Cardinals Farm Report
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Daniel Descalso Second Base AAA-Memphis Redbirds 23-years-old Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 5’10” Weight: 190 lbs Drafted by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft |
| Just like every Saturday here on i70baseball, the Cardinal Farm Report spotlights one of the prized Cardinal minor leaguers. This week, it is Daniel Descalso, the scrappy second baseman for Memphis. To say the very least, it has been an interesting season for Descalso. He started off the season crushing the ball and producing in every way you would want him to produce. In his first 70 games, Descalso had totaled 52 RBI while hitting .278 with 23 doubles and only 31 strikeouts in 296 at bats. But just as talk of an upcoming call-up surfaced, injury struck and Descalso hit the disabled list with an injured collar bone. However, after a month-long layoff, the 23-year-old prospect is back in the Redbirds lineup. You could say last season was Daniel’s breakout year. In 438 combined at-bats with AA and AAA, Descalso hit .299 with 69 runs, 10 home runs, and 68 RBI. If those numbers don’t do it for you, check out what he has done the past couple seasons in Double-A Springfield. In 325 at-bats, his .326 batting average is something to think about. The kid can hit the baseball.
When he was drafted out of the University of California-Davis, Descalso was a third baseman but immediately switched to second. So, throughout his career, he hasn’t had a ton of experience at second base but according to scouts, his glove would be above-average in the Majors. At the dish, I believe Descalso has all of the intangibles. He is very selective and has the plate discipline of a fifteen-year vet. His left-handed swing is extremely smooth and level. Even at UCD, Descalso has always been considered a doubles hitter with gap power and average speed. It’s likely that will be exactly how it is when/if he reaches the big league club. When asked about his hitting approach, Descalso said, “I just think ‘hard up the middle’ and try to just throw my hands at the ball and stay on top of it.” Daniel projects as a .280, 10-15 HR, 60-70 RBI second baseman in the show. The only obstacle that he could face is that he’s limited to second. Descalso can’t play shortstop and and hasn’t played a consistent third base in three years. Even though he’s only 23, the Cardinals may soon find out the type of talent he really is. The club has said a September call-up for Descalso is “possible” if he picks up where he left off in late-June. If not, you can bet that Descalso will be in Jupiter next Spring to challenge Skip Schumaker. |
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| MiLB WEEKLY ROUNDUP | |
| AAA-Memphis Redbirds | |
| Record to date: 58-49, second place in the PCL American North, 2 games behind Iowa. This past week: 6-2 The Redbirds started and finished this week on high notes. Last weekend, they took both games of the double-header against Oklahoma City and then went on to win the next two for the sweep. Tuesday and Wednesday didn’t go as well and the ‘Birds dropped the first two games of the four-game set in New Orleans but ended up taking the next two for the split.Transactions: Aaron Luna was optioned to Springfield from Memphis (.205, 10 R, 1 RBI, 44 AB in AAA), Daniel Descalso was activated from the 7-day DL and assigned to Memphis (.278, 51 R, 52 RBI, 295 AB in AAA), Fernando Salas was optioned to Memphis from St. Louis (10 G, 2.91 ERA, 9 SO, 11 2/3 IP in MLB), Mike MacDougal was promoted to St. Louis from Memphis (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 6 SO, 9 1/3 IP), Amaury Cazana was promoted to Memphis from Minatitlan (.380, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 108 AB in MEX), Kyle Lohse was activated from the 15-day DL and assigned to Memphis for a rehab stint (1-4, 5.89 ERA, 25 SO, 47 1/3 IP in MLB), Nick Stavinoha was activated from the 15-day DL and assigned to Memphis (.256, 2 HR, 8 R, 90 AB in MLB), P.J. Walters was optioned to Memphis from St. Louis (1-0, 7.11 ERA, 12 SO, 19 IP) Coming up: The Redbirds start a three-game series against Omaha today before they head to Las Vegas for four games that will run through next Saturday. |
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| AA-Springfield Cardinals | |
| Record to date: 16-16 in the second half (54-48 overall), third place in the TEX North, 4 games behind NW Arkansas. This past week: 4-2 Springfield started and ended the week in Arkansas. It began with a five-game set with NW Arkansas that turned into four games thanks to rain on Tuesday. The Cardinals took three of those four games before traveling (if you want to call it that) for three games with the Arkansas Travelers where they won the series 3-1. Last night was game one of a five game series against NW once again.Transactions: Aaron Luna was optioned to Springfield from Memphis (.205, 10 R, 1 RBI, 44 AB in AAA), Jermaine Curtis was optioned to Palm Beach from Springfield (.208, 4 R, 3 RBI, 24 AB in AA), Curt Smith was activated from the 7-day DL and assigned to Springfield (.279, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 319 AB in AA), Xavier Scruggs was promoted to Springfield from Palm Beach (.269, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 316 AB in A+), Casey Mulligan was optioned to Palm Beach from Springfield (0-1, 6.00 ERA, 23 SO, 18 IP in AA) Coming up: The Cardinals continue with the Arkansas-theme as they will finish up the series with NW Arkansas on Monday before hosting the Travelers for a three-game series that extends through Thursday. Friday will be game one of four in Tulsa. |
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| A-Palm Beach | |
| Record to date: 17-18 in the second half (54-46 overall), fourth place in the FSL South, 2 games behind Bradenton. This past week: 2-4 St. Louis’ Advanced A affiliate started the week off by winning the first two games of the Tampa series for the split. Then they visited Dayton for four days and things quickly changed as they were swept in four games.Transactions: Jermaine Curtis was optioned to Palm Beach from Springfield (.208, 4 R, 3 RBI, 24 AB in AA), Miguel Tapia was activated from the 7-day DL and assigned to Palm Beach (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 12 SO, 10 IP in A), Xavier Scruggs was promoted to Springfield from Palm Beach (.269, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 316 AB in A+) Coming up: The Cardinals will start off this week with a four-game series against Clearwater that starts tonight before taking on Dunedin in another four-game set that will go through next Saturday. |
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| POSITION PLAYER OF THE WEEK | |
| Charles Cutler, C, Palm Beach | |
| .450 AVG (9-for-20), .600 OBP, two runs, two doubles, one triple, three RBI, three walks, only one strikeout | |
| Cutler has experienced some hard times this season in Springfield but since being optioned back to Palm Beach, he’s been a very good hitter once again. On the season, Charles is hitting .293 with 18 runs scored and 16 RBI in 133 at bats. | |
| PITCHER OF THE WEEK | |
| Nick Additon, SP, Springfield | |
| W, 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 0 runs, 5 strikeouts | |
| Much like Cutler, Additon has certainly had an up-and-down year, but this week’s start reminded fans of what this kid brings to the table. This season, Additon is 6-6 with a 4.45 ERA and 80 SO in 113 1/3 innings. | |
Justin Hulsey covers the Cardinals for i70baseball.com and his blog, Cardinals Front Office, that is also dedicated to Cardinal baseball.You may follow him on Twitter @JayHulsey by clicking here.
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