Comments on: Future Redbirds Top 20: 1-3

By: eccard

eccard — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:59:33 +0000

The big question for Colby is should he start this season in Memphis or St.Louis. Well that depends on whether the Cardinal organization plans a legitimate challenge for the World Series in 2009. If they do, then Rasmus should go to Memphis to master AAA pitching, which he was unable to do last year because of injury. If the Cardinal plan is to have him ready to produce in 2010 then he should start in the bigs this year. The reason; well the only consistency he has shown is that he starts the season learning the pitching or being slightly too cocky, which translates into a .225 (circa) average for the first two months. After that he takes off and pounds the ball. So the decision is; do you let him flounder in St.Louis for April and May and have him hurt the team or send him back to Memphis and make sure he has mastered that level first and bring him up later in the season? In 2010 he will be a regular for sure along with Wallace and/or Freese.

As for under-rated well look for Scott Gorgen to be this year’s Jess Todd; Jon Edwards to breakout and become the next Joey Bombs; and two of these three will force their way into the Cards future – Eduardo Sanchez, Andres Rosales and Jose Arrendondo.

By: Swirls AEPi

Swirls AEPi — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:46:19 +0000

For what its worth, Curtis and Peterson were both drafted in the first 5 rounds this year (I think Peterson was a 2nd rounder and Curtis was a 4th rounder), so I don’t think they’d qualify as late rounders. Anthony Ferrara and Aaron Luna would qualify, as well as Blake Murphy.

By: fpslackers

fpslackers — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:18:09 +0000

Give me Vasquez and and Reifer.

I’m not a big Kozma fan. His limitations have been stated before but he probably only has about 10 HR power at the most and I have been disappointed by the lack of SBs. I don’t think he’ll hit for enough average to overcome these two things and look like a good prospect. Vasquez has more pop.

I think Samuel will K more than Reifer but those walks are alarming.

By: waltdub

waltdub — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:27:22 +0000

I think Dan Descalso has been forgotten this season. The 2007 3rd rounder’s BA was low in Palm Beach, but he has a low strikeout rate, has good gap power with some home run power, and could be an answer at 2nd base. Although it is a small sample size, he did very well in Springfield at the end of the year. I could see him jumping to the top 30 next season.

Curtis and Kopp are my other votes for big jumps next year. Also, Xavier Scruggs was ranked along with Gorgen and Ferrara in BA’s pre-draft rankings. He made some improvements at the end of last season and I am anxious to see what he can do next season.

By: Easy

Easy — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Pham’s a good call for a deep sleeper but Tony Cruz is the guy I think has been ignored too much in the ratings. This past year he hit well in a pitcher’s league in a pitcher’s park while learning the toughest new position to learn. Had he not been hurt I think we would be listing him in most of our top 20′s.

By: poorcollegeguy

poorcollegeguy — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:43:12 +0000

I think there are quite a few guys who were drafted in the later rounds last year that will make for interesting prospects next year. It will be nice to see what they can do over an entire year. Several of them have been named in this post already like Cutis, Luna, Peterson and the like.

By: poorcollegeguy

poorcollegeguy — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:41:00 +0000

I agree with Hugo so there is no reason to post it, would have been identical.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:50:08 +0000

I think Kozma is going to have a big year. I still like his upside as Derek Jeter with tempered peak seasons. I also like Edgar Lara to increase his stock, though his problem is plate discipline which is arguably the hardest skill to acquire.

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:19:23 +0000

I’ll take Kozma, for his all around skillset. Reifer v. Samuel is tough, because I expect both of them to continue to succeed.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:46:37 +0000

Kozma and Reifer,

Vasquez impressed people at a lower level and I expect him to slump down some and possibly have a season similar to what Kozma has been having and I expect Kozma to just keep on keeping on. I also believe Reifer has the better “stuff” over Samuel but either could surprise me by becoming the next Perez.