Well, this is surprising. Pete Kozma has been called up from AAA Memphis to replace Nick Punto who was put on the DL. I’ve pushed my normal Wednesday to tomorrow post for this discussion topic.
UPDATE: Makes sense for two reasons. 1 – he’s already on the 40 man roster. 2 – he’s a middle infielder like Punto. 3 – He’s the only infielder left in Memphis on the 40 man roster. 1+ 2 + 3 = callup.
Kozma has a 220/284/284 slash line so far this year. Kozma will wear number 47.
And of course, congrats to Mr. Kozma. His first major league appearance will be a huge milestone in his life.
DEVELOPING.
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It is sink or swim time for the former #1
I still root for the guy. I’m just not exactly optimistic…
I’m in the same boat as you. He has swung and missed at 22.7% of the pitches in AAA. I think he will look at little lost at first.
i suspect he will look a little lost pretty much the whole way through.
I was being a bit generous there… :)
Jeff can you tell me where you find the info on swinging strikes for minor leaguers?
check statcorner on the Mis% stat. bottom rank.
http://www.statcorner.com/batter.php?id=518902
thanks
so who moves up to memphis to replace kozmo? ryan jackson?
Looking at the rosters, I would guess Jackson. Especially how he has hit early this season.
Donovan Solano can man SS for a while. I think the Cardinals will have a free hand in who they call up. I’d actually guess an outfielder first. Easier to mix them in long term at AAA than Jackson once Kozma goes back to Memphis.
AZ – you were in Springfield recently. Who is the most AAA ready?
That’s what I was just looking at. I don’t see an obvious candidate to move up looking at Springfield’s roster. With Pham just landing on the 7-day DL, they really don’t have an extra outfielder. Alex Castellanos is a little banged up but would be the obvious outfield candidate.
Looking at Springfield’s roster, I would have said Jose Garcia but he’s been manning CF while Pham’s been out.
Memphis might just play shorthanded until Skip is ready to come off the DL.
That sounds about right. Word is that Schumaker is close to coming back, so Kozma’s call-up is only for the short-term.
In the mean time Kozma gets a single, an rbi, a cup of coffee and meal money. Ain’t life grand.
Kozma was already on the 40man so he wasn’t exactly in the poor house. Being on the 40-man means a significant $$ boost for minor leaguers.
That’s a double, an RBI and a walk.
It was their only choice given all the injury’s to infielders and their 40 man situation. They 60 day DL’d Augustine to add Todd, they would have to release someone to bring up anyone else and that makes no sense with Skip going out on a rehab this weekend. He’s here to Monday probably so hopefully he plays so we can get an idea of how he responds to this level of competition. Maybe this is the kick he needs to get going.
I’m kind of hoping he doesn’t play. Limit him to like 1, maybe 2, pinch hits. He’ll be there in case of an emergency situation. Other than that, I don’t want to see him.
I think if we are in a blow out game (good or bad for the Cards) I say we throw him in there and see what he can do? Maybe a little kick in the a** from MLB pitchers could help him develop and then go back to Memphis and not suck anymore.
Looks to me like a pinch runner for somebody like Craig or Berkman, then staying in as a late-inning defensive replacement. As I said earlier, he can pick it … if he’s mentally in the game. In this situation, I think he will be.
Honestly, I’d rather have him up for this cup of coffee than Bynum. There is still some chance that Koz will put it all together and be useful. Bynum … won’t.
I think Reifer is still on the 15 day DL instead of 60. Moving Reifer to the 60 will free up a spot. It appears the organization is worried about paying Reifer MLB money while he is on the 60 DL (which he doesn’t get on the 15). Blake King has been getting pounded in early going @ AAA. There is fluff on the 40 man. Probably not an issue now but later in the season we may have a player or two removed from the 40 man.
They won’t put Reifer on the 60 day. That would warrant him a ML salary and, more importantly, start his arb clock.
I don’t think the arb clock is really that relevant in Reifer’s case. He’s 27 now (I think) so will be 33 by the end of his arby period – as far as fireballing relievers with dubious control are concerned, I’d imagine that’s getting towards the end of their usefulness, especially when (in his case) he’s probably not going to be a real premium reliever anyhow.
Wow. Just wow.
Tyler Greene should get the lion’s share of the playing time but Kozma is ill-equipped to contribute in the majors right now.
“Wow. Just wow.” Those were my exact words as well. Great minds think alike?
A couple of thoughts. One, this won’t last. As soon as Schumaker’s rehab assignment shows he’s ready, Koz is back down, in all likelihood. I would guess that that will happen so soon that Memphis will barely notice that he’s gone, since Solano indeed can fill in at SS. (The curious beneficiary of this surprise is Mark Hamilton, who’s the guy I was expecting to see sent down when Skippy comes off the DL. Most likely not happening now.)
Second, I feel a trade coming on. This strikes me as suspiciously like the cups of coffee that Jess Todd and Clayton Mortenson got before they became parts of assorted trade packages. What I don’t get is: who would trade for him?
Finally, take heart: it could have been Freddie Bynum, who we _know_ can’t hit major-league pitching…
Congratulations, Mr. K, and may you prove your many doubters wrong, myself among them.
Tyler Greene should be getting the lion share of playing time over Theriot, anyway
what exactly has Tyler Greene done this year (or ever, for that matter) to say he should be the primary shortstop ahead of Theriot?
Positive UZR, decent wOBA for a SS
he only has 400 innings at short in his career. his UZR is not very meaningful in that sample size. i don’t think he’s a very good defender on balance. greene is projected for a .303 wOBA for the rest of the season, which is not very good, even for a shortstop. he may be modestly better than theriot going forward, but they both hover around replacement to my eyes.
What are your guys’ thoughts on Tyler Greene long-term? Do you think he’ll ever amount to being a second-rate starter, or do you think he’ll peak at sort of a bench/utility player-type? I know he has good tools and potential, but I’m curious how optimistic you are about his future.
In a word: fungible.
HS baseball coach
He has been hitting ever so slightly better of late I suppose. Good luck to the Kozmanaut.
Would this be a suitable time that blog etiquette allows swearing. I cussed outloud when i saw this on the post dispatch page haha
Will likely be an ephemeral stay-time at the big club this time around, of course. But at least the Cards keep things interesting. Here’s to hoping Kozma’s career arc is not like “Moonlight Graham’s.”
Nice reference! Old Moonlight had a wonderful career – just wasn’t in baseball….
Hmmm. Well. Interesting.
I think all signs suggest he’s nowhere near ready to play in the majors. Personally, I’d have prefered them to call up Aaron Luna (who could at least be a useful righty PH), although I’m not sure he’s on the 40-man. Another alternative would’ve been to bring Tallet back early, go short-handed on the bench for a while, and delay deciding on which of Franklin or Batista gets canned for a couple of weeks.
INTERESTING.
and good news, I guess, for Craig, Descalso & Greene, who become everyday players now…
Now that other shoe has dropped, they are indeed going short-handed on the bench with Tallet back. The way they’re doing it makes more sense, IMO. Hamilton was showing nothing, and needs regular time at Memphis if he is ever to develop into anything useful at all (which I doubt). Koz is at least a useful defensive replacement even if he never gets another double in his MLB life. I’d rather have Punto, at least for this year, but that isn’t presently an option. Take Punto and Koz as roughly equivalent (definite edge to Punto, but qualitatively similar players) and the transactions become a matter of Hamilton for Tallet, which improves the team.
If you say it is Hamilton for Tallet, then are saying that Koz and Punto are equal. Cant have it both ways. Actually, I’d be thrilled at this point if Kozma turned out to be Punto career wise.
Why did Craig start at 2b last night and Descalso at 3rd??? Craig has played 3rd before, and DD came up as a 2B right?? That made no sense…..
Descalso is a better defender at third, and this year theyve shown that Garcia gives up a lot more groundballs to third than second. So instead of gettin a ton of balls at a postion he is just okay at, they put him where he would get very few balls at a position where if he does boot it, he has plenty of time to make up for the mistake.
Congratulations to Pete Kozma, I hope you don’t read this site Pete. You made it a lot further than all of us. Congrats to Jeff Luhnow and his scouts, for another #1 making it to the big leagues, even if it’s a cup of coffee. It’s more coffee than I ever drank. Hope you get your first knock. I would also like to congratulate Pete Kozma’s DADand MOM. I had a shot of Gentleman’s Jack in you honor.
Congrats to Kozma. Even though constructive criticism is just that. Don’t let anyone put you down. You’re there, there not.
Good luck
HAHAHAHA! 40 man roster shenanigans are funny
This has Bodhi J. Hart Hart explosion written all over it.
I hope the Gods of baseball bless us with a miracle and Kozma shines defensively and show some offense as well. Maybe he is a gamer and just needs to play some big boy ball to show his skills.
I do too.
Fervert released and King to AA.
Hate to see my Missouri State brethren released. Good luck to Matt.
Here’s to hoping for a Hector Luna stint who hit better in the majors than he did in the minors before his call up. Get out and show us fans you were worth that 1st round pick.
Koxma did!
Way to go Pete. Your name is in the book now. Cardinals WIN.
Congrats to Pete Kozma for making it to the bigs!!! It more than most of the wieners that constantly cut down players on this sit ever did. Pete’s at bats actually looked pretty good tonight. A double and a BB!!! WAY TO GO!!!
Why do you come here if you don’t like honest baseball talk?
I come here for the one stop box score and to see whats being said by the public about our prospects. I already know what is said in house.
For what its worth you can get them off the official minor league site in the same amount of clicks and I’m sorry but it just comes off as weak attempting to take a shot at people here who see these guys in person and take the time to give honest reviews. Nobody is here to take shots at these players and we all want them to be stars, but that’s nowhere near how it works in reality. If anyone has had bad reviews of Pete they have been more than justified by his play.
Chill out. You don’t own the sight. I think what Mizcards said is spot on.
I think both you and mizcards are being abrasive as of late. People are entitled to their opinions. I’m fully capable of moderating the comments, which, if you saw what doesn’t make the site, you’d know that I do. I don’t want commenters sniping at each other or taking pot shots about opinions.
I’m glad that Pete Kozma got the call up. I’m glad he got his first big league hit. I still think his performance thus far in the minors has been terrible. Those are not mutually exclusive feelings.
Terrible if hyperventilating.
Az…
I total agree with you that his performance thus far in the minors has been totally poor. The guy has great range from everything that I have seen and heard. Just his hitting needs major improvement. The One thing to take from this is that he just turned 23 this year and still will get at least 3 more years to develop. Sorry if Rich thought I was taking any shots at him. My comment didn’t have anything to do with Rich at all.
I didn’t take it as being towards me at all I just felt it was a childish thing to post in general. I like Pete’s potential but he has been terrible on the field for us and if anyone had anything to say negative about his game in the past its more than justified and if we’re going to have honest prospect discussion there is going to be far more negative than positive being said since so few guys actually reach their expectations.
I would hate to see people get scared away from giving valuable on site info on these players due to paranoia over getting call a hater, Cubs fan, wiener or whatever it may be if they don’t give the super clean positive spin.
Was at the Cards game tonight and had a pretty good vantage point of Kozma’s AB’s and his D at 2B. He had 2 solid AB’s and looked very comfortable at 2B for what its worth. Obviously it was a half game but the kid carried himself well.
except when he got lost and forgot the catcher throws down to 2nd after the pitcher has warmed up!
heh….oh well, i’m sure i’d have a million things running through my head in that situation too.
Out with the OLDER players, in with the KIDS. We had a lot of farmhands playing tonight. Albert was a farmhand too. Some players just need a chance. Way to go TLR.
if memory serves me correctly, 8 out of 9 players on the field at the end of the game last night were original cardinals. all except Theriot.
P – Sanchez
C – Molina
1B – Pujols
2B – Kozma
SS – (Theriot)
3B – Descalso
LF – Craig
CF – Jay
RF – Greene
and even Rasmus pinch hit to end the bottom of the 8th.
All in all, out of 14 players last night, 10 were drafted/signed by the Cardinals. That’s 71.4%!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I still want Holliday and Berkman in the lineup.
6 of those were Luhnow guys too. We don’t have a Rays or Royals like system, but we’re churning out guys from the minors, which will be important if Pujols is re-signed.
Hamilton for awhile too
I counted him in the 10 out of 14 group since he wasn’t on the field at the end of the game.
Its the Memphis Mafia!
Somewhat off topic here: What does everyone think of Jon Jay as a starter in the majors? Might we be seeing a long term solution for RF and the 2 hole in front of Albert?
I think it’s pretty clear that a Jay/Craig platoon (with, perhaps Craig making some starts vs RHP) is going to be, at the very least, average in RF. And given Jay’s been well above average so far in nearly a full season of MLB PAs, there’s some upside there too.
FWIW I’m up for having Berkman back next year at 1B and running with Jay/Craig in right, and spending the rest of the Carp/Albert money on a SS (JJ Hardy?) and a pitcher (Carpenter if he’ll take a paycut, otherwise Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, with Paul Maholm and Aaron Cook as cheaper backup plans). Guess we’ll need a LHRP or two as well, but the FA market for them looks baaad.
I think if we go into Free Agency with money to spend (sans an Albert signing) Heath Bell will be a Cardinal next year. Possibly Jose Reyes as well.
How would a lineup like this look?
SS-Reyes
RF-Jay
LF-Holliday
1B-Berkman
CF-Rasmus
3B-Freese
2B-DD
C-Yadi
looks good.
I kinda hope we don’t sign Bell, as he will be expensive (thinking $8m/yr, perhaps even a touch more, although next year’s FA class is full of closers), even though I rate him. Our bullpen is looking pretty decent going forward, too, and we need two LOOGYs.
I also REALLY hope we don’t sign Reyes. I don’t like dropping long-term money (especially on players with health & consistency concerns) when there are a couple of player available on cheaper, 1-yr deals who aren’t much worse. Both Raffy Furcal and JJ Hardy are likely available next year for <$10m, and whilst neither is as good as Reyes, I think they're probably both only maybe 1 win worse.
That said, your lineup looks really nice :-). I suspect Matt Carpenter might just steal the lion's share of 3B PAs going forward, however.
I think I’d agree with you on that sort of roster construction to remain competitive. That is– if I can think about the Cardinals future without A.P. and keep the knotty feeling out of my stomach. Jay/Craig in a corner of the outfield begins to look more and more workable as weeks/months proceed. Buehrle is a left-hander, no?? I suppose you might mean loogies?? In that case, yes, FA doesn’t look so good. Would Sam Freeman be fully-recovered and on-line for a role by then?? It’s still odd to think/ talk about the Cardinals in a possible post -A.P. sense. Brave New World.
LHRP = left-hand relief pitcher. The option in free agency next year look ugly, even to the point that Trever Miller still seems like an option for close to the league min… Not sure about Sam Freeman, it’ll be interesting to watch this year but he seems very much a wildcard at present. Nick Additon is one guy I’d keep an eye on, though – I haven’t seen his splits (i.e. how well he does against lefties – I’d guess, given his stuff, he’s probably not really well suited to a LOOGY role, but he’s cheap) but he’s shown some effectiveness as a starter at AA and AAA but doesn’t really fit into our rotation in any scenario I can foresee, so maybe he can do the Brian Tallet role next year and we’ll only need one LOOGY. As an adendum – anyone know where you can get minor league splits these days, now minorleaguesplits.com seems to be pretty much defunct?
I like Buehrle as a 4th/5th starter. I reckon with Waino rehabilitating, 3 other SPs with recent injury issues (Garcia, Lohse & Westbrook), and question marks over the effectiveness of Lynn/KMac, there’s at least another 32 starts to go round. Buehrle, as it happens, makes 32+ starts per year like clockwork, and puts up consistent, above-average numbers. Also really wants to be a Cardinal before he retires. I could really see him signing a 1yr/$10m (or even 2/20) deal here, and I’d do that in a heartbeat, personally.
I don’t think it’s off topic at all; it’s part of the same general question “just what are unheralded Cardinals minor leaguers good for?” that attends the Koz call-up.
Long term solution for right? Not ideally. You really want somebody in right with power, which Jay does not have. However, he’s durn near the perfect fourth outfielder — ability to play any outfield position (a rarity in today’s game), decent ability to get on base against right-handed pitching, enough pop to not be an embarrassment in right, although not really enough to be the regular there. A player like that has a great deal of value.
Another thing to think about is that he would make somebody a VERY good center fielder — the “somebody” not being us because there’s an emerging star filling that role, but if he can maintain a TAv (not my favorite one-size-fits-all metric, but one easy to use for searches) of .280+, let alone the .311 he’s got right now, at least 15 teams would find him an upgrade on their current center fielders. I’d really like to see him remain a Cardinal, but let’s face it, his trade value at the moment would be tremendous.
If we have a 20+HR CF (Rasmus), a masher in left (Holliday), and a top-quality hitter at 1B (Adams…. Only kidding, Berkman), I’m not sure that a power hitter is essential in RF. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and putting cheap, average, defensively competent guys into the other spots (and spending the money to upgrade out real black holes in the middle infield & potentially, back of the rotation) is always an option.
That said, I agree that his trade value is probably pretty decent at the moment, and we do have a couple of guys with similar profiles in the high minors.