Buster Posey is breaking out while Aaron Crow and Brian Matusz continue to show why they are the top 2 pitchers in college baseball. Gordon Beckham almost missed the wrap-up for the first time, but a big day Sunday kept his streak alive. Check out some of the other top performers after the break.
Hitters
Justin Smoak 4-9, double (8), 2 runs, 4 walks (26)
Gordon Beckham 4-13, 2 homers (15), 5 runs, 3 RBIs, walk, steal (8)—–unreal season continues
Buster Posey 7-10, 2 doubles (9), 2 homers (7), 7 runs, 4 RBIs, 4 walks—–.444/.548/.788
Dennis Raben 4-9, 2 doubles (4), 2 runs, 5 RBIs, walk, steal (3)——making up for lost time
James Darnell 4-14, 3 homers (8), 4 runs, 6 RBIs—–all the damage came on Saturday
David Cooper 6-12, 3 doubles (7), 2 homers (11), 4 runs, 3 RBIs, walk——.398/.496/.828 line for Cal slugger
Brandon Crawford 6-15, double (3), triple (2), 4 runs, 4 RBIs, steal (7)—–has all the tools, will he put it together?
Pitchers
Aaron Crow 8 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Brian Matusz 9 innings, 7 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts
Tanner Scheppers 12.2 innings, 15 hits, 6 runs, 7 walks, 14 strikeouts—-ended up with 2 starts this week
Shooter Hunt 6 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts—–really needs to cut down on the walks
Christian Friedrich 7 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Tyson Ross 8 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Jacob Thompson 9 innings, 7 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Zach Putnam 8 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 0 earned, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts—-better keep an eye on this sinkerballer
Filed under: 2008 MLB draft
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
I know this isn’t really on the subject, but do the Cardinals have a player development center in Japan or other Asian countries? I realize that baseball academies are plentiful throughout Latin America so I was just wondering if the same is true in Asian countries.
Very nice outing by Putnam. Could be a nice sandwich pick.
nobody has anyone centered in japan b/c those players usually play in japan first, but i do believe they are stepping up their efforts in that area. i don’t remember any specifics, but luhnow talked about it in a recent interview.
Putnam would make an excellent sandwich round pick, but I doubt he lasts to the 39th pick. He’s pitching too well.
putnam’s season stats
1-0, 2.66 ERA, 23.2 innings, 16 hits, 8 walks, 31 strikeouts
he is pitching well, and he obviously fits the cardinals’ profile. i too think he would be a very good pick at 39, but i doubt he lasts that long. some of the other college pitchers that were ranked between him and the top guys aren’t pitching nearly as well, and i think he is moving up into that next group behind crow, matusz, scheppers, friedrich, and hunt.
Few we keep talking about guys that could sneak into the top 12 and push a Friedrich or Martinez or maybe even Scheppers down, Aaron Fitt mentioned in his chat that he would have Washington picking Buster Posey at #9. It makes sense. I’ve thought of Skipworth going to Washington but not Posey. The Nationals, though, seem to prefer the high school player as they have taken Willems, Marrero, McGeary(later round bonus baby), Smoker, Burgess early in the draft the past few years. Detwiler was pretty much a no doubt pick last year at #5 for Washington.
How about the Cards actually load up on some high school players with the non first round pick, since their probably gonna take a college pitcher in the first round. We need some more high risk high reward players in our system! Oh ya I ended that sentence with an exclamation point.
UB, Callis said in last week’s ask BA that Martinez’s stock is plummeting. I don’t know how far he meant, but he might not be considered one of the top guys anymore. I really wish pgcrosschecker would update their who’s hot list so we could get some info on these high school players.
I saw that about Posey, but I am still getting the feeling that Washington will take Skipworth or Hosmer. He also mentioned Friedrich as a possibility for the top 10, but I still don’t understand why people keep calling him polished when he walks so many batters.
Tim, i am a big high school advocate in the draft, and i am all for loading up on high school players. why say with the non first round pick? let’s use that one too. there are a lot of potential impact high school players that are going to go in that top 15.
Anyone have any thoughts/knowledge about Mitch Houck (UCF) and Sawyer Carroll (UK)?
don’t know anything, sorry.
Putnam was my lead pipe lock prediction for the Cards since I saw him pitch in the Regionals last year…way before I know where the Cards were going to pick….but #13..even for the sinkerball loving Cards is too high for him and like most are saying..he wont be around at #39 either.
He to me has a bunch of Jake Peavy in him…but the better MLB comp b/c of his stuff, rawness and hitting ability is Micah Owings.
Putnam is probably going to be a MLB starter at some point…but not sure he will be anything more then an innings eater.
That isnt what you want out of the #13 pick in the draft…but this is the Cards we are talking about.
So anything is possible…sincerely Chris Lambert and his wallet.
FGC- two questions.
1. Are any these guys putting up these numbers against weaker talent or is is mostly good pitching beating good hitting and vice versa?
2. IF Tim Melville is available at 13 who would have to be available for the Cards to not pick him?
Thanks for all this info. You guys make this feature a must see on Mondays.
Any chance we get a mock draft at some point down the road?
jackson, only friedrich (who pitches for eastern kentucky) is really playing subpar competition. all those hitters i listed are either from the SEC, ACC, or pac 10.
pedro alvarez, aaron crow, or brian matusz would have to be available for me to say it would be alright to pass on melville. he is really, really good, and when you add in the local factor it is hard to pass on him.
sluhser, i can do that.
Last BP chat said rather emphatically there’s no way he’ll (Melville) be available at 13
i don’t think he will be there, but he hasn’t pitched real well in his first 2 starts.
In the new St.Louis Sports Mag there is a nicely done article on Melville. Funny that one of the guys quoted is from the Royals who pick 3rd.
Going to be real hard for him to fall to #13…and the Cards probably still wouldnt take him with so many good college SP’s available.
Also mentions something I didnt know…Melville had some shoulder issues that pretty much cost his Soph year…that will be scrutinized
Any chance of putting the colleges that these guys play for on the write ups?
Sawyer Carroll (UK) rakes!!!
Love the info I get from these reports.
Yeah Melville suffered a torn labrum his sophomore year.
i read on another board (i can’t remember which one) that this guy knows a dodgers scout who has been on melville for a couple of years. he said that the scout told him he thought the cardinals were going to take melville, but i just don’t see how he is there.
That LA scout was probably Jerry Daniels. He runs the Midwest/Rawlings Prospects so he knows a lot of the Missouri players. I can’t see the Cardinals passing on Melville if he is around.
That would be great news if that is true Few….even if he isnt there the fact they are discussing taking a HS pitcher in the 1st round is encouraging in itself.
I hope the Cards pass on Melville.
He’s a clone of Chris Carpenter with borderline arm action and significant Inverted L. His labrum problems confirm that this causes him timing problems.
pickle, i don’t think they have anything against taking a high school pitcher in the first round. don’t you remember the quote about beaven last year?