Surprise: 8-7, 2nd
- Daniel Descalso and DJ Tools both went 1-for-4 with a double.
- Mike Parisi (returning from TJ surgery) pitched 5 strong innings allowing just 2 hits and striking out 4.
- Gary Daley allowed a hit, walk and struckout 1 batter in a scoreless frame.
Complete Winter League Statistics (h/t tom s.)
The hitters for the Cardinals have been pretty cool for the most part with one of my favorites leading the pack — Tyler Henley currently sports a .831 OPS in ~35PA for the AFL. Jon Jay and Mark Hamilton have both had uninspiring winters thus far in the Venezualan and Dominican leagues respectively.
Of the pitchers, both Mike Parisi and Evan MacLane have show the ability to strike out batters with good control. MacLane, a lefty, was picked up last season to bolster the Redbirds rotation as the major league club picked PJ Walters and Mitchell Boggs away at various times. Jose Rada, who will be 22 in 2010, has faired well in relief in the Carribbean league after spending his summer in Johnson City.
Entries (RSS)
Jay has 22 hits in 18 games, with 16 RBI and 15 runs scored. His OBP is .390. I don’t know anything about the parks or competition in Venezuela, so maybe the fact he has just 3 XBH is a problem.
Still, I’m not sure why we should be disappointed when a guy projected as a leadoff-type hitter hits over .300 and gets on base nearly 40% of the time.
He and Henley are just three months apart, so if it’s a choice between those two, maybe Henley wins by virtue of having slightly more power and a better future modeling jeans. But Henley has also spent the year in favorable offensive environments. I’m curious to see how they’ll do side by side in Memphis in 2010.
The VWL is a pretty weak league competition wise, certainly below AAA and possibly below AA. The .390 OBP is nice on the surface but he has just 4 unintentional walks and it’s being masked by 5 HBP. If you take out the HBP, it’s a .340 OBP, which is far less impressive.
AZ, how dare you mention Parisi’s surgery! Are you trying to imply his performances should receive special consideration? Parisi hasn’t done anything for the big club in almost two seasons; he hasn’t proven anything!
Also, where do you get off calling Jay’s and Hamilton’s performances “uninspiring”? If I wanted to hear someone sound uninformed and overcritical about Cards prospects, I’d head over to the P-D boards!
I swear, you FR writers act like you’ve got some sort of special expertise cultivated from many seasons of following these players day-in/day-out! The arrogance!
end sarcasm
So what do we think the memphis rotation looks like in 2010?
Parisi looks like he’s making a good run. Lynn and hearne are hard to ignore. Otto and PJ should come back. MacLane hasn’t done anything to lose a spot.
Even assuming no one in the running for a ML spot (boggs, garcia, hawk) ends up back in MEM, seems like a competition on our hands.
^
Maybe Brandon Dickson as well…
MacLane will declare as a minor league FA so he may not be back.
Luhnow has said Dickson projects as a reliever and has been a starter out of need.
I think Parisi might have something to say about the 5th starter spot with the big club. I see the Cards employing Parisi and Garcia in a 5th starter platoon. It would protect against a large number of innings for either and the other could be available in the bullpen for an appearance or two in between the starts. Tony and Dave have been unconventional in converting relievers into starters I think this may be their next innovation.
I actually see the Cardinals with around 5 or 6 league min pichers next year:
Parisi
Gracia
Boggs
Hawksworth
Mott
McClellan
Maclane