A couple KLaw links to start off the DFR:
- Keith breaks down the differences and nuances between major league and minor league deals.
- He also has some reports for draftniks on the recent Under Armour game.
David Freese makes Kevin Goldstein’s ten pack.
Acquired from San Diego for what turned out to be a month’s worth of Jim Edmonds, Freese was a ninth-round pick in 2006 who was coming off of a solid .302/.400/.489 line at High-A. Scouts had consistently high praise for his bat, but at the same time they wondered what a 24-year-old was doing in the California League, and what that kind of production really proved.
I’ll admit to not getting David Freese. I didn’t see a major league swing while I was in Memphis. He’s hitting for power, average, taking walks . . . and I’m just not on the bandwagon. I wish I had some elaborate, well thought out reason but his numbers look really good especially for a) hitting in a severe pitcher’s park and b) skipping AA. Maybe I need to watch more video.
What am I missing?
- Brendan Ryan goes 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Tyler Greene was 1-for-4 with a walk.
- David Freese was 1-for-4 with a walk. He hit his 24th HR of the season in the top of the 10th to give the Redbirds the lead.
- Blake Hawksworth struck out 6 over 6 innings allowing 4 ER. I saw him on Friday when in Memphis (he came in after Wainwright) and he had a decent curveball but his stuff was mediocre. I’ll have a post up later this afternoon [ed: tomorrow -- hooray for interviews] with some impressions on other pitchers.
- Matthew Scherer was pulled after retiring just 1 batter as the Flores brothers and Kelvin Jimenez combined to close out the last 3.2 innings of the game. It wasn’t pretty but they got the job done.
Springfield 5, Corpus Christi 2
- Daryl Jones was 2-for-4 with a HR. Is Jones now the best position prospect in the system outside of Rasmus? He’s certainly allows for the most projection. Jon Jay strikes me as a safer bet but I’m a little worried about his shoulder. Allen Craig and David Freese both deserve consideration, as does Brett Wallace, but Jones has had a tremendous year and no slip up yet at Springfield. He’s played mostly corner outfield but from what I’ve seen of him he’s capable of manning centerfield on an everyday basis.
- Donovan Solano was 2-for-4. At 21, the Columbian has an OPS north of .700 this year showing the ability to hit consistently for average. In an organization without any high level SS prospect, there’s little standing in his way if he continues to hit and play solid defense.
- Brandon Buckman was 1-for-4 with a HR.
- Brandon Dickson struck out 5 over 5 innings allowing 4 hits and 2 walks.
- Luke Gregerson and Luis Perdomo both struck out a pair in their respective innings of work. Gregerson walked 1 in the 8th and Perdomo allowed a hit in the 9th.
Palm Beach was postponed due to Hurricane Fay I think.
- Tommy Pham was 2-for-4 with a double.
- Deryk Hooker was the hard luck loser on a solo homerun. He tossed 5.2 innings allowing 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking just 2. He’s struck out 57 in 47 innings walking just 17 on the season.
- Dylan Gonzalez allowed 2 hits and struck out 1 in 2 scoreless innings.
- The offense was shut down by a pair of pitchers that have struck out more than a batter an inning this season. They didn’t let up tonight whiffing 10 River Bandits and walking just 2.
Batavia was off.
- Joey Hage was 2-for-5.
- Niko Vazquez was 3-for-4.
- Jack Cawley went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
- Curt Smith continues to hit going 2-for-5.
- Randy Santos tossed 4 innings allowing a 2 run HR. He struck out 1, walked 1 and allowed 3 hits.
- Joel Pichardo struck out 2 and allowed a hit in his inning of work.
- Miguel Flores struck out 3 and walked 1 in 3.1 innings.
Entries (RSS)
I am not sure what you’re missing. At the very least, Freese is going to make guys like Aaron Miles useless. If he continues to hit well, there’s absolutely no reason why he should be in Memphis next season.
Sexy lines from Vasquez and Daryl Jones – anyone else excited about 2010-2011?
From the picture above, it’s clear that David Freese is overcompensating for something, I just can’t place my finger on what it is?
How about Brendan Ryan the CF? Apparently all he needed was a move to the OF to awaken his bat.
Could we have three CFs playing outfield in 2010? Jones in LF, Rasmus in CF, and Ankiel in RF?
What kind of arm does Jones have?
Does anyone get the feeling that we are going to see a big trade this offseason. With Freese, Craig and Wallace all at third something has to give. We also have alot of decent guys like Boggs, Todd, Mortenson, Motte, Worrell who seem close to major league ready. Lynn and Kopp seem like they could step up into those guys shoes next season.
We’ve got two quality trade chips in Freese and B. Anderson, both blocked at the ML level. We also have more quality right handed starters who project as 4/5 than we know what to do with. It’ll be interesting to see how JMo plays those chips.
We also have Jay/Mather/Shumaker/Barton/Stavinoha all battling for the fourth OF role assuming our outfield next season is Ludwick, Rasmus, Ankiel.
Argh, I got hit with ‘someone else submitted a post right as I did.’
Although themop10 said exactly the same thing I did. Having a problem of too many minor leaguers than we have spots for is a good problem to have. Mo is in a good posiiton for once.
Under contract –
3B: Glaus, Freese, Craig, Wallace
OF: Rasmus, Ankiel, Ludwick, Schumaker, Mather, Duncan, Barton, Stavinoha, Jay
P: Carpenter, Wainwright, Wellemeyer, Pineiro, Garcia, Boggs, Mortensen, Todd
RP: Perez, McClellan, Motte, Worrell, Flores#1 (ugh), Flores#2 (double ugh), etc.
Goold is looking for advice on working through this years BA Top 30, who is up and who is down so far. Jones wasn’t in the top 30, so obviously he is up, Hawks, Ottavino, Hamilton are probably down, Todd and Freese are up, things long that line.
Was Goold in charge of BA’s top 30 a few years ago when Bryan Anderson excelled in the Appy at age 18 and didn’t make the (mediocrity-filled) Redbird list? I’m not trying to be snide; just wondering if that was a clerical error.
I don’t know if David Freese has any real trade value–he’s significantly old for a genuine AAA prospect, and despite the fine avg./power combo his strikezone control has regressed badly this year (35 walks v. 100+ whiffs). Unless he’s a Gold Glove caliber defender (heck, maybe he is), I wouldn’t offer the Cards anything more than a decent low-level prospect for him if I were a rival GM.
If Donovan Solano can add some pop over the next couple of years, could he be another Placido Polanco? Gotta like how the 20-year-old (yes, he’s still just 20) is handling the challenge of AA pitching.
Anyone seen D.Jones much this year? I’m curious about his progress defensively, since last year’s numbers in LF were not good. If he’s merely average with the glove, Daryl’s potent combo of power, speed, and newfound plate discipline spells stardom to me.
If Freese can hit 25-30 HRs and drive in 70-100 rbi what is wrong with 120 Ks. Heck Ryan Howard probably had 120 Ks by the All Star break.
themop10, 129Ks I think is what Howard had at the ASB.
RE: Having to retype comments. I think I got what was causing the problem fixed, let me know if it keeps happening.
BA Best Tools out for NL and AL.
Albert:
#1 best hitter
#2 best power
#2 best strike-zone judgment
#3 most exciting player
#2 best def. 1B
Yadi
#1 best def. catcher
Ankiel:
#1 best outfield arm
TLR:
#2 best manager
Also love for ex-Cards Danny Haren (best control), Polanco (best bunter, I think), and Jack Wilson (couple of categories).
Sorry I wasn’t clear, mop. At the major league level, strikeout totals for batters (as you rightly implied) are largely if not entirely irrelevent, BUT for *minor* leaguers, the strikeout & walk totals are critical indicators of of the ability to cultivate patience/pitch identification/contact ability. Freese had solid BB/K/AB ratios in 2007; not in 2008, however.
Lou, who beat out LaRussa for #1 manager? Tell me it wasn’t Bobby “Leo Mazzone made me a living legend” Cox (again).
Bob,
Why yes, yes it was Bobby “Leo Mazzone made me a living legend” Cox.
Leo Mazzone sure didn’t make Sam Perlozzo a living legend.
Walrus to AA per Goold:
http://www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=560694
Almost certainly to bolster that team for their playoff push.
What are the Cardinals going to do with Vasquez? At some point he will either have to ‘jump’ Kozma or Solano in the organizations rankings or he’ll have his progress stunted by being held back on promotions because of the guys in front of him.
I guess the more pressing question is, what happens to Greene after this season? What they decide to do with him will knock over the other dominoes. I mean, I know Vasquez can play at Quad Cities next year but he’s proven to be better at Johnson City (at the same age) than Kozma was. Kozma was promoted thrice that season, and twice this season.
I agree HL, Nico presents them with a nice conundrum. I have to assume a trade is coming this offseason. Spare parts like Barden (even with Olympics on his resume), etc. may have to be moved to make room for upward movement. Who knows maybe Solano makes the team out of ST (doubtful but stranger things have happened). This offseason is shaping up to be an interesting one for the minor league system since it is starting to have logjams and we have to be ready for the 09 draft class as well.
Not a surprising move at all on Wallace.