Comm Top 21: Impatient Referendum (Vote No. 3)
TOWER GROVE — Maybe it’s the time of year, what with the season just ending and the playoffs still going on. Maybe it’s how the season ended, with a St. Louis Cardinals team riding high expectations and fizzling when it mattered most. Maybe it’s a fanbase adopting the win-now attitude shown by the front office.
Maybe it’s just a lack of patience.
Whatever the reason, the Bird Land Community Top 21 is two votes old and already a theme has developed: This is an instant-gratification constituency. The No. 2 spot in the poll goes to third baseman David Freese, who GM John Mozeliak said this past weekend on the “Redbird Review 09″ we did at 101.1FM/ESPN deserves every opportunity “to win” the starting job in 2010. Freese received 41 percent of the 2,249 votes — thanks for clicking — and edged draft-pick Shelby Miller by 150 or so votes. So, the standings on the Comm Top 21 so far are:
- Jaime Garcia, LHP
- David Freese, 3B
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What Garcia and Freese have in common is they both are expected to be in contributors in the major leagues next season. Freese will get a crack at the open job at third base, like Mozeliak said, and Garcia is perceived by many as having the best odds to seize the spot reserved for an in-house candidate in the starting rotation. What does that mean for the No. 3 spot in the poll? There are at least two names on the poll listed below who could appear in the majors next season. One, Tyler Greene, is a possible utility infielder for the bench, and righty Eduardo Sanchez is a possible midseason addition to the bullpen. The trend so far says those are the favorites.
But not so far. The new name on the poll — second baseman Daniel Descalso — is also a rising option having performed well in Double-A before a promotion to Memphis. And then there’s always the first-rounder …
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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. Descalso is out in the Arizona Fall League and is 5-for-12 so far. 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.
ALLEN CRAIG, LF: Simply, as one of the people helping craft the polls wrote, “results, results, results”. Side with results and Craig is the pick. Craig led the system in home runs and RBIs, and he had by far the best offensive season of any player in the Cardinals’ minor-leagues. His drawback, and everyone knows this by now, is he lacks a position. He’s moved from third base to first base and is now settled in the outfield. The Cardinals are encouraged by his play in the outfield, but whether that’s enough to get him a major-league crack next season is unsure. This much is clear: He’ll get a longer and more legitimate look than last spring, and last spring he was one of the Cardinals better hitters in Grapefruit League play. AGE: 25. STATS: .322 BA, .921 OPS, .547 SLG, 26 HR, 82 RBI.
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.
DARYL JONES, OF: If you go with precedence then Jones deserves a look. He has remained a high-profile and highly regarded prospect since he was drafted a few rounds after Rasmus. He was No. 7 in your poll last season and he ranked No. 7 in the BA Top 30. The caveat: Health. Jones pushed himself back from injury to participate in this year’s Futures Game at Busch Stadium, and then he spent the rest of the season trying to recover from tendinitis and knee trouble that robbed him of a big part of his game — speed. Jones did not improve up his breakout 2008, and he positions himself for a defining 2010 that will include his first taste of Triple-A baseball. AGE: 22. STATS: .278 BA, .360 OBP, .378 SLG, 7 SB, 50 runs in 80 games.
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.
SHELBY MILLER, RHP: Or perhaps you’re a promise vote, a hope voter and sheer high-ceiling potential voter. Miller hasn’t thrown many pitches as a pro, and he’ll get his first extended exposure this coming season. Still, the first-round pick has the rep, the scouting reports and the bonus of an elite prospect. The Cardinals don’t have many of those, and that could push Miller immediately to the top of the list — where he’ll likely stay Rasmus-style for several years. He’s a power-armed, Texas prep righthander. You do the math. AGE: 19. STATS: 2 starts, 3.0 innings pitched. Not much to go on.
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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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
I’m glad the people voting in this thing do not work in baseball. If they did, the league would be filled with back-end starters and bench players. The voting in this is a travesty to this point, and I’m embarrassed about the results. If you voted Jaime Garcia first overall, I could see your point. Its weak at best, but he does have a blend of promise and proximity. If you voted for David Freese at number 2, you’re an idiot. There’s no way around it. Don’t get me wrong, I hope Freese plays well next year. This is a prospect ranking. If he were actually a ‘top’ prospect he would have been in the majors and stayed for 3 years already. As is, he’s 26/27 and still not a full-time player. People, try to redeem yourselves and at least vote Miller number 3.
Just confused on how a 27 yr old sleeper is considered a prospect? I’m really excited for Freese next year, but I don’t really think he’s a prospect… Is Amaury Marti going in the top 20?
It’s a fine point about the age, and it’s one that I know several people who rank prospects wrestle with. But until the guidelines — which mirror the rookie rules — are altered to have an age cutoff, this is what we got. So many of the prospect polls (BA included) use the MLB rookie rules as their guide, that the Comm polls do the same just so they can be compared with the others.
One of the reasons we have the Bird Land 7 — the top seven prospects in the system — is because we can set the rules. The BL7 is a list of players who have not played in the majors. Not a day, not a PA and IP. And, yes, age is a factor.
dg
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If 27yr old David Freese is the #2 “prospect” in the Cards system we are in big trouble. He is entering his peak years as a hitter and he isn’t a major league player yet. I am all for giving him a chance to replicate DeRosa’s so-so production for the major league minimum but to call him a “prospect” at his age is a stretch.
Miller, Jones, Descalso, Lynn and Sanchez are prospects. As much as I like Allen Craig, I find it hard to call him a prospect at his advancing age too.
I don’t understand why everyone says Allen Craig dont have a position. If Chris freaking Duncan can play LF then surely Allen Craig can. The guy has hit everywhere he has played.
I can’t agree more about the age thing at 27 your no longer prospect.
If the top 2 vote getters are the best we have we are in trouble.
Prospects should be 23 at the max. Lynn, Descalso and Jones should be 3-6.
I can’t vote for Miller yet he hasn’t pitched enough to tell.
DG why did Hearne and Garcia not got to AFL.
Greene is alot like Kennedy was, good defense, so so hitter. He’d be better in another organization where he could play in the majors at his age and begin his career. Craig is sitting at home praying the Cards don’t sign Holliday because if they do his shot at going to the dance as a everyday player will be slim to none. I think Freese and Craig are both in the same boat at their ages, its now or never.
I still Lynn is the best they have but when and if they ever let him drive the family car is a big “if” they way rotation looks set for a few years. And by then he’ll be 28ish.
I agree, I don’t know how Freese is the 2nd best prospect. I guess people are familiar with his name, so he’s got that going for him.
World-Record Jim,
More name-recognition than Miller? I mean it’s not like he’s going up against a guy no one has heard of before. It’s gotta be that most of the voters value/vote for guy they are going to see in the immediate future.
A few years ago the voters seemed willing to “dream on” guys.
Now — it’s all about immediacy.
I think that reflects a sea change.
dg
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I have always understood it to be that the prime of a MLB players age is between 28 and 32. Sometimes miner leaguers who are legitimate prospects are miss judged early in their career and therefore mis-labeled as they go through the system. They get pushed out because some other player gets the rating that is based on popularity or whatever. I think Freese is ready. Allen Craig is a hitter. He hits for power and average. I’d like to see this guy get a chance to play the field so he can prove himself a regular or a utility player. You never know what you might have until they play in the big leagues. And like Brenden Ryan, sometimes it takes a year to get acclamated. These guys could be diamonds in the rough who need to be cut and polished in the big leagues. I’d like see these guys get a shot and then see the saved money be spent on pitching.