Anthony Ferrara and Trevor Rosenthal lead the pitching in an emphatic manner. Several players had solid offensive days but Greg Garcia has one of the better ones.
Memphis 7, Buffalo 5
- Michael Blazek pitched 4 innings allowing 3 unearned runs. He struck out 2 and walked 2 with 4 hits.
- Maikel Cleto pitched just 1 inning (interesting) walking 1 and striking out 1.
- Chuckie Fick walked 2 with 1 hit for 1 ER in 0.2 IP.
- Tyler Melling pitched a scoreless frame working around 2 hits.
- Allen Craig homered and walked.
- Mike O’Neill, Jermaine Curtis and Chris Swauger were all 2-for-3.
Springfield 13, Binghamton 6
- Trevor Rosenthal pitched 3 perfect innings striking out 6. Anyone else thinking he’s pitched his way into the Springfield rotation?
- Brad Watson was lit up for 5 runs (4 earned) in 1.1 IP. He allowed 6 hits and 2 walk, striking out just 1.
- Heath Wyatt pitched 2 perfect frames striking out 1.
- Alan Ahmady was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Ahmady had a bizarre 2011 line in Palm Beach where, over the course of 380 PAs, he hit .250/.385/.336. He’s on the small side (listed at 5′ 11″ but I’d put him closer to 5’9″) and is an awkward corner outfielder from what I’ve seen. He’s like Matt Carpenter but without the average skills at other things. He’s just really effing good at taking a walk.
- Nick Longmire had 2 hits including a double.
- Rainel Rosario was 2-for-5 with a triple.
- Greg Garcia was 2-for-2 with a double and a HR. I think 2012 will be the deciding year whether Garcia breaks into the prospect consciousness of the internet. He’s supposed to be a slick defender and he’s posted impressive offensive numbers for a player who can play the middle of the infield. Between Kolten Wong and Ryan Jackson, he’s been a bit overshadowed, but 2012 could change that.
- Speaking of Wong, he singled and walked in today’s game.
- Cody Stanley homered.
Palm Beach 3, St. Lucie 4
- Anthony Ferrara struck out 7 in 4 IP. He allowed 1 ER on 5 hits.
- Zach Russell allowed 1 ER on 2 hits in 2 IP. He struck out 1.
- Nick Gillung pitched 2 scoreless frames with 1 hit and 1 walk.
- Vance Albitz was 2-for-3.
- Chris Edmondson hit a 2 run homerun.
Quad Cities 2, Savannah 3
- Tyrell Jenkins got bumped around allowing 7 hits and 3 ER. He pitched 4 innings striking out 2 and walking 1.
- Hector Hernandez struck out 4 in 4 IP. In the scoreless outing, he walked 3 and allowed 1 hit.
- Kyle Hald pitched 2 scoreless frames allowing 2 hits and striking out 2.
- Gerwuins Velazco, no offense to Velazco or Bileckyj but I sometimes wonder if the Cardinals front office doesn’t chuckle when they know I’m going to have to remember how to spell these names, was 2-for-3.
Entries (RSS)
I think Rosie starts at AA…been saying that for a week
He’s an absolute dream
You are late to that prediction! :)
For the record, he gave up 1 hit……..not that I’m complaining….
Well, I’ve been saying it for a week, but I’ve been thinking it since the end of last season
I think this may be a legit question, and some of you may disagree, but has Rosenthal passed Carlos Martinez in some people’s minds as the Cardinals #2 pitching prospect in the minors? Thought it would be interesting to hear some opinions.
If it turns out that he’s been able to pick up Carp’s cutter, I don’t think this is an unreasonable position to have.
He has…..got confirmation last night. Hard to believe he picked it up as fast as he did, but it is true. Sounds like it led to 6 SO’s.
Depends on whether you believe Martinez will become starter. If so, then Martinez has more upside than Rosenthal. Trevor, at this point, is simply more polished than Carlos.
I agree. I’m of the school based on last year’s results that Martinez tired. That doesn’t make it fact though, but his slender body type suggests the conclusion is reasonable.
Just speculatin’…but should we interpret Taveras’ ongoing (albeit minor) role as an MLB Spring Training bench presence as some tacit expression of the *possibility* of Oscar beginning 2012 in…AAA?
In other words, does the current Cardinal manager see this teenager as much closer to the majors than the vox populi?
I wouldn’t interpret it that way. To me it just looked like more of a “watch this guy” shout-out.
OT surely won’t start above AA, and High-A is more likely.
As Andrew points out below, I think the feeling is he has some maturing to do mentally. JMO, but I don’t think it is a tools issue keeping him out of AAA. AA is a big jump, but I don’t anticipate his bat going silent any time soon! But I do think the shuttle to MLB camp is a way of incentivizing him to follow the Cardinal Way.
It seems like the Hawaii middle-infield combination might be reunited in Springfield this year.
Bigrob – no. Really, there’s nothing more to go on now than when the club rankings were made, just some spring training stats. So, I’d think it would be premature to declare he’d leapfrogged martinez and jenkins.
What I do think is that the cardinals could – potentially (underline that “potentially” in your mind – have an absolutely ludicrous number of pitching prospects in the top 100 at the end of this season.
Realistically, there’s a decent chance miller is the best pitching prospect in baseball after this season. Martinez or jenkins could push themselves into the top 20 with a good season. Rosenthal could assure himself of a spot on all kinds of top 100 lists with a good season. And there are any number of good arms in the low minors who could distinguish themselves (say, hernandez), or names in the high minors (say, kelly) who could dispel a concern or two and push their way into top 100 contention.
This sesaon will likely clear this picture up. I tend to think you may still be falling for draft position bias here – Jenkins is a #1 round draft choice and Rosenthal is a #21 round draft choice so he isn’t as good or may be a flash in the pan. Those play-off performances last year weren’t in ST, and while ST is still ST, it was his first look at MLB hitters. I don’t consider myself a MLB ST guru, but hitters are trying to hit no matter what time of year it is, as opposed to pitchers who might be working on this that or the other that they would never do during the regular season. My point is it is easier to discount bad ST pitching performances than it is good ones. But that is just my opinion.
Nice dilemma to have sorting out the rankings of Jenkins, Martinez and Rosenthal. Toss in Miller and Garcia, the Cards have the potential to have one hell of a rotation. ETA???
I think Taveras starts at AA. He has been told that the place he starts is determined by how he works on things other than hitting. His fielding and runnign and throwing. He was told the reason he wasn’t promoted last year was becaue of his fielding, running and throwing. He’s been told this spring that how far along he is in other aspects of the game will determine where he starts i.e. Palm Beach or Springfield.
I’m not ready to put Rosenthal over Martinez yet as a prospect. While Rosenthal has gotten the accolates this Spring Martinez has been quitely working developing as a pitcher not just a thrower. He has revamped his delievry so that it is less violent and has improve his control. He’s not trying to throw the ball through a wall every time now. He will throw 93-94 to get ahead of the count then powder a 97 MPH fastball for the K or throw 3 curveballs in a row to get a guy to strike out weakly. Martinez has put up good numbers in Spring also. Rosenthal are just taking different tracks. Rosenthal is getting the attention being a sponge for the Big League guys (definately the smart thing to do) while Martinez is working with the minor league coaches to improve himself.
I agree completely with your take here. The only thing I would point out is last August when Rosie was doing the same thing and posting leas than stellar stats, he was getting no credit for it. Miller on the other hand was not working on his secondary pitches, posted great stats, and the accolades still flow. Stats only matter in minor league ball if you know what is going on. It’s what makes projecting prospects a tough business. There is a reason those scouts are in the stands – they aren’t making recommendations based on stats.
I’m not sure I agree with your point on “stats.” No one who looks at “stats” in the context of judging prospects really looks at the “stats” that might say that Rosenthal only pitched so-so – like W-L record and ERA.
In actuality, Ronsenthal’s “stats” were very good last year, at least the ones that matter for judging him as a prospect – FIP/SIERA, K/BB, K%, GB%, BABIP against (which may help put other numbers in context), etc.
All I am saying is that even advanced stats are affected by learning how to pitch. In the context of what Rosenthal accomplished, his advanced stats were promising – primarily his groundout %. Just my opinion that no one could rate Rosenthal outside a top 100 unless they were only going by stats with no nod to his upside. A good example is an apparent conventional wisdom that Rosie had “endurance” issues. I read that more than one place. That is just laughable. That conclusion was arrived at IMO because he had a statistically weak August. He then turns around in September and throws a complete game shut-out in the play-offs and runs it up there 95-99 into the 7th inning of the MWL Championship game. Does that sound like a pitcher with “endurance” issues? So, where did these evaluators arrive at that conclusion?
I may be wrong, it’s just an opinion, but there is logic behind it. Now, to flip the argument on myself, I also came to a similar conclusion with CMart which could be similarly erroneous. Was CMart working on secondary pitches when his stats went south at PB? I don’t know. I would like to know though.
He completely lost his delievery and release point at the end of last year. Martinez was working with him to correct it not sure if it was corrected and he was just learning a new delievry at the end of last year or what.
According to the Cardinals Scout website there is a reason that Cleto only threw one inning today.
He is being prepared for the role of reliever, which should have been in the first place.
Was watching an Orioles game the other day and Stuart Pomeranz looked very good. His FB was hitting in the range of 92 to 95 with some nice off speed stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the Orioles out of Spring Training. The guy is still only 27 and doesn’t turn 28 until December. It is looking like the guy has made it past the shoulder problems he had 4 or 5 years ago and still has a chance of making the ml’s. Just to bad it wasn’t with the Cardinals.
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456421#gameType=%27S%27
I felt at the end of last year that Rosie would end up being a more valuable pro…still think c-Mart is a reliever long term
To me the plus factor Rosenthal has over Martinez is his frame. Rosenthal appears to have a better frame to become a major league starter than Martinez has. Because there are so many questions about Martinez being able to be a starter in the majors because of his size, I would be inclined to move Rosenthal ahead of him sooner rather than later.
Does anyone else think its nothing but bad news going forward for David Kopp? I feel bad for the fella with another injury and it looks like this could by the last go around for him…. Your thoughts?
Was watching an Orioles game the other day and Stuart Pomeranz looked very good. His FB was hitting in the range of 92 to 95 with some nice off speed stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the Orioles out of Spring Training. The guy is still only 27 and doesn’t turn 28 until December. It is looking like the guy has made it past the shoulder problems he had 4 or 5 years ago and still has a chance of making the ml’s. Just to bad it wasn’t with the Cardinals.
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=456421#gameType=%27S%27
Rosenthal reminds me so much of Carp…… If he is the opening day starter in 15 or 16 and/or beyond (yes even over Waino and Miller and Martinez and Jenkins and Garcia and…….) it would not surprise me one bit.
I know we all love Garcia, but I don’t think he really belongs in this conversation. In a perfect world (rotation?), he’s really a number 3. He’s got great stuff, but I just don’t think he has the makeup of the #1 guy. If he’s your 1 or 2, I feel as if someone above him must have gotten hurt.
But, he is a hell of a 3. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable with him starting opening day.
Frankly, I’m not concerned whether Rosie or Martinez is the higher prospect right now. These guys are doing what they’re supposed to do to reach the majors. Rosie’s stats last year could have been much more overwhelming had he used his curve and CU less often. He is a force to be reckoned with right now. I watched him pitch 3 times in ST and not very many were adjusting well to 99, 83, 100, 79, 93. The pitches were all near the zone and the FB’s ripping the glove. I saw at least 7 pitches hit 100 in a 2 inning outing. One hit, one K and some balls up in the air but none hit particularly hard. Most hit center or opposite field. He went thru Brent Hayes, Scott Cousins, Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Hanley Ramirez, Gabby Sanchez and Infante. If he’s got control and good movement on that cutter all bets are off for who’s gonna be the most productive starter….regardless how they’re rated as prospects.
I didn’t see Martinez pitch to hitters but am sure looking forward to seeing his mechanics on track this summer. We all know his stuff is electric and want him effective sooner rather than later. I do think Rosie will move up faster than Martinez but it doesn’t necessarily follow that their prospect status will crossover. Martinez is, after all, 16 months younger.
Jenkins may be the baby but he sure turned some heads this spring. His mature approach and pro demeanor got rave reviews and I can’t even imagine what he’s gonna look like in 2 years.
Not gonna argue about their position on any list. What’s exciting is that they’re bunched together talent wise and stair stepping their development to the Bigs. Gonna be some exciting times the next few years.
This is exactly right. The Cards’ system is flush with very talented pitching, and who is 1-5 doesn’t matter. We are going to know the true rankings inside of a couple of years. But from where I sit, the prospect success rate looks like it may be abnormally high.