Only Quad Cities losses in today’s DFR. A decent if unspectacular outing by Shelby Miller and a good outing from Carlos Martinez headline the day.
- Adron Chambers was 1-for-4 with a walk. Interestingly, he played centerfield in favor of recently optioned Shane Robinson.
- Robinson had a great night at the plate, however, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a walk.
- Shelby Miller pitched 5 scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit. He walked 3 and struck out 4. I haven’t tried to verify this but an unsolicited reader e-mail this week pointed toward Miller’s inability to command his secondary pitches as the cause of the walks. Take that for what it’s worth.
- Adam Reifer pitched a scoreless inning striking out 1.
- Sam Freeman picked up the win with a scoreless inning.
- Oscar Taveras was 3-for-3 with a walk. The 20 year old Taveras leads the Texas League in batting average by a healthy margin currently.
- Chris Swauger was 1-for-4 with a HR.
- Carlos Martinez struck out 3 in 6 innings of work. He allowed 1 run (a solo shot) amidst 2 hits and 2 walks.
- Jorge Rondon struck out 3 in 2 perfect innings.
- Tyler Rahmatulla was 3-for-5 with a triple and a walk.
- Chris Edmondson was 2-for-3 with a walk.
- Rainel Rosario was 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. After posting a .900+ OPS in the Quad Cities during 2010, Rosario is settling into a second disappointing season at Palm Beach.
- Ronnie Gil was 3-for-5 with 3 doubles.
- Anthony Ferrara was beat up for 10 hits in 6 innings of work. He allowed 6 runs (5 earned) while walking 2 and striking out 4.
- Dean Kiekhefer picked up his 10th save with a perfect frame.
- Matt Williams was 2-for-5.
- Casey Rasmus was 3-for-4 with a double.
- After a 1-for-4 night with a double, 2012 draftee Stephen Piscotty is hitting .298/.365/.491.
- David Medina was 1-for-2 with a double and a pair of walks.
- Dail Villanueva failed to make it out of the third inning allowing 8 runs in 2.1 innings of work. He walked 3 and was tagged for 6 hits while striking out 2. One of the hits was a grand slam.
- Ricky Martinez pitched 3.1 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 run. He struck out 2 and walked 1.
- Alex Mejia (SS) was 3-for-3 with a double.
- Breyvic Valera (2B) was 0-for-4.
- Patrick Wisdom (DH) was 0-for-4.
- Tyler Melling struck out 6 in 5.2 innings of work. He allowed just 1 run on 6 hits walking no one.
- Yunier Castillo somehow managed to not allow a run despite allowing 3 hits in his inning of work. He struck out 1.
- 2012 draftee Lee Stoppelman is — after 1.1 innings last night — up to 13 scoreless innings of professional baseball with 15 strikeouts and 2 walks.
- Idemaro Vargas (2B) was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Ronard Castillo (LF) was 2-for-4.
- Bruce Caldwell (SS) was 2-for-4 with a home run.
- Carson Kelly (3B) was 1-for-4 with a home run.
- Lance Jeffries (RF) was 2-for-3 with a triple.
- Stalyn Lopez struck out 7 in 5 innings pitched. He allowed 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks.
- Sam Tuivailala pitched a scoreless but messy inning. He walked 2 and allowed a hit while striking out 2. It’ll be a while before he cleans up his delivery most likely.
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Giving up 1 hit in five innings rates slightly higher than decent on my adjective scale. How about proficient? Still too many walks, but all in all a giant step in the right direction.
86 pitches in 5 innings? Hardly “proficient”
You mean inefficient outing by Miller.
Maybe not the best word. I was looking for something between decent and spectacular. I thought, Proficient:having a high degree of skill in something, reflected the fact that he only gave up one hit.
I’m encouraged although he still has a long way to go. I read an account by somebody on the web who was there and this person said Shelby got into a bases loaded jam, the pitching coach came out to the mound, then Shelby blew the next batter away on 3 pitches. I’m guessing Shelby was given the green light to pump his fastball after getting into trouble. Very nice to know he can still bring the heat when necessary. Given his age, he has plenty of time to refine his secondary pitches so long as everyone is patient and Strauss does not succeed in trading Shelby.
Well said…particularly the Strauss comment.
I was curious about Caldwell, so I looked up BA’s pre-draft assessment:
Ranked #497 in Baseball America’s Top 500.
Caldwell had a loud first year at Spartanburg Methodist JC, hitting .444/.520/.829 with 15 home runs, 26 doubles and 66 RBIs in 205 at-bats and more walks (33) than strikeouts (18). He isn’t overly physical at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds but clearly has a knack for handling the bat. He lacks the arm and range to play shortstop as a pro and made 19 errors in 61 games this season, though he could play there in a pinch. He profiles as a utility player.
Nothing special in his numbers so far, but if the Cards think he can handle SS (he played there yesterday for JC), his bat could make him more interesting than the typical 15th-round pick.
I wonder how much of an uppercut Kelly has in his swing? It seems unusual for a young player with 3 HRs to have just one double.
I would imagine that Shelby is going to walk more at this point since he’s likely to be working on throwing off speed pitches, especially on 3-ball counts.
This is the kind of thing where an eyewitness report would be valuable. However, at AAA the results do mean something. At low A they would not.
What’s with the low pitch count? It’s been that way all season. I’m entirely fine with the idea of protecting a young arm, but sooner or later it’s necessary to stretch him out in anticipation of what his role in the majors will be.
Lets worry about Miller doing well at AAA, before worrying about the majors. He had a good appearance. It gives him something to build on.
Right. Even though Miller is struggling in his past recent outings he’s still maintained a 10.28 K/9 and a 24.4 K Rate though the BB/9 and Walk rate is up and the HR/9 is up a point as well he’s still got the K stuff.
I would give up a few strike-outs for a couple more innings……
Nice write up about Carlos Martinez’s start with some insight into his repertoire and development. http://blogs.news-leader.com/cardinals/2012/07/14/stepping-up-call-it-progress-for-prospect-martinez/
Thanks for the link. It’s kind of crazy he and Miller sound like they are two sides of the same coin. Miller has to be encouraged to use his secondary stuff and they have to encourage Martinez to throw more fastballs. Sounds like he is progressing though.
Yeah I agree with illinois, that’s significantly better than a solid outing, particularly if C-marts performance– which took place at a lower level and in which he gave up a dong–is “good.”
Today is Kelly Carson’s birthday and he just turns 18. Three HR’s at 17, in just a few at bat as a pro seems like a good start to me. Cards have a 2012 drafted 3rd baseman playing at every level below AA I also noted.
I sure like Kelly’s raw power/power potential he’s starting to adjust to pro ball and should hit for even more power down the road. Kid has some tools.
I was able to watch Carlos Martinez pitch last night at SPF. He showed good fastball command and control also had sinking action on it (8 groundouts) he was sitting at 94-98 topping 99-100 (SPF gun has be known to be fast). Showed good feel for his change-up had good depth to it got a few off balance swings off it. His curve-ball will definitely need more work that was his least effective pitch last night. Other than that he showed tremendous stuff and movement. From what reports came on FR about Martinez delivery him using less violence in his finish is true. It’s more of an easier delivery to the plate he hid the ball very well. He certainly impressed me with his stuff and demeanor on the mound. Oscar Taveras showed how unorthodox his violent controlled swing is. On his first single he smacked it up the middle on a 94 MPH FB. Ball sounded different off his bat. 2nd single he was way out and front of a change-up still managed to drive it up the middle. 3rd single looked like he just fought the pitch off instead it was a opposite field line drive to LF. OT definitely has an unorthodox swing but somehow he can make consistent contact. Taveras went 3-3 against a very tough southpaw in Mike Montgomery Royals top pitching prospect.Wong also put up a few good AB against Montgomery though he went 0-3. G.Garcia has unbelievable plate discipline/awareness/recognition drew a 7 pitch walk against Montgomery.
Justin Wright showed a really good breaking ball and was sitting 90-93 on the gun. Jorge Rondon also showed impressive stuff he added a cutter to his repertoire this season could be a reason for success another reason is because he has much better control than last, showed a nice change-up with late fade still has the straight fastball was sitting 95-98 on the gun looked like his in pitch.
In Martinez’s 6 starts with SPF this season his GB rate is up to 56.1% and his K/9 are down to 6.91 and he’s cut down on his walks as well at 1.98 BB/9. Is Martinez considered polished yet?
Luis Perdomo with the low 90s fastball started for DSL. His final line 7 innings 6H 3R 3ER 1BB 9K. This kids only 18 years old in 7 starts 2.17 ERA 37 1/3 innings 6 walks 39K.
Im very intrigued but Sam tuvialala. I know hind sight is 20/20 but I wish the cards would’ve started him out as a pitcher. Accoridng to d goold, In his first outing he hit 98 and didn’t throw a fast ball lower than 95. If they knew he could throw this fast why would they try to make him a SS? I want to see him in quad cities rotation next year
Per Rains “The Cardinals will promote Trevor Rosenthal to the big league bullpen tomorrow. #stlcards”
Wow! I’ve been agitating to promote Rosenthal to AAA so he can help the big club in 2013. JMo said I’ll see your 2013 and raise 2012. Seems like a bit of a panic move. The last time I remember the Cards promoting a pitcher from AA mid-season to the big club was Dan Haren in 2003. Perhaps in the organization’s search to trade for pitching, other clubs keep asking for Rosenthal (requested price for Dempster from Chicago?). The organization may be thinking the main problem is the bullpen and Rosenthal might be able to help right now without having to trade him for help. Getting swept by the Reds may also have nudged JMo away from trading away one of our top 5 prospects for short term help. If Rosenthal gives the bullpen a lift it might buy time for Garcia to come back, which then makes Joe Kelly available for the bullpen.
Cleto was promoted from AA just last season
Good point as I forgot about Cleto, although he was already on the 40 roster so an option year had been burned already.
Rosenthal showed well in short stints in ST. I’m not saying that prepares him for a MLB regular season, but his tools would seem to lend themselves to BP duty….I mean he has the same velocity as Motte with more pitches. If he doesn’t struggle, I expect that he will stick and they will groom him from there just like they did with Waino and Lynn.
Woohoo! The Rosentrain cometh….ALL ABOARD!
Now the 2009 draft class has now produced 4 players that have already or will make there debuts. Rosenthal who recently got promoted, Kelly, Carpenter, and Adams.
Waiting in the wings. Miller, Stock, Jackson, Anthony Garcia, Butler, and Hernandez. The 2009 draft was an A+.
The more you think about that draft, the more absurd it seems:
* 3 potential starting pitchers (Miller, Kelly, Rosenthal)
* 4 potential ML regulars (Adams, Carpenter, Jackson, Garcia)
* perhaps a couple of useful relievers (Stock, Butler, etc.)
Of course it won’t rival that amazing Dodgers draft in 1968, when they got Garvey, Cey, Lopes, Buckner, and a few others. But it could be the best in Cardinals history if most of these guys reach their potential.
Is QC’s bullpen so good, they don’t need a situational Lefty like Stoppelman? PB too? The kid may not make the Bigs, but Short A doesn’t look like where he belongs to me.