While two members of the 2008 Springfield Cardinals pitching staff, Luis Perdomo and Luke Gregerson, made their major league debuts last week wearing the uniform of the San Diego Padres, the pitchers that remained behind to make up the 2009 version of the Texas League Cardinals’ staff have been struggling.
Over half the staff, seven of the 12, are receiving their initial taste of Double-A ball. Seven of Springfield’s pitchers – the entire bullpen – are making their first career appearances at the level this season, though one, Trey Hearne, pitched in the Mexican League last year. The other six: Tyler Norrick, Kristiam Linares, Elvis Hernandez, Pete Parise, Francisco Samuel (pictured) and Kenny Maiques.
The Double-A Cardinals’ hurlers passed out eight free passes on Friday night and not surprisingly lead the league in walks issued. The alarming total is 58 in just nine games.
It isn’t even close, as the nearest team has issued “just” 46 bases on balls. The number one club, San Antonio, has just given out exactly half the walks of Springfield at 29. Only half of the team’s 12-man staff have more strikeouts than walks.
Too many of those walked batters are crossing the plate too, as the Cardinals pitching staff is carrying an ERA of 5.44. That is sixth in the eight-team Texas League.
While league-leader Corpus Christi’s staff has a solid WHIP of 1.30, the Cardinals are dead last at 1.79. That means Springfield’s pitchers are playing with fire by putting one more runner on base every two innings than are the Hooks.
Springfield’s 4-2 win over Frisco on Saturday indicates a considerable improvement over the previous eight games, for one night at least. Coming into the day, the Cardinals’ ERA of 6.00 was last in the circuit.
Starter Brad Furnish actually saw his 2009 ERA increase to 0.77 despite allowing just one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. The bullpen, specifically Norrick and Samuel, finished up. Norrick allowed an inherited run to cross the plate, but that was it.
One key to the victory was that the three hurlers issued just two bases on balls in total all evening and neither runner scored. Samuel did make things interesting as the game ended with the two Friscans on base as the potential winning runner was retired on a popup.
Despite all the pitching challenges, Springfield has managed a winning record to date by outscoring the opposition. Their 59 runs scored top the Texas League and their 5-4 mark is tied for the lead in the North Division.
One cannot yet consider the corner having been turned based on just a single good evening, however.
Strugglers in the early action are not just limited to the pen. Three of the five members of the rotation, Justin Fiske (8.68), Kyle Mura (11.57) and Tyler Herron (8.44) are pulling high ERAs. To be fair to them, the first two each have just a pair of starts under their belts, while the latter makes his second regular-season start on Sunday at Midland.
Among the new Double-A relievers, only Norrick and Hernandez have WHIPs under 1.74. Norrick (2.57), Linares (2.84) and Parise (3.38) are the only ones with ERAs under 5.50. The latter two may be living on borrowed time however, unless they put fewer runners on base (WHIPs of 1.74 and 1.88 respectively, for Linares and Parise).
Two pen members have ERAs in the double digits, closer Samuel (10.80) and Kenny Maiques (13.50). Maiques leads the walk parade with nine in 2 2/3 innings.
Link to Springfield Cardinals player stats
Link to Texas League team pitching stats
Where are they now?
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i was really hoping maiques would put it all together this season after going all wild last year. but it looks like he’s still struggling with control again. it’s still early, many months to go.
Samuel is inexperienced, having skipped over Johnson City, Batavial and the Quad Cities last year to hold his own at Palm Beach. I am optimistic about him.
The Cards have extra pitchers stashed at EST and a promising staff at Palm Beach. If current Springfield pitchers do not have success, someone will get their innings.
I commented at the start of season that the AA staff might struggle. Not much to get excited about in the rotation and a lot of nice arms in the pen, but all of them fairly green. With that being said it think the PB tandem staff is loaded with guys who can quickly earn a promotion to AA if they keep up their good start to the season Plus you got Sanchez, Reifer, and Freeman who could help the bullpen.
It will not be too long into the season before reinforcements are summoned from PB
Maiques walked or hit another 5 batters in one inning tonight. The Springfield manager may have seen about enough. That pitching staff needs help. The Cards could bring up Sanchez or Reifer from Palm Beach, or Mulligan from Quad Cities.
Was listening on the radio when Kenny M. pitched today – boxscore shows 9 strikes out of 29 pitches – walked 4, hit one and knocked down a couple of other guys. It was painful to listen to, I thinking the trip might be back to extended spring training versus high A ball.
Hope the kid can get it turned around.
The staff looked weak in spring training and then Ottavino went to Memphis instead of Springfield. Some will come along but I expect some changes by the end of May at least.
Furnish has been a pleasant suprise
I dont think Pop Warner can wait until the end of April, let alone May. He could use a couple more relievers right now. Springfield could probably use a couple more starters before mid-May.
The Cards “stashed” Casey Mulligan at Quad Cities, though he pitched fine at Palm Beach last summer. If they were to promote Mulligan to AA, this could liberate Buursma or Maertz from EST. Springfield needs two right relievers.