Spring Training Wrapup -- The Hit Club

Hello from hot inside and outside Jupiter Florida! I would like to begin this blog by issuing an apology to those who had to listen to the phone interview I did with the cool dudes from "The Last Word". If you have no idea what I am talking about ... feel lucky. I practiced what I thought I wanted to say the night before, however as the phone call comes in, I go blank. Not to mention I sounded nervous and I was.

I don't mean go blank like, well I forgot a couple of things I wanted to mention, no I mean I couldn't think of one of our top prospects' name and who just happens to have been competing for the 5th spot in the rotation ... Carlos Martinez. I could not remember his first name, Carlos for any amount of money and poor Shelby Miller he got a bad wrap because I said Lance Miller at one point instead of Lance Lynn. I think next time I will just record what I want to say and just play the recording whether it matches the question or not.

Our starting infield really looks sharp with Kolten Wong really doing a nice job after a rough start to be able to relax, find a good groove and prove he can hit. Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta have started to get settled in as we expect from veterans. Few of the surprises that I enjoyed watching this spring training will make for some strong clubs in the minor leagues. We have some good looking kids in the middle infield with the likes of Luis Mateo and Greg Garcia. Both can play either shortstop or second base and that isn't including our new signee of Aledmys Diaz who will play shortstop everyday at Double A Springfield. All these guys hit well in their handful of at bats but they really did a nice job fielding their positions. I didn't really get to see a whole lot from our backup third basemen for the fact that Carpenter probably wanted as many at bats as he could get to find his groove. A few to mention would be Scott Moore, who isn't a youngster at age 30, that the Cards signed to a minor league contract this offseason. A young third baseman, Patrick Wisdom played in seven games this spring but wasn't very effective.

A side note about third basemen is our 2012 draft pick Carson Kelly who has the potential to have power as he progresses. Kelly has been moved to play catcher and did well enough in the instructional league that manager Mike Matheny invited him to spring training to give him a look. First base looks decent with Xavier Scruggs adding some depth as he did a nice job fielding and had some key hits this spring.

Our young, talented outfield will turn some heads for a few years and here are a few names you may want to learn and remember. Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty are both the top of the pile as far as outfielders. I know we have a so called phenom named Oscar Taveras who is our top prospect and was ready to take St Louis by storm. I have thought the same thing about this kid but at this point, in my opinion, he is going to have to prove he wants to be in the major leagues because Grichuk and Piscotty have both done that. I would take ether of those guys over Taveras. Yes, Taveras has the five tools or so we have heard but the thing that makes the ball player is the mental toughness and desire to want to work hard to be able to play well. At this point I don't think Taveras has it and it may take a few years in the minors getting passed over for him to realize this. Both Grichuk and Piscotty have potent bats and I look forward to watching them play in Memphis or Springfield, where ever they are sent to.

I will say my top surprise of the hitters, was also the biggest disappointment in Taveras, I will say that my top young position player has to be Kolten Wong. As far as the lineup is concerned I am disappointed in Matheny for not at least trying Carpenter in the number two spot in the lineup. In my opinion he would be the best number two hitter in the National league if not the majors for the simple fact is that he isn't afraid to take strikes to allow a steal and he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields on a hit and run. I just would have liked to see more competition on the leadoff spot than who will bat behind Carpenter. Give some kids with speed the chance to bat leadoff for awhile to let them get some steals. I know Carpenter did great as a leadoff hitter and I have no problem with him returning but to just hand him the spot without at least trying some leadoff hitters with speed and him in the number two hole upsets me. The only time thus far this spring that Carpenter has not led off is when he didn't play. Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos both led off three times, Wong once, and heck even old man river Mark Ellis led off a game as did Shane Robinson. My lineup card would be different but I would at least use this until it proved it didn't work. I would use Bourjos, Carpenter, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, Peralta, Yadier Molina, Adams, Wong, pitcher. I know you all are probably thinking that you are glad I am not in charge because I put Molina batting after Peralta but I think as slow as Molina and Adams are, let them drive in Peralta who at least has a little more speed. Next time I will discuss the pitchers and the reason I think Joe Kelly was selected as the number five starter.