Archive for October, 2010

I’ve had the question posed to me previously and Derrick Goold had a well written piece (does he have any that aren’t?) about Kozma in the Arizona Fall League. Quoting:

Some of the others, like Blake King and Pete Kozma, are out playing in Arizona to win a spot on the 40-man roster or impress another team enough to take them in the Rule 5 draft.

As I’ve said previously when asked about the situation, it just doesn’t make sense to me that Pete Kozma is being auditioned for anything.

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This just in: guy who rips the company he works for and questions their company’s strength in certain areas is let go by said company.  Nothing really to see here, except that Joe Strauss tries to make him in some sort of martyr.

On the other side of the Force, Derrick Goold takes an in depth look at the Cardinals upcoming 40 man roster crunch for the Cardinals.  The Rule 5 draft should be a interesting day for the Cardinals farm system.

Surprise Rafters 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 4

• Tony Cruz was at catcher today, going 1 for 4 with an RBI.
• Pete Kozma was playing shortstop.  He was on base twice, once with a walk and once he reached on error.  One time on base he was picked off and the other time he was caught stealing 2nd.  He had a 0-3 day at the plate.
• Jordan Swagerty pitched 1.1 innings, giving up 2 hits and no runs.  He struck out 1.

Top Pitching Performance (counting): Casey Mulligan, 10.2 pRAA
Top Pitching Performance (rate): Casey Mulligan, 1.15 tRA

(There were some really terrible statistical performers on the Palm Beach team as Brett Zawacki, Arquimedes Nieto and Richard Castillo all racked up more than a full negative win relative to replacement.)

Top Hitting Performance (counting): Alex Castellanos, 28.5 bRAA
Top Hitting Performance (rate): Matt Carpenter, .410 wOBA & Alex Castellanos, .389 wOBA

Phoenix 4 @ Surprise 10

The Hitters:

• Only one Cardinal hitter tonight as Zach Cox went 0-for-4 w/ 1 BB and 1 R while manning third base defensively.

The Pitchers:

• Brian Broderick went 3.0 strong innings allowing 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K and 1 H while picking up the win.
• Ramon Delgado pitched the sixth inning and gave up 2 R on 3 hits.
• Blake King got one out in the eighth

John Sickels had Shelby Miller as the 47th best pitching prospect in baseball entering 2010. I’d say that’s a touch low but Miller’s done nothing to dent his status as a blue chip arm this year.

Sickels also had his top 50 hitting prospects though no Cardinals made the list last year.

The Cardinals failed to make the PCL Top 20 list from Baseball America. As someone who has had concerns about Brett Wallace (#10 on the list) from the beginning, I’m getting the sense that evaulators are starting to turn against him a bit:

PCL observers did have  concerns about Wallace’s offense, however. He has trouble pulling balls with authority, and managers felt he could be attacked on the inner half. He doesn’t clear his hips well in his swing, which makes scouts wonder how well his stroke will translate. His speed and mobility are well below-average and he’ll never be an asset defensively.

This seems more firmly worded than in the past though that may simply be my perception. He’s obviously still well regarded.

In the chat, BA’s Jim Shonerd noted that Lance Lynn was one of the last cuts from the Top 20 List.

Jordan Swagerty checks in from the AFL after their first three games.

Non Cardinal Tidbit

• Brandon Wood has always been interesting in that I feel like he could be a  very good player and all it might take is a change of scenery.  This is the type of guy who I think the Cardinals should take a gamble on though he has a high probability of flaming out if he hasn’t already.  He is back in the fall league playing on Mesa and went 2-for-6 w/ a 2B, 4 RBI, and 1 R. What think you FR?

Surprise 6, Mesa 11

• Adron Chambers, CF, was 1-for-5.
• Tony Cruz, 1B, was 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Zach Cox, 3B, went 1-for-4 with a double.
• Pete Kozma, DH, was 1-for-4.
• Jordan Swagerty was touched up for 4 runs (2 earned) in 1.2 innings.  He allowed 4 hits and struck out 1.
• Blake King pitched two frames walking a tightrope with baserunners after 3 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 1 and managed to strand all 5 baserunners.

The Cardinals claimed Bryan Augenstein off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Augenstein spent the majority of the season in AAA accumulating a nearly 3:1 K:BB ratio during his time there with a 3.86 FIP. Realistically, this is a depth move and Augenstein is likely to start the season in Memphis.

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The Cardinals had four players in action during the Surprise Rafters game yesterday.

Rafters 4, Peo Javelinas 7

• Tony Cruz, 1B, was 0-for-5 with 2 strikeouts.
• Pete Kozma, SS, was 1-for-4 with a “triple“.
• Adron Chambers, LF, was 1-for-4 with a walk.
• Ramon Delgado also twirled a pair of perfect innings striking out 1.

Welcome to the DFRs Arizona-style after the jump the less than stellar debut of Zack Cox. Ole!

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