Here’s some KLaw chat tidbits:
Perez > Motte for me, but Perez is hurt. Motte’s a one-pitch guy. It’s a good pitch, but man cannot live on fastball alone.
One of the things I intend to do in the next few weeks is go back and look at all my previous comments on Motte. I tend to side with KLaw on this one but I’m pretty sure that’s not the prevailing opinion among fans.
Boozer, Wrigleyville: We all know about Price and Wieters, but who could the NL ROY candidates be? McCutcheon? Rasmus? I’m not a big fan of Maybin.
Keith Law: Maybin, Rasmus, Zimmerman.
Here’s the deal: ignore spring training numbers, look at the talent. He smoked the ball in ST last year, he’s flailing a bit this year. He’s the same uber-talented player. He’ll be good given the chance.
On to John Vuch’s notes from the day.
Memphis 2, Buffalo 1
- Mitchell Boggs threw 3 innings allowing 3 hits and struck out 2. Boggs is probably the Cardinals’ sixth starter but there’s still good reason to question what kind of success he could have there. An unhearlded 2005 draftee he’s steadily climbed the ladder without any eye-popping numbers in an individual level. He’s got a good mid-ninties fastball and a curve with good break but poor command. He lacks a real option for a third pitch. Unless he gets leap frogged byPJ Walters or Jess Todd, expect to see him when the Cardinals need an extra starter.
- Katsuhito Maekawa threw 2 innings allowing 3 hits and 1K.
- Brandon Dickson picked up the win duplicating Maekawa’s line with an unearned run.
- Ian Oustland pitched a 1K scoreless inning. He’s probably battling Charlie Manning for a place in the Memphis pen.
- An interesting name appeared in the Memphis game for relief. Francisco Samuel picked up the save with a 2K scoreless inning. He’s the next “live arm” in the system and one of the more sought after prospects on the Cardinals farm.
- Lil’ Shane Robinson recorded both RBIs with a 2-run HR. He also walked in the game.
- Brandon Yarborough was 2-for-4.
- Casey Rowlett and Brian Barton were each 1-for-4. If the Cardinals aren’t interested in having Barton on the big league squad, they ought to move him. I suppose he’s the RH depth for the outfield but there’s little left for him in the minors.
- David Freese, playing third, was 0-for 2 with a walk.
- Jarrett Hoffpauir walked twice. He’ll need to show more than marginal power to be considered a viable option in the majors.
Springfield 7, Binghamton 7
- Adam Ottavino threw 4 strong innings. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and a walk striking out 4.
- Trey Hearne allowed a hit in 2 scoreless frames.
- Jared Bradford was roughed up for 4 runs (3 earned) recording 5 outs.
- Russ Haltiwanger allowed 2 ER in 1 IP.
- Daniel Descalso was 3-for-4 with a HR and a walk.
- James Rapoport was 2-for-3 with 2 BB.
- Donovan Solano and Tyler Henley went 2-for-5.
- Brett Wallace had a 2 run double.
Palm Beach 11, St. Lucie 3
- Thomas Eager went 2 innings allowing 1 hit and recording the W.
- Blake King allowed 2 hits and 2 BBs while striking out 3 in 2 innings. A very typical Blake King outing. I’d guess the Cardinals will try to hold onto him for a while until he gets claimed in a Rule V draft. He’s still got plus raw stuff but the command has yet to materialize in any fashion.
- David Carpenter allowed 2 hits and 1 K for 1 ER in 2 IP.
- Jose Mateo had the same line plus a run. Bad Luck.
- Adam Reifer, possibly the best relief arm in the system, struck out the side.
- Shane Peterson went 3-for-4 with a double, HR and a walk. Heck of an outing for Peterson.
- Colt Sedbrook, not to be outdone, went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- Oliver Marmol had a two- and three-sacker.
- Curt Smith and Jonathan Edwards both had a pair of hits.
- Brian Cartie and Aaron Luna both had a double.
- Paul Vasquez got things started with a 3 run bomb for Palm Beach.
Quad Cities 1, Savannah 3
- Arquimedes Nieto and Scott McGregor each threw 2 innings allowing a hit and striking out a batter.
- Dylan Gonzalez struck out 4 in 2 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 ER.
- LaCurtis Mayes had a messy inning allowing 4 baserunners and 1 ER.
- Santo Maertz and Joel Pichardo each recorded a scoreless frame.
- The QC team brought their gloves apparently. Vuch doesn’t usually have many comments in the way of defense in the reports so when they do show up, it must have stuck in somone’s mind. Brett Lilley was 2-for-4 with a “diving play up the middle”.
- Domnit Bolivar “made a great play on grounder to his backhand at third base with strong throw from foul territory to save run in 2nd inning” and was 1-for-4.
- 1-for-3: Frederick Parejo, Beau Riportella and Ryde Rodriguez. Rodriguez also pegged a dunner at the plate.
- Chris Swauger had a double.
- D’Marcus Ingram was 1-for-4.
Entries (RSS)
Is there a reason why Pete Kozma and Niko Vasquez have only been mentioned in one of these reports? Injuries?
My guess is that they went 0′fer
Motte isn’t a one pitch guy anymore. With that said, he could do well on the fastball alone, but i’ve read the slider is coming along.
Ottavino looks to be real solid. Hopefully he comes through the Texas League and I get to see him.
There’s an article on BA’s site about our “trio of 3B prospects” … I’m guessing this includes Craig even though he didn’t get a chance at 3B in spring training. Not a subscriber though, so not sure what is in the article.
Craig could hit 1.000 in ST and I’m not sure they’d even consider him.
I think he considers Motte a “one-pitch pitcher” because his 2nd pitch (slider) is still a work in progress. However, if he continues to work and improve it, he will be tough to hit. I still wish they would teach him to throw a splitter. That would be a deadly combo.
Good spring, so far, for Ottavino. Hopefully he can stay healthy and have a breakout season.
I’m liking the sound of a Motte-Perez-Samuel-Reifer bullpen. Perez, throwing in the mid-90s, would be the soft-tosser of the group. How awesome is that?
Agree with Drewwill. 2009 Motte != 2008 Motte.
Klaw should realize this guy is still learning how to pitch and just because he lacked a secondary pitch last season does not mean it is not coming along this season. If the Cards let Motte close from early in the 2009 campaign, I think he will be ROY candidate. Rasmus is a slow starter. Q. Assuming Ras breaks north with the team, will Tony stick with Ras if he struggles early?
Excuse my ignorance, but what did Gorgen have surgery on?
Gorgen had surgery on his shoulder.
So far today Rasmus is 3-3. I really like the idea of him in the #2 hole if Ankiel or Ludwick can solidify the #4 spot.
i get shane peterson and shane robinson mixed up…are they both tiny…just trying to figure why i keep switching them up in my head
maybe b/c they are both named shane ‘son? Robinson-tiny. Peterson-normal sized.
Donovan Solano is going to have a break out year….book it.
KLaw realizes Motte is still a work in progress. That wasn’t the question, though, and the fact is that right now, he’s a one-pitch guy because he doesn’t have an average second pitch.
I completely agree with the splitter idea. Very good candidate for such a pitch.
erik likes it when KLaw refers himself in the third person. erik wishes more people did that sort of thing.
erik thinks what people are referring to is an article at the post-dispatch website where larussa praised motte for throwing a couple of sliders early in the count for strikes. erik’s not sure how good the pitch is, erik hasn’t seen it since last year, but the coaches seem to think he’s made some improvements, or at least motte does, b/c that’s what erik believes what was quoted. erik has his doubts.
the slider has improved a lot. it is now a legit pitch. i have seen him a few times on tv this spring, and he has thrown a few nasty ones.
I was just going off what I saw earlier this week, when Motte pitched against the Tigers. He came in and struck out the side, throwing a couple of pretty good sliders in the process. I tend to agree with KLaw in that, right now, he’s still a one-pitch guy. However, that appearance vs DET gives me hope that he can develop at least an average slider.
At this point, I personally would still call Motte a one-pitch guy, but just barely. His slider certainly has improved markedly, but he’s still erratic enough (even in the Tiger game, when he threw a couple of very, very nice ones, he still didn’t locate all that well), that I can’t quite call it a major league offering just yet. As quickly as he’s picked up the pitch, though, I fully expect him to end up with a perfectly usable slider. He’s close now; I just want to see it more consistently in, or at least near, the zone.
Agreed on the splitter thing. You would think any pitcher with a short-arm, straight over the top motion would be able to make good use of the slip family of offspeed pitches. Oh well.
I’m also with Mr. KLaw on the Perez vs Motte debate. Perez has some of the filthiest stuff I believe I’ve ever personally witnessed. Now, if he could just get healthy and harness that talent…
When’s the last time KLaw saw Motte pitch? From what little I’ve seen of Motte this Spring (3 outings or so), his slider has turned into an average pitch that will keep hitters off balance. He’s been locating it well and has had more success as a result. His control has been stellar. I also like Perez’s potential more, but at this point, Motte is the more polished pitcher and should get closing duties.