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With the minor league season coming to an end for most teams.  Let’s take a look at the pitching leaders for each team by tRA. (with at least 12 innings pitched)  Numbers courtesy of statcorner.

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I’m super swamped at work today and didn’t get the blog post going ahead of time, so I’ll throw out an exercise for you all this afternoon.  Put the following 5 pitchers in order where you would rank them in a prospect list.  Don’t forget to show your work.

David Kopp
John Gast
Nick Additon
Joe Kelly
Tyler Lyons

Azruavatar did a great job below taking a look at what he thinks will happen once the calendar turns to September and the minor league teams all end their season.  The Cardinals only have two healthy minor league pitchers on their 40 man roster and considering how the Cardinals head honcho, Tony LaRussa uses pitchers, I expect more than Dickson and Cleto to be promoted in September.  After the jump, let’s look at candidates to be dropped off the 40-man and who could be brought on.

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The Cardinals are sending 7 players to the Arizona Fall League this fall (which is also known as “Prospect Finishing School”:

1B Matt Adams

OF Oscar Taveras (will be second youngest player in the league)

SS Ryan Jackson

RHP Keith Butler

LHP Justin Wright

RHP David Kopp

LHP Tyler Lyons

Since this week is apparently lefty starter week in my brain, let’s take a closer look at another older prospect who also was added through the 2010 draft in Ryan Copeland.

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Tyler Lyons was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2009 draft, but opted not to sign, instead returning to Oklahoma State for his senior season.  The Cardinals drafted him one round higher in 2010 and signed him.  However, Lyons did not pitch in 2010 and instead made his debut as a 23-year old in Palm Beach, joining the team just over two weeks after the season started.

In Palm Beach for the whole season, Lyons has been overshadowed by Maikel Cleto, Joe Kelly, Shelby Miller, Jordan Swagerty and even Carlos Martinez.  But, Lyons has had a quietly very effective season.  His profile has been raised a bit over the last week or so as azruavatar has mentioned him here and red baron mentioned him over at Viva el Birdos.

Lyons’ traditional numbers are good as he has gone 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA in the pitcher’s park and league.  However, his numbers only get better the further we look.  His K/9 isn’t outrageous at 7.3, but he has shown great control with only 2.8 BB/9.  That gives us a K/BB ratio of 2.62, which is over the magical 2.0 threshold.

His league and park adjusted numbers come up rosy as well, as his tRA+ is 109 for the season (both as a reliever and starter).  His BABIP is a little low at .289, but he is not allowing a lot of hard contact, only allowing 15.3% line drive rate.

The scouting reports all have Lyons sitting in the low 90s and not blowing anyone away with raw velocity, but as you will see below in the “scout at home” portion, he’s got good movement and control.  Lyons should be one of those prospects that quietly moves his way through the system and should eventually make an impact in the major leagues, especially because he is left-handed.

Now for the scout at home portion – here’s a video of Tyler Lyons throwing a bullpen session from Cape Cod in the summer of 2009.

The Cardinals are quietly building up some good 1B depth in the minors and another one of those players, David Medina is playing well in Batavia.

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SEO tells me that I am contractually obligated to write an article on Shelby Miller today and so I comply.

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The Cardinals young, prized Dominican hurler, Carlos Martinez has been showing signs of wearing down as this season has worn on and I think it is time for the Cardinals to think about limiting his innings by pulling a Swagerty and putting him in the bullpen for the rest of the year.

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With 5 days to go until the signing deadline, here are the Cardinals unsigned picks and a line or two about each.

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