Derrick Goold wrote a piece (subscription necessary) in BaseballAmerica.com yesterday, with the subtitle: “Parise showing Cardinals everything he has.” The title – “Well-Traveled Reliever.”
Here is a part of the article:
By the end of the 2010 season, Parise will have been pitching, nearly uninterrupted, for 32 months. When he reported to his first major league spring training, Parise was only one week removed from facing hitters in the Caribbean World Series. He was a member of the all-tournament team there, having pitched for Puerto Rico and collected a 0.93 ERA in 10 innings before the tournament.
Since the start of the 2008 season, Parise has toured the hemisphere, playing in Iowa, Florida, Colombia, Missouri, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and then Venezuela for the Caribbean championship series.
His motivation wasn’t just sightseeing.
“I feel like I had to do it for where I came from,” Parise said. “I felt like it was something I had to do to put my name out there.”
The piece was published before Pete Parise received news yesterday that he was being sent down to Minor League Spring Training, after a long trip in Major League Spring Training. Parise was one of six players sent down, putting the Major League Spring Training roster at 31 players. The right handed pitcher came close to breaking camp with the Major League team, and I believe that we will all be watching him on TV playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in the near future.
It has been a very enjoyable journey for Pete and I this Spring Training. For Pete, he had the opportunity to experience Major League Spring Training for the first time in his life. He was extremely thankful for the opportunity. I will not forget Pete telling me almost every day, “Please don’t let them send me down.” He truly loved being on the MLB roster and did everything he could to help out the team, even when he was not in the game. At one point in MLB Spring Training, Pete led the Majors in saves, with 2. It was based on a small amount of games, but it was still nice to see him being used as a closer and the fact that Tony LaRussa had faith in my client.
I had the opportunity to go to quite a few of Pete’s games during Spring Training. What I loved most was the fact that when he wasn’t pitching, he was always the first person to offer to warm up the outfielders before the start of innings. He was always smiling, conversing with the fans, and signing autographs for old and young. That’s the type of guy that a team wants on its Major League roster. Especially when that player is also hitting mid-90s on the gun with a ridiculously sick sinker, nasty change-up, and solid slider. It is no wonder why I am in talks with equipment companies interested in sponsoring the young relief pitcher.
Pete’s time will come. And I will be right there as his biggest supporter (outside of his family).
22 replies on “Pete Parise’s Spring Training”
What companies are you talking too?
That’s a tough break for Pete but from what we know about his unbelievably positive attitude, he will be lights out in Triple-A and probably earn a callup later this season, possibly as an injury replacement but certainly in September when the rosters expand.
I always thought that he had an outside chance of breaking Spring Training on the Active Roster. I do fully believe that if he continues to perform at the same level that he has over the past 3 years, he will be called up at some point during the year.
What companies are you trying to get him deals with? Don’t you think you would have had more leverage if you completed a deal while he was still in big league camp?
I’m not answering your first question because I do not want to risk jeopardizing any progress we have made with the companies. Some things need to remain confidential. To answer your second question – no. Pete made it extremely far in big league camp, but as stated in my response to Jason, it was highly unlikely that he would break camp on the 25 man active roster. Companies understood that before no less than they realize it now.
Your coming off a great PRBL campaign and you are added to the Non Roster Invitee list. Why would you not capitalize off that then and there. What if he gets hurt tomorrow? Most players have their glove and cleat deals by October-December. I highly doubt he would have any cash signing bonus right now. He would be lucky to get merchandise credit for the year now with incentives based on 40 man addition and a call up bonus (which one would think would be the same day since they would not ad him and not bring him up).
I just think you waited to long. I would wait now until he gets called up or named to the AAA allstar team. After all, free cleats and gloves are not a big deal for him…he would get them for you anyway.
Its still hard for me to see how you support 20+ players without one 3 years away from becoming arb elg.
Yusef –
what is your email address?
-goose
[email protected], why?
I leave my email address and Darren has not approved of it. Why not?
It actually was automatically placed in the spam folder.
Okay, thanks. What do you need Goose?
Darren, why do you think La Russa only gave him 2 innings this spring to prove himself and show his stuff to big league hitters?
He had limited time on the mound, but he also racked up 2 saves in his 3 appearances. I am very happy with how he was used because La Russa showed his trust in Pete that he has the potential to close out games (only placing him in close games in the 9th inning). Additionally, I am happy that Pete was not overused, since the one concern some had going into Spring Training was that he had been used a lot in the past year with little time off (he came in after being a clutch pitcher in the Caribbean Series).
Darren –
I think to be fair you also need to mention he gave up a bomb and took the lose his last appearance in Big League Camp.
Do they look at Parise as closer in the Bigs or innings eater. Who do you feel he is behind in the organization. ?
thanks
bobby
You mentioned it for me. Doesn’t change my statement. For now, Parise will stay as the closer for the AAA affiliate. No use in guessing what his role will be when he gets called up. He is not behind anybody in terms of right handed relievers. Salas is comparable, and Ottavino is in that category should the Cardinals be interested in using him as a reliever instead of a starter.
What about Lance Lynn?
Has been purely a starter to date. Great arm.
hey darren, i noticed 3 more of your baseball clients are now free agents, i was wondering if teams are starting to free up roster space to make room for this years draft or what, do you know? i also saw that you signed Gary Patchett and that he finished last year at AAA, thats cool that you now have 3 AAA clients congrads! how did that come about?
Right around this time, a lot of teams make cuts to clear up space. Hard work!
awsome man! i was wondering, are there alot of AA/AAA players without agents? cause it seems like you have had decent luck signing guys like severino, gunderson, and Patchett when they are already quite developed, instead of having to work them up from rookie ball. Or do some of these players like Patchett have representation but they leave the other guy for u? If theres alot of AAA players without agents, someone should publish their names with contact info im sure there would be alot of money to be made haha
There are quite a few AA/AAA players without agents. Sometimes they never had agents and sometimes they are not happy with their representation and are seeking a new company. Haha, why would anyone want to publish those names? That wouldn’t be good for business!
LOL, well yes it would be bad business if the agents were the ones producing the info, but if it was one of the recruiting companies/websites that had access to who has/doesnt have agents on those rosters i bet they could make a fortune for that info!!