A bit of a rant about several topics, namely the use and call-up of Maikel Cleto is after the jump.
Why Cleto?
I don’t care what you believe about Maikel Cleto, but if you believe he has a MLB-upside (and with a 99 MPH fastball, he’s going to get many chances) whether as a late inning reliever or just a long reliever, why would the Cardinals basically burn an asset in that way? They had to know Cleto was going to be in over his head against even the relatively light-hitting Giants.
Why not call up Mitchell Boggs? They acknowledge that he is starting not to be “stretched out” to be a starter, but to have consistent appearances and more innings and batters to work on his stuff. He’s a reliever. He’s not being converted to a starter mid-season in Memphis. They are protecting Boggs and letting him work on pitches in the relatively safe environment of Memphis, but not Cleto.
Why not Raul Valdes? He was signed as a veteran minor league reliever. He pitched in the majors last year and I’m sure would be very happy to sop up a few innings for the Cardinals bullpen as an audition and be sent back to Memphis. He’s not on the 40-man, but there is at least 1 spot open on the roster even after Cleto’s call up. Why is Valdes even on the roster if not for a pitching emergency just like this?
What about Jess Todd, or Brian Broderick? Both have been on major league rosters this season. The Memphis Redbirds have been home all week, so it is not a case of needing a player right away like the Steven Hill call up last season. Plus, Chris Duncan knew about this since 1-2 days ago from his insider source, so they could have gotten any player they wanted even if the player was as far as Mongolia.
Using Cleto?
The Cardinals started it off right by bringing in Cleto to start an inning rather than in the middle of the inning. That part was all well and good. However, when things started to go sour for Cleto, who obviously looked nervous out there, Tony LaRussa left him out there to take his beating because of the bullpen issues which keep getting larger and larger. That’s not Cleto’s fault in any way and TLR’s hands were tied because of the giant snowball rolling downhill that is the Cardinals bullpen problems. To put the icing on the cake, the “best fans in baseball” booed the kid after he gave up a HR.*
(* I hate booing – it casts too wide of a net. What are you booing? If you are booing the GM for calling the kid up too early, you can’t boo in this fashion “Mo, this is for you for calling the kid up too early – booo!” or for TLR for leaving him out to dry “Tony, that was not nice of you to leave the kid out there without any support -boo!”. They all come out as “boo!” and that’s it. Who are you booing? Why? It is dumb. ** The kid is 22 and just called up from AA after being in single-A last season. As the “most knowledgable fans in baseball”, you should know better. )
(** For the same reason, I hate the use of the “uuuu” or “ewwwww” sound in someone’s name as a cheer. ”Dreeeeeeewwwwwww” or “Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce” or “Rauuuuuuuuuuuul”. It sounds too much like booing, especially when no one is cheering, just ooooooing.)
All the while, the “best fans in baseball” were doing the wave*** while the MLB network booth of Bob Costas and whomever were sucking up to the “most knowledgeable and kind” fans all the while they were alternating between booing and doing the wave!
(*** The wave is the dumbest thing any fan at a game can do. Even worse than booing. At least when you boo, you show that you care about something. I’m not sure what it is you are booing about, but you care. The wave is like saying, “I’m not sure why 30,000 people are sitting in a giant circle around something, but let’s do something to keep us entertained.” Hello, the baseball game that you paid to see is right in front of you to keep you entertained. And let it be known that when I see a wave between innings, it will be the first.)
To wrap this multi-pronged rant up, the Cardinals HAD TO know that Cleto was not ready to pitch in the big leagues. (HAD TO!) Because of the failings of other pitchers, starters and relievers and the usage therein by the manager, the Cardinals were forced to burn two minor league players today. Lynn held his own and was undone by the Cardinals sloppy and sometimes lackadaisical and distracted defense, but Cleto did not have to be burned like that. There were plenty of better options available and if Cleto’s progression is harmed because of this outing, they will only have themselves to blame.
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It was stupid from jump street to call up Cleto, and it was stupid to send Lynn back out after the 5th inning. He had a positive outing, one he could only win, and they run him back out there on three days rest for a 6th inning and let him get the loss. Then they throw Cleto out there and let him get crushed as well.
Why have these AAAA type relievers and veterans if they aren’t the guys you call up when you need an arm to burn. Plus, with the 13 pitchers on the team for a large portion of the season, it’s criminal that you are STILL short on arms because your manager likes to burn a path from the dugout to the mound making multiple pitching changes.
I can’t understand why you can’t just throw Batista out there again for a couple of innings. If his arm falls off, so what.
It was good for Cleto to get an introduction to the majors. He’s 230 pounds and throws hard. Cleto is no delicate flower. It was good for him to get a spanking. Now Cleto can head back to AA, remotivated to improve his skills.
I agree. Love the stuff – he needs to learn to use it
I read FR regularly but have never posted so I apologize if this is obvious to everyone else but what exactly was “burned” other than an option? Is Cleto’s option worth more than not burning a spot on the 40 man for some of the other candidates?
The option was burned regardless of the callup. He had to “optioned” to start the year in the minors.
Of coruse, that makes sense. So nothing was actually burned other than potentially Cleto’s confidence, unless of course he found the spot promotion a vote of confidence.
Yea, I use “burn” in the above more as a synonym to “destroy” or “leave out on the mound to take a beating”.
To be fair I think it was better for him and his physique to be allowed the opportunity to succeed after he got into trouble. Nothing worse than him getting into trouble and being pulled right there and never getting the opportunity to pitch in the Bigs again this year. He settled down and probably left the performance wiht a good taste in his mouth.
One word: Audition. Cleto is trade bait. They were hoping that by at least looking serviceable on the big stage, his trade value would increase.
The funny thing is: I’m not sure it didn’t. Yes, he looked like a lost kid out there when he first appeared. Already by the start of his second inning, he was settling down. A scout who saw only his second inning of work, and not the horror of the first five or six batters he faced, could have seen some definite positives. It would be interesting to get actual scouts’ takes on what they saw there.
Scouts can look at Cleto anytime they want, at AA.
Agreed. The audition thing is bologna.
No it’s not, it is also about performing in front to 35K, at 22. He proved he could do that, he just needs work.
Cleto has the velo that people get paid big bucks for, he just needs to control it and learn to repeat his deleivery, that takes a time and at 22 he’s got it.
How did he “prove” he can do that, by giving up two HR? You can probably let any given position player throw two innings and get him to get 6 outs whilst giving up a bunch of runs and two dingers. I don’t see how last night proved anything to anyone.
The move made no sense to me either but I suspect Cleto will recover from the experience. I’ve been intrigued with him so I’m jealous of those of you who got to see him throw. I realize the results sucked but I’d been interested in hearing what you saw.
To be fair, we started in a hole this season with the Wainwright situation, and the DL for the Cardinals this year has been lengthening like Rip van Winkle’s beard. On the other hand, there have been previous seasons when, without as much injury setback, the Cardinals STILL seem to enter periods of the season where the bullpen is warn to the puppy’s nubbin.
I dunno, seems like as Dusty Baker has always been to a starting staff, so TLR is to a bullpen, if you follow the analogy. Is 13 not enough?? Would 14 be?? 15??? We already do strange things late in games due to our shortened position player bench–like pinch hit with pitchers, put catchers at third, play second basemen in right field. And for all this cat-in-the-hat lineup maneuvering, we usually have little real success to show for it. And, again, we’ve been doing this in seasons where there wasn’t such a long list for sick call as this year.
Seems like one year we can’t understand why Isringhausen is repeatedly being given opportunities to fail. Another season, why Brad Thompson holds a place on the roster at all. This year’s installment is why Franklin and Batista still serve up batting practice for opponents several times per week and why Boggs is in Memphis on a night when Cleto is getting roughed up in St Louis.
OK. To be fair, this DL list is really ridiculous. The Cardinals need Aflac. Still, sometimes I think we could do better minimizing the trauma.
And, of course, last month, Freese went in for his annual medical procedure and attention. At the time, we didn’t bring up M. Carpenter (something I was hoping for in my little corner of benighted, Cardinal-fandom). And, at this point, as the consistently seasonal Freese period of incapacity passes the one month point, we are considering bringing Carpenter up. I can only say, “What took you so long?” There. Now my whining is done, too. Sorry.
While I agree that there were better quality options to have pitch yesterday, I’m not sure a rant of this kind is necessary.
While Cleto did get hammered early, he did settle down and retire the last five batters he faced, with three strikeouts. Granted, small sample sizes abound, but as long as we’re painting a narrative about the kid being nervous or what not, I feel like it’s fair to say. I don’t have the numbers, but I thought he seemed to mix in a handful more breaking balls instead of just launching his very impressive fastball toward the plate.
I don’t think there’s really a very good chance this harms his development. He got a taste of the big leagues, while learning the importance of harnessing his stuff and not falling in love with his fastball. He can take these lessons and apply them in AA now. Plus, he earns a major league salary for a few days, which I’m sure must be a nice bonus.
As to why Cleto, I can’t really say. As I said, I agree there were better options to help us win this game. Perhaps they were calling him up in part as a reward for performing well so far this season; I know I’ve heard Tony talk about September call up as such a reward.
In all honesty, the most important lesson Cleto might have learned last night is that major league hitters will hit your 98mph fastball and they’ll hit it a long way.
If he’s really got potential, he’ll use that lesson to make the rest of his pitches that much better.
Theriot is terrible and should have made that play. Lynn’s line looks much worse than he actually pitched. Had the riot made that, I think the game plays out differently, but who knows.
Maybe they were saying “BOOOOOOG,” as in we miss having a shortstop who can turn the double play.
I was watching in a bar (in SF no less), and it was on mute, so I didn’t realize people booed. Horrible. I actually felt pretty good about Cleto last night–he is going to be filthy if he can throw that 84-mph slider (I think it was a slider) for strikes.
I picked up on that also. Love the way the guy’s who struck out looked at him!! NASTY!! Glad he’s coming back to Springfield. We can use him here next half.