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With some of the Doug Melvin bashing, I just wanted to put a little perspective into some of the discussion. First off, I am not attempting to be a Doug-Melvin-apologist and I will concede is not the best GM in the business, but is in the upper half (when payroll constraints are taking into account). Those of you who remember Sal Bando and then the Dean Taylor years, there were some horrendous decision making. While it was regrettable that Melvin could not turn one of our players into prospects at the trading deadline, this is a far cry from the latter Bando years when he held on to Dave Nilsson and Hideo Nomo, because he didn't want to wave the white flag and risk losing attendance. Also, we are nitpicking whether or not there was a player or two in a particular draft that would have been better than we selected, while in the 90's we had between a handful and dozen of players who would have been better than our selection. In 1993 we had four 1st round selections (only D'Amico had a serviceable career for the Brewers). While Seitzer for Burnitz was a great move by Bando, he then handed bad contracts to players on the decline (Eldred, Valentin, Grissom, Burnitz), while Melvin has overpaid for the most sought after commodity -- starting pitching -- which is hard to get good contracts when about 25 teams could use a FA pitcher's services. Anyway, Melvin has not been great, but our organization is not a laughing stock (as it was about 2003) and while we are bemoaning the fact that we've been about one really good starting pitcher and/or closer short of being a playoff team during the past few seasons, and we are wasting away seasons of the best duo (Fielder/Braun) that we've had since Yount/Molitor in the late 80's-early 90's. It wasn't that long ago that a non-losing season was a big deal.

Wild finish in Nashville. Chris Smith blows the 5-4 lead in the ninth, giving up 2 runs. Nashville gets two runs right back with Farris and Gamel starting out the inning with singles. Gamel now at .300.

SpaceCoastBaseball -- thanks. I thought I read something about Scarpetta, but could not find it, so glad you referenced it for me. Any insights into Merklinger? Or is he just one of the lefties where the light went on?

If he is really upper round talent, he would probably need to be wowed, as he could rehab and look to be taken a lot higher next year. Also, I wonder how much of his rookie contract with the Giants is guaranteed.

I'll say 7th rounder Austin Ross or 11th rounder Greg Holle, as niether has pitched yet. It sounded like the analysis is part of the physical, which players take upon signing, so it would be someone who hadn't pitched. 7th rounder Joel Pierce has not signed but is pitching for the Canadian Jr Team. But both 8th rounder Austin Ross (known in milb.com land as Cody Ross for a while) and Greg Holle have signed, and both pitched, Ross with Helena and Holle for AZL Baby Brewers (his first action was initially credited to Brooks Hall). Miller has been pitching well, and Nelson and Thornburg have pitched, but maybe not in a while. White, Bates and Morris are officially unsigned, and could be undergoing physicals and approval of contracts?

Great video.Anyone know if Cody did anything different in June. His pre-All Star break versus post-ASB splits are amazing.He and Merklinger have had a tremendous July. One or the other should be pitcher of the month.

Ludwick has had a total of one completely healthy and productive season in his career. I think the Cards selling high on Ludwick -- from watching him play and hearing about his long circuous route to the majors I don't envision him having a long career.

Not to double post -- but this is an article with lots of talking points. One question is about the patience part. I remember a few years ago talking about elite pitching talent (ie, #1-#2 starters on playoff teams) and that most of them progress through the minors quickly, that a high percentage were in the majors by age 22-23, and many starting well by age 24-25. Now a few years later, things continue to change/evolve. Keeping guys in the minors a little longer has obvious financial implications (delays arby and FA years), and guys are having and recovering from major arm surgeries at higher rates. I know that a few team examples were given (SF/TB and Tex) and they are on opposite ends of this. ANy thoughts on this. Are the real true aces more like the traditional starts (ie like Gallardo) who are in the majors early and successful early? Or is the newer trend for guys who appear a little later (due to injury, development or team preferences)?

Re: Trading for pitchers - it's hard to trade for pitching. To get a MLB ready pitcher, you need a lot of prospects and usually a near MLB ready pitcher to send back. Or you trade for a prospect (like Garza) which means giving up a higher end prospect (like Delmon Young a top10 prospect list guy for many years). Melvin track history has been to hold on to positional prospects since they are guys who can play in 160 games a year. Re: this line in the article "Ash offered an example of a "fairly high" pick from the 2010 Draft. The player underwent his physical exam on a Thursday that included a biomechanical analysis, which raised some red flags". Any ideas? Tyler Thornburg hasn't pitched in some time and his mechanics were compared to Lincecum, which obviously is herky-jerky.

RE: POKORNY As a 22 year old closer in A-ball, he would seem to be overlooked. His B-fan.net profile from the 2009 draft forum had this to say "he has a decent three-pitcher reportoire, including a upper-80s fastball that has touched the low-90s" Also, he should maybe garner more attention, because while he is a 22 year old college pitcher in A-ball, the B-fan.net profile also had this to say, "With only 97 college innings under his belt, his arm has relatively low miles on it". So he may be 22 in age, but may be more of a 20-21 year old pitcher in experience and use. He certainly is another of the better relief pitching prospects in our system, and should allow us to have a relatively cheaper pen for future years, which will allow more resources (ie money) for starting pitching and/or starting position players.

Umm.. maybe not so good for Evan.

Arnett's pitching line today is even more impressive when you consider what the Loons' offense did to Odorizzi and Heckathorn in the past two days. That team must feel good to take 2 of 3 against 3 highly drafted highly ranked pitching prospects in back-to-back-to-back days.

Is Great Lakes that good of a team? They just gave Odorizzi and Heckathorn outings they'd like to forgot in back-to-back days. That hasn't happened often.

More disappointing recent 1st round pick: Frederickson or Arnett? Both college arms pitching in rookie ball, and pitching poorly.

Something about the AZL Reds. That's two horrific outings by Arnett against the Baby Reds. Something is very wrong with him, as a 1st round college pitcher should not be still struggling against rookie league hitters, even if some are college draft picks. Heck - he was dominating college hitters last year.

OK, I'll beat the dead horse again: does anyone have any partial knowledge of the whats/whys of his release? It is odd it occurred after his treatment/recovery, and less than 2 years from being drafted! Granted he is a 23 year old college pitcher who is rightfully dominating A-ball. But still he is doing more than Frederickson or Cody Adams have done. Ughh.

Let's name the catching prospect virus that affects our system as WHOA SOLVDD syndrome (we could name it Ross River fever after Dave Nilsson). Palmisano, Salome, and Lawrie (switching positions). And Zarraga is starting to show the symptoms. Somehow Lucroy had the antidote. Let's hope he doesn't get infected.

I thought some of the reason to keep him in relief is to ease him back in (I read as keep innings down) and I also thought he reportedly asked to be in relief to keep him involved everyday (he needs to be ready everyday as a reliever). Our FO has definitely let guys fail before converting them: Braun failed 3B at the MLB level, Braddock was repeatedly tried at starter until injuries; Gamel, Lawrie, etc are allowed to play at their respective positions; Parra was let to start and has succeeded somewhat much like Weeks; only Lawrie, Salome have switched early and that was by their request supposedly. Even if long term he would project as a reliever, he will most likely start in the minor to continue to pitch regularly. Also there are pitchers who get to the Majors as relievers and then go back to starting, so Braddock could still become a starter in time. And if Jeffress were fast tracked to the 'pen, he could do that as well. In fact once upon a time like before the steroids era, most young pitchers were relievers to get accustomed to the pros, then eventually converted back to the rotation. Free agency and Larussa/Duncanism (set roles for relievers) changed that.

I think with the younger/HS guys or guys coming off injury they like to keep them in a full season at their current level. It's usually college guys or those with at least a full season (ie, not rookie leagues) who get the bump. Again that seemed to be the trend.

So far poor outing by Rogers, no show for Scarpetta, and Gallardo getting hit. At least Lasker is pitching well. Edit: OK three posts in a row touting Maverick. Edit 2: No hitter and shutout ended in the 6th. But Lasker has pitched 9 innings so far with 8K and 1BB. 3 R (1ER) and 3-3 game into the 9th.

Almost equally quick for Rogers -- 9 batters faced, only 4 out and 3 earned runs. Not good. Just when we thought he was turning the corner, he starts to fall back again.

That's a disappointing decision -- this organization should not be in the habit of releasing pitching prospects of any sort. Best of luck to Mike. He deserves to get a chance to pitch in the majors.

Again, I think this came from Mike Jones -- his track record with the organization has been sketchy -- wasn't he 'called out' by Nichols or Melvin for complaining of pain, where they said (I'm paraphrasing) 'you're going to have pain if you had an injury and surgery'. Now he is strictly bullpen, and guys off the street are spot starting ahead of you. At least Doug & Co. is good about letting guys get a chance elsewhere. Again pure speculation.

Any word on if some of the Maryvale guys are hurt - specifically Blake Billings, Chad Stang, Max Walla? Not being in Helena is curious, and looks poor for Stang and Walla given they are top 10 picks from a year ago. Also Cody Adams, there must be something with him (suspension related or otherwise), I find it interesting a 2008 2nd round pick (or was he a supplemental pick) from college is in low rookie league in 2010.

You wonder if Jones had asked for this, or if he had a clause that he would be released under certain conditions. This is odd time for a release -- he had been doing OK in AAA, and it's not like we have extra pitching that we can just release guys for the sake of it.