Memphis and Springfield blow out their opponents with the same total while the lower minors play in close games. Michael Wacha continues to dominate in his limited playing time and Patrick Wisdom flashes some power as the minor league seasons approach their conclusions. The organization went 4-1.
- Memphis’s collection of AAAA non-prospect hitters beat up on Brewers prospect pitcher Tyler Thornburg.
- Among the career minor leaguer types with multiple hits: Matt Young (3-5), Lou Montanez (2-4, 2B).
- Brock Peterson had an especially huge game, going 3-5 and hitting a pair of home runs.
- Adron Chambers was 1-4 with a walk.
- Nick Greenwood went 5.0 IP, allowing 1 run and 2 walks, striking out 5.
- John Gaub gave up 3 hits in his inning but got out of it with a pair of strike outs.
- Jess Todd delivered 3.0 IP of perfect baseball with 2 Ks and a 6-0 GO-FO.
- Kolten Wong had a pair of hits.
- Oscar Taveras was 3-5 with a double. He is currently in line to win the Texas League batting title with a .323 average.
- Jermaine Curtis was 2-4. He is in second place for the Texas League batting title with a .313 average.
- Chris Swauger was 3-3 with a double and knocked in 6 runs.
- Jamie Romak hit a triple and a home run.
- Greg Garcia doubled.
- Scott Gorgen was dominant in 5.0, allowing only 2 hits (one of them a solo home run), no walks, and striking out 8.
- Michael Wacha continues to be flawless, striking out the side in a perfect inning of relief.
- Eric Fornataro allows 1 BB and 1 hit in a scoreless inning.
- Michael Blazek and Keith Butler each struck out a batter in their respective innings.
- James Ramsey took a couple walks.
- Cody Stanley was 2-4 with a pair of doubles. He’s had some setbacks this year with suspension and underperformance but he’s been riding a bit of a hot streak, with a .991 OPS over his last ten games.
- Geoffrey Klein hit a double.
- Anthony Ferrara threw a 1-hitter for 4 innings, striking out 3.
- Jose Almarante and Dean Kiekhefer each took 2.0 IP, striking out 2 apiece.
- The game was a scoreless tie until the ninth, when Danny Miranda gave up the walk-off game winning run.
- Colin Walsh hit a pair of singles.
- Anthony Melchionda doubled and walked.
- David Medina also doubled.
- Brad Watson walked 3 and struck out no one but still lasted 6.0 IP by giving up only 2 hits and 1 run.
- Josh Renfro took 2.1 IP, allowing no baserunners and striking out 1.
- Heath Wyatt got the save.
- Breyvic Valera was 3-5 with a triple, bringing his average to .321, good for third best in the NY-Penn league.
- The Patrick Wisdom selection was called a reach in the supplemental round but he has hit well with Batavia and with patience (BB% >11%). His OPS now stands at .841 after going 2-5 with a double and his 6th home run.
- Jacob Wilson went 3-4 with his 5th home run and a walk.
- David Washington also homered and went 2-4.
- Matthew Young walked and singled.
- Joe Cuda struggled with his control, walking 3 and throwing 4 wild pitches over 4.0 IP. He struck out 5 and allowed 3 runs over 4 hits.
- Christopher Thomas got a strike out for 5 of his 7 outs but was credited for 2 earned runs which scored after he had been replaced.
- Joseph Scanio blew the lead by allowing his inherited baserunners to score as well as one of his own baserunners in 0.2 IP. He was rewarded with the W.
- Jose Pasen allowed 2 hits and a run in an inning.
- Lee Stoppelman struck out 2 in the ninth for the save.
Entries (RSS)
Lee Stoppelman continues to his dominance in the New York-Penn League in 34.1 IP 0.79 ERA he’s struck out 49 batters that’s an impressive 12.93 K per innings.
It will be interesting to see how Stoppelman fares out in higher levels against more advanced hitters since he doesn’t have overpowering stuff from what I’ve read he has a funky delivery that causes some deception to his mid-to-high 80s fastball and slider.
switch hitter Breyvic Valera showing why he’s so tremendous at squaring up to pitches and barreling everything from both sides of the plate he leads the New York-Penn League in hits at 89.
If Valera can develop some pop or learn to draw more walks because he’s only walking at a 5.1% Rate he will get a lot more prospect love. Who knows Valera has a lot of room to fill out since his small physique and he’s still young.
After fatiguing/scuffling at the plate in July only batting .219 in that month. Since August 1st Kolten Wong is batting .296 40-for-135 1 HR 11 RBI 11 XBH.
James Ramsey has shown some patience in his brief first pro season 13.4% Walk Rate but has struck out at a 23.9% Rate.
Scott Gorgen has had a decent season on the mound post TJ surgery (Springfield and Memphis combined). 29 games 129 IP 4.11 ERA 3.80 FIP 43.5% GB Rate 58BB/119 K 1.41 WHIP. It will be interesting to see what type of role Gorgen is in the future he stills harness that plus change-up.
Wisdom has been on a nice roll at the plate of late, and big David Washington has actually hit home runs in 3 straight games. Maybe Washington will get a chance with a full time club next year after 4 yrs in the system.
Odds on Wacha to AAA next year? I’m at 40%.
Seems pretty aggressive.
I certainly wouldn’t start him @ AAA. He’s a starter. We have Rosenthal, Miller, Martinez, Gast, and 37 other starters fighting for the last rotation spot at Memphis. I see no reason for Wacha to start higher than Springfield and work his way up to Memphis. There is a ton a depth ahead of him. Rosenthal started 2012 in Springfield and look where he ended up. I’m a Wacha guy but start him in Springfield and let him pitch his way out of there.
I think I would subtract a zero from those odds. Remember Wacha has not had a start yet. Love what he is doing out of the bullpen, but it is still out of the bullpen.
As I recall, scouts were saying he could pitch in the big leagues immediatly when he was drafted. He might just be in the show next year. Seems very polished to me. And you certainly can’t argue with the numbers.
In a vacuum, perhaps. But he’s part of a farm system, that has a large number of excellent pitching prospects who are at the same level or are more advanced in their development than Wacha. Also, his numbers come as a reliever, not as a starter. His velocity probably will not be as high as it is now (velocity usually takes a hit when pitchers realize they have to pace themselves through several innings), and the fact that he’ll be facing batters multiple times through the order will affect his approach. Jumping to the concluson that he’ll be ready for the majors next year based on 7 innings in Double A is a pretty darn big jump.
Assuming everyone is healthy next year, here’s probably how the rotations at the top three levels probably shape up:
St. Louis: Wainwright, Garcia, Carpenter, Lynn/Kelly, Westbrook
Memphis: Miller, Rosenthal, Lyons, Gast, Maness/Gorgen/Castillo
Springfield: Martinez, Whiting, Wacha, Maness/Gorgen/Castillo, Benes
Even when there are injuries in St. Louis, at least three pitchers will be ahead of Wacha: Kelly/Lynn, Miller, and Rosenthal. I don’t see Wacha jumping ahead of those three at this point in his pro career.
A couple of questions: Where is Siegrist? Benes, really? Any reason besides the name?
1. I blanked on Siegrist.
2. I tossed in Benes last, as having an outside shot at the Springfield rotation, depending on where some pitchers fall (the decisions for the Memphis rotation are going to be interesting). He’s started 16 games at Palm Beach this year, pitching 103.1 innings with a 4.01 FIP compared to a 5.31 ERA, a 6.88 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9, a .7 HR/9. While he’s been bounced in and out of rotation, he has as decent as a chance anybody.
I liked Jacob Wilson’s bat when we drafted him but wondered about his defense. I still don’t know about his defense but his bat has come around nicely after a slow start. Post all star break (50+ PA) his OPS is 1.218.
Anyone know why Kolten Wong was lifted for a PH today?
No reports of Wong being injured. My guess is that the Manager wanted to give recent call-up Neil Pritchard a full game. Thus, Wong and
Greg Garcia split the game at 2B, while Pritchard gets a last day gift of four ABs while playing SS.
John Sickells on Shelby Miller
“http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/9/3/3289217/minor-league-prospect-report-shelby-miller-promoted-to-st-louis”
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/9/3/3289217/minor-league-prospect-report-shelby-miller-promoted-to-st-louis
When Miller makes his first appearance, he’ll be the 6th from the 2009 draft:
Miller (1st round)
Kelly (3rd)
Jackson (5th)
Carpenter (13th)
Rosenthal (21)
Adams (23)
Kelly is already a solid MLB starter, Carpenter has surpassed all my expectations, and we’re all optimistic about the other 4. Absolute best-case scenario, the Cards will have 3/5 of their future rotation from one draft class, a middle-of-the-order hitter in Adams, a productive regular in Carp, and maybe a solid utility infielder in Jackson.
And there’s still a great chance for 18th-rounder Anthony Garcia to make it as a corner outfielder.
As of now, 2009 looks like Luhnow’s masterpiece.
and there’s still a solid chance of Robert Stock to pitch in the majors