After starting the season with five pairs of tandem starting pitchers, the St. Louis Cardinals’ A-level club, the Quad Cities River Bandits, have dropped the pairings down to four, effective this weekend.
In the process, the Midwest League club moved one pitcher down to Extended Spring Training, George Brown, and slid two others into the bullpen. They are Miguel Tapia and Andres Rosales. In addition, 2008 River Bandit then surprise retiree Josh Wilson is back, promoted from Extended Spring Training to take Brown’s place.
Bravo was promoted from EST one week ago when Chuckie Fick was bumped up to Palm Beach. With the arrival of Wilson, that tandem pairing has both Quad Cities newbies.
These pairings remained the same:
Adam Veres and Gary Daley
Kevin Thomas (pictured) and Hector Cardenas
These changed:
From Jonny Bravo and George Brown
To Bravo and Josh Wilson
From Miguel Tapia and Scott McGregor
And Andres Rosales and Arquimedes Nieto
To McGregor and Nieto
With Tapia and Rosales to relief
Wilson was to have his first tandem start of the season following Bravo on Friday, but the game was suspended in the second inning due to rain, to be resumed on Saturday. Veres/Daley take the hill for Saturday’s regularly-scheduled contest, then Thomas/Cardenas go on Sunday, the first pair to come off three days rest. In the previous five-pairing system, the latter turn would instead have been taken by Rosales/Nieto.
After a day off on Monday, Tuesday’s double-header at Peoria is driving a very minor adjustment, with both tandems getting a start. McGregor will take the mound in game one while his tandem partner, Nieto, will start in game two. The normal four-man rotation of Wilson/Bravo and so on will follow.
Following are the stats for the Quad Cities starters this season coming into Friday’s game ordered by ERA. “T1” etc. shows the new tandem pairings in order, with “BP” denoting those shifted to relief. “PB” is for Palm Beach and “EST” is for extended spring training.
| 2009 QC starters | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | HB | BB | SO | WHIP | |
| Adam Veres | T4 | 2 | 0 | 0.54 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16.2 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 1.44 |
| Kevin Thomas | T1 | 2 | 0 | 1.31 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 20.2 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0.82 |
| Arquimedes Nieto | T2 | 0 | 2 | 3.26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 19.1 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 1.19 |
| Andres Rosales | BP | 2 | 1 | 4.08 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 17.2 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 1.42 |
| Chuckie Fick | PB | 0 | 2 | 4.24 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 1.47 |
| Miguel Tapia | BP | 0 | 2 | 5.03 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19.2 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 21 | 1.47 |
| Hector Cardenas | T1 | 2 | 1 | 5.40 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 18.1 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 1.42 |
| George Brown | EST | 0 | 2 | 6.16 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 1.63 |
| Scott McGregor | T2 | 1 | 1 | 6.75 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 18.2 | 26 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 1.66 |
| Gary Daley | T4 | 2 | 0 | 10.54 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 13.2 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 2.34 |
| Jonny Bravo | T3 | 0 | 0 | 36.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Josh Wilson | T3 |
For current rosters and up-to-date transactions at all levels of the Cardinals minor league system, don’t forget to check out the Roster Matrix.
George Brown turned pro after his senior year of college, but has not been delivering strong results like fellow senior Kevin Thomas.
Thomas reminds me of Trey Hearne. A Texas collegiate who knows how to pitch.
IIRC, a couple of years ago, fans who follow the low minors were optimistic about Andres Rosales, as last year for Richard Castillo. Fans may be hoping for the Cards to develop their own Carlos Zambrano type, a top of the rotation starter. His identity remains unknown, at this juncture.
The Cards have been very patient with Daley, owing to arm strength. Can’t wait for-ever, though.
When I see Lohse over throwing like this. It would be miraculous for him to get a win here. Its 2-2 in the forth. He is bound to give up another dong. He’s getting under his slider. Hang time.
Pujols is getting pounded away, and he makes no adjustment. Just waiting around for a stupid pitch. That is the second time he came up out of his crouch to take a hight fastball and popped it up. There goes another homer. There is no cake walk tomorrow for Wainwright . Its ugly.
For the matrix: 2008 signee reliever Adam Prange and southpaw Senger Peralta have been released, according to BA.
Carlos Gonzalez and Jose Penaloza were released, too. After I finish my Scout.com article on it, I will update the matrix this morning. Thanks for the heads up.
Prange and Veres were adjoining late round choices, after finishing jucos. Veres has pitched very well so far, whereas Prange was unable to hide from the reaper.
Fornataro and Veres both finished Florida jucos last June. Fornataro became a 6th rounder, less heralded Veres was selected in the 49th round. Yet in 09, it is Veres delivering for Quad Cities.