MVN - Most Valuable Network

A Much Improved Memphis Redbirds Team

Who are the 2008 Memphis Redbirds?  Well, before we get going, let me assure you that they will be much different than the 2007 team that endured the most losses for a Memphis Professional baseball team since the 1949 Memphis Chickasaws.  And at 65-88, even the Chickasaws had a better record than the 56-88 produced by last year’s Memphis Redbirds.

But how do you measure success for a minor league team.  I mean afterall, the 2006 Memphis Redbirds were terrible too.  They had a record of 58-86.  Yet their parent club, our beloved St. Louis Cardinals went on to win their 10th World Championship.  So would you consider that a success, that they kept the major league team filled with talent.

To a certain extent I would say yes.  But the Cardinals have also recognized that they have neglected their farm system by depleting it over the past several years.  With the departure of Walt Jocketty as Cardinals GM came the new regime led by John Mozeliak, and a focus on growing talent from within.  The franchise has taken great steps to producing more home grown talent in the future.  And you can already  see some of the progress with the emergence of such players as Colby Rasmus, P.J. Walters, Mitchell Boggs, and Byran Anderson just to name a few.

It is hard to say who will be on the Memphis Redbirds’ roster this upcoming season, due in large part to the decisions that the St. Louis Cardinals have to make this spring.  With around 69 players reporting to camp this spring, and only 25 on the Cardinals’ opening day roster, it is near impossible to gauge who will comprise the 2008 Redbirds’ roster.

I would guess that Colby Rasmus will begin the year here in Memphis.  And trust me when I tell you that he is something special.  He is, in my opinion, the best player to come through the Cardinals’ system since Albert Pujols.  And you should see a much improved pitching staff as well.  Out is Memphis’ career saves leader Brian Falkenborg.  In is Phenom Chris Perez, the heir apparent to Jason Isringhausen.  And the rotation could inclued such names as P.J. Walters, Clayton Mortensen, and Mitchell Boggs among others.

In the coming weeks, as the St. Louis Cardinals make some decisions, we will get a better idea of who will be on Memphis’ team.  So stay tuned, it is going to be an exciting year for baseball in the Bluff City.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 11:22 pm and is filed under AAA, Memphis Redbirds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.