Comments on: Memphis Redbirds: Position Players

By: Easy

Easy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:14 +0000

I think it’s a pretty good analysis of these guys. It’s also a mirror of our farm system. Lots of interesting role players, few blue chippers. I agree that Craig is a better prospect than Freese and maybe even a good 3b prospect considering that this is his second full season and he would be in AAA if we hadn’t “dumped” Edmonds. The Wallace acquisition makes him seem less exciting.
I’m not sure why people expected much more of Ryan. To me he’s shown that he can be a decent reserve infielder. Didn’t expect anything more than that.
Agree that Jay is the most likely major leaguer. He’ll have to hit .320 or so to be a regular and I also suspect that will be with another team.

By: UncleBuck44

UncleBuck44 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:58:38 +0000

Zach, really the talent is spread out very well in the system. The 3 guys you mentioned that are at AAA were 3 of the Cardinals top 4 prospects going into the year.(Brett Wallace is probably the 2nd best prospect now) Then throw in Bryan Anderson who is there as well which gives you the Cardinals top 4 prospects all at AAA. That’s pretty rare.

If we can get solid production from Chris Perez, Jaime Garcia and Colby Rasmus next year then the 2009 team is going to be in great shape. Then you might be able to mix Jason Motte and Mitch Boggs into the bullpen or rotation and maybe Jon Jay or even Tyler Greene off the bench(although more than likely Jay’s job will be Schumaker’s job).

Deejay, Parisi tore an elbow ligament IIRC.

By: deejay

deejay — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:43:13 +0000

What’s wrong with Parisi?

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:49:42 +0000

I have to admit that this is the first year I have really followed the Cardinal’s minor league system closely and I think that there are a lot of players to be reasonable optimistic about.

With that said, it seems that most of those players are at AA/A and not in Memphis. Other than Garcia, Perez and Rasmus, I’m not sure any Redbird is going to be helpful next season. I’m sure I will be wrong about that, though. After one great draft it seems that we will have a couple more years before Jones/Salas/Todd/Kozma are major league ready

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:49:13 +0000

Bob — I think your numbers for Anderson are probably high especially the power. .290/.360/.400 is more what I’d expect.

The doubles for Jay are way to high although he could have a 15 HR year once or twice during his career. That’s not a stable level of power production though.

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:47:45 +0000

Freese – I don’t think he’s a major leaguer
Phelps – fine for a team with lots of holes and bigger problems to address otherwise he’s going to be a career minor leaguer
Anderson – probably an everyday catcher on a team willing to accept his defensive shortcomings
Jay – everyday major league CF

call it 1 and a 1/2

By: KCardinal

KCardinal — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:41:26 +0000

So what you are saying is that you were only *excited* about one?

Freese only has 8 errors on the year, so there must not be too many grounders eating him up. (I’m sure he’s had plenty hit hard at him) And I’m not arguing that Craig isn’t a better prospect, because he probably is.

You say Phelps looks like a major leaguer.

Surely Bryan Anderson, at age 21, holding his own in AAA, is a major leaguer.

And then you were excited about Jay.

Not to be snarky, but doesn’t that make four?

By: ICBIRDFAN

ICBIRDFAN — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:02:14 +0000

Speaking of position players…. What ever happened to the Jarrett Hoffpauir bandwagon? I know his name was brought up a lot, but I have not heard much about him this year.

Looking at this numbers they are OK, but nothing to get super excited about. I guess at best maybe he is Aaron Miles with a bit more pop(not much though)?

Not too much exciting stuff in the Memphis MI so it seems. I guess we will have to wait for Kozma and the other guy whose name escapes me.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:34:33 +0000

Thanks much for the overview, azru! Bryan Anderson is in a rut right now, but (like you) I have no doubt he’ll hit for average in the Bigs…and his walk rate & CS% are on the upswing.

Whatever he’s doing in AAA, we need to keep in mind that this is a 21-year-old who fairly dominated AA both offensively and defensively (40% CS) while young for his league. Despite his recent struggles, this has been an exhilarating breakout season for B.A., and an MLB catcher with average D and slash stats of, say, .315/.375/.440 is *extremely* valuable.

Great to hear that Jon Jay is looking so good so far in Memphis. I know you see the power as below avg., but are 14-16 homers (plus 35-40 doubles) a realistic possibility in your view? Maybe I’m too down on Skip Schu, but I see Jay as potentially 2 or maybe even 3 wins better per year–especially if he can stick in CF.

By: shaneo69

shaneo69 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:09:44 +0000

Parisi out for the year.
Todd up to Memphis.
Furnish up to Springfield.
Additon up to Palm Beach.
Hooker up to QC.