Following are the highlights from the 16th day of St. Louis Cardinals minor league games in spring 2011, on Friday, April 1. The Cardinals minor leaguers had a camp day, during which Memphis faced Springfield and Palm Beach opposed Quad Cities.
After the 2-2 day in which both upper-level clubs won, the Cardinals system is a combined 32-26-9 this spring. That includes a 20-14-5 mark against external competition, the Marlins and Mets.
Today’s photo is of the Player of the Day, Trevor Rosenthal (again). The 20-year-old right-hander tossed six shutout innings and fanned nine for Quad Cities. Honorable mention for the four Palm Beach pitchers, Maikel Cleto, Jesse Simpson, Aaron Terry and Jose Rada. They combined for a complete-game one-hitter.
On Saturday, the Cardinals have their final spring action against their New York Mets minor league neighbors. For the full state of minor league spring training schedules, The Cardinal Nation subscribers can click here.
As he has been doing the last few seasons, Cardinals farm director John Vuch is sharing game highlights with this site and several others with interest in Cardinals prospects. As always, the raw data is his, with the comments mine.
Memphis (6-5-4) 3, Springfield (6-6-3) 2
Memphis pitching
P.J. Walters tossed six innings of two-run ball. The right-hander allowed just six baserunners, five hits and a walk. Walters fanned five.
Tyler Norrick had trouble with walks, giving out four free passes while collecting five outs, including two via the strikeout. No Springfield runs were allowed, though.
Eduardo Sanchez, one of the last players cut from St. Louis, fanned one in his inning of work.
Memphis hitting
Andrew Brown continues to have a hot week, with two singles and a double in four at-bats. He scored one.
Shane Robinson singled, doubled and scored in four at-bats.
Jim Rapoport and Tony Cruz were each on base three times in four plate appearances with a pair of singles and a walk. Cruz scored a run.
Ramon Vazquez singled and walked in four PAs and drove in one.
Pete Kozma was on base all four times, with a single and three walks. He also drove in one.
Donovan Solano walked and had a sacrifice fly.
Springfield pitching
Mike Blazek allowed all three Redbirds runs in 4 2/3 innings. Memphis had five hits and drew four walks against him. Blazek fanned three.
Five baserunners reached against Adam Reifer in just 1 1/3 innings, but none scored. Three hits and two walks occurred on his watch, same as…
Lefty Ryan Kulik who also struck out three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Springfield hitting
Jose Garcia was on base twice with a walk and a double. He scored one.
Jermaine Curtis stroked an RBI double.
Matt Adams had a single and RBI.
Nick Derba was on base twice in three plate appearances with a walk and a double. He scored one run.
Palm Beach (10-6) 4, Quad Cities (6-8-2) 1
Palm Beach pitching
Maikel Cleto had his strongest outing of the spring, allowing one earned run in five innings on just one hit and two walks. The 40-man roster righty struck out seven.
Jesse Simpson fanned two in a perfect inning.
Aaron Terry retired all six batters faced.
Jose Rada added a perfect inning of his own.
Palm Beach hitting
D’Marcus Ingram was on base twice in four appearances with a single and a walk. He scored one.
Curt Smith homered in three at-bats and drove in two.
Ryde Rodriguez made the most of his two plate appearances, walking and homering. The outfielder scored both times and drove in a pair.
Quad Cities pitching
Trevor Rosenthal has to be the pitcher of the camp. This time out, he allowed just one hit and no walks over six scoreless. Rosenthal fanned nine.
Ricky Martinez took the loss, yielding two runs in two innings. Though he gave up just one hit, he also walked two. Martinez struck out two.
Drew Benes scattered two hits in his scoreless inning.
Scott Bittle gave up the final pair of runs on one walk and one hit in 2/3 of an inning. He famed one.
Quad Cities hitting
Michael Swinson had his team’s only hit and RBI.
Greg Garcia walked and scored that sole run.
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Albert versus Albert:
http://www.wahooblues.com/2011/03/28/is-albert-pujols-more-talented-than-albert-einstein.html/
Creative, indeed!
Creative and entertaining but comparing the best player in baseball to a person who is not considered among the most intelligent people in the world (by IQ score) makes little sense. There are others who are estimated to have IQ scores in the 200′s, a full 2+ additional std deviations above Einstein.
Albert was not exactly a tool box coming out of jr college. The comprison of super-achievers in their chosen fields of endeavor is a good one.
“The most logical minor-league players to assume Holliday’s roster spot are third baseman Matt Carpenter and center fielder Shane Robinson . . .”
Huh? This from Strauss’s article today. They are both possibilities if Matt DLs, I admit. But even discounting the 40 man roster aspect, how are they “The most logical” call-up choices?
Also, to whatever extent Strauss could be considered a water carrier, might there be an indication that Robinson is more in the mix than we had any reason to think?
On another note, can’t wait to see the lineup for today.
I didn’t read that article yet, but the names are surprising. It would seem to imply that Stavinoha being the last position player to remain in big league camp is not an indication of anything. Or maybe he is injured and it hasn’t been reported. Chambers is light on AAA experience, but he has more than Carpenter. Shane has been in the bigs before at least, but they removed him from the roster for a reason, it would seem. Odd…
Also interesting to see who will be dropped from the 40-man if one of the non-roster guys is promoted.
He seems the obvious “most logical” for a lot of reasons, including pinch hitting experience and success, some pop, big league experience, Tony is comfortable with him, emergency catcher. But on the other hand, he was taken off the 40 man.
Your edit added more names. By ‘he’ I mean Stav.
Correct, but so was Robinson removed from the roster.
Too bad he didn’t fall off the operating table and get a concusion so he could be put on the new shorter DL.
I see we are on big Fox today. Oh joy.
Here come the regional blackouts… 90 percent of the country will probably get the Yankees…
Thank God I get big Fox and I am not blacked out.
Who wouldn’t want to watch the Yankees? They are God’s gift to baseball are they not?
With Westbrook pitching, we will have plenty of chances to show off our middle infield. That will draw attention away from our makeshift outfield. Strategery.
Lineup:
Theriot SS
Rasmus CF
Pujols 1B
Freese 3B
Berkman RF
Craig LF
Molina C
Schumaker 2B
Westbrook P
Freese, Pujols would be my choice. Also maybe swap Colby and Craig against the lefty, although I’m not against seeing if Rasmus can hold down the 2 spot every day. Lance will probably move to cleanup against righties IMO.
Berkman against RHP is TLR’s plan according to BJ Rains.
Look for AP to go OPO today……….. he may try to pull the inside pitch with no one on………they will hope he does. I look for Craig to have a good day. ……………… the real question…….these guys have a few swings that can hurt Westbrooke……lets hope he is sharp in the cool weather.
The 15 day disable is a real “tidy package” in a loss of services claim………….. money is shifting toward SD…..STL is till the slight favorite. Its going to take 4+ runs according to the “good fellas”.
Giants fan in coma.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/giants-fan-beaten-at-dodger-stadium-in-coma-identified-as-paramedic.html
2 runs down, 4 more to go.
Brendan would have gotten that ball.
Not again. No errors please and AP better start hitting.
That’s more like it.
Hi lady………………. centered one up on AP………….. that won’t do………. Three fizzles behind. Lets see if someone will play with him now…………….
This is Coby moment………..2 on 2 outs……………..oh well, didn’t even get to finish……..to bad.
I was about to leave WC cause I don’t like talking to myself. Has everyone bailed already? Frustrating game.
Theriot sucks.
That Waino interview was worth putting up with this game.
Its likely to go south from here CRD………… The have enough runs at this point to pitch around AP, or at least treat him rudely………….. Berkman must answer or we’re history………. Na, its 7/3 at this point. This is the dreaded AP comes alive……puppies run for cover scenario………lets hope Tony breaks that up somehow.
It’s already gone south but I will stick it out. I always do.
Be honest at this point…….Mott is fulfilling his spring promise…..as did Westbrooke really. This game is gone…………….what is Tony going to do to keep the damage to just a few player?
This is TLR’s team, he is responsible for it. He does well with it or he doesn’t, no excuses. He wanted Theriot instead of Ryan, he is responsible for the outcome. Same goes with Berkman. The pitching is DDs problem.
Very little truth in your appraisal CRD………. BR was a concession to several veteran players amongst other issues……..Theriot fit the profile created by the front office…..and there weren’t many in that pool.
Gonna have to disagree WC. If you get rid of your star shortstop because of a little personality issue with some veteran players who should grow up, then that is a bad managing decision. Not going to buy it.
Thats okay CRD…….. Its unfortunately true though……….. you place way to much emphasis on managerial prerogatives………especially in this situation…….. Tony selected out Mo/BD’s grab bag………it is true that he helped stick chewing gum on some of the possibility’s…… Punto was a Tony candidate.
The only line up possibility at this point is Freese 3rd and AP 4th…….he is protecting a fragile LB from the cleanup…………Freese can’t respond…especially when AP is feeding.
The Mariners can put up with Milton Bradley, the cubs can put up with Carlos Zambrano, the Tigers can put up with Miguel Cabrera, but the Cardinals can’t put with harmless Brendan Ryan? BS to the 10th power. TLR is responsible and only TLR. The FO didn’t make him do it.
Crdswmn-same old routind.same shrill noise.The Seattle team has room for a Brendanite…………
You never change either BW
. Some things are good. 
Crdswmn-hang in there.Things will get better.
I’m not going anywhere BW. I live to gripe.
This is the Cardinals true weakness CRD……….. they don’t feel good about themselves at this point………and yet Albert will be strangely focused, jubilant almost, playing out the role of the frustrated Achilles…………….. this is what he’s used to……he feels powerful amongst the groveling mortals…… he is feeding on his own team is the problem……….he is their face…………. Tony brought in some veterans..?????…….Punto won’t buy into this….as wouldn’t MCarp……….we have few self sustaining ego’s……….. the Holiday loss doesn’t so much cause a deficit in the talent pool, as much as it exposes the Kids to the an unbuffered AP……… and that Ain’t so Good.
I shouldn’t but I will. What makes you so sure you know how Matt Carpenter would react?
I’m not sure at all……….. he did what he did this spring on his own initiative……….playing amongst the larger predators…………. he found his own meals………… he didn’t seem to be distracted by the show. Punto will become a starter for this team………. this team is a berry patch compared to where he came from………Tony will have to play him.
Thank God there is no post game show. I can’t stomach TLR right now. This game was sad.
I missed the game but can see that it was a debacle.
Theriot contributed nothing much in the leadoff once again and I believe has now made two costly errors in two games. He has, thus far, been of more help to the enemy than to us.
Albert popped a solo, but his job as #3 is to contribute that pop to rallies.
So far, I like Colby in the two spot.
A couple of quotes from the P-D I found interesting:
“Playing for the lead, No. 3 hitter Orlando Hudson put down a bunt to move both runners into scoring position.”
“He (Westbrook) was undone by five walks and a series of groundball base hits, including the two infield hits in the fifth inning and another groundball hit that escaped the reach of shortstop Ryan Theriot.”
God was merciful to you.