Future Redbirds

Few interesting reading items and tidbits before tonight’s DPR. It appears the key to Mather’s success this year has been that he’s stopped tinkering with his swing. Jarret Hoffpauir was named the TL player of the week. The Cards signed another indy leaguer. Saw this regarding Kozma and when he will sign at the comments at Birdland, asked by frequent poster at this blog, fewgoodcards. Here’s Goold’s answer:

It’s a good question. One of the holdups was the market. First-round picks tend to wait on other first-round picks to set their value. We’ve seen some go at less than slot and now others are signing around Kozma. The signing that most impacts Kozma just happened. The Blue Jays signed Kevin Ahrens to a $1.44-million signing bonus. Like, Kozma, Ahrens is a high school shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter. He went two picks earlier. And the Cardinals have said they had Kozma rated higher. The framework of the negotiations are easy to see. One other thing: Ahrens is represented by the Hendricks Brothers.

One last item for “ask the expert” found at Goldstein’s chat today, re: the PTBNL in the Maroth trade (side note, I was leery about the trade, after tonight’s performance it’s easy to love. And this tidbit makes it a lot easier to love:

Matt (Cambridge, MA): Kevin — Any word of which prospects (if any) are on the PTNBL list for the Cardinals in the Maroth trade?

Kevin Goldstein: I have not seen the lists, but somebody close to the deal said “it ain’t much.”

Ain’t much for Maroth right now is looking GREAT.

Memphis 1, New Orleans 4

• Tomo Ohka’s outing was solid but not spectacular. He allowed 4 runs on 8 hits and walk, however 3 of the runs were counted as earned. He did allow a big HR off the bat of Quad A slugger Andy Tracy, and it was late in the game. He did coax 10 ground outs. Here’s where it gets weird. He threw 120 pitches! Isn’t he coming off an injury? Why have him throw 120 pitches? The nice part about it is that he threw strikes, 83 to be exact. I’m not sold on whether or not he’ll be an asset for the big club, but after that outing I’d be inclined to give him a green light.
• Rick Ankiel went 2 for 4 and was charged with a throwing error.
• Joe Mather drove in the only run.

Springfield is on their All Star Break for the next three days.

Palm Beach 4, Ft. Myers 0

• Adam Ottavino was lights out, this game was hands down his best game of the season, perhaps of his short pro career. He struck out 7 over 8 innings, allowed only 4 hits and didn’t walk a man. 10 of his outs came via the ground out. Nice game, Adam.
• No extra bases hits or multi hit games for anyone on the offensive side.
• Jon Jay went 1 for 4 with a stolen base.

The Swing were off tonight.

Batavia 6, State College 2

• Thomas Pham went 2 for 4 with a triple, a walk, a stolen bases and a strikeout.
• Steve Hill went 2 for 4 with a double.
• Daniel Descalso 1 for 4 with 2 steals.
• Jonathan Stambaugh pitched 4 innings and struck out 4, while allowing no runs on 4 hits.
• Brandon Garner allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out only 1 but getting 10 ground ball outs.

Johnson City 3, Danville 15

• Well, the good news is that Jonathan Edwards homered in his 2nd straight game. He also struck out twice.
• Parkway Central grad Travis Mitchell went 2 for 4.
• Dognnt Bolivar committed three errors. The team collected a total of 9 errors all game.
• Two pitchers you probably never heard of got hammered and were betrayed by their defense. That’s about all you need to know.

GCL Cardinals 4, GCL Nats 3

• Osvaldo Morales went 2 for 3 with a HR and 2 walks.
• Joseph Hage went 2 for 5.
• Arnoldi Cruz went 2 for 5 with a double.
• The Gonzo (Carlos and Reynier) brothers piggybacked their way thru 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 6 walks, striking out 10 combined. No, they are not related.