SGF Cardinals Homestand Report: Tulsa Drillers

Each homestand for the Springfield Cardinals offers a ton of baseball value. Not only do we get a chance to evaluate potential future St. Louis Cardinals talent, but we get to pull back the curtain and see other future Major Leaguers. June hasn’t been kind to the S-Cards, having lost the first two series of the month, dropping two of three to both Corpus Christi and San Antonio. But the Cardinals are back for an 8-game home stand against Tulsa and Arkansas, the two teams below Springfield and first-place NW Arkansas.

Each time a new team comes to Hammons Field, we will offer up a Homestand Report, detailing what happening with the Springfield Cardinals and their opponents.

Springfield Cardinals

Overall: 29-27, 3 1/2 games back of first place NW Arkansas

Last series: 1-2, getting shut out by San Antonio twice

Where is the offense? While the Cardinals are getting a reputation for being able to put runs on the board, the S-Cards was shut out twice to a mediocre San Antonio team.

Still, the Cards are just three and a half games out with 14 games to play. There’s not doubt Springfield is less talented than NW Arkansas, but stranger things have happened.

Maybe a return to Hammons Field will jump start some life into the offense.

The good

• Matt Carpenter, 3B: Carpenter was in this section during our last HR, but he’s sustained his success. Through 25 Double-A games, Carpenter is batting .373 (38-for-102) with a .439 on-base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage, with only 2 HRs. He’s a gap-t0-gap guy, but has figured out Double-A pitching. I wonder how long he can keep it up, which will go a long way toward determining how high he ranks on next year’s prospect lists.

• Daryl Jones, LF: This one is a long-time coming for the Cardinals’ top position prospect. The News-Leader’s Kary Booher wrote about DJ this morning, mostly on the strength of his current 15-game hitting streak. He’s hitting .304 since May 1 and is finally looking like someone would could get some at-bats as a top-of-the-order guy in the big leagues.

• Brian Broderick, RHP: The SGF righthanded pitcher threw the club’s lone complete game, spinning a CG shutout against San Antonio on June 4, striking out five and allowing two hits and zero walks. It’s a far cry from his 5.47 ERA at High-A Palm Beach, but sometimes guys get to Double-A and perform at a level beyond where they are accustomed. The 6-foot-6, 205-pounder is slated to pitch Thursdsay.

The bad

• Nick Additon: After a strong April, the Cardinals lefthander is struggling with 6.31 ERA in six May starts and an 8.00 ERA in two June starts. He’s allowed 57 hits in 44 2/3 innings over that same time span.

• The pitching staff as a whole (besides Broderick): Through 56 games Springfield’s pitchers have the sixth best ERA in the Texas League at 3.69 and are 3rd in league with 402 strikeouts, but have issued the 2nd most walks (223). Springfield pitchers have walked 46 batters in the last 7 games. He was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

(That’s it. Offensively, the team is hitting well.)

Who’s new?

To take the spot of Aaron Miles (don’t get me started), second baseman Jose Garcia was promoted from High-A Palm Beach. It’s not like Garcia was lighting it up with his .252 batting average, .309 OBP or .301 slugging percentage, but he did steal 16 bases. Through 14 Double-A ABs, he’s hitting .214.

This series’ probable starting pitching matchups

• Today, 7:10 p.m. — Tulsa, RHP Bruce Billings (4-3, 2.95 ERA) vs. SGF, RHP Gary Daley (3-6, 5.80 ERA)

• Thursday, 7:10 p.m. — Tulsa, RHP Keith Weiser (3-4, 2.81 ERA) vs. SGF, RHP Brian Broderick (2-0, 2.57 ERA)

• Friday, 7:10 p.m. — Tulsa, RHP Cory Riordan (2-4, 4.33 ERA) vs. SGF, RHP Chuckie Fick (2-0, 2.1 ERA)

• Saturday, 6:10 p.m. – Tulsa, LHP Christian Friedrich (0-3, 4.73 ERA) vs. SGF, RHP David Kopp (7-1, 2.76 ERA)

Promotions

• Today — Cardinals Keychain Giveaway

• Thursday — Buck a Brat

• Friday —Friday Night Fireworks/ Camera-Photo Day

• Saturday — Cardinals Fleece “Sluggie” Giveaway

Tulsa Drillers

Overall: 32-21, 8 1/2 games back of first place

The Travs have a handful of high-level prospects, but it hasn’t worked out thus far, especially when comparing them to the past stars (Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez, etc.)

Who’s hot?

• Wilin Rosario, C — One of the Drillers’ top prospects, he’s a rare blend of catching skill and plate effectiveness. He’s hitting 11-for-29 (.329) in the previous 10 games and .271/.500/.822 on the season with 7 HRs. However, he’s only drawn 10 walks in 140 at-bats.

• Bronson Sardinha, OF — The Drillers outfielder has only been in Double-A for 62 at-bats and 18 games, but he’s hitting .306 and has shown flashes of power with seven doubles amongst his 19 hits. Fun fact: His middle name is Kiheimahanoamauiakeo

Who’s not?

• Ryan Harvey, OF — Once the No. 6 pick in the 2003 draft by the Chicago Cubs, Harvey hasn’t been able to consistently hit Texas League pitching. He has eight home runs, but he only has 36 hits in 166 ABs (.218) and his OBP is .272.

• Christian Friedrich, LHP — The Rockies top overall prospect, Friedrich is 0-3 in eight starts. Not only does he have a 4.73 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP over 40 inings (that’s only five innings per start, by the way), he’s struck out 37 hitters. Without hesitation, it’s easy to say he’s been disappointing.

Who’s new?

Mashing first baseman Kiel Roling was placed on the DL on Tuesday and he was replaced by Matt Repac. The 26-year-old year old Repac is a first baseman and was hitting .161 (10-for-62) before landing on the disabled list on May 29.

Texas League Standings

North Division
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	NW Arkansas	32	23	.582	-	19-9	13-14	4-6	L1
	Springfield	29	27	.518	3.5	17-11	12-16	4-6	L1
	Tulsa	23	31	.426	8.5	11-15	12-16	5-5	W1
	Arkansas	21	33	.389	10.5	11-16	10-17	4-6	L2