A quick apology — I know the DFRs have been “thin” lately and that’s due to a couple of reasons namely that the season is winding down and that I’ve thrown my back out twice in the last week. Sitting at a computer for an extended period of time is unpleasant right now.
We’ve got 6 games with a Memphis double header as they try to extend their lead in the PCL North over Nashville. The pitching in the minors seems to be wearing down a bit but a couple of injured Cardinal hitters are showing signs of life.
Memphis 7, Oklahoma City 2 (Game 1: 7 innings)
- Jon Jay was 2-for-4 with a double.
- David Freese was 3-for-3 with a double and a 3-run HR.
- Mark Hamilton was 2-for-3 with a double.
- PJ Walters has been very erratic over his last few Memphis starts. He needed 96 pitches to go 5 innings allowing 1 ER. He was tagged for 4 hits and walked 4 batters while striking out 4.
Memphis 5, Oklahoma City 3 (Game 2: 7 innings)
- Tyler Greene was 2-for-3 with a HR. That’s his 15th of the season. His Memphis numbers are really astounding for a SS with a .292/.370/.488 season line. Add in plus defense and baserunning abilities (his 31st stolen base) and the Cardinals have to be very pleased with his season.
- Mark Shorey was 3-for-3 with a double.
- Adam Ottavino threw 3.2 innings striking out 4. He walked just 1 but was bit by a 2 run HR allowing 3 runs before being pulled in the 4th inning.
- Josh Kinney and Pete Parise each pitched a scoreless inning.
- Daryl Jones was 2-for-5.
- Andrew Brown goes deep for the second night in a row, his 13th of the season. He was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Joe Mather went big fly as well with a 2-for-4 effort.
- Brandon Dickson got rocked for 5 ER in 5.2 IP on 9 hits. He struck out 3 and walked 1.
- Gary Daley took the loss allowing 2 runs in the 9th inning.
- Matt Carpenter was 2-for-4.
- A nice outing for Brad Furnish who seems to be doing better in Palm Beach — at the very least he’s striking out more batters than he’s walking. He allowed 1 ER in 5 innings striking out 6 and walking 2.
- Mark Diapoules allowed 1 run over 3.2 innings striking out 6.
- D’Marcus Ingram was 3-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- Raco Racobaldo went big fly.
- Ryde Rodriguez and Jarred Bogany both went 2-for-4.
- Kevin Thomas walked 4 batter and struck out 3 over 6 innings. He managed to limit the damage on 5 hits to 2 runs (1 earned).
- Kyle Conley stays ridiculously hot going 2-for-3 with a double and a HR. He also walked.
- Ivan Castro went 2-for-4.
- Michael Blazek struck out 6 over 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and a walk.
- Daniel Calhoun was tagged for 3 runs in 4 innings striking out 4. He allowed 6 hits.
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freese had 6 of the 7 memphis rbi’s in the first game of the double header….i , for one, hope he gets a shot of being the everyday third baseman for the cardinals next year..
tyler greene also had 2 steals in the first game, now has 30 on the year
Freese has 8 HR’s in 111 ab’s since returning from injury. (10 HR in 137 ab’s if you count his PB and Springfield rehab time.)
Anyone know why Allen Craig has not been in the lineup for either game today?
Craig pulled a muscle the other day.
Tyler Greene has 17 HRs and 34 steals between Memphis and Stl combinbed.
Congrats to Memphis, which clinched the second-half crown with their double-header sweep last night. 3 up on Nashville with 2 to play. Sympathy to azru for his back problems – I’ve had them for years and they are not fun.
Once the season is over and we start doing top twenty prospect lists I think it would be an interesting idea to have a discussion about how you evaluate so many of the position players at Memphis who are too old to be A prospects but who have tools and have come alive over the second half of the season. These include Jay, Greene, Freese (my favorite older prospect), Craig and some others. Should we attribute their comebacks to being old for their leagues or do we think some of them are just late bloomers? I’m starting to lean towards the latter for some of them but I’d like to hear what more savvy prospect watchers think.
Oh, and my sympathy to Azru also. I’m sixty one and have had many strains, sprains and broken bones playing sports over the years but nothing compares to the times I’ve thrown my back out bending over to pet a cat or pick up a penny. Hope the back heals and, if not, PT has worked very well for me.
So who all gets to battle for 3B next year? Freese, Mather, T.Greene, Craig? Greene would fit better at short but it seems like Ryan is fairly well entrenched there now and that might be a decent way to get him some ABs if the others falter. You have to wonder if the Cards will give Mather and Craig another look at 3B.
Cardsfan1 – Thanks for letting me know about Craig.
Impressive end to the season for Memphis. I think it can only help these players to be in a race and get a taste of winning a title.
Easy – I am not sure I would consider Craig an old prospect. He played the whole year at AAA as a 25yr old. I think that is pretty age appropriate. Obviously the elite prospects are there at a younger age.
Looks like there will be some nice position battles at the back of the roster, rotation and bullpen next spring.
I’d like to see both Freese and Craig on the 25 man roster next season. Let them battle each other for playing time at 3B and the 1 day a month when Pujols sits. I pray JMo resists calls from Tony to bring in a vet. Freese and Craig should easily give us what we can expect from any low hanging fruit vet 3B. These players just junk up the roster. We can’t sustain another fading vet meltdown ala K. Greene circa 2009. As Mather is coming back from injury, I think they should just keep him in the OF. No need for the extra stress of relearning a position where his recent experience is thin.
If the Cards resign Holliday, I have to think that they’ll go as cheap as possible with the bench. Ludwick should also get a nice raise.
Gaming it out, the need for inexpensive players would mean that Ryan and Schu are locks at SS and second. Lugo is a free veteran utility infielder, courtesy of the Sox. I doubt if we can afford to resign DeRosa, so that leaves two infield openings — a starting third baseman (Freese?), and another multi-position infielder (T. Greene?).
If Ankiel stays, that leaves one opening on the bench for a fifth outfielder/four-corners guy. It would seem that Craig and Mather would compete for that slot, unless they decide to go gritty and use Shane Robinson.
If Ankiel leaves as a FA, I have to think La Russa will want a lefty OF for his bench, since all the other guys I mentioned hit RH. That could be Jay’s opening, even if it’s just to keep the spot warm for Daryl Jones in a year or two.
Greene, Craig, Freese & Jay all could be in the majors right now. The Cardinals need to give Greene and Craig a shot next year – I don’t know what they do with a bunch of the other guys. Is there any doubt Ankiel’s numbers can easily be replaced by either Mather or Jay?
I think Mather will have the best year out of all of the prospects.
Azru – hope you’re feeling better soon. Take some hot baths if you can manage.
As has been pointed out, jay and henley have got to be feeling good right now, as they are positioned to be the lone potential LH bench bats on a team where only razzle and skippy are LH starters.
Thanks for the kind words everyone — my intent wasn’t to garner sympathy (though I appreciate it) — just a quick explanation as to why things have been light.
Lou Schuler et. al. It sounds like we’re thinking along the same lines that this year’s Memphis team has much to offer as far as cheaply filling in some gaps for next year. I do think that Freese is the first choice to be given the chance as the everyday third baseman. We have to remember that we’ve run away with the division this year with Thurston and DeRosa getting most of the time there. If Freese fields as well as advertised and hits .270 with 15 homers he’s a significant upgrade and I think he may do better than that. Craig has to be given some kind of shot after his phenomenal second half and Greene has earned a second chance as a utility guy. Anderson may also be able to redeem his prospec status if he returns to Memphis injury free. In the prospect rankings these guys take a back seat to the younger guys (Miller, Lynn, Garcia, JOnes, Descalso etc.) but I really think they have something to offer at the major league level in 2010.