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St. Louis Cardinals Mailbag: What is Stephen Piscotty’s upside?

By Dan Buffa

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May 19, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) hits a 2-RBI double against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) hits a 2-RBI double against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The power is there. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk power. Can it extend to a 30 home run season?


We have seen it. The Randal Grichuk power show. The Cardinals young righthanded stick is full of potential but there are questions. Can he cut down on the strikeouts? Make adjustments and give him a better chance to get contact. Who makes the better adjustment in 2016? Grichuk or the pitchers? He smoked 17 home runs in 350 at bats in 2015, including a ridiculous stretch in late June and July. He has the potential to hit 30 if he collects 550 at bats. Sure. Back to back seasons he has been hindered though by…injuries.

Grichuk had back issues in 2014 and then elbow issues in 2015 along with sports hernia surgery in the offseason. His right elbow is, in Grichuk’s words, something that may never go away. He will have to manage it. It can blow at any time. That makes him an extremely hard gamble. Can he hit 30 home runs? Can he stay healthy?

The next time you are at a marathon or race or at the gym, find someone who looks like the same build as yourself. Ask yourself. Can you run faster or lift more? This is a good question because you have no evidence to base it off but the potential is there. You’ve never tested yourself against this person before. That’s the trick here. Grichuk has never done it but has the tools. 200 K’s or 30 home runs? I’ll take both if I have to.

St. Louis Cardinals pack the phenom power. Which one do you keep?

Alex Reyes or Carlos Martinez? Who do you keep if you can only have one. Think of it like The Highlander? There can only be one.

Carlos Martinez. It’s not fair to the young jedi Reyes but what I have seen of El Gallo when healthy is so good to let go. Martinez has shown a newfound dominance with more responsibility. All Reyes has shown to do consistently is get high at home instead of utilizing that fiery right arm.

His own lack of discipline cost him 50 games this time and he has yet to prove he can do an extended run of dominance at the AAA level. He needs time and work. Martinez is a credible Cy Young contender in 2016. There’s a difference. There’s still time for Alex Reyes. Right now, El Gallo is more vital.

Next: Can Aledmys Diaz make the big club?

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