It doesn’t take long for Robinson to get his name in the Memphis paper headlines.
Keith Law name drops both Jess Todd and Jaime Garcia as players to watch at the Futures Game. I’m more excited about the Futures Game than I am the All Star game being in STL next year. I will definitely be there.
The top half of the system excels while the bottom half struggles. Memphis has won 6 in a row to pull within 2.5 games of the Iowa Cubs.
- Brian Barden goes 3-for-5 with a triple and a HR. He really is the John Gall of the middle infield. We just need danup to sing his praises now.
- Colby Rasmus goes 2-for-4 with a double.
- Josh Phelps goes 1-for-3 with a HR and a walk. I’d have to think that this is the last time the Cardinals sign a middle of their career first baseman to play in AAA. I’m kinda surprised that Phelps has gotten as much time at first as he has given the number of young outfielders that need playing time (specifically Mather).
- Bryan Anderson went 2-for-3 with a double.
- Uncle Rico had a pinch-hit HR in the 8th.
- Clayton Mortensen went 6 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and 1 ER while striking out 3. He continues to rack up the groundouts (10-4) but all of his peripherals have taken a real hit since moving up to Memphis. Personally, I’d let him spend the rest of the year there regardless of how well he starts to pitch. He needs some sustained success and to get back to those A-ball numbers if at all possible.
- Jason Motte pitched a scoreless 8th striking out 2 and walking 1.
- Jon Jay was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.
- Mark Hamilton, Mark Shorey, Tyler Greene and Matt Pagnozzi all collected a pair of hits. Pags had a double.
- Tyler Herron’s had a rough go of it in Springfield. He’s walking considerably more batters than he had in either A-ball stop. He only made it 5 innings allowing 9 hits, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. He was responsible for all 5 ER.
- Josh Dew and Justin Fiske each pitched a pair of perfect innings striking out 4 and 2 respectively.
- Palm Beach scratched out a run in the 8th when Daniel Descalso reached on a groundball. Brian Cartie bunted him over and Descalso scored on Antonio DeJesus’s single.
- Brandon Dickson was superb throwing 8 innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3.
- Francisco Samuel picked up the save with a scoreless 9th that included a hit, a walk and a strikeout.
- The offense was shut down managing only 4 hits (2 singles, 2 doubles) and 2 walks.
- Richard Castillo had a so-so outing allowing 4 runs in 5 innings. He only had 6 hits against him (1 double, 2-run HR) walking no one and striking out 5.
- Brandon Garner pitched a perfect 8th striking out 1.
- Colt Sedbrook was 3-for-5 with a double and 2 stolen bases.
- Speaking of the running game, the Muckdogs had 5 stolen bases on the night with contributions from Jermaine Curtis, Beau Riportella and . . .
- Jose Garcia who went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Jon Edwards was 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Jameson Maj went 5 innings allowing 6 hits and 4 runs (3 earned). He walked 1 and struck out 3.
Johnson City 1, Elizabethton 6
- JC manages to one up the QC offense collecting only 5 hits (1 double) and no walks.
- Michael Blazek allowed 5 hits in 4 innings striking out 4 and hitting 2 batters. He was tagged for 3 ER including a solo jack.
- Carlos Gonzalez struck out 4 in 2 innings but he also walked 2 allowing 3 hits and 2 ER.
Filed under: Daily Farm Reports
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
Just one year removed from Gonzaga U, Mortensen is on cruise control at AAA. It does not get much better.
Though Todd being on cruise control at AA is equally nice, on an age adjusted basis.
Though Daley, Degerman, and Maiques may have gotten the headlines as amateurs, and some bonus money, UDFA Cotton Dickson out of the Tusculum bullpen is the guy getting it done at Palm Beach.
Dwindling K/9, rising BB/9 for Mortensen, and nearly a 1:1 k/bb ratio. It can and I expect it should get better for Mortensen. I still say they rushed him but it’s nice to see him have a good game.
I’m not quite as enthused about Clay’s AAA performance, Beau. As azru pointed out, Mortensen’s underlying numbers don’t nearly match his fine ERA. A ratio of 19 K’s and 17 BB’s is a bit disheartening. By way of contrast, look at 21-year-old Jaime Garcia (whose ERA is deceivingly more than a run higher [4.10 to 3.03]).
Garcia is walking half as many men, striking out 40% more guys than CM, has a lower HR rate, and is inducing more ground balls. I’d say Mortensen’s been more than a little lucky, and Jaime if anyone is the one who’s on cruise control for Memphis.
A few positives about Mort, though: he went 1-1 yesterday with a sac bunt (he’s hitting .222 so far in AAA), and he picked a man off 1st. Gotta like a pitcher who helps himself.
I think its great that we have Mort, Garcia, Todd, Boggs, and McClellan all doing so well. That pipe line is going to provide alot of low cost innings over the next several season or it has the potential to bring in a quality middle infielder.
First time poster, long (about a year now) time reader. I appreciate the work you guys do a ton! Thanks.
In an ideal world, Boggs would have spent the season at Memphis, while Morty would have begun at Palm Beach and later pitched at AA. Yet Wainwright was hurt, so Boggs and Morty have had to do more than usual. They have been rushed to fill gaps. The main story about Mortensen is positive: that he is doing as well as he is, merely one year removed from college.
Garcia’s curve gets him strikeouts, so it will be easier for him to have a better k/bb ratio than Mortensen. Garcia is looking good too. I would not call either guy lucky. Garcia could get promoted anytime to be a reliever.
For perspective, Boggs threw 440 minor league innings as preparation for the majors. Morty is holding his own at AAA having only thrown about 150 innings of pro ball. (Mortensen did have one more year of amateur play than Boggs to explain some of this delta.)
In general, peripheral ratios will degrade for many pitchers as they go up the ladder, so Morty is probably normal. Yet as Mortensen gains more experience at AAA, he should continue to improve at this level. For now, the positive indicator is he is not getting shelled, despite his light experience.
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