Future Redbirds

First off, a big thank you to Erik for the introduction and giving me the opportunity to contribute to a fantastic blog. I’ll be helping out with the Daily Prospect Reports here at Future Redbirds.

You may have heard me around Viva El Birdos and, if so, you probably know that I’ve got some strong opinions on the big league club. This will be my first foray into serious blogging and I’m excited about it. I’m even more excited that it’s going to give me a chance to examine our farm system on a semi-regular basis. I’m hopeful that I can provide a quick reference for how the minor leaguers did and help keep an eye on the prospects in the system.

Now on to the report:

Memphis 3, Oklahoma 2 (Texas Ranger’s Affiliate)
The Good

• JRod goes 2 for 3 with a double and a walk as the Memphis DH — I hope I only see him in the Memphis boxscores for a few more games before he gets a callup. . .
• Kelvin Jimenez threw 2 innings of relief with 2 strikeouts and 4 groundouts against 0 flyouts. He’s one to keep an eye on if the struggles of the Cardinals middle relief corp continue.
• Falkenborg and Sillman both go one inning without giving up a run.

The Bad

• Brendan Ryan went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
• Ankiel went 0 for 4 with 1 strikeout.

Springfield vs. Midland (Oakland A’s Affiliate)
Postponed due to cold

Jupiter 5, Palm Beach 3 (Florida Marlin’s Affiliate)
The Good

• Nothing of particular note as the team strings together a walk, double and a single to score 2 in the second; they strike again in the 5th with a single and a double.

The Bad

• That’s about allthe team could do offensively. The relievers for the Marlins come in and pitch 4 innings giving up only a walk and the Palm Beach Cardinals fail to threaten in late innings.
• Trey Hearne had a mixed outing going 5 innings with 6 hits, 3 ER and 2Ks (but no walks). Only 4 of his 13 outs on balls in play were via the groundball.

Of Note

Quad Cities 7, Clinton 4; 7 innings (Texas Ranger’s Affiliate)
Clinton 2, Quad Cities 1; 7 innings
The Good

• Jim Rapoport goes 2 for 3 with a walk and a triple in the first game of a double header after yesterday’s game was canceled as the Swing’s center fielder. (He’s a 22 year old out of Stanford who hit poorly at the New York Penn team last year — I doubt he’s going to give Rasmus a run for his money anytime soon.)
• Tyler Herron (a 2005 supplemental first round pick) struck out 3 in 2 strong innings, only 17 pitches, giving up one hit in the second game.

The Bad

• Brad Furnish got bit by the long ball for 2 runs in the first inning. He wound up pitching 4 innings but the HR was enough to take the loss.