Posted on 09 January 2009
H/W: 5-11 200 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 3/15/85
After a mediocre 2007 season, the University of Miami alum kicked it up a notch at both AA Springfield and AAA Memphis last season hitting .312 with 12 HR 57 RBI 10 SB and 65 runs scored. Jay is a solid gap to gap hitter who makes good contact at the plate and does not strike out often. The increase in HR production was a welcome addition to his game and he has the ability to play an above average CF at the major league level. The biggest drawback in Jay's game is his ceiling as a pro. He has many decent skills, but none that set him apart from other intriguing prospects. He hits for a good average, but his HR totals profile as just a tick below average. He has good speed, but he is not adept as stealing bases. The Cardinals have a good supply of talented OF within their organization with the likes of Colby Rasmus and Daryl Jones being much more his improvements from 2007 to 2008, there is some optimism that he can continue to develop into a solid every day player.
2009 Projection: The Cardinals will give Jay a look this spring to gain a better assessment of his usefulness to the ballclub. In all likelihood, Jay will make the trek back to Memphis before earning a call up at some point in the summer. Keep tabs on his power numbers and SB numbers the early going. His 10 SB in 18 chances are well below his capabilities. Jay stole 31 bases in his final season at Miami, if he can snag 20 or so next season, his chances of being a top of the order hitter improves drastically. Jay has some good skills that would be of use on another roster with less OF depth. Don't be surprised to see the Cardinals perhaps package him up in a deal in the off season.
Key Jon Jay Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings #/250
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
Posted on 03 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 7/18/84
Three words summed up this Berkley alum's season - wash, rinse, repeat. Craig continued to be a consistent run-producing corner infielder at AA Springfield hitting .304 with 22 HR 85 RBI and 84 runs scored. Craig has incredible bat speed and leverage to his righty swing that generates 20-25 HR power to all fields. While he doesn't walk as much as someone with his power should, he made big strides in the second half of the season cutting his K rates and increasing his walk totals. Craig has a strong work ethic and a burning desire to be the best he can be both with the bat and the glove. Defensively, Craig has made great strides at the hot corner, though his limited arm strength and athleticism should make him merely adaquate. After the arrival of '08 top pick Brett Wallace, Craig was shifted to LF which may end up being where he plays as a pro. Either way, Craig's bat should cause for him to wiggle into the Cardinals' lineup in the not too distant future.
2009 Projection: The Cardinals will likely give Craig a long look in spring training before shipping him to AAA Memphis in April. Keep tabs on Craig's walk totals in the early going as his second half improvement offers optimism that he has taken another step forward in his development. Playing in the hitter-friendly PCL, Craig could put up some big numbers early on, further enhancing his chances of earning a mid-summer call up. If he can make the Cardinals' MLB Roster, his sole cards in the 2006 Bowman Draft / 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft sets could experience a substantial increase in demand.
Key Allen Craig Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2006 Bowman Draft
Posted on 03 January 2009
H/W: 6-5 250 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 5/12/87
The Cardinals selected the Ole Miss hurler with the supplemental 1st round pick they received for losing Troy Percival to free agency. Lynn did not disappoint, going 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA and a sterling 4 BB/22 K ratio in 18.2 IP at short season Batvia before being shut down in August after a couple of good starts at Low-A Quad Cities. Lynn has a big, durable frame that should be able to handle a heavy work load. Featuring three average major league pitches, Lynn is not particularly overpowering, but he controls the strike zone with great proficiency and is a fiery competitor on the mound. Some scouts are concerned about Lynn's robust build, noting that conditioning will be a key for him. Additionally, despite his solid debut, Lynn does not have dominant stuff which will make it difficult for him to replicate his success against more advanced hitters.
2009 Projection: Lynn should be ready for the 2009 season and likely will start the '09 season at High-A Palm Beach with, barring any setbacks, a promotion to AA Springfield will likely happen shortly thereafter. The main thing to watch for with Lynn is his continued ability to put hitters away. This would be most visible in his batting average against (BAA) and his K/9 IP. Ultimately, he should be a durable mid-rotation starter who eats up innings and wins 10-15 games per season.
Key Lance Lynn Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/570
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
Posted on 20 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 235 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 8/26/86
The Cardinals felt blessed to have the Arizona State alum fall to them at the 13th overall pick of the '08 draft. Wallace responded remarkably well to every challenge thrown his way hitting a combined .337 with 8 HR 36 RBI and 41 runs scored in just 54 games. The hot streak continued in the Arizona Fall League as Wallace batted .309 with 6 HR and 24 RBI. A thick build and quick left-handed swing gives Wallace the ability to drive the ball out of any part of the park and his plate discipline should allow for him to hit for a high average and OBP. Despite the many murmurs from baseball scouts who think that he is incapable of playing 3B at the major league level, Wallace impressed many with his soft hands and strong arm at the hot corner. Wallace has a thick and heavy lower body that deters from his athletic potential and should relegate him to 1B at some point in his career. Albert Pujols has 1B locked down for the several seasons to come. It will be of utmost importance for Brett to stick at 3B as long has he can.
2009 Projection: The Cardinals have placed Brett Wallace on the fast track to the major leagues. While his bat is ready, his glove and body needs some work. Expect Wallace to start the '09 season either at AA Springfield or AAA Memphis before earning a spot in St. Louis' lineup at some point later in the season. As of right now, the Cards have the injury-prone Troy Glaus manning the hot corner. If he goes down with an injury, Wallace should get his shot. Once he's here, expect several .300 seasons with 25-30 HR to follow.
Key Brett Wallace Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/499
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
- 2008 UD Team USA Auto #/150
Posted on 02 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 195 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/11/86
2008 was a downer year for the Cards' top prospect. After bombarding AA pitching in '07, Rasmus was expected to continue the hot streak at AAA Memphis for a short while before patrolling CF at Busch Stadium. None of that happened, however, as Rasmus battled an early season slump and was plagued by injuries to his groin and knee. Rasmus struggled to hit .252 with 12 HR 38 RBI and 15 SB in 96 games. When healthy, Rasmus is one of the brightest 5-tool talents in all of baseball. His left handed swing generates easy power to all fields as he seemingly hits every ball with authority. Rasmus can play any OF position with Gold Glove capability and his speed translates to 20-30 SB potential at the big league level.
Rasmus' injuries are of concern, though his sprained knee was a Grade 1 sprain that did not need surgery. Additionally, Rasmus is a very streaky player who has a history of getting off to slow starts in the early part of the season. The Cardinals would like to see him develop a more consistent approach to his game. Tony LaRussa had a chance this last September to bring Rasmus up for his MLB debut and he responded by saying "He hasn't earned it" Reading between the lines, this may be an indicator that Colby has some "between the ears" developing to do before becoming the centerpiece of the Cardinals' talented 2009 OF.
2009 Projection: Spring training will be a key indicator on the immediate future of Rasmus. If he can perform well, he may not need to go back to Memphis to start the season. Though current CF Skip Schumaker had a solid '08 season, Rasmus is the future. Expect LaRussa to make him earn it this spring. Keep an eye on Colby's health and his early season stats (especially his BB/K ratio). When Rasmus comes up, whether it be April or later, he is a prime N.L. Rookie of the Year candidate.
Key Colby Rasmus Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2005 Bowman Sterling Jersey/Auto
- 2005 Topps Chrome Update
- 2005 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
2009 Projection: Vasquez should get another shot at Quad Cities and should put up better numbers. Monitor the power progress and also his ability to mitigate his K totals. If he doesn't, he will see a precipitous drop in his batting average numbers. The Redbirds have slick fielding Pete Kozma tabbed as their SS of the future which could mean that Vasquez may need to move to 3B down the road. His arm and good instincts would make him a good fit, but the power would need to progress to a more acceptable level in order to ensure his long term viability at that position.
