Michael Kay reports that Willson Contreras was calling pitches that pitchers don’t throw

Michael Kay, play-by-play broadcaster for Yankees games on the YES Network, revealed that he has heard from Cardinals people that Contreras was removed from his role as starting catcher because he was calling pitches outside of the arsenals of Cardinals pitchers.


“I found out something, I was talking to a lot of the Cardinal people. The reason that they took Contreras out from behind the plate, he was calling pitches that the pitcher on the mound didn’t have… He would be calling for a cutter, for a pitcher that didn’t throw a cutter. The pitchers were going crazy.”

How can this be possible in a professional setting? This shit doesn't happen in the Frontier League.

Mo did zero due diligence when signing this clown. Unbelievable. We knew he was a defensive liability of epic proportion on THIS board...a ****ing football board and a damn Cub fan knew it

This keeps getting worse and worse. Nothing changes until Mozo is gone. Just lose out already, ive quit watching and caring.

Just holding out hope Hence develops into a No. 2 starter so they can have one decent homegrown pitcher. If he debuts in 2024, his clock should stretch out through 2030. Who knows where Mo will be then?

I was listening to the Front Office on MLB Network Radio last week. Jim Bowden was even starting to say that Mo needs to step aside to take a figurehead job. Bowden went easy on Mo being the former GM, but simply said that organizations need new leadership after a certain period of time. The game evolves and what Mo did in the past is not working now. Bowden's words, not mine.

I guess the question is ownership going to wait for the team to be shitty for a multitude of years before they make the move? Kind of like what the Rangers did with Jon Daniels. Daniels rode the cache of two straight pennants for a decade before the Rangers parted ways. They were down for five years after their last good year in 2015.

Cards TV guys bragging about the 250K fans that have showed for the most recent home stand vs Yankees and Astros. And there is why shit will never change.

**** the Astros. The mid-2000s don't mean shit anymore, but there's not a team in baseball (outside the A's) that won't fill the park against the Yankees.

Homer ****ing garbage. Won't watch any broadcast that includes that hack "BT"

Nolan Arenado is the lone Cardinals' All-Star.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bringing the star power to Seattle. ��<br><br>Nolan Arenado will represent the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game! <a href="https://t.co/tgUryhiYUc">pic.twitter.com/tgUryhiYUc</a></p>&mdash; St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1675623332669014016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Now, we are the team with the single token player at the All-Star game. :doh!:

My Pirates decided they don't like winning or being in 1st place so they shit the bed in true Pirate fashion.
20-8 to 39-44

19-36 in last 54 games. What a cluster ****.

Just when they got me back in, I jumped out.

Should have left these kucks in England.

Waino is completely shot. His arm is baked

This team is on pace to be the worst Cardinal team since the end of the war. The first World War.

I said in the Royals thread its shame seeing Greinke and Wainwright go out this way. Older I get the more I respect how Barry Sanders went out.

I don't know how he gets to 200 wins unless they bring him in in tie games to hopefully get one shutdown inning and vulture a few.

Molina was done. But Pujols was still swinging a good bat. No one thought he’d get to 700 Home runs but he did. He could have came back. The Cardinals would have welcomed with open arms.

I’m glad he didn’t come back. He got one last chance to hit like he was in his prime again. It made me happy to see him turn the clock back one last time. I didn’t want him swinging at crap and embarrassing himself.

200 is off the table now.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marmol updates on Wainwright after another tough outing and expects him to be placed on the IL: &quot;He&#39;s pitching through several things. Our hope was that it was better today, but it wasn&#39;t.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/iHg76duwEq">pic.twitter.com/iHg76duwEq</a></p>&mdash; Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsMW/status/1676330953239609345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It is why I didn't believe or get excited during the hot start.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/YmfwJHNk1l">pic.twitter.com/YmfwJHNk1l</a></p>&mdash; St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1676622264752545793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nolan Arenado after getting played by John Mozeliak. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjnhN8pXvv">pic.twitter.com/HjnhN8pXvv</a></p>&mdash; Cardinal fan (@Cardinallfan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinallfan/status/1676731157902397440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I just saw the Jordan Hicks error to end the game. LMAO

Prime Ice Cube couldn't write a diss track savage enough for this team.

Bernie's twitter….

Bill DeWitt Jr. after firing Matheny b4 the 2018 All-Star break:

“In some places a winning record, or even .500, is even acceptable. Not with this city, not with this franchise, not with its history, and not with the fans."

What about now Bill? Who gets sacked?

More from DeWitt after he sacker Matheny on July 14, 2018:

"Continuity is desirable, but when it's not working, you feel like a change needs to be made,”

Bill, your team is 16 games under .500. What are you gonna do?

I’m not being a phony when I tell you that I like and respect DeWitt. But no major changes (plural) occur unless he wants them to. I’m holding Bill to what he said after firing Matheny nearly 5 years ago.

Are DeWitt’s standards that much lower now?

After the SB v Tampa we all knew the #1 position we we needed was O-Line help. Complete overhaul needed.

We could all see that pitching was a dire need this year. Even if it all went perfect, it still wasn’t going to be enough. Mo and Dewitt did shit to improve the pitching. We reap what we sew. So why doesn’t everyone get fired for such incompetence?

After half a year of broke Wainwright and now the emergence of walk with the bases loaded Hudson, things are looking rosier than ever at Busch.

It's past time for a major overhaul. Way past.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nolan Arenado breaks the scoreless tie with a solo shot ��<br><br>��: FS1 <a href="https://t.co/nTFf1F7jqd">pic.twitter.com/nTFf1F7jqd</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1677109110699962369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL: <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cardinals</a> 3, <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Marlins</a> 0<br>W: Flaherty (6-5)<br>L: Perez (5-3)<br>S: Hicks (6)<br><br>��<a href="https://twitter.com/MattPauleyOnAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MattPauleyOnAir</a> has the postgame show next on KMOX<br>��1120AM, 98.7FM, or online: <a href="https://t.co/1BXXC6vQny">https://t.co/1BXXC6vQny</a><br>��Tomorrow: Cardinals @ White Sox at 7:10pm; Pregame show at 6:15pm <a href="https://t.co/koiH6eEy0q">pic.twitter.com/koiH6eEy0q</a></p>&mdash; KMOX Sports (@KMOXSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/KMOXSports/status/1677127217665507328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DJ - what would Flaherty net us in a trade given his current hot streak?

I'd see if the Dodgers would part with Dustin May given that he only has 2 years of service time left and has a history of arm troubles. The talent is immense - risk it.

Ryan Pepiot is hurt but has a ton of service time left and is a middle of the rotation talent (top of the rotation stuff; might have relief command). I believe the issue is an oblique so nothing long-term. You're not getting Stone or Sheehan but leveraging their desperate need right now could get you a really nice piece if you're willing to risk the health or command concerns that those guys bring.

One things for sure - Jack Flaherty should never make another start as a Cardinal. Deal him now. That's as good as he's looked in years - Mozeliak should've been on the phone with LAD, Philly and Baltimore before that outing was even over.

Hell, the Dodgers could REALLY use Paul DeJong.

DeJong and Flaherty for Pepiot? Yeah, do that yesterday. Give Edman the SS gig back and see if that gooses his trade value for the off-season if need be.

There's a deal to be made here - Mozeliak needs to simply not be too chickenshit to make it.

KTGR had someone on yesterday can't remember who it was some national guy, he said Cardinals are interesting in the trade market because what they need is starting pitching but what they have to bring the best returns in trades is starting pitching.

What they need is starting pitching in 2024.

What they have are a couple solid starting pitchers in 2023.

Mozeliak shouldn't over complicate this by refusing to admit a mistake. I think they should trade Goldy and about anything else of value that isn't nailed down. But even IF that's too extreme, they should be making moves for 2024.

So that's your answer. It's not 'interesting' - it's self-evident. But this organization is absurd.

Cards are ****ed because Mo cant blow it up and admit that we aren't contenders anytime soon as he would be the person who put us into that situation.

DeWitt would have to fire him which we all want, but Mo is busy selling DeWitt on the idea we just need a few players for next season etc...

If DeWitt is smart he would be meeting with some baseball guys outside of the organization to get their thoughts on what the team issues are and how they would go about fixing it.

I don't think they're that far off from contending with the lineup/field players.

Issue is pitching and until/unless they change their pitching development or spending philosophy, there will always be a cap to their potential.

Yeah, this has gone beyond a Mozeliak problem - it's clearly a DeWitt issue.

He's allowing himself to be buffaloed by a used car salesman. It's really a poor reflection on him and how he's allowed himself to go to seed. Worse still, listening to his silver spoon kid say the same shit has me real worried that the next generation will be more of the same.

I've always been opposed to selling the team because the new ownership would carry debt service that impacts our ability to juice payroll. Unfortunately the DeWitt family and their insistence on $50 million operating profits is essentially the same thing but worse.

The team needs to be sold. This family has lost the thread.

They have the worst outfield in the sport and a catcher who can't catch. The only way to strengthen their IF is to move the only guy they have that can play average CF back to SS (where he's a GG caliber player) thus further weakening a black hole of a position.

They have 3b playing 2b because they refuse to acknowledge that he's probably a LFer long-term and a 1b playing RF because they won't trade Goldschmidt. Oh, and Goldschmidt is 35 years old in his own right.

Yeah, they're a long way off.

This team needs to be torn down to the studs. Oh could a couple of the fringe moves that Mozeliak is likely to make get them back to .500? Sure - that's a reasonably likely outcome for 2024.

But a 'contender'? **** no. They're not close to that at all. Look at the Braves and Dodgers. Hell, look at the young talent coming up in Arizona or even Miami. Even the Phillies and Reds are light years ahead of STL in terms of core talent. Worse still, BAD teams like the Mets and Padres have significantly better foundations in place than STL has.

This team isn't likely to be a top half of the NL ballclub for the next several years. A 'slight course correction' won't get them anywhere. It needs to be fired into the sun.

The worst outfield is in part due to Nootbar and TON being injured, leaving guys like Burleson, Yepez, and Walker to play the corners when none of them should be out there aside from Walker, who projects as a 1B or DH and has only been playing OF full-time since August of last year. Carlson doesn't hit enough to justify playing him full-time, but Nootbar along with Donovan. Both of whom I consider to above average to average defensively in the OF.

Edman is awesome and can basically play anywhere, but should be moved to 2B long-term when Winn is ready. Still leaves a hole in CF unless they intend on keeping TON (which I don't foresee happening). This forces Gorman or Walker to DH. I'm willing to sacrifice this season to let Walker develop.

The rotation is a massive issue and I don't really see anyone signed for next season, aside from Mikolas, under contract that I would think can be relied on to be an above average starter. I'd consider Montgomery to be above average, but he'll be a FA.

That leaves a rotation of Mikolas and a bunch of dog shit.

To possibly resolve long-term problems by acquiring prospects or players under contract for the future, as well as allow younger players the opportunity to play, I'd do the following at the deadline:

-Trade Flaherty
-Either extend or trade Montgomery
-Trade Stratton
-Trade TON
-Trade DeJong and promote Winn
-Trade Burleson or Yepez
-DFA Kinzer and play Herrera
-DFA Matz

Probably results in 90-100 losses this year, but I don't care.

Next thing should be for Mo to be fired, but I doubt that makes a difference if DeWitt is unwilling to invest in pitching.

They've been a long way off for a lot longer than most fans want to admit.

Depends on what you define as long way off from contending.

Last time this team probably could’ve seriously contended for a WS was 2015.

Last time they could’ve contended for a WS if the offense didn’t absolutely shit themselves with OK pitching? 2019.

2020- present has had serious issues in the rotation.

Contenders for what we want (world series) not what dewallet and mozo want (3 million in attendance and a wild card birth)

Then the answer is 2015 or 2019, with no other teams that contended between 2015- now aside from 2019.

I had 2015 in mind when i wrote my post because they looked like shit against the Nationals in the 2019 NLCS

Offense was horrible vs the Nats and almost got no-hit twice. Doesn’t change that from being the last time I thought they could win or compete for a WS.

If they beat the Nats, they weren't beating the 107 win Astros

Probably not.

Plus Mozo probably would have gotten a lifetime contract if that team made it to the World Series

Your goal should be to build the 2004 Cardinals. You won't always win it all even if you do, but that should be the goal.

So, have your rotation be centered around 2 reclamation projects, one of which was coming off severe injury problems (who would miss the WS but go onto win the CYA in 2005), 2 #3-4 caliber SPs, and arguably the second best SP the organization has developed in the past 30 years anchored by the one of the greatest hitters of all time, a HoF 3B, a great CF, and a good SS?

Personally, I think the 2005 Cardinals would be the better example of how to want to construct a team. 2004 had a lot of things go right. 2005 was basically the same team with a better rotation and Nuñez at 3B with Rolen being injured.

MV3 is something that I don't think can be easily replicated.

You should build your team to be as much of a juggernaut as possible. That team had HOF talent acquired through the draft, shrewd trades, reclamation projects, and augmented it with excellent FA signings.

Mozeliak would have been too scared to trade away Bud Smith and Polanco for Rolen. He would have thought Kent Bottenfield was a lock down ace. He would have never bargain shopped for Carpenter or traded peanuts for Larry Walker. It ain't in him.

You're making me defend Mozeliak here and wanting to view his tenure in two different eras as I think his style of moves are dramatically different from 2008-2014 vs 2015-present.

For the sake of this argument, I'm throwing out anything he did good or bad from 2008-2014, as I don't think his thought process is the same.

To Mozeliak's credit, he acquired Arenado (a 3B who is probably of similar caliber to Rolen both offensively and defensively) for jackshit and Goldschmidt for roughly the equivalent of Smith + Polanco with Weaver and Kelly.

His most notable reclamation project during this time was Mikolas.

I'd say the biggest issues Mozeliak/Cardinals have had during this time (2015-present) are the following:

-Doing the bare minimum to improve the team in FA. For example, at a surface level, signing Matz and Contreras were steps in the right direction but having those be the only moves of note made in FA isn't enough to move the needle to contend.
-Targeting middle-of-the-road starters. Leake and Matz shouldn't be the centerpieces of an off-season in free agency.
-Focusing on relievers who induce ground balls instead of strikeouts.
-Spending $ on the wrong relievers (Cecil, Holland, though I think Holland's issue was more due to when he was signed in-season).
-Relying on Frankenstein's monster for the BP and rotation the past 3 seasons.
-Letting Yadi have a swan song in 2022 when he should have been gone before then as well as continuing to delay the inevitable.
-Taveras' death.
-Focusing on having a bunch of guys offensively/defensively who are above average while not developing any superstars.

The biggest issue Mozeliak has is not having Walt Jocketty and Jeff Luhnow to make him look like he knows what he's doing.

Except Jocketty basically said **** prospects and went all-in for the better part of a 7 season period before ultimately losing his job due to beefing with Luhnow.

Noot hitting 3rd is embarrassing

Noot is near the bottom of the list of things that are concerning with this abomination

Latest mocks

Baseball America -- Chase Davis, OF, Arizona

The Athletic (Keith Law) -- Hurston Walrep, RHP, Florida

Fangraphs (Eric Longenhagen) -- Chase Davis, OF, Arizona

MLB.com (Jonathan Mayo) -- Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland

CBS -- Tommy Troy, SS, Stanford

Sporting News -- Aidan Miller, 3B, Mitchell HS (Fla.)

But still a concern considering they wouldn't part as a package for something more valuable. He's not a top of the order guy in any shape or form. Not a bad role player/end of the order guy

You’re bitching about Noot for no reason.

I don't disagree with you here, but maybe an organization that routinely produces hyped prospects that disappoint needs to say **** them more often.

It bit him in the ass at times with Dan Haren and Coco Crisp, but Mozeliak has a habit of holding on to pocket fives in a board full of paint before he realizes he should have dumped his hand long ago.

This org used to be able to scout its own players.

Cardinals' selection at No. 21 overall in Baseball America's final mock:

21. Cardinals — Chase Davis, OF, Arizona

Slot Value: $3,618,200

Total Bonus Pool: $6,375,100

There are enough landing spots for Chase Davis in this range that I feel like he goes up here. The Cardinals are one team that has been strongly associated with him recently. If players like Arjun Nimmala, Hurston Waldrep or Tommy Troy are still available they could be a fit as well.

Update: I’ve not heard anything to pull me off the Chase Davis pick, though I do think St. Louis could be a team that would be interested in all of the top high school pitchers. If Kyle Teel is somehow available here I think he could come off the board here as well.

Dart Throw Later Picks: 3B Mike Boeve, 3B Gino Groover

MLB.com's final mock

21. Cardinals
Callis: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon (No. 10)
Wilson has the best bat-to-ball skills in the Draft and could go as early as No. 6, but there are concerns about his exit velocities and potential offensive impact, so he could drop further than expected. This may be the ceiling for Kent State's Joe Whitman, the best college left-hander in a fallow crop.

Mayo: Nolan Schanuel, 1B/OF, Florida Atlantic (No. 26)
This continues to be a popular spot for college bats. If things go the way that’s outlined above, Schanuel might top the tier of hitters available such as Davis and Bradfield. If they want to go in another direction, the top prep lefty (White) is still on the board.

I know nothing about Davis other than reading a scouting report, but a mostly polished college OF with above average but not great tools is pure Mo.

Bullshit. It's part of the exact problem of counting on guys not good enough

Scouting reports can differ.

Baseball America gives Davis a 70 arm and a 60 power.

But notes that he had a 68% contact rate (YIKES!) his first two college seasons. He brought his strikeout rate down to 14.4% as a junior. That's why he is all of a sudden a first round prospect.

There's not a team in baseball that doesnt have room for a 3 fWAR player.

Not a top third lineup guy. What part of that don't you understand? Are you that dumb?

Nootbaar is elite in a bunch of the categories that makes for a successful top of the lineup bat that gets on base in front of the guys teams truly count on.

You are dumb as ****.

The Cardinals are 12th in runs scored and 10th in offensive fWAR and here you are bitching about a guy who's probably like 80th percentile in overall hitting batting at the top of the lineup and a key reason for the Cardinals being terrible.

ROFL Worry about your sack of crap "cubbies" and keep those expectations low!

At least my sack is light enough to carry.

There's a difference between saying Noot shouldn't be a #3 hitter and that he's total dogshit.

You've consistently bashed him to the point I can't delineate between the two.

And he's a perfectly fine above average OF that would be starting for most teams.


I think the bigger gripe I have with player development or scouting is that they don't take big risks early in the draft. Yes, that can come back to bite them in the ass, but that's how you get great players.

Instead, they're perfectly content taking guys with higher floors and lower ceilings (Hjerpe, Thompson, McGreevy, Wacha, Piscotty, Wisdom would be examples of this philosophy). Having 2-3 WAR players is nice, but the goal should be to acquire players who have a chance at being "stars" (think 5 WAR +) than just acquiring nice complementary players.

Signing Contreras is the perfect example of why Mo sucks ass. Its his FA record all balled up in one perfect package.

Edit: That should say Matz pitching to Contreras is the perfect example.

The mocks were right!

It's obvious to me the Cardinals just don't understand what the draft's all about.

https://youtu.be/rZxNeFLuY98

Did you want them to draft one of the many high upside HS shortstops available?

I was listening to MLB Network Radio and they said Davis would have been Arizona's center fielder but Hi Corbett Field's left field is expansive, so he played there instead.

From everything I gather, he's actually a good athlete with good pop but the main concern again is the swing and miss. That one issue kept him from going higher. But he did make better swing decisions as a junior.

Nah, I think Davis is a really good pick.

Strong approach, plus power, someone who can actually PLAY outfield and his tools are such that he should be a relatively quick riser. Joshua Baez is looking like a slow burn and he probably won't get here until 2026, if at all. Victor Scott is looking really nice as a long-term CFer but I think he's still in A+ and he's likewise a way off. Besides, he complements Davis really well.

Our outfield is secretly just as bad as our pitching, if not worse. We're playing IFers out there and getting them hurt as a result of it. Edman and Donovan, both GG IFers, have been hurt trying to play outfield this season and Noot got hurt BECAUSE Edman is trying to play outfield.

And unlike our pitching staff, the system is ROUGH for outfield. The pitching at least has McGreevy, Graceffo, Hence and Hjerpe. That's 4 solid prospects for pitching - who do we have in the OF? And we don't have a ton of young talent out there either - the only big league outfielder we have is Lars Nootbaar; the rest are DH types or IFers we're cramming into the OF so we can force guys like DeJong into the lineup.

McGreevy is as polished and advance a pitching prospect as you'll find in the middle of the 1st and he's going to take 3-4 years to get here. The only guy on the board who might fast-track is Waldrep and Waldrep has fastball command issues that suggest he may take a little longer. But even on the fast side, we're talking 3 years.

We're going to need OF help BADLY by the time anyone from this draft can contribute. And the system has far better organizational depth among pitchers than OFers.

This is one of the few things I've seen from STL to suggest they have SOME idea what's going on. I think they got this one exactly right.

'Decisions' wasn't the problem. He had a hole in his swing; specifically inside.

He appears to have made a mechanical adjustment as a JR that really closed that hole up in a BIG way. He cut his in-zone whiff rate in half.

He's always had really good strike zone judgment but even when he was making the right decision, sometimes he missed anyway - at least prior to this season. This season, OTOH, he made enormous strides there and did so without losing the game power.

That's exactly what you want to see for a development arc for a guy with massive raw power and good strike zone feel. He just needed to convert that raw power into additional game power by tightening up his hit tool. He did exactly that.

Again - this is a good pick. It's the pick I'd have made, in fact.

What’s you talking about Willis? We have so many Faberge eggs in our system they have ulcers trying to find playing time for all those eggs.

Mike Ferrin mentioned better swing decisions as one of the factors in Davis' 2023 improvement. He does a college baseball podcast, announced the college baseball postseason for ESPN and he lives in Arizona, so I feel he had good intel.

Randy Arozarena winning the home run derby will go over really well in St. Louis.

{shrug}

The numbers are out there. His approach is about the same as it ever was. He's simply making more contact.

Eyes can lie.

He's simply never struggled with his approach in any meaningful way. From what I can see, he was simply 'loud' with his hands and it was causing him to miss balls he shouldn't. He had something like a 20% swing/miss rate on pitches in the zone in his sophomore year. He cut that down to about 11% as a junior.

That's not really a swing decision issue - it's mechanics, IMO.