I know there’s been some clamoring for more info on Quad Cities pitcher Scott Schneider who is off to a great start with 15Ks and 0 BBs in 14 innings. Steve Batterson has a writeup on Schneider that touches on his offseason regimen as well as his college days.
Quad Cities is going to have it’s game broadcast on the MLB Network on Monday, May 3rd at 11am. By my tally, that should be a Joe Kelly/David Calhoun start. I hope that MLBN sends some of their own camera crews there. When I watched some of Steven Strasburg’s first start at AA on ESPNews, the camera angles were absolutely awful. I’m partial to the CF camera during every AB. Until the ball is hit, that’s really the only view I care much about.
Brian Walton touches on some of the top pitchers in the system at the Globe-Democrat. Lance Lynn continues to look overrated to me in most rankings. (FR rankings here.) Adam Ottavino is one I might have been a bit too down on as the early outings for Ott in spring training and the regular season have been quite positive.
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Regarding Waltons list….Didn’t Bittle hang em up already are this previous injury?
Az-
A little hype is neccesary because Lance Lynn is trade fotter.
@Andrew: He’s still a member of the org to my knowledge. He had several college injuries IIRC.
Thats good to know I thought I heard a report that he decided to retire.
Last I heard, his current injury didn’t require surgery, so he’s not finished. Yet.
has anyone ever reported how hard schneider throws?
Why in the hell is Scott Bittle included in any article written about Cardinals pitching prospects of any significance?
@fewgoodcards:
I can’t believe that his fastball could be more than average, seeing as if it was above average or better, we would have been told that by the organization by now.
I am excited beyond belief at the prospect of possibly getting to see Joe Kelly on television. Hyperventilating, even.
In regards to the terrible camera angle at strasburgs start…. I went to that game and the game the night before and I even commented to my girlfriend when we were walking around the centerfield stands….the camera was sitting there with no operator, it must have just been zoomed in and never again adjusted….same thing for a couple of other camera’s around the park….
@Aaron: Is it wrong that I’m considering taking a half day at work to watch that game on TV? (I like asking questions to an audience that I know will validate my decision.)
Other than the strikeouts I’m not sure what’s been positive about Ottavino’s start. I think the Cardinals had the right inclination at the end of spring training seeing what he’d look like as a closer. I still think this may happen if Franklin hits a long rough streak (inevitable in my book) and no current relievers fill the breach (also inevitable).
There may be no particular reason to believe that that switch might be the turning point for Ott other than that a change in role has seemed to help other young starters with “stuff” who couldn’t seem to progress to the majors. Todd Worrell and Joe Nathan come to mind. Anyway, if his next couple of starts aren’t scintillating, I’d like to see it tried.
Here is a link that might be of some small interest to people here: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?ID=75658
Howard Johnson Field, home of the Johnson City Cardinals, will not be torn down in the near future as was recently feared. However, they will be removing the hill in right field which is what has always made the park memorable. (In the article, they refer to it as Cardinal Park for reasons that only the local press seems to know.)
I don’t think the major league staff is looking at Ottavino as a closer; they’re simply looking at him as a stablizing bullpen arm, ala McClellan. Duncan seems higher on Mitchell Boggs as a possible closer than Ottavino.
Easy, last year during the first half of the year Ottavino was pretty much written off as a prospect, he had very little control and innings went very bad he frequently allowed 4 or 5 more runs and never knew were the ball was going. Something happened mid season and routinized his delievry and his command improved by quite a bit. He was undoubtedly the Memphis staff ace the second half a the year. His walks are down his strikeouts are up he doesn’t lose his head and put up really crooked numbers that a team can’t come back from. He is now a pitcher that can keep a team in just about every game. It’s strange that now that he is finally living up to his potential people are ready to scrap him or send him to the bullpen. A guy with his stuff and arm stamina doesn’t come along everyday so I think we need to give him as many chances as possible to keep him in the rotation. His stuff is just under Shelby Millers, but it’s still great.
Andrew and Forsh 31. I agree that Ottavino made improvements in last year’s second half. He’s only had 2 starts so far this year and his strikeout/walk rate looks good. In terms of runs, however, he hasn’t shown improvement yet. I agree that he should see a few more starts but, if things don’t improve, I’m arguing that a change in roles is warranted. I think that his stuff does warrant closer consideration. Baseball history is littered with guys who had that kind of stuff and didn’t make it. Ott has so far shown that he is not going to make it as a starter. If that continues over a few more starts I think he could benefit from a change in role.
Another thing to take info account, actually seeing him perform in person and not just a box score. I got MILB.tv last year and watched his starts, I also went back and watched some of his old starts. He really simplified his delievry. It’s very Carp like now. Shut down closers are alot easier to develop. We have a great number of potential closers in our system already. Sanchez, Reifer, Joe Kell and even Samuel if he gets his control back. Guess the point is Ottavino is too valuable to be sent to the pen already.
I think based on the second half of last year and spring training signs point to him making it as a starter. He will probably be the first starter called up if one of our starters gets hurt.
@azruavatar: It’s not only okay, I would think less of you if you didn’t. Seriously. My opinion of you rides solely on you skipping out on your job to watch a minor league baseball game. I am a fickle, fickle human being.
re ottavino —- his bb/pa is at 6.3 pct so far this year (small sample size) —- half of last year’s figure (12.8 pct) and significantly below his AA number from 2008 (9.8 pct). he’s cut the walks while keeping the strikeout and GB pctages high. we have to see if he can keep it up for more than 2 starts, but if he can then he’ll be a useful player.