Spring
Training Notebook – 03/02
The
Weekly Spring Training Roster Report
The
Cardinals currently have 59 players in camp; the break down is 28 pitchers, 8
catchers, 11 infielders and 12 outfielders.
PITCHERS (28)
#29
Chris Carpenter - working on changeup that cost him two runs Thursday, (he’s
fine)
#71 Troy Cate – pitched two strong innings against FAU
#79 Andy Cavazos – allowed only one earn run in 16 AA appearances, for a 0.45 ERA
#79
Dennis Dove – a plus fastball made the trip but did not play Thursday against
Mets
#40 Brian Falkenborg – pitched well against FLA Wednesday, a dark horse
to make the club
#34 Randy Flores – gave up 4 hits, 2 runs, in one inning
pitched Wednesday, still early
#31 Ryan Franklin – if Braden Looper
falters, the job appears to his
#32 Josh Hancock – didn’t look good
on Wednesday, could be facing some competition
#77 Blake Hawksworth – pitched
well against the Mets with their stars still in the game
#44 Izzy –
pitched side session on Thursday, I’m still doubtful he’ll be ready
#78
Kelvin Jiminez – coaches reluctant to be very impressed, but the kid is doing
very well
#61 Tyler Johnson – pitching well in spite of getting tagged
for loss on Thursday
#54 Randy Keisler – coaches higher on Keisler initially,
than I am
#52 Josh Kinney – my set up guy for Izzy, or temporary closer if
needed
#64 Chris Lambert – stand out from Boston College itching to get into a
game
#41 Braden Looper – makes his first Major League start Friday vs.
Mets
#30 Mark Mulder - will start the season on the 60 day DL
#60 Chris Narveson - real dark horse to make the club as a lefty starter
#65 Mike Parisi – blew a save opportunity Thursday, maintained composure, good
sign
#23 Anthony Reyes - sharp, considering stage of spring training
#73
Ricardo Rincon – schedule to pitch Friday, working out like he has to make
the club
#66 Mike Sillman – coaches very high on, pitched scoreless frame
against FLA
#63 Russ Springer – solid veteran, I didn’t see much of this
week
#48 Brad Thompson – hasn’t appeared in a game yet, does that tell you
something?
#50 Adam Wainwright – only took 30 pitches to get through three
innings Wednesday
#21 Kip Wells - #2 starter, should have his best season
ever, mark it down
#67 Mark Worrell – Minor League Pitcher of the Year 05,
struggled against FAU,
CATCHERS (8)
#87 Bryan Anderson – he
has what Molina doesn’t have and vice versa
#28 Gary Bennett – may have to
beat out Marrero before it is over
#82 Ryan Christenson – in camp for at
least two more weeks
#84 Brian Esposito – with the Cardinals until the
minors report in mid-March
#74 Michel Hernandez – cut from the 40 man roster,
Triple-A his best shot
#35 Eli Marrero – spent time at first this week after
catching for mostly for 2 weeks
#4 Yadier Molina – hitting .500
(1-2) so far, didn’t play in Thursday’s game in New York
*83 Danilo Sanchez –
the ninth catcher on the depth chart
INFIELDERS (11)
#70 Tagg Bozied – some raw talent here, listed as infielder, playing at first
#19
Jolbert Cabrera – he can play shortstop, made a great play on Wednesday
#22
David Eckstein - if the season started today, he would be ready
#68 Edgar Gonzalez – pinch hitting for Miles Thursday, hit a HR, that doesn’t hurt
#76
Travis Hanson – added 15 pounds this winter, great shape, ready for
comeback
#7 Adam Kennedy – missed first three games this week due
to twinge on right side
#12 Aaron Miles – getting more playing time with
Kennedy injured
#5 Albert Pujols – 0-for-six, first two Major
League Spring Training Games, cut him
#27 Scott Rolen - physically he’s 100%
for a change
#75 Brendan Ryan – putting in overtime with Rick Eckstein &
Oquendo, working on defense
#26 Scott Spiezio – the super-sub is playing
first and third so far
OUTFIELDERS (12)
#49 Rick Ankiel – 10th
spring training with St. Louis, forget his past, starting at Memphis
#16
Chris Duncan – improving each day with his defense, hit a HR Thursday vs.
Mets
#15 Jim Edmonds - look for him around the third week of March,
#43 Juan Encarnacion - should start hitting in about a week
#86 Cody Haerther – will have trouble getting at bats this
spring
#63 Ryan Ludwick – two base hits and a sac fly in the FAU game,
impressive start
#88 Miguel Negron – walk and struck out, late inning
replacement for Dunc Wednesday
#84 Colby Rasmus – the future may be
closer than you think
#53 John Rodriguez – how many outfielders can they
carry? J-Rod may be odd man
out
#55 Skip Schumaker – still covering a lot of ground in center and
right
#99 So Taguchi - to see more playing time in center with
Edmonds sidelined
#3 Preston Wilson – will get a lot of at-bats
this spring, for a 4th or 5th outfielder
NOTES
Braden
Looper gets his first start today against the Mets. He’ll be followed by Ryan Franklin, who
is supposed to be in competition with Looper for the 5th starter’s job. Chris Narveson, Josh Kinney, Kelvin Jimenez, Dennis Dove and Ricardo Rincon are also scheduled to pitch.
Chris
Narveson, a long shot to make the club as a member of the rotation, would be the
only lefty in the rotation.
Josh Kinney,
La Russa has said that Kinney is in competition to start, I would suggest he be
used as the set up man for Izzy or if Izzy is hurt, put his name at the top of
the closer by committee list.
Kelvin
Jimenez has been very impressive early in camp, he’s been so good, seriously I
can’t wait to see him pitch again and I have only watched about 70 hours of
pitching over the past three weeks.
Dennis Dove
has a blazing fastball that could end up anywhere. In Springfield last season, the stadium
radar gun hit 103 several times when I saw him pitching there. The gun may have been off, but he still
packs some heat.
Ricardo
Rincon looks a lot better so far than I was expecting. I was down on him last year, for showing
up late, taking off to the World Baseball Classic and then not surviving the
first month of the season, which may be attributed to his WBC play. He is in
excellent condition, pitching well and fielding his position well in pitching
the drills.
Hall of
Famer Lou Brock arrived in camp this week; we should begin seeing him in uniform
around the ballpark.