Future Redbirds

First of all, big news (sorta). Corresponding with the roster moves of Skip Schumaker and Troy Cate being promoted to the Show, Joe Mather has been promoted to Memphis and will join the team Tuesday. A well deserved promotion, Mather was hitting .303/.387/.607 with a league leading 18 home runs in 234 at bats. The thing that impresses me about Mather is not just the gains he has made in power this season, but the fact that he’s walked more then he has struck out, and he’s only struck out in 11.5% of his at bats. That’s showing some pretty good contact ability along with his power, a Pujolsian- like combo.

Rough night for the farm tonight.

Memphis 11, Iowa 14

• Suffice to say, the wind was blowing out at Principal Park.
• Blake Hawksworth got only 5 outs and 8 runs on 9 hits, including 3 homers.
• Rick Ankiel went 2 for 4 with a double and drew an intentional walk.
• Rico Washington with a double and a triple and 5 RBI.
• With Adam Kennedy hitting like garbage, and Aaron Miles being Aaron Miles, Edgar Gonzalez is begging for a call up. He went 3 for 4 with a HR, walk, stolen base and a strikeout. He’s now hitting .302/.367/.455.
• Tagg Bozied went 1 for 4 with a HR.
• To start the bottom of the 8th the Redbirds were up 11-8. Then Chris Lambert happened. He loaded the bases and allowed a grand slam to Micah Hoffpauir (I believe he’s Jarret of Springfield’s brother.) His ERA is now 7.92.
• Mark Worrell got into the action, serving up a 2 run homer.
• Bo Hart went 1 for 2…for the I Cubs. He lives.

Springfield 3, Arkansas 5

• Colby Rasmus had a three true outcome game. He walked, he homered, and he struck out, going 1 for 4 when it was all said and done.
• Mark Shorey went 3 for 3 with a walk and a HR. He’s off to a good start in the Texas League after being promoted from Quad Cities after Jon Jay and Cody Haerther went down, as he’s hitting .313/.365/.563 with 3 homers in 48 at bats.
• Mike Ferris went 1 for 4 with a double and 3 strikeouts.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir went 2 for 4.
• Eric Haberer allowed 4 runs off of 7 hits and 4 walks over 4 innings, striking out 4. It’s a foregone conclusion based on his numbers he’s not quite ready for the trip on Highway 44 to St. Louis. He’s more likely to be at home watching Fantastic 4 on DVD. For real. (Sorry, that was awful.)
• Matt Scherer and Jason Motte both pitched a perfect frame, striking out 2 apiece.

Daytona 11, Palm Beach 2

• Like the Iowa Cubs, the Daytona Cubs pasted Cardinal pitching around the park. Fernando Salas allowed FIVE HOME RUNS. He gave up a total of 7 runs over 4.1 innings.
• Trey Hearne come on in relief after being ousted from the rotation due to poor performance, and also stunk up the joint by allowing 4 runs over 1.2. Poor Trey, I really wonder what’s ailing him.
• AJ Van Slyke went 2 for 3 with a double and a HR.
• Mark Hamilton walked 3 times.
• Allen Craig and Nathan Southard both went 2 for 4.

Quad Cities was off.

The draftees were playing the past couple of days, both their teams advanced. 10th round pick Tyler Henley went 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored. He also walked, was hit by a pitch and stole a base. I’d call that a good day. Here’s the box score, if you are interested.

10th round pick Mike Stutes pitched very well against one of the top hitting college baseball programs in the country in Arizona State. Over 6 innings, he allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4. He loaded the bases before being pulled in the 7th and his bullpen allowed the runners he inherited to score, otherwise his line might’ve looked a little better. Remember, ASU scored like 9 runs per game all season. I watched most his outing, he looked pretty good. He had a fastball that he threw in the 92 range, but as the game went on it lost some of it’s zip. He threw a straight change at 82, seemed rather average. His curve ball was a very nice pitch that he had decent command of and was able to keep down and get swings and misses on. By the 6th he looked gassed and his stuff lost effectiveness and he had trouble with his command. It should be mentioned that  4th round draft pick SS Darwin Barney (Cubs) made a few great plays, saving a couple of hits.