This round of the St. Louis Cardinals Venezuelan Parallel League wrap-up will focus on the relievers.
Francisco Guzman (VSL) made 18 appearances (two starts) posting a 3-6 record, 4.45 ERA, and five saves. The 20-year old right-hander allowed 38 hits, 19 runs (14 earned), one home run, 17 walks, and struck out 20 over 28.1 innings. His ground out-to-flu out ratio was 29-18 and he let four of 11 inherited runners scored.
The second-year VSL pitcher began the winter season as the Redbirds closer, then was moved into the rotation, to later return as the closer. Guzman was dominant in October saving four games and picking up a win. But in his final appearance at the end of October he hit the wall and was ripped to shreds through November. In eight of his games he did not allow one run and three of those no hits. Guzman recorded a season-high four strikeouts on Dec 10 and had four appearances with two or more. Even though he gave up a home run, his best outing came on November 26 as he pitched 3.1 innings allowing one hit and one run. His worst outings came as a starter compiling an 0-1 record allowing 14 hits, 10 runs (eight earned), three walks, and striking out four over 7.1 innings. Guzman did bounce back at the end of November and through the rest of the season only giving up two runs in his next 11.2 innings. He was the team leader in saves and tied for the lead in wins.
Guzman is still in a transition period as he moved from behind the plate to the mound mid-2008 season. He's still trying to find where he belongs as the Cardinals organization practices a little patience. He'll most likely be looking at a third season at VSL in 2009 just to see if the pitching will work for him.
Jose Weffer (July 2nd Signing) made 11 relief appearances posting a 2.81 ERA. The 16-year old left-hander allowed 13 hits, six runs (five earned), one home run, 11 walks, and struck out ten over 16 innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 9-13 and he let one of four inherited runners score.
The newly signed Weffer was a late innings middle reliever, coming in in the between the seventh-eighth. He had eight games without allowing a run and had three without a hit. In three of his appearance he gave out two or more free passes and had only two games with two strikeouts. His best outing came December 4, where he pitched 2.1 innings giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out two. Weffer's worst game came December 2, as he allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), two walks, hit two batters, threw a wild pitch, and even had a balk.
With Miguel Lopez's release after Parallel League, it opened a door for Weffer to climb right in. He may take over the role that was vacated in the bullpen or there's another possibility of the rotation depending if Moises Colorado stays or is promoted in 2009.
David Brito (VSL) made 16 relief appearances posting a 4.15 ERA. The 20-year old right-hander allowed 23 hits, 12 runs (ten earned), one home run, ten walks, and struck out seven over 21.2 innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 21-20 and he let two of eight inherited runners score.
The third-year VSL participant was tagged from the beginning of the season and later showed what he had done in the beginning of the 2008 regular season. In his first five outings, Brito gave up 12 hits, 11 runs (9 earned), one home run, five walks, and struck out two over 5.2 innings. In one of those games he couldn't even get out of the inning. But Mid-November came and he was pretty much lights out, only allowing one earned run over his next 15.2 innings. Brito didn't give up a run in 11 appearances and no hits in six of those games. He ran a streak of 6.2 innings without a run, then ended the winter season with a scoreless streak of seven innings.
Brito seems to be getting back to form after missing some time in the 2008 regular season. With that said, he has pitched his third season at VSL and should be making a trip to Jupiter, FL for St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring camp. Brito could be an added arm to the GCL bullpen, that struggled in 2008, possibly as a set-up man.
Jackson Solarte (VSL) made 13 relief appearances posting a 2-2 record and 2.62 ERA. The 18-year old right-hander allowed 21 hits, 15 runs (seven earned), 13 walks, and struck out 21 over 24 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 21-12 and let two of five inherited runners score.
The first-year VSL reliever was used in the long relief role for the Redbirds. Solarte had four appearances without a run and two with no hits, even opening the season up only giving up one run over his first 5.1 innings His walks were a big concern, as he walked two or more in seven seperate occasions over the winter season. Solarte's best outing came on December 12, as he struck out a season-high five and only gave up one hit over three innings. His worst was on December 4, when he allowed two hits, five run (one earned), five walks, and struck out three. Solarte ranked third on the team in ERA and was second in walks allowed.
Solarte could very well be an important part of the Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals in 2009. Probably could follow along in the footsteps of Fabian Marquez, who was an effective middle reliever in 2008, as long as he can keep the walks to a minimum.
Gregorio Ramos (VSL) made ten relief appearances posting an 0-2 record and 7.63 ERA. The 19-year old right-hander allowed 18 hits, 14 runs (13 earned), five home runs, ten walks, and struck out 12 over 15.1 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 18-5 and let one of two inherited runners score.
The first-year VSL pitcher wasn't as bad as his stats seem to suggest. In four games, Ramos didn't give up a run and two no hits. He had four really rough outings where ha gave up two or more runs. Ramos' worst game came on November 11, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and two home runs. On November 7 he had his best appearance, pitching 3 innings of scoreless ball, giving up two hits, one walk, and striking out a season-high three.
Ramos looks to be returning to VSL in 2009 and could find some valuable time with relievers such as David Brito, Yonathan Gonzalez, and Miguel Lopez on the way out the door.
Fabian Marquez (VSL) made nine relief appearances posting a 3-0 record and 1.64 ERA. The 17-year old right-hander allowed 18 hits, five runs (four earned), one home run, five walks, and struck out 15 over 22 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 25-22 and let all of his 12 inherited runners score.
The first-year VSL pitcher like the 2008 regular season held the same role with the Cardinals Parallel team, being long-reliever. Marquez didn't give up a run in five games and no hits in just one. He only finished under two innings in one relief appearance and struck out two or more in five games. His best outing came on October 30, when he pitched three innings only allowing one hit and no runs, while striking out a season-high four. On December 13, he struggled through two innings giving up three hits, two earned runs, and one walk. Marquez lead the team in wins and ERA.
Marquez added on to a great 2008 regular season and should do a much better job in 2009, now that he has some experience under his belt. I still think he might be worth a look in the rotation, especially since he has trouble keeping runners on base coming in on the relief role.
Miguel Lopez (VSL-Free Agent) made 11 relief appearances posting an 0-1 record and 3.34 ERA. The 19-year old left-hander allowed 30 hits, 17 runs (11 earned), four home runs, eight walks, and struck out 20 over 29.2 innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 27-31 and he let three of six inherited runners score.
The second-year VSL pitcher was used in the long-relief role for Cardinals, even coming in a couple times in the third or fourth. Lopez had three scoreless appearances, including a two that where for three or three plus innings. His best outing came on October 22, when he gave up only one hit, no runs, two walks, and struck out two. He struggled a little with his location/control hitting four batters, walking eight, and leaving the ball out over the plate for four home runs. Lope opened the season with one of his worst performances on October 18, where he gave up two hits, four runs, three walks, and threw one wild pitch.
I'm not real sure on the reasoning behind Lopez's release after the winter season, but it unfortunately happened. I for sure pegged him as a possible contending reliever in Jupiter, FL during the spring.
Eduardo Sanchez (Quad Cities) made six relief appearances posting a 1-0 record, 2.25 ERA, and two saves. The 19-year old right-hander allowed five hits, four runs (two earned), two walks, and struck out 15 over eight innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 5-1 and kept all six of his inherited runners on base. Sanchez began the winter season with Aragua, giving up three hits, three runs (two earned), one walk, and struck out two over two innings in two games.
The third-year Cardinal affiliate joined the squad at the beginning of November after a disappointing start with Aragua. Sanchez took over the closer role for the Redbirds when the team decided to move Francisco Guzman around to the rotation. In four of his six outing he gave up a run and he walked his only two batter on November 17. Sanchez had his best game on November 8, when he struck out a season-high four and gave up one hit over two innings. He also struck out the side in his final game on November 19.
Sanchez seems to have heeled just fine from his injury during the 2008 season. He is probably aimed for a return at Quad Cites and hopefully the team uses him in a set-up or closer role because of how well he has handled it the past two winters for the Cardinals Parallel League team.
VSL Academy Tryouts that didn't make the cut:
Jose Tovar made one relief appearance on November 13. He allowed no hits or runs, walked one, and threw one wild pitch over two innings. (ground out-fly out:1-5)
C.Celas made one relief appearance on November 18. He allowed no hits, one earned run, one walk, hit two batters, and struck out two over two innings.
J.Celas made three relief appearances (coming on November 25, November 30, and December 4), posting a 1-1 record and 2.81 ERA. He allowed five hits, three runs (one earned), two walks, hit one batter, threw one wild pitch, and strukc out three over 3.2 innings. I'm not sure if J.Celas and C.Celas are one in the same, not much information provided. (ground out-fly out:3-1, inherited runners-scored:4-3)
J.Hernandez made one relief appearance on December 4. He allowed four hits, five runs (two earned), two walks, threw one wild pitch, and stuck out one over 0.2 innings.
VSL Academy Tryout that made the cut:
Julio Castellano (GCL) pitched two games for the Cardinals, but he began the season with Caracas and that wrap-up will come later.
Hitters Part One
Hitter Part Two
Hitters Part Three
Starting Rotation
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