New Role, Same Goal: Rob Kaminsky Returns To Cardinals As Lefty Reliever; Carlos Martinez's Debut Set (Brett Cecil, Too); Coaches Get Title Upgrades; Extra Bases

It’s been nearly seven years since they drafted him 28th overall, and while he still raises that knuckle on his curveball to give it a “spike,” the beard is new, the role is new, and the arm feels as close to new as it has in a few years for lefty Rob Kaminsky.

Post-Dispatch

Bernie On The Cardinals: Is There A Star Outfielder In The House? Pick A Card

The Cardinals seem to be doubling down on their intention to give young outfielders an opportunity to play in 2020.

101 ESPN

Brandon Moss & Son Take In Cardinals-Braves Game 10-3-19

Brandon Moss is at the game. His son has some of the right gear on. #STLCards pic.twitter.com/VwIsfo4PHP

— Jim Hayes (@TheCatOnFox) October 3, 2019

How Cardinals Have Found, Nutured Pitching Riches In Recent Drafts

It would be another four years before their similarities would be the talk of October and their arrival in St. Louis help clinch a National League pennant, but even in those early days of 2009, as the Cardinals seeded affiliates with their picks, Matt Carpenter saw recurring traits in his draft classmates.

Birdland

Kolten Wong, Unheralded Master Of Plate Discipline

If you know one thing about Kolten Wong, you probably know that he’s a great defender. Honestly, great defender might be underselling it. Since 2014, his first full year in the bigs, he’s third in Defensive Runs Saved at second base. Maybe UZR is more your speed? Wong is third there, too. This isn’t some trick of innings played, either — he’s fourth in UZR/150 among qualifiers. He hasn’t won a Gold Glove yet, but it’s not because he doesn’t deserve it.

Fangraphs

Cardinals Aren't Flinching At Possibility Alex Reyes Could Be In Rotation

By the time Alex Reyes got to his hotel room in Cincinnati a few years ago, a teammate had already palmed his room key and left him with the wrong one.

Post-Dispatch

Team Waino Wins Pitchers' Fielding Game; Worth Noting

Some savvy drafting and sure hands helped Adam Wainwright pocket his first victory of the spring on Wednesday.
St. Louis Official Site

The word Cardinals manager Mike Shildt came up with to describe the schedule for pitchers Wednesday at spring training was succinct and telling.
Birdland

With the No. 1 overall selection in the St. Louis Cardinals "Pitcher Fielding Practice Championships" veteran Adam Wainwright selected Alex Reyes. And he picked well, as his "Team Latino" with Reyes, Genesis Cabrera and Williams Pérez were the winners.
KMOX

Of the 28 pitchers the Cardinals used last season--and my apologies to Greg Garcia and Jedd Gyorko for their exclusion despite each having logged an inning of relief work in blowouts--19 of them are present in spring camp this year. Some veterans, now recovered from the injuries that last summer provided opportunities to younger arms, are here in Jupiter looking to bounce back. Those younger hurlers, several of whom came out of the woodwork to provide quality innings in a pinch, seek only to remain exactly where they were in September last season: on the big-league roster. But there are only so many spots in rotation and bullpen to go around.
KMOV

Suddenly, Jose Martinez Brings Back Memories Of Brandon Moss

Do you remember that September? It was 2016, the Cards were still in the Wild Card race, and outfielder Brandon Moss had hit 25 homers entering that month. He was an important batter. Until he became an irrelevant batter.

Hochman

Former Cardinals First-Round Picks Working Their Way Through Minors

Between 2011 and 2015, the Cardinals made 12 selections in the first round of the amateur baseball draft, counting supplemental picks. Half of them are now in the majors, while one, high school catcher Steve Bean (2012) is out of baseball. Five more are playing in the minor leagues, trying to work their way toward the majors.

STL Sports Page

The Underwhelming Jack Flaherty Is Overwhleming Hitters

Between 2012 and 2014, the Cardinals had six first-round picks. They spent five of those picks on pitchers, three from college and two from high school. The strategy — overseen by scouting director Dan Kantrovitz, now assistant general manager in Oakland — is an interesting one, as most franchises attempt to load up on cornerstone bats to contend. Of the five pitchers selected, though, only Rob Kaminsky — traded for Brandon Moss — has failed to reach the majors thus far. Marco Gonzales is also gone from the Cardinals organization, departing in a trade last season for “a dense pillar of meat” in Tyler O’Neill. The other three picks are current employed as members of the Cardinals rotation.

Fangraphs

Brashness Draves Tommy Pham's Success, But Rant Against The Cardinals Isn't Fair

There is a point to which I find myself sympathetic with Tommy Pham.

Belleville News Democrat

Tommy Pham's Frustrations Justified, But Cardinals Are Right, Too

Here's my favorite bit of trivia about Tommy Pham, and it's maybe the most important one: He's 30 years old. Pham was one of baseball's best stories last year, spending the first month of the season in the Minor Leagues before exploding for five months, finishing the season as a Top 10 fWAR player, according to Fangraphs, and placing 11th in National League MVP Award voting, just ahead of Bryce Harper. Most baseball fans had never heard of him before last season, when he was one of the top players in the game, and clearly one of the most exciting, a guy who plays with urgency and fire and passion and, frankly, pure fury. He's hypnotic.

St. Louis Official Site

25 MLB Elder Statesman Looking For Work

Veterans and super-veterans continue to struggle to find work, with the over-35 set particularly ignored.

FanRags

Athletics Released Brandon Moss

Jane Lee Twitter

Athletics Designated Brandon Moss For An Assignment

Jane Lee Twitter

Former Cardinals Playing In MLB Spring Training 3-3-18: Stephen Piscotty Hits A Two-Run Homer; Brandon Moss Singles, Walks, & Drives In One Run; Deck McGuire Strikes Out Two Of Three Batters Faced For The Win

Magneuris Sierra (former St. Louis-Miami) entered late in the game in right field and batted leadoff.  1-for-1 at the plate.
Peter Mooney (former 2010 draft selection-Miami) entered late in the game as shortstop and batted ninth.  0-for-1 and assisted in one double play.

Miami beat New York-N 1-0

Ruben Tejada (former St. Louis-Baltimore) started at second base and moved to shortstop, batting eighth.  0-for-3 with one strikeout.

Edubray Ramos (former VSL-Philadelphia) entered in the third and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck two out.  (g/f:0-1)

Baltimore beat Philadelphia 4-2

Shane Robinson (former St. Louis-New York-A) entered late in the game in centerfield and batted leadoff.  0-for-1 with one walk and one strikeout.

Joe Kelly (former St. Louis-Boston) entered in the third and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit, one earned run, one home run, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-0)

New York-A beat Boston 5-3

Brayan Pena (former St. Louis-Detroit) entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted third.  1-for-2 at the plate.
Chad Huffman (former St. Louis-Detroit) entered late in the game in right field and batted fourth.  0-for-2 at the plate.
Pete Kozma (former St. Louis-Detroit) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted eighth.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Tampa Bay beat Detroit 7-4

Eliezer Alvarez (former Springfield-Philadelphia) started at third base and moved to shortstop, batting eighth.  1-for-4 with one run, one stolen base, two strikeouts, and grounded into one double play.

David Freese (former St. Louis-Pittsburgh) started at third base and batted third.  1-for-1 with one walk.
Todd Cunningham (former Memphis-Pittsburgh) entered late in the game in right field and batted sixth.  0-for-2 with two strikeouts.

Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia 4-3

James Ramsey (former Memphis-Minnesota) entered late in the game in centerfield and batted third.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Randal Grichuk (former St. Louis-Toronto) started in right field and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with one double, one run, and one strikeout.
Aledmys Diaz (former St. Louis-Toronto) started at shortstop and batted ninth.  1-for-3 at the plate.
John Axford (former St. Louis-Toronto) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs.  (g/f:3-0)
Deck McGuire (former Memphis-Toronto) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck two out for the winning decision (1-0).  (g/f:1-0)

Toronto beat Minnesota 13-8

Ildemaro Vargas (former Springfield-Arizona) entered late in the game at third base and batted second.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.
Jeremy Hazelbaker (former St. Louis-Arizona) entered late in the game in right field and moved to center, batting fourth.  0-for-1 with one walk and one strikeout.
Kevin Medrano (former 2011 draft selection-Arizona) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted eighth.  0-for-1 at the plate.
David Carpenter (former Palm Beach-Arizona) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed four hits, two earned runs, and one home run.  (g/f:2-0)

Donovan Solano (former Memphis-Los Angeles) started at shortstop and batted seventh.  1-for-2 with one run, one walk, grounded into one double play, and assisted in one double play.

Los Angeles beat Arizona 14-6

Ian Kennedy (former 2003 draft selection-Kansas City) started and pitched two innings.  He allowed three hits, two earned runs, one walk, and struck five out.

Chicago-A beat Kansas City 9-5

Efren Navarro (former Memphis-Chicago-N) entered late in the game at first base and batted third.  0-for-3 with one strikeout.

Chicago-N beat Cincinnati 7-4

Shane Peterson (former Springfield-San Diego) entered late in the game in right field and batted fifth.  One walk at the plate.
Allen Craig (former St. Louis-San Diego) started at first base and batted eighth.  1-for-3 with one run, one strikeout, and assisted in one double play.
Robert Stock (former Palm Beach-San Diego) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, hit one batter, and struck one out.  (g/f:1-1)

Stephen Piscotty (former St. Louis-Oakland) started in right field and batted sixth.  1-for-3 with one home run, two RBIs, one run, and one strikeout.
Nick Martini (former Memphis-Oakland) entered late in the game in right field and batted sixth.  0-for-1 at the plate.
Brandon Moss (former St. Louis-Oakland) started as designated hitter and batted seventh.  1-for-1 with one RBI and two walks.

San Diego beat Oakland 10-4

Aramis Garcia (former 2011 draft selection-San Francisco) started at catcher and batted ninth.  1-for-3 with one run.

Matt Belisle (former St. Louis-Cleveland) entered in the fourth and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit and no runs.  (g/f:0-3)

San Francisco beat Cleveland 13-4

Colin Walsh (former Springfield-Anaheim) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted seventh.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Juan Nicasio (former St. Louis-Seattle) entered in the fourth and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit, one earned run, and one home run for the blown save (1).  (g/f:3-0)

Seattle beat Anaheim 4-2

Brandon Moss Open To Adjusting Hitting Philosophy

Brandon Moss might be slowing down at 34 years old, but he still knows how to hang with the kids.

Oakland Official Site

Former Cardinals Playing In MLB Spring Training 2-26-18: Peter Mooney & Jeremy Hazelbaker Each Single & Drive In Two Runs; Mark Montgomery Strikes Out One Over One Scoreless Inning For The Hold; Donovan Solano Singles & Knocks In One Run

David Freese (former St. Louis-Pittsburgh) started at third base and batted fifth.  0-for-2 with one strikeout and one throwing error.

Boston beat Pittsburgh 13-2

Chad Huffman (former St. Louis-Detroit) entered late in the game as a designated hitter and batted seventh.  0-for-2 at the plate.
Mark Montgomery (former Memphis-Detroit) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, one walk, and struck one out for the hold (1).  (g/f:1-0)

Colby Rasmus (former St. Louis-Baltimore) started in right field and batted leadoff.  0-for-3 with one strikeout.
Ruben Tejada (former St. Louis-Baltimore) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted fifth.  0-for-2 at the plate.

Detroit beat Baltimore 8-6

Jonathan Rodriguez (former Memphis-Miami) entered late in the game in left field and batted leadoff.  1-for-1 with one run and one walk.
Peter Mooney (former 2010 draft selection-Miami) entered late in the game at second base and batted third.  1-for-3 with two RBIs, one run, and one strikeout.

Miami beat Houston 11-0

Miguel Socolovich (former St. Louis-Atlanta) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit and no runs for the hold (1).  (g/f:0-3)

Atlanta beat Washington 2-1

David Peralta (former Johnson City-Arizona) started in left field and batted leadoff.  1-for-2 with one walk, one strikeout, and one caught stealing.
Daniel Descalso (former St. Louis-Arizona) started at second base and batted third.  0-for-2 with one walk, two strikeouts, and assisted in one double play.
Jeremy Hazelbaker (former St. Louis-Arizona) started in right field and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.
Ildemaro Vargas (former Springfield-Arizona) started at third base and batted eighth.  0-for-3 with one strikeout and assisted in one double play.
Michael Blazek (former St. Louis-Arizona) entered in the fifth and pitched 1.2 innings.  He allowed three hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-1)

Tony Cruz (former St. Louis-Cincinnati) entered late in the game at catcher and batted fourth.  0-for-3 at the plate.

Arizona beat Boston 5-2

Sam Gaviglio (former Springfield-Kansas City) entered in the third and pitched two innings.  He allowed one hit, one earned run, two walks, threw one wild pitch, and struck three out for the hold (1).  (g/f:0-2)
Blaine Boyer (former St. Louis-Kansas City) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning.  He allowed two hits, no runs, and struck one out.

Royals beat Giants 10-6

Donovan Solano (former Memphis-Los Angeles) entered late in the game at second base and batted fourth.  1-for-2 with one RBI, one run, and one strikeout.

Michael Ohlman (former Memphis-Texas) entered late in the game at catcher and batted ninth.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Los Angeles beat Texas 9-6

Stephen Piscotty (former St. Louis-Oakland) started in right field and batted third.  1-for-2 with one double and one walk.
Anthony Garcia (former Memphis-Oakland) entered late in the game in right field and batted fifth.  0-for-1 at the plate.
Brandon Moss (former St. Louis-Oakland) started at first base and batted sixth.  2-for-3 with one double, one run, one strikeout, and assisted in one double play.
Nick Martini (former Memphis-Oakland) entered late in the game in left field and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one run and one walk.

Chicago-A beat Oakland 7-6

Ian Rice (former 2012 draft selection-Chicago-N) entered late in the game at catcher and batted fourth.  0-for-2 with one run.
Jason Heyward (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started in right field and batted fifth.  0-for-1 with one walk and one stolen base.
Efren Navarro (former Memphis-Chicago-N) started as designated hitter and batted seventh.  0-for-1 with one RBI, one walk, and one sac fly.
Peter Bourjos (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started in left field and batted eighth.  1-for-3 with one strikeout.
Steve Cishek (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) entered in the third and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and one walk.  (g/f:1-2)

Seattle and Chicago-N tied 9-9

Colin Walsh (former Springfield-Anaheim) entered late in the game at second base and batted eighth.  0-for-2 with one strikeout and one missed catch error.

Allen Craig (former St. Louis-San Diego) started at first base and batted fourth.  1-for-3 and assisted in one double play.
Shane Peterson (former Springfield-San Diego) entered late in the game in left field and batted sixth.  1-for-2 with one run.

San Diego beat Anaheim 10-4

Kevin Medrano (former 2011 draft selection-Arizona) entered late in the game at second base and batted sixth.  One walk and one fielding error.
Fernando Salas (former St. Louis-Arizona) entered in the third and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit, no runs, and struck one out for the hold (1).  (p-s:17-11)(g/f:1-1)

Arizona beat Colorado 7-4

Eliezer Alvarez (former Springfield-Philadelphia) entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Shane Robinson (former St. Louis-New York-A) entered late in the game in centerfield and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

New York-A beat Philadelphia 4-3

Former Cardinals Playing In MLB Spring Training 2-24-18: Sandy Alcantara Strikes Out One Over Two Hitless/Scoreless Innings; Audry Perez Singles, Homers, & Drives In Two Runs; Magneuris Sierra Singles Twice & Knocks In One Run

Shane Robinson (former St. Louis-New York-A) started in right field and batted ninth.  1-for-1 with one walk and one hit by pitch.

David Freese (former St. Louis-Pittsburgh) started at third base and batted fourth.  1-for-2 at the plate.

New York-A beat Pittsburgh 4-1

Edwin Jackson (former St. Louis-Washington) entered in the third and pitched two innings.  He allowed three hits, one earned run, one home run, one walk, struck one out, and picked one runner off for the blown save (1).  (g/f:3-0)

Magneuris Sierra (former St. Louis-Miami) entered late in the game in centerfield and batted leadoff.  2-for-2 with one RBI.
Jonathan Rodriguez (former Memphis-Miami) entered late in the game at first base and batted fourth.  1-for-2 at the plate.
Peter Mooney (former 2010 draft selection-Miami) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted eighth.  1-for-1 with one run.
Sandy Alcantara (former St. Louis-Miami) entered in the third and pitched two innings.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-1)
Brett Graves (former 2011 draft selection-Miami) entered in the fifth and pitched two innings.  He allowed one hit, one unearned run, one walk, one throwing error, and struck two out.  (g/f:3-1)

Miami beat Washington 3-2

Audry Perez (former St. Louis-Baltimore) entered late in the game at catcher and batted sixth.  2-for-2 with one home run, two RBIs, and one run.
Ruben Tejada (former St. Louis-Baltimore) started at second base and moved to shortstop, batting seventh.  0-for-3 with one walk.

Edubray Ramos (former VSL-Philadelphia) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed three hits, two earned runs, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-0)

Philadelphia beat Baltimore 9-6

Ty Kelly (former Memphis-New York-N) started in left field and batted ninth.  1-for-2 with one strikeout.

St. Louis beat New York-N 10-5

Tony Cruz (former St. Louis-Cincinnati) entered late in the game at catcher and batted fourth.  0-for-2 and allowed one stolen base.

Colorado beat Cincinnati 11-4

Seth Maness (former St. Louis-Kansas City) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, and one home run for the hold (1).  (g/f:2-0)

Kansas City beat Los Angeles 8-4

Shane Peterson (former Springfield-San Diego) entered late in the game in left field and batted third.  0-for-1 at the plate.
Allen Craig (former St. Louis-San Diego) started at first base and batted fifth.  0-for-1 with two walks.
Robert Stock (former Palm Beach-San Diego) entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck one out.  (g/f:1-1)

Brandon Moss (former St. Louis-Oakland) started at first base and batted third.  1-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Anthony Garcia (former Memphis-Oakland) entered late in the game in left field and batted fourth.  1-for-2 at the plate.
Nick Martini (former Memphis-Oakland) entered late in the game in right field and batted seventh.  1-for-1 with one run and one walk.

Oakland beat San Diego 8-3

Jason Heyward (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started in right field and batted fifth.  0-for-2 at the plate.
Peter Bourjos (former St. Louis-Chicago-N) started in left field and moved to center, batting ninth.  0-for-2 with two strikeouts.

Chicago-N beat Texas 6-1

Aramis Garcia (former 2011 draft selection-San Francisco) entered late in the game at catcher and batted fourth.  0-for-2 with one strikeout.

Donovan Solano (former Memphis-Los Angeles) started at shortstop and batted ninth.  0-for-2 with one walk and two strikeouts.

San Francisco beat Los Angeles 9-3

Charlie Tilson (former Memphis-Chicago-A) started in centerfield and batted ninth.  0-for-2 at the plate.

Mike Leake (former St. Louis-Seattle) started and pitched two innings.  He allowed one hit and no runs.  (g/f:4-2)

Chicago-A beat Seattle 5-3

David Peralta (former Johnson City-Arizona) started started in left field and batted leadoff.  2-for-2 with one double and one run.
Daniel Descalso (former St. Louis-Arizona) started at second base and batted fifth.  1-for-2 and assisted in one double play.
Ildemaro Vargas (former Springfield-Arizona) entered late in the game at shortstop and batted fifth.  0-for-1 with one run, one walk, and one throwing error.
Jeremy Hazelbaker (former St. Louis-Arizona) started in right field and batted seventh.  One walk at the plate.
David Carpenter (former Palm Beach-Arizona) entered in the ninth and pitched to six batters.  He allowed five hits, five earned runs, and three home runs.  (g/f:1-0)

Cleveland beat Arizona 11-2

Colin Walsh (former Springfield-Anaheim) entered late in the game at shortstkop and batted second.  1-for-3 at the plate.

Anaheim beat Milwaukee 6-5

James Ramsey (former Memphis-Minnesota) entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted fourth.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Minnesota and Baltimore tied 1-1

In A Sluggish Free Agent Market, Upset MLB Players Must Share The Blame

For Major League Baseball, this is slowest offseason for player signings since, well, ever.

101 ESPN