Comments on: Daily Farm Report 9/5/08

By: Forsch31

Forsch31 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:14:53 +0000

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.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:00:14 +0000

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.

By: T McCarthy

T McCarthy — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:58:50 +0000

I think that Daytona logo was created in 1989…..and by 1990 it was outdated. Focusing a sports logo around sunglasses? Lame.

By: Neil T.

Neil T. — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:16:13 +0000

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.

By: Grant

Grant — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:26:59 +0000

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.