Part two of the report will cover the next eight hitters in terms of at-bats following the first eight.
Roberto Espinoza (Quad Cities) played in 32 games batting .269 (21-for-78) with a .412 OBP and .333 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had five doubles, five RBIs, 26 total bases, scored six runs, and walked 18 times. He was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts, struck out 22% (17) of the time, and committed two errors. Espinoza played 20 games at first base, six as the catcher, one between both first and catcher, one as designated hitter, and two as a pinch hitter.
The third-year Cardinal affiliate started off the season on a strong note and went stone cold, only to heat back up in mid-November. Due to Yorbel Alcala being the starting catcher, Espinoza saw more time at first base. He picked up his first double and RBI on October 20. Had an eight-game hitting streak theat ran from November 17-30, where he went 11-for-23 (.478) with three doubles, three RBIs, and three runs. Espinoza had five multi-hit games including a 3-for-4 performance on November 25. For three games during the season he was walked two or more times and lead the team overall in base on balls. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 7-0, 0m RBIs)
Espinoza will most likely start out at Quad Cities, but this all depends on where and how Luis De la Cruz is doing after missing most of the 2008 season with an injury. He still looks to be a back-up when all is said and done.
Osmir Medina (VSL) played in 36 games batting .260 (20-for-77) with a .329 OBP and .390 SLG. The 18-year old right-handed swinger had two doubles, one triple, two home runs, ten RBIs, 30 total bases, scored 15 runs, and walked seven times. He was 8-for-12 in stolen base attempts, struck out 17% (13) of the time, and committed seven errors. He played 11 games at shortstop, seven at second base, four as designated hitter, four as a pinch runner, one in centerfield, and the rest split between the various positions listed before.
The first-year VSL player began the season as a bench player for the Cardinals and in late November was starting for the club. His best game came on November 26 when he went 2-for-4 with a double and solo home run. He had five multi-hit games and only one multi-RBI game, coming November 5. Medina had a four-game hitting streak that ran from December 9-12, as he went 5-for-12 (.417) with one home run, one RBI, and three runs. He lead the team in home runs, and came in second in runs scored, stolen bases, and SLG. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 8-2, 2 RBIs)
Medina looks to make a return to the Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals in 2009 and probably will be competing against Cesar Valera and Ildemaro Vargas for playing time. Like Valera, the openings of a possible Gerardo Mannbel promotion and Wilfred Vivas suspension leaves an open door up the middle.
Gerardo Mannbel (VSL) played in 31 games batting .233 (17-for-73) with a .364 OBP and .274 SLG. The 18-year old right-handed swinger had three doubles, six RBIs, 20 total bases, scored 11 runs, and walked ten times. He was perfect stealing six bases, struck out 3% (2) of the time, and committed three errors. Mannbel played 17 games at thrid base, three at shortstop, one at second base, split five games between short, third, and second, two as a designated hitter, two as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner.
The second-year VSL participant, also referred to as Geraldo Mambell, didn't really carry over too much from the regular season and slumped at the plate all winter long. Mannbel got on base 11 straight games between October 30 and November 15. He drove in his first run on October 22 and collected his first double on October 23. He had two multi-hit games and one multi-RBI game on November 6. Mannbel had a six-game hitting streak that ran from November 11-15, where he went 8-for-16 (.500) with two RBIs and one run.
Even though he didn't have a great winter season, I still think he will see some time with the GCL Cardinals at some point in 2009. He had a tremendous 2008 season and caught a lot of eyes, even earning a shot to play for the St. Louis Cardinals during the Instructional League in September.
Cristofher Dumont (GCL-Free Agent) played in 30 games batting .197 (13-for-66) with a .284 OBP and .273 SLG. The 22-year old right-handed swinger had two doubles, one home run, four RBIs, 18 total bases, scored four runs, and walked six times. He was 1-for-3 in stolen base attempts, struck out 42% (28) of the time, and committed three errors. Dumont played 20 games in right field, five as designated hitter, one in centerfield, one as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner.
The fourth-year Cardinal affiliate continued what he had put together during the season on into the winter. He had two multi-hit games including a 3-for-5 performance on December 16. His playing time was cut back in the months of November and December as he wasn't producing very well. Dumont had a three-game hitting streak between October 29-November 4, where he went 3-for-5 (.600). He lead the team in strikeouts. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 9-1, 1 RBI)
Dumont, like Billy Bolivar, saw the axe after Parallel League play. I'm still a little puzzled at why he was promoted in 2008 to GCL, other than to keep him under contract. He hit .186 at DSL in 2005, .202 at VSL in 2006, missed the entire 2007 season, and hit .198 at VSL in 2008. Other than showing some power at times, he didn't do much else besides strikeout.
Ted Obregon (GCL) played in 25 games batting .313 (20-for-64) with a .413 OBP and .391 SLG. The 18-year old switch hitter had one double, two triples, two RBIs, 25 total bases, scored seven runs, and walked ten times. He was 7-for-12 in stolen base attempts, struck out 25% (16) of the time, and committed seven errors. Obregon played 13 games at second base, four at shortstop, two at third base, two as designated hitter, and three between both second and short.
The second-year Cardinal affiliate was solid hitter throughout the season for the Redbirds. Obregon had four multi-hit games, which was started of with a 2-for-4 performance on October 23. He had a eight-game hitting streak from October 22 to November 1, going 11-for-23 (.478) with one double, one triple, two runs, and stole five bases. He also had a four-game hitting streak between November 6-11, where he went 5-for-12 (.417). Obregon legged out his first and only double on October 27, first triple on October 23, and drove in his first run on November 10. His best game came November 15 when he went 1-for-3 with a triple and RBI. Obregon did not play in December but lead the team in batting average, triples, OBP, and SLG. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 6-2, 2 RBIs)
Obregon probably will spend the year in the Gulf Coast League for the Cardinals. Hopefully with the way his winter season went in Parallel League, he might be able to capitalize and provide an extra needed bat at the rookie level league.
Limbert Rivas (VSL) played in 29 games batting .281 (16-for-57) with a .354 OBP and .386 SLG. The 18-year old right-handed swinger had three doubles, one home run, nine RBIs, 22 total bases, scored eight runs, and walked seven times. He struck out 19% (11) of the time and committed one error. He played 22 games behind the plate, three as designated hitter, and two as a pinch hitter.
The first-year VSL player was pretty much a back-up to Yorbel Alcala for most of the winter season. Rivas had three multi-hit games, going 2-for-3 each time. His best game came October 23 when he went 1-for-3 and clubbed his first home run and drove in three runs. He had a four-game hitting streak between November 15-December 5 where he went 5-for-12 (.417) with two doubles (in back-to-back games), two RBIs, and two runs. Rivas finished the season second on the team in batting average and third in SLG. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 6-0, 0 RBIs)
Rivas probably will be the back-up to Alcala during the 2009 season, depending where all things settle. He is one of the players I will be watching in the coming year, as he shows a lot of pop with the bat and potential behind the plate.
Ildemaro Vargas (VSL) played in 37 games batting .185 (10-for-54) with a .254 OBP and .204 SLG. The 17-year old right-handed swinger had one double, four RBIs, 11 total bases, scored 12 runs, and walked five times. He was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts, struck out 17% (9) of the time, and committed four errors. Vargas played 15 games at second base, nine at shortstop, one between both second and short, five as a pinch runner, and two as a pinch hitter.
The first-year VSL participant was a man off the bench for the Cardinals team, getting about ten starts during the winter. On October 22 he went 3-for-5 with one double, one RBI, and one run for his best game of the season. That was his only multi-hit game and he scored five runs in four consecutive games between November 8-13. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 9-1, 1 RBI)
Vargas seems like he will end up being a utility infielder for the VSL Cardinals in 2009, playing behind guys like Cesar Valera, Osmir Medina, and possibly Gerardo Mannbel.
Wilfred Vivas (VSL-50 Game Suspension) played in 15 games batting .273 (12-for-44) with a .333 OBP and .341 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had three doubles, two RBIs, 15 total bases, scored two runs, and walked four times. He was 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts, struck out 20% (9) of the time, and committed two errors. Vivas played 13 games at second base and one as designated hitter.
The second-year VSL player didn't really start playing til after his 50-game suspension was implemented, all though he did have a couple games under his belt before then. He opened up the month of December with a five game hitting streak going 7-for-17 (.411) with one double, two RBIs, and one run. Vivas had three multi-hit games including a 2-for-3 performance on December 16 collecting two doubles and one RBI.
Vivas had a real down year in 2008 compared to 2007, his batting average dropped nearly .100. I'm assuming that he might of been dealing with an injury of some sort and that could of been the reason he came up positive in his drug test after the season. There has been a lot of questions marks surrounding the drugs that are handed out for injuries in the foreign countries. It's just an assumption, but he will be watching from home for the first 50 games of the season if the St. Louis Cardinals do decide to keep him on the payroll in 2009.
still more to come...
St. Louis Cardinals Venezuelan Parallel League Team: 2008 Hitters Part One
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