TOWER GROVE — The Arizona Fall League is settling into gear, and while Stephen Strasburg is the headliner out at the annual gathering of some of the better prospects in baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals have sent some noteworthy names out west. A few are making up for lost time. A few are trying to extend their strong seasons. And more than one is trying to find a way onto the organization’s radar.

Several, as you would imagine, are alive on the Bird Land Community Top 21 poll, as we continue to work through the Top 10.

Outfielder Daryl Jones, who started in left field for the Surprise Rafters in their 3-2 victory Thursday, is out in Arizona trying to get some at-bats to fill the time he missed with knee trouble this past season. Taken in the 2005 draft out of a Houston high school, Jones was the Cardinals’ minor-league player of the year in 2008, and he earned the award by realizing the baseball potential the Cardinals believed the raw athlete had. He appeared in the Futures Game this past year at Busch Stadium, and he’s your No. 6 prospect in the system.

Jones received 30 percent of the 646 votes in yesterday’s poll, continuing what has to be classified as surprising results so far. Several other players out in Arizona are either in the poll today (Daniel Descalso) or will be in the days to come (Adam Reifer, Tyler Henley). Before moving on to No. 7, here are how some of them are doing through the early days of the AFL:

• Gary Daley Jr., RHP — 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4 innings pitched. Righthander has always had some of the best stuff around. He just hasn’t had the consistency within the games. His bullpens stand out, but for him to he has to take that ability into games with more regularity.
• Scott Gorgen, RHP — 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 2 2/3 innings pitched. Zero walks. Five Ks. Sure to be a sleeper in this poll and others. His K-rate is good enough to merit inclusion in any Top 30, and we’ll see soon where he fits in your top 21.
• Mike Parisi, RHP — 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 5 innings pitched. A favorite from a few years ago and one of the best curveballs in the organization, Parisi is coming back from Tommy John surgery. He’s getting innings in the AFL and should join the Class AAA rotation for the 2010.
• Adam Reifer, RHP — 0-0, 27.00 ERA, 2 2/3 innings. Three walks. Two Ks. The power-armed potential closer could be a polarizing prospect in any poll. He’ll get his chance in the near future to win a spot in the top 10, and I’m a little surprised he hasn’t been brought up as an “other” already. Speed usually thrills.
• Bryan Anderson, C — .417/.529/.583. 5-for-12, 4 RBI. A top-five prospect from past polls because of his bat, Anderson had shoulder trouble and then a shoulder injury truncate his season. If anything, the injury allows for a correction, as he was highly ranked because of the system more than the player. He’ll use the Arizona Fall League to reassert his place as a prospect.
• Daniel Descalso, 2B — .304/.346/.304, 7-for-23, 1 RBI. See below.
• Daryl Jones, OF — .120/.421/.240. 3-for-25. That slash line shows one of the reasons why Jones has been able to hold his place in the top 10 for several years now. Jones has a good approach at the plate and he has speed, when his knees are healthy. Check the OBP. He has nine walks, seven Ks.
• Tyler Henley, OF — .316/.409/.526. 6-for-19, HR, 4 RBIs. Already getting some “other” votes and soon to be on the poll, Henley had one of the better breakthrough years with Class AA this past season. Will be interesting to see if the higher-caliber competition out in the AFL — it ain’t no daisy farm — helps define his ceiling, too.

One of the pitchers assigned to the AFL by the Cardinals who did not go also remains on the poll today — Lance Lynn. Lynn did not go to Arizona because of the workload he had this past season. He’ll move into the Class AAA rotation for 2010, and his blend of durability, stuff and production seems to be a recipe for a top 10 prospect. Especially in this system once you get past the two high-end starting pitcher prospects.

The poll:

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DANIEL DESCALSO, 2B: At the time of his promotion, Descalso was leading the Texas League in total bases and was considered by opposing managers a fine glove at his position. The lefthanded-hitting infielder has the balanced swing and sting of a batter who could hit for average with gap power. He may run into the occasional home run or two, but Descalso raised his total base, um, totals with doubles. The 23-year-old had 26 doubles in 73 games with Springfield. There he had a slash line of .323/.396/.531 and 51 RBIs. AGE: 23. STATS: Hit .299/.373/.459 overall with 45 of his 130 hits going for extra bases. Had 47 walks to 61 Ks this past season.

TYLER GREENE, SS: What began in spring training, continued through the season as Greene had extended exposure to the majors and a starting/everyday role with Triple-A Memphis. Greene now projects as a utility infielder for the major-league bench in 2010, unless the Cardinals decide to put a lefthanded- or switch-hitting infielder on the bench ahead of him. Greene, No. 16 on the BA poll last season, is still eligible (he was drafted in 2005) for the prospect poll, and probably for the last time. His defense remains his plus-skill, but he improved enough offensively last season that the Cardinals think his power will remain without the wild, fishing swings that cost him production as a younger player. Is one of the true 20-20 players the Cardinals have in the system. AGE: 26. STATS: .291 BA, .851 OPS, 15 HR, 31 SB/3 CS, 42 RBIs in 89 games.

JON JAY, OF: The lefthanded hitting outfielder refined his swing to limit — or almost eliminate — the helicopter-hands timing mechanism that some scouts see as a defect in an otherwise smooth stroke. Jay struggled slow this past season, but found his feel later in the year as the polished approach at the plate became more natural, more effective. He hit .326 in the final month of the regular season with Class AAA Memphis, and some of that was buoyed by his .356/.378/.544 line in August. Some still stand by their belief that Jay has a high-average swing set to be a .300 hitter in the majors. His closing kick supported that, and he’s off in Venezuela this winter to better his standing. AGE: 24. STATS: .281/.338/.394, 23 doubles, 64 strikeouts and 34 walks with 505 at-bats.

LANCE LYNN, RHP: In many ways the Allen Craig of the pitching ranks. Results. Results. Results. Though Lynn has a clear position. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound righthander has the stamp of durability, and that, in some corners, is a tool unto itself. Lynn pitched at three levels this past season, cruising up to Class AA and staying there. He’s got a sinking fastball, which instantly earns him cred, but he also doesn’t miss start, has the poise that comes from being a college pitcher at a strong program (Mike Bianco’s Ole Miss). If steady production and a known quantity steers your vote, Lynn is your candidate. AGE: 22. STATS: 11-4, 2.85 ERA, 124 K, 57 BB, 148 2/3 innnings.

ADAM OTTAVINO, RHP: Was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2006 — 30th overall — and has sported one of the better arms in the system ever since. He has both power on his fastball and feel for several off-speed stuff. What he’s lacked is consistent command of said pitches, and much of that comes from the inability to consistently repeat his delivery. He has been groping for the mechanics that make him both comfortable and that he can repeat with every pitch. This past season, he gritted through several winless months before finding a toehold with the help of pitching coach Blaise Isley. Ottavino has the frame and strength that projects as a starter, and finally he had half a season that puts him on track back to be the prospect advertised. Consistency from start to start has to follow consistency pitch to pitch. AGE: 23. STATS: 7-12, 4.75 ERA, 119 Ks, 82 walks, 114 innings pitched.

FRANCISCO SAMUEL, RHP: Has one of the top power arms in the system, but is the personification of the difference between strike velocity and raw velocity. He can chuck it. He has been known to fire 98 mph, and I watched him throw consistently 96 mph, 97 mph in spring training. But how many of those pitches were strikes? When Samuel sides with consistent control over speed, he does dip into the 94 mph, 95 mph zone. Samuel has been used as closer and setup, and he has an easy delivery that he can repeat. That tells some scouts and coaches that the command will come, and not at the cost of his velocity. When that happens, then he’ll be more of a surefire late-inning relief prospect. AGE: 22. STATS: 59 strikeouts and 46 walks in 47 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .208 against him. He went 3-4, 5.66 ERA with 22 saves for Double-A Springfield.

EDUARDO SANCHEZ, RHP: Probably the breakout player of the year in the system. The reliever has a strong turn in Class AA, and he emerged as not only a setup possibility but a closer possibility. (There’s that line-crossing for one of the P’s — position.) Sanchez has a hard-boring fastball. The young Venezuelan with the slight build throws consistently at 95 mph and has been known to hit 96 mph or 97 mph. He has good movement on the fastball and he is always around the strike zone. Throw in a tight slider and Sanchez has both of the pitches needed to handle the role — and advance quickly. Relievers like him have leapfrogged from Class AA to the majors with success. Two recent examples from the Cardinals’ system: Kyle McClellan and Luke Gregerson. Getting him more experience and seeing him duplicate this year’s success would be the reason to give him the ninth in Triple-A. AGE: 20. STATS: 2-1 overall with 2.28 ERA and 13 saves, 82 Ks, 25 walks, 75 innings and a .174 batting average against.

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