Full Minors Roster for '09

[wilb626]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Wieters will start in AAA. Here's the article:

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090327&content_id=4074818&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal

[cubspac]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Yes...Elvis is in..


O's fans...Wieters in AAA or AA to start the season?

Cubs fans.....Is Soriano still leading off?


M.K.
Knight165

Yes Soriano is still the lead off man. Also Kosuke will bat 2. Theriot will be 8th. Bradley will be put between Lee and Ramirez.
I would put Wieters in AAA since he is going to get the call this year sometime.

[bravesfan1984]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

hey knight more braves info for ya...bobby cox announced his rotation plans to start the year and he has jurrjens ahead of vazquez..here's the rotation:

lowe
jurrjens
vazquez
kawakami
glavine

[phrost]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Knight, have a bit of info on the Cardinals' bullpen and some other stuff. Lotza info regarding lotza topics actually. I have an excerpt within the spoiler and the link to the link is in there.

Spoiler

Q: Will the closer-by-committee work out?
A: It may not be a committee; Jason Motte appears close to winning the job outright. But even if he doesn’t, among Motte, Chris Perez (slowed by a sore shoulder this spring), Josh Kinney, and the always willing (if not able) Ryan Franklin, the Cards ought to find a way to muddle through. They can’t do worse than they did in 2008.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/five-questions-st-louis-cardinals4/

Another good article. Full article inside spoiler.

Spoiler

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AiKHRRfmiNOkl92IPB.RM3sp0bYF?slug=teamre ports-2009-mlb-stl&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report

Inside Pitch

The Cardinals left spring training reasonably convinced that converted outfielder Skip Schumaker could handle second base after the club lost second basemen Felipe Lopez and Aaron Miles to free agency and divested itself of Adam Kennedy.

The coaching staff and Schumaker are shooting for him to be “average” at second base, although, at least early in the season, he likely will come off second base late in close games and finish up in the outfield.

But, in general, the defense at second base won’t be as good as it was last season, and third base is a concern, too, until Troy Glaus returns from January shoulder surgery.

That comeback might not occur until June, with rookie David Freese, recalled from minor league camp with a few weeks to go in the spring, the likely replacement.

Freese carries a good glove, and he hit well at Class AAA Memphis last season (26 homers, 91 RBIs, .306 average). What fans should watch is his mobility after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury in an auto accident in January.

Whatever happens at second and third, the Cardinals should have improved offense at shortstop with Khalil Greene, who hit only .213 last year at San Diego, showing signs of being more the hitter he was two years ago, when he drove in 97 runs.

Keeping Chris Carpenter healthy is critical to the team’s hopes. Carpenter, out virtually two seasons with elbow and shoulder ailments, didn’t allow an earned run in his first 19 spring innings. Carpenter fleshes out an all-right-handed rotation that also includes Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer and Joel Pineiro.

The bullpen still is a question mark, although rookie Jason Motte, almost unhittable in the spring, seems to have a leg up for the closer’s role. Chris Perez, who closed at the end of last season, missed two weeks late in camp with a shoulder ailment. Veteran Ryan Franklin is a fall-back if Motte should have trouble.

The lineup, which features 2008 NL Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols, will lose Glaus’ punch early but should have some smack back with the return to health of left fielder Chris Duncan, who missed half of last season. Duncan had a disk problem in his neck that required surgery.

The bench may include rookie Colby Rasmus. The talented outfielder, the club’s top draft pick in 2005, could pinch-run, play defense or start against some right-handers. But, depending on how the third base situation is resolved, Rasmus might be left in Memphis for a while at the start of the season.

THE CARDINALS WILL CONTEND IF …: RHP Chris Carpenter can make 30 to 35 starts. 2B Skip Schumaker doesn’t embarrass himself at his new position. Either RHP Jason Motte or RHP Chris Perez emerges as a hard-throwing closer. If 1B Albert Pujols or C Yadier Molina would miss considerable time due to injury, then the dream is over.

Primed For A Big Season: SS Khalil Greene, who fanned 100 times in 389 at-bats last year, whiffed just three times in his first 60 at-bats this spring and hit .417. Greene said he had stopped moving his head while batting.

On The Decline: 3B Troy Glaus, who drove in 99 runs in 2008, won’t get anywhere close to that this season, as he probably will miss six to eight weeks recovering from right shoulder surgery in the offseason. Glaus would be a candidate to be traded later in the season if the Cardinals are out of the race because the club is deep in third basemen in its system.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Adam Wainwright, though he walked four in 5 1/3 innings his next-to-last spring start, said he felt “pretty ready to rock,” relative to his starting the season opener on April 6. Wainwright was happy he had regained control of his slider.

• LHP Dennys Reyes, signed a couple of weeks into camp, finally reported after his Mexican team had been eliminated in the World Baseball Classic and after he had dealt with a couple of personal issue. Reyes worked a scoreless inning in his Grapefruit League debut, and pitching coach Dave Duncan said he was impressed with Reyes’ location, considering his lack of work. “Me, too,” Reyes said.

• Manager Tony La Russa indicated that he might be batting the pitcher in the customary ninth spot more often than not after hitting him eighth all last season in National League games. La Russa said the makeup of his lineup, especially when 3B Troy Glaus returns from injury, didn’t really include a position-player candidate to hit ninth unless left-handed-hitting 2B Skip Schumaker were in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher or rookie OF Colby Rasmus were playing.

• LHP Royce Ring, who had a rough spring, cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with Class AAA Memphis. “I wouldn’t say (Ring’s performance was a) disappointment,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “I would say we had some higher expectations.”

• RHP Chris Perez, after missing two weeks with a shoulder issue, returned on March 25 and gave up one run in one inning. “The results weren’t good, but I felt good,” said Perez, who fanned two of three hitters he faced in his next outing against the Red Sox.

By The Numbers: 0—Games won by RHP Chris Carpenter since 2006.

Quote To Note: “To be average would be great.”—New 2B Skip Schumaker, on his defense at his new position.

Roster Report

The Cardinals made it through spring training with no significant pitching injuries other than the shoulder discomfort experienced by RH reliever Chris Perez, costing him two weeks of work. 3B Troy Glaus, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in January, didn’t progress as quickly as hoped, and he may not be ready until June.

Rotation:

1. RHP Adam Wainwright

2. RHP Kyle Lohse

3. RHP Todd Wellemeyer

4. RHP Chris Carpenter

5. RHP Joel Pineiro

Rotation Analysis: The rotation is all right-handed, but these right-handers appear, for the most part, to be able to deal with left-handed hitters. Carpenter, the former Cy Young Award winner, seems to have recaptured most of his form of three and four years ago after missing virtually all of 2007 and 2008.

Lohse won 15 games in his first season as a Cardinal, netting him a $41 million, four-year contract when the Cardinals hastily signed him the day after the 2008 regular season ended. Wellemeyer won 13 in his first full season as a starter and could do better. Wainwright should be available for a whole season after missing two months in 2008 with a sprained middle finger.

Bullpen:

RHP Jason Motte (closer)

RHP Ryan Franklin

RHP Josh Kinney

RHP Kyle McClellan

RHP Brad Thompson

LHP Dennys Reyes

LHP Trever Miller

Bullpen Analysis: The Cardinals came to end the of camp with one extra right-hander in their bullpen corps. Chances were that RHP Chris Perez, impressive at times last year as a rookie closer, might start the season in Class AAA Memphis. McClellan and Thompson will be needed more in the first six weeks, when the Cardinals have just one off day in the first 35 days of the season.

Lineup:

1. 2B Skip Schumaker

2. CF Rick Ankiel

3. 1B Albert Pujols

4. LF Chris Duncan

5. RF Ryan Ludwick

6. SS Khalil Greene

7. C Yadier Molina

8. 3B David Freese

9. Pitcher

Lineup Analysis: Manager Tony La Russa, who did it all last season, still would prefer to hit a position player ninth as a second leadoff man but will do that only if rookie CF Colby Rasmus is in the lineup or if 2B Skip Schumaker, a left-handed hitter, is facing a left-handed pitcher.

The Cardinals led the National League in hitting last year at .281 but ranked only fourth in runs scored. As always, protection for Pujols is paramount. Duncan will get the first crack at it this year.

Reserves:

C Jason LaRue

INF Brendan Ryan or Brian Barden

INF Joe Thurston

OF Colby Rasmus

INF/OF Joe Mather

Reserves Analysis: The uncertainty over the third base situation had an effect on the makeup of the bench, which might include three reserve infielders and just one backup outfielder. Mather was the regular third baseman when camp began, but he hit (or didn’t hit) his way out of the lineup. However, he is the only right-handed hitter who can provide power off the bench.

The final spot on the roster will go to Ryan or Barden, depending on who emerges in the final week of spring training.

Rookie Watch: OF Colby Rasmus showed his varied skills in stretches this spring, although he struck out too much and didn’t play consistently well in the field. Manager Tony La Russa was trying to figure how to get him enough at-bats to warrant keeping him because Rasmus likely will start the season behind veteran OFs Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. RHP Jason Motte seemed to have seized at least part of the closer’s job with an almost spotless spring. 3B David Freese started slowly after an Achilles tendon injury in the offseason, but he appeared to win the third base spot (with Troy Glaus out after surgery) in the last couple of weeks of the spring.

Medical Watch:

3B Troy Glaus (right shoulder surgery in January 2009) didn’t heal as quickly as hoped, and he may not play until June. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.

LHP Jaime Garcia (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He likely will miss all or nearly all of the 2009 season.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Brett Gardner will be the Yankees starting CF
Kevin Gregg will be the Cubs Closer

[Kazaki]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

I don't know if you have a Marlins fan helping you (I only login a few times a year mostly to lurk), but it looks like the Marlins starting 3rd baseman will be Bonifacio. Cantu will be moving to 1st.

Batting order is looking to be:

Cameron Maybin (CF), John Baker (C), Hanley Ramirez (SS), Jorge Cantu (1B), Dan Uggla (2B), Jeremy Hermida (LF), Cody Ross (RF), Bonifacio (3B)

Maybin and Bonifacio may trade spots in the order, unsure yet. Starting rotation is most likely going to be:

Ricky Nolasco
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
Anibal Sanchez
Andrew Miller

Our backup catcher to John Baker is Ronny Paulino

[elkosp16]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Wieters will start in AAA.

Not sure if it said it in that article but I believe they are doing the same thing with Wieters. They will bring him up in May so they get another year before FA.

[elkosp16]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

I'll get the lineups as close as possible...don't worry about that!
I'll get Morgan leading off...no problem.

Zimmermann....got it.


Perry is in....I made him rather impressive.
If you wanted to use him MLB right now...you could...for sure.

M.K.
Knight165

I'm sorry Knight. I wasn't meaning to be rude.

[Shaffer26]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

I don't know if you have a Marlins fan helping you (I only login a few times a year mostly to lurk), but it looks like the Marlins starting 3rd baseman will be Bonifacio. Cantu will be moving to 1st.

Batting order is looking to be:

Cameron Maybin (CF), John Baker (C), Hanley Ramirez (SS), Jorge Cantu (1B), Dan Uggla (2B), Jeremy Hermida (LF), Cody Ross (RF), Bonifacio (3B)

Maybin and Bonifacio may trade spots in the order, unsure yet. Starting rotation is most likely going to be:

Ricky Nolasco
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
Anibal Sanchez
Andrew Miller

Our backup catcher to John Baker is Ronny Paulino

How certain are you that Cantu will be moved to 1st?

[ShowTyme15]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

How certain are you that Cantu will be moved to 1st?

Well we know he's not gonna start at 3rd and I don't know how much they trust Their yound 1st baseman and you can't leave his bat out of the lineup. Also here's the link to the ESPN article.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...3dolney_buster

[Shaffer26]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Well we know he's not gonna start at 3rd and I don't know how much they trust Their yound 1st baseman and you can't leave his bat out of the lineup. Also here's the link to the ESPN article.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...3dolney_buster

Cool. Thanks.

[Jason_19]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

I was unable to find elvis andrus on the al only list is he in?

His A.L. set was nowhere near complete.

When do you anticipate these full rosters going public.

This question has been asked dozens upon dozens of times in this thread and it has been answered numerous times.

[Kazaki]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

How certain are you that Cantu will be moved to 1st?

Very certain

EDIT: Oh. I didn't know ESPN had an article on that. That works too!

[jHammack]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

Well this is my first post here, but i was told about these rosters on VSN. I just wanted to thank Knight and see if there was anything he might need on the Pirates and/or Braves information hit me up with a PM or a post here and I'll do anything I can.

[muelly54]

Re: Full Minors Roster for '09

This question has been asked dozens upon dozens of times in this thread and it has been answered numerous times.[/quote]


I fully understand however i do not feel like cycling through 80+ pages of material