Following are the highlights from the 17th day of St. Louis Cardinals minor league games in spring 2011, on Saturday, April 2.
The Cardinals minor leaguers had their oddest split day of the spring. Memphis and Springfield played their Florida Marlins counterparts while Palm Beach and Quad Cities #1 took on the New York Mets A-ball squads. In addition, Quad Cities #2 stepped up in competition and opposed the Marlins A-Advanced team.
The 4-0-1 result was the best day of the spring for the Cardinals and their first undefeated afternoon. Only Springfield did not win though they pitched will in their tie.
The Cardinals system is now a combined 36-26-10 this spring and has guaranteed a winning Florida record. They finished with a sharp 24-14-6 mark against external competition, the Marlins and Mets.
Today’s photo is of the Player of the Day, Palm Beach starter Eric Fornataro. The 23-year-old right-hander yielded an unearned run in five innings. Fornataro allowed just three hits, walked no one and struck out three.
On Sunday, the Cardinals have their final spring action in a camp day. Memphis will against take on Springfield and Palm Beach will play Quad Cities. 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 (7-5-4) 8, New Orleans 5
Memphis pitching
Brandon Dickson yielded all five New Orleans’ runs. In 5 2/3 innings, he gave up six hits and five walks. Our system Pitcher of the Year in 2010 struck out two.
Jason Buursma allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Lefty Rich Rundles also gave up just one hit in his inning.
Blake King was touched for a pair of hits but was unscored upon. The 40-man roster righty fanned one.
Memphis hitting
Nick Stavinoha had two singles and a double in five at-bats. He scored and collected one RBI.
Free agent signee Ramon Vazquez also singled twice and doubled but also walked in five plate appearances. The infielder scored twice.
Shane Robinson singled, doubled and scored in five ABs.
Another former free agent infielder, Freddie Bynum, had a pair of extra base hits in five at-bats. Bynum drove in three with his double and home run.
Jim Rapoport singled twice in five at-bats and came around to score once.
Donovan Solano singled and walked twice.
Despite just going 1-for-3, Andrew Brown drove in two runs and scored twice.
Pete Kozma also singled and scored twice but had just one RBI.
Springfield (6-6-4) 1, Jacksonville 1
Springfield pitching
Scott Schneider allowed just seven baserunners in six innings and only one scored.
Richard Castillo have up a hit and fanned one in his lone inning of work.
Matt Frevert gave up a hit and a walk in his one inning, but neither scored.
Cory Rauschenberger retired his only batter faced.
Casey Mulligan collected two outs, including a strikeout.
Springfield hitting
Tyler Henley doubled and scored.
Chris Swauger singled and collected the only Springfield RBI.
Niko Vasquez was the only other Cardinals runner. He drew a walk.
Palm Beach (11-6) 3, St. Lucie 1
Palm Beach pitching
Eric Fornataro gave up just an unearned run on three hits and no walks in five innings. Fornataro fanned three.
Arquimedes Nieto scattered a pair of hits over two scoreless frames.
Jared Bradford yielded two hits and a walk in his one inning, but managed to keep them off home plate.
Chase Reid gave up two hits in his scoreless frame and fanned two.
Lefty Nick Greenwood surrendered one hit and struck out one in his scoreless inning.
Palm Beach hitting
Phil Cerreto had two doubles in four at-bats. He scored one and drove in one.
Alan Ahmady singled twice in four at-bats and collected an RBI.
Luis Mateo doubled and scored.
Jarred Bogany singled in his only at-bat.
Quad Cities #1 (7-8-2) 3, Savannah 1
Quad Cities #1 pitching
Kevin Siegrist yielded one earned run in four innings on six hits and a walk. He struck out three.
Boone Whiting and Justin Wright each spun two perfect frames. Whiting fanned three and Wright two.
Chris Corrigan gave up one hit and fanned one in his scoreless inning.
Quad Cities #1 hitting
Nick Longmire and Greg Garcia each had two singles in four at-bats.
Michael Swinson singled and doubled in two at-bats and scored once.
Roberto Espinoza singled and scored in his lone at-bat.
Cody Stanley singled in his only at-bat.
Oscar Taveras doubled, walked and drove in one.
Quad Cities #2 (5-1) 8, Jupiter (A-Advanced) 4
Quad Cities #2 pitching
Carlos Martinez yielded just one earned run in four innings on two hits and a walk. Pitching against these higher-level batters, the 19-year-old fanned nine, including seven in a row.
Cale Johnson walked a pair in his lone inning, but neither scored.
Tyrell Jenkins was victimized by a two-out error as three unearned runs crossed the plate. The 2010 supplemental first rounder yielded two hits and no walks in two innings.
Pat Daugherty and Aidan Lucas each gave up a hit and fanned one in their scoreless innings.
Quad Cities #2 hitting
Romulo Ruiz singled twice and doubled in four at-bats. He drove in one and scored one.
Catcher Kevin Moscatel had two singles in four at-bats, scored twice and drove in one.
Pat Biserta and Matt Valaika each went 2-for-4. Biserta drove in two and Valaika plated one.
Cesar Valera singled and doubled in four at-bats and scored a run.
Colin Walsh was on base three times in four appearances with a single and two walks.
Adam Melker had a perfect day, with three walks and a double in four PAs.
Steven Ramos hit a solo home run.
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Brian, question on the Scout board about the whereabouts of Eager and Novak – do you have any any insight?
Sorry, I missed that. Both were invited to camp but chose not to report.
Good to see thinning out in the minors. Curt Smith did a nice job, but as an undersized first baseman, was not a prospect. Even after releasing Ivan Castro, the Cards have 13 catchers for 8 roster slots on full season minor league teams. Eager was a terrible draft choice, good for him to move on.
Some minor leaguers who I will follow with interest in 2011:
Memphis: 3B Carpenter, SS Kozma, RHP Lynn, OF Luna
Springfield: SS Ryan Jackson, CF Pham, LHP Additon, 3B Vasquez, RHP Hooker
Palm Beach: RHP Miller, C Luis de la Cruz, OF R. Rosario, LHP Bibona, 1B Adams, 3B Cox
QCities: OF Longmire, OF Taveras, OF Swinson, OF Hill, RHP Rosenthal, C Stanley, C Audry Perez, 3b Jon Rodriguez,
Batavia: CF Williams, RHP DeJesus
Johnson City: OF Washington, 3B Roberto DelaCruz, RHP Carlos Martinez, RHP Jenkins, RHP B. Martinez, RHP Aguilar
Gulf Coast: 3b Tuivailala, OF Bryant, RHP A Castillo
Rosenthal can serve as a useful example in relation to the value of readiness for team assignment. Rosenthal was drafted in 2009, after one spring playing juco ball near Kansas City. (Does this remind us of Albert?)
The Cards had Rosenthal throw 24 innings in summer 09 in the Gulf Coast. This is a good entry into pro ball. A lot of guys may throw too many pitches before a draft, to try to boost their draft status or to help his team win. Good to cut back after the draft and take it easy.
Then in 2010, Rosenthal was in a tandem rotation for Johnson City, throwing 32 innnings. A good low workload. He could have spent time in EST working on improving his pitches or delivery. This can help explain his reputed gain in velocity.
So for 2011, Rosethal is nicely prepared to step up and try a full season team. The Cards have looked after him and helped him gain velocity. Rosenthal should stay in a tandem at Quad Cities. It does not do the team any good to burn up a pitcher’s arm trying to set a MWL record or something. We are trying to develop MLers in the long term, not Class A flameouts.
The rotation for the Cardinals in 2011 has McCellan, Garcia, and Lohse; they were all round 20 something draftees who reached the majors. Rosenthal could turn into another, but his chances are going to be helped by looking after his arm, as the Cards have been doing.
No tandems this year Jumbo – 6 man rotations.
6 man rotations would seem another way to spread out innings, provide more opportunities, and reduce arm stress.
Since reading that Luis Perdomo was signed to pitch somewhere down in the system, I have been trying to remember why we didn’t end up with him back when he was waived by the Giants in April after having been taken from us in the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings.
I can’t remember that we did a deal and gave up our right to get him back.
The earlier Perdomo never made it back around to St. Louis. For a Rule 5 player to be returned, he must first clear waivers.
OK. He was claimed, I had forgotten that. That was the guy we traded Anthony Reyes for. Somewhere in the archives is an article about it.
Lineup:
Theriot SS
Jay LF
Pujols 1B
Berkman RF
Rasmus CF
Molina C
Schumaker 2B
Garcia P
Descalso 3B
No comment.
No kidding CRD……………………… Tony has lost his mind. The difficulty he had getting Colby to play the role………………….. Molina……again batting 6th?????????? further weakening Colby’s position.
He said he was going to rest Freese…..and he did……….but Berkman was looking very stiff yesterday…not so good…………………….this is SD’s worst arm, who won’t even be in the rotation when there #1 comes back………….. but the issue is this…. They took a chance when they left Westbrooke and Garcia up front……..both having under preformed in ST……….we are not 2/0 or even 1/1 for Jamie today……………he has to overcome the entire emotional weight of a disillusioned team…..and fans I’d guess……….. thats very bad for someone with confidence problems……..who could injure themselves here…………………….. the real danger is AP….. if they pitch to him, he should kick butt……but they’ve been given a chance to pitch around him…and Colby. All the weight will fall on Theroit and Jay and Berkman…………………..
Coming into this morning, I though Garcia was really in danger……and that the Rotation setup had backfired……….. this looks like gasoline on the fire to me……………..lets really hope that their man is terrible and that they are complacent and happy to just win the series…………. I don’t sense that myself. Betting lines have moved 25 points toward SD……….. the movement is usually the late
” smart money “………… I hope Garcia finds it.
Not as experienced in pop psychology as you are Westie but I se the failures of the last 2 games working to Garcia’s advantage. Expectations are now low. We are a struggling team on a losing streak. Nothing to lose; no pressure.
Wow this pop/psychology prognostication stuff is fun. I bet I too can be right half the time! Maybe more if when convenient I flip-flop so I can claim being right either way.
Shut it Brazilian………you’re reading it…………… I like what I said. Garcia came out throwing without ST adjustments………he threw well. Notice how he started to step through and alter his arm angle when he tired…did it from the 6th on……..got away with it……….Tony got away with it……..Its a win……
AP got two hits in the series…..both as a leadoff man…………..Colby of’er at 5th…….. I don’t mind a little heckling……………..but you are a faceless xxxx that is rarely embarrassed by your statements…so you’re back on the bench……….. enjoy that.
Westie, focus on taking the high road and staying cheerful.
He wants to be the first to arrive in Scotland. I think he’s well on his way.
Goading WC may make you feel good CC but I don’t think it is in the best interests of the blog. Why don’t you let up a bit?
So I get called obscenities and fulminated against but I’m the bad guy?
Their was nothing personal in what I wrote (unless possibly one has a guilty conscious).
There would only be pleasure in it if it was a challenge.
I’m not calling you a bad guy CC but you do bait WC all the time and then act surprised that he responds angrily? I think that is exactly what you are looking for.
crdswmn, consider the possibility that the purpose in baiting WC is to bait not only WC.
Oh that is always a possibility BB but not the case here. The feud between WC and CC has been ongoing since I joined the blog a year ago, and this is the first time I have ever commented on it. I doubt it was something CC was expecting, though it may not necessarily be unwelcome.
Colby hit behind Berkman and moved him to third, leading to the first run. So, he was as productive as anybody, and more so than one guy I’m thinking of who was also Ofer. This illustrates that there is Ofer, and then there is Ofer. Never mistake one for the other.
Be careful Bling. The goading police are out in force and their standard of probable cause is very low today
I hadn’t noticed I was crossing the street in the middle of a gunfight until after I posted. I’ve moved on to the next thread.
On the other thread yeasterday I mentioned Hudson’s sac bunt moving two runners into scoring position. This from a middle of the order guy. I also saw where Ankiel, starting in the OF for the Nats hit a two run homer, then later laid down a suicide squeeze for his third RBI. These are examples of how the game is played.
Garcia was throwing in last years style……….looked good. Good locations save that first bailout. Encouraging…………….
I am not feeling optimistic yet. The offense has to do something and I am not seeing it.
Hit and run with the pitcher? Oookay.
Who is greasing Skip’s glove?
Garcia looks great………………….AP just got used……….they said him up and got the DP ball……..walk never enter his mind……………. Jamie is already starting to show signs of a close game. Lets hope he stays patient.
This is sad……. Garcia is throwing lights out, and Tony’s line can’t even score against a sub starter…….. Lets hope Berkman discovers one………… Freese should be warming up…….
Finally. Sheesh, they can’t waste this pitching performance.
Spoke too soon.
Theroit supporters seem awful quiet.
All two of them.
The Theriot supports too
Why was RH calling Decalso, Denorfia? Read. The. Lineup. Card.
As we roll towards Franklin…………..Tony leaving Garcia in for the 8th show what he thinks of the pen……………the hell with pitch counts……….. thats stupid in my opinion.
Nothing wrong with this from a pitch count standpoint (only 85 pitches through 8).
I’ll have to cover my head for Franklin. I can’t take the pain.
Garcia is diving at the plate now……….he’s been overthrowing since the 6th……… For Franklin’s sake, I hope we score here.
In F’ing incredible…………… Tony fears Franklin too……….he is going to pinch hit for Descalso.
????
Why not pinch hit??????????????
Tony cant show this early in the season that he was wrong about Theriot.
Those two Theriot fans are smiling.
Man…………………………Tony must be a genius………..that was a lotto ticket turn good if I’ve ever seen one.
Pujols is money………..those quick hands catch him again………………… Franklin didn’t just go running out there……………now I’m wondering…….
Whoa. Garcia.
That’s got to make Jaime feel good.
I like that Jamie was challenged…….and came out a hero………. gotta wonder where that leave Franklin though………… lets hope it works out……….AP was again “used” by opposing pitchers…… Berkman was so stiff he could hardly move……..
Baseball is a funny game. Garcia is hit around in spring training, comes out first game and tosses a shutout. Go figure.