I figure most of you come here for the DFR’s more than for anything else, but I like having afternoon post during the week, just to give you all something more to chew on. Lately, I’m running low on post ideas. Here’s what I have on tap:
- Update on prospects in either our Reader Top 25, or my own.
- A retrospective on Skip Schumaker.
- Perhaps my own updated rankings–Top 10 or 15 at the most.
I can’t promise I’ll take every suggestion, but if there is something you would like to see here, I’m all ears.
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erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
in a few weeks, i’d love to see a ‘how are they doing so far’ analysis of our draft picks from this year. thanks for all the great work!
Maybe a Prospect Profile of Jon Jay.
Phil–
I’m actually holding off on profiles until the offseason, otherwise we’ll not have much to discuss in the winter time.
Perhaps a recap of players having made it out of our camps in the Dominican and Venezuela to the US minor league system. Too early to tell what sort of return the Cards are getting on those investments but I’d be interested to read a summary / analysis of where it stands.
There is a bit of movement between some of the summer leagues, and short season teams, etc. A recap of the movement and where some of these players are coming from would be great.
I’d like to see some projections of some of the lower level players. I know about the Garcias, Walters, Todds, and B. Andersons of the organization but I really don’t understand what the organization is trying to do in the Palm Beach, QC, and below levels. I would like to see what people expect from players like Nick Additon, Mark Diapoules, Donovan Solano, and the toolsheds that are D. Jones and T. Pham and others that have potential but are nowhere near as refined baseball players as their teammates in AA and AAA. How do people and the organization see these and other players that haven’t got the experience and results of players in Springfield or Memphis? Without firsthand observance, how should we judge players who may have underwhelming stats, particularly with regard to the piggy-back system? Another suggestion is to add a Organizational overview to the position by position series (which I really like) to show where there is room for the prospects we are discussing or if they are closer to being groomed for trade bait in the big picture. Keep up the good work. This site is a must read and is the premier site for anything related to the Cardinals minor leagues.
A top 25 update would be cool. I would also like to see a failed prospect profile.
How about an update around the Break of the Futurebirds that have become Presentbirds. Give a brief recap of their contributions to the big club, and if they have/haven’t carried over their success to the top level.
I like the retrospective idea, but possibly to expand it beyond just Schumaker to other Cardinals who came up through our ranks (eg, Molina, Duncan, Pujols, etc.).
I remember another post you made like this, I think during the winter, and I suggested an idea that will take some imagination. What about a DFR-like boxscore from a Cardinals game in the near future (say, 2011)? The idea is kinda similar to BA’s future lineups in the Organizational Top Tens. You could essentially build how you think the team will be in that year and play general manager a bit. Make the lineup, the rotation, the bullpen, and the bench. Could be for some cool reading.
Pitcher scouting reports. Velocity, FB movement command, other pitches they through and how good their command and movement is on them, etc.
I love finding out that sort of thing on all our pitchers.
How about Prospect Watches for players that are currently struggling? You need to test to see if the Prospect Watch will work in reverse…
I agree with Joe.
Let’s dig up some info on the Rom Ruiz - like players and see what they offer.
How about and Odds of Happening type segment. The only current thing I can think of is:
What were the odds at the beginning of the season that Mark Mulder would come back and look like he can make a “contribution” before Matt Clement?
And then go into the point/counter-point of the arguements.
What are the odds that Allen Craig passes David Freese on the depth chart? What are that chances that either one plays third base in STL.
How about some prospect smackdowns between some of the Cards top prospects and some of our division rivals top prospects. For example, Geovany Soto v. Bryan Anderson or Jay Bruce v. Colby Rasmus. I know it is hard to be objective in these comparisons so maybe we could open up a poll on their tools. This type of thing would give us some insight on our rivals’ prospects. Also, we might gain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Cards system v. their division rivals.
How about an all Cardinal farmhand team of current major leaguers who started in our system?
Also a review of the prospect rankings would be good. Could include whether they’re trending up or down and then include new names who didn’t make it the first time around.
how about some thoughts on what the cards should do with their glut of young/semi-young OF talent. like who are the ones they should keep and who should they try to deal. There is a real crunch in the OF in the upper minors/mlb that the Cards will have to deal with and it appears it will only get worse with guys like Jones and Pham forcing their way up.
I vote for a “Future Projections” or “Fast Foward” segment with projected numbers for say a Garcia, Walters, Rasmus, etc… in thier first full big league season.
Maybe even projecting a starting five of Walters, McClellan, Boggs, Todd, & Garcia . Just for fun to see how we might fare with just the kids as starters.
Idea #1: “Trades I’d like to see” (involving prospects, obviously). This dovetails nicely with Dan’s idea.
Idea #2: Go a little beyond Nick’s (good) idea and reveal/discuss the rising stars who parallel Todd, Mortensen, Da Koz, etc., at the same level but playing for other teams. Who are these guys going to be competing against when they reach the Show? Anybody in the Reds’ or Flubs’ system who’s rising as fast as Todd? That kind of thing.
Idea #3: Continuing updates on who’s signed from this year’s class. Obviously not something that you can devote a whole day’s “column” to, but a useful paragraph at the bottom of the page.
Idea #4: If you can dig it out, something on how the Naval Academy, Mitch Harris snafu came about. What led the team to believe that the most hidebound of all services and academies would make an exception to their policy for this one guy?
I vote for an Ask Pickle Segment.
You ask me a question, I google the answer or just make one up and then I tell you who Dewitt’s lack of spending the reason for allt the worlds problems!!.
But I will use italics, so it will look legit and professional
Hey, just wondering….
has Brett Wallace been signed yet?
Two things I would like are some info on our latin efforts (players, coaches, ballpark, anything). Maybe an interview with one of the latin guys that have recently been called up to the states. It would also be great to have a post describing the different levels of the minors. I have no idea what determines where these guys are put in the minors.
Not sure where else to put this, but it is being reported that Mulder was scratched from his start tonight. Guess that adds for more fun this weekend…
Some great ideas here…particularly the ones about comparing our prospects to top players in other systems.
I would also love to see some interviews with some of the minor league hitting/pitching coaches to find out what they’re working on with some of the prospects and how these players are adjusting/refining their game.
I love the ideas of updating on current status of draftees, both in regards to signing as well as how they’re doing (maybe the top 15 or 20 signees) once they’re in the system.
I love this site. I check in at least twice daily. Keep up the great work!
I would love to see a look at how our prospects stats have translated from Memphis to STL. Just to give an idea how to compare the numbers from players in AAA vs players currently in STL.
For example, Would Barden or Hoff translate to hit better than Izz or AK ?
Who is Richard Castillo?
I vote for bringing back the Rasmus watch, I think it’s safe now
I’d like to see an updated top 20-25 prospect list each week. or top 10-15 if that’s easier.
Another idea would be to keep people updated on the Cardinals top 6 draft picks or so of 2008 each week.
I just want to know what type of stuff Richard Castillo has. He pitched great in High-A, and had a great debut in Low-A. But, I think it’s very important to find out what type of stuff he has. I do know he throws a curveball, but that’s about all that I know.
I’d like to something on other teams’ players who may be available for trade, as much as that can be determined. Alot of us say, “(gasp) I got it, trade for a middle infield prospect!!!”, but I, at least, have no idea who’s actually out there in other systems that we could go after. Or maybe just a general overview of one team’s system every week or two.
re: Trade Posts
Those will probably start to come in a week or so as the trade market becomes clearer. There were a few last year under the “Raiding the Farm” tag but we know that everyone loves trade talk so there will certainly be more of them.