The St. Louis Cardinals' Parallel League team finished the 2008 winter season with a 16-33 record, second to last in the league, and 19.5 games out of first place.
The team's hitting did not fair well compared to the rest of the league, ending the season in the bottom half of the league in most if not all categories. The Cardinals had a .234 batting average, collected 74 doubles, seven triples, hit a league worst seven home runs, and drove in 131 runs.
This part of the report will cover the top eight hitters in at-bats for the winter season. The rest will follow in upcoming wrap-ups.
Cesar Valera played in 40 games batting .254 (29-for-114) with a .309 OBP and .333 SLG. The 17-year old right-handed swinger had seven doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, 38 total bases, scored 13 runs, and walked nine times. He was 11-for-13 in stolen base attempts, struck out 20% (23) of the time, and committed 22 errors. Valera played 32 games at shortstop, two between both shortstop and third base, one at third base, two as a designated hitter, and one as a pinch hitter.
The 2008 July 2nd signing started off a little slow in the season, batting at the bottom of the order. He heated up in mid-November and was bumped to the top of the batting order and soon settled in the middle of the order before season's end. Valera was basically the team's everyday shortstop. He had his best game on Nov. 8 when he went 3-for-5 picking up his one and only triple and driving in two runs and scoring two runs for the Cardinals. He had seven multi-hit games and three game hitting streak between November 8-11 going 7-for-15 with two doubles, one triple, and four RBIs. He also showed a lot of speed leading the team in steals. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 18-2, 0 RBIs)
Valera could end up being the starting shortstop for the VSL Cardinals, if that is where he is placed in 2009. Gerardo Mannbel is most likely headed to the Gulf Coast and Wilfred Vivas is suspended for most of the season, leaving an open spot up the middle for the new Redbird.
Alberto Rivero (VSL) played in 33 games batting .261 (29-for-111) with a .297 OBP and .378 SLG. The 19-year-old left-handed swinger had nine doubles, two triples, 19 RBIs, 42 total bases, scored 11 runs, and walked six times. He was 6-for-9 in stolen base attempts, struck out 14% (16) of the time, and committed one error. Rivero played 31 games in centerfield, one in right field, and one as a pinch hitter.
The second-year VSL player started off the season pretty much where he left off the regular season at and gradually faded as the winter season went on. Rivero had a four-game hitting streak between November 7-11, collecting a hit in each game. He had three real big games during the winter season. On October 17 he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. November 11 Rivero drove in four runs on one double and one triple while going 2-for-4. Then on December 11 he drove in another four runs on one double and one triple. Rivero had seven multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games during the season. He finished the season leading the team in doubles, RBIs, and total bases. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 14-5, 9 RBIs)
Rivero continued to put up big numbers in the Parallel League. I still expect him to start his third season in the Cardinals organization in Venezuela, but could get a hard look for a promotion sometime during the season if he continues his progress.
Jose Cortez (VSL) played in 34 games and batted .253 (25-for-99) with a .297 OBP and .333 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had eight doubles, seven RBIs, 33 total bases, scored 16 runs, and walked four times. He was 3-for-6 in stolen base attempts, struck out 14% (14) of the time, and committed no errors during the season. Cortez played 17 games in left field, eight in center, six in right, one between both left and first base, and one between left and centerfield.
The second-year VSL player started off the winter season a little slow and heated up in the beginning of December, finishing the season off strong. He collected his first double on October 29 and drove in his first run on October 23. Cortez had a eight-game hitting streak to round out the season between December 5-18, where he went 14-for-32 (.438). He had seven multi-hit games and two games where he legged out two doubles. His best game came on November 11 when he hit two doubles, drove in two runs, and scored two runs for the Cardinals. Cortez finished the season leading the team in runs scored and second in doubles behind Rivero. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 14-4, 3 RBIs)
Cortez is most likely gonna return to the VSL Cardinals for the 2009 and his third season in professional ball. Like last summer and during the winter look for him to again be slotted in as the leadoff hitter and switching back and forth with fellow outfielder Anthony Fonseca.
Hector Garcia (VSL) played in 37 games batting .149 (14-for-94) with a .280 OBP and .191 SLG. The 18-year old right-handed swinger had one double, one home run, two RBIs, 18 total bases, scored three runs, and walked five times. He struck out 27% (25) of the time and committed three errors. Garcia played 24 games at third base, four at first base, two between first and third, two as designated hitter, and two as a pinch hitter.
The second-year VSL participant went in the exact opposite direction unlike his 2008 regular season. He was pretty much stone cold throughout the season even though he was given plenty of time to come out of the slump he was in. Garcia drove in his first run on October 22 and clubbed his only home run on November 19. One of his few best games came December 11 when he went 3-for-5 with a double. He only has two multi-hit games, but his play at third did improve compared to the regular season. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 5-2, 1 RBI)
Garcia again should see a return to the Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals in 2009 and hopefully he can put together the improvement at third base and his bat he showed over the 2008 season to be an impact player for the squad.
Roberto Perez (VSL) played in 36 games batting .267 (24-for-90) with a .359 OBP and .367 SLG. The 20-year old right-handed swinger had six doubles, one home run, 12 RBIs, 33 total bases, scored 14 runs, and walked nine times. He struck out 17% (15) of the time and committed five errors. Perez played 26 games at first base and eight as the designated hitter.
The second-year VSL player showed a great deal of improvement at the plate during his time in the Parallel League. He started off real solid and calmed to a steady to finish out the season. For most of the winter season he was tapped as the clean-up hitter for the team and ended the year second, behind Rivero, in runs driven in. Perez opened the season on a four-game hitting streak going 6-for-15 (.400) with two doubles, six RBIs, and scored four runs. And between November 30-December 4, he had another four-game hitting streak where he went 7-for-14 (.500 with three doubles, three RBIs, and two runs. He clubbed his only home run, a solo shot, on October 29. Perez had three multi-hit games, including a three hit game on October 18 and four hit game on December 2. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 12-3, 4 RBIs)
Perez is gradually improving and has shown it comparing his 2007 stats with his 2008 stats. In 2009 I would expect him to see time as the starting first baseman for the VSL Cardinals and continue his upward progress.
Yorbel Alcala (VSL) played in 33 games batting .244 (21-for-86) with a .313 OBP and .314 SLG. The 19-year old switch hitter had three doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs, 27 total bases, scored six runs, and walked nine times. He was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts, struck out 22% (19) of the time, and committed three errors. Alcala played 31 games behind the plate, one at first base, and one as the designated hitter.
The second-year VSL participant started off his first week real hot then cooled and ended the winter season on a high note. The three games following his first, he went 4-for-8 with one double, one home run, five RBIs, and three runs. He had his best game on October 22 going 2-for-3, slugging his first home run and driving in four runs. Alcala had four multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games. He had a five-game hitting streak between December 10-15, where he went 6-for-16 (.375). (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 17-4, 6 RBIs)
Alcala was pretty steady carrying over from the regular to winter season. He still looks to be returning to the Venezuelan League for the 2009 season as the starting catcher and will have some competition from Limbert Rivas and Jesus Montero.
Anthony Fonseca (VSL) played in 30 games batting .274 (23-for-84) with a .392 OBP and .310 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had three doubles, seven RBIs, 26 total bases, scored nine runs, and walked eight times. He was 5-for-8 in stolen base attempts, struck out 18% (15) of the time, and committed four errors. He played ten games in left, eight in right, seven in centerfield, and split two games between righ and left.
The second-year VSL player kept rolling from the regular season on into the winter season, stats staying right about the same. Fonseca had a four-game hitting steak running from October 23-27, where he went 5-for-8 (.625) with three RBIs. He picked up his first of three doubles on November 6 and four multi-hit games. Fonseca also had a six-game hitting streak between November 8-14, going 7-for-18 (.388). His best game came on Nov.8 when he went 2-for-4 with one double, one RBI, one run, and stole one base. He finished third on the team in batting average and on base percentage. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 12-3, 1 RBI)
Fonseca is another that will probably make a return to VSL in 2009. He's a very versatile guy that can play all three spots in the outfield, either starting in one position or covering for everyday players. He can also bat in the leadoff or second spot in the batting order and be successful there also.
Billy Bolivar (VSL-Free Agent) played in 38 games batting .256 (21-for-82) with a .361 OBP and .354 SLG. The 20-year old right-handed swinger had five doubles, one home run, four RBIs, 29 total bases, scored 13 runs, and walked 13 times. He was 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts, struck out 17% (14) of the time, and committed three errors. Bolivar played 11 games in right field, six at third base, three in center, two at first base, three in left field, one at shortstop, two as the designated hitter, four as a pinch hitter, and the rest split over the previous listed positions.
The third-year VSL player started off his winter season pretty hot and slowly cooled, much like his regular season. After his first game he had a five-game hitting streak where he went 6-for-10 (.600) with one home run, two RBIs, and scored five runs. He clubbed his first and only home run on October 24 and had three multi-hit games during the season. Bolivar didn't start a heavy load of games but was able to play quite a few positions for the team when needed. he finished the season second on the team in walks. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 8-1, 1 RBI)
Unfortunately Bolivar's time with the organization ran out after 2008. He had played his three years in the rookie level Venezuelan League and didn't fit in to the Cardinals plans for the future. He was released after Parallel League ended.
More to come.....
No comments:
Post a Comment