UCB Project: Top Prospects
Written by Mike on September 8, 2008 – 8:24 pm -The United Cardinal Bloggers are back, and this time, we’re looking at the system’s top prospects. Each of the participating blogs are weighing in on what they believe to be the seven highest ranking youngsters. Here’s my take:
1. Colby Rasmus
I’d be surprised to see Rasmus anywhere but the top spot on these lists. Despite having a rough season for AAA Memphis, he was still ranked among the top prospects in baseball at midseason by Baseball America. He’s considered a five-tool player at a premium position, and we Cardinal fans haven’t anticipated a rookie’s arrival like this in a while.
Rasmus has been known to struggle for a short period following each promotion, and that certainly was the case this season. Unfortunately, his injury kept us from seeing him bust the slump. Depending on what the Cardinals do with their glut of outfielders this winter, Rasmus’ arrival may have to wait even longer. Either way, he’ll be a great major leaguer.
2. Chris Perez
We’ve all seen enough of Perez to be excited about the back end of the bullpen once again. His high nineties fastball and plus slider can make a deadly combination, and it’s nice to see Tony La Russa finally trusting the kid to get the job done.
I’ve got to be honest here. I haven’t seen this kid at all, and aside from a couple of swings I found on Youtube, I don’t know anything about his play. So, I have to stick to the stats on this one. Wallace is a big time hitter, we know that from his peripherals from college. He burst onto the Cardinal map with his very first professional game for Quad Cities. His jump to AA Springfield clearly shows that he’s on the fast track, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a September call-up next season. If we compiled another one of these lists next year, Wallace’s name would be at the top.
Good hitting catchers don’t grow on trees, so the Cardinals are lucky to have one. Anderson was raking for Springfield before cooling off late in the year for Memphis, but he can still hit. I think his defense is improved, and will only get better with time (and some more tutoring from Mike Matheny). I’d think Anderson would be ranked higher for other teams, but the Cardinals already have one of the best catchers in the league, and it’s not like he’s nearing retirement. I look for Anderson to be playing another full season in AAA before he can break camp with the Cards. On the other hand, he’s probably one of the club’s best trading chips.
5. Jason Motte
After seeing his major league debut, I was sold. Motte throws very hard, and is quite capable of handling big league hitters. He still has a lot of work to do with his secondary pitches, but remember, he’s only been pitching for a couple of years. With time, Motte will be deadly. I’m already envisioning a late inning trio of Kyle McClellan, Motte, and Perez. Exciting!
6. Jaime Garcia
I was considering leaving Garcia off this list because of his injury. We won’t see him pitch again for a year, and chances are, he could get passed by other arms by then. But, because he’s so young, it’s easy to still envision him competing for a spot in the rotation down the line. Aside from a couple of bad outings, I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Garcia, and he gets bonus points for being a southpaw.
7. Daryl Jones
Jones has figured it out, and put together a great ‘08 campaign. He was hitting .326 in 87 games for Palm Beach before his promotion to Springfield, where he hit .290. He’s still only twenty-one years old, and now has the confidence with something to build on. I’m sure we’ll be talking a lot about Jones next year, when he’ll probably be ranked in the top three.
Since we’re stopping at seven, my honorable mentions would include Jess Todd, Jon Jay, and David Freese. With some hesitation, I’ll include Mitchell Boggs too, solely on his minor league resume.
Find the links to all the UCB prospect lists over at C70 at the Bat. You’re sure to see most of the same names, but likely in a completely different order. Check back for updates on this project in the near future.
A Frustrating Loss for the Cardinals
Written by Mike on August 26, 2008 – 11:10 pm -
The clock is ticking, and the Cardinals need wins. We would have liked to see a two game sweep to begin the home stand against Pittsburgh. But the Cards split. We would have liked to see a three game sweep against Atlanta. But the they could only take two. And in what seems like the most important series of the second half, we would have liked to see the Redbirds get redemption with a pair of wins against Milwaukee. Game one is in the books. Brewers 12, Cardinals 0.
From looking at the final score, you would think that starter Todd Wellemeyer had a bad game, and it got out of hand in a hurry. That wasn’t the case at all, as Wellemeyer was down by only three runs after six. He left the game after two batters in the seventh, on 112 pitches, finishing with a line of 6 innings, 5 runs (4 earned), and 5 strikeouts.
The Cardinals used four relievers to finish the game, the worst being Brad Thompson, who allowed four runs in his one-plus. Jaime Garcia allowed three more runs before finishing the top of the ninth.Nothing doing for the St. Louis offense. They managed seven hits, five of which were off of Ben Sheets, but couldn’t get anyone around, stranding eight runners on base. Here’s tonight’s full recap and box score.
So it’s another loss, moving the Cardinals record to 3-3 on this home stand and 73-60 overall. They now trail the Brewers by 4.5 games in the Wild Card race. Is it a more significant loss than any other? Depends on who you ask.
“I think, to us, these are our biggest games all year,” said Cardinal reliever Ryan Franklin.
Manager Tony La Russa knows these games are important, but also acknowledges that they won’t determine whether or not the Cards make the playoffs.
“The biggest thing is that this two-game series will not determine October chances for either club,” La Russa said.
So while we die hard Cardinal fans feel like the playoff bus is leaving the station, and we don’t have tickets, we have to remember a couple of things. First, these same two clubs play again tomorrow, and win for the Redbirds ensures no more lost ground. And secondly, there are still 28 more games after that one. A lot can happen.
Look for Adam Wainwright to lead the Cards to a win tomorrow night, and we’ll all feel better afterwards.
Offensive Outburst Earns Cards a Split
Written by Mike on August 21, 2008 – 11:17 pm -Just a quick post today, as the team has the day off. I’m working on a rather lengthy post for the weekend when the team hosts the Braves.
Last night the Cardinals were able to trounce the Pirates 11-2. They tallied 13 hits, and scored in five of their eight innings at the plate. Jason LaRue got the scoring started in the second inning with a sacrifice fly, and added a two-run homer in the seventh. Rick Ankiel also went deep with a two run shot in the third, his 24th.
Todd Wellemeyer earned his eleventh win of the season, pitching 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits. He also struck out five. Russ Springer, Jaime Garcia, Ryan Franklin, and Chris Perez threw a shutout for the remaining four frames. Here’s the complete box score.
The Cardinals could have used some of those runs on Tuesday, when the offense was silent until the ninth inning. The series split didn’t allow the team to gain any ground on Milwaukee in the Wild Card race.
A three game series against Atlanta starts tomorrow night, with Adam Wainwright scheduled to take the mound for the first time since his finger injury. Charlie Morton will pitch for the Braves. With the regular season winding down in hurry, hopefully the Cards feel a sense of urgency, and can string together a nice winning streak. Who better to start the streak than Wainwright?
Young Arms Make it Three in a Row
Written by Mike on August 15, 2008 – 7:53 pm -The Cardinals began a three game series with the Reds tonight in Cincinnati, the third city of their ten game road trip. After taking three of four from the Marlins, the Cards looked to keep things rolling at Great American Ballpark.
Brad Thompson got the start in place of the injured Chris Carpenter. Despite giving up a leadoff home run to his first batter, Thompson pitched fairly well. He lasted five innings to notch the win, allowing 3 runs, on 3 hits, while striking out 4. One of the runs was unearned. Jaime Garcia, Kyle McClellan, Ron Villone, and Chris Perez combined for four scoreless innings, with Perez earning his fourth save.
The Cards scored five runs spread across four innings, including a two run homer off the bat of Rick Ankiel in the first. Albert Pujols and Felipe Lopez were each on base three times, and Jason LaRue got in on the action with a pair of RBI.
St. Louis out hit Cincinnati 10-5, and won the game 5-3. Here’s the full recap and box score. The Cards are 5-3 so far on this road trip, which includes winning the last three straight ball games. They improve to 13 games over .500, at 69-56, with 37 games left in the season. They gained no ground on the Cubs, when Florida’s closer Kevin Gregg blew a two run lead in the ninth, giving Chicago another win. The Cards still trail Milwaukee by three games in the Wild Card race, with a chance to pick up a half-game if the Brewers lose in L.A. tonight.
It looks like Carpenter will miss at least one more start, as he was placed on the 15-day DL today, retroactive to his last appearance. Brian Barton takes his place on the roster. Joe Strauss has the full story.
Maybe a healthy Adam Wainwright can be the shot in the arm this team needs to have an extended run. He’ll make what could be his final rehab start tomorrow night for AA Springfield. With Carpenter out again, and Perez making the most of his late inning chances, I’m hoping to see Adam in the rotation.
Joel Pineiro will get the ball in game two of the series in Cincinnati tomorrow night. The Reds will counter with Aaron Harang. Let’s make it four in a row!
Get the Brooms Ready
Written by Mike on July 20, 2008 – 9:48 am -
A dramatic come from behind win yesterday has put the Cardinals in position to sweep the Padres in today’s fourth and final game of the series.
Todd Wellemeyer got off to a rocky start, allowing five runs in the first two frames, but settled in and lasted 6.1 innings, earning him the win. He’s now 8-4, with a 4.22 ERA. Both Randy Flores and Russ Springer failed to record an out, but Ron Villone came in to put out the fire in the sixth. Ryan Franklin earned his fourteenth save, pitching the final two innings.
The Cards were trailing 5-0 into the fifth, where they plated four. They added the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth. Albert Pujols stole the show with his four RBI. Rick Ankiel and Skip Schumaker each drove in a run as well. 6-5 was the final. Here’s the complete box score.
Rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia will get his first Major League start today, hoping to help the Cardinals earn the sweep. He’s made only one other appearance so far, pitching two innings in relief on July 11 in Pittsburgh, three days after his 22nd birthday. He allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out two. Larry at Viva El Birdos has a nice piece on Garcia and the Cardinals lack of success with left-handers up today. Find it here. I’m rooting for the kid. If he can impress down the stretch, or at least until Adam Wainwright’s return, he may find himself auditioning for a larger role with the club next spring.
We’re about an hour and a half from game time. Here’s the Cards’ lineup, per Derrick Goold:
- Skip Schumaker LF
- Aaron Miles SS
- Ryan Ludwick RF
- Rick Ankiel CF
- Troy Glaus 3B
- Chris Duncan 1B
- Jason LaRue C
- Jaime Garcia P
- Adam Kennedy 2B
So, looks like Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Cesar Izturis all get the day off. No big deal. Should still be a winner!
Cards on a Roll
Written by Mike on July 18, 2008 – 9:19 pm -The St. Louis Cardinals are a fun team to watch. No one could have predicted the club to be in the position they’re in. After winning the first two games of the second half, the Cards are 12 games over .500, at 55-43, trailing the division leading Chicago Cubs by only 3 games. The Small Bears are the only team in the National League with a better record than the Cardinals.
The San Diego series started with another gem from starter Kyle Lohse. He’s now 12-2, with a 3.35 ERA, and as close to automatic as you can get. Rick Ankiel and Joe Mather each hit a home run, while Troy Glaus hit a pair. The Cards won last night 4-3.
Game two was back and forth. Braden Looper was knocked around for six runs in three-plus innings, but the Cards were able to get to Maddux as well. Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick each hit their 22nd home runs and collected three RBI a piece. The Cards practiced what Tony La Russa preaches, played a hard nine, and scored 11 runs on 17 hits, winning it by 4. Here’s the full recap and box score.
Poised to win the series tomorrow afternoon, the Redbirds will send Todd Wellemeyer to the mound to face lefty Randy Wolf. Jaime Garcia is scheduled to make his first Major League start on Sunday.
The Cards made a couple of roster moves prior to tonight’s game. Randy Flores was activated from the disabled list and Joe Mather was sent back to Memphis. Also, Kelvin Jimenez traded places with Chris Perez. Lee Hurwitz has more on the story.
Cards Blank Bucs
Written by Mike on July 11, 2008 – 7:31 pm -
Kyle Lohse is at it again. In game one of the final series before the All-Star break, Lohse shutout the Pirates for seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out three, before handing it over to the bullpen. Lohse now sports an 11-2 record, and lowered his ERA to 3.39, putting him neck and neck with the best pitchers in the National League. If he keeps this up, the Cardinals should look very seriously at a long-term extension for him.
Following Lohse was left-handed rookie Jamie Garcia, making his Major League debut. Garcia just turned 22 three days ago, and the kid made a nice first impression. He allowed just one hit and a walk in the final two innings. He also struck out a pair. The Cards have now had 10 players make their big league debut with them this season. As George Von Benko points out, that’s a staggering number for a team in contention.
Thanks to the stellar pitching, the Cardinals could have won with just a single run. Instead, they plated six, including home runs from Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. Both Ankiel and Troy Glaus had three hits a piece, while Yadier Molina chipped in with a pair of RBI. The Redbirds had 13 hits in all.
So a well played game on both sides of the ball ends in a Cardinal victory. Here’s the complete box score. The win puts the Cards back at 10 games over .500, but still trailing the Cubs by 4.5 games. If Milwaukee can hang on to win tonight, they’ll remain a half game ahead of St. Louis.
In game two tomorrow night, the Cardinals will face yet another left-handed starter. Phil Dumatrait will start for the Bucs, making it the seventh consecutive game the opposing team started a lefty. The last right-hander the Cards faced was Carlos Zambrano, back on July 4. Todd Wellemeyer will start for the Redbirds tomorrow.
An interesting trade rumor popped up today. According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, both the Cardinals and Diamondbacks are looking at Pittsburgh outfielder Jason Bay. Apparently, top prospect Colby Rasmus is the target for the Pirates. Hat tip to Tim Dierkes from MLB Trade Rumors. I think Rasmus for Bay would be an asinine move, but luckily, I’m sure John Mozeliak does too.
Wainwright Placed on DL
Written by Mike on June 9, 2008 – 8:42 pm -
The Cardinals made it official today. After meeting with team doctors to diagnose the finger injury that took him out the game in his last start, Adam Wainwright is added to the long list of disabled Cardinal pitchers.
Although fellow starter Joel Pineiro will be reactivated, Wainwright joins pitchers Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Matt Clement, Jason Isringhausen, Brad Thompson, Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, and Kelvin Jimenez on the shelf. Todd Wellemeyer will miss his next scheduled start, but won’t need extended time off.
Luckily, the Cardinals have so many arms in which to try to fill the rotation. The scheduled starter for tomorrow’s series opener in Cincinnati is Mitchell Boggs. So far, there’s no word on who will pitch in Wainwright’s spot on Thursday. Mike Parisi made two starts and several appearances in relief before being sent back down to Memphis. Of course Anthony Reyes is an option, as well as Cardinal reliever Kyle McClellan, and farmhands Jaime Garcia and Jess Todd.
Derrick Goold has more on Wainwright, and be sure to check out Bernie Miklasz’ take on the situation.
Roster Moves
Written by Mike on May 4, 2008 – 1:26 pm -(Update 7:35): Although some news has finally hit the wire, there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the call-up of Mike Parisi. According to an article by Nate Latsch of MLB.com, Parisi will assume Anthony Reyes’ role. A different story, by R.B. Fallstrom, suggests that perhaps Joel Pineiro will miss tomorrow’s start in Denver. I guess we’ll know more as the night progresses.
Tonight’s game against the Cubs is on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. First pitch is about a half-hour away, so any updates on the Parisi/Reyes situation will be in my post-game wrap.
————
(Update 6:00): Rumor has it that Mike Parisi will start tomorrow in Colorado. No word yet on how the shake-up affects the rest of the rotation, but I’ll keep you informed. Also, it seems as if Jess Todd has also been promoted to AA.
————
(Update 4:40): It’s official. Mike Parisi has been promoted to St. Louis. To make room on the roster, Anthony Reyes has been optioned to Memphis. There has to be more to this. I think Parisi may get a start in the upcoming Colorado series. Check back for more updates.
————
Up and down the Cardinals’ organization today, there are pitchers on the move. It looks as if Tyler Herron is being promoted to AA Springfield, both Jaime Garcia and P.J. Walters are being moved up to AAA Memphis, and Mike Parisi is heading to the Show.
Of course, a 25-man roster move must be made to make room for Parisi, but at this point (4:00 pm Eastern), we can only speculate. Several things can be happening. Most likely, an extra arm is needed in Memphis due to the rainout yesterday and the “game and a half” they’re playing today. Parisi was originally scheduled to get the start, but is no longer listed on the roster.
A quick look at the Cardinals’ roster, and you’ll notice Parisi isn’t yet listed. It is peculiar, however, that the probable pitchers section on the Cards’ official site leaves Wednesday’s starter “to be announced”. Maybe nothing here, but I’ll update this post when new information is available.
I expect either a DL stint for someone, or an Anthony Reyes demotion. I guess we’ll see.
Let the Games Begin
Written by Mike on February 27, 2008 – 12:40 am -Tomorrow is the big day. It’s the first Spring Training game for the Cardinals. They’ll play Saint Louis University at Roger Dean Stadium Wednesday afternoon. Mitchell Boggs is scheduled to start, and pitch two innings. P.J. Walters, Clayton Mortensen, and Jamie Garcia will follow, getting two innings each, with Chris Perez to pitch the final frame. It’ll be nice to finally have some real baseball. The first Grapefruit League game for the Cardinals will be on Thursday, at home against the Mets. Anthony Reyes will get the start. I’ll be at Thursday’s game and of course will share my experience here, along with a bunch of pictures, so be sure to check back. I’m also attending the game next Thursday, March 6th, at Roger Dean against the Marlins, as well as the game against L.A. from Dodgertown the following day.
