In a surprise, second baseman Daniel Descalso became the late-season third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has taken heat from many, including me, for often playing infielders out of position. The most recent example occurred following the Memphis Redbirds’ defeat in the Pacific Coast League finals when Daniel Descalso was called upon to make his MLB debut with St. Louis.
As a part of his transition to the majors, the 23-year-old was immediately thrown into the fire at third base, not his regular second base spot. Apparently La Russa was more comfortable with Aaron Miles and Skip Schumaker at second than seeing more of all-glove, no-bat Pedro Feliz at third.
Heads all over the Cardinal Nation were repeatedly scratched as the season neared its close with Descalso continuing to see time at the hot corner exclusively.
After he had made a couple of early token pinch hitting appearances, Descalso was given the start at third base in nine of the Cardinals final 11 regular season games. He was moved to shortstop late in one contest, but curiously never took the field even once at second base, the position at which he had been named the 2010 PCL post-season all-star.
To his credit, Descalso performed adequately at third, but no one knew ahead of time what to expect.
There were some whispers from the St. Louis media about organizational concerns over Descalso’s range, yet if that was the case, why had he been kept almost exclusively at second for the last three years?
This reminded me of an item from last winter’s hot stove. Back in January, I had a dialogue with Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch after the writer made the following comment about the lack of depth at third base at the time during a web chat.
“Descalso and David Freese are the only LISTED third baseman so far due in camp.” (caps are Strauss’ emphasis)
Though I blogged about it at the time, “Descalso to get shot at third base?”, it turned out to be much ado over nothing. Descalso, a non-roster invitee to major league spring camp, was among the very first cuts, announced on March 7.
Though he was called back from minor league camp repeatedly and ended up participating in 14 spring games for the Cardinals, during all nine games in which he took the field in Florida, Descalso was always the second baseman.
Descalso does have some prior experience at third, but it was some time ago, during his 2007 professional debut. That year, he spent about 2/3 of his time at third base (47 games) with the rest (23 games) at second for Batavia and Quad Cities. That was the last time until now that Descalso had meaningful innings at the hot corner.
La Russa’s expectation of young infielders when they come up from the minor leagues is defensive versatility. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, as we have seen the same pattern time and time again.
When natural shortstop Brendan Ryan made his MLB debut in 2007, La Russa played him more games at third base (24) and second base (17) combined than at short (28 games) that first year.
The downside? Ryan had never before played second base and had logged just one game at third in four previous years as a professional prior to arriving in St. Louis.
Two years later, another shortstop, former first-round draft pick Tyler Greene, reached the major leagues. He topped Ryan by appearing at five different positions defensively in his rookie year, with a total of 20 games at third, second, first and centerfield plus 30 at short.
Greene’s preparation? A four-year minor league career spent entirely at short other than four games at third in 2008.
Why hadn’t the organization learned from this by the time Descalso’s number was called to join the bigs?
This season, wrapped around a month missed due to injury, Descalso’s name was written on the Memphis lineup card 110 times at second base with his only diversion being six games at first base. Not once was he given time at short or third base.
Obviously, the Memphis coaching staff felt Descalso is a solid second baseman as the only time former MLB second sacker Ruben Gotay started there was during Descalso’s time on the DL. Instead, Gotay received the call 106 times to play out of position at third base for the Redbirds despite the obvious fact that he would not be a part of the St. Louis picture.
Bottom line, I find it very difficult to blame La Russa for Descalso not having played third for Memphis. My question is why the minor league staff and player development organization didn’t fully prepare Descalso for what would await him in the majors?
Former first-round pick, shortstop Pete Kozma may be next in line. With 421 games of minor league experience up through Double-A, Kozma has a grand total of one game in the outfield in 2007 and two games at third in 2008. All the rest were at short, where his defense has been erratic.
If and when Kozma reaches the majors, and if La Russa is still the manager, any guesses as to how the youngster will be deployed? More importantly, will everything possible have been done to ready him?
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Hard to really think that range problems on the part of Descalso are the issue since the same thing happened with Greene and Ryan and we know they dont have range issues. I used to bitch about these type of things but just right it off now as Tony being Tony (not to say that is a good or excusable thing).
The article poses a good question. Why wouldn’t the AAA team, at least, move their guys around a little bit more? A player probably isn’t learning as much in his 80th game at the same position in one year as he would if he had spent a few of those games somewhere else.
Are the minor league teams, pushed by recent success, more concerned with their own won-loss records? From a developmental standpoint, I don’t see a strong reason to lock players into one position, as they will almost exclusively be used as versatile substitutes when first promoted to the majors.
Agree, CC. But by now, after 15 years, the minor league staff surely knows what “Tony being Tony” is all about. Why not expect it and plan for it rather than see prospects potentially being put in a disadvantageous spot while at the same time having to find their way as major leaguers? Sometimes it feels like the organization is purposely injecting more risk into the equation than necessary.
I have zero proof of this, but I have also wondered if at least part of what was behind keeping Descalso off second base was protecting Skip. After all, do we really think that Descalso’s range is worse than Skip’s? Both are LHH and one will be a couple of million cheaper than the other salary-wise next season.
Nutlaw, player development always makes it clear that won-loss is secondary. This is one example where the actions do not feel consistent, however.
Of course it was about protecting Skip! My guess is rumors of Descalso’s lack of range have been fueled by those with the same goal as well.
Descalso or no, they can’t protect Skip from declining production across the board.
Wasn`t Tyler Greene sent to Memphis in August to see playing time at 3B? Of course he played SS most of the time IIRC.
Well at least the system has another 3B heading to AAA next year in Matt Carpenter.
BW52, how about ALL the time?
Greene starts for Memphis at shortstop = 81
Greene starts for Memphis at all other positions = 0
CC, what surprised me is that the media member that reported the comment about Descalso’s range apparently readily accepted it at face value.
Brian, you have been in St. Louis long enough to not be surprised by the baseball media readily accepting at face value. That’s their job description.
Perhaps the disconnect described in the article was a factor in the Luhnow reorganization.
Rather than protecting Skip, it could have been protecting David Freese. By not prepping anyone to step in and take the job. Or give Tony a viable alternative to playing David everyday. Once Freese went down, put someone there who will not be a possible long term 3B option. Sort of holding the job open for him next spring. The why of it I don’t know.
Surprise, I do not share Brian’s perplexity re Descalso.
Descalso played 3B at U-Cal-Davis. But his arm is not quite enough for 3B, ditto his bat. So the Cards drafted him in the 3rd round with the design intent of shifting him to his better position, 2B. Duly, the Cards followed through and played Descalso at 3B in the minors.
With the Cards out of the playoff chase this September, Descalso gets a call up. 2B is occupied by Skip, good guy, who will be the starter next April. On the other hand, we have unspeakably lousy 3Bman Pedro Feliz. TLR found this a no-brainer, let Descalso get some at bats in the bigs at 3B and let Pedro collect some splinters in his posterior.
Descalso is not a long-term candidate at 3b, regardless of what weed Strauss smokes.
I dont understand the protect Skip stuff. Descalso needs more than one season at AAA, like Jay. Dan will open 2011 at Memphis and his job is to lift his game enough to be a ML candidate by June. There is no reason to bench Skip, he is massively better than Feliz. TLR protected the team and the faithful fans by putting Feliz on the bench.
Its best Greene have played SS at Memphis. SS is the most demanding position and best use of Greene. If there is a need at 3B next year, Greene can simply slide over to the easier position. SSes do not need to play 3B in the minors to be able to play 3B in the Show.
Oops, typo above. The Cards duly played Descalso at 2B in the minors, as intended the day he was drafted.
He in facted played 3B in the NYPa that first short season, to preserved continuity with college. Then he got drilled in played 2B and played there from 2008-10, as planned.
From a Chicago Tribune article talking about what Girardi might do if he doesn’t re-up with the Yanks for some reason.
“The Cardinals would be his kind of place,” one insider said. “No media problems, total control …”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1006-rogers-joe-girardi-cubs-c20101005,0,1312703.column
The St. Louis baseball media obviously has a far flung reputation as a bunch of wet noodle yes men eagerly lapping up the party line pap. They were promised 500 virgins when they retire.
There is a chance the Padres will non-tender Ryan Ludwick in December. Luddy had an OPS beneath 700 for the Padres and helped them miss the playoffs. Luddy would probably command $6MM via arbitration, whereas maybe $3-4MM as a free agent. Ludwick loved playing for the Cards and we love him. If he becomes a free agent, should the Cards pursue Ludwick and let Allen Craig spend a 3rd year prepping at Memphis?
And the answer is………We love Ryan, but RF is toward the bottom of the priority list for off-season moves.
I read an article recently at the P-D with comments by TLR about backup catcher. From TLR’s perspective, the team familiarizes three, and only three, catchers with the ML pitchers during spring training. In spring 2010, the trio were Molina, LaRue, and Pagnozzi. When it got to September, Pagnozzi got most of the starts with Molina and LaRue out of action, because Pagnozzi got the work with the pitchers during spring training. However, for 2011 spring training, the trio are likely to be Molina, Pagnozzi, and Anderson. Getting work with the ML pitchers will give Anderson more chance to compete for the backup catching role in 2011. Since TLR has methods and habits, this story seems plausible.
Do you really think Bryan Anderson will still be with the Cards next spring? I think he goes elsewhere in a package with others.
Like Strauss speculates………..Cards will sign a AAAA type catcher and he will battle Pagnozzi for backup spot.Steven Hill and Tony Cruz handle AAA duties with Nick Derba getting time also.
Despite hitting like a budding Ruth at the end of the year, Pagnozzi is not a ML hitter.
Anderson makes a better partner with Molina, as a left swinger. Matheny has said Anderson is improved defensively and TLR professes to accept Mike’s opinion.
The Cardinals tend NOT to hype Memphis players. Garcia was supposed to return to Memphis this spring, but then ended up in the rotation. In earlier years, Ludwick and Schumaker were too old, but then made the team.
Anderson now has a couple of seasons at AAA. Both years, Memphis made the PCL playoffs. A lot of reporters are looking to tout the next trendy name and give up on guys the longer they are at AAA, rather than simply realizing AAA is a finishing school and a guy is near ready.
It can also be hard to find a veteran catcher or AAAA free agent. If a ML vet, the guy may have a lot of miles on him and be physically iffy. If looking for a AAAA guy, maybe we have two candidates already in Anderson and Pagnozzi, so why look for another?
I think Anderson has a better chance of becoming backup catcher for the Cards than Hoffpauir has of making the Padres’ roster.
Anderson should have been traded two years ago when his prospect status was highest. Molina was already established and as such, Anderson’s ceiling with the Cardinals was clear even then. He wasn’t about to beat Molina out of his job.
Even if Anderson and Pags remain in the organization, I would be surprised if the Cards don’t bring in another MLB veteran catcher as they have had every year since Molina backed up Matheny. The cost of a veteran back up is probably no more than half million or so more than the minimum salary that Pags or Anderson would earn.
Despite being a left-handed hitter, Anderson started exactly two games in September/October. The RHH Pags started 12. That says a lot about where the two stand. The explanation about pitcher and catcher having worked together in spring training as the reason for playing Pags is hogwash.
Neither Westbrook nor Suppan could have pitched to Pags in spring camp since they weren’t yet on the team. Walters is equally familiar with both catchers from Memphis, as Garcia would also have been. The starters that story might have applied to are Carp, Lohse and Wainwright. But Wainwright and Garcia were shut down early, creating more opportunities for Suppan and Walters.
Stories get woven to try to neatly tie up loose ends, but sometimes don’t hold up against the sunshine test.
Brian, I like use of the word “hogwash.” I bet Nutlaw would too.
Baseball big wigs put out a fog of words, for a variety of reasons. Now that you break it down in terms of Westbrook, Suppan, Garcia, Walters, and Wainwright, the spring training preparation story sounds fishy. I had thought it was strange, but since TLR can be quirky, I accepted it.
If TLR and Duncan like Pags better they should just say so. Since both Anderson and Pags have had limited playing time this season, I am not knowledgable enough to give an opinion on who is better, although Anderson’s defensive skills were not impressive the few times I saw him.
Why diminish a player’s potential trade value by talking him down in the press?
TLR may want to say positive things about players in public, as a general rule. This is common courtesy to players and it may help their value as trading chips. These factors could explain an interesting story about the spring training familiarization of 3 catchers.
I am not persuaded Anderson should have been traded two years ago. The organization needs catchers at AA and AAA. Anderson has contributed in meeting these needs. Memphis has fielded a winner the past two years, after years of losing. Anderson and Pagnozzi have contributed to this improvement.
Catcher is a key position in the scheme of TLR. Dave Duncan was himself a catcher. TLR values defense at catcher, illustrated with Matheny and now Molina. It will be interesting to see how the Cards handle an abundance of AAA catchers (Pagnozzi, Anderson, Hill, Cruz).
You have a point, although I wasn’t thinking of them talking to the press. I guess it was just a euphemistic just say so.
TLR can be funny about catcher. One year, he chose AAA vet Cody McKay over a ML veteran, as backup catcher. This was the rare exception to Tony’s preference for a post-prime veteran backup catcher. Surprise, Cody was the son of a Cards coach. One justification was Cody swung left, so could provide balance to the starting catcher. This past rule seems not to help Anderson. McKay lasted until about June, before sent down and he soon retired. He was physically worn down by all the years grinding away in the minors.
I remember 2004 a little bit differently than you, Jumbo. Matheny was in his last year and Molina was clearly the heir apparent, but had not yet played above Double-A. McKay was a short-term fill-in until they were ready to bring Yadi up at the start of June (which also delayed Molina’s arbitration eligibility). In that scenario, signing a veteran major leaguer prior to the season would have made no sense, since he would not play at all during the last 2/3 of the season.
In 2003, veteran Chris Widger was backup catcher. He was brought back in 2004. Widger was surprised when he got dropped for a minor leaguer, McKay. Understandably enough, because he could not latch on with another team during 2004. Widger did play during 2005 and 2006 for the White Sox and Os, so he had something left in the tank, unlike McKay.
Its hard to predict injuries. It is not impossible Matheny or Molina might have suffered injuries (as Mike later did in SF), leaving the Cards just with McKay. The Cards have more depth at catcher now, which I welcome.
Although I don’t doubt that they’ll do it, I’d rather see the team stick with their current choices and not spring for a veteran backup catcher with no upside.
protecting skip started with the kennedy release and eating 4mil. skip to 2B is tony’s brainchild and he is showing he still believes it’s in the rosters best interest. who expects tony to admit a failure?
feliz was a rental, with tony still seeing two seasons of club control of skip, so feliz sits at descalso’s expense. the 19 games before daniel started at 3B, feliz posted a .293 ops, even skip wasn’t playing that bad. it’s the right call for a manager who sees skip as the starting 2B in 2011. daniel being able to play 2B should be a given, more so than, will his bat play in mlb?
i want neither back, tony or skip. since bill gives tony the right to make his own call on returning, Mo will have to use the chris duncan approach, and trade skip away from tony if he returns.
skip for a 2.7mil-ish reliever, to replace mcclellan in the pen, allows for an affordable SP (kyle) that duncan likes, and frees up funds for 2B and SS upgrades as the offseason PRIORITY. then daniel can compete for an infield bench role, and his time at 3B just helps prove his versatility.
bip, your McClellan observation is especially interesting to me. With the other bullpen options that have now stepped forward, specifically Motte and Boggs, the main reason/excuse for keeping McClellan in relief seems to have been mitigated. Another possibility is that Duncan was blowing smoke when he praised McClellan’s starting stuff multiple times over the last two or three years, but I don’t think that is it.
I understand the displeasure with Skip, but why get rid of Brendan with his great defense? Because he had a bad offensive year? With that logic, let’s get rid of Molina too.
I disagree that we need an upgrade at SS. 2B and 3B is where efforts need to be concentrated.
I agree with crdswmn. I’ll take the strong defense at C and SS.
Wainwright/Carpenter/Garcia/Lohse/McClellan seems like a very solid rotation to me. Let them spend to upgrade 2B and 3B.
A leadoff hitter seems like as much a priority as anything. Whether its 3B, 2B, SS or perhaps RF that gets upgraded might depend on which offers a leadoff hitter.
It would not surprise me at all if RC figures out who is a proto-type leadoff who plays CF and start beating the drum for that.
I expect Ryan to be SS next year. His 2010 was probably messed up by weakness from a wrist operation. He’s a decent bet to lift his OPS by 100 points in 2011.
Its hard to upgrade 2B. Last year, Orlando Hudson commanded $5MM from the Twins, but had an offensive season not much better than Skip’s. So why shell out millions more? Skip is a decent bet to improve with the bat and we are on the hook for $2.7MM. Next season is probably a Schumaker/Greene platoon at 2B, with Descalso training at Memphis. He’s not ready yet.
Mo can express interest in Westbrook, but are the Cards really going to bite off on his price? Maybe they should save $9MM and go with McClellan. This can give them more financial flexibility.
They need to add help at 3B, thats a no brainer.
Another addition could be left swinging RF, enabling Jay to replace Winn as utility OF.
They could also say forget about Pagnozzi or Anderson, and spring for a backup catcher who can hit.
Skip Schumaker, 2B
4/28: minus-4 … 6/23: minus-2 … ASB: minus-4 … 8/13: minus-7 … 9/13: minus-9 … Final: minus-12
Ranked 31st with minus-9 runs saved. Leader: Orlando Hudson, +23
Brendan Ryan, SS
4/28: +3 … 6/23: +15 … ASB: +13 … 8/13: +26 … 9/13: +31 … Final: +31
He led all shortstops with 24 runs saved.
From stltoday article today.
Orlando Hudson should be in the free agent marketplace again. Skip could become the new Randy Winn.
Skip at $2.7M replacing Winn who cost the minimum. Can’t see that. Also can’t see paying somebody like Hudson only to have him play half time while Tony continues to put Skip out there. If the plan is to upgrade over Skip, Skip will have to go the way of Chris and Rick.
If we signed Hudson, he would play full time.
However, if he is a good defender, another team may bid him up too high.
Schumaker is under contract for 2011. The only question is how to best make use of him.
Jumbo, I can’t see Tony relegating Skip to a fill in role. Especially as it would reduce Skip’s earning power after the season. That would be so out of character.
The likliest thing is Schumaker will do what he got signed to do, play 2B, on a platoon basis. If by June, Skip’s defense is lousy and he has not bounced back to 2009 hitting numbers, Descalso could enter the picture.
TLR already took care of Skip’s earnings, with the 2 year deal for 2010-11. TLR is not going to worry about Skip’s salary in 2012. We fired the last 2B, Kennedy, we can cut loose this one. Baseball is a tough, short-term oriented business; a player produces or run risk of being replaced.
Besides the probability that Tony would not cooperate, that scenario would not address the leadoff problem, which I am sure will be addressed somehow.
Skip or Jay or Rasmus can bat leadoff against RHPs, Ryan or Greene against LHPs. Plenty of choices.
Plenty of leadoff choices. Too bad none are particularly appealing…
brian,
the key to the 100mil budget working, for me, is to continue to add affordable youth to the rotation.
garcia 2010, mcclellan 2011, lynn/dickson? 2012, miller 2013; allowing a greater % of $ toward the lineup needs. figure in an raise for albert eventually, and the need becomes even greater, to avoid buying penny / jake types yearly.
it’s not that jake or penny pitched poorly, we just didn’t provide enough run support, especially for jake.
tony and dave are managing scared for their pen, when they endorse acquiring more expensive SP depth. even before the time of jake for ludwick, i’d have rather acquired a setup man, promoted mcclellan from the pen rather than suppan/hawksworth, and tried to keep the run support intact.
the same issue, of where to use the available funds, is still staring at us. i’d rather trust kyle and upgrade on the infield, much like the twins did last offseason adding hardy and hudson.
bip, you and I are in agreement. Ever since Duncan gushed about McClellan’s four pitches and called him out as a future starter two or three years ago, I have pushed for the move. In fact, the last time was right here just two weeks before they acquired Westbrook.
With Franklin returning and the emergence of Motte and Boggs, the excuse that McClellan is too valuable in the pen no longer holds water.
oops, i’m preaching to the choir
who will be this seasons “out of options”, as brendan and hawksworth were last offseason?
No apology needed. You made good points but there are plenty of others here that may not agree.
I haven’t looked at options status in detail yet.
o well, agreeing on everything would be plenty boring. by disagreeing, at least we cross-check our own opinions vs those we haven’t considered, or disagree with.