday. Might not be a lead off hitter but everything else to this point mirrors that type of player and hopefully that type of
career.

well said cdo. let the kid put some weight on and he will be popping the ball all over yard. rasmus has showed enough to make me think he will be Chase Utley type player but in the Outfield. Nice year Colby, remember guys he is 23.

Well it was reported he has a hietal hernia and has had to change his eating habits. Like not eating late at night (which most players do), not eating spicy foods (which most people do), may need to adjust the tilt of his bed, etc. As with anything education is the key. The problem was he lost the weight before the diagnosis and there for now is trying to overcome the weight loss. He is only a newly turned 23 year old who played most of his rookie season at 22. He is very talented and seems to be very respectful of his rookie status and his place on this team by knowing his role on this team. One can only believe that in years to come his leadership qualities and personality will begin to show. No player makes it to the big leagues at 22 without being an extra special talent and person. Give him a break as you are writing from you comfy sofa as he is out preparing to provide you with your enterainment for tonight.

Do you suppose that someone on the Cardinals’ development staff said to its prospects, “Uh, fellas. Pizza, fried chicken, and Twinkies are out. You gotta eat right.”

What is this nonsense about a professional athlete in this day and age suddenly discovering that nutrition is important? Hello !

Nobody knows, least of all Colby. Life is what happens when you plan something else….

Colby is and will be an excellent player for a long time to come. Two minor quibbles with the comments above: First, Colby has not demonstrated a very good arm most of the year (I have seen a few good throws from him, but many subpar throws — at the beginning of the season, it almost seemed like he had no arm strength; it has gotten better as the season progressed, though). Second, with the possible exception of bunting for a hit, Colby has been terrible when trying to sacrifice (although why Tony EVER sacrifices with him is a huge mystery — a complete waste of an out).

To the critics who say Colby reminds them of J.D. Drew’s demeanor…I say…what? How is this kid supposed to act? Cocky? Ask Brendan Ryan how that works. A team leader? Please, how would Albert and Carp feel about that. If you look closely, this 23 year old has a quiet intensity about him like no other rookie in the league! In fact, he fits in perfectly on this team by reflecting TLR’s intensity…I’m not sure any team in the majors has more scowling faces…check Pujols, Carp, Skip, Yadi, Waino, Franklin, Lugo, Piniero…on and on…Colby fits right in. The only guys who have a different look are Ryan and DeRosa. Think about how you acted the first year at a job compared to now…a little different, right?

itty bitty baseball…..It was pointed out last fall that Colby wasn’t going to play in the AFL because he was hitting the weights in preparation that he was going to make the big club in 2009.

As far as comparisons go to other players? Why bother? Colby is a rookie still learning plenty on the job. Down the road a few years or so would be a good starting point for comparisons.

Personally, I hope he gets his diet squared away and can improve his ability to hit lefties. His offensive ability in 2010, along with resigning Holliday, have the potential to make this as good of a lineup as the days when we had a healthy MV3.

Colby has a great future. I was wondering if,he had ever experimented,with becoming a switch hitter?

To clear up what I said about Colby’s arm. I did not mean that I had not seen an arm better than Edmonds, I personally think Ankiel’s arm is better than both of Edmonds or Colbys. I was just saying that I didnt see that Colby has a better arm than Edmonds had. And yes I watch a lot of their games!!

As far as dietary supplements go, I’m sure he could find a former Cardinal slugger who could recommend some.

Rasmus has a ton of potential, and that has shown through several times this year. He has a lot of natural athletic ability, and he runs like a deer.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think he has ever hit above .280 at any level in his professional career. If his first season in the bigs mirrors what he did in the minors, his problem is the many stretches of extended hitless streaks he has gone through this year. If he can somehow become a more consistent hitter, and obviously learning to hit left handers is part of that, then we could be looking at a potential superstar at some point down the road.

I think Joe was the only PD member to mention Colby’s batting eye. As far as plate dicipline goes, that batting eye serves him very well. He usually swings at strikes IMO. To cut down on his strikeouts he just needs to make better contact with the QUALITY pitches that are thrown when he swings at those strikes. That batting eye will serve him better as he gets more and more acclamated to the pitchers and makes adjustments along the way. His batting average and homeruns should increase because of that batting eye. Also, as Bernie reminded us, he is a rookie, but I perceive that Rasmus has a baseball intelligence that picks up on things quickly. That intangible quality will manifest tangible statistical results that the guys over at the watercooler project him to have. I just think those results will be sooner rather than later. Rasmus quiet demeaner projects a guy that is a thinker, a student of the game and a respecter of persons/teammates. He’s not out to show anyone up. As he grows out of his rookie shell, we will see more leadership qualities from Colby. The fact that he is the way he is right now as a rookie shows me his maturity is a healthy bud that will soon blossom beautifully.

Grady Sizemore - ish.

Why is everyone placing a 20-25 HR ceiling on him? The guy is 23!! Most players his age are still making it through the minors, not hitting 440 ft homeruns in the majors.

He probably weights 165 pounds right now yet can hit a ball 440 ft… isnt THAT power? Can’t we wait until he gets atleast 4 years from reaching his prime? Call me crazy but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he has a 40 hr year… He might even reach 20 homeruns by the end of this year… and thats as a rookie who is clueless against lefties and should have 100 more at bats next year. These “experts” really think he projects as a 20 hr player? GET A CLUE!!! give the kid a chance to grow.

Having watched Colby play at Springfield, I can say he is displaying the same even temperment in St. Louis. He was played nearly every day in Springfield which allowed him to get a rhyme going. I am sure that made him feel more like an important cog of the team. He was responsible for run production by hitting, and scoring. He did very well… very clutch.
His defense was always great, covering a large CF in Springfield. He did not throw top notch, but effectively. It appearred to me he showed very good leadership. He has the hernia problem in St. Louis, which makes it understandable he would have health issues. Hey… how many 22 year olds, male or female, eat right regardless of profession. I must say I am surprised that the Cardinals having invested in these young men don’t have a common agreement with the minor league teams on ensuring a proper diet/training to them. It would seem to be a very business smart thing to do. Are they just signed and allowed to waffle in the wind? I am very glad the Cardinals held onto Colby when all the trade talk was for getting someone to help win at all costs last season. We do have a very talented player to help Pujols/Holliday/et al win some championships.

20- 25 homeruns this year. All-star potential. Saved Albert from multiple double plays already. Excellent outfielder and opposing teams don’t challenge his arm. he is seeing pitchers for the first time almost entire season. He misses strikes, not chasing balls. I expect huge offensive upside when he starts seeing pitchers for the fourth or fifth time. Who is faster than Colby. Excellent baserunner, clutch hitter.

Raz reminds me of a left handed version of Torii Hunter, but only better!!!

Richfromiowa, I’m afraid that you are wrong about Rasmus’s minor-league batting average never being above .280. Rasmus batted .296 in Rookie ball (2005), then .288 combined between low Class A and high Class A in 2006 (.310 in 78 games at Quad Cities, .254 in 53 games at Palm Beach).

As for Gerry Fraley’s assertion that Jim Edmonds hit lefthanders well from the moment he arrived in the majors, um, not exactly. Edmonds’s year-by-year batting averages (average vs. lefties first in each pair) were: .222 vs. lefties/.250 vs. righties, .289/.268, .293/.289, .189/.350, .273/.298, .272/.324, ,190/.277, .270/.306, .246/.323, .262/.329, .225/.292, .330/.293, .296/.251, .156/.295, .198/.268, .146/.250. So in 16 years, that’s 4 years of a better batting average against lefties than against righties, and 5 years of sub-.200 batting averages against lefties. For his career, Edmonds had a batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage line of .296/.393/.562 vs. righties, .252/.333/.434 vs. lefties.

I can’t believe all of the criticism that is being posted here. I think Rasmus is a fine young player. He fields well and hits well. I have seen him come through with some good hits and great base running at times the team really needed it. I don’t know how you would go about comparing his arm to someone elses? He is only 23 years old. So, comparing his skills to those of a seasoned veteran might not be completely fair. I will say this, he has been doing better than Ankiel, all things being equal. Let’s get behind this young player and cheer him on. I think he deserves more play time. Just my opinion.

“He should fit somewhere between Aaron Rowand and Jim Edmonds.” I’m thinking/hoping a Ray Lankford caliber player. Not quite the offensive equal of Edmonds, but an above average player for a long time. Health is a concern, more than anything else.

i know hes not a centerfielder, but i would take ludwicks arm over ankiels or rasmus…..
stronger than rasmus and deadly accuracy ankiel doesnt have

Was Ankiel brought up too soon after his conversion to outfield? Would an extra season at Memphis have served him better?

I wonder what the P-D baseball staff would have written about Albert Pujols after five months. Will struggled when major league pitchers start to adjust? Has a chance to hit 30 HRs but it’s not fair to expect him to repeat this rookie season?

Let me say this. Who else at 23 has a fan video on You Tube with 40k hits? Maybe this is why he has trouble with his digestion. lol He is maturing. He will be a power to be Reckoned with. He does have a great arm. Let’s come back next year after the world series and start making comparisons.