TOWER GROVE — As I start writing this entry I’m watching another replay of Don Larsen’s perfect game on the shiny new MLB Network — man,  could I really go for a Gillette shave — and the game is just about to enter the ninth inning. What a new year’s treat to see the gem of the 1956 World Series and hear Vin Scully deftly avoid the karmic land mine that would be mentioning the perfect game.

Instead he describes the near-miss hits. He talks about 24 consecutive retired batters.

He finds every way possible to describe the perfect game and no-hitter without saying either phrase.

His bat plays at the plate, especially if Tony Cruz can play behind it.

That really has nothing to do with the Bird Land Community Top 30, save that it offers a pleasant backdrop to the writing of today’s entry, the first of 2009. It sets up, in some ways, to be a telling comparison of could-be catchers — Arnoldi “Tony” Cruz and Steve Hill. After some discussion about how to rank a prospect sight unseen, third baseman Roberto De La Cruz, the St. Louis Cardinals’ big-ticket international signing this past summer, claimed the No. 25 spot in the Comm Top 30 with 33 percent of the vote. (See Ben Badler’s post at Baseball America about some of the other international signings who have impresed so far.) De La Cruz edged the current poll stalwart, RHP Tyler Herron.

Plenty has been said about Herron in these entries, so I wanted to scan down a little deeper in the poll and look at two of the more compelling hitters in the system, Cruz and Hill. Both were drafted at different positions — third and first, respectively. Hill is listed as a left fielder.  Cruz has only recently been tabbed as a catcher on his stat page.

(Hold on a sec. Dale Mitchell is stepping with two outs in the ninth for what his last at-bat of his career, right? Wow. “Yankee Stadium is shivering in its concrete foundation,” Scully says.)

Ditto with Steven Hill, a versatile fielder improving behind the plate. (Source: MiLB.com)

The Cardinals selected both players because they knew about their bats and they believed each could return to or handle playing catcher. Cruz went off to Hawaii this winter to play regularly as a catcher. “He’s got a passion for the game, and that’s always a place to start,” said Cardinals’ Triple-A hitting coach Mark Budaska, who was with Cruz in Hawaii for winter ball, for a feature I wrote for BA. “I think he’s got the ability. I’d put him at first. I’d put him at third, or have him catch. He’s got the big body and he’s really athletic for his size.”

Hill was selected to be the Cardinals’ extra player in the Arizona Fall League — meaning he was limited on the days he could play, but he could get at-bats and innings in the advanced league, including needed seasoning behind the plate. Each continued to hit:

• Arnoldi “Tony” Cruz … Hit .323/.363/.452 in Hawaii, with 11 of his 30 hits going for extra bases, and 18 strikeouts against seven walks.
• Steven Hill … Hit .304/.382/.609 in Arizona, with eight of his 14 hits going for extra bases (including three homers) and 13 strikeouts against six walks.

Those numbers look good regardless of position, but scouts and coaches agree they are even better if either player — or both — show proficiency behind the plate.

Cruz, who by many accounts was a strong defensive player at third base, has returned to the catcher position well, showing of a good enough arm and a knack for handling pitchers. Hill appears to be developing as utility bat, a hitter who fits into the capable of handling the corner infield positions, outfield and catcher. He just hasn’t seized one of them. Hill missed some time last season with a broken hand, and still didn’t break stride at the plate. (A game story starring Hill from the 2007 season.) It appears the Cardinals plan to get him ample time behind the plate this spring to prod his development there.

Both are scheduled to come to spring training as catchers.

Where they start the season could depend on if they leave spring training as catchers, too.

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A recap of the Comm Top 30 so far, as we enter 2009 and near the end:

1. Colby Rasmus, OF
2. Brett Wallace, 3B
3. Chris Perez, RHP
4. Bryan Anderson, C
5. David Freese, 3B
6. Jason Motte, RHP
7. Daryl Jones, OF
8. Jess Todd, RHP
9. Mitchell Boggs, RHP
10. Jaime Garcia, LHP
11. Niko Vasquez, SS
12. Clayton Mortensen, RHP
13. Pete Kozma, SS
14. Allen Craig, INF
15. Jon Jay, OF
16. Adam Reifer, RHP
17. Tyler Greene, INF
18. Lance Lynn, RHP
19. P.J. Walters, RHP
20. Adam Ottavino, RHP
21. Fernando Salas, RHP
22. Nick Additon, LHP
23. Shane Robinson, OF
24. Francisco Samuel, RHP
25. Roberto De La Cruz (or Pina), 3B
26. THIS WEEKEND

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