Springfield’s season ended tonight as they were doubled up by N by NW Arkansas.
- Trey Hearne was demoted to the bullpen during the season, but got the start tonight in the crucial 5th game as the S-Cards had absolutely no better options. We saw why he was demoted tonight. Hearne pitched to 5 batters and did not get an out, allowing 4 runs. That pretty much ended the S-Cards season right there.
- Kevin Thomas came into the game in a rush and allowed 3 runs of his own and 7 hits over 5 innings.
- Tom Eager allowed a run in 2 innings.
- Blake King was the only S-Card pitcher to not allow a run. King had his typical 2 K, 1 walk performance.
- Xavier Scruggs had a solo HR.
- Jermaine Curtis had two singles.
- Daryl Jones had a double and an error in the field.
- Andrew Brown doubled.
Entries (RSS)
Springfield had a very good year, but came up a little short at the end. Injuries and promotions to AAA really hurt Springfield’s playoff hopes. It was good to see the resurgence of Kozma, Derba and Curtis and the sterling performance from Carpenter. Kopp and Additon had a good year with some ups and downs. McGregor and Delgato really were good additions for the second half, and I am sure they will find spots in next years rotation. King had a very solid year from start to finish and an invitation to the AFL. If King does well in the AFL. I look for him to be invited to Big League camp in the spring. Best of luck to all the Springfield players in 2011.
Trey Hearne’s Cardinal career is probably over after last night’s start. I was hoping he would open up a can of whompa$$ that would merit keeping him in the orginization but he can up empty. It was a hard game to watch but had a good trip down to it.
Next time somebody interviews Luhnow, please ask him to define “soon” as in Carlos Matias will be in the United States soon. If he does indeed arrive in April 2011, I’ll take it.
Shoulda started Shelby
P-D says Cox and Swaggerty going to AFL.
I know they probably didn’t want want to put him in that sitauation, but might have been better off to start Thomas. I do like the idea of starting Shelby that would have been awesome to see. Go Memphis
King had a good year, much improved, but in my opinion it sometimes was very scary when he came on, it was like the prize in the crackerjack box, you never knew what you would get. He did better coming into a new inning then when left to mop up, most of the time. I do think the walks were more from not hitting spots with improved velo and that happens to every pitcher.
Thomas did exceptional after he settled in.
The AFL used to be the premiere showcase for milb prospects. With the change of allowing more lower level players to participate, I just see it as a chance for teams to place those that would need to face better competition as the team might want to add them to their 40 man roster (Broderick, King) before the rule 5 or give them some extra time to improve (Kozma), or show them off for trade consideration for the future (not that it is a such bad thing) or in the case of pitchers use their arms while the better prospects take much needed time off. It is not the fall showcase it used to be. It can make or break opinions of you. Quick story, have a friend whose son came out of nowhere in 2009, sent him to AFL after a great AA season and he didn’t do well, he subsequently spent this entire season in AA when by age he belonged in AAA.
As far as spring training for minor leaguers, the guys love it because it’s 100 dollars a day meal money instead of 20 (?) per day for milb, with better meals in the clubhouse and a chance to rub elbows with the ML guys (if they will give them the time of day), essentially it’s more work for them and less for the ML guys who begin playing games in March. Then when they don’t need you anymore you get cut and back to milb camp. It could be a make or break for the 40 man roster guys. I am not so sure I understand all of the excitment (of others) over ML camp.
All of these things, “is what it is”. What really counts (for most players) is the day you get the call up to join the 25 man roster, and stay there.
I don’t believe that I have ever read a more negative review of anything. Every player in the cardinals farm system works hard and strives to make the playoffs….AFL….big league camp and the majors. These players have always been used to succeeding in baseball, or they would have never been drafted to play professional baseball. Is you perspective of the AFL or big league camp looking from the management side or player side of baseball? I don’t know of a single instance that a player hasn’t set a goal for himself to play well enough to be invited to the AFL or big league camp. I don’t know of any higher fall league that has more prestige than the AFL. This is the Cape Cod for minor league players. Sure you will see some younger players invited to the AFL, but if you will notice these players are”high level” prospects in those organizations who sent them. I have looked at the rosters and it looks like it is made up of good quality players who have earned their way for an invitation. I didn’t see any fill in players who couldn’t compete. Big league camp is also a place where the management and scouts can look at players to see if they have what it takes to keep moving upward or need to be kept in a lower level for more work and development. How would a player or management know if a player is ready for the next level unless they are exposed to higher levels of competition. I don’t think the meal money enters into the excitement for a young player to be invited to the AFL or big league camp.
Kelley,
I am giving my impression, take it for what you want. Of course every player strives to make the playoffs for the organization and to get noticed every step of the way. I didn’t see you mention those others that will be heading to play this fall and what it will mean to them? If you know a player (obviously) than you should understand what is all involved in this game and that each one has had their ups and downs, including the very young Kozma, who I say is the turn around player of the year for AA cardinals.
There are plenty of players that never played in the AFL or made it to spring training but got to the show (did Hill do either one). It’s not a necessary thing to move you forward, just like never playing at the cape won’t get you drafted. I know of many high quality players who never went to the AFL and now playing MLB. How do you move forward in this game, is usually because someone got hurt. Whether you stick is up to you.
Have you ever been to spring training practice? You should go. The young guys are working hard and the ML guys aren’t even around? Most atarting pitchers don’t even show up unless they are pitching that day. Why is that? I was at a game where the crowd was waitng for Molina, he never showed, he was off that day, do you think that the guys in the bull pen were there so the organization could see if they were ready for the next level? No, they were there to do the work and they get no days off. This is not a dig on any organization, this is just what spring training is for milb players.
My point on the AFL is that going to the AFL is not a precursor to an invite to spring training.
The organization pretty much knows what they need to about each player, they follow them all season. That’s why the manager does reports each night. That’s why the GM comes to games and that’s why he sends out his special scout to report back. Plus, players have opportunities to get in at bats and innings in March in ML spring games.
I also want to add that you guys here have done a good job, I know it’s not easy, looking forward to next year’s DFR reports.