Quick note: comments where you curse at another commenter or simply proceed with ad hominem assaults because they spoke ill of a player you like will be deleted. It’s garbage and if it continues, it’ll lead to an IP-address ban as well.
- Jon Jay continues his hot hitting ways going 3-for-5 with a double. There was some noise on the Cardinals broadcast and among the beat writers on twitter about Jay and Allen Craig. The problem is that Jay doesn’t fit well with the composition of the team. The Cardinals need a right handed centerfielder to match with Rasmus (who still could right the ship versus lefties — it’s early) and that’s simply not Jay. Jay is positioning himself well as either a trade chip or an early contender to take over RF if the Cardinals move Ludwick, which I still think happens this offseason.
- Daniel Descalso was 2-for-5 with a triple.
- Tyler Greene was 1-for-5. Greene has quietly put together a strong start that I failed to notice prior to tonight. He’s hitting .292/.370/.462 thus far.
- Mark Shorey and Matt Pagnozzi were both 2-for-4.
- Lance Lynn continues to struggle with his command. He walked 3 in 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 2 hits. He struck out 5.
- Oneli Perez got blasted for 5 runs in 2 innings.
- Jim Rapoport was 2-for-5 with a walk.
- Pete Kozma was 3-for-6 with a double and a HR. Kozma is showing a good degree of power. I’d not be at all surprised to find that his swing looks nothing like draft day.
- Steve Hill was 3-for-5 with a walk.
- Curt Smith was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Mike Folli went yard.
- David Kopp went 5 innings striking out 3, walking 3 and allowing 5 hits. He was tagged for 3 earned runs (and 1 unearned run).
- Blake King threw 2 innings, struck out 3 and walked just 1. He allowed 2 hits in another display of his improved command this season.
- Jose Garcia was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Tommy Pham was 1-for-2 with a double and 2 walks. I’m still mad at him.
- Richard Racobaldo was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.
- Xavier Scruggs was 2-for-3 with a walk.
- Arquimedes Nieto struck out 3 in 6 innings of work. He allowed 4 hits while walking 1 for 2 ER squaring off against the Twins 2009 first round draft pick Kyle Gibson.
- Matt Frevert struck out 5 and walked 1 allowing 2 hits in 2 innings of work.
- Casey Mulligan struck out the side in a perfect 9th. Again, why isn’t he in Springfield? There’s at least two relievers in Springfield that I can say Mulligan is easily better than. I just don’t understand this roster assignment.
Quad Cities was postponed.
Entries (RSS)
Lynn actually took a no hitter into the 7th inning surprisingly. unfortunately he didnt record a single out in that inning.
I don’t think the explanation of Lynn’s performance does it justice. He had a no hitter into the 7th inning were he ran out of gas. Walked 1 and gave up 2 hits. O. Perez came in and gave up the third run and it was charged to len. He did have some issues with command threw about 90 pitches with about 60 being strikes. On another postive note it looks like he has slimmed down lost 15 pounds from last year and he’s throwing harder. Sitting at about 90-91. Was a very impressive performance by Lynn.
Looks like the Cards former 2nd round pick out of HS in 2004 Stuart Pomeranz is making a come back. Had another strong showing for Tulsa against the Springfield Cards tonight.
IP H BB SO
1.2 1 0 4
Stats as a 19 year old at Peoria:
W L ERA IP H BB SO
12 4 3.55 101.1 95 25 88
Reply
Descalso is now leading the PCL in RBI with 20 thanks to his .385 BA with RISP, and Kozma in 29 AB vs LHP this season is slugging .724!
Jay does not have the arm for RF. Holliday blocks him from LF, Rasmus in CF. Jay becomes a reserve OF or trade chip.
Mulligan finished the 2008 season doing well at Palm Beach yet was assigned tp QC to start 2009. They said it was because they wanted him to get experience as a closer. It may be the same reasoning this year. Expect him back in Springfield by mid season though.
I don’t understand the comment about Jay/Craig, and Raz needing a righthanded centerfield counterpart. Isn’t that Mather right now? Craig has been pretty bad this year IMO. I’m not trying to say he can’t be good, but for a guy that is used to playing everyday, it’s probably going to be tough to get into a groove coming off the bench. A Craig for Jay swap, even if just for a limited time, makes sense. To me at least.
At Palm Beach, Mulligan gathers experience as a closer.
Where can we get 2010 stats for these guys? links to Fangraphs only have 2009 and previous….
good work guys! enjoy the daily reads.
Don’t forget David Kopp’s batting average for 3 at bats was 1.000!!!He drew a walk! Good eyes.
PS Kopp went 6 innings not five.
http://firstinning.com/
“Where can we get 2010 stats for these guys? links to Fangraphs only have 2009 and previous…”
http://firstinning.com/
I’m hoping to get to Springfield soon, with the express purpose of seeing the Koz and his hot start. We saw flashes of actual hitting ability briefly at the beginning of last season, as well as some pics and video that seemed to show his swing had improved from where it was in HS. Here’s hoping he’s made some changes to his approach and he can live up to that draft position that’s been hauting him.
I’d also like to see Kopp while I’m down there, as he remains a personal favourite. His career to this point certainly hasn’t gone quite the way a lot of us would have liked, but he’s still got a great arm and a beautiful delivery.
I think mather is the RH backup CF for the cards, so jay taking craig’s spot would not be a problem in that regard
Allen Craig has been incredibly unluck thusfar…his LD% is solid but his BABIP is under .100…that is the definition of bad luck…granted, it’s a small sample size with him, but he’s not near as bad as he looks…still, i like the idea of having a lefty contact type outfielder off the bench, especially if he can run the bases well like jay can
I think that Lynn and Kopp (and maybe Garceau too) having same slight issues, they throw hard, pound the zone, pitch low (and inside) which can produce walks (the harder you throw, your control is off ) and their bread and butter is FB, FB, FB. Lynn may be working on taking it down a notch, which means until it kicks in you are going to have slight issues. Also these guys are natural amped guys. Lynn is adjusting to AAA and so is Garceau and Kopp to AA. I think it is the same way with Ottavino too, why he produces so many walks at times. I know some people feel disappointed, don’t worry I don’t think that the organization is. I also don’t think that moving to the highest level always happens because you were successful at the lower levels, what moves you along is what you have and how you use it. Also producing GB is a preference for them, just the way I see it, they want teh defense to work If you are a powerful velo guy, that is what they want you to work on. Once you get that out of the way, they allow you to use more off speed. These guys weren’t drafted for their off speed stuff.
I think that Kozma is doing well, cutting down on errors and not taking the first pitch, I think a lot of it is maturity, he has a BEAUTIFUL swing. Actually he has a ML swing so I understand his draft slot. I also think they moved him too fast, so this is the year he needs to do well and I think it’s coming around.
Mulligan is realitively new at pitching, I think he’s much better off getting his work in at the high A level. I also don’t think that closer will be his role, more of a mid relief or a match up guy. But that is just my opinion. I also don’t thnk that any changes will be made for him to move up until after the break, they are bound set on making the playoffs first half and everything is working right now.
By the way, King did a great job.
For the love of god, just promote Mulligan to Double-A and Sanchez to Triple-A already.
When raving about Tyler Greene’s stong start with the bat, you forgot to mention how horrendous he has been in the field with six errors.
Kopp also pitched well and had only allowed 2 hits until he ran out of gas. Gave up 3 hits and 2 of his runs in his last inning of work.
@Stan: Mather isn’t hitting right now. Jay doesn’t make sense in right or left with the presence of Ludwick or Holliday. So unless he’s going to be a counterpart in CF, I don’t see how he fits the team.
I think Mather makes more sense then the other 2 backups. Mather backs up Rasmus in center can backup 3rd and Left and Right.
Yes, I checked and Kopp went for six. He also got on base with a sac bunt past the pitcher, single and a walk. Not bad for first time up at bat this season. I also think that he ran out of gas.
The Big Boy Cards have one LH on the bench when facing a RH starter. And that is only if Flip Lopez doesn’t start at third. A LH guy on the bench would be nice to have. We are not looking for someone to takeover from Holliday or Ludwick. We are looking for a bench guy to give them a rest. Jay gives you another LH bat off the bench. I think the better question for the move is whether Jay will fair any better than Craig not getting many ABs and not playing everyday.
I believe he will he’s more of a contact use all the field type of guy. Craig is excellent going the other way last year, not this year though. On a side note its too bad that Rich Hill doesn’t really buy into what Duncan says. His velocity is down to about 90 but hes got a real free and easy motion, it looks like he coulod add a few mph once he decides to let it loose. Plus he makes hitters look silly with his curveball.
@Ryan:
On Cardinal Nation, Luhnow states they see his role as a 7th, 8th inning guy. Might be where they put him when he is brought up.
@Ryan–Sanchez probably gets promoted to Memphis when they make some room there. I can’t see anybody from the bullpen moving up to St. Louis other than Salas, so that means somebody like Perez, Scherer, Kinney, or Rundles is released (and I can’t seem them releasing the last three right now, especially considering how Rundles is pitching). It’s still early in the season; if the Cardinals want Sanchez and Mulligan to work in the closer role at a level they’re comfortable in to start the season, then so be it. I never was a fan of the aggressive promotion the Cardinals seemed to do the past couple of seasons, and if they decide to be a bit more patient with some prospects, then I’m all for it. If they continue to do well, I would not be surprised to see a mid-season promotion.