Archive for June, 2009

So, tomorrow is July 1st and that means the next day is July 2nd, the international signing day. So, with rumors flying like hotcakes, here’s the next player connected to the Cards as of late.

His name is Jacob Beltre and according to Jorge Arangure of ESPN Deportes’ Twitter page:

Source: C Jacob Beltre won’t likely sign until after July 2. He was 2nd option for several teams, and his market is just now developing.

Jacob Beltre wants to play C, not 1B, and the teams that have shown most interest in him as C are #Cardinals, #Cubs, #Brewers, and #Giants

The guy is massive. Don’t think he’ll ever be a great or even good C,but teams might just sign him as C and let him play out of it

And the response from Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus and ex of Saber Scouting (on twitter natch):

no club i talked to thinks beltre is a catcher & he apparently is now 6’4-6’5

beltre is polarizing talent-wise (see BP report) but seems like 400-700k range. ogando in the same range too

So, that’s kind of how it goes with these 16 year old Latin American prospects, but the Cards are certainly interested.

There will be plenty more of that coverage on July 2nd, as for the DFR. Let’s Rock!

UPDATE: “Old Man Muscles” Jarrett Hoffpauir is up to STL today and Mortensen is back to AAA.  WE shall destroy the opposition with middle infielders!

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Life’s a little crazy again so my afternoon posts have taken the hit this week.  That said, I’m recording some Jess Todd outings.  The cut fastball plays really well of his slider and it’s easy to see why it gives hitters fits.

I hope to have some writing time over the course of the 4th of July weekend.

I’m also curious to hear if anyone is planning on going to the Futures Game.  If so, drop a note.

Lots of games to cover today even as Memphis was rained out. Let’s rock.

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Quad Cities decides they hate me with a double header today. Batavia shows some love with a postponed game. (It could all be weather related too but the planets rotating around me beg to differ.)

The system goes 3-for-6 and bids a fond farewell to Chris Perez as it waits for the second shoe to fall.

[Update AZ: cardsfan1 chiming in that Mortensen got called up last night.  Likely related to the Khalil DL.  I'm very excited about this actually.  I want to see how his stuff plays in front of the big boys.  Also, this is one pitcher that I WANT to spend time with Dave Duncan. Crazy, I know.]

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Thanks to BlogTalkRadio, any yahoo with a phone and a computer can have their own podcast/internet radio show. I’m a yahoo, I have said computer and said phone. So I’m gonna give this thing a shot. If I don’t make a complete idiot out of myself, we’ll do it again. It starts at 10 CST, guests will be Matt Baker of the Springfield News-Leader and Aaron Schafer of the Riverfront Times and VEB.

Link.

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Mike Schildt, Johnson City coach, chews on a toothpick and the JC Press wants you to know that.

Jon Jay wants to hit better.

Pete Parise is having something of an under the radar season. A 2:1 strikeout ratio and a recent promotion to Memphis, Pete doesn’t really project to the majors but hopefully he can continue to have solid outings at AAA.

Big Miles discusses his time in the big leagues.

Brett Wallace and Daryl Jones on their calls to the Futures Game.

Your Wagner Mateo article for the day via Ben Badler.

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So much for the closer of the future. Mark DeRosa is a good player, and the Cardinals are in an obvious need of offense rather than bullpen help, but my initial reaction this is a steep price for just a rental. Franklin may eventually run out of magic pixie dust, Jason Motte, Kyle McClellan and Jess Todd just do not the stuff Perez has and I don’t think any of them will ever be more than middle relievers. Now, unless Francisco Samuel can figure out how to throw strikes over the next season and a half, or Motte can learn another pitch, the Cardinals will be driven to the free agent market to overpay for some 9th inning reliever after Franklin’s contract runs out next year.

I would have to think the PTBNL is a “C” grade guy, or at least I would certainly hope so.

The flip side is that Perez may never harness his control to be a closer, but even as a good set up reliever, that should be worth more wins in the long run.

I think all the Cardinals are getting out of this is a win, maybe two tops. Flags fly forever, so if that means playoffs, then great. But it puts them in a bad spot a year or two down the road. I don’t hate this trade, but I don’t love it like some people do.

As we approach July 2nd (heard anything about Wagner Mateo lately? me neither), Ben Badler has some notes on last year’s top international signees including Cardinal bonus baby Roberto de la Cruz.

John Sickels covers some sleepers including David Kopp (here) and Deryk Hooker (here).

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Per Jorge Arangure of the worldwide leader, via twitter

Mateo/Cards deal is $3.1. SF close second. Giants almost offer $3.5 but got cold feet. Cards GM went to Mateo’s house to close the deal.

Mo the closer!

This breaks the team record $3M deal given to J.D. Drew 11 years ago. Pretty monumental stuff.

I’ve had a lot of positive things to say about Mitchell Boggs.  He’s got a live fastball and some inconsistent, but potent, breaking pitches.  PJ Walters has shown a tremendous ability in the minors to use the movement of his pitches while mixing them effectively to retire hitters. Despite his injury, Jaime Garcia might still be regarded as the best pitching prospect in the system.  A lefty with a big curveball and high groundball tendencies, he’s been one of few who have looked like something more than a back end starter. DanUp likes Blake Hawksworth.

Of all the pitching prospects near the majors (and I’m speaking in terms of those that might be ready for 2010), none of the above strikes me as the most likely to crack the rotation and stick.

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