Comments on: Daily Farm Report 5/5/09

By: PJ

PJ — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:43:22 +0000

Yes starters. Todd I count as a reliever and Garcia is injured. By default, these are the best starters we have. I also think they work well in our particular system. Our system improves their upside. Garcia has similar upside, but being lefthanded has a different projection to me.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:49:43 +0000

@PJ: you mean top two starters? Even then I am not sure. Todd, Salas, Samuel, Reifer can all contend from the Releif side, and Todd (again) and Garcia could from the starting side. In the top 5 maybe, but I wouldn’t go as far as top 2 just yet.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:24:27 +0000

Way too early to start with the “Duncan Transformation” conspiracy theories on Castillo. His best pitch is a curve ball, I think, so that could explain why he’s getting more groundballs if the fastball if FSL hitters are not missing as often on the fastball.

By: PJ

PJ — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:10:59 +0000

You know what would be very cool? If a story could be done comparing Lance Lynn and Clayton Mortensen. I think these 2 have established themselves as our top 2 pitching prospects and seem to be Dave Duncan kind of guys.

By: erik

erik — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:04:38 +0000

I need to add a “like” button to the comments.

By: Matt Baker

Matt Baker — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:58:27 +0000

You guys might be interested in a video on our site of Pete Kozma getting a little rookie hazing up in Springfield: http://www.news-leader.com/section/VideoNetwork&pid=ef2a0df9ad8d96bac465075615df4c1ba9edf875&videoid=1115052649

By: erik

erik — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:04:31 +0000

yeah, but I’m not month’s worth of data doesn’t seem to be enough to safely infer the Cardinals are forcing the two-seamer on him.

and the dude did give up quite a few homers, especially for a MWL pitcher, so it’s not a terrible idea even if they are pushing the sinker on him.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:57:45 +0000

Mulligan has already succeeded at Palm Beach…which is why it was a bit weird to start him a level *lower* in 2009.

Richard Castillo’s struggles can probably be traced to his shift from highly effective flyball/strikeout pitcher to mediocre groundball/run allowing pitcher. According to minorleaguesplits.com, last year Castillo had 38% grounders, 42% flies, and a stunning 19% infield popouts. This year? Just 7% infield pops, only 23% flyballs, and 52% grounders. Whether he’s doing this on his own or was directed to change, it definitely ain’t working so far.

If someone told Castillo there’s no such thing as a successful flyball pitcher with an 89-90 fastball, I would refer them to Woody Williams’ first 40 or so starts with the Cardinals, when he had an ERA+ in the 175 range.

Maybe Castillo is young & talented enough to eventually complete the “Duncan Transformation”, but I say leave ‘em the hell alone as long as he’s succeeding spectacularly. But that’s just me.

By: Pierce

Pierce — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:24:15 +0000

Crazy @ Mulligan striking out the side again w/ no walks and hits. In his past 7 appearances in 7 innings, he hasn’t allowed a hit or a walk and has struck out 14 batters.

Great to see Mortensen with 2 hits, 3 walks, 7 K’s, and a GO:FO ratio of 11:4. Hopefully this is his breakout year in the upper levels.