Comments on: Third Baseman Depth

By: bc

bc — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:33:38 +0000

I think 3B is probably the strongest field position as far as depth in the system – Carpenter and Cox are top prospects in the system and are not too far from being ML-ready (1-2 years). Descalso and Craig could play there in a pinch. Lower-level possibilities with some upside are present – Niko, Jon Rodriguz, RDLC.

If 3B is pretty thin, I don’t how SS/2B and some others will be described — wasteland? abomination?

By: Ted

Ted — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:39:22 +0000

Third base is a strength and a weakness for this system. The strength is that it has a lot of potential for at least adequate MLB performance. If the MLB team was not under so much pressure to win this year, the situation would be great. The team could be happy with the likelihood that one of the kids will work out.

However, given the big club’s situation, the position is a weakness because of the uncertainty. The birds need, or at least desire, a player they can count on for production at a certain level. Even if healthy, Freese is not a given because he really struggled for about a month before ending his season. Further, there are concerns about everyone else. Noone seems to really project as a great 3B. Of course, just a league average 3B would probably be a good thing for this team after the last couple years. Obviously, here, MLB average 3B are good prospects, but not terribly exciting.

Personally, I have a bad feeling about it. It seems to me that the Cardinals’ prospects have done at least as well as expected when they get to the majors in recent years. Their performances seem to succeed at a higher percentage than other teams I notice. It seems like it has been a long time since one of prospects has really flopped (reyes?). In fact, it seems like our gusy exceed expectations (Ludwick, ankiel, skip, possibly Jay and Freese, Garcia, even Waino). Even with Reyes, he was not a total flop because injuries ruined him in Cleveland after some good performances there and some highlights here. I can’t remember the last time the birds had a ronny cedeno or felix pie, adam laroche, or the like. The birds’ relative success makes me nervous.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:35:33 +0000

It didn’t help that Luhnow indicated he would most likely start his first year in the Appy league and then went on to struggle for 2 years in the GCL.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:33:46 +0000

Given that Niko seems a little short on the power dept for a 3B combined with doubts about his hitting overall (based on a horrid 2009) I can see why he is not a prime candidate for discussion. Sure he is in the mix but he has a lot to prove still to be a legitimate 3B candidate in my mind. He only hit ,251 last year, has never hit above .287, and has never had an ISO >.162 or an overall OPS >.800

By: jjray

jjray — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:37:33 +0000

Agree it is an important year for Descalso with a potential opening @ 2B in 2012. Just hope he gets some MLB time and is not completely Punto’ed.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:29:18 +0000

I’m a fan of Niko’s but I don’t think hes had 2 consistantly good years in a row. Not only that he’s already probably blocked at Springfield and Memphis with 2 other better prospects. Niko never really had the toolset to be a Big League 3rd basemen I believe so when he was moved off short he kind of dropped some. The difference with Taveras at least for me isnt the results at JC. It has to do with the Luhnow mentioned that he probably has the highest ceiling out of any player in our system. Someone from the organization doesn’t just say that for nothing.

By: easy

easy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:18:48 +0000

Thanks

By: CRay

CRay — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:15:59 +0000

Wow, at this point there are 19 comments on this thread and only one mention of Niko (besides that in Jeff’s entry). Here’s a kid who was on many fans top-ten (or top-five) list after his wonderful short-season performance in ’08 out of high school. He had a bad year in ’09 and he dropped off of almost everyone’s list. His performance last year at QC and Palm Beach was pretty good (a combined OPS around .800 – close to what he did at JC in ’08 – and he just turns 22 at the end of February) but he now seems to get little attention. I’m not saying he’ll turn into a major-league star, just very surprised that so many now disregard the possibility that he might become a solid major-leaguer. Also, as an aside, the entire Taveras situation this year (the sudden hype around him and his entry on many fans top-ten lists based on a fine performance at JC) sounds eerily similar to what happened with Niko two years ago. IMHO, too many people read much too much into a solid performance in the very-low minors.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:08:49 +0000

Agreed…having too many guys on ML contracts can really handcuff you for sure.

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:52:40 +0000

I am not sure I am ready to consider Descalso a MLB ready thridbaseman.

I do think you are accurate in that its a short term problem. Bur for 2011, they seem to be a bit handcuffed there.

I also think this is skip’s last year, so Descalso has a big opportunity this year.