Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

How far can the Cardinals depth carry them?

Posted Friday, May 24, 2013, at 7:52 AM

For the last two years, we've heard repeatedly about the ridiculous depth of the St. Louis Cardinals.

There's been a long line of serious talent working its way through the farm system for the last few years just waiting for holes to open up that would give them an opportunity.

That's all they want is an opportunity.

Well, in 2013 they're getting that opportunity.

While depth is a great asset, there's no doubt the Cardinals would prefer to not be digging quite so deep into it just yet. Some eight weeks into the season and the Cardinals have already promoted six pitchers (if you include Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal.)

So far, the youth has put on quite the show in St. Louis with Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, John Gast, Tyler Lyons and Seth Maness combining for an 11-3 record.

That group of six has pitched a total of 110 innings--751 as starters and 38.2 from the bullpen.

They've helped the Cardinals weather various catastrophes this season including two starting pitcher injuries and a bullpen meltdown that would have been a catastrophe without bringing these guys us.

They continue to steady the rocking boat.

Of course, it's important to keep thing in perspective. While it's been a little rocky on occasion, the Cardinals still have 30 wins with about one-third of May still to go.

It's funny to see how shaken up people have gotten despite the fact that for quite some time the Cardinals had the best record in baseball. Keep perspective.

There is an interesting question to investigate regarding the Cardinals pitching depth, however.

Do the Cardinals have enough left in the minor leagues to continue to carry them or are they rapidly expending their stockpile of fresh talent?

Let's take a look at what they have left on the cusp of the major leagues.

Michael Wacha

We're starting with the obvious. Wacha was arguably one of the hidden gems in the 2012 MLB Draft. Wacha is mature beyond his years with a fastball that has been major league ready since, well, before he was drafted. He's made some adjustments and has been refining his off-speed deliveries in Memphis, but is capable of contributing at the major league level now. Regardless, they're trying not to rush him because most everyone believes he has top of the rotation talent.

Tyrell Jekins

Jenkins, 20, is in his fourth season in the Cardinals farm system. You can do the math. He's still pretty raw, but has a gorgeous, fluid-type motion that powers a nasty fastball. He's still garnering control, but had a setback in 2012 when an August shoulder injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He's pitching in Single-A Peoria to start the season and is 3-2 with a 4.33 ERA over 35 IP through his first seven starts. He's not ready, but he's still just a young pup. He seems healthier and still has some developing to do. I wouldn't expect to see him before 2015, at which time he will be in his sixth minor league season at age 22. Wow.

Michael Blazek

Blazek has been in the minors for quite some time, but is having an impressive season at Double-A Springfield so far. The RH reliever has a 0.92 ERA over 17 games (19.2 IP) and has surrendered only two earned runs, no home runs and two walks. His seven saves tie him for the team lead. He won't likely be a long-term call-up, but if someone from the bullpen goes down he could be a stop gap candidate.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that if the Cardinals found themselves in need of another starter, Martinez, Rosenthal and Kelly (even though he hasn't looked good so far) are all candidates.

They wouldn't have to promote anyone because two of the best arms are right there hanging out in the bullpen.

Then there's the elephant in the room--Chris Carpenter.

Carpenter is positioning himself for yet another storybook return to the mound. As we've learned the past three seasons, Carpenter likes to make an entrance.

If he came back last year, there's no reason to expect any less from him in 2013.

There are still others within the system who could play fill-in roles, but there's no one I would recommend over a healthy Carpenter today.

With the 2013 draft just around the corner, the Cardinals will once again be looking for that diamond in the rough--that later round pick capable of replenishing the stockpile.

Cardinals John Mozeliak and owner Bill Dewitt are transforming the way the modern team approaches roster development.

This is the kind of thing they'll make a movie about in another 20 years if things continue to work for them. So, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.

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The only thing I know is that losing Jaime for the year and Westbrook for an extended period is gonna be a strain on the club in terms of depth utilization. We used a lot of our starting pitching depth to fix the bullpen and now we really need to consider finding ways to stretch those guys so they can pitch the rotation and transition one of the rookie lefties to the pen. This gives us a better starter and another lefty on the pen with Choate.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 8:49 AM
Gast is a better pitcher than Lyons in terms of starting. It would be interesting to see Kelly or Martinez get moved into the rotation, but I honestly don't think Martinez is ready for that role yet. He did miss all of Spring Training because of the Visa issue.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 9:46 AM
we have some lefty in double A dominating.

-- Posted by Thot McGee on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 10:01 AM
I actually like Gast better as a reliever due to that insane pick off move he has. Also I think Martinez could handle the load if he is given 3-5 starts in AAA to stretch out. We also have Nick Addition who is another lefty destined to be a bullpen arm or career 4-5 starter who eats innings.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 10:35 AM
I think the Cardinals have a legit shot at a wild card spot. I wasn't sure they would finish above .500 at the start of the season. But there is a lot of season left and the Dodgers will make a run at the wild card at some point.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 1:31 PM
You must climb a lot of trees as many limbs that you go out on.. a wild card? really? Thanks.

-- Posted by Thot McGee on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 1:54 PM
Perspective DW. I think Corey said it best the perspective should be that we are the first team to 30 wins and that's about1/3 of what a team needs to make the playoffs so relax we are on the way to a division title.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 1:54 PM
sportsnerd

I hate trees. Wouldn't have one for free. All they do is fall down on things.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 2:07 PM
And make precious oxygen your lungs need to keep your body alive. But besides no big deal burn them all down right DW?

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 2:27 PM
team that's got near a 667 winning percentage on their way to a wild card.. let that sink in.. not saying they won't come back to earth a bit an finish 2nd or 3rd in the central but they are "headed" for a division title.

-- Posted by Thot McGee on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 3:17 PM
I'm an realist. I think we have to be realistic what our odds are with 3/5 of the starting rotation being rookies right now. Garcia is done and it's not looking good for Westbrooke coming back anytime soon. Our offense needs to start producing more runs, especially since Boggs and Kelly are in the Bullpen. Boggs has picked up right where he left off....getting jacked and giving up runs.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 3:30 PM
Me and Dump have a great deal in common.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:21 PM
You both don't like oxygen?

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:39 PM
Mentally Garcia is a rookie, and Shelby gave us big innings in the playoffs last year. On paper, yea we look pretty inexperienced but I don't think it's as bad as it looks.

-- Posted by DaleDoback on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:41 PM
Here we go with the head case thing again. Garcia gave us great innings that were valuable to a 30 WIN BALL CLUB in the first quarter of the season all while having a torn up labrum in his throwing shoulder. If that ain't mentally tough I don't know what is.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:44 PM
Being mentally tough is giving up a 2 run blast in the first inning and throwing 6 scoreless innings after that. How many times has Garcia done that?

-- Posted by DaleDoback on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:52 PM
I think it's mentally tough to go out there knowing your at an extreme physical disadvantage and whipping self doubt and mentally enduring the pain to pitch as well as he did with what is considered one of the worse injuries a pitcher can withstand

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 4:55 PM
Personally, I'm glad we were able to ride his arm for so many games and wins. There is a strong doubt that the Garcia we have come to know will be gone after shoulder surgery, which is much more hazardous for a pitcher than Tommy John. A lot of pitchers have had their careers ended because of this injury.

Dustin, you and I are nothing alike. I didn't doubt the Cards in the preseason like you and I don't value over-aged, overpriced teams.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 6:36 PM
Tyler Siegrest is the dominant lefty

-- Posted by Thot McGee on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 10:57 PM
I'd just like to note that I'm in the pro-oxygen camp.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Fri, May 24, 2013, at 10:57 PM
Count me in for oxygen as well. Code Orange Ozone warning today here in Middle TN.

Lynn looked good last night but I hope his back/hamstring tightness was from the cool SoCal night air and doesn't turn into a bigger problem.

-- Posted by Grussman on Sat, May 25, 2013, at 9:01 AM
Seriously, how many starters are going to go down this year? I know its unreasonable to think you're only to use 5 starters all season but for reals this is getting ridiculous. I am very hopeful this is only because of the cool LA weather but this is just mind boggling. Lets not forget about Lynn's stiff back last night. If we loose Lynn and/or Gast we should consider ourselves screwed and in a bad place. I don't know of any team that has started 4 rookies in a season at the same time. Anyone? Oh and lets not forget Mitchell Boggs who I officially hate now. Can Boggs go one outing without getting jacked? And if if wasn't for the lack of pitching we find ourselves in right now, neither Boggs nor Kelly would be on the 25-man roster, because they both suck.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Sat, May 25, 2013, at 10:00 PM
Michael Blazek called up from AA Springfield.

-- Posted by gianthook on Sun, May 26, 2013, at 1:51 PM
I predicted the Cardinals' rotation would have injuries before the season ever started. This is why resigning Kyle Lohse for the reasonable amount of money he asked for was important.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, May 26, 2013, at 10:19 PM
This text sponsoredt by the rockview overpass. I predict every team in mlb will have injuries in their starting rotation. Kyle lohse had his last start skipped FYI, troll.

-- Posted by Goredhawks4life on Sun, May 26, 2013, at 10:28 PM
Dustin every team has injuries....good gawd. But this many injuries...in such a short time span? Stop trolling dude. Everyone knew Garcia was just buying time. I don't know of anyone who thought he would or could go the full season.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Sun, May 26, 2013, at 10:41 PM
I'm not trolling. I still think Walt Jocketty is the best GM in baseball and I still think the Reds will win the NL Central.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, May 27, 2013, at 12:27 AM
But if the Cardinals maintain their current pace and finish more than 45 games above .500 they have a great shot to win the division.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, May 27, 2013, at 12:38 AM
Yes, if the Cardinals can get to 100-55, they MAY just have a shot a winning the division. Good lord are you ignorant. Everytime a starter has gone down, a AAA prospect has come in and made up the quality. Even with all of the injury, we are still getting great production and maintaining financial flexibilty for future seasons at the same time. A Walt Jocketty run team would mortgage that talent and the future and have no option but expensive free agents or washed up players when they lose players to injury. I guess I shouldn't expect someone in the anti-tree camp to be able to put together a coherent argument though.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Mon, May 27, 2013, at 1:06 AM

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