Miscellaneous Cardinals minor league notes

[jerbyrd25]

Does anyone know anything about his defense? Those kind of numbers across High A/AA as a 22 y/o do not exactly yell "4th outfielder." That looks like the makings of another Matt Carpenter.

He is said to have one of the best outfield arms in the system so thats good for a RF'er. His strike zone control and decent power are a very exciting combination in IMO. I think he could definitely hit like Craig with better defense which would be very valuable.

I have my doubts about Piscotty with these comparisons. He keeps getting these Allen Craig or Matt Carpenter labels, but he only OPS'd .819 on the year between A+ and AA ball with 15 home runs.

Craig, in 2007, at the same age and same levels OPS'd .909 with 24 home runs.

Carpenter, in 2010, albeit at age 24, but at the same levels OPS'd .889 with 13 home runs and a way above average walk rate.

Piscotty is an outfielder now as well, meaning he should bring a bigger stick than either of these two, who, at the time, were still looked at prospect-wise as third basemen.

He has only struck out 71 times in 708 plate appearences with an average walk rate.

Comparitively, Greg Garcia, at the same age and level (AA-Springfield) had an .828 OPS and 10 home runs.

Brett Wallace, a "polished college bat", at age 22, spent the year at Springfield, Memphis, and AAA-Sacremento (after the trade for Holliday) and he ended the year with an .822 OPS and 20 home runs.

Zack Cox, also a "polished college bat", at age 22, was in the same levels as Piscotty and had a .797 OPS with 13 home runs.

Just my opinion. These aren't all fair comparisons by any means. I still like him, of course, as he is in some rareified air with comparisons to these first two. I think he is just a tick below.

Brett Wallace raked in AAA this year and was a bit below average with the bat for the Astros. I think that's the comp for Piscotty that makes sense offensively. Wallace with a much better defensive profile would be a solid prospect.

If Piscotty spent a couple years at AAA refining his craft, he could come up as a 25 year old in 2016 as our potential Holliday/Craig/whoever replacement, or perhaps he could be the super-sub option in 2015 that Craig, Carpenter, and Adams have all occupied in the past.

[Izzyman]

Those are all fair points and I definitely don't think Piscotty is a lock to replicate Craigs numbers. I do like that his strikeout rate is so low because my unresearched feeling is that contact ability is a tool that you either have or you don't.

[STL_Cards]

What are the expectations for Piscotty? Possible everyday player, bench outfielder, trade chip?

[lukethedrifter]

<rubbing hands together> heh heh heh, trade chip, heh heh heh <still rubbing hands together>

[Swirls]

I think he's basically Jon Jay with a better arm.

[Freed Roger]

Let's hear it for the 2009 draft class

Already, less than four years after that draft, five members of that class are part of the current 25-man roster: Shelby Miller (1st round), Joe Kelly (3rd round), Matt Carpenter (13th round), Trevor Rosenthal (21st round) and Adams (23rd round). Another pick, Ryan Jackson, (5th round) has played in the majors and there are at least two of the Cardinals better prospects still rising through the farm system selected that year: Anthony Garcia (18th round) and Keith Butler (24th round).

http://www.robrains.com/CARDINALSMLB/ta ... adams.aspx

[phins]

If I ever four time to do the top-21 I'd be interested in how our system looks now.

[Cheddar Tom]

I have my doubts about Piscotty with these comparisons. He keeps getting these Allen Craig or Matt Carpenter labels, but he only OPS'd .819 on the year between A+ and AA ball with 15 home runs.

Craig, in 2007, at the same age and same levels OPS'd .909 with 24 home runs.

Not accurate at all. Craig was already 23 when he began his full season debut in Springfield - Piscotty isn't 23 until Jan. Craig did hit for more power in the FSL at the same age, though.

Carpenter, in 2010, albeit at age 24, but at the same levels OPS'd .889 with 13 home runs and a way above average walk rate.

Carpenter had a .730 OPS in the FSL. Yes he hit very well, but as you say he was 2 years older. Piscotty homered once every 30 at bats while Carpenter homered once every 33 at bats in Springfield.

Piscotty is an outfielder now as well, meaning he should bring a bigger stick than either of these two, who, at the time, were still looked at prospect-wise as third basemen.

Yes I would agree that he needs to add power, but if he's a high avg. doubles hitter with above average defense then he's a valuable player.

Comparitively, Greg Garcia, at the same age and level (AA-Springfield) had an .828 OPS and 10 home runs.

You are still being misleading...Piscotty played a 1/2 season at Springfield. He took 184 at bats and hit 6 home runs where as Garcia took 412 at bats to hit 10 home runs.

Brett Wallace, a "polished college bat", at age 22, spent the year at Springfield, Memphis, and AAA-Sacremento (after the trade for Holliday) and he ended the year with an .822 OPS and 20 home runs.

I don't get what this example is supposed to prove.

Zack Cox, also a "polished college bat", at age 22, was in the same levels as Piscotty and had a .797 OPS with 13 home runs.

Just my opinion. These aren't all fair comparisons by any means. I still like him, of course, as he is in some rareified air with comparisons to these first two. I think he is just a tick below.

Yes...it is not as simple as saying "here is what Zack Cox did and here is what Matt Carpenter did." Not all players perform the same and some develop differently. Right now there is really no reason to be down on Piscotty. Piscotty at this point appears to have much better plate judgment than Cox did

[Socnorb11]

If I ever four time to do the top-21 I'd be interested in how our system looks now.

It would be interesting to see that list.

I've been saying all year that it's not as pretty on the farm as it used to be.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

If I ever four time to do the top-21 I'd be interested in how our system looks now.

It would be interesting to see that list.

I've been saying all year that it's not as pretty on the farm as it used to be.

well....yeah, take miller wacha Rosenthal Martinez (?) Siegrist (?) Maness (?) Adams kozma (?) Off the list and the talents gonna take a big hit. Doesn't mean they're not developing players. No one believed in siegrist madness types until they appeared from nowhere.

Also, the talent hasn't disappeared. Its being put to good use.