Yesterday’s big news in the world of Cardinals propects was that Brian Barton and Kyle McClellan almost officially made the team. I say almost because, according to Goold, LaRussa said that unexpected things can happen and so he wouldn’t shake their hand to congratulate them on making the team until Monday. I have to admit to breathing a sigh of relief with the announcement that Barton made the team. Even though the Juan Gonzalez threat was neutralized by his inevitable injury, I still feared that the Cardinals would find a way to deny Barton a roster spot. Now that we know he will be heading North with the Cardinals, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that the organization did the right thing in this situation (even if they sort of backed into it).
As for McClellan, I suspected that we might start the season with a rookie in the bullpen, but I had figured it would be Mark Worrell. But McClellan deserves a lot of credit, when Worrell did not impress in Spring Training, McClellan really stepped up and proved that he deserves a spot. I will be curious to see how he is used this season and what his future role in the organization will be after this season.
The minor leaguers played five games yesterday, a recap courtesy of John Vuch is after the jump.
Memphis 7, New Orleans 4
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With McClellan making the team that means that Mike Parisi was sent down. He gave up 8 hits and 3 walks over 5.2 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 3.
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Chris Perez was also sent down, making him the putative closer for Memphis. He got an inning of work yesterday, earning the save, giving up no hits and one walk while striking out one.
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The other Flores brother, Ron, struck out a pair in his flawless 1.1 innings.
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The winning pitcher was Jason Motte, who gave up two hits and one unearned runs in his one inning of work. The Motte/Perez combo at the end of games is going to be daunting for Memphis’ opponents.
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Everybody’s favorite CF prospect, Colby Rasmus, went 2-4 with a dinger.
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Amaury Marti merely thought about swinging the bat and hit a two run homer.
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Brian Barden, who looks like the classic AAAA player, went 3-4, including a double, with two runs scored.
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Nick Stavinoha, who will feel left out because I don’t have anything to say about him, went 2-4 and hit a double.
Springfield 5, Binghamton 5
This game was apparently a barn burner, as our boys scored 3 in the ninth to tie the game up. The game ended, however, with a Redbird runner getting thrown out at the plate.
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The bad news, pitching wise, is that all of Binghamton’s damage was against Adam Daniels: 8 hits and 5 earned runs over 3.0 IP. He struck out 3 and walked 1.
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The good news, pitching wise, is that everyone else pitched well: Marco Gonzalez threw a perfect 1.2 innings, Luke Gregerson threw a perfect inning, and Jonathan Mikrut threw, well, 2.1 imperfect innings - with 2 walks and a hit, but he didn’t give up a run and struck out 3.
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AJ Van Slyke continued his tear going 3-3 with a double and an RBI.
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Bryan Anderson went 3-4, doubling, scoring 3 runs and driving 1 in.
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Big Allen Craig was on base four times, going 2-2 with two walks, and a double.
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Tyler Greene stroked a double in going 2-3
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Jose Martinez went 2-5, while Casey Rowlett went 2-6.
Palm Beach 2, St. Lucie 4
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Shawn Garceau took the brunt of St. Lucie’s rath, giving up 5 hits and 3 runs in his 3 IP. He also struck out a pair without allowing a walk.
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Elvis Hernandez gave up three hits, a walk and a run in his two innings.
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Kyle Sadlowski gave up a hit and a walk over his two innings, while striking out 3.
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Erik’s favorite, Kenny Maiques, gave up one hit in his one scoreless inning.
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DJ (Daryl Jones) went 2-3 with a walk.
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Tommy Pham continued to look good in his transition to the outfield, going 2-4 with a bomb and 2 RBI.
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Oliver Marmol scored a run and went 2-4.
Quad Cities 5, Savanna 4
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Hector Cardenas gave up 3 hits in his 3IP, allowing a run and walking 1 and striking out 1.
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Davis Bilardello had an interesting line (which was probably painful to watch): 2 IP, 0 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K.
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Justin Fiske did not have a particularly good day, giving up 4 hits, a walk and 2 earned runs in 2 innings, while striking out a pair.
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Adam Reifer only gave up a walk while striking out two in his inning of work.
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Cordoza Tucker gave up a hit and a walk over his scoreless inning.
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Kevin Goldstein’s favorite, Pete Kozma, went 2-4 with an RBI.
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Jose Garcia scored a pair and went 1-2.
Quad Cities #2 13, WFAST 1
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Dylan Gonzalez went 4 innings, gave up 4 hits and struck out 4. He also gave up WFAST’s only run.
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Jose Mateo walked 1 and struck out 2 over 2 innings.
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David Riddle walked 1 in his otherwise-perfect inning.
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Matthew Arburr exploded for 2 homeruns and 5 RBI, going 2-3.
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Joey Hage was a perfect 3-3 with a double, an RBI, and 2 runs scored.
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Adron Chambers went 2-2, doubling both times, walked twice, and scored 3 times.
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Ivan Castro hit a homerun and drove in four runs.
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Brian Castie and Collin Fanning each had a pair of hits.
Filed under: Brian Barton, Daily Farm Reports, Kyle McClellan
erik
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I can’t wait to see how McClellan does this year. He looked very impressive when he pitched on TV the other day. He spotted his 91-93 MPH fastball low in the zone and flashed a very good curveball.
And Barton seemed to be getting a hit in every game this spring. Everything about him screams Juan Encarnacion clone but one that hustles.
Both of these guys, namely McClellan, making the team is more proof that LaRussa gives the rookies a chance.
I can’t remember the last time the Memphis Redbirds have showed this much promise. It just seems like we have a lot of talent right there waiting to fill-in when needed. There’s definitely more depth than last year, especially in the bullpen.
I’m glad for McClellan but I have to question the decision making process here. This seems to be based on Spring Training not Worrell’s and McClellan’s respective records. I dislike the idea of making decisions based on 11 innings.
The Birdhouse has posted an article citing the Springfield News Leader and Springfield manager Pop Warner confirming the Springfield rotation. The rotation will be as follows:
1. Jamie Garcia
2. Adam Ottavino
3. Clayton Mortensen
4. P.J. Walters
5. Adam Daniels
This may be a little disappointing for some of you that were hoping Brazelton’s exit would open a spot for Garcia at Memphis.
On McClellan v. Worrell–if you’re comparing last year’s records, then they’re pretty much even. And given the fact McClellan had surgery the year before, that’s the only record that matters. Worrell pitched at a higher level, but McClellan had a better ERA and made the move from A to AA with little drop off. The fact that McClellan performed in Spring Training and Worrell didn’t simply was a tie-breaker.
On Garcia…I’m glad he’s starting in Springfield. Given his arm troubles last season, I’d rather they bring him along slowly than thrown him into a new pro level at the start of the season.
” 1. Jamie Garcia
2. Adam Ottavino
3. Clayton Mortensen
4. P.J. Walters
5. Adam Daniels”
That’s a nice looking rotation for AA. They should have a good year barring any freak injuries.
Seems like a lot of excitement about the minors this year, especially the upper levels.
And has Darryl Jones had two hits a day for the last week or so? It sure seems like it!
as you might have guessed by seeing jose martinez in the AA box score above, martinez has been moved down to springfield to be the every day second baseman. that should leave a lineup of hamilton at first, martinez at second, craig at third, greene at short, anderson at catcher, haerther in left, jay in center, and gorsett in right. kary booher also reports that shane robinson and aj van slyke have made the team as bench players and dan nelson and casey rowlett are fighting it out for the last spot on the bench.
this should be a very fun team to watch this year. as noted above, the rotation is stacked, and the lineup is looking pretty darn good as well.
if Martinez is 2B at Springfield, then who is SS at Memphis? And why would you move Martinez off SS when he has shown the ability to play there? Also does anyone know a link to Minor leauge Spring Training stats?
my guess would be brian barden at short unless brendan ryan doesn’t make the team.
I love seeing Jones and Pham in here everyday. Are they both going to start the year at Palm Beach?
Random thoughts
*Pomeranz has been crap this whole spring. Is he going to Memphis? Palm Beach? Is he going to get cut? Hmmm….
*I see Honel and Hearne were both loaned to the Mexican league. Booher has been full o’ good info lately.
*McClellan has looked sharp, and I like him a lot more now that I’ve seen him on TV, but I’m in the Worrell camp here too. I actually really liked the idea of making McClellan a starter in AAA, and Worrell gives the big league club another look. He’d be the perfect guy to come in and face Aramis Ramirez or Ryan Braun in a tight situation. And McClellan has the stuff to start, I’d rather have a #4 or #5 starter next year or so, and let Worrell pitch where he belongs.
Erik:
What would you think of a Wainwright-esque bullpen internship for McClellan that leads to a chance to start in the bigs next year? I have heard that suggested and I don’t think it’s a terrible idea (although Worrell has been one of my favorites for a couple of years now).
I heard that, but I’m not really buying it. Wainwright threw 180 innings for Memphis that year before he went to the pen. McClellan’s only thrown 100+ innings once before, years ago. I’d like to see if he can maintain his stuff after that many innings again before they try him out in that role next spring.
Wow, we went to all the trouble of getting Haerther back, and we’re putting him back in Double A? I thought Shorey would be starting in LF at Springfield, and Haerther would be in the corner OF/DH rotation at Memphis with Marti and Stavinoha, with Mather playing 1B. Why keep Phelps?
And moving J. Martinez to 2B is a mistake IMO as well. I had read in the News-Leader that Nelson was battling Lucena and Rowlett for the starting 2B job there, and after Lucena got cut, I figured Nelson won the job.
So if Jaime and Reyes are not starting at Memphis, who are the other Triple A starters besides Parisi, Boggs, and Hawk? Rauschenberger?
Can you guys imagine how stacked our AAA team will be for the 2009 season, or even late 2008 for that matter, provided some of these guys perform well enough for a mid-season promotion (not out of the question at all)? It’s going to be a very fun summer to watch baseball.
With McClellan, my hope is that he’s on the MLB roster until one of Thompson or Wellemeyer (or Looper) goes back to the bullpen. Then, he gets moved to the rotation. Starting the first month or so of the season as a reliever actually would help his transition back to a starting role by keeping his innings down, while giving him a taste of major league hitting and some time working with Duncan (who’s the one who wants him to switch back to a starting role).
If McClellan winds up being a reliever all season, then he’ll probably be stuck in that role for a while.
I mean “Memphis rotation.” Man, I gotta read what I wrote…
rauschenberger has been moved to the pen. i would guess joel piniero is one of the starters at memphis until he gets healthy, and the only other option is john wasdin.
and by then it’ll be mulder rehabbing….. and then it’ll be clement rehabbing…. and then it’ll be carp rehabbing. That rotation slot in memphis is pretty well full up till the last few months of the season.. just in time for any one of those springfield guys to take a crack at it.
Garcia, Walters, Martinez (who should be the AAA shortstop, as others have noted), Haerther, and Allen Craig would all be starting in AAA if I ruled the world.
The craptastic troika of Parisi, Boggs, and Hawksworth are 3/5 of the AAA rotation? So much for pandering to the Memphis ownership. Gonna be a lot of 7-6 games in Elvistown this summer….
Craptastic troika? I’d hardly call boggs, parisi and hawksworth craptastic.
i would. you would be lucky to get one 5th starter out of the bunch.
i’m not saying they are world beaters, but i sorta expect them to at least hold their own in AAA. and i like boggs, even if he doesn’t pan out as a starter.
When Springfield comes to Tulsa looks like I can expect to see some great prospects this year
bad news (well at least i think so), the piggy back rotation will be making its debut in palm beach this year.
Could be they are planning on D Jiminez at SS in Memphis or Barden at SS w/Jiminez as the utility guy.
After seeing Boggs with the SCards last year, my expectations for him in Memphis are high. Hawk and Parisi may have struggled last year, but then again — who was playing down there besides Ank and Ryan? The Redbirds will be exciting again, and I truly feel the pitching will get the biggest benefit from having a stacked offense around for once.
Not a fan of the piggyback at anything above low-A (maybe not even then). It makes prospect evaluation a lot more difficult and I think it inhibits the learning of secondary pitches.
I think Brian Barden is better than an AAAA guy.
Hello everyone….Kyle McClellan records before his injury are not fair to judge. I have been watching Kyle play since he was 3. Kyle has so much talent and comming into the minors at age 17 was certaintly a big challenge for him. The first year plus….he records may look bad, however he did pitch very well. He had very poor run support which is why his win/loss record is not good. Plus the defense behind him at times was marginal to say the least. While I don’t want to make excuses for some of his early struggles, he has handle himself very well overall. Alot of people don’t realize that he was a 8th round pick for the Cardinals orginally, however he turned down the offer that would eventually lead to him getting the right deal but as a 25th round pick. If he hadn’t signed for a large amount of money….the cardinals would have most likely got rid of him a long time ago, but thankfully due to how much they had invested in him, they stuck it out and he now is showing just how good he is. I believe he is the youngest player on the big club right now, and he is 1 of only 2 players left in the cardinal organization from the year he was drafted among all other players that same year. A couple things that many don’t know about him…is he has a great head on his shoulders and is a great guy, that does not let his recent fame change who he is or where he came from. The second thing is Kyle was a awesome hitter when in highschool. Senior year in highschool…if my memory is right…he was over a .400 hitter who hit many homeruns. Grant it he is in a whole new level of competion, however he has hit the ball well for the few at-bats he has received in the minors…but he could be a future Ankiel in regards to his batting skills. Well I just wanted to give you all a little more insight in who he is….
dude
go mcclellan
he is def my U.S history teachers brother
heck yes!
=]