St. Louis Cardinals: Redbirds are equivalent to the Boston Red Sox
The St. Louis Cardinals have in their system a major powerhouse of a team in Memphis. These guys could likely go side-by-side with players in Boston.
In case you’ve lived under a rock, the St. Louis Cardinals have one of the best teams in all of minor league baseball in the Memphis Redbirds. Equally, if you aren’t a follower of the American League then you likely didn’t know how outstanding the Boston Red Sox are this season.
Memphis has taken a sizeable lead in the PCL by winning and winning and winning. These games won have come from young players. These include the likes of Dakota Hudson, Austin Gomber, Oscar Mercado, and Carson Kelly.
Memphis currently owns a lead in their division of 11.5 games with a record of 71-44. Wouldn’t this be nice to have/see in St. Louis in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup?
In the American League, the Boston Red Sox have one of the best teams in the AL-East, if not the tops of the American League. Their young guns (and some veteran presence) have lead themselves to the top of their division.
The Red Sox are leading the AL-East by a commanding nine games. The Yankees trail the Sox and would otherwise be leading any other division in baseball themselves if not for the first-place Red Sox.
Where the Redbirds have a weaker difference of opposing talent faced, the Red Sox are running a race with other gold-caliber clubs. Nevertheless, when placed side-by-side, the St. Louis Cardinals prospects hold their own with their American League counterparts.
The St. Louis Cardinals have in their system a major powerhouse of a team in Memphis. These guys could likely go side-by-side with players in Boston.
The Boston Red Sox have a team ERA of 3.45. This ranks them as second place in all of the AL behind the Houston Astros at 3.00. The Memphis Redbirds have a team ERA of 3.54. The Redbirds’ ERA ranks them at the top of the PCL.
The Red Sox starting five goes as follows:
The Memphis Redbirds starting five goes as follows:
- Dakota Hudson (yes, I know he has been called-up but he has pitched 115 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA team)
- Kevin Herget
- Daniel Poncedeleon (also now with the Cardinals)
- Austin Gomber (also now with the St. Louis Cardinals)
- Chris Ellis
When going side-by-side, let’s take a look to see if they match up.
Price vs. Hudson
David Price was at one time a trade target by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards failed to sign him and he ran to the American League even though he had reportedly stated that he wanted to join the St. Louis Cardinals. At the same time, Dakota Hudson was being groomed by the Cardinals.
Price’s line in 2018 is:
Hudson’s AAA line in 2018 is:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 23 | STL-min | AAA | 13 | 3 | .813 | 2.50 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111.2 | 107 | 34 | 31 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 87 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 473 | 1.299 | 8.6 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 7.0 | 2.29 | MEM PCL | ||
1 Yr | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2.43 | 0.429 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 4.00 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 27 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 | 68 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 326 | 2.43 | 0.429 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 4.00 |
In this race, I’d take Hudson all day long. He hasn’t yet picked up the number of innings in MLB as Price, but his youth will only make him better.
Porcello vs. Herget
Again another competition of veteran vs. youngster but this one is more of what one might expect as opposed to the runaway competition above. Here too, when Porcello was in his early years, Herget was just cutting his teeth.
Here’s Porcello’s 2018 line:
…and Herget’s 2018 AAA line:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | RA9 | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 26 | -0.6 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 4 | 2 | .667 | 4.62 | 5.05 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62.1 | 68 | 35 | 32 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 273 | 1.428 | 9.8 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 8.7 | 2.86 |
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | RA9 | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
Minors (6 seasons) | Minors | 38 | 17 | .691 | 3.28 | 3.87 | 206 | 36 | 73 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 463.1 | 457 | 199 | 169 | 37 | 123 | 8 | 446 | 15 | 2 | 31 | 1926 | 1.252 | 8.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 8.7 | 3.63 | |||||
AAA (3 seasons) | Minors | 12 | 10 | .545 | 4.48 | 4.74 | 47 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 178.2 | 195 | 94 | 89 | 25 | 53 | 2 | 161 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 765 | 1.388 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 8.1 | 3.04 | |||||
AA (3 seasons) | Minors | 6 | 3 | .667 | 3.72 | 4.96 | 53 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 65.1 | 73 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 63 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 279 | 1.362 | 10.1 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 8.7 | 3.94 | |||||
A+ (3 seasons) | Minors | 7 | 1 | .875 | 1.36 | 1.82 | 57 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 99.0 | 67 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 101 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 377 | 0.869 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 9.2 | 5.32 |
Notice that this race is considerably closer in numbers than the one above yet has a larger disparity between ERA. This is due in large part to the number of innings pitched– Porcello has pitched many more innings over Herget.
If we could fast-forward and see how Herget would fair at a full season, perhaps his numbers would be as impressive or more impressive than Porcello’s numbers.
Eovaldi vs. Poncedeleon
Too bad for Eovaldi that he doesn’t have the come-back story that Poncedeleon has. On the season, Eovaldi has a 3.38 ERA in his time with the Tampa Rays and now the Red Sox.
Pocedeleon’s come-back season has been stupendous. Where Eovaldi is a mid-season pick up, Poncedelon’s “rehab” season (from the frightening, near-death line-drive shot to the temple) has been a shot in the arm of the St. Louis Cadinals.
To the numbers, Eovaldi:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 28 | TOT | AL | 5 | 4 | .556 | 3.38 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72.0 | 55 | 27 | 27 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 274 | 121 | 3.83 | 0.889 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 7.8 | 6.89 | |
2018 | 28 | TBR | AL | 3 | 4 | .429 | 4.26 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57.0 | 48 | 27 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 224 | 94 | 4.27 | 0.982 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 8.4 | 6.63 | |
2018 | 28 | BOS | AL | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 2.15 | 0.533 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 5.4 | 9.00 | ||
7 Yrs | 43 | 50 | .462 | 4.14 | 146 | 139 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 811.0 | 837 | 389 | 373 | 77 | 248 | 14 | 601 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 3449 | 96 | 3.85 | 1.338 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 2.42 |
The king of the comeback, Poncedeleon:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | RA9 | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 26 | -0.6 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 9 | 3 | .750 | 2.15 | 3.42 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 92.0 | 66 | 35 | 22 | 4 | 48 | 0 | 103 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 391 | 1.239 | 6.5 | 0.4 | 4.7 | 10.1 | 2.15 |
Minors (5 seasons) | Minors | 34 | 16 | .680 | 2.65 | 3.35 | 83 | 79 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 435.1 | 353 | 162 | 128 | 21 | 161 | 1 | 389 | 29 | 0 | 22 | 1820 | 1.181 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 8.0 | 2.42 |
This is an easy vote for me (albeit, I am biased to the lucky sucker because he is blessed and because he did an interview with me). The numbers don’t hurt either.
Pomeranz vs. Gomber
Like the other young arms before this comparison, Gomber is outstanding and already has my vote. But Pomeranz brings with him a great deal of experience too. Let’s dive right to the numbers.
Pomeranz:
And Gomber:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | RA9 | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 24 | -2.6 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 7 | 3 | .700 | 3.42 | 3.42 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68.1 | 65 | 26 | 26 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 286 | 1.244 | 8.6 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 10.0 | 3.80 |
Minors (5 seasons) | Minors | 41 | 23 | .641 | 2.92 | 3.36 | 92 | 91 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 520.1 | 435 | 194 | 169 | 44 | 156 | 1 | 508 | 15 | 0 | 25 | 2131 | 1.136 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 8.8 | 3.26 |
Still, for my vote, I’m going Gomber.
Johnson vs. Ellis
I’m ashamed to say that I had no idea who Brian Johnson was but then again, I don’t watch American League games. Chris Ellis, on the other hand, was a name added to the St. Louis Cardinals when the team traded Jaime Garcia to the Braves. Oh, and the Cards got John Gant in that deal too.
To the numbers… Johnson:
Ellis has pitched 60 innings acorss 11 starts posting a 4.92 ERA. Where Johnson is 27, Ellis is 25. In this race, the win goes to Johnson.
Final Score- Boston 2, Redbirds 3
The St. Louis Cardinals have in their system a major powerhouse of a team in Memphis. These guys could likely go side-by-side with players in Boston.
Let’s get this out of the way really fast: Boston’s outfield is stacked. That said, the Memphis outfield have seen their time pulled up to the majors for the St. Louis Cardinals. Assuming these things, we can likely predict that Boston will win in these head-to-heads, but is that so?
Boston’s OF starters from left to right are:
The AAA St. Louis Cardinals (Memphis Redbirds) outfield from left to right are:
- Tyler O’Neill (before his call-up and penile injury)
- Lane Thomas
- Randy Arozarena
- Honorable mention: Adolis Garcia
Let’s get to the comparisons. First up, left field.
Benintendi vs. O’Neill
Benintendi is a great up-and-coming name, but so is O’Neill (or so was O’Neill before his testicular issue). The numbers definitely compare.
Benintendi:
O’Neill’s AAA:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 23 | -3.5 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 61 | 260 | 225 | 58 | 70 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 61 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 62 | .311 | .388 | .711 | 1.100 | 160 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
Minors (6 seasons) | Minors | 516 | 2215 | 1950 | 316 | 531 | 97 | 14 | 127 | 400 | 52 | 14 | 207 | 612 | .272 | .347 | .532 | .879 | 1037 | 31 | 30 | 0 | 28 | 9 | |||||
AAA (2 seasons) | Minors | 191 | 817 | 720 | 135 | 192 | 34 | 5 | 57 | 156 | 17 | 3 | 83 | 213 | .267 | .343 | .565 | .908 | 407 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
O’Neill’s MLB:
I decided to include both O’Neill’s AAA and MLB numbers because both are incredible. Deciding between the two of these sluggers is tough. Benintendi’s OPS outperforms O’Neill’s in MLB but O’Neill outshines if we compare using his AAA numbers.
Let’s call this one a tie with Benintendi edging O’Neill by nut? A testicle? Too soon?
Bradley, Jr. vs. Thomas
Jackie Bradley, Jr. was at one time an almost-Cardinal. The St. Louis Cardinals, honestly, missed the boat on this opportunity and I’m sure they are kicking themselves today. If they aren’t then they are lying to us or to themselves.
All things being equal, Thomas is nothing short of miraculous at this point so perhaps his performance alone will change the St. Louis Cardinals’ opinion on having missed the boat on Bradley. In fact, it as Thomas and his rise that allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to part ways with Oscar Mercado (I’m still sad about this).
To the numbers… Bradley first:
And Thomas:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 22 | -4.5 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 9 | 43 | 43 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | .372 | .372 | .698 | 1.070 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
All Levels (5 Seasons) | 382 | 1626 | 1439 | 220 | 361 | 80 | 17 | 41 | 202 | 59 | 32 | 158 | 413 | .251 | .326 | .416 | .742 | 598 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 0 |
To me, Bradley wins this bout despite the numbers. If we look at numbers alone, Thomas has better numbers edging Bradley but barely. Given time, I think that Thomas will eclipse Bradley and the St. Louis Cardinals will no longer feel that they missed the boat.
Betts vs. Arozarena (or honorable mention, Garcia)
Before diving into this comparison- one that is likely unfair- it is just to note that Arozarena has taken over the duties in RF following the promotion of Garcia. That isn’t noted here to diminish the work Arozarena but to illustrate why Garcia is receiving the honorable mention in the comparison.
Betts is the front-runner for the AL MVP and when you see his numbers you will see why:
Arozarena is no slouch as his numbers show:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 23 | -3.5 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 72 | 256 | 223 | 31 | 51 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 21 | 47 | .229 | .319 | .341 | .660 | 76 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Minors (2 seasons) | Minors | 217 | 848 | 742 | 125 | 201 | 50 | 4 | 22 | 94 | 39 | 14 | 67 | 159 | .271 | .351 | .438 | .789 | 325 | 16 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 1 | |||||
All Levels (5 Seasons) | 430 | 1699 | 1452 | 265 | 401 | 95 | 11 | 39 | 171 | 77 | 38 | 142 | 297 | .276 | .366 | .437 | .803 | 635 | 31 | 69 | 26 | 10 | 3 |
And certainly, JAG is outstanding which is why we at Redbird Rants had begged for his promition for a long time. Now we are simply begging for playing time for him. Have a look at his numbers:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 25 | STL-min | AAA | 98 | 372 | 350 | 56 | 94 | 23 | 3 | 21 | 67 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 83 | .269 | .296 | .531 | .828 | 186 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | MEM · PCL | ||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 648 | 648 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 324 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | -100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In this comparison, it must go hands-down to the leading MVP candidate, Betts. That said, Garcia is nothing to discredit. No disrespect to Arozarena, but he just doesn’t bring enough to the table to hold a candle to Betts.
Final Score- Boston 3, Redbirds 0
The St. Louis Cardinals have in their system a major powerhouse of a team in Memphis. These guys could likely go side-by-side with players in Boston.
Where Boston might have bested the Memphis Redbirds in the grass, the Redbirds have a very respected infield. Many of these prospects are in Memphis only because they are locked by the guys in the Majors.
The Boston infield from left to right is:
The Memphis infield from left to right is:
- Patrick Wisdom
- Edmundo Sosa (honorable mention- Wilfredo Tovar)
- Max Schrock
- Rangel Ravelo
- Carson Kelly, catcher
Devers vs. Wisdom
Devers brings with him incredible promise and was all the rave last season when Boston called him to the majors and allowed him to make his MLB splash. Wisdom, on the other hand, is locked in Memphis and is a free agent to be after this season.
To the numbers. Devers:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 21 | BOS | AL | 97 | 401 | 371 | 47 | 92 | 22 | 0 | 16 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 98 | .248 | .299 | .437 | .736 | 94 | 162 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | *5/D | |
2 Yrs | 155 | 641 | 593 | 81 | 155 | 36 | 0 | 26 | 84 | 8 | 3 | 46 | 155 | .261 | .314 | .454 | .767 | 100 | 269 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 670 | 620 | 85 | 162 | 38 | 0 | 27 | 88 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 162 | .261 | .314 | .454 | .767 | 100 | 281 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Wisdom:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 26 | -0.5 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 101 | 396 | 349 | 63 | 99 | 22 | 1 | 14 | 56 | 11 | 2 | 41 | 107 | .284 | .359 | .473 | .831 | 165 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
Minors (7 seasons) | Minors | 745 | 2962 | 2644 | 364 | 646 | 146 | 20 | 99 | 397 | 42 | 11 | 264 | 782 | .244 | .315 | .427 | .742 | 1129 | 41 | 22 | 6 | 26 | 3 | |||||
All Levels (7 Seasons) | 769 | 3059 | 2737 | 379 | 668 | 152 | 21 | 103 | 418 | 45 | 12 | 268 | 799 | .244 | .314 | .428 | .742 | 1171 | 41 | 22 | 6 | 26 | 3 |
Advantage here is to whomever gets Wisdom after 2018. Joking aside, I have to side with Devers on this one but take nothing away from the dude in Memphis who can play both corner spots on the infield.
Bogaerts vs. Sosa
Look, this isn’t fair either but it is what it is. Let’s just jump to the numbers. Bogaerts:
And Sosa:
And Tovar (the honorable mention thanks to his being on the DL):
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 26 | STL-min | AAA | 91 | 323 | 297 | 33 | 84 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 33 | .283 | .331 | .360 | .692 | 107 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | MEM · PCL | ||
2 Yrs | 9 | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .167 | .250 | .167 | .417 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 396 | 324 | 18 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 54 | .167 | .250 | .167 | .417 | 22 | 54 | 36 | 18 | 36 | 0 | 18 |
For this round, I feel like I should deduct points or allow some bonus points to the AAA competitors simply because of Bogaerts unnecessary “e” stuckat the back end of his name. That said, and all joking aside, Bogaerts is a great player but fans should not discredit Tovar.
Tovar’s average is better than Bogaerts’ but his power is much lower. I can tell you that Tovar is an outstanding short stop and should be a name kept on radars.
Holt vs. Schrock
Brock Holt is nothing too great nor is he anything too poor but he simply doesn’t carry with him the promise that is Schrock.
To the numbers… Holt:
Schrock:
As I alluded to above, Schrock has incredible promise. The St. Louis Cardinals organization holds him in high esteem and has great plans for him. He has just appeared in AAA and the club is not rushing him along but are instead allowing him to develop appropriately.
I give the advantage here to Schrock.
Moreland vs. Ravelo
I have written often that Ravelo was a name to watch at the trade deadline. While nothing happened to him (yet), I still believe that an MLB team could make plans around his name. Perhaps the St. Louis Cardinals are that team…
To the numbers. Moreland:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 32 | BOS | AL | 90 | 338 | 301 | 48 | 79 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 75 | .262 | .334 | .482 | .816 | 116 | 145 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | *3 | AS |
9 Yrs | 1012 | 3676 | 3305 | 420 | 837 | 175 | 7 | 146 | 490 | 9 | 5 | 302 | 784 | .253 | .319 | .443 | .762 | 101 | 1464 | 78 | 31 | 6 | 32 | 31 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 588 | 529 | 67 | 134 | 28 | 1 | 23 | 78 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 126 | .253 | .319 | .443 | .762 | 101 | 234 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Ravelo:
Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 26 | -0.5 | Memphis | PCL | AAA | STL | 87 | 347 | 303 | 54 | 92 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 43 | .304 | .387 | .495 | .882 | 150 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Minors (9 seasons) | Minors | 762 | 3083 | 2717 | 387 | 809 | 192 | 18 | 49 | 415 | 26 | 16 | 274 | 432 | .298 | .368 | .436 | .804 | 1184 | 63 | 45 | 15 | 31 | 11 | |||||
All Levels (9 Seasons) | 909 | 3699 | 3218 | 487 | 982 | 224 | 18 | 67 | 504 | 38 | 21 | 358 | 496 | .305 | .381 | .448 | .830 | 1443 | 85 | 64 | 15 | 43 | 16 |
This is tough and not fair because it is comparing an MLB “vet” to a rising rookie. That said, if we go off of numbers alone, I would put my vote for Ravelo who is outpacing Moreland in all categories.
Leon vs. Kelly
Kelly is – or was – the number-one prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He had fallen on some rough times of late but not in AAA. Leon, yet another veteran, is a good but not great.
To the numbers. Leon:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 29 | BOS | AL | 61 | 213 | 195 | 26 | 42 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 53 | .215 | .270 | .328 | .598 | 60 | 64 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
7 Yrs | 299 | 1032 | 927 | 111 | 220 | 46 | 2 | 19 | 102 | 1 | 1 | 78 | 253 | .237 | .300 | .353 | .653 | 73 | 327 | 20 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 3 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 559 | 502 | 60 | 119 | 25 | 1 | 10 | 55 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 137 | .237 | .300 | .353 | .653 | 73 | 177 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
Kelly:
Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 23 | STL-min | AAA | 66 | 277 | 237 | 35 | 69 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 33 | .291 | .386 | .447 | .834 | 106 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | MEM · PCL | ||
2018 | 23 | STL | NL | 12 | 29 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .080 | .148 | .080 | .228 | -35 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
3 Yrs | 56 | 118 | 107 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19 | .150 | .216 | .187 | .402 | 9 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
162 Game Avg. | 162 | 341 | 310 | 17 | 46 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 55 | .150 | .216 | .187 | .402 | 9 | 58 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Simply put, I’ll take Kelly over Leon any day. True, Kelly has not yet figured out how to get his AAA numbers to convert to MLB but when he does, the other clubs had better watch out!
Final Score- Boston 1, Redbirds 4
The St. Louis Cardinals have in their system a major powerhouse of a team in Memphis. These guys could likely go side-by-side with players in Boston.
The St. Louis Cardinals farm system is strong and has shown itself both in 2017 and again this season. Many of these farmhands are now playing for the Cardinals and showing that while they are not MLB (yet), they can certainly hold their own.
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Likewise, the Memphis Redbirds were PCL champions last season and look to repeat that this season. Their incredible winning record has them far out-pacing their competition. This is almost exactly the case with the Boston Red Sox. That said, the Redbirds command a much stronger and much deeper lead than their similar counterparts in the American League of MLB.
While the previous slides were unjustly comparing AAA to MLB, the results do support the argument that the Memphis Redbirds squad could well hold its own in MLB competition.
While the previous slides also unjustly awarded wins to the Redbirds players when put head-to-head with the Boston players, the numbers held by each show great promise for the future of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Should the St. Louis Cardinals have no plans for the promising players shown in these slides then the time has come for the club to start shipping them off. The organization is doing a gross diservice to these young players. Hopefully other teams will take note of these names in the very fashion illustrated in these slides.
What do you think? If the Memphis Redbirds (and thereforethe St. Louis Cardinals) can match up 1-to-1 against the AL-East-leading Red Sox, what other teams could they match up with or annihilate? Thanks for reading and GO CARDINALS!