Cardinals of the Caribbean Update
Posted on December 24th, 2008 by erik in Winter ball, tags: Amaury Marti, Bryan Anderson, Fernando Salas, Joe Thurston, P.J. Walters, Richard CastilloWe’ll resume our top twenty next Monday, but in case anyone’s out there and is interested, there is still some baseball being played. Here’s an update on some of the Cardinal players of interest-
It’s notable that since Yadier Molina has been catching P.J. Walters, Walters has improved. Currently for Carolina, P.J. has a 4.34 ERA with 38 strikeouts, which is good for 3rd in the league. His control is back after deserting him all year in Memphis, with just 11 walks (2.65 per 9) in 37.1 innings.
Along with Walters, Cardinal newbie Joe Thurston is also in the Puerto Rican Winter League, only for rival Ponce. He’s hitting .285/.369/.423 over 123 at bats and has stolen 7 bases in 10 attempts.
Amaury Marti‘s bat was forged in the fires of Mt. Doom. It’s name is Stitchbane, Destroyer of Spheroids; cold as steel and as black as its possessors soul. For the DR Licey Tigers, Marti is hitting .314/.390/.535 in 172 at bats.
A couple of noteworthy pitchers are late joining the action: Richard Castillo has a 4 K’s, 3 BB’s and a 1.13 ERA over 8 innings for the Lara Cardinals (VZ). Fernando Salas, our 19th ranked prospect, has a 5.14 ERA mostly thanks to a rough outing in which he gave up three runs while retiring just a batter. He’s struck out 5 and walked 3.
In case you are wondering about Bryan Anderson, he hasn’t had an at bat in nearly a month, so I’d say it’s a safe bet he’s back home.
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what’s the deal with marti? will he be at memphis in 09 perhaps? i’ve noticed his birthday differs on some sites. he isn’t young, or a prospect really, so why not just move him to AAA and see how he does at that level? i’d love to see him one of these septembers at busch.
Maybe I’m wrong here, but I honestly think its time to trade Marti and get something for him. I know he won’t command a whole lot, but we’re not doing this guy any favors by keeping him in the minors and not even trying out a september call up. I believe this guy could be a 4th/5th outfielder on quite a few teams, and provide some very nice pop off the bench. Unfortunately we are stocked well with OF talent that will just keep Marti being sent to Memphis.
Maybe I am too high on him, thinking that he could go to several teams and make the team as a 4th/5th OFer. But then again, I have ready the Marti link on this site, and he is so great that his tears cure cancer…..but he never cries! LOL
Anyway, I think its time to get a low level minor leaguer for this guy. Heck, if he were in the Chicago Cubs system he would be a top 15 prospect (considering their #10 prospect is Micah Hoffpauir, a 28-29 year old power hitter).
Oh, and I believe Marti is in his mid 30s and not his early 30s from the reports that I have heard.
“I know he won’t command a whole lot”
As in nothing.
“Maybe I am too high on him, thinking that he could go to several teams and make the team as a 4th/5th OFer.”
Yes, you are too high on him.
I think Castillo pitched more than that this Winter. This is from Josh Jones’ fine blog Cardinals Best News Links. Josh follows the Cardinals in the Cardinals in the Carribean Leagues closer than anyone.
http://cardinalsbestnews.blogspot.com/
Final Stats:
Richard Castillo (Quad Cities) made ten appearances (five starts) posting a 3-0 record, 2.57 ERA, and one save for Mariners-Lara. He allowed 26 hits, 13 runs (12 earned), three home runs, 14 walks, hit six batters, threw two wild pitches, and struck out 42 over 42 innings. Opponents batted .186 against him. Castillo was promoted to Lara a month ago.
With Marti always outside of US immigration, e.g., Mexico now P.R., one must wonder whether there is a visa-type issue there.
i’m pretty sure he was at spring training last february.