Palm Beach was postponed but Springfield played a double to get the system to six games on the night. Let’s get to the specifics.
Memphis 10 @ Colorado Springs 3
Hitting:
- Allen Craig went 1-for-3 w/ 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 R, and 2 RBI
- Nick Stavinoha (1 R, 2 RBI) and Mark Hamilton (1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI) went 2-for-4
- Matt Carpenter went 3-for-5 w/ 1 2B and 1 RBI
- Bryan Anderson (1 2B, 2 RBI) and Pete Kozma (1 R) went 2-for-4
Pitching:
- Brandon Dickson got the start: 8.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 BB, and 3 K
- Jess Todd surrendered one run in the ninth on 2 H, he also struck out 2
Springfield 9 @ Tulsa 3 (Game 1)
Hitting:
- Daryl Jones went 2-for-4 w/ 1 BB and 2 R from the leadoff spot
- Ryan Jackson had a double for his only hit in 4 AB, he had 2 RBI
- Matt Adams went 0-for-1 w/ 3 BB and 1 R
- Donovan Solano hit a grand slam for his only hit in 4 AB
- Jermaine Curtis went 2-for-3 w/ 1 BB and 1 R
- Audry Perez went 2-for-4 w/ a 2-run homer
Pitching:
- John Gast pitched the entirety of the abbreviated 7.0 inning game, his line included 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, and 5 K
Springfield 1 @ Tulsa 4 (Game 2)
Hitting:
- Matt Adams went 1-for-3 w/ a solo shot
- Seven other Cardinals recorded a single
Pitching:
- Nick Additon got the start and was pulled after 4.0 innings that included 4 H, 2 R, 1BB, and 2 K
- Nick Greenwood pitched a scoreless inning but gave up 2 H, he recorded 1 K
Hitting:
- Kolten Wong went 2-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 R, and 1 RBI
- Cody Stanley went 1-for-4 w/ 1 2B, he also struck out three times
- Mike O’Neill went 1-for-2 w/ 2 BB and 1 SB
Pitching:
- Anthony Ferrara went 6.0 innings and gave up 9 H, 4 R, and 1 BB while recording 4 K
- Justin Edwards pitched a perfect inning that included 1 K
Hitting:
- Garrett Wittels went 1-for-5 w/ 1 2B, 1 R, and 1 RBI
- Romulo Ruiz went 1-for-3 w/ 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 R, and 3 RBI
- Virgil Hill hit a 2-run shot for his only hit in 4 AB
- Cesar Valera went 1-for-4 w/ 1 2B
Pitching:
- Jose Almarante got the start and was meh: 4.0 IP, 9 H, and 4 R
- Travis Miller relieved Jose and pitched 2.0 inning that included 2 H and 1 K, he was credited with the win
- Javier Avendano picked up the save by throwing 3.0 scoreless innings, he gave up 2 H and struck out 3
Hitting:
- Steven Ramos went 3-for-5 w/ 1 2B, 1 R, and 1 RBI
- Matthew Williams went 2-for-5 w/ 2 RBI
- Tyler Rahmatulla had a double for his only hit in 5 PA, he also scored a run
- Roberto De La Cruz went 1-for-5 w/ 1 HR, 1 R, and 2 RBI
- David Washington went 2-for-3 w/ 1 BB and 1 RBI
Pitching:
- Eduardo Hiraldo got the start and went 6.0 IP that included 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, and 5 K
- Nick Gillung went 2.0 scoreless innings, he allowed 3 H and struck out 3

Entries (RSS)
Matt Carpenter now over .300!
Adams seems to be really working on improving his walk rate – good to see.
Keep an eye on Avendano at Batavia. Take away one bad game (inconsistency is to be expected when returning from injury) and he has given up 1 ER in 11 innings while K’ing 15. His last 3 appearances has 8 K’s and 0 walks.
Adams BB % has increased to 9.2%, with the 3BB last night. I forget, what is a respectible number for a power hitting 1st baseman? Or at least what most people would like to see this number at? Personally, I don’t care what his walk rate is, when he can just kill the ball most of the time.
I’ve had an opportunity to watch Adams about a dozen times this year and on the last three or four occasions (spread out over the last 2-3 weeks) he was much, much more disciplined at the plate. By working several deep counts he seemed to be working specifically on the ‘patience issue’–maybe this is why the club decided to commit to him remaining at AA for the rest of the year? It didn’t show up in a significantly increased walk rate right away–and unfortunately his average has correspondingly declined–but it isn’t surprising at all that eventually this refinement of his approach would translate into a better walk rate. Even to an untrained eye he is being far more patient, especially early in the count.
Agreed. I watched via MILBTv last night and he is definetly showing more patience. Luckily I will get to see Adams live this weekend in Springfield. Anyone know who the starters are projected to be for both Friday and Saturday games?
Gast & Additon
His walk rate is 6.7%, not including intentional walks (according to Statcorner). It was 5.9% last year.
I have not seen Adams yet…but is it possible his reputation is causing pitchers to be more careful thus corresponding to his higher walk rate?
It’s probably a little of both. I’m sure he’s trying to work on working deeper into counts and/or drawing more walks. But you also have to think that as the playoffs draw closer, that teams are trying to be more careful with him. Who’s been hitting behind him now that Castellanos is gone? I’d think the red-hot Zack Cox, but that would put to lefties back-to-back so I don’t know.
a rotation of guys have been batting after Adams. Cutler, Duncan, Cox, recently Solano. Cox was 5/6th in the lineup last night
He seems to capitalize on pitchers mistakes (HR) and claims he is being more selective.
Jermaine Curtis is quietly having a solid year in a tough back up role, he is splitting time with Duncan who is taking up a roster spot in my opinion. I have no idea why he is in our system when we have guys to play. Solano came down and that was Curtis time to play but no love for this kid. He has walked more times then he has struck out. Hitting 3.06 in AA. 30 walks and 26 k’s. He was our 5th round pick give him a chance to play.
Yes Curtis is having an amazing year for a player no one ever talks about. Showing a little power which has really been his weakness up to now – Springfield effect? his other problem is he is a utility guy that doesn’t play SS. That hurts his chances a lot.
I’m so glad to see Springfield pitchers, pitching better. They have a lot of young talented Pitchers. Gast is doing an amazing job. I thought Luna was going to be the starting RF after Castellanos was traded but notice there taking turns with Swauger instead. Agree that Curtis is doing very well. I wish them great success
Adams has started to walk but he stopped hitting doing so at only .269 in 36 games after the AS break. The most crazy stat on Adams is he’s now hit 24 of 26 HR at Tulsa, NWA and at home or the 3 premier HR parks int he league and in the other 5 yards is well over 40 AB per HR.
You posted something along these lines the other day, and it is extraordinarily disingenuous at best. The negative propaganda you seem intent on pushing about this kid seems to have no limit.
For the record. There are only 8 teams (read stadiums) in the entire league, 4 in Springfield’s division (including Tulsa and NWA). The vast majority of Springfield’s games are played at Spgfld, Tulsa, NWA and Ark.
The law of averages would suggest that Adams would hit at least half of his HR at home–or even more in Hammons Field. That’s 13.
In fact, Adams has hit only 12 HR at home, 14 on the road.
He is currently second in the league in HR. If, as you routinely imply, Adams has achieved nothing of significance this year, please explain why he is currently second in the league in HR, three short of the leader in spite of having played in 23 fewer games?
This nearly 23 yo has raked this year in spite of skipping an entire level of the minors. Five players in the entire league he plays in have as many as 20 HR. Each of them has played more games than Adams this year.
Is Springfield a hitter’s park? No question. Has Adams make a concerted effort to work better counts and take more pitches in the last month? It sure appears so. Has that affected his BA (which is a tremendous metric for evaluating players) over the last month (SSS)? Almost certainly.
There are a lot of people on here that appear to have personal relationships to players that regularly post. I am not an unabashed Adams apologist, hell, prior to this year I had no idea who Matt Adams even was. However, your negativity toward this kid is out of line, and totally out of touch with reality.
Having watched Adams play a dozen times this year, I can personally attest to what kind of presence he is at this level. He needs to walk more, probably lose some weight and gain some experience. However, he is having an incredible season and has achieved a great deal this season. There are only a handful of players in the league this year, or over the last three or four years for that matter, whose numbers stack up with this kid. He hits with the type of authority that even this non-scout can recognize is special.
hear hear….
How is it disingenuous he has 2 HR in 96 AB in all places other than NWA, Tulsa and at Home and one of those HR came in Corpus Christi in 12 AB which yields more than its fair share of offense as well leaving just 1 HR in 84 AB elsewhere.
Home
57-for-169 .337 12-1-12
Tulsa/NWA
29-for-93 .312 4-0-12 *6 HR in each park
Corpus Christi
8-for-12 .667 3-0-1
Other 4 Parks
21-for-84 .250 3-1-1
Like it or not the numbers show his season is a product of hitters parks.
That’s a little bit of a stretch. Was his success on every other level a result of park factors? Did he steal your girlfriend or something? We don’t know how good he will be but we will find out.
Sorry man these are just the facts you don’t have to like them but its legit, and yes his power numbers where enhanced by Modern Woodmen Park last year which plays into LH power and is the same place Shelby Miller had a over 6 ERA and where Boone Whiting allowed 6 of his 7 HR,
Adams 2010 Splits and HR per AB
.295/.339/.473 and 26.4 Road
.330/ .376/.630 and 16.67 Home
Don’t most hitters do better at home than the road? And Midwest League is a pitchers league and Modern Woodsmen Park isn’t pitchers park. Miller wasn’t the pitcher he is now when he with the River Bandits. He has improved most of that ERA is from the first half season of his pro career.
Not that drastic but if you and some others here want to keep your heads int he sand and think all parks are created the same and those inflated minor leagues numbers will carry over that’s fine but its just not the case.
I bet P.J. Walters and his dad are fully aware of park factors after he gave up 9 ER in 1.1 IP with 3 HR in his first home start at Las Vegas last night. You like Adam Ottavino so is it just magic that he got totally ate up in his last couple games in big hitters parks?
What I’m saying is that Adams is getting consideration as a Top 100 prospect by many of the ratings guys. Sure you don’t like him but people who have seen him more than us and who know more than us see him as a legit Major League bat.
So are you going to agree with those guys when they don’t like the prospects you like since they know than us?
Well said enigma
I agree. I have seen him play, I am not sure why people get down on him.
Makes sense he has hit in some parks more often than others because they play those teams more often than others.
Which brings up a good point, if they have seen him so much, why is he haiving success, surely they should have learned by now what to pitch to him and what not to give him.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110806/SPORTS02/108060364/Adams-looking-stay-strong-final-30-games?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
That’s why you let this Adams kid stay down and put up big numbers in a league where he will get his at bats, if they sent him up he wouldn’t get as much playing time with two studs already there, Hamilton and Stavi playing first. His trade value increases, side note, hope they don’t trade him if we don’t sign you know who. I think his first name is ALBERT MONEY BAGS TICKET SALES GO UP. Did I say tickets prices will go up. oh well being a season ticket holder they go up a little every year.
Look how far the offense is up in the Texas league over the previous two seasons
2011 .270/.341/.419/.760 with 857 HR and 5.08 RPG still 40 games left
2010 .260/.334/.387/.721 with 791 HR and 4.48 RPG
2009 .266/.340/.391/.732 with 781 HR and 4.79 RPG
On pace to break the league record in HR and have blew past the recent totals after the more strict testing has been in pace already, in a time where MLB numbers are still going down.
You may very well have a point, no one is disputing that parks may have a factor, and so has the weather, but I like the player, lets not count him out too quickly as being just average.
That’s fair but lets not lets not count him as a 30 HR MLB starting 1B too quickly either.
watched the first game for springfield on milb.tv and ryan jackson again made a spectacular play up the middle..stretched far out to get the force out at second base.. i watched the game on friday and he a similar play but not quite as good..i’m sold on ryan jackson being the future big league cardinal shortstop…he should be in the top 10 prospects i think for the cardinals..(ok maybe not but he’s got a major league future)
I like John Gast. That is all.
wow….ugly comment thread.
(sigh) yes. cleanup work is complete. If I could flash everyone with the MIB memory device so they never had to see this thread, I would.
They all need a big old glass full of sugar water—just like “Egger.”
Aww man..I missed the fun
Wow, I read all these comments and it disappoints me to see so many adults arguing and disrespecting players here. It’s pretty sad. People forget that this is a public website, players just like there family members can read this! It would not even surprise me that someone here can be a parent or friend writing back. When Colby and Castellanos were doing well people were happy. When Colby started slumping (which can and does happen to any player) they rip him apart. They both got traded and instead of wishing them well, people took the opportunity to rip them apart without ever thinking for one second that they can read it. Now Adam does well and people find excuses because they can’t expect low draft picks to exceed. Well, guess what, they can and I pray that he excels even if it’s with our team or if one day he gets traded to another. The kid can hit and if you say it’s because of the field, then why not ask yourself why you’re best picks (your favorite players) not hitting home runs?
Let’s all show some respect for these players. They’re playing with there hearts and definitely not for the pay. Remenber these kids (except for the ones that signed for lots of cash) hardly make enough money to get by each month. They make less then minimum wage in the minors. Keep your negativity at home.
Well said Brian!