Does anyone know about our minor league situation?

[tierre_brown]

Do we have any promising pitchers in the minors that we haven't called up yet? With Rosario hurt, along with Oswalt, it looks like time again to dip into the farm system. Any info would help.

[Raven Lunatic]

Honestly, I can't think of any good prospects in the pitching department that are anywhere near being ready for the majors.

http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/view.php?site=orangewhoopass&bn=orangewhoopass_columnzone&key=1044297230

That is a top ten prospect list compiled by a guy over at that website. The only two pitchers on that list that haven't already seen time on the Stros are Qualls and Pluta, neither of which are anywhere near major league ready. If the Astros want SP help right now, they will almost certainly have to trade for it. We have the knuckleballer Fernandez down in AAA, but he hasn't done a whole lot this season. No one else has been great that I know of. You can check out the team and the player statistics at this website:

Official Astro AAA minors team (Zephyrs) (http://www.zephyrsbaseball.com/)

[Timing]

I'm pretty sure Pluta hurt his arm earlier this year. I think he had Tommy John surgery. Our minor league pitching is already in Houston. Mike Nannini is pitching well for the Cubbies though. I think we traded him for Tom Gordon last year.