Future Redbirds

I missed this but as discussed in the comments yesterday Juan Richardson is out for the year with a leg fracture. It’s really only relevant in terms of who gets to replace him as Richardson isn’t a prospect.

Colby Rasmus continues to hit the ball with authority. Allen Craig goes boom. Clayton Mortensen continues his quest to change my opinion of him (and pitch well). And Adam Ottavino is sure to be a discussion point in today’s Daily Prospect Report.

Memphis 3, Alberquerque 9

• Skip Schumaker went 2-for-3 with 2 BBs.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir went 2-for-5. He’s got an OBP right around .400 — the Cardinals should give serious consideration to starting him at 2B next year in the big leagues.
• Joe Mather went 0-for-2 but drew 2 BBs.
• Mike Smith was particularly terrible allowing 9 runs (8 earned) in 3.1 innings.
• Christopher Perez threw a scoreless 9th walking 1.

Springfield 4, Arkasas 5 (Game 1: 7 innings)

• Colby Rasmus went 1-for-3 with a BB.
• Jose Martinez went 1-for-2 with a double and a BB.
• Mark Hamilton went 2-for-4.
• Mitchell Boggs went 5 innings allowing 11 hits, 1BB and 5 ER. He allowed 2 solo shots as well.
• Springfield scored 3 runs in 5.1 innings of the Angels top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart — not a bad night.

Springfield 4, Arkasas 0 (Game 2: 7 innings)

• Colby Rasmus went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and his 25th HR of the season.
• Jose Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double and a BB.
• Cody Haerther went 2-for-3 with a HR.
• Amaury Cazana Marti went 2-for-4.
• Adam Daniels threw 4 innings allowing 2 hits, 1 BB and 4 Ks.
• Kyle McClellan struck out 1 and allowed a hit in an inning of work.
• Jason Motte and Mike Sillman did McClellan one better each allowing a baserunner and striking out 2.

Palm Beach 12, St. Lucie 2

• Jim Rapoport went 2-for-5 with a triple and a BB.
• Dan Nelson, Allen Craig and Luke Gorsett all went deep.
• AJ Van Slyke went 3-for-5 with a double.
• Nathan Southard went 2-for-5 with a double.
• Adam Ottavino went 5 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 4 BBs and 5 Ks. He’s now walked 16 in his last 3 starts (16 innings). I don’t know if this is an aberrant data blip or he’s going through a dead arm period or what but it’s certainly not what you want to see from Ottavino. After tonight’s start he will be walking over 10% of batters per plate appearance. That’s the (somewhat) arbitrary line in the sand for me as to how a pitcher/hitter is doing and while I don’t like Ottavino walking that many, all the discussions of adding a two-seam fastball and changing his pitching style makes it hard for me to come down too hard on him. I don’t make allowances for the “human element” of the game very often, but this is one case where I might. He hasn’t done as
• Scott Vander Weg went 3 innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 2.

Quad Cities 1, Cedar Rapids 4

• Quad Cities was 5 hit and failed to draw a walk.
• A nice outing for Clayton Mortensen going 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 1 BB and striking out 5 for 2 ER. I panned the draft pick back in June but Mortensen has been nothing short of spectacular at QC so far this season with a K rate over 30%, fantastic GB% and a FIP near 2. It’s obviously too early to know what his career path will be but so far Luhnow and crew deserve credit for a nice pickup (although I still wonder if he wouldn’t have been available at a later draft pick). For someone who was reported with spotty command he’s kept the walks down as well.

Batavia 4, Auburn 5

• Daniel Descalso, William Groff and Travis Mitchell each had 2 hits including a double.
• Logan Collier allowed 5 runs in 3 innings on 7 hits while striking out 2.
• Blake King had an excellent outing throwing 4 innings allowing 1 hit, 1BB and striking out 6.

Johnson City 4, Burlington 9

• Matthew Arburr hit a 2-run HR.
• Beau Riportella went 2-for-3.
• Nothing good can come of discussing the pitching in the game.

GCL Cardinals 5, GCL Marlins 6

• 1B Scott Thomas went 2-for-3.
• 2B Braulio Hiraldo went 2-for-4 with a HR.
• Mark McCormick started the game striking out 3 in 1.2 innings. He allowed 1 hit and 2 BBs for 2 runs (1 earned).
• Matthew North allowed 5 hits and 1 BB in 3 innings while striking out 5.