Future Redbirds

Off days for Quad Cities and Memphis.

Some news on Narveson. I don’t like the sound of it. There’s no specifics. . .but something about the situation concerns me. I may be overly pessimistic about the situation. I’ll try and hope for the best in a different post.

Springfield 7, Arkansas 4

• Jon Jay returns to the lineup in force. His only hit of the night is a homerun. He also draws a walk, scores 3 runs and steals a base. Good to see him come back strong after taking some time off after a wrist injury.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir goes 2-for-3 with a walk. The 2B has a OBP over .361 with a walk rate over 10%. He’s got some pop with 4 HR and 5 doubles in his 98 ABs. The walk rate from a middle infielder is very nice to see as our system lacks any blue-chip middle infield prospects.
• [erik intruding here] Just thought it was interesting to note also that Cody Haerther went 2-5 in his first game back from a wrist injury that has had him sidelined since most of spring training.
• With 12 hits and 6 walks, the Springfield offense roughed up one of the better pitching prospects in Double AA. The Angels Nick Adenhart is a power-righty who has a K/9 rate a touch below 9 during his minor league career. I like the patient approach at the plate. Walks = offensive consistency.
• Kevin Ool had a so-so outing going 6 innings allowing 4 ER. He only walked one and struck out one. 10 outs on the ground vs. 6 in the air. That box score elicits a real “…meh…” Ool’s been good since moving into the rotation but he hasn’t really flashed greatness (or anything resembling it) yet in his three starts.
  
• Michael Cooper strikes out 2 in his walkless, hitless and scoreless inning.
• Chris Perez keeps up his maddening trend of walking too many batters. He came in for a 2 inning save tonight (Springfield was only up by 1 until scoring two insurance runs in the 9th). He walks 2 while striking out 3. If he can improve his control, he’s got the stuff to be a major league closer.

Palm Beach 2, St. Lucie 5

• Allen Craig goes 3-for-4 but commits his 10th error of the season.
• Ian Church goes 2-for-4 with PB’s only extra base hit of the night.
• Gary Daley has an uninspiring outing: 4.2 IP, 5 runs (3 earned), an ugly 4 walks, and 4 Ks.
• Donnie Smith pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief striking out 2 with no hits or walks.
• Matthew Trent also faced the minimum in his inning of work, striking out 1.
• Daley and catcher Brandon Yarbrough allowed 4 SB as well - yikes.