Living in eastern Iowa, we’ve had nothing but snow on the ground since Thanksgiving. It’s been a long, relentlessly brutal winter, but the seeing the first spring training game boxscore against a major league opponent is helping me see some light at the end of the tunnel. There were some points of encouragement to find, and some things that bugged me-
- Colby Rasmus walked, doubled and scored a run. He’s reached base all 6 times that he’s appeared at the plate. That’s pretty nice to see. But he also had a fielding error, his 2nd error in as many games.
- The pitching was excellent. It’s nice to see Reyes start to make his case, and Mark Worrell and Jason Motte didn’t allow a hit in their 1 inning of work.
- Hugo Castellanos isn’t really a prospect, but he caught my eye based on his work in the winter leagues and he did pretty well today, striking out 2 in 2 innings while inducing 4 ground outs.
- Not much else going on-Brian Barton went 0 for 1 with a walk, Joe Mather struck out in his only at bat.
- What irked me was to see Juan Gonzalez and Skip Schumaker hit. Gonzalez went 2 for 3 and Skip 3 for 4 with a steal. It is evil, but I’m rooting against them, particularly Juan Gone. Thinking about either costing Brian Barton a roster spot gives me bitter beer face.
Goold thinks Spiezio’s loss could be Joe Mather’s gain. It makes sense, Mather has played 3B/1B/LF/RF and would provide some power in the pinch.
DG also notes that camp darling Kyle McClellan could start on Sunday in place of Joel Pineiro.
More off the field antics-Former 4th rounder Donnie Smith bloodied up some guy in a restaraunt. Are the Cards now the Cincinnati Bengals of the MLB?
Filed under: Daily Farm Reports, Donnie Smith
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
I’m with you on Juan. If he makes it Barton’s gone. Unfortunately the same is true of Mather. I’m not as high on him as I am on Barton and I assume the Cards can send Mather down another time without losing him. Also I don’t know that he has enough expeience at 3b to get a defensive read on him. Ryan can back up short and third so I would think this would make him a shoo in.
Finally, I’ve had a feeling all winter that not moving Reyes could be the best non move of the year. We’ll see.
Why’s everybody always pickin’ on Skip?
Is it because he lost that ball in the lights and took it on the coconut last year? Aside from that BIP-blip, he’s been a good defender and a decent bat. A Schumaker-Barton leadoff tandem to start the year would be a good show as far as I’m concerned.
Gonzalez, though, I’m rooting against him, too.
I was at the game today and rasmus did not make an error in by the way, just an observation. And the error he was given yesterday was on a deep fly ball he threw back in second base and hoff was running across the field for a double cut to third. Rasmus got the error on the play but the two middle guys were out of position.
I’m not rooting against anyone in camp. The fact is Gonzalez was an MVP when healthy. And he’s not too old that he couldn’t recapture some of that magic. I think we get a bit too myopically focused on “we’re not going to win this year so what does it matter.” We aren’t playing in the AL East. And this team isn’t the Pittsburgh Pirates. There’s no reason to give up on the season yet.
Also, even if we don’t compete this year, a healthy and producing Juan Gonzalez could be a very valuable chip at the trade-deadline…and possibly net a prospect better than Barton.
That said, I do want to see Barton make it. I’d like to see Skippy shipped off for a middle-infield prospect that’s blocked somewhere. My OF:
Ankiel
Ludwick
Duncan
Barton
Gonzo (and if he doesn’t cut it, Rasmus)
D.GOOCH
I was at today’s game too. I’m glad I’m not the only one secretly rooting against Juan Gone.
I wouldn’t exactly say I’m “rooting against” Gonzalez — quite the contrary, I have a secret admiration for those full of years who try to play baseball, being well on the far side of 40 myself — but the circumstances are just not right for him to be taking Barton’s spot. If Barton had an option or two left, then maybe, but he’s potentially the best Rule 5 pick they’ve made in a while (and they’ve made a couple of fairly good ones), and giving that talent up for a guy who won’t be around by 2010, even if he does hit this year, is dangerously short-sighted. Gooch’s happy thought of trading Schu — or Ludwick or even Duncan — for a middle-infield upgrade (now or future) may be the best we can hope for here.
Yea..I agree too. I think the team already has enough steroid drama without Juan around. Also, I’m in favor of keeping Skip and trading Duncan for a starter, Let the 3 best athletes (Ankiel, Rasmus and Barton) start. Skip and Luddy are the best back-up options defensively and neither are too shabby with the bat either.
yes, but can mather pitch like Speez?
I don’t like the idea of having that young and experienced an outfield. I see no reason to make any rash moves on Duncan. Move Skip (whose skill set and ceiling are pretty much a known quantity at this point) and keep the others. D.GOOCH
I agree GOOCH. I’m not sure how fans of a team can root against players of that team but whatever.
Bottom line—if Brian Barton plays well and deserves it he will be on the team. If he doesn’t he wont. Would I PREFER Barton over Gonzalez–sure. But I want the spot to go to the guy who earns it. I realize the age thing, etc.
But I’m also not going to totally say “well, we can’t win this year”. The division hasn’t been great. Do I think we will win? No. But is it Ok if I cheer for us to win?
It would be a neat story if Juan played well, gave us 250 AB’s and crushed LHP (which is all he would be asked to do by the way). I would also like Brian Barton to impress in camp and become a mainstay.
But hopefully both guys are so good it becomes a tough decision to make. Also, I don’t get why we are rooting against Skip? Makes no sense to me.
I kind of want people/prospects/young players to actually EARN spots–not have them handed to them.
‘Course LaRussa could carry five outfielders again, which would include both Juan and Barton (along with Ludwck, Ankiel, and Duncan). Given the youth and inexperience of that outfield, I would think that would have to be necessary. It means Rasmus goes back to Memphis, which actually is my preference. Let him come during the year (so the Cards control his rights a bit longer). Barton would fulfill the lead-off issue that Rasmus would, while Juan provides some power off the bench. Ryan stays to play third, second, and short, and Phelps is the injury call-up for Pujols. All that’s possible.
Breaking this down to an “either-or” situation is limiting and, given the uncertain status of many aspects of the roster, unrealistic.
Well Juan Gone hits a 3 run HR off Santana, just to irk Erik some more.
SERENITY NOW!!!
spring training stats don’t matter…spring training stats don’t matter…spring training stats don’t matter.
I’m certainly rooting for Skip. The better he plays, the more likely he is to be traded for real value rather than released. It’s a numbers game. We can’t keep all of Ankiel, Duncan, Barton, Shumaker, Ludwick, Gonzalez in the Cardinals organization (assuming Gonzalez wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment)…so someone has to go. Skip is out of options. I’d rather we got something for him than nothing. D.GOOCH