Comments on: Meet in the Middle – Part 2

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:09:48 +0000

Oops, add Samuel to the “other candidates” list. I should proof-read before I click…

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:03:44 +0000

Yes, we’ll do a lot more of it later, but actually, I think there’s value in doing some of it now as well, to see how things evolve. Events over the winter could change many things. Being able to sit in mid-March and look back on the way things were has value.

Having thus justified writing a list now, here’s mine:
1. Shelby
2. Zack
3. Matt Carpenter — I’m higher on him than most, but high-OBP guys at 3B or (better) 2B don’t grow on trees
4. Lance Lynn
5. Carlos Matias/Martinez
6. Eduardo Sanchez
7. Adron Chambers — has shot up this list in the last 12 months
8. Daniel Descalso
9. Bryan Anderson — has kind of become the forgotten man, but letting Pagnozzi walk and taking Hill off the 40-man says something
10. Tony Cruz — comment would be half Chambers, half Anderson
Pham is a good “sleeper” candidate; he’s fallen off a lot of people’s radar screens but could still be very interesting if everything falls into place.
Other candidates: Deryk Hooker, Cody Stanley, Bryan Martinez, Tyrell Jenkins (too early to have him on the top 10, but he’ll be fun to watch), Oscar Taveras (I believe that is the correct spelling), Sam Freeman (he should be back mid-season, right?), Steven Hill, Jordan Swagerty (assuming he’s not shut down for too long), Seth Blair (also too early, maybe not as interesting as Jenkins but more polished), Matt Adams, Nick Longmire, John Gast, Dan Bibona, Koz. I still haven’t given up on Rob Stock but am not sure he ranks as a prospect any more. Mark Hamilton will never be as much as an adequate 1B, and Daryl Jones just seems to be missing something.

This is a REALLY deep system when it comes to guys who might get at least a cup of coffee in the Show. I just wish there were more impact players, where there’s basically Shelby Miller and Good Luck.

By: Cards Lover in Chitown

Cards Lover in Chitown — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:40:56 +0000

For the most part, our lists are basically similar. My pick on Matias was strictly based on potential. I would however, replace Jones with Oscer Tavares though. He is looking quite Crawfordish so far. But let’s be honest, with the exception of a few, who the hell knows where/what will be going on with these guys a year from now.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 04:14:50 +0000

If Jones is truly in our top 10 then it is definitely seen as a weak system by other teams when a top 10 prospect can pass through waivers unclaimed!

By: easy

easy — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:28:12 +0000

This is probably something we’ll do a lot of later in the off season so it may be premature now. I am surprised though that neither of your lists included Tommy Pham. Yeah, I know he seems predestined to break our hearts but, had he not broken his finger and had he stayed as hot for the last three weeks of the season as he was at the point he got hurt, he might be second on a lot of our lists.

By: Forsch31

Forsch31 — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:24:16 +0000

Although Astroturf was prevelant in the 1970s and early 1980s, not everybody had it. A total of 12 baseball stadiums did–in addition to Busch and, of course, the Astrodome, there was Cominsky, Riverfront, Three Rivers, Veterans, Candlestick, Kaufman, Kingdome, Exhibition, Olympic, and Metrodome. That means the Cardinals, Astros, White Sox, Reds, Pirates, Phillies, Giants, Royals, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Expos. On top of that, Cominsky and Candlestick flirted with turf through the early 1970s, then went back to grass. I think dan’s main point–that these things go in cycles caused by what kids generally focus on as they develop into ballplayers.

And honestly…the Whitey’s Cardinals were always looking for a first baseman after they traded Hernandez. Jack Clark was about the closest they came to. They always had outfielders. Had very little to do with turf and simply finding the talent.

By: PJ

PJ — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:33:19 +0000

Not a bad list. Mine would probably go something like this…

1-S Miller, SP: Not much explaining needed here. He has shown no reason to not consider him a future ace (or #2 at least)

2-Zack Cox, IF: Like everyone knows, I think his value would surge if he were a 2B. As it is, he has a playable big league bat. His AFL showing was unspectacular, but I think we should see a great season in 2011.

3-Eduardo Sanchez, RP: This position is primarily due to his proximity to STL. I think his ceiling is major ML contributor, which is a very darn high ceiling.

4-Lance Lynn, SP: He still has a fairly high ceiling to me. He showed a bit down the straight in 2010 to prove himself a sustainable workhorse. An unsexy prospect that will probably have a nice big league career.

5-Carlos Matias, SP: The viral videos of his warm-ups are something to dream on. He might have a great big league career…or might flame out rapidly. I will list him here on potential.

6-Tyrell Jenkins, SP: A lively arm and sound delivery, Jenkins could cruise through the low levels.

7-Matt Carpenter, 3B: A nice surprise last year, Carpenter could see som big league time sooner rather than later.

8-Nick Longmire, OF: A little old for where he is stationed, but he produced pretty well. He has a very toolsy baseball body.

9-Daryl Jones, OF: I just can’t quite close the book on the artist formerly known as DJ Tools. If Carl Crawford can be handed $20 million/per, I think there exists a place for this type of player in the bigs.

10-Scott Gorgen, SP: He has been a favorite since they drafted him. Gorgen has competitive secondary stuff. I think he is the type of guy that would flourish under DD’s tutelage on the big club.

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:03:28 +0000

Might as well let him sit. He doesn’t have much value.

He probably has the same bat as craig, but craig is a bit more versitile

By: Cards Lover in Chitown

Cards Lover in Chitown — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:40:09 +0000

Agreed a little on Matias, however, I was simply going off of “potential to be a superstar” over MLB ready type players who will be everyday fill in’s and bench players. I think Cox will have a solid career with us, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a true superstar.

Do you fully agree we need to trade Hamilton for something now vs. letting him just sit in Memphis? If he’s going to sit at AAA, I think we should just throw up in RF and see if he somehow works this year and then maybe take over for Berkman in 2012 if nothing else, his bat is better than Craigs IMO

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:15:18 +0000

Interesting list.

I think you are too high on Matias. The raw talent is there, but it is still a long-long way away.

I would probably put Descalso high as he seems to be the only one really close to contributing.

Hamiliton…AAA is actually filled with those guys.