Future Redbirds

First let’s attack a couple of questions from the comments that I haven’t been able to get to until now.

Dustin asked in the comments:

“How is Kyle Russell doing so far this season?”

My long answer to that question:

Around here, we got pretty hot under the collar that the Cardinals didn’t sign Kyle Russell last year. I figured; if they’re going to shell out a million dollars to pay Aaron Miles to be Aaron Miles, why not spend some money on a guy with considerable power upside? In the end, Russell opted to go back to school in hopes for Yankee money that his teammate Bradley Suttle got. Many prospect-niks questioned Russell’s judgment, with the opinion that a repeat of his astonishing 2007 campaign would be hard to repeat. I don’t think they projected he’d be this grisly. The college season is now about a third of the way through, and Russell is hitting a lowly .236/. 456/. 345. While his BB/PA % is out of this world at 23%, he has merely 4 extra base hits to his name, while striking out in one of every three at bats. Sure, he’s getting the Bonds treatment, but that may not last much longer. Devoid of a serious turnaround, he’s cooked his chances of getting much of a bonus at all this year. In all probability he’ll have to go back for a senior year in hopes of restoring his value, but he’ll have a lot less leverage come negotiation time.

tenncardfan asks:

“I’m surprised at the Haberer release. Was he injured?”

Not to my knowledge. Haberer didn’t pan out as a starter, evidenced by his 1:1 K/BB ratio last season in AA. With his 88-92 MPH fastball and decent slider, coupled with his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame a la Jeff Fassero, I’m shocked they didn’t switch him to relief a lot sooner. For Springfield last season, he allowed a .305/.390/.440 line against RHB, with 63 walks to to 49 K’s. Southpaws hit just .202/.327/.210, and he had a 2:1 K/BB ratio against them. I don’t think he’s very good, but considering those facts I don’t think he won’t be out of work terribly long. That 04 draft can’t keep looking worse, can it?

Before we get into today’s games, I’d like to introduce you guys to Frankie and Kiley, writers of the new blog Saber-Scouting, who look to take the baton from Carlos Gomez as resident web scouts, plus they add statistical analysis. Tobacco spitting geeks…I gotta love it. Both guys work or have worked with MLB clubs, and so far the analysis I’ve read is terrific. Bookmark it!

Some inter-squad action today, let’s get into it:

Memphis 4, Springfield 2 (7 innings)

• Let’s talk Memphis first. Mike Parisi got knocked around a bit, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 of them earned, on 7 hits and no walks. He had 2 K’s. Parisi is a perplexing guy. He has good makeup, a decent sinker and a very good curveball. He seems to get talked up by everyone in the organization, but he’s been so darn hittable.
• The rebirth of Trey Hearne continues, he threw a couple of perfect innings.
• At the plate, the star for the Redbirds was Cody Haerther, who seems to be separating himself from Nick Stavinoha for the LF job. He tripled and had two walks.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir, Amaury Marti and David Freese had the other Memphis hits.
• On the hill for Springfield, Adam Daniels went 3.2 innings, allowed no runs on just a hit and 2 BB and 2 K’s.
• Clayton Mortensen went 2.2 IP, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 BB, with 4 whiffs. Maybe he was distracted about the ‘Zags loss to 10th seed Davidson.
• Jon Jay went 2 for 3 with an RBI. When healthy, Jay hits.
• OBP machine Dan Nelson smacked a couple of doubles and drove in two.
• Brandon Yarbrough doubled, scored a run and had an RBI.
• Son of Slick, AJ Van Slyke doubled.

Palm Beach 7, Quad Cities #1 (split squad) 4 (5 innings)

• Shaun Garceau, a favorite sleeper of mine who seems to be on a rollercoaster of a spring, threw 3.1 innings, allowed 2 runs on 2 walks and 3 hits, striking out 5.
• John Vuch told us in his Q and A with us that Fransisco Samuel was one of the Latin America players to watch this year. He keeps showing up in these emails. He threw a perfect frame with 2 whiffs.
• At the plate, Steven Hill continues to rake. He went 3 for 3 with a double.
• Donovan Solano, coming off a solid season in winter ball was 2 for 2 with a HR and 2 RBIs.
• Daryl Jones keeps finding ways to get on base, going 1 for 2 with a HBP and run scored.
• On the mound for QC, JD Stambaugh went 4 innings, allowed 5 hits, gave up 1 ER. He had 3 K’s to 0 BB.
• Eduardo Sanchez on the other hand recorded only 1 out and got blew up for 4 runs.
• At the dish, Mr. Numero Uno Pete Kozma had a double, drove in a run and scored a run.
• The exciting D’Marcus Ingram had a busy day. He singled, walked, swiped a bag, scored a run and had an RBI. Kozma and Ingram should make following the newly dubbed River Bandits interesting this year.

QC Split squad 1, 0, QC split squad 2, 0 (4 innings)

• Hector Cardenas threw 4, gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, had 2 K’s for QC #1.
• Dylan Gonzalez went 4, allowed 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 BB, had 3 K’s for QC #2.
• Nick Vera had the lone Quad Cities #2 hit.
• Charlie Kingrey doubled for team 1.
• Mike Folli and Travis Mitchell both singled for QC #1.