Comments on: Baseball Prospectus Top 11 Cardinal Prospects

By: VolsnCards5

VolsnCards5 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:17:54 +0000

If Greene has that type of year, with a respectable OBP, he’ll be our starting SS in two years (maybe even next year) and Wong will be the startin 2B in 2014

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:50:25 +0000

True. But what if he is blocked?

Say Greene does a good job at second? Hits .270. Hits .20 HR and steals 20 bases?

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:49:30 +0000

Kdizzle,

It depends what is happening at the major league level. If Greene bombs, there might be some temptation. But if he does ok, then probably not. Wong does not get promoted…to be a roll player.

And Remember, Tony LaRussa acutally used more minor leaguers than other managers. The guy who might push Shew out of a job is Chambers, but he isn’t ready yet. I don’t see an immediate replacement for descalso. Let’s be honest, there are questions about Wong’s second base ability. So how is it invisioned that he can be a back up for shortstop and second base?

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:21:03 +0000

I dont see Swagerty as an “upside pick”. I may be wrong but I don’t see him as anything more than a max #3 talent but I see him as pretty sure thing to either be a back of the rotation or solid reliever guy. Even Cox at #65 I dont see as an upside pick. His upside is very good but probably not great. But he is a solid bet to hit (whether he turns out very good or not will depend on his power). At #65 I see him as a low risk but relatively low reward for that high.

By: PJ

PJ — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:46:26 +0000

I am pretty surprised to see Swagerty get such love….especially ahead of Adams. It is cool that KLaw is showing the Birds on Bat some love. It is very exciting to see that we have a bunch of guys that can help the big club in some fashion, be it directly or indirectly.

By: IllinoisCardinalFan

IllinoisCardinalFan — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:42:29 +0000

The Cardinals have also been reluctant to bring up players that are not on their 40 man roster so we have a lot bigger chance of seeing Ottavino, Freeman and Fick before someone like Swags.

By: Stan

Stan — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:18:25 +0000

That’s what I think too. He’s going to make AA by the end of this year if things go well and have a chance at the major league roster in 2013. However, that’s all best case. Realistically you could look for him to have a significant role in 2014.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:11 +0000

I haven’t seen this posted anywhere, but Keith Law’s top 100 is out. Definitely worth the read, but it is subscription only at espn. (sorry, not sure how to link from the iPad)

He has six cards in the top 100. (Miller 5th, martinez 20 ish, Tavares 53rd, cox 65ish, Jenkins 75ish, and Swagerty 95ish) He also had Rosenthal on his ten that just missed list. He ranked the cards as the fourth best system. Law seems to rank more on upside than likelihood to reach the majors. I was slightly surprised to see Swagerty on the list compared to Adams or Wong.

It definitely is exciting that up to 9 of our prospects are considered top 110 prospects by different minor league publications.

By: Kdizzle

Kdizzle — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:16:35 +0000

And also, lets not forget that Kolten was is a three year college player. It shouldn’t take a player like that and a skill set like that, long to reach the major leagues.

By: Kdizzle

Kdizzle — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:08 +0000

These things tend to sort themselves out. And if Kolten Wong is hitting and playing defense like an above average major league second baseman sometime in July or August, than I would bet that the front office will find a place for him.

Remember this isn’t a Tony LaRussa managed ball club anymore, and I doubt that a first year manager will have enough clout to keep replacement level player(Schumaker) and a slightly below/above player(Descalso) on the roster at the expense of a younger, better, cheaper talent.