It was an offensive night down on the farm. The system went 4-2 and no Cardinal affiliate scored less than five runs. Cody Stanley played a good game for Palm Beach and Mariano Llorens continues to impress for Johnson City.
Hitting
- Shane Robinson went 2-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, 3 R and 1 SB
- Eugenio Velez went 2-for-3 w/ 3 R and 3 SB
- Matt Adams had 1 BB and 1 solo homer in 5 PA
- Mark Hamilton went 2-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R and 2 RBI
- Steven Hill went 3-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R and 6 RBI, Hill has been on a Grand Slam binge as his homer was of that variety
Pitching:
- John Gast got the start and got knocked around a little (this is a theme for the system tonight): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB and 4 K
- Eduardo Sanchez pitched 1.1 scoreless innings that included 2 BB and 1 K
Hitting:
- Jermaine Curtis went 3-for-4 w/ 1 2B and 1 BB
- Oscar Taveras went 2-for-4 w/ 1 BB, 2 R and 1 RBI
- Xavier Scruggs went 1-for-2 w/ 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 R and 2 RBI
- Adam Melker went 2-for-4 w/ 1 R
- Jamie Romak pinch hit and went 1-for-1 w/ 1 2B and 1 RBI
Pitching:
- Richard Castillo was the starter and pitched OK: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB and 3 K
- Scott Gorgen pitched well in relief and was credited with the win: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB and 5 K
Hitting:
- Mike O’Neill went 1-for-4 w/ 3 BB and 1 R
- Starlin Rodriguez went 3-for-7 w/ 1 3B and 3 R
- James Ramsey went 1-for-6 w/ 1 BB and 2 R
- Cody Stanley went 4-for-6 w/ 1 R and 5 RBI
- Rainel Rosario went 3-for-6 w/ 1 2B and 1 RBI
- Ronny Gil went 1-for-5 w/ 1 3B, 1 BB and 1 R
Pitching:
- Chris Corrigan got the start and had the lead when he left the game: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB and 3 K
- Travis Miller, Zach Russell, Aidan Lucas and Todd McInnis combined for 8.1 subpar innings that included 9 H, 5 R (4 ER), 4 BB and 4 K
Hitting:
- Matt Williams went 1-for-2 w/ 4 BB, 2 RBI and 1 SB
- Juan Castillo went 2-for-5 w/ 2 R
- Jeremy Patton went 2-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB and 2 R
- David Bergin went 3-for-5 w/ a 3-run homer plus one other run
- Luis Mateo went 1-for-4 w/ 1 HR, 3 R, and 2 RBI
- Roberto Reyes went 2-for-5 w/ 1 RBI
Pitching:
- Tyrell Jenkins got smacked around by the TinCaps: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 BB and 7 K
- Dail Villanueva pitched 2.0 perfect innings that included 2 K
- Ethan Cole pitched 2.0 scoreless innings that included 2 H and 1 K
- Heath Wyatt was perfect in the ninth for his 16th save
Hitting:
- Garrett Wittels went 2-for-5 w/ 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 R and 2 RBI
- Breyvic Valera (1 R, 1 RBI) and Jacob Wilson (1 R) both went 2-for-5
- Patrick Wisdom went 2-for-4 w/ 1 R and 1 RBI
- Jonathan Keener went 3-for-4 w/ 1 RBI
- Gary Apelian went 1-for-4 w/ 1 2B, 1 R and 1 RBI
Pitching:
- Tim Cooney was solid for 5.0 innings, they included 7 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB and 3 K
- Both Corey Baker and Joseph Scanio were terrible
Hitting:
- C.J. McElroy went 1-for-5 w/ 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI and 1 SB
- Jeremy Schaffer went 2-for-6 w/ 1 2B, 1 R and 2 RBI
- Carson Kelly hit a solo shot and drew a walk in 5 PA
- Lance Jeffries went 1-for-4 w/ 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 R and 1 SB
- Steve Bean went 2-for-5 w/ 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R and 3 RBI
- Dutch Deol went 1-for-5 w/ 1 2B
Pitching:
- Juan Bautista was bad: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R (5 ER), 0 BB and 2 K
- Joseph Donofrio pitched 3.2 solids innings that included 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB and 4 K
- Mariano Llorens pitched 3.0 impressive innings that included 1 H and 7 K
- Ronald Shaban got the save with a scoreless inning that included 1 R and 2 K
Entries (RSS)
Has anyone got to see Kelly hit yet? He is showing great power and I know the scouting reports at draft stated he had power. The reason I ask is if he is swing for the fences every time up or is he taking good at bats and the power is a by product of his goos at bats.
Tavares walked in the winning run last night in the bottom of the ninth. That could be one of the best signs of his patience. Most hitters would be playing hero and expand the zone.
Does anyone else wonder if they can just stick him on the big league club in center right now? I know he probably needs more seasoning, but his approach is so impressive.
Taveras is not ready for St. Louis. He is still learning to play CF. I am not sure he can stick in center. He looks more comfortable in RF.
I think Taveras can stick in CF long term. He’s showing better reads off the bat and better routes to the ball and he has above average throwing arm and range in CF. He’s very underrated defensively.
Why wouldn’t Taveras still be learning to play CF? He’s only been doing in 3 1/2 months now. It’s not like a 2 week crash training course. It’s also not like we need him desperately in the majors.
Taveras is playing a decent CF in AA and is a baby relative to the league. He’ll play CF if that’s what the ML club wants him to play in late 2013 or early 2014 and he’ll do the job nicely.
Are you watching him nightly Jeffery, or just speculating?
I have been to several games (20 +) this year. I agree and stated that he is still learning CF. He does not look comfortable at times picking up the ball.
I also agree that if that is what St. Louis wants that is what will happen.
The question was asked if he could stick right now. I just stated I didn’t think he was ready at this time IMO.
It was my first time to see Taveras in person, but I came away impressed with his play. On more than a couple balls, he made great reads and turned difficult outs into easy ones. By far the most telling, however, was how Oscar controlled the game.
My daughter and I spent most of the game watching from behind the opponents’ bullpen, and Taveras called the shots for sure. He appeared natural in center and had the ball picked up all night, even telling Melker to get back on a ball that went over his head.
He isn’t ready for the show yet, but could be in Memphis without a doubt.
Love these first hand accounts of seeing our prospects. Great to hear all the different angles and thoughts.
Taveras is the kind of prospect that won’t be in St. Louis until the brass feels he is ready to play every day. I just wonder when that will be. Probably a lot sooner than most of us think.
Nice blog, too. I’ve bookmarked it and will make it a part of my morning Cardinal online ritual.
Fair enough and I do understand the context.
Perception is always in the eye of the beholder.
Having seen Taveras 6 times this year, I marvel at the difference from last year. He was so raw and this year he looks so much more comfortable, runs better routes, etc. He is better able to show off a very good arm.
I wouldn’t want to see him anywhere near St Louis this year. Let the kid continue to develop in the less threatening environment of the minors. But, when he arrives to the majors, he’ll be ready to play CF, IMO.
I’m no expert, but I don’t think that Tavaras is ready to play CF in St. Louis at this point…but I do wonder if they’ll call him up in September for a cup of coffee at the big league level
He doesn’t need to be on the 40 man roster yet. When he does, I think then they’ll contemplate bringing him up. Doubt it will be this year, unless there are players the Cards are ready to DFA.
Taverez probably could make the jump and not embarrass himself with his play.
However, with his talent and OF not a pressing need, I am not sure I would bring him up and make a roster move for something that isn’t pressing.
Save the roster space for bullpen improvements.
Haven’t seen Kelly play yet this season but he is showing some surprising power potential at age 18 he’s ISOing .218. Wonder what type of numbers Kelly will put up when he’s learned the strike zone better and develops plate discipline.
Amen.
ISO needs about 550 PA to mean anything…that said, I’d rather they have a good one than a bad one if even in a small sample size.
I watched Kelly over the weekend and have been giving him quite a bit of thought since. While initially I wasn’t
overwhelmed, I’m beginning to understand what scouts saw. First and foremost the power is evident even in live games, his
home run on Saturday was well over 420′ .
Secondly, Kelly was showing a pretty patient approach. That might sound a bit surprising given his 4/18 BB/K on the season,
but in a very small sample size, I watched him work the count in nearly every at bat, showing good strike zone judgement
until the count went to two strikes where he promptly dissolved into a flailing teenager, missing
badly on two pitches in consecutive at bats well outside of the strike zone on Friday. I’m willing to chalk that up to
inexperience, and walk away optimistic about his development.
Thanks, Dave, for the report on Kelly.
I wondered what was going with Carson and so few walks. If he was first-pitch swinging and helping the pitcher. “You don’t get out of Oregon taking a base on balls.”
Encouraged to hear he worked the count a bit. Listening to Carson speak you can tell there’s an intelligence there. He’s the kind of kid who is always attempting to figure out the best path to success. I have little doubt Carson Kelly is going to be a productive big leaguer. It’s going to be fun to chart his path to St. Louis in the next few years.
Thanks again for the report/contribution. It’s stuff like this that has me making multiple trips to this site each day.
Can someone explain Garrett Whittels to me? He had that weird week where he traveled through three clubs, ending up in Memphis for a few games. Now he is repeating Batavia – I’m pretty sure he worked with the major league staff during spring training as well.
injuries/call-ups and they needed a body.
All of the hits against Jenkins came in the first and they all came on ground balls. My guess is that other than the walks, the coaches considers that he had a very good night pitching.
Gave up 6 runs in the 1st inning after that he settled in and pitched 3 scoreless innings. Jenkins is still plenty raw.
Jenkins in his last 10 games:
45 IP, 52 Hits, 25 BB, 48 K, 7.20 ERA
A lot more polishing left to do on this diamond.
This has nothing to do with todays DFR, but was curious. I had read Seth Blair had been hurt at the beginning of the year and was supposed to be back around now, any updates that anyone knows of? (not that I am ultra exited about him but saw he hadn’t pitched yet)
Good to see Bean finally showing some power potential hopefully this means he’s adjusting to pro ball now. I know he’s only 18 and still raw.
Comparing Kelly’s power to other former johnson city stand outs:
Kelly – Age : 18 ABs: 104 HRs: 6
Tavereas- Age: 18 ABs: 211 HRs: 8
Adams: Age: 20 ABs:128 HRs: 8
Rasmus: Age 18: ABs: 216 HRs: 7
Kelly also just turned 18 10 days ago. Should also be noted that all the others were more complete hitters compared to Kelly at this point in their careers. But his power numbers compared well to quite an elite crowd as far as former J.C players go. Hopefully he can develop into a more complete hitter.
Interesting comparisons, Kyle.
Carson is a pup, but he’s a pup with a 6’2″ 200 pound frame. I think his biggest adjustments with be with the mental aspects of playing every day against talented competition.
Once he learns to control his at bats, Kelly could really be something.
Tyrell does need a lot of polishing but I’m not too worried about him. I don’t think his prospect status or ceiling has changed much this season. He’s the youngest pitcher on QC by 18 months and is still averaging a K/inning. Hes been alternating between good and bad outings for the past few months, be hes shown the ability to dominate hitters. Also, this is his first full season. There is no reason to rush him because of all the RHP prospects on higher levels (miller, cmart, rosy, maness, Kelly, wacha). He is definately the wild card among our top prospects but I LOVE his potential