The Royals of 2012 will be young.  With veterans sprinkled throughout the roster the Royals will be able to find their club house leader. But who will step up and be the leader on the field.  That responsibility could be placed on the shoulders of up and coming catcher Salvador Perez.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2011 season was not only the call up but the success of young catching prospect.  A player who by all accounts has shown in the past that defensively he has what it takes to be a premiere catcher for a long time in the Major Leagues.  But his offense was lacking.  Lacking is the only attribute that cannot describe the short season that Perez had last year. He showed that he had the ability to drive the ball to all fields, which at such a young age is nothing but positive. Yes it was a small sample size, but let’s look at what could have been in Perez had played a full season.

Seeing that he would have had around 500 at-bats in a full season here is what his stat sheet would have consisted of in 2011.

At-Bats: 500
Runs:68
Hits:166
Doubles:27
Home Runs:10
RBI:71
Strikeouts:68
Average: .332
Slugging Percentage: .470

If this were true, saying that he overachieved would have been an understatement.  Now although this would be wonderful production from behind the plate, Perez cannot be expected to put up these kinds of numbers for a full season.  He will digress, but his intangibles are what make him such a great commodity to have on this year’s ball club.

His knowledge of the game and how to handle his pitchers will be crucial if the Royals want to make a run for the division title in 2012.  Knowing what pitches to call, when to call them, and when to take a little risk with his battery mate.

Defensively, he just has to stay consistent.  One problem with players today is if they have a little trouble at the plate their defense will show their frustrations. But a leader has to be able to forget when things are not going his way with the bat and just play the game.  This will be the biggest test for Perez in 2012 because he will surely go through the growing pains of any young player. His response to adversity is what will put him on a “captain of the team” like pedestal.

With all this being said here are some projections for the Royal’s young Venezuelan catcher in the 2012 season.

At-Bats: 485
Runs:65
Hits:138
Doubles:24
Home Runs:15
RBI:66
Strikeouts:74
Average: .285
Slugging Percentage: .443

If Perez can produce these kinds of numbers at the plate, add in his stellar defense behind the plate, and step into the leadership role in the 2012 season the Royals could have a truly valuable piece to their puzzle for future success in Kansas City.

What makes up a winner? Talent? Sure. Good team chemistry? Maybe. A great Manager? Overrated. No, it all comes down to the intangibles that “it” factor. You know turtles, squirrels and what not.

Okay, well maybe not entirely. The players do their part and the rest just seems to sort itself out. But if you look at the post season success of some recent World Series teams they all have one thing in common. They all seem to have a certain flair or element to them that adds to the story and sets them apart from the other contenders.

The 2002 Angels had the Rally Monkey, the 2004 Red Sox were a bunch of drunken idiots (their words not mine…okay I may have added the drunken part) and the Giants, last year’s champs, had Brian Wilson’s beard and whatever is living in there. These teams didn’t just win, they were and are remembered. Quick, without looking it up, who won the 1973 World Series?

My point exactly. I am not saying that what the 1973 Athletics accomplished was not impressive, just that it’s not the kind of story you remember and tell over and over again. Hell, even the 2006 Cardinals team is still talked about. Granted it is usually in conversation as the worst team to ever win a World Series, but they are still talked about. Take that ’73 A’s.

Let’s take a look at this year’s run by the Cardinals. Impressive, yes. But after their September comeback for the ages culminated in Houston whose name was being shouted throughout the clubhouse amidst all the champagne…you guessed it. Torty Craig. For those out of the loop, Torty is Allen Craig’s pet turtle.

Next up, and not to be out done was the Busch Squirrel. Out doing his wild kingdom counterpart by actually making multiple on-field appearances in the NLDS. To follow was twitter accounts for both, credits and mentions on SportsCenter and even a press conference. Not convinced of the impact and relevancy of @tortycraig and @buschsquirrel? Look no further than Philly for game five of the NLDS to see fans hanging fake squirrels from nooses in the stands or the nearly 40,000 followers between the both of them on Twitter.

Long known for the serious approach TLR’s teams take and the perception they don’t have a lighter side or any fun on the field this is a welcome addition. Whether or not it has anything to do with the team the players seem to have embraced it and as evidenced by their chants of “torty” upon clinching the Wild Card even seem to be enjoying the irreverence.

A manager wants and needs his players to be loose and relaxed during the playoff run. The 162 grind of the regular season takes its toll and teams that hold on too tight often seem to fall short. See this year’s Phillies and Yankees.

So here’s to you Cardinals, enjoy the ride, have some fun, go ahead and win the World Series. You’ve already started writing the story so why not finish it. Leave it up to me to explain to my daughter in 15 years my strange affection for a squirrel named Busch and a turtle named Torty much the same way my dad explained to me the importance of “The Heat is On.”

As always these are just my thoughts…keep on reading and you’ll get up to speed.

Derek is on Twitter @SportsbyWeeze and also writes for the Rams at RamsHerd.com

Also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SportsByWeeze

In my novice evaluations of June drafts, I have often contemplated just how major college competition compares to the various levels of the minor leagues. Northwest Arkansas prospect Christian Colon might just provide a useful gauge for comparison.

When the Royals tabbed Colon as the fourth pick of the 2010 draft, he was the heralded leader of Cal-State Fullerton’s run in the College World Series. That season, in which he was named All-American by Baseball America, Colon batted .358 with 17 homers, 68 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Colon played at the highest level of the college ranks. In the CWS, he experienced playoff baseball against the best pitchers colleges could offer. So how did that translate to the professional level?

Not well. At least not at first. His average at High-A Wilmington languished below .250 for the first month, and he showed none of the power seen at the college level.

But then, .250 looks about like what can be expected from Colon. He bumped his A-ball average to .278 by the close of 2010. But this season at Northwest Arkansas, it’s been more of the same. He currently sits at .256 after more than 450 at bats.

Increasingly disturbing is that Colon isn’t doing much else with the stick. His OPS is an uninspiring .691 and his eight homers don’t make up any of the deficiencies. Not in the hitter-friendly Texas League. Colon rarely has multi-hit games, much less multi-RBI games or multi-homer games.

If I had to describe Colon’s performance, I would call it “steadily unspectacular.”

The descriptions of Colon entering the 2010 draft seemed to focus more on intangibles than talent. He was called a leader, the consummate team player, a college version of Derek Jeter. But a quick read between the lines revealed something less flattering. Where were the descriptions like “fluid, great range, quick bat, power to all fields, etc.?”

They weren’t there. No one really seemed to sense that Colon had great talent. Just great character. Not that that’s a bad thing. But character alone won’t get you to the big leagues.

Colon himself seems a bit shaken by his struggles. He admits that he’s faced a steep learning curve.

“For me it’s been a learning process,” Colon said. “It’s my first full season and I’m at Double A, so I’m just learning and trying to get better every day.”

Colon admits that the leap from college to the pros was tough, and the jump from High-A ball to the Texas League has been equally challenging.

“You can get a call up to the big leagues from Double A. So this is just a big step up and it’s a learning process for me and it’s going to take some time. I’ve just got to be patient and understand that and focus on getting better every day. That’s what you go to the minor leagues for, to prepare to be a good big league player.”

He’s had more than a year to adjust to wood bats and to the life of a professional. While he is facing a lot of older pitchers, Colon is not young – he turned 22 in May. But Double-A pitching is posing him significant challenges.

“The pitching is a lot better,” he said. “They know what they’re doing, and the defenses are a lot better. Guys are closer to the big leagues, and it’s just harder to do things. I think it’s a big jump from High-A to Double A. Guys just really separate themselves. These guys are older and have been around. Some of them have been in the big leagues.”

So judging by Colon’s performance, it would appear that major college baseball isn’t comparable to anything higher than A-level baseball. Colon has yet to flourish against professional pitching, and may be deemed a bust if he doesn’t get it going soon.

Colon is a good-character, team-first player on a team in the Texas League playoffs. It may be unfair to label such a solid performer a bust. And Colon may become the slugging middle infielder the Royals hoped for.

But success isn’t guaranteed for the former college star. In a second article, I’ll look at how he handles the pressure and what lies ahead for the fourth pick in the 2010 draft.

Some think a .281/.314/.489 line with 20 home runs and 66 runs batted in equals $18million over three years. It does if you’re a catcher in the major leagues. John Buck of the Florida Marlins could not be happier. Those are the career best numbers Buck, the only major leaguer born in Wyoming, put up last year with the Toronto Blue Jays. Those numbers earned John a spot on the 2010 American League All-Star team, where he went 1 for 2 with a double, and a 3 year contract with the Marlins.

Some question whether the 1998 7th round draft pick of the Houston Astros, who came to the Kansas City Royals in the Carlos Beltran trade, has finally come into his own or if his season was merely the result of 437 plate appearances in a hitter’s ballpark in Toronto in a line up with fellow All Stars Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista. Buck, who turns 31 in July, will be starting his 8th season in the big leagues when he steps onto the field as the opening day starting catcher with the Marlins. His first 6 years in the majors, were spent with Kansas City before leaving for Toronto prior to the 2010 season. He was a career .235 hitter through 2009 with a career high of 18 home runs in 2007 and 50 rbi’s in 2006 with the Royals. Buck has not been in the majors because of his hitting. He has never shown much plate discipline, striking out 23.9% of the time while walking just 6.5% of the time. But with Victor Martinez out of the Marlins price range, it’s assumed they put a premium on Buck’s intangibles and leadership qualities he’d shown in Kansas City.

But Marlin fans are hopeful Buck can help fill the void created when secondbaseman Dan Uggla took his 33 home runs and 105 rbi’s to Atlanta in the off season. Early projections has put John batting seventh in the Marlins lineup ahead of rookie thirdbaseman Matt Dominguez, the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Rightfielder Mike Stanton, who hit 22 homeruns in only 100 games last year as a rookie, is believed to be the cleanup hitter in the revamped Marlin lineup. Make no mistake, the key to the Marlins offense is shortsstop Hanley Ramirez and his .300 batting average, 21 home runs, 92 runs, 76 runs batted in and 32 stolen bases, hitting third. Chris Coghlan coming back from injury and putting up similar numbers he produced in his rookie season of 2009 when he hit .321 in 504 AB’s with 31 doubles and 6 triples but in the leadoff position in 2011 would be everything the Marlins could hope for. But if Buck can show the power he displayed last year in Toronto, there is definitely room in Florida for John to move up into the heart of the lineup.

Even if John can put up similar numbers to his 2010 season, I don’t think they will earn him an appearance in this years All-Star game, nor will they vault the Florida Marlins any higher than another 4th place finish in the powerful National League East. But coming from Toronto, Buck knows all about playing in a tough East division. If my projection of 70 Marlin victories for this season comes to pass, John Buck might even think he’s back in Kansas City. But this time, he’ll have an $18mm contract, the memory of a positive experience in the 2010 All-Star game and another year in the big leagues……and that would make anyone happy……no matter where you’re from.

	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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

By the time the twelfth round of the baseball draft rolls around, there usually is not much intrigue left. The casual fan moved on after five or six rounds, and the only ones that are still watching the draft boards closely are the die-hard fans, the scribes and bloggers, and all the high school and college players still waiting for their name to be called. Yet many in Cardinal Nation can name the twelfth round choice like they are already reading the back of his baseball card:

Austin Wilson: twelfth round, Harvard Westlake, outfield, 6-foot-4, 227 lbs.

When I was doing research on the draft over at Cardinal Diamond Diaries, it surprised me how much information I could find about the high school senior. At the time I noted the following:

We actually know more about this kid than any other in the draft. He was ranked 27th overall by Baseball America, but he’s committed to Stanford, which is why he fell 350 places below his projected value. He has got raw power and looks to be a very good outfielder. He also has all the little intangibles – you know, work ethic, drive, character – that make him a very desirable guy to have in your system.

People loved the move. The Cardinals had drafted a first round-worthy player in round twelve. That just does not happen very often. It seemed ridiculously unlikely that the Cardinals would have a chance of signing the kid. His pedigree is amazing: parents attended MIT, strong value on education, and he has a free ride to Stanford himself. When he was drafted, Future Redbirds noted that it was not about the money. Whether or not he signed a contract to join the St. Louis farm system would depend first and foremost on his education. Would he go to Stanford or play pro baseball?

As a teacher, I should tell you that I want this obviously bright young man to go to college. A Stanford education is without question something that many desire and few actually acquire. I feel like I would lose my teaching certificate if I did not say that without a shadow of a doubt Austin should go to college. He would go to school, get a top-notch education, and then re-enter the draft, knowledge in hand. He then holds a plan for his future that extends beyond the life-span of your average baseball player.

For those of you that don’t know, Allen Craig has just earned his own college degree from the University of California-Berkeley. For the past year he has been just one class short of graduating, but then (per this article in the Post-Dispatch) Craig spent his free time in spring training studying up on his Spanish. He scheduled his test in St. Louis, then had to scramble to find a way to take the test in Memphis after getting demoted back to AAA. After an assist from a University of Memphis proctor, Craig got in, took his test, and is now a college graduate.

That impresses me. I wish that every college athlete that leaves school early to go pro would still care enough to get their degree. There are not many stories out there like Craig’s. For NFL players that have to be in college for two years before turning pro, at least I can take solace that they are finding some higher education, despite the fact that many of these players are not necessarily held to the same standards as you and I would be. I am not standing up here and saying college is the only way to go. I am saying that few people are able to be employed by professional teams for the entirety of their careers.

The fan in me wants the Cardinals to do everything they can to sign Austin, even if it does involve that proverbial kitchen sink. He wants to be a major league ballplayer. He knows he has the skills, going so far as to call himself the five tool player. He knows that people will question his decision, some asking how on earth he could pass up Stanford, and the rest wanting to know how he could walk away from guaranteed millions and the chance to go pro at such a young age.

Cardinals VP of scouting and player development Jeff Luhnow admitted on draft day that signing the prep star would be difficult, and that it was a shot in the dark. But negotiations have not closed off between the team and Wilson’s family. In fact, the family made the trek to St. Louis very recently to basically go on what I can only call a recruiting trip. He was impressive to everyone that watched him; from manager Tony LaRussa, who marveled at his already refined skills with a wooden bat, to general manager John Mozeliak, who is pleased that he and the team have been able to form some rapport with the Wilson family.

Honestly, I have no idea where I stand. The two parts of me have been torn for weeks trying to decide whether or not I want Austin Wilson to be the player many feel like he could be in a Cardinal uniform, starting immediately. There are so many unknowns. No great pick is a sure thing. No one knows what injury could befall him in college or in the minors that would derail a possibly brilliant career. In the end I suppose I have to point to the fact that a college degree is a sure thing and that there is a life waiting for him after baseball. But at the same time, millions of dollars and the chance to be the next big thing are also a big possibility.

How about I just end with this: I do not envy his decision. Good luck, Austin, in whichever path you choose.

Angela Weinhold covers the Cardinals for i70baseball.com, BaseballDigest.com and writes at Cardinal Diamond Diaries. You may follow her on Twitter here or follow Cardinal Diamond Diaries here.