I’m sure most of you saw this recent remark by the skipper.
“You have your prospects. And it’s good to publicize how good they are. But you want to be realistic with what you have. We’ve seen a lot of players; we’ve seen some pitchers. But you have to ask yourself, is there an impact guy within your system, like an Albert (Pujols)? If (Adam) Wainwright was from our system, is there a guy like him?” La Russa said. “We’re going to need some impact. Is that there, or is there someone who fits the next category — legitimate help?”
I thought Tony wanted to manage a team that consisted of young, hungry players? Statements like these make me think if TLR were the GM, he would empty the farm system. While there are several players that look to be impact players- Jones, Wallace, Colby- none of them are going to make a huge impact when he wants it most: the final year of his contract. We know who will win the battle between player development and the “win now” group from what happened last year w/ Walt. We know who has ownership in their corner.
Draft Info recently rapped with Keith Law:
Which non first round pick do you think will have the most success?
Ryan Westmoreland (Boston), Tim Melville (KC), or Nico Vasquez (STL). The first two were first-rounders who fell because of monetary demands. Vasquez fell because he missed a month on academic suspension, and maybe because too many people still think a shortstop has to be a plus runner.
Derrick Goold recently had Nico/Niko? in his top five. That’s pretty high praise.
Law also had a blurb on the disappointing (and AWOL?) Mark Hamilton.
I could not have seen Mark Hamilton any better on the Cape – he might have been 12-for-10 when I saw him as a freshman at Falmouth. Good swing, big raw power that showed up in games, plenty of contact, solid at first base. What gets me is that he’s hit for no power in pro ball. Maybe it’s the result of the wrist injury he suffered his junior year … or maybe he just isn’t half as good as I thought.
- That will do it for Palm Beach, their season is over.
- Tyler Henley went 2-4.
- Ateo Folli and Oliver Marmol both doubled. Folli had some follies in the field with two errors. Ah, I kill me.
- Mark Diapoules allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings.
- Jose Mateo a couple of earned runs on three hits over two innings.
- The Casey Mulligan Experience struck out one in his perfect inning of work.
- Daytona’s logo has to be the dorkiest in all the minors.
- Unless I’m mistaken, Batavia and Jamestown are tied for first with one game left of the regular season.
- Chris Swauger went 2-3 with a homer and 4 RBI.
- Christian Rosa went 2-3 with a triple and a walk.
- Frederick Parejo went 2-4. I like him as a sleeper going into next year.
- Adam Veres induced ten ground outs and struck out five over six innings. He walked three and allowed five hits.
- Ramon Delgado struck out two in two innings with one hit allowed.
- Adam Reifer walked a batter, allowed a hit and an unearned run. He struck out two.
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Other than Mather, no other potential impact hitter made it to St. Louis this season, so I’m not sure what TLR expected to see there. It doesn’t sound like he mas much confidence in the young SP’s that debuted this season either, but he’s never been one to embrace young SP’s anyway.
I’m not really sure what to make of his comments. I can see where he’s coming from, but, on the other hand, he can’t just expect the farm system to pump out elite-level talent every year.
Either way, I think this is going to be a pretty interesting offseason.
It is certainly nice to see Chris Swauger unleashed. My impression – without digging through the box scores – is that he’s been Batavia’s best run producer by a fair margin since he entered the starting lineup. What kep him out of the lineup was, of course, the presence of Jonathan Edwards, who in turn was being kept out of Quad Cities by a couple of low-average singles hitters. In a system dedicated to pushing players, I just don’t understand this delay. But better late than never.
I think that Daytona logo was created in 1989…..and by 1990 it was outdated. Focusing a sports logo around sunglasses? Lame.
It overstates the case to call Mather an “impact hitter;” there are plenty of others out there like him. “Useful” is more like it (I prefer that to TLR’s “legitimate help”), and is not a bad thing. Surround Pujols, Ludwick, Ankiel, Glaus, Molina with a bunch of “useful” guys, and you have a very good team. If the Cardinals had any issues on the offensive side this year, it was the presence of too many “useless” guys — Kennedy, Ryan, Izturis, etc. Upgrade them to “useful,” i.e., Mather-like, and much has been accomplished.
That said, if a deal could be cut that swaps three or four of those “useful” prospects for a real bona-fide “impact hitter,” the team would be nuts not to look at it. TLR is correct that there are likely only two real “impact hitters” in the system, in Raz and Wally. Swapping some of the “legitimate help” guys, of whom there are many, for one “impact hitter” would improve the team’s prospects. You just hope that the standards applied to such a trade are as high as TLR is applying in judging whether prospects are “impact hitters” or not.
Just catchin’ up….
I think that impact bat was supposed to be Rasmus, given the talk about him before last year’s spring training, but a crowded outfield combined with Rasmus’ slow start and injury probably negated a Pujols-like debut. And honestly, the Cards don’t have an impact arm in Memphis for starting pitching–some of the SPs did all right, but there’s not a Wainwright among them (Garcia might get there, but not yet).
I think this is nothing more than LaRussa looking at his roster and their play this season and seeing a few holes–namely, the middle of the infield and lefty relievers. He’s already got young guys on this team; now he wants the holes filled by veterans to improve the team’s play next season. ‘Cause, those holes aren’t going to be filled by the system yet.