The River Bandits’ site has a nice article on the Cardinals’ two most recent first rounders. Pete Kozma has been struggling with the bat since his great month of April, but that is still a very talented left side of the infield in Quad Cities.
Derrick Goold gives his thoughts on the best player, biggest leap forward, and biggest disappointment this year in the system in Baseball America’s mid-season report.
Everyone played tonight except the GCL Cards, and Memphis had a double dip as the system went 4-3. Check out all the particulars after the break.
- Rico Washington 2-3, 2 R
- David Freese 2-3, RBI
- Shane Robinson 1-3
- Anthony Reyes 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
- Jason Motte 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Randy Flores 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Not much going on for the offense in this one, but the pitching really stepped up. Anthony Reyes is back to dominating AAA like he always has. Since he obviously has no future in St. Louis, I wish they would trade him so he can get a shot with another club.
- Rico Washington 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB
- David Freese 1-3, BB
- Shane Robinson 1-5, 2B
- Tyler Norrick 4 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 8 K
- Mark Worrell 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Omaha returns the favor in the nightcap. Tyler Norrick showed some impressive stuff with 8 strikeouts in 4 innings in an emergency call-up start, but his control was pretty awful. The offense couldn’t generate much of anything, and they may be feeling the absence of Rasmus, Mather, and Anderson.
- Tyler Greene 3-4, 3B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
- Jose Martinez 1-3, RBI
- Jon Jay 0-4
- Brandon Yarbrough 1-2, 2B, BB
- Tyler Herron 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Absolutely monster game for Greene who raised his average over .300 in the second half. These are the kinds of games that show you just how much potential this guy has when he can make contact. It was also nice to see Jon Jay back in the lineup although he didn’t do much tonight. Herron had a shutout going with 2 outs in the 6th before surrendering a 2-run homer. Unfortunately the Springfield pen blew yet another late lead.
- Tyler Henley 2-4, BB, 2 R
- Donovan Solano 3-5, R
- Tony Cruz 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB
- Casey Mulligan 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
- Blake King 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Solid all-around effort tonight as they pull out an extra inning win on a bullpen start night. Henley and Solano did a nice job of setting the table, and Cruz was able to bring them in. Speaking of Cruz, he is quietly having a heck of a season if you consider the park factor. He is now hitting .282 with 21 doubles and 8 homers. He doesn’t really have a position, but the bat is definitely intriguing.
- Brett Wallace 0-3, HBP
- Aaron Luna 1-2, 3B
- Roberto Espinoza 1-3
- Josh Wilson 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- Eduardo Sanchez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ugly night for the River Bandits as they are only able to come up with 1 unearned run. Luna’s triple was just about the lone bright spot unless you count the strikeouts for Wilson. Brett Wallace’s hit streak comes to an end.
- Frederick Parejo 4-4, RBI
- Jose Garcia 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- Beau Riportella 1-3 R
- Thomas Eager 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R. 0 BB, 4 K
- Adam Reifer 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Parejo the 18 year old sensation just continues to hit. It is really incredible to think about how young he is and how much progress he has made in the last year. Thomas Eager has responded since his demotion, but shouldn’t a 22 year old college trained pitcher repeating the league have success? Reifer is continuing to bring down his ERA after the one disastrous outing. Other than that game he has been untouchable.
Johnson City 16, Elizabethton 3
- Niko Vasquez 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
- Curt Smith 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Jack Cawley 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
- Jarred Bogany 2-4, R, RBI, BB
- Randy Santos 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K
- Matthew Frevert 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The JC Cardinals brought the heavy lumber to the park tonight as they busted out for 16 runs on 17 hits. Niko Vasquez is the best prospect on the team, and he was right in the middle of it tonight reaching base 4 times. He has had a little bit of a problem with strikeouts, but he is having a great debut. He now has 10 extra base hits and only 1 error in 23 games.
Entries (RSS)
Didn’t I say I had a good feeling about Green going forward? OK, so I kinda buried him yesterday in the DFR but I still have a few shreds of hope, tonight gives me a few more shreds.
I definitely need to get down to an SCards game and try to see what the difference in Greene is between this year and last. Maybe he just needed a little more seasoning and the current streak of great play can continue!! I’m with you Erik, after the big club’s meltdown — I need hope, lots and lots of hope (and liquor)
Question for the futureredbirds crew.
I realize this is probably way, way off base–but is there any way David Freese could play second base? I’ve only seen small tidbits of him but he doesn’t appear to be the more lumbering type 3B–similar to Glaus. I understand it’s not a move that is normally considered–for obvious reasons.
I really only ask out of desperation. Our middle infield is so devoid of “power” bats its annoying. I don’t know if Freese can translate to an everyday 3Bman but I think his offense would be good at second–but, of course, the position’s aren’t the same. Gosh, if a big dude like Jeff Kent can play there and an older guy like Grudz, etc. could a fairly athletic 26 year old be serviceable?
Anyway, just a thought.
bret — generally speaking, if a player could play a more difficult defensive position, they would be. Especially when the team has an obvious need there.
I stuck up for Greene yesterday and he responded. I’ll take credit for the two homer day. You’re welcome.
I was at the Spf Cards game and T Greene was absolutley smoking it. it definetly did not look like the Tyler Green of old. I hope he can keep it up!!! the first hr was the first pitch of the game from the NW Ark pitcher.