TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Series Preview: Struggling Cards depleted by recent moves

Published on July 31, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


The Springfield Cardinals probably were elated to get a free night off when their series finale at North Little Rock was rained out Thursday evening. The Cards were coming off a much-needed 9-0 win Wednesday, which snapped a season-high nine game slide by Springfield. The Cardinals come into this series having lost 10 of 12, including a four-game road sweep at the hands of the Naturals, who were able to get just one win at Springfield just one week earlier. Playoff implications of their rough patch are unaffected, however, for now, as Springfield won the first half of the Texas League North, by two games over the Naturals, and have a playoff spot locked up.

Much changed, however, in that week, for Manager Ron "Pop" Warner's Springfield club. The parent Cardinals were able to complete a trade deadline deal to bring slugger Matt Holliday to St. Louis to hit behind Albert Pujols. Only one Springfield player, OF Shane Peterson, was sent to the Oakland Athletics in the deal that saw two former Springfield Cardinals, 3B Brett Wallace and RHP Clayton Mortenson, head west, but the "domino" effect certainly did affect the Springfield roster. When Mortenson departed Triple-A Memphis for Oakland's Triple-A Sacramento club, right-hander Trey Hearne, Springfield's 10-game winner and the sixth-ranked ERA in the Texas League, moved up the ladder to Memphis. Plus third-baseman David Freese, who had stopped over in Double-A as he rehabbed from injury, continues onto Memphis as well where he will slide into Wallace's spot at the hot corner.

These roster shifts, combined with the injury to leadoff batter and noted Naturals' killer Daryl Jones has left Warner's lineup and pitching staff with missing ingredients. But the Cards do still have perhaps the most impressive bullpen in the league, led by closer Francisco Samuel and hard-throwing youngster Eduardo Sanchez. Last year's closer Fernando Salas is also back with the team coming back from injury.

St. Louis Cardinals prospects on the Springfield roster include the injured Jones (#7), SS Peter Kozma (#10), RHP Lance Lynn (#15), RHP Fernando Salas (#20), RHP Francisco Samuel (#21), C/1B/OF Steven Hill (#25), C/3B Tony Cruz (#27), and LHP Nick Additon (#30). Lynn was the Cards' first-round pick in the 2008 draft. Kozma has had a steady campaign in the Texas League and is rated by Baseball America as the best defensive infielder in the system. Baseball America also sees Daryl Jones as the organization's best athlete and fastest baserunner. These rankings will change tremendously for next year with the departures of Wallace, Chris Perez, Jess Todd, and Mortenson. Perez and Todd, the former Diamond Hog, went to Cleveland in the Mark DeRosa trade.

On the numbers, Springfield's pitching staff has a 4.58 ERA, sixth in the Texas League. For their part the Naturals are fifth in that category (4.40). The Cards' bats have cooled of late and they come into the series hitting .258 as a team on the season. The Naturals are at .277 as a club, ranked second. Their batting average has remained steady this month with an improved offensive output despite the injury and now departure to Triple-A of OF Jordan Parraz . The Naturals' 545 runs amassed ranks second in the loop.

Northwest Arkansas currently leads the season series against Springfield, 14-10.

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Friday's pitching matchup will see two left handers; Springfield's Ryan Kulik (4-7, 5.15) face Rowdy Hardy (2-1, 3.32) for the Naturals. Saturday, right-hander Scott Gorgen (1-3, 5.23) will toe the rubber for Springfield against Anthony Lerew (6-5, 4.71) for the Naturals. Sunday, former Cardinals' first-round pick Lance Lynn (9-4, 3.30) will face right-hander Blake Johnson (6-7, 5.27) for the Naturals, and the series wraps Monday with another matchup of lefties, Nick Additon (0-1, 14.73) for Springfield, opposite Everett Teaford (3-4, 4.99) for Northwest Arkansas.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from July 31, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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