Uncle Rico in the Bigs?

by bdief on Mar 27, 2008 2:27 PM EDT

As per the latest Bird Land, Rico Washington has been tagging along with the big club the past few days.

D’Angelo Jimenez figured to be the Cardinals backup option if Ryan is unavailable for opening day, but a new name has entered the picture as of this morning. Rico Washington, a utility infielder from the Cardinals’ minor-league camp, is with the team today, has been with the team sporadically over the past week and will travel with the team to Springfield tomorrow. Washington offers an alternative to Jimenez, one with minor-league options still available.

A couple of days ago I was worried about the backup 3B spot if we lost Glaus for any extended period of time. Maybe this addresses this. Not sure if he offers a whole lot of pop to the bench.

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I don't think he offers much...

but I'd like to see him get a taste of the bigs. He's been consistently good in the minors IIRC, but not great. He seems like the hard working type that can't get by on talent alone.

Thanks for the highlight moments 15 and 27!!!

by cardzfanbub on Mar 27, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Had to confirm my suspicions...

Truthfully I'm shocked he hasn't had a shot somewhere after looking at his numbers. OPS's of .882 last year and .887 the two years prior. Good to great on base ability and some power (15-20 HR's). He could be as good as Spezio...

Rico's lines for all years AA and AAA (combined).
2007 (277 ABs)- .303 .369 .513
2006 (451 ABs)- .284 .393 .494
2005 (454 ABs)- .300 .387 .500
2004 (348 ABs)- .261 .348 .405
2003 (460 ABs)- .241 .321 .411
2002 (359 ABs)- .223 .334 .337
2001 (291 ABs)- .302 .349 .402
2000 (503 ABs)- .258 .332 .378

Thanks for the highlight moments 15 and 27!!!

by cardzfanbub on Mar 27, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Uncle Rico

I was disappointed Uncle Rico was hurt when Rolen went down at the end of last season. It was a travesty that Miguel Cairo started a few games at 3rd for us last year. Would have been nice to see what Rico had to offer.

by jjray on Mar 27, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

It's funny you mention that

as the past few days I've been scouring the box scores and keep noticing "Washington" finding his way in there. It was only today that it finally struck me as "damn, I keep seeing his name. Maybe this actually means something."

Being not too much of a fan of Jiminez, I wouldn't mind this at all. He won't be huge for us, but has more potential to surprise us than D'Angelo.

In other news, how about Lohse? So far, so good . . .

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Mar 27, 2008 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

If you bring up Washignton

Mark Hamilton, and John Jay, then we can name the team 'the founding fathers'

"You say the world has lost it's love. I say embrace what it's made of" - Dar Williams

by Valatan on Mar 27, 2008 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta love that nerd humor

You really are a TA, aren't you? :-)

by random on Mar 27, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

sorry

I can't get over the fact that the Cardinals actually control a player who is actually named John Jay. If he makes the team, the level of amusement will be unrivaled since Corey Hart made his Brewers debut.

"You say the world has lost it's love. I say embrace what it's made of" - Dar Williams

by Valatan on Mar 28, 2008 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Just to add to the dorkdom,

I started singing "Sunglasses at Night" the first time he came up to the plate.

by etp_stl on Mar 28, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It gets better!

One of the Cards' current set-up guys is Ryan Franklin. A whole collection of Founding Fathers out there. Imagine if they had an Adams, Madison, Jefferson, or Marshall...if only!

"Your Holiness, I'm Joseph Medwick. I, too, used to be a Cardinal."-Joe Medwick, to Pope Pius XII.

by redbirdnation8206 on Mar 28, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions