Future Redbirds

Double header for Springfield means 5 games to go through today. Unfortunately, the system only won 1 of those 5 games. That game is also my favorite type of game to watch. That type would be. . .(answer below with the winning ball club)

Memphis 4, Colorado Springs 5

The Good

• 1B Rico Washington went 2-for-5 with a double and a HR.
• Travis Hanson went 2-for-4 with a HR. In 2005 Hanson posted an ISO of .179 and the organization was pretty excited by that. Last year he hovered around .072 and now this year he is at .053. O where, o where has the power gone? O where, o where can it be. . .
• Troy Cate had an OK outing. 6IP, 4ER, 3BB and 2Ks. I do despise the walks. He also got touched up by a HR. Cate’s been serviceable in since joining the rotation, but I think if he wants to have a career in the bigs it’s gonna be in the pen.

The Bad

• Brendan Ryan is not taking advantage of the possible opening at SS for the Cardinals next year. He went 0-for-4 tonight with 1 BB and 2 Ks. He’s hitting .238 on the season. Hector Luna where art thou?
• Matt Ginter. He is bad. He’s a AAA journeyman who isn’t any good and is merely roster filler. He took the loss tonight allowing a run in the 7th. What’s scary is that right now, Ginter could be in line for start in the bigs if someone else was to go down. I don’t think the Cardinals want to see a second viewing of Randy Keisler and Hawksworth/Parisi need more seasoning. I hope Cate would get the call up over Ginter (or a bullpen start) because Ginter has been so bad at AAA he lost his starting gig.

Springfield 3, Wichita 5 (Game 1)

The Good

• Tyler Greene 1-for-3 with a HR.
• Sean Danielson collects the other 2 RBIs with a double.

The Bad

• No one on the offense reached base twice. Greene was also HBP to be the only batter to reach base twice.
• Joe Mather after a torrid start to the season went 0-for-3. He’s only had 2 extra base (both doubles) hits in his last 10 games (30 ABs) but he has walked at a nice 14% clip (5BB in 35 PA) and continues to make contact (only 1K in those 30AB), so while he’s been a little off lately he’s still hit .300 over that time and is making contact. Hopefully the power comes back soon.
• Mitchell Boggs got roughed up in 5.1 innings he allowed 10 hits (1 HR) and 2BBs. He struck out 5.
• Zachary Zuercher has a good looking result in the box score: 1.2 IP, 0ER. But don’t be fooled. He allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score and also walked 2 batters. He struck out 0 and recorded only 1 ground ball out (vs. 3 fly outs).

Springfield 4, Wichita 5 (Game 2)

The Good

• Colby Rasmus hits a HR in his only official at bat. He also draws two walks and was HBP. On defense he collects an assist throwing out a runner at 2nd.
• Mike Ferris and Sean Danielson each hit a HR as well.
• Mather goes 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Yes, Matthew Scherer walked a batter and allowed a HR in his 2 innings of work, but he struck out 4 batters as well. I’ll take it.

The Bad

• Half the lineup was good and the other 5 batters went collectively 0-for-16 with 4 Ks and 1 BB.
• Eric Haberer didn’t have horrible results allowing 4 runs in 5 innings. He did have bad peripherals with 8 hits, 2 BBs and a hit batter. That’s a WHIP over 2 which is never a good thing.

Palm Beach 2, Dunedin 6

The Good

• Casey Rowlett hits a double and draws a walk.
• Two oufield assists: 1 for LF Nathan Southard and 1 for CF Shane Robinson.
• Matthew Trent strikes out 2 in 2 walkless innings with 2 hits (but he did hit a batter). He allow 2 runs (only 1 earned).
• Fernando Salas pitches a scoreless 9th striking out two, walking 1 and hitting 1 batter but allowing no hits.

The Bad

• Each Palm Beach pitcher pegs a batter during the game tonight.
• Ian Church only reaches base by getting hit tonight as he goes 0-for-3 with 2Ks. Every other batter recorded at least 1 hit or BB.
• Tyler Norrick allowing 9 hits and 4 ER. He also walks 4 batters against 5 strikeouts. He put as many men on base with free passes (4 walks +1 HBP) as he struck out.

Quad Cities 1, Burlington 0

The Good

• First off, to answer the teaser at the beginning, some people like watching slugfests. Me? Sign me up for a good ol’ fashioned pitchers duel.
• The only run of the game came in the top of the 5th. Mark Shorey doubles to start the inning. Chris Grossman grounds out advancing the runner and a single by Jaime Landin brings Shorey home.
• PJ Walters goes 5 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks and 3 Ks.
• Elvis Hernandez goes 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB (the only walk issued by QC pitchers) and 1 K.
• Kyle Mura Ks one in his hitless inning. Mura is having a good season out of the pen thus far. In 9.1 IP he’s allowed 2 hits and 3 BBs while striking out 10.
• Kenny Maiques closes things out for his 9th save striking out 2 and getting a groundball.

The Bad

• Obviously, the offense was stifled. Christian Reyes was a K short of the Golden Sombrero. Outside of that, it’s hard to pick on anyone when the whole lineup was shut down.