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After reading your post-weekend Cardinals farm report, read this article by the wonderful Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He discusses the language and cultural issues that Latin American minor leaguers work through and describes some of the support the organization provides. This article lies at the intersection of my day job (as an ESL teacher) and my weekend DFR "job." DG adds a profile of Jonathan Rodriguez (AA-first baseman) and gives a few comic details about Carlos Martinez. Worth a couple minutes of your time.
Memphis Redbirds
Friday: Memphis 2, Omaha 4
Saturday: Memphis 1, Albuquerque 8
Sunday: Memphis 1, Albuquerque 6
Low-pop utility infielders Greg Garcia and Alex Mejia continue to have productive seasons at the plate, making one wonder at the continued excellence existence of Pete Kozma in St. Louis. Each had several singles and a double on the weekend. Even Dean Anna is hitting some. But Kozma started Sunday's game in St. Louis, nevertheless.
As for Memphis pitching, Arturo Reyes debuted for the Redbirds on Saturday, giving up 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings. His fellow Gonzaga Bulldog Marco Gonzales took Sunday's start. He also went 4 1/3 innings, threw 95 pitches, and gave up 2 runs, 9 hits, 2 K's, and a walk. Who is feeling good about Marco at the moment?
Springfield Cardinals
Friday: Springfield 7, Frisco 2
Saturday: Springfield 3, Frisco 5
Sunday: Springfield 6, Frisco 7
Friday was a good night. Alex Reyes had his best start thus far at AA. Honestly, Alex Reyes had one of the best starts for anybody at AA. In six scoreless innings, he faced just 19 batters via 89 pitches, walking one. His one hit allowed out of the infield went for a triple, but Reyes made the out himself anyway covering the plate as the batter went for an inside-the-park home run. These were Reyes's 18 outs: 10 K's, 3 ground-ball outs, 4 pop-outs, 1 out on the bases. Lost in the pitching showcase: Charlie Tilson and Jonathan Rodriguez each went 4-for-5. Aledmys Diaz had two hits, including one double.
On Saturday, Tilson and Rodriguez reached twice each. Diaz had three singles and a walk. The pitching was typical of Springfield this year for pitchers not named Reyes. Meh. Starter Corey Baker took the loss, but the bullpen was leaky, too.
Diaz homered and Tilson added a couple more hits during Sunday's heartbreaking game. The Cardinals blew a 3-run lead in the 9th. They retook the lead in the 10th, only to lose it by giving up two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Palm Beach Cardinals
Friday: Palm Beach 2, Fort Myers 3
Saturday: Palm Beach 1, Fort Myers 5
Sunday: Palm Beach 0, Jupiter 2
Friday's game consisted of a lackluster start by Daniel Poncedeleon where he uncharacteristically walked 4 in as many innings. He was followed by Jhonny Polanco in his Palm Beach debut. Polanco continued his K-plentiful relief work by striking out 4 in his 3 innings. Breyvic Valera is making a case to be back in Springfield, with a double and a single. Saturday was a day to forget. 23-year old left fielder Collin Radack hit his 3rd triple, one of two Palm Beach hits. Sunday wasn't much better. Luis Perdomo got his first start at Palm Beach. He pitched into the seventh and struck out 5.
Peoria Chiefs
Friday: Peoria 4, Bowling Green 1
Saturday: Peoria 4, Bowling Green 5
Sunday: Peoria 3, Bowling Green 7
Harrison Bader had a great weekend, with a double and single Friday, a home run and a stolen base Saturday, and another home run and single Sunday. Lefty Ian McKinney had a good start to open the weekend, pitching seven scoreless innings with 4 K's. Oscar Mercado went 3 for 6 on the weekend with 3 stolen bases. The glove-first 20-year old is hitting just enough to stay on the radar, even though SS isn't as barren in our system as it's been in the past. Darren Seferina added a home run in Sunday's loss. I enjoy this Peoria team.
State College Spikes
Friday: State College 9, Brooklyn 0
Saturday: State College 7, West Virginia 5
Sunday: State College 3, West Virginia 4
2015-draftee Jacob Evans pitched Friday. His 6 scoreless innings were supported by some well-timed doubles. CF Jhohan Acevedo had one of them, plus a single and a stolen base. He added another double Saturday and two singles and a steal Sunday. State College is having a nice season, but several of the bright spots on the roster aren't exactly young for the league.
Johnson City Cardinals
Friday: Johnson City 8, Kingsport 4
Saturday: Johnson City 6, Kingsport 7
Sunday: Johnson City 5, Greeneville 3
Edmundo Sosa, ladies and gents. The 19-year-old shortstop went 6 for 9 Friday and Saturday, with two home runs. Let's not mention his Sunday (0-6 with 3 K's). Chris Chinea had a nice game Saturday, with a single and a double while playing at catcher. Remember Steven Farinaro, the 11th-round bonus baby out of high school in the 2013 draft? For whatever reason, he's the person I associate with the new draft system and all the draft budget machinations that happen after round 10. He's pitching well in relief for JC and is still just 19.
GCL Cardinals
Friday: GCL Cardinals 9, GCL Mets 4
Saturday: GCL Cardinals 2, GCL Mets 1
Nick Plummer and Bryce Denton both tripled on Friday. Plummer is hitting a little bit now, and his average is over .200. He's also walking (one more walk than he has hits). Denton isn't hitting or walking much, but keep in mind that he's just 18 years and 16 days old if you're reading this on Monday.
Venezuelan 20-year-old Derian Gonzalez pitched well on Saturday, fanning 10 in 7 scoreless innings. His ERA is pretty uninspiring, but his peripherals aren't bad. He's striking out about a batter an inning, keeping the ball in the park, and not walking many.
DSL Cardinals
Friday: DSL Cardinals 5, DSL Angels 10
Saturday: DSL Cardinals 3, DSL Angels 4
It is rare to see a 10 to 5 final score in a 10-inning game, but the DSL Cardinals gave up 5 in the first frame of extras. Los Angels wholly bedeviled reliever Noel de Jesus for all 5 runs. Saturday's stars were Wadye Ynfante (3 hits) and pitcher Franyel Casadilla (6 innings, 8 K's), who I hope makes the majors, so my wife's persistent misspelling and poor pronunciation of quesadilla can be reinforced.
That's it for the weekend's games. Go check out the Goold article, if you haven't. And be even more enamored with Carlos Martinez, tirelessly battling an unfamiliar language and culture along with opposing bats (and Sunday's "friendly" gloves).