Ex-Bulldog Jess Todd ready for next call-up to bigs

By Todd Wills

In the business, they call it having a “cup of coffee.”

Jess Todd got his first morning jolt June 4, when the Navarro Bulldog was called up by the St. Louis Cardinals to fill a spot in the bullpen. Todd pitched the next day against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

The next day, June 6, with the Cardinals needing a long reliever, the 23-year-old Todd was sent back to Triple-A Memphis for Blake Hawksworth.

Todd has since resumed his role as closer of the Memphis Redbirds.

In layman’s terms, it’s kind of like getting a latte every day for three days, then having someone tell you’ll have to wait a while on the next cup, instead of getting one every day.

“With them needing a reliever, that did me in,” Todd said by phone before a Redbirds’ home game against Albuquerque. “It’s just a waiting game. If one of the Cardinals’ relievers throws too many pitches, hopefully I might get the call.”

Todd is sitting on the fringe of being a big leaguer. Selected by the Cardinals out of the University of Arkansas in the second round (82nd overall) of the June 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Todd has cruised through the minor leagues.

He appeared in 16 games for Short-Season Batavia in 2007 in the New York Penn League. Last year, Todd played at three different levels, starting at Class A Palm Beach, moving up to Double A Springfield and finishing the year at Triple-A Memphis. He was 8-6 with a 2.88 in 28 games, 24 starts, in 2008.

Todd, also a starter for Navarro, moved into the closer’s role this year for Memphis. He is 3-1 with 12 saves and he has a 2.63 ERA. Todd has not allowed a run in three appearances since returning to Memphis.

He had a save against the Isotopes on Monday. He has enjoyed the new role.

“I like going in with the game close,” Todd said.

For most prospects, making the big leagues as a reliever is often the quicker ticket out of the minors. And it can be the easiest way to stick.

Todd also enjoys not waiting around every five days for a start.

“You might have a chance to throw every day,” Todd said. “You might pitch three days in a row, then have two days off in a row.”

And while he’d rather be in the big leagues, don’t feel too sorry for him. Life in Triple-A is good. The team flies commercial instead of the 13-hour bus trips from Springfield, Missouri to Corpus Christi.

Sure, there are 6 a.m. flights, but Round Rock’s a lot better destination compared to Midland.

Todd thinks his time will come. It’s not likely to be as the Cardinals’ closer — Ryan Franklin is having an All-Star year.

And in baseball, you really never know when it’s your time if you’re not Tim Lincecum.

So Todd does appreciate that first appearance against the Rockies at Busch Stadium.

“It’s hard to describe,” he said. “Everything is first class. There are 40,000 fans.

“My first game was good until I faced (Colorado’s) Ian Stewart. He hit a 3-run home run.”

Better to give up a three-run shot than to never have given up a gopher ball for the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Todd Wills may be reached via e-mail at twills@corsicanadailysun.com

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