Archive for August, 2009

With a little over two weeks to go in the minor league seasons, here’s the playoff chase update for your Cardinal affiliates.

The Memphis Redbirds are 68-60 and 2.5 games up on Nashville in the PCL American North Division with a magic number of 14.

The Springfield Cardinals won the first half for the Texas League North Division with a 38-32 record, which grants them a playoff berth. They sit in 3rd place in the North Division in the 2nd half with a 25-29 record. They are 4.5 games back with an elimination number of 12.

The Palm Beach Cardinals were 29-14 29-41 in the first half, good for second to last in the Florida State League South Division. They are currently 25-30 in the second half and are 7 games out of first with an elimination number of 6.

The Quad Cities River Bandits were 30-40 in the first half, good for 6th place in the Midwest League Western Division. The River Bandits currently are in 7th place, 11 games out of first, with an elimination number of 8.

The Batavia Muckdogs are 31-31 and 9 games out of first in the NY-Penn League Pickney Division. The Muckdogs will have to work some magic to overcome an elimination number of 6 to repeat as league champions.

The Johnson City Cardinals are 31-27 and sit 8.5 games out of first in the Appalachian League West Division. Their postseason hopes are quickly diminishing as their elimination number is 2.

Long live the DFR after the jump.

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David Freese is a man among boys.  My concern is that he’s going to be a boy among men if the Cardinals rely on him to hit at the major league level.  He’ll still be eligible for the prospect rankings in the offseason and he may hold his ranking if only because of the exodus of talent from the system.

Shelby Miller is going to be Kevin Goldstein’s number 1 Cardinal prospect.

Sometimes I forget that Adam Ottavino is just 23.  I’ve not been his biggest supporter this year (although I pulled that bandwagon for a while) and I’ve still got concerns over his long term walk rate but he has been better lately.

As good as Jaime Garcia has been in his rehab starts, I have to wonder if there’s a compelling reason NOT to pencil him in as the 5th starter for 2010.  I also have to wonder if there’s a compelling reason to not give him a start or two with the big league club during Lohse’s trip to the DL.

Joey Bombs makes his way back toward the big leagues.  Jayson Werth didn’t become an everyday caliber starter till he was 28.  Or, closer to home, Ryan Ludwick took until 29.  Mather still has time but it’s running out.

Daryl Jones to be back tonight.

Justin Fiske back to the DL.

Brian Walton opines on the loss of the Fall Instructional Leagues.

Wins from the top three clubs and losses from the low minors (Batavia gets rained out) leaves us with 5 games to cover. I’ve got the Jaime Garcia start to watch on Monday as well. Looking forward to that.

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If the Cardinals play the Pirates, should that be in the DFR?

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“How John Smoltz beat the Cardinals before 1996″

August 12, 1987: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander.

Doyle Alexander – 1987 NLCS

0-2
9 IP
14 Hits
10 ER
2 HR
4 K

Alexander lost Game 1 and didn’t make it out of the 2nd inning in the deciding Game 5, as the Twins would go on to the WS to defeat the Cardinals.

So, pitch good John.  You are a cautionary  tale of what ‘going all in’ can sometimes mean.

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Ah, the circle of life.  On Monday, the Cardinals signed the youngest pitcher in their organization.  On Tuesday, they secretly agreed (only to announce it Wednesday) to a contract with the oldest pitcher in their organization.

Since we last spoke, Mark DeRosa has gone 6-for-27 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs, as well as 7 strikeouts. Plus he recruited John Smoltz to come play for a team with the highest probability of making the playoffs in the National League.  Allen Craig, on the other hand, has gone 9-for-29 with a double and a HR, 4 RBI and 5 strikeouts.  Just keeping you updated.

And no, there will be no more Pablo Ozuna updates.

On to the DFR so I can get back to my spreadsheets!

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I have 30 minutes to kill. Let’s talk Shelby Miller, Cardinal prospects and what have you.

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All losses for the club today.

Only way to go is up from here!

DFR, jumpingness, etc.

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I won’t try to hold you in suspense till the offseason.  Shelby Miller will be the #1 prospect here and in every major publication you read (BA, BP, Law, etc).  There’s several contenders but they’re all flawed or just as unknown.

1. Jaime Garcia – The upside isn’t quite what you want in a #1 and despite his sterling performance to date, there will be questions about his health for the next several years now.
2. Daryl Jones – Injuries have plagued him all season leading to questions surrounding his overall talent level and power projection.
3. Wagner Mateo – The one player who can match Shelby on upside is the one player we know even less about.
4. Island of Misfit Toys – Daniel Descalso, Eduardo Sanchez, Lance Lynn, Bryan Anderson . . . they all suffer from either Garcia or Jones syndrome above.  It’s still a nice collection of mid-level prospects but nothing here to challenge for the #1 spot.

So expect Miller to take over the #1 ranking.  Regardless of what he’s ranked or what deragatory remarks that incites from the STL P-D scribes about laying a new egg, the real question is what the Cardinals have just signed in Shelby Miller.

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