SB Nation St. Louis - College World Series 2012: Florida State's James Ramsey Stars Before Signing With Cardinals

MLB Draft 2012: College World Series Star James Ramsey Excels In Cardinals Debut

2012-07-04T14:54:24Z

The St. Louis Cardinals confused many with their selection of--and lenient bonus negotiations against--College World Series star James Ramsey in the 2012 MLB Draft, but their aggressive placement of the 22-year-old in age-appropriate high-A Palm Beach shows they're confident in his ability to produce, and his first game there showed, at least, what he could be capable of. He went 3-5 with an infield single and a double while starting in center field, showing off the high-level contact skills that dominate his value.

Ramsey, even more than Kolten Wong last year, needs a big short-season debut to justify himself in the eyes of Cardinals fans perpetually desperate for upside He'll be 23 next year, and just young enough to play through a AA stint; if he's not ready he's going to look much more like Nick Stavinoha than he is Jon Jay. On the other hand, if he dominates Palm Beach in a half-season of professional ball, his age will matter much less than it does now.

College World Series 2012 Final: Arizona Tops South Carolina Twice, Wins CWS

2012-06-26T14:50:46Z

From the first inning of Sunday's Championship Finals opener the South Carolina Gamecocks never had a chance—the Arizona Wildcats got out to a 5-1 lead in Game 1 and, Monday, pulled ahead with a three-run ninth inning to take Game 2 and the 2012 College World Series by a final score of 4-1. St. Louis Cardinals draft pick Alex Mejia picked up two hits and an RBI in the victories, and now that the college season is over he'll get his heretofore-delayed chance to begin professional ball. (He and Wildcats starter Kurt Heyer were among the last of the Cardinals' unsigned draft picks.)

Outstanding pitching continued to carry the day for the Wildcats, who'd gotten big performances from Heyer earlier in the tournament. In Game 1 starter Konner Wade, a former high school draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks who will be eligible for the draft again next year, threw a complete game while allowing six hits and walking only one batter; in Game 2 they got 7.2 one-run innings out of James Farris.

And now, after two years dominated by South Carolina, the Arizona Wildcats have their first College World Series championship in more than 25 seasons.

MLB Draft 2012: College World Series Star James Ramsey Reportedly Agrees With St. Louis Cardinals

2012-06-26T00:28:26Z

The St. Louis Cardinals' 2012 MLB Draft will edge closer to completion this week, according to a report from Derrick Goold Monday—he suggests the Cardinals and Florida State Seminoles star James Ramsey, their second pick and the No. 23 overall selection, could come to an official agreement as soon as Friday, whereupon Ramsey will likely report to a surprisingly advanced minor league affiliate. The news comes just days after Ramsey and the Seminoles were eliminated from the 2012 College World Series.

Ramsey was a surprise pick as a first-rounder—until it became clear that, as a college senior without a lot of signing bonus leverage, he was part of the Cardinals' plan to subvert the new slotting system and sign more expensive high schoolers like Carson Kelly. Kelly cost a million over slot; the discount the Cardinals get on Ramsey could decide whether they're able to sign other high-upside picks, like Trey Williams and Max Foody.

As for his own value, Ramsey is a contact guy with great clubhouse credentials who might have been the best hitter in college in 2012. His selection could characterize how this draft is perceived in five years, for good or ill.

College World Series Bracket 2012: James Ramsey Should Sign With St. Louis Cardinals Soon

2012-06-23T18:54:02Z

The St. Louis Cardinals still have two 2012 MLB Draft picks in the 2012 College World Series bracket--middle-round picks shortstop Alex Mejia and pitcher Kurt Heyer of the Arizona Wildcats--but after those selfsame Wildcats eliminated Florida State St. Louis found its last first-round pick finally free to negotiate his professional contract. That's No. 23 overall pick James Ramsey, a Seminoles senior and perhaps the best college hitter in the country.

It'll be important to get Ramsey playing, just because at 22 he's already going to be old for whatever low-minors league he's assigned to. But that's not the only reason--with highly touted second-rounder Carson Kelly signing for more than a million dollars over his recommended bonus, the Cardinals need Ramsey to sign cheaply to make their ambitious draft strategy work, and allow them to sign similarly touted youngsters like Trey Williams and Max Foody.

The Wildcats will take on South Carolina Sunday at 7 PM CDT in the first of the best of three College World Series championship finals. But for the Cardinals, the end of the CWS began the moment Ramsey was eliminated.

College World Series Bracket 2012: Elimination Tripleheader Takes Florida State, Kent State

2012-06-22T12:30:20Z

The 2012 College World Series's elimination tripleheader--borne of the Kent State vs. South Carolina rainout--took two scalps in three games Thursday night, with Kent State and favorite Florida State falling decisively and Arizona punching its ticket to the Championship Finals. South Carolina and Arkansas will tangle in the last of the bracket matchups Friday night at 8 PM CDT. The good news for St. Louis Cardinals fans--No. 23 overall pick James Ramsey will now be free to sign, after going 0-5 in the Seminoles' rematch against the Wildcats.

Arizona needed extra innings to dispatch Florida State in their first College World Series game, but a six-run first inning got them more than halfway to a 10-3 victory. As for South Carolina, they held Kent State to two hits and scored four runs of their own to put themselves just one game away from facing Arizona in the championship finals.

For more on the 2012 College World Series, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For an updated bracket, I continue to recommend the NCAA's own homegrown model.

College World Series Bracket 2012: Kent State Vs. South Carolina Rainout Means Thursday Elimination Tripleheader

2012-06-21T15:49:40Z

Wednesday's storms in Omaha kept the 2012 College World Series bracket from eliminating another contender, but it also created the promise of a truly wild Thursday at TD Ameritrade Park. Thursday's action now begins at 11 AM CDT, when South Carolina vs. Kent State will be made up, before moving on to a 4 PM CDT rematch of Arizona vs. Florida State (in which all the St. Louis Cardinals' outstanding draft picks will be playing) and ending with an 8 PM CDT matchup between 2-0 Arkansas and the winner of the morning contest. It's going to be a wild day, and the results of a day in which three teams could be eliminated (Arizona and Arkansas are both undefeated) could shape the entire remainder of the College World Series.

Florida State and South Carolina, both among the tournaments' favorites going in, each lost tough games to put themselves into single-elimination position; FSU fell to Arizona in extra innings in their opening game of the tournament, while South Carolina fell to Arkansas by a final score of 2-1, ending a 22-game postseason winning streak.

It'll be a big day of games, and for central-timers it all starts before noon. Good luck fitting it all in; here's an updated bracket for more information.

College World Series Bracket 2012: Florida State Faces Elimination Once Again Versus Arizona

2012-06-20T19:43:08Z

The Florida State Seminoles will be looking to avoid elimination from the 2012 College World Series for the third straight game when they face the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday. The Seminoles will need to win consecutive games against the Wildcats in order to reach the championship finals.

After losing 4-3 in 12 innings to Arizona back on June 15, it seemed like Florida State was nearing the end of its season. But with St. Louis Cardinals draft pick James Ramsey flashing a hot bat, the Seminoles have rolled in consecutive elimination games, bringing them into the re-match with the Wildcats on Thursday.

Beyond Ramsey, Cardinals fans can see another one of the team's 2012 draft picks in Arizona shortstop Alex Mejia, who was selected by St. Louis in the fourth round with the No. 150 overall pick. For a look at the complete bracket, check it out here.

For more updates on the 2012 College World Series (and the St. Louis Cardinals' tangential involvement therein) stay tuned to our 2012 CWS storystream.

College World Series Bracket 2012: Florida State Vs. UCLA Results In A Bruins Elimination

2012-06-20T12:16:03Z

The Florida State Seminoles lost their first game in the 2012 College World Series bracket to the Arizona Wildcats, now 2-0, but after a decisive win over Stony Brook FSU has put itself firmly back into title contention, defeating the UCLA Bruins 4-1 and looking as strong as advertised in their second consecutive elimination game. St. Louis Cardinals draft pick James Ramsey continued his hot hitting, going 2-3 with a walk and a run scored, but the game belonged to Steve Sitz, FSU's starter, who allowed one run on five hits and a walk in six-plus innings, racking up eight strikeouts in the meantime.

The Seminoles, who've outscored their two competitors 16-3 since losing 4-3 to the Wildcats in extra innings, will now face Arizona on Thursday afternoon. (The 4 PM CDT start will be aired on ESPN 2.) Their backs are still against the wall, but they'll have to beat Arizona twice in a row to advance to the championship finals themselves.

For more on the 2012 CWS, and more unnerving fixation on St. Louis Cardinals draft picks, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. Related: The Cardinals love James Ramsey's Cape Cod League numbers, but are they too enamored of what goes on in that wood-bat league?