Andrew Brown continues his ascent through the system as he gets the call to Springfield to replace Steve Hill. Most of you have already seen this article by Goold on Jess Todd, but he posted it after last night’s DFR was posted, so we haven’t linked to it yet (and it is worth a read if you haven’t read it yet).
The system went 1-2 today, with Quad Cities getting rained out (again). All the details are after the jump.
- Colby Rasmus and Nick Stavinoha were each 2-4, Stavinoha doubled.
- Bryan Anderson was 1-3 and Cody Haerther was 1-1 with three walks.
- PJ Walters had a nice bounceback outing after his horrid start last time out. Tonight he lasted six innings and gave up a pair of runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out seven.
- The relief corps was excellent tonight as Matthew Scherer pitched a scoreless inning and Jason Motte and Ron Flores each pitched a perfect inning.
- Adam Ottavino got the start and it was rocky and abbreviated, again. He threw 89 pitches in 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three.
- Jon Jay had a nice evening, as he was 3-5 with a homerun and two stolen bases.
- Allen Craig, Mark Shorey and Tyler Green were each 2-4 on the evening. Shorey and Greene each hit a homer.
- Mark Hamilton went deep for the second consecutive game, just to try and prove my Mike Ferris comparison wrong. It would be nice to see him go on a hot streak for a few weeks and get that slugging percentage up to reasonable levels.
- The pen wasn’t very good tonight, including everyone’s favorite, Fernando Salas. He got a blown save and a loss for allowing two inherited runners to score and giving up a run of his own on two hits (one of which was a three run homer).
- No extra base hits for the Palm Beach squad, but James Rapoport was 2-5 and Daryl Jones was 2-4. Daniel Descalso was 1-3 with a walk.
- Elvis Hernandez started the game and gave up six runs on four hits and five walks. He struck out five.
- Kenny Maiques was effectively wild, walking three without allowing a run in 1.2 innings.
- Brandon Garner pitched a scoreless inning, giving up only a walk and Francisco Samuel pitched a perfect inning, striking out two.
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according to the AP the navy has ordered Mitch Harris to report for duty. he has to serve five years and there will be no early release.
that screws…
Hopefully If Obama gets in office and ends this war in Iraq we can get the kid in a baseball uniform.
So a vote for Obama is a vote for Mitch Harris.
(I am mostly joking here and I’m not looking to discuss politics)
Prediction: Mitch Harris will be deemed the “feel-good” story of Spring Training, when he heads north with the Cards in 2015.
Can Daryl Jones really keep this up? I’m a believer now in Jess Todd, but I still have just one foot on the Jones bandwagon (which is mighty uncomfortable, as you can imagine).
To echo a post from the other day, does anyone know *anything* about Richard Castillo’s repertoire? If the kid is really 18, the Cards may have someone special on their hands.
How long before Adam Ottavino is permanently moved to the pen? Unless he is injured, I’d bump him to the pen shortly.
I don’t know what to make of P.J. He is striking out almost a batter per inning to go with a 5-1 record but his era is over 6?
I realize he has given up a few dingers and have heard others say he can’t pitch inside but yet he is still striking guys out…
Maybe he just had some bad luck or maybe it’s the walks.
I guess only time will tell.
I don’t want to jinx Tyler Greene, and I know his average is still atrocious, he still strikes out a ton, and all that, but he is finally hitting over the mendoza line this year and has 9 HRs to go with it. That power isn’t bad for a middle infielder who supposedly has a good range and a good arm. Does anyone know how he’s been playing defensively. I know I have seen him associated with numerous errors this season, but what do scouting reports think about his defense? I would love to see him renew his prospect status – a 15+ HR season with average SS defense at AA would do just that. I’m rooting for him.
Todd,
Trust me as someone who has previously kept riding the Greene roller coaster…don’t buy a ticket…don’t get in line…don’t get enamored. Just accept that Greene is a career minor league player and move on because the seats don’t come with seatbelts.
Instead just hope that Kozma continues to progress. Hopefully he can jump to Palm Beach by the end of the year.
There is no “prospect status” for Greene to “renew.” He was considered a very risky pick out of college due to poor plate discipline (or pitch recognition, or strikezone control, whatever you’d like to call it), and Greene has *never* done *anything* to change the diagnosis.
Along with fellow early-round busts Mike Ferris and Mark Hamilton, Tyler Greene is another reason I do NOT trust the Cardinal scouts to properly evaluate college hitters.
May Brett Wallace prove me wrong, and turn out to be a mini-Thome. (Is it just me, or don’t they look more than a little alike, in terms of body type?)
till now i hadnt heard the thome connection but that comp is great.
I think Brett Wallace is basically a a less loft swing version of Prince Fielder.
Both are big based, short stroke power hitters who are much better athletes then their body would suggest.
Wallace is the better pure hitter, but Fielder is by far the better power threat.
I made the suggestion that statistically Wallace could be a 75% power version of Lance Berkman at his peak.
.305/.390/.525 type of line from Wallace is quite a leap of faith..but I think his bat and approach can reach it!
At least my rosey cardinal red glasses think so!
Bob, when I saw those tree trunk thighs of Wallace, I immediately thought Jim Thome. Great minds…
Bob, I’m not really sure how you can call Mark Hamilton a bust. Isn’t it a little early? Yeah he is slumping now, but slumps happen. He raked in Palm Beach, and this is only his 2nd full season in pro ball. I think he has a few more years until he can be labeled a “bust.”