Triple-A in 2013 seems likely, but when will he be ready for St. Louis and what role will be play?

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Gagliano wrote: Rereading what I wrote....I agree with Brian on this.  The only way he doesn't reach the rotation is if his arm can't handle it.  But I could see the Cards using the pen as a transition if the rotation looks good and if they think another year of aging would help Martinez be ready for the innings needed in the rotation.

Gagliano wrote: Rereading what I wrote....I agree with Brian on this.  The only way he doesn't reach the rotation is if his arm can't handle it.  But I could see the Cards using the pen as a transition if the rotation looks good and if they think another year of aging would help Martinez be ready for the innings needed in the rotation.

thejager wrote: i think he will be 2013's version of Rosenthal...though i think he doesnt come up before September...but when he does he will show everyone how impressive he is out of the pen.

Can you imagine a September pen of: (righties)

Motte (100)
Boggs (100)
Mujica
Miller (95)
Kelly (100)
Rosenthal (101)
Martinez (100)
Salas

not saying speed is right or even important... im just saying you have a ton of guys right there that can step in

Not to mention if Westy and Carp are feeling tired,  4 of em coudl spot start, or piggy back.

How about that? Carp plus Miller, Westy plus Rosy, Lynn/Garcia/Wainwright plus Martinez/Kelly

I kinda like your "thinking-outside-the-box" ideas.

Martinez reminds me of Arodys Vizcaino.  They both burst onto the scene in A ball, throwing about 85 innings each and shot up prospect lists.

In 2011, Vizcaino, being a year older, threw about 114 1/3 innings, but had some slight arm issues.

2012 hits and he had to have tommy john surgery.

Meanwhile, Martinez, in 2012, threw about 115 and 2/3 innings and had some slight arm issues. I really hope he doesn't develop arm problems this year as well.

They both have been overshadowed within their own organization (Shelby Miller & Randall Delgado)

They both have similar 6'0 builds.

They both throw mid 90s.

They both post elite strikeout stuff.

They were even born on the same island, opposite sides.

Domeboys wrote: If you mean within the Cardinals scheme, I don't think it would change anything. Both the community and I placed Martinez just ahead of Wacha this year. I did not dock Carlos for his build or the potential that he might be less durable down the road compared to pitchers with a bigger build. Carioca might comment about his vote reversing the two, but my perception is that he is very high on Wacha rather than down on Martinez in any way.

At this point, I can't see Martinez or Wacha at the same tier as Miller and Rosenthal.

If you mean the overall scheme across baseball, I guess we will have to see where Martinez is placed on industry-wide lists this year. I haven't seen any major ones come out yet.