Over at FOXSportsMidwest.com this week, my column recapped the all-stars across the St. Louis Cardinals’ three mid-season leagues. You should go there to read about each player’s accomplishments, but what I will do here is compare the lists of all-stars year-to-year.
In the case of the Texas League, the drop in number of all-stars from last year is considerable – from eight (or 11 if you count promoted and unavailable players) to five. In the Florida State League, eight were selected in 2010 and only three in 2011.
Only in the Midwest League was there improvement – from four last year to six this time. Matt Adams (pictured) made both years’ lists. Cody Stanley is also a two-time all-star as he was selected in the Appalachian League in 2010.
In the 2010 table below, post-season all-stars are included for information and completeness. The count is always lower as just one starting lineup is typically selected instead of two full teams like at mid-season.
| 2010 | 2011 | ||||||
| Springfield |
Mid-season | Promoted | Post-season | Springfield (5) | Mid-season | Promoted | |
| Pitcher | Brian Broderick | David Kopp | Kopp | Pitcher | Mike Blazek | ||
| Adam Reifer | Eduardo Sanchez | Maikel Cleto | |||||
| Blake King | Scott Gorgen (inj) | ||||||
| Position Player | Steven Hill | Hill | Position Player | Matt Adams | |||
| Adron Chambers | Carpenter | Alex Castellanos | |||||
| Matt Carpenter | Ryan Jackson | ||||||
| Aaron Luna | |||||||
| Curt Smith | |||||||
| Palm Beach |
Palm Beach (3) | ||||||
| Pitcher | Ramon Delgado | Casey Mulligan | Luis Aguayo | Pitcher | Joe Kelly | Shelby Miller | |
| Mark Diapoules | (coach) | ||||||
| Matt Frevert | |||||||
| Position Player | Tony Cruz | Jose Garcia | Position Player | Edgar Lara | |||
| Rich Racobaldo | |||||||
| Xavier Scruggs | |||||||
| Quad Cities |
Quad Cities (5) | ||||||
| Pitcher | Eric Fornataro | Scott Schneider | Pitcher | Anthony Ferrara | |||
| Justin Wright | |||||||
| Trevor Rosenthal | |||||||
| Position Player | Matt Adams | Adams | Position Player | Cody Stanley | Greg Garcia | ||
| D’Marcus Ingram | Starlin Rodriguez |
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
Midseason all stars meet in a game, so must form two squads. Final all stars may be one squad and thus be more selective. All star designation can be distorted a bit by promotions.
Gross numbers can gloss over qualitative differences. For instance, in 2011, Palm Beach only has 3, but one is the brilliant Miller, another the interesting Kelly, and the third muscular Lara. In 2010, there were 6 PB all stars plus two promotees, but none seem as promising as Kelly and Lara, let alone Miller. Racobaldo was clearly no prospect, confirmed by later release. Scruggs is K prone. 4 selectees were relievers last year at PB, whereas this year 2 are starting pitchers, with higher upside.
In 2010, Steven Hill was a mid and post season AA all star.
In 2011, Hill is not a repeat all star, though still with Springfield and though his OPS is nearly identical. This is only because he had an early season injury and has not been available to play much. Hill is still the same guy and a very good hitter.
How many 2010 all stars are already released? 1B Curt Smith had a hamate bone injury and was let go. Reliever Matt Frevert. Rich Racobaldo. RHP Diapoules. The Cards tried to remove Blake King from their 40 man and he was snagged by Houston, but has had a terrible season and may get released by the Strohs. Arguably 5 out of 23 all stars in 2010 have been sent home already in 2011.
Sorry for not staying “on topic,” but something was bugging me that I just had to look at some numbers. Did you know (probably did) that in 5 of our last 6 games, we’ve given up the “long ball”…THIRTEEN TIMES!! I suggest that is ridiculous! If I had a “Tom Ort” at my side, I’d ask him to see what other stretches (in my lifetime…since Stan the Man days) of 6 games have we given up more. I’m sure it’s happened, but it’s never beneficial to see such abuse of our pitching staff! I know the venues where one plays has a lot to do with it…so, thankfully, Coors Field was not a stopping point during this just-completed road trip.
Just to be fair and balanced, during this same stretch, our CardBirds have sent 6 balls out of the park… but, on second thought, that is neither FAIR nor BALANCED! I’d say we are definitely pitching to contact, but none of those were grounders. Dunc has work to do.
Would there be any credence in the supposition that the root of most of our pitching woes is DIRECTLY attributable to the Adam Wainwright dilemma? Some have argued that Carp’s struggles are attributable to “no Adam.” I don’t understand that argument, but doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. What I do see is that, by having K-Mac becoming a starter, at least two issues have resulted: 1.) a much-weakened bullpen, measurable by the loss of quantity and quality of innings Mac gave us; and 2.) we now have a starter who may have “maxed out” by the 1/3 mark of the season. And to this point, I’m hoping that I’m grossly mistaken. But my gut tells me that if we get another 6 wins out of K-Mac for the rest of the season, we’ll be fortunate. Boy, I hope we can…I hope this shooting star hasn’t begun to fizzle out. Would you believe that I’m an optimist with a whole drawer full of rose-colored spectacles?! You should.
Its like Bernie comes over here for ideas for his columns.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/article_1c983046-98f5-11e0-a1b3-0019bb30f31a.html
Yaah…Bernie seems to be “on the same page” with many “Nation” posters, huh? Can he “commit plagiarism” by such shenanigans? Someone should throw the book at him.
Let’s see if we can hold the opposition to ZERO homers tonight…I believe we can.
A good columnist writes about what people are interested in (or should be). We certainly don’t have a patent on that…
All items except the last one were thoroughly discussed here over the last couple days and many of the same conclusions reached or brought up. That’s why this place is so great for my bb education! Brian, you attract passionate and knowledgeable, if quirky, personalities.
Quirky is about right, Kansas. Sometimes I think you and I are the only normal ones. And sometimes I’m not so sure about you.
Ask my wife, ther are days she wonders why she married me. I say it’s because she’s a saint
Yah, mine reads my posts too.
Lineup—-Ick
Schumaker 2B, Jay CF, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Berkman RF, Cruz C, Descalso 3B, Greene SS, Carpenter P
What’s so “Ick,” crd? I like it…with no Theriot, I thought Schumaker SHOULD be our lead-off hitter. Of course, Yadi needs a break every now and again. De-Cal at 3rd is perfect. Maybe bat Carpenter ahead of Greene is the only thing I’d change…Chris is currently a better hitter than is Tyler. No HR predictions tonight…only that we’ll win.
It may be the best lineup available with all the injuries, but it doesn’t make it any less ick, FM. We have to get Freese, Punto and the rest back ASAP because we have no chance of winning with lineups like this.
Freese starts his rehab on Tuesday with Memphis. I plan to be there. I think Punto’s injuries may have been the most underrated of them all. His unavailability created all kinds of exposures.
Any projected return for Freese?
Nothing specific stated by TLR. It will depend on how Freese plays/feels, of course.
I wonder why they aren’t rehabbing him at Springfield?
I know it just started but I already have a bad feeling about this game. For whatever reason, the Cardinals have looked flat and lethargic.
I haven’t noticed any hits that should have been outs yet. So hopefully the D holds.
Everyone I talk to from Joplin has been more than moderately affected by the Tornado in some way. It is crazy to think that many of the places I used to go are gone. The place where I proposed to my wife is gone. It is great that these teams are bringing attention to what’s happened there.
Let me first say sorry I have been very busy and not able to contribute like I would like to.
I am shocked Molina is not catching for Carp. I thought Carp made out his line-up for Tony:)
I have said this before and will say it again. Carpenter is not an ace anymore.
My observations (for whatever their worth)
1) We have NO defense up the middle. Opposing hitters need only hit up the middle and they have a 95% of it going through.
2) The team offense has diminished since Albert got hot. This is not one of WC’s theories, it is only an observation. I have no explanation for it, perhaps someone else does.
3) Starting pitching obviously not as sharp as before. Carp still giving up too many hits. Westbrook has a 6th inning voodoo curse. Garcia has problems on the road. Lohse not sharp of late, looks like he is pitching without purpose. McClellan—hit a wall?
4) Bullpen, what else can be said that hasn’t already.
Something has to change or this team will never sniff the playoffs.
I see where Colby is not in CF. That’s 2 of Carp’s last 3 starts.
No question the D is better with Jay in CF. For some reason Tony refuses to play Colby in right. Not that it matters right now with Colby’s bat silent, but for the duration its a way to improve the D up the middle without taking a bat out of the lineup.
Double would be good right now, and I would feel more confident about overall team with one as oppposed to a hr. Stringing hits as opposed to streaks
Okay, that was not good. With the team’s luck, don’t want to see anyone hit
Now that was a jolt of electricity! Gettin things back on track
Did that last ptch to Greene look like a strike? Looked to be at the top and in of the zone if so
I thought it was right in his wheelhouse. Straight as an arrow right down broadway.
was he just behind it?
Don’t know about the last pitch, but the first pitch definitely wasn’t a strike.
I don’t understand what has merited Tyler Green so many chances. Is there no one else in the organization that would produce more if given as much opportunity.
I can’t remember him ever impressing in his many call-ups.
I’m not trying to get down on anyone in particular bc it seems like the whole team has been chasing balls, but even I noticed th first pitch he swung and it was a cleae ball even to an novice like me. Poor decision making is about the only thing you’ll hear me complain abt.
What a great contributor Berkman has been during 2011. Mo and TLR were smart to invest in Lance.
This is a fun game already. Lets get Paulino back on the hill.
What the hell is Greene doing. DP would have ended the inning. Instead no outs, a run scored and everybody safe. How is Carp supposed to pitch through such incompetence.
Maybe he’ll get the tunnel talk.
I long for Theriot.
Brave words, Bling.
As a very popular Cardinals blogger just tweeted, “if it was Ryan Theriot, he wouldn’t have even gotten to the base and the throw would have sailed into center field”.
Be careful what you wish for BB.
Good Point and he actually got the guy at home, umpire missed the call.
If it was Brendan we’d be ahead 4-3.
I sure hope Btrndan remembers all the little people when he goes into the HOF.From listening to some Brendanites you would thinl BR never made a error and had the range of a GPS.Greatest SS to grace us mere mortals.
Greene clearly should have gotten the standard 6-3 DP. The runner at home should have been immaterial.
Brendan was as incompetent as what we got.I am one who wants an upgrade up the middle as our defense has cost us countless runs up the middle. But Ryan was not the answer.
According to the fielding bible Theriot is 33rd among shortstops. Nobody exceeds that degree of incompetence. I’d be happy with 5 errors and range. Carp is probably thinking the same thing by now.
For a “professional” team we are sure failing to execute. Carp can only be mad at himself for that.
We need to be more concerned with getting a win than getting Carp a win.
Is there anyone better in the pen right now?
I would have brought in Sanchez but you are right as the roles have just not been defined.
Sanchez is on the DL.
IMO, it has nothing to do with roles and everything to do with not getting outs when called upon.
I still think Tony has left Carp in too long a lot lately just to get him a win and not to get the team a win.
I told you I have been too busy lately:)
I did know Sanchez was on the DL and just spaced it out:)
I think when guys know what is expected of them as far as coming in the 7th,8th,or9th they produce a lot better.
Salas threw 34 pitches last night. Would Tony put him out there?
Curious as to the percentage of lead-off walks that end up scoring. Carp walked a low-.200 hitter on 4 pitches?! Wrong for safety!
Just tuned in…I personally think 121 pitches for Carp this evening is plenty. But what do I know?
Albert booted one?? Carp may have a “tunnel talk” with TLR!
Albert could have stepped in front of it to be sure to keep it on the infield. Carp would have appreciated that as it may most him a loss.
Thats ‘cost’ not ‘most’.
Good to see DD at SS.
Finally got a chance to read Brian’s article. Tony Cruz was a Florida State League all star last year, and here he is. Quite a jump in a year. Hats off to him.
Carp really pitched his heart out. He’s got to be sick of getting beat by his own team.
I’m going to get in trouble for this, but giving up 10 hits had a little something to do with the loss.
I agree! Carpenter is our 5th starter at best.
Good pitchers like Carp can win without great stuff. They can’t win when Greene gives them a run and Albert gives them another. Nobody can strike out 27.
I agree. I’m not blaming the loss entirely on Carp, in fact, without the errors we should have won regardless. I am only saying that those 10 hits clearly played a part. Carp has given up more hits than any pitcher in the NL, which is un-Carp-like He doesn’t have the stuff he used to have.
He’s slipped, I agree.
On the other hand, how many of those hits should have been snagged by infielders with more range, shure hands and strong arms? How many have dropped within feet of tentative outfielders? How many hits has he given up after innings have been gratuitously extended?
It’s not fair to compare Carp with pitchers who only have to get 3 outs per inning.
Well I would agree that our gaping hole up the middle is responsible for many of those hits-that-should-have-outs. But the gaping hole has haunted the other starters as well. I am just not buying that “bad luck” is the SOLE reason for Carp’s struggles.
There is a metric called FIP, fielding independent pitching, that measures that.
That’s 7 in a row. Can’t keep this up.
Until I saw the box stats I thought we may have had more runs than hits. Four of those six were uninspired.
I watched the handful of highlights…very tough loss!!!!! It appears nothing much went right for us…Royals barely safe on tags; Carp bunts in air for DP / nearly Triple Play; they bunt and we don’t even get an out, on “bang/bang” plays at both 2nd and home; Albert’s error; and on it goes. Games like these definitely can build character, or resentment…depending. Jay had a pretty nice night at the plate and in the field…VERY nice catch on his dive. Difficult to find the silver lining, but I’m still looking.
Miller looked good.
Why does the media bother to interview TLR after a loss?
Waited a long time tonight for it to get started. My question about whether we would see more of Descalso at short ended it. Hope it was just coincidence…
We have no shortstops and need to look elsewhere!
He probably took your question as criticism of Theriot.
Perhaps, as the reply seemed oriented that way. I wasn’t trying to go there.
I appreciated the question and would have appreciated a thoughtful answer. Once Freese is back it becomes a legit option.
Didn’t know it was Brian asking it.
I thought it a legit question myself, and even floated the idea on Twitter, only to be roundly put in my place by John Marecek, radio guy from KTRS.
Listening to KTRS. Jack Clark just took a hell of a swat at TLR. No wonder he no longer works for FSMW.
It was also reported on KTRS than when TLR was asked why Colby was not in the lineup he said, “Let the other guy play”. Maybe RC is going to get his wish at last.
Carp might have some more guys on his no-play list now.
Strange game last night.
Great job by Carpenter to battle and eat 8 innings. Its unfortunate Chris got asked to throw more than 7 innings, perhaps indicative of the overworked bullpen. Its going to be hard to compete if the Cards overwork Carpenter and he is injured.
Strange Royals bunt play with runners at 1st and 3rd, one out. Molina throws to 2nd, but does not get the runner. Greene tries the harder play of throwing home rather than taking an easier out at 1B and conceding a run. Replays showed the runner was tagged out on a close play, but the ump missed the call, as they will sometimes on close calls. And the runner safe at 2B did not score. Did Greene factor the runner coming into 2B was safe, eliminating a double play opportunity, so make the right throw home or should he have conceded the tying run and taken the easier out? Either way, to whichever base he threw the ball, the play was immaterial.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, that’s probably what Greene thought…it’s immaterial.
My wording was poor, so shall clarify. In retrospect, we know the choice turned out to be immaterial. Yet it was a material choice at the time it was made. We would like a player to make the right choice.
The choice was try to cut down a tying run or take a safe out at 1B.
It seems as if the runner sliding home was tagged before he touched the plate, but the ump called him safe on a close call. If cutting down a run was the right choice, Greene may have made it, just been let down by the ump, while many fans think Greene was a dufus, assuming umps never make mistakes.
There is an adage, play to win on the road, play to tie at home. By this adage, Greene might have conceded the tying run and looked to secure an easy out at 1B. Securing an out reduces the chance of the opposing team having a big inning.
There may be no simple answer in the actual situation last night. Greene clearly chose the risky choice. Had the ump made the right call, it would be a Web Gem. But because of the Ump, Greene looked like a chump.
Greene looked like a chump because of Greene, not the ump. Greene had the easy out at 2nd, but didn’t touch the bag. This is what people are upset about, not the play at home.
And it was Cruz catching, not Molina.
So Greene could have beaten the runner to the 2B bag? This I had not understood. Thank you. If he could have gotten a sure out at 2B and had a chance for a double play at 1B, this would have been the smarter choice.
Greene did beat the runner and since it was a force out all he had to do was touch the base. He didn’t do it but instead caught the throw from Cruz and threw back to the plate. The runner at second would have been out for sure, instead everyone was safe.
Greene failed to get into a good position to receive the throw through a lack of mental clarity…….being distracted by the complexities of the play……………. The catcher was so surprised to be back in he play failed to get in a good position to receive the throwback …….assuming the DP, because of who had bunted the ball, a given………….. In simpler terms…….its called Little League…………… these are thing that happen in monsoon season……… Typhoon on the horizon……………. If you really aren’t watching these games Jumbo……. put an asterisk by all your comments………. so we can translate accordingly……. we can call it a “Jumbazator” or :jumbolator” or “Jumbalization” if you choose some other form of designation……
I had read your earlier comment Jumbo, and thought maybe the way you saw it Greene could have thought the throw was late, so went for the guy at home. Seemed like a questionable interpretation, but I wasn’t going to argue about it.
It now sounds like you hadn’t seen it and were going on descriptions. In that case, the way I saw it, the throw was a good one and in plenty of time. Greene’s foot was less than a foot from the bag and the hitter was closer to home than to first, having to sidestep the bunted ball which was right in his way. Greene could have routinely touched the bag and relayed to first for a very easy DP.
The only possible explaination is he didn’t realize the DP would end the inning, so was trying to gun down the tying run. Obviously, he was thinking about something besides the game situation. Carp would have to be furious, having gotten the DP grounder he needed to get out of the inning.
FWIW, from the pressbox, I saw it exactly as bb described.
Little league………………….
They don’t have a keg behind second in little league, Westy. Well, maybe out there they do.
Greene and Hamilton have been sent down to Memphis. Kozma and Cleto called up.
Is Cleto for real………..or just being advertised in the SD dealings………..
If you mean is Cleto trade bait for Heath Bell, I don’t know. I would imagine the Pads are looking for offense as opposed to pitching help, so my guess would be no. Unless he is just part of a package along with a bat.
San Diego Padres 30 41 .423 9.5 Salary bail for a prospect……. Yankees would just buy him for their pen ……..and they need him………. But SD wants something trick……… talent…..
The Pads want someone specific? Perhaps Cleto along with Jay or Craig? I don’t see it, but is is possible I suppose.
If it is a prospect they want, Cox, Martinez and Miller have already been declared off limits. Who else could they want?
Its not what they want maybe……its what we’re selling……………. Cleto doesn’t help us right now………. they are protecting eggs at this point……….Sanchez is unlikely to return………….. there is a struggle going on……….if we can reach 7 games back by the break……… Carp goes……….. winning becomes expensive …….. if you’re not careful………..
Kosuma??????????? Cleto???????? remedies??????????
Well if there is something in the works we will find out soon enough.