Quad Cities posted a win and Johnson City swept a doubleheader. Brandon Dickson, Sam Gaviglio and Stalyn Lopez performed well on the mound and Oscar Taveras carried a big stick but did not speak softly. Let’s get to the good stuff….
Hitting
- Adron Chambers went 1-for-3 w/ 2 BB and 1 SB
- Steven Hill went 1-for-4 w/ 1 2B and 1 R
- Cedric Hunter went 2-for-3 w/ 1 BB
- Eugenio Velez went 2-for-4 w/ 1 RBI and 1 SB
Pitching:
- Brandon Dickson pitched a very good game: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB and 6 K
- Maikel Cleto pitched a perfect inning that included 2 K
Hitting:
- Kolten Wong went 1-for-5 w/ 1 2B and 1 R
- Oscar Taveras went 3-for-5 w/ 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI and 1 SB
- Xavier Scruggs went 4-for-4 w/ 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 R and 3 RBI
Pitching:
- Scott McGregor got the start and got knocked around: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 BB and 3 K
- Justin Wright went 1.2 scoreless innings that included 1 H, 1 BB and 4 K
- Deryk Hooker pitched 1.1 perfect innings that included 2 K
- Scott Gorgen allowed 4 R in 1.2 innings to take the loss
Hitting:
- Nicholas Longmire went 2-for-2 w/ 1 BB
- Stephen Piscotty went 2-for-3 w/ 1 2B, 1 R and 1 RBI
- David Medina doubled for his only hit in 4 PA, he added 1 RBI
- Juan Castillo went 2-for-4 w/ 2 2B, 1 R and 1 SB
Pitching:
- Sam Gaviglio was outstanding: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB and 8 K
- Mariano (Dixon) Llorens pitched 2.0 perfect innings, he had 3 K
- Heath Wyatt allowed a run in the ninth, but closed the game out for his 18th save
Hitting:
- Garrett Wittels went 1-for-3 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB and 1 R
- Breyvic Valera went 1-for-3 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI and 1 SB
- Patrick Wisdom doubled in 4 PA
Pitching:
- Kyle Helisek got the start and was good though unspectacular: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB and 3 K
- Brandon Creath could not hold down the Lake Monsters, he gave up 3 R in 1.0 inning and took the loss
- Yunier Castillo pitched a clean inning
Johnson City 8 @ Greeneville 2 (Game 1)
Hitting:
- C.J. McElroy went 1-for-3 w/ 1 2B and 2 RBI
- Ildemaro Vargas went 1-for-4 w/ 1 2B and 1 R
- Adam Ehrlich went 2-for-3 w/ 1 BB and 1 R
- Bruce Caldwell went 3-for-3 w/ 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 R and 1 RBI
- Cesar Valera went 2-for-2 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI and 1 SB
- Ronard Castillo went 2-for-4 w/ 1 R and 2 RBI
- Carson Kelly went 1-for-4 w/ 1 RBI (I don’t want people who comment to die inside)
Pitching:
- Victor De Leon pitched decently: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB and 4 K
- Roberto Canache pitched 2.0 perfect innings that included 1 K
Johnson City 5 @ Greeneville 1 (Game 2)
Hitting:
- Adam Ehrlich went 1-for-2 w/ 2 BB
- Ronard Castillo went 1-for-3 w/ 1 BB and 2 R
- Cesar Valera went 1-for-3 w/ 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R and 1 RBI
- Gerwuins Velazco went 2-for-4 w/ 2 RBI
- Dutch Deol (who has the best name in the system) went 2-for-4 w/ 1 2B and 1 RBI
Pitching:
- Stalyn Lopez needed no help to dominate the Astros: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB and 8 K
Entries (RSS)
So is the plan to keep OT at AA all year? Perhaps it’s time tort him get a look at AAA. Unless of course the plan is for him to skip AAA outright next year.
/beating the dead horse
What’s the hurry? A year in AA, the best part of another in AAA and he’ll be far more ready in late 2013 to settle into a job he owns in 2014… when Beltran is gone. By that time, CF is second nature to him.
I agree with Hugecardsfan. Let him play through the playoffs in Springfield and get some more seasoning in AAA next year. He is only 20 and outfield is our strongest area on the major league team.
I asked this the other day, and don’t think I got an answer, but couldn’t he be bumped up to AAA to challenge him a bit, then come back down to AA for the playoffs and extra at-bats?
Huge is correct. Let him grow up and learn first then bring him up, and he will be ready for the show.
You have Chambers playing center.
They’re trying to get him completely focused on playing centerfield and building discipline with fundamentals, which was the organization’s stated goal for Taveras at the beginning of the year. Bumping him up a level would bounce him between different coaches and run counter to that goal.
If you’re thinking about bumping him up a level as a reward for his season, I suspect that a September call-up to St. Louis would be more realistic, but there are other, also deserving players at Memphis.
And it would involve a roster change.
He is only 20.
/beating the dead horse.
Why does that matter? He is excelling, and his age isn’t affecting when he projects to be ready for the Majors. I say challenge him a bit.
It matters very much. There is not a long list of players who make smooth transition to the major leagues at an early age.
Even ones that do have some baseball-related success, the mental and mutuality aspects are still a huge obstacle.
think about it this way…Can you image if you were 21 and a major league player.
The problem pushing him to AAA is that you have Chambers, who is still a decent prospect, and Robinson who is contributing to the current team. Staying at AA helps him stay in center.
I feel for Adron. He would be a solid 4th outfielder on many teams but he has Jay ahead and Oscar below. The fact that the starting CF’er in STL bats left handed gives Robinson something of an edge to be the bench CF’er. Adron wouldn’t bring back anything significant on his own but I was hoping we would have packaged him with spare parts like Cox (already gone) to get something useful back in return. Edward Mujica has looked fine in short time with the Cards but his numbers from 2012 prior to landing in our lap were underwhelming. I was hoping we would package a bunch of our lower level prospects together to get back a better setup guy than Mjuica. That trade looks to be working so far so I’ll stop complaining right here. But the point is that Chambers should never in any way block the advancement of Taveras. I think the organization wants him to play in the AA playoffs but if they think he needs to be challenged in AAA this season then promote him. Taveras gets all the playing time in CF at AAA when he is promoted and the other guys just get whatever playing time they can on the corners.
I don’t think he is blocking OT. At least not yet.
But right now, the major league team is the priority. And Chambers is next on the list for call ups, so he should be getting the most time in center.
I think that changes next year though.
Where would he play next year? He’s (likely) not good enough in CF to supplant Jay, and Beltran and Holliday are pretty good hitters, IMHO. He’ll take Beltran’s spot when he leaves after next year (or gets hurt), but until then, he should be in the minors.
I doubt it. You still have Craig and Carpenter.
To what? Play RF? Craig is a 1B, Carpenter is a 1B/3B utility player. Why would either of those guys play ahead of a guy who has played in the OF his whole minor league career and is by literally all accounts a premium prospect?
And by all accounts OT is still only 20. I never understood the desire to rush guys, especially when you have more than capable options.
Carpenter is a darn good utility player who needs at bats.
You still have Matt Adams who will get called a chance before OT. And adams can’t play any place but first.
So you let OT mature a bit and let things play out.
Some hard choices for the organization to make. One option in 2014, the one that puts the most power in the lineup, would be OT in CF, Craig RF, Adams 1B. That would bump Jay to 4th outfielder. If Jay holds on to CF, OT and Craig need to be in the everyday lineup so it might mean trading Adams. I just don’t know how it will play out but these are great problems to have … valuable young players who demand a roster spot.
I fail to see how these are hard choices.
Why is it an either/or thing? We can’t have OT do a Beltran and play CF half the time (corner OF the rest; unless he’s the second coming of Pujols, he’ll likely only start 80% of the games anyway) with Jay filling in the rest of CF while Holliday/Freese/Craig/MCarp/(and maybe Adams, who I’m not at all certain will be better than MCarp by 2014) take up the rest of the time on the corners? Players get injured and become ineffective all the time, so I don’t see this worth worrying about 1.5 years away.
Taveras is not going to be called up and sit. He needs to play everyday. Adams shouldn’t either. Craig needs to play everyday. You have a point about Beltran needing rest but you don’t put Taveras on the roster thinking he might steal some PT in right field from Beltran.
So, you have five players for three positions in 2013: Jay, Taveras, Beltran, Craig, Adams. For 2013, Taveras can stay in AAA and come up if someone gets hurt. Same for Adams. Carlos leaves after 2013 but still four players for three positions. But really you have to account for Matt Carpenter as well, who has gotten significant playing time at 1B. So it is really 4 1/2 or 4 1/3 players for 3 positions. If Taveras makes the 25 roster out of ST in 2014, he should be the start and player there every day. He’s that good in my opinion. He’s the best outfield prospect we have developed since … ? JD Drew?
I think Adams ends up with the short end of the stick under this senario and it will be a tough decision on whether to trade him (he’ll have significant trade value if keeps mashing at AAA) or let him sit on the bench in STL. The only way to keep Adams and get him more playing time is to play Craig more in the OF and not play M. Carp at 1B (leaving those AB’s to Adams). Tough choice in my view as I really like Adams as a prospect.
Is it really rushing OT if the Cardinals called him up now? Were the Angels rushing Trout?
Sometimes you call a guy up because he is just that good. Jay has been a great defensive CFer this year, but his ISO is sub .100. Whatever the Cardinals would lose in defense in CF, they would make up at the plate by playing OT. OT has completely dominated his last two levels with the bat. At some point you simply ask yourself the question, do the Cardinals have a better chance to win with OT in the lineup and in CF, or with Jay in the lineup and in CF?
You mean when Trout hit .220 and ops .682? You bet.
Also, instead of looking for the rarety that it works for, what about all the players that don’t have immediate success as an eary age?
Look Haywards inconsistancies, the inconsistancies of the Upton Brothers.
Dominic Brown? Brandon Belt? Moustokous?
Why do you assume a sub, defensive 20 year old free swining hitter would put up numbers better than Jay?
Also, Jay seems to be comming around afther the sholder issue. Hitting well the last week.
Most players don’t automaticly become great Major leaguers, much less at 20 and only a few years experiece. Don’t confuse top young prospect with instanc success.
You never know how good he will be in the majors until he comes up. I don’t confuse top prospect with instant success. I equate top prospect = good ball player.
We know what Jon Jay is…he is a career .770 OPS player. I actually like Jon Jay and the fact that he provides 2-3 WAR for league minimum in CF. However, OT has the potential to provide much more than that. And there is a decent chance he can provide much more than that RIGHT NOW. But you don’t know until you try.
Its true you never know.
But its also true that most struggle. Even the guy you listed struggled. And at 20, there is another set of maturity issues that has to be concidered (not just OT, any 20 year old).
Why do you equate top prospects with good ball players? Prospects are based on finished products. Prospects are not finished produts.
Jon Jay is a careeer .770 OPS and a good defensive player. That is not bad. It is unreasonable and unfair to expect a 20 year old to do better than that.
Yes, Trout struggled his first year. He was a detriment to a team going nowhere. His first month he hit .163 with a .492 OPS. Were Taveras to have that kind of beginnning it would be a problem to a team in a pennant race.
I don’t know why anyone would want to hurry and start his arb clock when they don’t have a need.
I don’t know why anybody would want to throw him into a pennant race as raw as he is. If we had no solutions in CF, fine. But, we do. This isn’t an argument worth having. I am absolutely certain that the Cards aren’t even considering it….
“However, OT has the potential to provide much more than that.”
OT also has the potential to provide less than that in 2012. A possibility you haven’t seem to have considered. AA is not the MLB-level.
Yeah, and Jon Jay could continue to put up an OPS in the .600s like he did in May, June and July.
or the .750 OPS like he has the lat month. Or the .842 like the last week.
Jon Jay has a 2 year track record of major league success. But your right, we should get rid of him after 2 bad months when he had a shoulder issue because we have a hot prospect that has a very small chance at being better right now.
Actually, last month (The month of July) Jon Jay had an OPS of .655. Not sure where you are getting that he had an .750 OPS last month.
As well, Jon Jay has historically LOW ISOs. The guy doesn’t hit for any power. This year he has a total of 14 extra base hits.
As I said above, for major league minimum, I like Jay. But OT is a once in a lifetime type of hitter. He isn’t a flash in the pan or a temporarily “hot prospect”. Last year he broke a multi-decade year old record for BA in A ball, and this year he is leading AA OPS.
As well, we are past the “super two” status date, so calling him up now wouldn’t elevate his arbitration clock any faster than calling him up in September.
Over the last month (30 days).
You see, that includes that pesky August numbers where he is hitting .500 and ops 1.167.
And that terrible month of July…Jay was still reaching base at a .348 clip.
Re: “As well, we are past the “super two” status date, so calling him up now wouldn’t elevate his arbitration clock any faster than calling him up in September.”
This is true if we plan to use start him in early in 2013. But any play in 2012 will push back the super two “status date” in 2013. Would that be in our best interest in the event Jay is hurt next year?
Craig’s most likely the future first baseman for the Cardinals. The only ways I can see that changing is if (a) Matt Adams manages to push Craig to right field, or (b) they decide to move Freese to first because of his ankles.
Agree. But that is a few years away.
Lots of good options at the corner infield and OF positions for the next few years.
The only way I see OT getting an immediate chance is if something significant happens to Jay.
I think Craig is a IB next year when Berkman is gone. But, I foresee him in RF after Beltran leaves.
How old is he again?
20!!
After one bad outing Dixon Llorens has settled down some with 4 consecutive scoreless innings in his past two outings. Llorens in 11 games 1.31 ERA 20.2 IP 6 BB/33 K that’s a 42.9% k rate has held opponents to a .130 AVG small sample size. Llorens only projected at 5-foot-10 was selected in the 25th round in the draft this season sits in the low 90s on his fastball with good command has shown good feel for a slider that scouts have graded a above average pitch. Llorens is a name to watch.
Oscar Taveras and his violent controlled swing now 10-for his last-14 with 4 doubles and a HR in his last 3 games starting to heat up again.
Asked the Quad Cities beat writer about Anthony Garcia and Sam Gaviglio this season.
Anthony Garcia response. “Good potential. Like his swing a lot. Still working on other parts of the game, much like Taveras here last year.”
Sam Gaviglio response. “Like his approach. Heady. Kind of a grinder who won’t knock you over with flashy stuff but is a bulldog on the mound.”
Gaviglio seems to have turned the corner and is pitching exceptionally well right now. Add his rising star to the list.
Why did Dan Miranda get promoted from QC when he’s been easily out-pitched by Heath Wyatt and Ethan Cole in the River Bandits bullpen?
Is Kolten Wong bored in Springfield? He’s being out performed by his Hawaiian team-mate Greg Garcia. There doesn’t seem to be a wow factor with Wong.
Love these names from the Burlington Bees:
Bobby Crocker,
Maxwell Muncy,
Nick Rickles,
Chih Fang Pan.
Adam Ehrlich the above average defensive catcher has transitioned well into the Appy League going 11-for-18 that’s a .611 mark small sample sizes of AB but good to see him showing some offensive ability because the question was will he be able to hit at pro ball level.
Piscotty continues to show his line drive double stroke now has 12 doubles in only 111 AB. Piscotty has started off his pro career off strong offensively with an impressive .384 wOBA and a 139 wRC+.
Hard throwing right hander Victor De Leon showing some progress on the mound with his control this season in only 6 starts 28 IP 2.54 ERA 43.0% groundball rate 12 BB/ 25 K 21.2% k rate 10.2% groundball rate a couple points lower than last seasons and he’s walking one less batter per 9 innings.
I have like Gaviglio since they drafted him. I know he had some struggles early on. Delirery/mechanics change?
He was not an overly power pitcher, but when you got a control pitcher who can dominate in an aluminum bat league, you got to take a chance.
Taveras now with 30 doubles, 20 home runs, and 6 triples.
I think it’s a little rediculous to expect OT to come in and be better than jay. We’re talking about a just turned 20 yr old who was playing in quad cities a year ago. The fact that he’s doing so well in AA is amazing, so i am fine with him in AA or maybe a late season promotion to AAA. The cards are in the heat of a pennant race right now and it’s very unrealistic to throw Oscar in CF and expect him to be better than jay
While you guys all debate whether OT should be our next CF, I have a question. Didn’t the Cards just waste a 1st round pick on James Ramsey to be our future CF? And he’s 2 or 3 years older then OT and applying his trade one level lower then OT. There’s not really room for OT now, so what to do with Ramsey? If he develops of course.
It’s not like Jon Jay is chopped liver. He’s one of the better CF around. There are too many ‘no lose’ scenarios coming up in the next couple years. Damn that’s a nice problem to have. Craig or Adams at 1b; Craig or Tavares in RF; Tavares, Jay or Ramsey in RF; Somebody or other at SS…..er…..Jackson or Garcia at SS. Okay maybe they need to work on that one.
“waste” ??
Waste as in drafting to a position of strength, when they could have chosen a SS or a Catcher for the distant future. I’m not saying Ramsey, himself, was the waste. Let me clarify that view.
Jon Jay is a more then adequate CF in my book, but he’ll be (in all likelihood) replaced by our stud-prospect Tavares. Not to mention the year before we drafted Tilson and McIlroy to be our CF’s of the future. Drafting Ramsey was overkill. There is no place to put him.
That is not how drafts work.
Catchers and SS are just not that easy to find.
And there is no such thing as overkill.
Always taking the best player is route to go. Taking a weaker hitter that is headed for a position change is not usually a smart move.