Minor League Report for late May

[New Pagodi]

Here is a summary of how the Cardinals minor league players have done so far this year. I’ll mostly just list statistics in this first post, then I’ll discuss some of the hitters in depth in the second post.

Memphis

Memphis currently has a 25-27 record and is dead last in the Pacfic Coast League American North division. Here are the numbers for the starters.

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                   ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA   avg game score 
                  ---   ----   ----   ----  --------------
Mike Parisi       6.38   1.69   3.94   .323     39.11
Blake Hawksworth  2.98   1.19   4.87   .251     52.90
Troy Cate         4.54   1.49   6.05   .287     43.29
Mike Smith        6.05   1.38   6.71   .287     45.63
Randy Keisler     6.05   1.66   5.59   .321     39.67

Blake Hawksworth had an OK April, but is having a phenomenal May. Mike Parisi had two absolutely terrible starts on May 10th and May 15th. Troy Cate was completely miscast as a starter, and hopefully he will do better now that he has been moved back to the bullpen.

For the bullpen:

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                   ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA  
                   ---   ----   ----   ---- 
Hugo Castellanos  2.63   1.24   7.90   .230
Andy Cavazos      3.57   1.46  10.32   .261
Brian Falkenborg  1.65   1.22   8.82   .222
Matt Ginter       4.69   1.51   5.36   .333
Chris Lambert     4.58   1.37   7.23   .255
Ryan Meaux        4.00   1.22  10.00   .250
Mark Worrel       2.86   1.00   8.18   .148

Dennis Dove, Chris Narveson , and Mike Sillman are currently on the DL.

Some of the more notable fielders include:

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                Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----
Rick Ankiel      CF  .275   .313   .570   .883   .295
Brendan Ryan     SS  .249   .310   .325   .635   .076
Nick Stavinoha   RF  .287   .321   .444   .765   .157

Others:

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                Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----                          
Tagg Bozied      1B  .286   .338   .534   .872   .248
Edgar Gonzalez   2B  .291   .369   .418   .787   .126
Travis Hanson    3B  .195   .233   .262   .495   .067
Mike McCoy       UT  .255   .393   .327   .720   .071
John Nelson      UT  .203   .273   .441   .713   .237
Matt Pagnozzi     C  .224   .269   .286   .555   .061
John Rodriguez   LF  .277   .398   .470   .868   .193
Skip Schumaker   CF  .259   .344   .389   .733   .130
Rico Washington  UT  .248   .318   .411   .730   .163

Springfield

Sprringfield currently has a 22-25 record and is 3 games behind Tulsa in the Texas League North Division. Here are the numbers for the starters and closer.

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                      ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA   avg game score
                      ---   ----   ----   ----  --------------
Mitch Boggs          4.32   1.58   6.12   .270     47.22
Cory Rauschenberger  6.02   1.36   4.46   .241     45.89
Jaime Garcia         3.55   1.26   8.35   .216     54.11
Kevin Ool            3.27   1.33   4.36   .265     41.40
Eric Haberer         4.72   1.62   3.59   .290     44.89
Chris Perez          2.66   1.08   15.05   .130

Jaime Garcia has been very good but doesn’t have many wins to show for it. Cory Rauschenberger was terrible at the beginning of the year, but 3 of his last 4 starts have been outstanding. Mitch Boggs is either very good or very bad, and fortunately the good games have outnumbered the bad ones. Kevin Ool and Eric Haberer are probably best suited for the bullpen.

For the bullpen:

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                      ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA 
                      ---   ----   ----   ----
Mike Cooper          4.28   1.43   7.24   .219
Jose Garcia          5.76   1.76   3.96   .349
Jason Motte          2.55   1.09   7.66   .178
Matt Scherer         2.86   1.24   8.89   .250
Nick Webber          3.80   1.48   6.85   .255
Zack Zuercher        3.32   1.47   5.21   .250

Some of the more notable fielders include:

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                 Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                 ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----                             
Bryan Anderson     C  .281   .363   .422   .785   .141
Tyler Greene      SS  .233   .309   .399   .708   .166
Jarrett Hoffpauir 2B  .302   .388   .472   .860   .170
Joe Mather        1B  .288   .365   .565   .929   .276
Colby Rasmus      CF  .287   .381   .557   .939   .270

Others:

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                 Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                 ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----  
Sean Danielson    OF  .319   .363   .422   .785   .103
Mike Ferris    1B/DH  .194   .233   .287   .520   .093
Cody Haerther     LF  .308   .357   .359   .716   .051
Jon Jay           LF  .235   .333   .373   .706   .137
Juan Lucena       UT  .298   .343   .319   .662   .021

Palm Beach

Palm Beach currently has a 28-22 record and is 2.5 games behind the Manatees in the Florida State League East Division. Here are the numbers for the starters and closer.

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                    ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA   avg game score
                    ---   ----   ----   ----  --------------
Tyler Norrick      2.89   1.19   6.06   .203     56.09
Adam Daniels       3.02   1.17   6.99   .246     52.25
Adam Ottavino      3.02   1.46  10.88   .247     51.60
Trey Hearne        5.07   1.49   4.18   .302     44.60
Gary Daley         4.17   1.59   6.33   .260     48.20
Luke Gregerson     0.95   0.64  10.48   .094

I think Adam Daniels is ready to be moved to Springfield. Tyler Norrick and Adam Ottavino have been very good, but I would be cautious about promoting either right now. Tyler Norrick is giving up too many fly balls which may not go over very well when facing more developed hitters in smaller parks in the Texas League. Adam Ottavino is giving up too many walks, and I’d like to see him improve on that a little before moving up. Gary Daley was very good earlier in the season, but has struggled in his last 3 starts.

For the bullpen:

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                    ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA                     
                    ---   ----   ----   ---- 
Kyle McClellan     2.00   1.11   5.50   .265
Jon Mikrut         4.30   1.26   6.65   .233
Fernando Salas     4.22   1.03   5.91   .220
Donnie Smith       2.89   1.12   6.27   .167
Matt Trent         1.29   1.00  10.29   .154
Scott Vander Weg   3.33   1.11   7.77   .255

Some of the more notable fielders include:

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Palm Beach                           
                Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----  
Allen Craig      3B  .319   .359   .538   .897   .220
Mark Hamilton    1B  .295   .341   .442   .783   .147
Jose Martinez    SS  .262   .294   .339   .633   .077

Others:

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                Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----                   
Isa Garcia       2B  .216   .298   .240   .538   .024
Dan Nelson       LF  .224   .357   .261   .618   .037
Shane Robinson   CF  .253   .317   .363   .680   .110
Casey Rowlett    2B  .242   .336   .326   .661   .083
Nathan Southard  RF  .254   .316   .345   .661   .090
A.J. Van Slyke   1B  .259   .331   .384   .715   .125
Brandon Yarbrough C  .267   .331   .385   .716   .119

Quad Cities

The Quad Cities team currently has a 27-23 record and is currently 5 games behind Beloit in the Midwest League Western Division. Here are the numbers for the 8 costarters and the closer.

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                    ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA  
                    ---   ----   ----   ----  
Brandon Dickson    3.44   1.15   5.50   .245
Blake King         5.11   1.57   8.76   .231
Elvis Hernandez    3.08   1.24   9.24   .247
P.J. Walters       2.09   0.93   8.71   .217
Brad Furnish       2.55   1.13   8.50   .201
Tyler Herron       3.59   1.07   7.93   .225
Eddie Degerman     2.05   0.86  12.27   .158
Shaun Garceau      3.76   1.33  10.10   .250
Kenny Maiques      3.31   1.47   8.82   .242

P.J. Walters has not given up a run in May.

For the bullpen:

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                    ERA   WHIP    K/9   BAA  
                    ---   ----   ----   ---- 
Armando Carrasco   2.61   1.45  10.45   .250
Kyle Mura          0.63   0.56   8.16   .102
Kyle Sadlowski     4.76   1.59   5.56   .283
Mike Schellinger   3.04   1.27   8.77   .257

Some of the more notable fielders include:

Code: Select all

                    Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                    ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----                             
Brandon Buckman      1B  .344   .379   .598   .977   .254
Christian Reyes C/1B/DH  .323   .362   .462   .824   .138                           
Mark Shorey          LF  .293   .337   .420   .757   .128  

Others:

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                    Pos    BA    OBP    SLG    OPS   ISOP
                    ---   ---    ---   ----   ----   ----                                                     
Luke Gorsett         OF  .280   .327   .385   .712   .105
Daryl Jones          RF  .179   .281   .254   .535   .075
Jaime Landin         2B  .263   .349   .421   .770   .158                           
Christian Lopez      SS  .260   .347   .323   .670   .063
Jim Rapoport         CF  .219   .267   .287   .555   .069
Willian Sandoval     SS  .174   .196   .193   .389   .018
Jared Schweitzer     2B  .350   .409   .533   .942   .183
Donovan Solano       3B  .219   .272   .243   .514   .024

[New Pagodi]

Now I want to look a little deeper into a few of the hitters. I’m going to borrow fan graph’s format and look mostly at the walk and strikeout rates.

Rick Ankiel









The increasing strikeout rate is a little disturbing, especially since, until yesterday, his power numbers have been falling.


Brendan Ryan









Most of his rate stats are trending up, but the falling walk rate is not a good thing for a leadoff hitter.


Nick Stavinoha









His numbers may not be great now, but it looks like they’re all going in the right direction.


Bryan Anderson









I’m not sure I like the falling IsoP, but everything else is very nice.


Tyler Greene









The rate stats are slowly trending upward, and the strikeout and walk rates are slowly trending in the right direction. Considering how bad he was last year, slow progress is probably the best we should hope for this year.


Colby Rasmus









Wow!


Allen Craig









I guess Craig is a streaky player. Keep in mind that Roger Dean stadium is an extreme pitchers park.


Mark Hamilton









I guess this is what people mean when they say Hamilton doesn’t walk enough. However, it does look like he’s improving in that area.


Jose Martinez









I really don’t know what to make of this.


Brandon Buckman









The walk rate may not be where we want it to be, but everything else is nice.


Christian Reyes









I have a lot of hope for Reyes, but these graphs really do not look good.


Mark Shorey









Shorey looks pretty average in these graphs.

[Jocephus]

thanks NP!

[robbotis]

Travis Hanson sucks.
What's up with Daryl Jones?
I guess he's not gonna pan out.

[Dillagii]

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!!

Thanks a ton, NP!! I truly truly appreciate this report a lot.

[New Pagodi]

thanks NP!

NP - err I mean No Problem.

Travis Hanson sucks.
What's up with Daryl Jones?
I guess he's not gonna pan out.

I really hate to get down on anyone, but if the Cardinals had anything resembling a third base prospect, Hanson would probably already be playing in the indi leagues. I assume Jones will be moved to Batavia when they open up in a few weeks.

[Hungary Jack]

Great work NP. Thank you!

Some great trend lines there for Rasmus, Mather, Buckman.

Any thoughts on Hoffpauir?

[New Pagodi]

Great work NP. Thank you!

Some great trend lines there for Rasmus, Mather, Buckman.

Any thoughts on Hoffpauir?

Here are Hoffpauir's graphs.









One word of caution - his playing time has been sporadic since he hurt his foot a few weeks ago, and I think that is throwing off the trend lines.

Nevertheless, I don't see anything not to like about Hoffpauir. His rate stats are holding at excellent levels for a middle infielder, and he seems to have very good plate discipline. I would hope they move him to Memphis soon.

However, I'm a little surprised that the Cardinals haven't at least tried him at 3rd and short considering how much TRL seems to like versatility in his infielders.

[Fat Strat]

This is really fantastic! Thanks for the charts, graphs, pretty colors, and quality analysis!