2008 Projected Memphis/Springfield Rosters

[BleacherBum593]

Since camp is scheduled to open this week, I thought I would sit down and try to project the rosters for the Cards top 4 minor league clubs - Memphis (AAA), Springfield (AA), Palm Beach (Adv-A) & Quad Cities (A).

I'll start with Memphis tonight and then Springfield on Monday night. Please feel free to post your lineups/thoughts on who you think may make the team(s).

Memphis:
Starting Rotation: Hawksworth, Boggs, Parisi, Brazelton & Wasdin.

Bullpen: Perez (closer), Motte, Worrell, Politte, Castellanos, (Ron) Flores

Starting Position Players: C Mark Johnson, 1B Josh Phelps, 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir, SS Brian Barden, 3B David Freeze, LF Cody Haerther, CF Colby Rasmus, RF Joe Mather

Bench: C Gabe Johnson, 1B/3B Travis Hanson, 2B/SS D'Angelo Jimenez, OF Juan Gonzalez, OF Amaury Marti, OF Nick Stavinoha

EDITED: Other players who have the potential of making the Memphis roster: P Kyle McClellan, P Dennis Dove, P Kelvin Jimenez, C Matt Pagnozzi, 1B Mark Hamilton, U Mike McCoy, U Rico Washington, SS Jose Martinez, SS Tyler Greene & 1B Mike Ferris

[ArRedbird]

BleacherBum -- thanks for getting this started!

Originally Posted by BleacherBum593

Starting Rotation: Hawksworth, Boggs, Parisi, Brazelton & Wasdin.

No problem with your projected starting rotation. If one of these gets injured, look for Jaime Garcia to move up

Bullpen: Perez (closer), Motte, Worrell, Politte, Castellanos, (Ron) Flores

I agree. Except I'd drop Politte & Castellanos and add Jimenez and McClellan. Dove could be in the picture too.

Starting Position Players: C Mark Johnson, 1B Josh Phelps, 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir, SS Brian Barden, 3B David Freeze, LF Cody Haerther, CF Colby Rasmus, RF Joe Mather

I'm in agreement with everything, except the SS. I'd pencil in Ryan there (I don't see how the Cards can carry more than one extra Mid-Inf -- Miles.)

Bench: C Gabe Johnson, 1B/3B Travis Hanson, 2B/SS D'Angelo Jimenez, OF Juan Gonzalez, OF Amaury Marti, OF Nick Stavinoha

Again, BleacherBum, I agree for the most part. I'd drop Gabe Johnson and substitute Pagnozzi. Assign Gabe to back up the AA catcher. Also, I'd drop Hanson and substitute Mike McCoy.

Memphis can afford to carry 3 bench outfielders, right? -- until May, when they have to trim the roster back to 24. Is that correct? I could be wrong.


What happens to Rico Washington 3b/1b?
(Which begs the question: Why did they resign him in the fall?
Answer: They resigned him a couple of days before getting Freese in the Edmonds trade; my guess is he's released if everyone else is healthy.)

[BleacherBum593]

Relievers - I figured Jimenez would get released if he didn't make the big club. I believe he's out of options (not sure on that point) and would have to clear waivers to make the Memphis roster.

Politte - toss up again on whether or not he would make the big club.

Castellanos is having a big winter and I'd expect him to make the Memphis club.

McClellan & Dove - both are on the border with me. I can see them both making the Memphis roster, but they loss the flip of the coin (so to speak). Kyle may have a better chance than Dove to make the Memphis roster out of spring training. Dove's health or should I say injured arm will be something to keep an eye on (along with his 95 mph fastball).

[BleacherBum593]

Ryan vs Miles - EWT and I had that discussion via phone today. Athletic wise, Ryan has to be my favorite to make the big club. Speed, arm, range, hitting ability all fall in Ryan's favor. Miles wins on experience only. IF your rebuilding, you go with the youth or Ryan.

Alot will depend on the play of Adam Kennedy in spring training. In my eyes Miles, Schumaker and Reyes all could be moved by the end of camp.

[BleacherBum593]

On the question of Gabe Johnson and Matt Pagnozzi - they both are interchangiable. I expect both of them to see limited action in backing up Mark Johnson at AAA and Bryan Anderson at AA.

Rico Washington - Because of his versatility he could fit in at either Memphis or Springfield, similar to Mike McCoy.

I gave Hanson the edge at Memphis based on his athletic potential and the hope that he can regain the swing that he showed at Springfield several years ago.

Your right on the 24 man roster. I was thinking that the roster limitation was only in the Texas league. I'll have to eliminate 1 from my projected roster. Coin toss between Marti & Gonzalez. Anybody want to make the call?

[ArRedbird]

Originally Posted by BleacherBum593

Ryan vs Miles - EWT and I had that discussion via phone today. Athletic wise, Ryan has to be my favorite to make the big club. Speed, arm, range, hitting ability all fall in Ryan's favor. Miles wins on experience only. IF your rebuilding, you go with the youth or Ryan.

Alot will depend on the play of Adam Kennedy in spring training. In my eyes Miles, Schumaker and Reyes all could be moved by the end of camp.

Coin flips, heh?
So much for the cerebral approach!

Just kidding.

Thanks for the reasoned / reasonable responses to my post.

Especially insightful is your comment (above) that Miles-Schumaker-Reyes could be moved by the end of camp.

I'll add that they could also move Ryan. I like his athleticism too, but he's a valuable chip -- should some team want to pick up a ss who'd be cheap for several years -- and who'd be willing to negotiate us in exchange for a pitcher.

Of course, I think Ryan is valuable for us and should stick!

Why Pagnozzi for me?

I saw Pagnozzi catch Hawksworth toward the end of last season. He's smooth as silk behind the place -- so smooth in fact that you don't really notice him. Unfortunately, you also don't notice him at the bat! But that defense and handling of pitchers and calling a game are qualities I value highly. And I've seen Gabe play, albeit at 3b (not bad there). I wouldn't mind seeing him at AA as an unofficial coach / catcher, like Crash Davis (Bull Durham).

[BleacherBum593]

ARR - I updated my original post to show players who have the potential to win a spot at Memphis.

[BleacherBum593]

Now the hard part starts - trying to name the pitching staff at Springfield. A lot of good candidates.

Starting Rotation: Jaime Garcia, Adam Ottavino, Stuart Pomeranz, P J Walters, Tyler Norrick.

Bullpen: Luke Gregerson (closer), Cory Rauschenberger, Nick Webber, Dennis Dove, Kyle McClellan, Matt Scherer

Position Starters: C Bryan Anderson, 1B Mark Hamilton, 2B Jose Lucena, SS Tyler Greene, 3B Allen Craig, LF Amaury Marti, CF Jon Jay, RF Mark Shorey

Bench: C Matt Pagnozzi, 1B Mike Ferris, MI Jose Martinez, OF Reid Gorecki, U Rico Washington

Other potential players who could make the Springfield roster: P Eric Haberer, P Adam Daniels, P Clayton Mortenson, P Michael Cooper, P Mark McCormick, P Zack Zuercher, C Gabe Johnson, C Brandon Yarbrough, U Mike McCoy, 3B Travis Hanson, INF Dan Nelson, OF Luke Gorsett, U Casey Rowlett, OF Shane Robinson

[ArRedbird]

Possible Players -- nice addition to the post!

What coin are you flipping, 'cause you and I are using the same one!
-- at least for the starting 5 at Springfield.
So, I say, "Well done" (naturally, since our lists match!)

My only quibbles (and they are slight):
2b: I have Jose Martinez; drop Juan Lucena; add McCoy for MI bench player.
ss: Greene, if he can go; if not, slide in Martinez there, and use McCoy for 2b.

Relievers:
I've slotted McClellan for AAA. (i could be wrong now)
Springfield will need a lefty in the pen. I've got Haberer in McC's slot.
If one of the starting 5 isn't able to go in April,
then slide Haberer into the rotation and
insert reliever Degerman there.

Outfield:
I think Gorecki's days are numbered. At best he'd be a 4th OF there.
I'm thinking, why not put Shane Robinson there? So, that's what I've done.

that's all I got!
I'm enjoying this.

How many years have you -- and other posters here -- been doing this?
I seem to recall that Gagliano would put together a top 40 every September. Now everybody is following that format & you can find a dozen "top" lists! But not many try to predict opening-day rosters of the minors.
-- Why? because it's so crazy!

[BleacherBum593]

How many years have you -- and other posters here -- been doing this?

I think Cranny got me started posting at Fastball.com around the 95 or 96 season. Even then Gags was what I considered the minor league guru of our generation. He was way ahead of the learning curve of everyone else. At the time, our board was the only Cardinal oriented board that had detail knowledge/discussions on the Cardinal minor league farm system. And Gags was a big reason for that.

His Top 40 projection lists were always a big hit. And very hard to duplicate.