The St. Louis Cardinals' Venezuelan Parallel League pitchers, like the hitters, had a sub par season this winter. Roughly they finished in the lower half of the league in strikeouts and innings, but gave up quite a bit of hits and runs (many were unearned).
The Cardinals, as a whole, were 16-33 with a 3.97 ERA with three shut outs and eight saves. They allowed 448 hits, 261 runs (186 earned), 28 home runs, 177 walks, and struck out 291 over 422 innings.
The first part of this wrap-up will focus on the starting pitchers with a one reliever sprinkled in who made some starts when the team was hurting for pitchers.
Javier Avendano (VSL) made ten appearances (eight starts) posting a 1-2 record and 2.36 ERA. The 18-year old right-hander allowed 33 hits, 16 runs (nine earned), one home run, 11 walks, ands struck out 24 over 34.1 innings. His ground out to fly out ratio was a 32-to-37 in favor of the fly ball.
The first-year VSL pitcher didn't allow a run in four of his ten appearances. Avendano had two really great starts, one coming November 1 when he gave up four hits, no runs, one walk, and struck out four over a season-high six innings. Then in his next start on November 8, he allowed two hits, no runs, and struck out four over five innings for his first win of the winter season. Avendano also had three appearances where he struck out a season-high four. He had two outings where he was shelled for five or more runs but managed only give up one home run, in December. He was second on the team in ERA and tied for third with strikeouts.
Avendano had a great 2008 season with the VSL Cardinals and looks to be headed back. The only concern I had was him missing some time with a possible injury or some unknown factor at the end of the year. I'm figuring with Geney Rios, Carlos Noguera, and Yonathan Gonzalez on their way out due to the three-year restrictions, Avendano could very well be the number one starter and ace for the Redbirds in 2009.
Carlos Noguera (VSL) made 11 appearances (eight starts) posting a 2-3 record and 6.59 ERA. The 19-year old right-handed pitcher allowed 49 hits, 34 runs (30 earned), four home runs, six walks, and struck out 21 over 41 innings. His ground out to fly out ratio was almost dead even at a 37-to-36 and kept his only two inherited runners on base.
The third-year VSL participant was hit hard from the start, but it eased in mid-November to only go all wrong again. In the first month or so he couldn't get out of the fourth inning for anything, even being knocked out in the second once. Noguera's losses all came at the beginning of the season, one after the other. He had three great starts coming between November13-December 3, where he combined for a 2-0 record allowing 11 hits, four earned runs, three free bases, and ten strikeouts over 18 innings (six in each start). After that he was moved to the bullpen as a middle-to-late inning reliever to eat some innings for the club. Noguera was second on the Cardinals in innings pitched and hits allowed.
Noguera is known for giving up a lot of hits, but most of the time they had been playable for outs. During the winter they must of been hitting him just a little bit harder. With the 2008 season being his third year in VSL, I would look for him to be in Jupiter trying to make the GCL Cardinals squad for the 2009 season as a reliever starting out.
Moises Colorado (VSL) made nine appearances (eight starts) posting an 0-5 record and 4.63 ERA. The 19-year old left-hander allowed 30 hits, 21 runs (18 earned), two home runs, 25 walks, and struck out 27 over 35 innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 27-to-41 and he kept his only inherited runner on base.
The second-year VSL pitcher was a little slow to get going but calmed down and pitched pretty good through November to the beginning of December, with a few speed bumps on the way. Colorado had two really bad outings coming October 30 and December where he combined for nine hits, ten runs, and five walks over 3.2 innings. He did give up a run and walked at least two in each of his appearances, even walking a season-high four three times. His best start came on November 30, when he pitched 5.1 innings of one hit and one run ball walking four, and striking out a season-high four for the Redbirds. He lead the Cardinals pitchers in walks and was second with strikeouts.
Colorado is most likely headed back for a third and final year in Venezuela, but don't rule out a call to GCL depending how his season goes. I'm still thinking a full season with the VSL Cardinals in 2009 will be greatly needed after missing some time in 2008 for unknown reasons. That way he can get back into the swing of things of being in the starting rotation and be better prepared for a possible 2010 promotion to Jupiter, FL.
Geney Rios (VSL) made seven starts posting an 0-1 record and 2.39 ERA. The 20-year old right handed pitcher allowed 23 hits, nine run (seven earned), two home runs, 12 walks, and struck out 19 over 26.1 innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 33-to-20, keeping the ball down on the ground.
The third-year VSL pitcher had three games with no runs allowed and gave up two or more in three other starts. Three of his starts he allowed four or more hits, including one game with six. One of his best starts came on October 29, when he pitched five innings of two-hit ball, allowing no runs, walking three, and striking out three. Rios struck out a season-high five on December 10. He finished third on the team in ERA.
Rios should be in minor league spring camp in 2009, attempting to get a spot on the GCL Cardinals squad. He had a great 2008 season that earned him my personal pick for 'VSL 2008 Starting Pitcher of the Year' and I'm really excited to see what he can bring to the rookie-level club in Florida in the spring.
Sergio Nieves (July 2nd Signing) made 12 appearances (seven starts) posting an 0-4 record and 4.06 ERA. The 17-year old right-hander allowed 44 hits, 28 runs (17 earned), three home runs, 15 walks, and struck out 28 over 37.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 33-to-35 and let four of five inherited runners score.
The newly signed Nieves started out in the bullpen and worked his way into the rotation during the winter. He struck out a season-high seven on November 12 and had a four strikeout game on November 28. His best start came on December 9, when he allowed five hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out two over five innings. Nieves also had a relief appearance on October 28 for 3.1 innings where he didn't allow a run. He lead the Cardinals' pitchers in strikeouts and was third in innings pitched.
Nieves could be a positive addition to the Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals in 2009. With two starters (Geney Rios and Carlos Noguera) on their way out, he could be plugged in there to fill an empty void.
Yonathan Gonzalez (VSL) made seven appearances (six starts) posting a 2-3 record and 3.95 ERA. The 21-year old right-hander allowed 32 hits, 16 runs (12 earned), one home run, eight walks, and struck out 20 over 27.1 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 36-to-19.
The third-year VSL participant continued his transition from the bullpen to the rotation, that was carried over from the 2008 regular season. Four of Gonzalez's starts he allowed one or less runs, but was roughed up in two which ballooned his ERA. His best start came December 12, when he pitched five innings allowing three hits, no runs, and struck out a season-high five for the win. Gonzalez manged to last five or more innings in four of his seven starts and struck out four or more twice.
I'm starting to like Gonzalez better in the starting role rather than the relief role, which he was the closer for the VSL Cardinals in 2008. He seems to be getting the hang of starting out the game and building on that as time goes on. Look for him to make an appearance in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league camp in 2009, as this was his final year in VSL.
Carlos Oraa (VSL) made 15 appearances (three starts) posting a 1-3 record and 4.60 ERA. The 19-year old right-hander allowed 60 hits, 36 runs (23 earned), two home runs, eight walks, and struck out 24 over 45 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 44-to-46 and let three of six inherited runners score.
The second-year VSL pitcher was used mainly as a middle inning long-reliever for the Cardinals during the winter. He didn't make his starts until November and the beginning of December, then was moved back into the bullpen. Oraa pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless ball on November 12 in his first start and only gave up three hits and one walk for the win. In only two appearances did he give up one or no runs and allowed two or more in the rest. Oraa struck out a season-high five in his final start on December 1 and had six games with three or more strikeouts over the winter. He lead the Cardinals in innings pitched, hits and runs allowed, but kept the walks to a minimum.
Oraa could again be the dark horse out of the VSL Cardinals bullpen in 2009. He improved from the 2007 to 2008 season, but was a little rusty during the winter. I wouldn't mind seeing what he might do if he was placed in the rotation during the 2009 regular season to see if he could flourish in that role.
Part One Of The Hitters
Part Two Of The Hitters
Part Three Of The Hitters
2 comments:
I think in many cases you are too pessamistic about some of these guys moving up. For example, I think Moses Colorado is a lock for the GSL and with a good Spring could end up in JC or Batavia.
CariocaCardinal
carioca,
thanks for posting.
yes you are very true about me and the way i look at things, i can be very pessimistic about it.
i wouldn't doubt he gets a real hard look come spring, especially being a lefty (good ones are hard to come by). he could very well get a big push like castillo did, ok maybe not as big. and if i'm correct luhnow does like the guy. but i don't want to jump the gun just yet and over due my predictions.
he's a favorite of mine alone with a handful of others that i think could be looking at plane tickets to the u.s in 2009.
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