Hopefully, folks have been following along as we have been announcing our top relievers, starting pitchers and position players at each level of the system in 2012. While the content of those articles are subscriber-only, everyone can see the names here.

Starting today, we are moving into the final 10 articles of the series, all free. We will unveil the top rookie performers, then the system-wide top players before naming our Manager of the Year.

The series will conclude with the same three top player awards for St. Louis as well as an in-depth summary of the Cardinals' 2012 season.

Today's award is The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Rookie Relief Pitcher of the Year.

Would not be surprised if Stoppelman skips Low-A Peoria next season and starts out in High-A Palm Beach based on how he performed in short season. In a minimum of at least 30 IP, Lee led the New-York Penn League in K Rate (35.8%), WHIP (0.87), LOB% (84.4%), ERA (0.79), FIP (1.13), finished 2nd in K per 9 innings (12.84), and opp avg (.180).

Stoppelman has exceptional command that works from both sides of plate sits in the high 80-to-low 90s on his FB throws with a 3/4 arm slot that helps him have some movement and mixes in a solid change-up and a breaking that's an out pitch but still needs work but helps to contribute to his effectiveness on the mound. Stoppelman if reaches ceiling could have a Chad Bradford type career.

Was drafted in the 24th round 750th overall another late round sleeper to watch have to like what the organization has done in the late rounds in recent drafts.

DTFlush234 wrote: Would not be surprised if Stoppelman skips Low-A Peoria next season and starts out in High-A Palm Beach based on how he performed in short season. In a minimum of at least 30 IP, Lee led the New-York Penn League in K Rate (35.8%), WHIP (0.87), LOB% (84.4%), ERA (0.79), FIP (1.13), finished 2nd in K per 9 innings (12.84), and opp avg (.180).

Stoppelman has exceptional command that works from both sides of plate sits in the high 80-to-low 90s on his FB throws with a 3/4 arm slot that helps him have some movement and mixes in a solid change-up and a breaking that's an out pitch but still needs work but helps to contribute to his effectiveness on the mound. Stoppelman if reaches ceiling could have a Chad Bradford type career.

Was drafted in the 24th round 750th overall another late round sleeper to watch have to like what the organization has done in the late rounds in recent drafts.

That's a lot of information, but the comparison to Bradford seems odd considering that Stoppelman is a left handed pitcher, unless both milb.com and Brian's article are wrong.

GMan0311 wrote:

DTFlush234 wrote: Would not be surprised if Stoppelman skips Low-A Peoria next season and starts out in High-A Palm Beach based on how he performed in short season. In a minimum of at least 30 IP, Lee led the New-York Penn League in K Rate (35.8%), WHIP (0.87), LOB% (84.4%), ERA (0.79), FIP (1.13), finished 2nd in K per 9 innings (12.84), and opp avg (.180).

Stoppelman has exceptional command that works from both sides of plate sits in the high 80-to-low 90s on his FB throws with a 3/4 arm slot that helps him have some movement and mixes in a solid change-up and a breaking that's an out pitch but still needs work but helps to contribute to his effectiveness on the mound. Stoppelman if reaches ceiling could have a Chad Bradford type career.

Was drafted in the 24th round 750th overall another late round sleeper to watch have to like what the organization has done in the late rounds in recent drafts.

That's a lot of information, but the comparison to Bradford seems odd considering that Stoppelman is a left handed pitcher, unless both milb.com and Brian's article are wrong.

Meant to say Stoppelman's ceiling would be a Chad Bradford-esque reliever.

Did I cheat in making this choice?

"The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Relief Pitcher of the Year"

Domeboys wrote:

Did I cheat in making this choice?

"The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Relief Pitcher of the Year"

I don't know if it's cheating, but how in the world can Wacha be the Relief Pitcher of the Year, but not the Rookie Relief Pitcher of the Year? Makes no sense whatsoever.

GMan0311 wrote: I don't know if it's cheating, but how in the world can Wacha be the Relief Pitcher of the Year, but not the Rookie Relief Pitcher of the Year? Makes no sense whatsoever.

I see where you are coming from, but there wouldn't have been anything to write this time had I done that. In all honesty, there were several good true rookie reliever candidates and that article was done before I started looking seriously at all relievers system-wide. None of the latter group's results jumped out at me, which is when I came around to Wacha.

Domeboys wrote:

GMan0311 wrote: I don't know if it's cheating, but how in the world can Wacha be the Relief Pitcher of the Year, but not the Rookie Relief Pitcher of the Year? Makes no sense whatsoever.

I see where you are coming from, but there wouldn't have been anything to write this time had I done that. In all honesty, there were several good true rookie reliever candidates and that article was done before I started looking seriously at all relievers system-wide. None of the latter group's results jumped out at me, which is when I came around to Wacha.

I disagree with allowing Wacha to participate in the Minors Reliever of the Year contest.  Yes, Wacha was an interesting sidebar in 2012, but I believe including his minimal effort is disrespectful to the four or five quality relief pitchers who put in a full season of work.  In a close contest between Fornataro, Butler, Cole and Wyatt, I went with Keith Butler because in addition to his quality stats, he did it for a league championship team.

Not intending to disrespect anyone as the honorables are most honorable. In Butler's case, I was influenced by Brandon Mahler's opinion from attending most Springfield home games that Fornataro had the better season.

The starting pitcher of the year article is now posted (free).

I see both sides of the Wacha issue, but its really a sample size issue rather than disrespect. My personal preference would be to let Wacha earn accolades on the field next year, and recognize those who did so this season. Not that I know anything about judging newbies.

The identity of our minor league Player of the Year should not be a surprise.

Our Manager of the Year article is now posted (free), plus an exclusive audio interview for subscribers.

Our St. Louis Relief Pitcher of the Year has been named. Unlike last season, it was a very easy choice.

At the start of the season, who would have guessed the identity of our St. Louis Starting Pitcher of the Year?

Our St. Louis Player of the Year has been unveiled.

The first of three articles summarizing St. Louis' season is posted.