Comments on: Daily Farm Report 5/2/09

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:21:31 +0000

If they have him mind for a relief role then why say it’s like having 6 starters? I don’t disagree with the switch but what Ilsley said just flat out doesn’t make sense.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:59:56 +0000

I think “blatant crap” is more than a bit harsh.
Like ‘visgc’, I read that as the coaches viewed Todd as a reliever long-term, so the timing happened to be right to move him to the bullpen back when they perceived depth in the Memphis rotation. I personally wish Todd was still starting to give him more innings, but I’m glad they didn’t move him back to the rotation once they found themselves down a couple starters. No sense in bouncing him between roles if the major league coaching staff has him in mind for a relief role down the stretch.

By: southeast redbird

southeast redbird — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:49:59 +0000

I think it’s a good move.
Everyone needs starters but a true closer is very hard to find, and they need their own development, if he shows the potential, why not. It saves a lot of unneccesary wear on the arm anyway, if they feel that this would be his best role.
I am sure that Duncan and TLR have plenty of input.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:38:34 +0000

It’s only a handful of AB’s…but has anyone noticed what C Roberto Espinoza has done for Quad Cities? Just 2 K’s against 10 walks(!), and a batting average in Descalso territory.

Granted the kid has been young for his leagues until now (he turned 20 in March), but he has a very sub-Mendoza career average–always showed good plate patience, though.

Espinoza nabbed 33% last year in his limited MWL time last year, so the arm looks OK so far. If he’s really turned a corner with the bat, to go with his strikezone control & improved contact rate…well, look out.

Anybody seen the guy this year?

By: VolsnCards5

VolsnCards5 — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:39:24 +0000

i’m ready for a samuel freeman promotion…he seems to have pretty much mastered high A

By: ozziehof

ozziehof — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:04:03 +0000

It sucks that Todd won’t be our next #3 starter, but from what I’ve read it’s just a matter of his mechanics having the potential to betray him later in games in the big leagues. The guy could be nails in the bullpen, and I don’t think the Cards should force the issue just because they already have a number of potential above-average RH relievers. Each player should, if possible, be put in the best chance to make the club and be productive. It’s not a vacuum and exceptions exist, but I think in this instance Don Tony and D Duncan see a potential late-season need or weakness in the late innings and Todd may be given a chance to work his way up to that role.

By: visgc

visgc — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:03:35 +0000

“so it made more sense to make the move at that point”. To me, the quote is not reffering to the number of starters at Memphis as a reason for shift itself, but a reason for the timing of the shift. I presumed that the decision to make him a reliever had already been made based on more Todd-specific factors, but if there weren’t enough arms available for AAA then perhaps the organization uses Todd as a starter for part or all of 2009 to fill the hole and to give him more innings of development. Obviously, moving him back and forth between starter and reliever as the AAA rotation evolves wouldn’t be ideal.

By: joe

joe — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:57:13 +0000

My take is that the organization has made up its mind that Todd is going to replace Brad Thompson as a cheaper, younger equivalent. If they rate Garcia, Boggs, Mort and PJ Walters ahead of Todd as starting prospects (which it seems they do), then the decision must be driven by the realization that Todd has a much better shot at the bigs pitching from the bullpen. Add into the equation Lynn now in Springfield.

By: azruavatar

azruavatar — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:20:07 +0000

And that’s what is so frustrating about all this. We know Luhnow and guys like Mejdal are smart enough to realize that starter > reliever. For whatever reason and I’m confident they have one, be it Todd himself or his mechanics, they think he’s better suited to relief. It’s frustrating to watch that after he had such a nice year as a starter but it is what it is. Ilsley’s quote was bizarre in any current context though.

By: erik

erik — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:56:43 +0000

i get where you’re coming from, but have you seen him pitch? once i saw him actually pitch, i immediately thought “there’s just no way this guy is a starter”.