The entire system had trouble scoring runs today but there were a couple of notable pitching performances, especially Richard Castillo‘s debut at double-A Springfield. Seth Maness finally allowed a walk. And the opposing manager showed some respect to Oscar Taveras. Details after the jump…
Memphis: No Game
- Kolten Wong was 2-for-5 with an RBI from the leadoff spot.
- Xavier Scruggs was 1-for-3 with a HR, his 5th of the season.
- Greg Garcia had a double and 2 walks.
- Chris Swauger hit a triple in 4 plate appearances.
- Oscar Taveras was 1-for-4 with his 4th stolen base of the season. He was also intentionally walked in the top of the 9th inning. The opposing manager chose to face Kyle Conley with two guys in scoring position instead of Taveras with runners at the corners. The move paid off as Conley flew to LF to end the inning.
- Richard Castillo had a very fine debut at Springfield. In 7 IP, he allowed 2 R on 6 H, 0 BB, and 6 K. Of the 14 outs he recorded on balls in play, 12 were via ground balls.
- Michael Blazek tallied 4 K in 1.2 IP but lost the game by walking in a batter with the bases loaded. In all, he allowed 2 H and 2 BB.
- Chris Edmonson was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
- Ronny Gil and Rainel Rosario each had a double.
- Starlin Rodriguez was 1-for-4.
- Vance Albitz was 1-for-2 with a walk.
- I’m sad to report Seth Maness walked his first batter of the season; his 2012 streak ended at 42 innings. He still had a strong outing that featured 7 H, 1 BB, 1 R, and 5 K,
- Dean Kiekhefer pitched 1.1 innings in relief before surrendering an 8th inning walk-off HR. He had 2 H, 1 BB, and 2 K.
- Chris Edmonson and Alan Ahmady recorded the only two hits of the game for Palm Beach, both of which were singles. Edmonson also walked once while Ahmady stole his 3rd base of the season.
- Mike O’Neill and Vance Albitz also walked and scored the only 2 runs.
- Todd McInnis had a decent pitching performance, allowing 2 R (1 ER) on 5 H, 1 BB, and 3 K.
- Iden Nazario was saddled with the loss for allowing 2 R on 2 H and 1 BB in 1 IP.
- Juan Castillo was 2-for-4 with a 2B and run scored.
- Colin Walsh was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Tyler Rahmatulla had a double.
- David Medina was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Roberto Reyes was also 1-for-3.
- Kyle Hald was very good. He allowed only 3 H and 1 BB in 6 scoreless innings that included 5 K.
- Brandon Creath was hurt by 2 BB which came around to score on a HR that resulted in 3 ER. He did strike out 1 batter.
- Danny Miranda allowed another run on a HR in 1.1 IP; he also had 1 K.
Entries (RSS)
Nice article about OT. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/5/16/3022869/prospect-of-the-day-oscar-taveras-of-st-louis-cardinals
Kevin Goldstein also talks about OT in an ESPN (Insider) article about up & coming power hitters. He also talks about Sano and KC’s Wil Myers.
Here’s some of what he said about OT.
“Taveras was pushed to Double-A this year as a 19-year-old (he turns 20 in June) after flirting with .400 at low Class A Quad Cities in 2011 and holding his own in the Arizona Fall League. But like Sano, nobody was expecting a breakout.
Still, he’s more of a hitter than a slugger, but one scout indicated that itself might be indicative of something. “Are we in an era where pure hitters develop more naturally into hitters with power?” he asked.”
He also compares his “violent swing” to Bryce Harper’s.
I saw Castillo pitch tonight and was impressed with his stuff. I made the mistake of commenting how well he was pitching when the opposing batter slapped a triple…assisted by OT failing to pick it up cleanly off the wall. But, I was impressed by Castillo’s handling his AA debut.
Taveras’ single was a bouncer to 3rd that he beat out easily. It wasn’t a swinging but, but a ball he beat into the ground and the 3rd sacker simply had no play. Oscar’s speed is deceptive.
Yes it was disappointing to see him coming to bat in the top of the tenth and walked intentionally.
It was nice, on the other hand to see a rally begun in the ninth to tie the score. We should have scored 2 on Wong’s single to left, but Garcia was slowed by the SS cutting in front of him.
Wong’s fielding is excellent and his bat speed is too.
Scruggs’ HR was a bullet over CF. I just wish he’d make more contact.
FYI, Castillo pitched 44 innings in AA last year. Not saying you can’t be impressed with his pitching of course, but it wasn’t really his debut in AA; he’d had quite a bit of experience there last year.
Sorry, I meant OT coming to bat in the top of the 9th and I meant “It wasn’t a swinging bunt”….
What is the story on Greg Garcia? The guy gets on base like crazy. Anyone know about his defense?
According to Goold in yesterday’s notes column, Charlie Tilson will miss the rest of the year due to shoulder surgery after he dove for a ball in the OF and hurt the shoulder.
That is a shame. That can derail a career.
If you are starting to get pitched around in AA…is it time for a promotion?
I wouldn’t see why. Even assuming OT were consistently getting “pitched around,” he would still need to learn how to be a successful hitter despite such tactics.
??? Isn’t the fact he is getting pitched around indicative of the fact of his success? The question is at the rate that he is hitting (and if he keeps it up – I’m not for promotion for a while longer), what does the kid have left to learn at AA in hitting? I think his D still has a ways to go……but I’m not sure AA or AAA makes any difference in development for Defense.
To start going opposite field again.
I can look at his numbers and see he’s having success; I wouldn’t need to guess at that based on an anecdote about him being intentionally walked. In any event, I see no need to rush him off to AAA at this point.
All the intentional walk is is an indicator or a reinforcer that his stats ain’t lyin’ – never bad to know that those outside the Organization have as good (or better) an evaluation as those inside the Organization with a vested interest.
Agree. But I wouls still like to see him challanged in those situations…IF getting pitched around becomes a routine activity, not sure how much you can grow as a hitter.
On the otherhand, I would not employ such a tactic if I was an imposing manager. I would make my pitchers challange the hitters. That is the point of development baseball.
Congrats to the Arkansas AA manager on his win…To bad he missed a big teaching/training momemnt.
Its like having a JV coach brag about winning.
Pretty darn funny……
I have been arguing his age should keep him in AA, but if he is still hitting at this clip at the end of June, let him play in the AA all-star game, probably the MLB Futures all-star game, and then send him off for some BBQ and Blues.
OT out of the lineup tonight. Beltran pinch hit tonight, making me think the Cards don’t intend to DL him. Jay is on the DL, Craig and Schumaker aren’t 100%. Maybe Taveras just needs a day off for his own health reasons. Or maybe not. Any chance the Cardinals want to give him a look in Memphis sooner than expected? The Royals just advanced a couple of their top prospects, including Myers. Not saying that their circumstances are identical, but the stats nearly are.
I just don’t see them doing that. Just a day off I think. Memphis OF is Hill, Hamilton and well…….Not sure who is in CF? Maybe it is Taveras?
Chambers.
Chambers is replacing Jay in STL. It’s actually Cedric Hunter I just checked.
I thought they recalled Robinson.
I think Robinson took Craig’s spot.
Perfect timetable, RCH!
How hard was Castillo throwing, hugecards? What can you tell us about the rest of his pitches?
Thanks.
91-93 if the stadium gun can be trusted. But he has a nice assortment of stuff and decent control.
Yeah, to whomever, he pitched in AA last year and struggled. Meant to say 2012 debut. It’s still nice to see him have success at AA. He’s still not that old.
I don’t see Castillo ever belonging to the Cards rotation, but spot starts shouldn’t be out of the question… or a trade. I think he could become a bottom end of the rotation pitcher for someone.
Niko Vasquez released; too bad.
Wow, giving up on a 3rd rounder out of HS this soon? Seems like just yesterday he started out with a bang. It all went downhill when they moved him from SS.
I can’t really comment about too soon, but he really seemed to be struggling. Maybe he can catch on somewhere else and a change of scenery will get him back on track.
Vasquez did not have enough bat for 3B. Good to give his roster slot to another kid.