Future Redbirds

The Memphis Redbird’s long running seasons of losing should be coming to an end this season. They won a league least 56 games last year and only 58 the year before. That should all change, thanks to Colby and Company coming to town this year.

Normally, the sad state of the Cardinal farm system has led the team to field a team of minor league free agents; retreads and busts clinging onto the remaining scraps of their career. Memphis has even reconsidered re-upping their contract with the Cardinals, sighting the long losing record that has kept away fans in droves. This year, Memphites will see the system’s best homegrown talent in ages in Colby Rasmus and arguably the team’s best pitching prospect in Chris Perez. Among Baseball America’s Top 30 prospects, Memphis will likely start the season with a third of them; aside from Perez and Rasmus, they will likely have Mitch Boggs, Joe Mather, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Kyle McClellan, Jason Motte, Mark Worrell, David Freese, Mike Parisi and Blake Hawksworth. Memphis could also conceivably see top prospects Jaime Garcia, Bryan Anderson, Clayton Mortensen and Adam Ottavino at some point as well. That is enough to make them the team to watch this season. Heck, even the minor league free agents come with intrigue. Josh Phelps can slug, Mark Johnson is an on base machine and Dewon Brazelton was at one time considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game.

Guesstimated opening day lineup:

CF- Colby Rasmus
2B- Jarrett Hoffpauir
RF- Joe Mather
1B- Josh Phelps
LF- Amaury Marti
3B- David Freese
SS- Brian Barden
DH- Nick Stavinoha or Cody Haerther
C- Mark Johnson

That’s a dangerous lineup, one that should far surpass league low 630 runs the Redbirds scored least season. I’m assuming Colby will continue to lead off, where he hit .394/.463/.873 over 73 at bats in that role for Springfield last season. Last year’s team was totally deficient at getting on base (.325). Rasmus, Johnson, Hoffpauir and perhaps Freese should help in that department. They had a pathetically low .409 slugging % last season, Joe Mather, Phelps, Marti and Rasmus will provide a huge upgrade.

Defensively they should be improved as well. Up the middle they have the good gloves of Rasmus and Barden. Freese is no slouch at the hot corner and Marti was on of the Mexican League’s best outfielders according to Dan Fox’s metrics.

Guesstimated rotation:

SP- Mike Parisi
SP- Mitchell Boggs
SP- Blake Hawksworth
SP- Kyle McClellan
SP- Dewon Brazelton

Parisi and Hawksworth are back, both hoping to improve upon mediocre seasons. Mitchell Boggs will hope for a better first season in AAA then what his rotation mate’s experience, but looking at his high BABIP trend and so-so strikeout rates, I wonder a little about what will happen to him. Should he struggle he could move to the bullpen, which many think his future lies anyway. McClellan is looking to do just the opposite being 2 years removed from Tommy John now. He’ll have to count on his full arsenal of pitches to give him success in his new role.

Guesstimated bullpen:

CL- Chris Perez
SU- Jason Motte
MR- Mark Worrell
MR- Hugo Castellanos
MR- Ron Flores
MR- Dennis Dove
MR- John Wasdin

Perez, Motte and Worrell could very well be the Nasty Boys of the PCL next year; they should all register lots of whiffs. Castellanos provides another look with his submarine style and extreme groundball ways. Dove looks to comeback from shoulder problems, it may be a while for his velocity comes back.

For once in a long time, there will be a better reason to go to the ballpark then Charlie Vergos’ famous BBQ nachos. Head on out to AutoZone Park, friends. It should be worth your while this year.