It’s a lefty parade for Memphis today. A man-child goes boom, a Brett Wallace goes boom-boom-boom and the farm goes 2-for-5.
Memphis 2, New Orleans 5
- Clayton Mortensen threw 3 innings allowing 4 hits with 1 BB and a strikeout. He was tagged for 2 runs (1 earned). Mortensen’s got a lot of room to improve this season. The walks need to get back to a reasonable level andt he strikeouts need to bounce back without significant losses to his GB%. There’s still some reason to think that he could be more than just a back end starter but he was rushed last year and we have to hope that doesn’t stint his overall development.
- Ian Ostland allowed 1 hit and 1 strikeout in 2 IP.
- Charlie Manning struck out 3 and allowed 3 baserunners recording 5 outs.
- Royce Ring completed the trifecta pitching .2 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned). The lefty backups behind Dennys Reyes and Trever Miller are very weak this season. None of these players are viable options for the bigs at this point. It’s an area that still concerns me for the big league club.
- Jarrett Hoffpauir went 3-for-4 with a double.
- Tyler Greene was 3-for-4 with a stolen base. He’s really done a nice job this spring making contact. Whether that carries over into the regular seaosn remains to be seen.
- Nick Stavinoha was 2-for-4 with a walk.
Springfield 10, Jacksonville 13
- Brandon Dickson lasted 3 innings allowing 6 hits. 5 runs were scored but only 3 were earned so the defense was treacherous today. He struck out 1 and walked 1.
- Eddie Degerman walked 3 and K’d 3 over 1 IP. With 1 hit, the scoring was opportunistic by the opposition for 4 ER.
- Trey Hearne struck out 3 in 2 scoreless frames walking 1. I’m curious to see where he’ll slot into the minor league system. After becoming something of a cult hero, he struggled and was sent to the Mexican League.
- The decimation of Kenny Maiques continues for 4 ER in .2 IP. 2 hits, 2 BBs and 1 K.
- Francisco Samuel tossed a scoreless inning.
- Brett Wallace was 4-for-5 with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs. Another day in the office. . . .
- Daniel Descalso was 2-for-3 with a double.
- Tony Cruz was 2-for-3 with a double and a HR.
Palm Beach 13, Jupiter 5
- Nick Additon was hittable in his 2.2 IP. Jupiter tallied 5 ER off of 8 hits and 2 BBs while Additon struck out 4.
- Ryan Kulik struck out 3 over 3 innings walking 1.
- Thomas Eager, Davis Bilardello and Casey Mulligan each threw a scoreless frame.
- Adron Chambers was 3-f0r-5 with a double.
- Curt Smith was 3-for-4.
- Tommy Pham had a pair of triples.
- Jermain Curtis was 3-for-4 with a double.
- Oliver Marmol was 2-for-2 in his PAs with a single and a walk.
Quad Cities Team #1 2, Greensboro 6
- George Brown struck out 4 in 2.1 innings. He allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on a hit and a walk.
- Hector Cardenas allowed 4 hits in 2.1 innings for 3 ER. He struck out 1 and walked 3.
- Chuckie Fick tossed 2 scoreless innings striking out 2 and allowing 2 hits.
- Matt Frevert struck out 1 in his inning of work and Jorge Rondon allowed 1 ER in his.
- Chris Swuager was 2-for-3.
- Osvaldo Morales was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
- Xavier Scruggs was 2-for-4 with a double.
Quad Cities Team #2 7, Marlins Team #5 2
- Kevin Thomas struck out 1 and walked 2 in 3 hitless frames.
- Anthony Ferrara tossed 2.2 innings allowing 3 BBs, 2 hits and 2Ks for 1 ER.
- Jason Buursma recorded 4 outs, 1 via strikeout.
- Daniel Richardson allowed 1 ER in 1.1IP.
- Brett Lilley doubled twice and walked twice.
- Brian Buck was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple.
- Beau Riportella had a 2-run HR.
- Travis Mitchell singled twice.
- Roberto de la Cruz “hit a long solo HR to LF through the wind”.
Entries (RSS)
Azru, I think you had another typo. It says that Brett Wallace had 3 HRs. That can’t be right. If that were right, Troy Glaus would have been given his outright release this afternoon and I have heard none-such.
Again with the triples, Tommy Pham. Let’s try something else, sheesh.
Finally, Curt Smith really must be having the week of his life.
I’m wondering how much Wallace’s defense drives down his prospect status.
If there wasn’t a question of defense with him, would you rank him higher than Rasmus.
If he were a minor leaguer in an AL’s system and would be a dh, would he have been ranked higher.
I don’t mean this as a knock on Wallace. He’s an amazing hitter, I’m just wondering where a Wallace with defense would rank.
My irrational desire to see Eddie Degerman succeed continues, but has not seen any real promise since he was drafted. Still strikes, people out- still can’t find the zone.
It’s just too damn fun to watch him throw curveballs.
My man-crush for Roberto de la Cruz grows by the day.
Thanks for the report, azru.
While everybody and their brother expects Wallace to hit, I’m real curious to see what Descalso & Cruz can do in the hitter-friendly Texas League this year. They’re both 22 (the “correct” age for AA) and both closed 2008 with a rush.
That’s Riportella’s second or third longball this Spring…after showing no real pop before, either as an amateur or during his fine rookieball campaign in 2007. Has his swing been re-tooled, I wonder?
To answer your question, p-c-g, I’d guess that Wallace would be a consensus top 15 prospect if his 3B defense were graded as average. Maybe even in the 8-10 range….
Descalso will hopefully continue his early success throughout the season. I know it’s being overly optimistic, but he had a pretty good season last year if you account for bad luck and stadium factor, and I’d like to think he’s the best second base prospect in the upper system
i agree on descalso, his power production last year was very surprising for me. if he can stick at 2nd, he could be a legit option as a future everyday player. it seems like they are grooming him to be a utility guy that can play 2nd, short, and 3rd and that would be fine also. hopefully he can bump that average up this year.
I don’t see any reason Descalso won’t stick at second base, watching him in Springfield last year he made all the plays, has very quick feet, and even made a highlight real play a few times. I don’t recall seeing him at any other position, but he a surprisingly great athlete, a little bit in the placido palonco mold.
i think it’s tommy pham’s year to break out..he’s had a good start so far…and what else needs to be said about brett wallace, he was flat out born to hit the baseball
>>>”The lefty backups behind Dennys Reyes and Trever Miller are very weak this season. None of these players are viable options for the bigs at this point. It’s an area that still concerns me for the big league club. ”
Right. Worse than last year, right? Funny how Ostland’s performance doesn’t support that statement.
If Wallace had a defensive position, it would be unlikely that he would have been there when the Cards drafted. He has a near or at major league ready bat, but there are concerns over defense. If he could play 3B he likely would have been snatched up way before #13.