Seems like forever since the Express has played. I have never paid more attention to our AAA team, with so many solid players the box score is a daily must read.
Not an overall good start for the system. We at least have Yordan Alvarez putting up Mo Vaughn numbers.
Been a weird April with so many underperforming at same time. Considering Astros likely will have more opportunities for pitchers, Bukauskas and Whitley are the more concerning. Not that they dont have talent, but that maybe they have something off mechanically or trying to pitch through something.
I don’t really consider any of the pitchers stats to be meaningful at this point. Not a single pitcher has more than 20 IP. And especially considering the lack of rhythm for these guys and the likelihood they are working on their weaknesses which might cause additional struggle, I don’t see any reason to be worried about any of the pitchers unless there are velocity drops or injuries.
What’s interesting is that 25 of the 50 position players who have played this season have a wRC+ of 99 or better. Tucker, Reed, and Matijevic are really the only 3 guys who have unexpectedly struggled. None of the pitchers have thrown enough to judge anything. And Yordan Alvarez is David Ortiz.
K% becomes more reliable at about 60 batters faced if I recall correctly. Bukauskas is close enough that even if he Ks every batter until he hits 60, his K% will be way down.
Seth Beer is currently 3-3 with a two-run homer (3) in the second game of Fayetteville's doubleheader. He's playing LF in this game. He went 0-3 and played 1B in the first game.
Yordan Alvarez (8) and Kyle Tucker (2) homered as part of a 9-run 7th inning for Round Rock in the first game of their doubleheader in Memphis.
Forest Whitley 4.2 5 K 2 hits 2 bb 80 pitches I didn’t get to see it. The numbers look solid but someone there told me he wasn’t as good as the numbers show; too many fouled off pitches TFWIW
Do you think he is working on something and just not letting it fly or is he just struggling to be struggling?
Honestly I haven't seen enough of him with my own eyes the last 18 months to make an informed opinion. I will tell you that I think part of it is that he really hasn't pitched much as a professional. This is his fourth season as a professional and so far he has only thrown 170 total innings. He has only had one semi normal season, and that was in 2017 when he threw 90 innings, and even then he pitched at three different levels as a 19 year old. The drug suspension in 2018 really set him back because the hope in 2018 was to get him 130+ innings as AA and AAA and help his build towards the big leagues. Instead, in 2018 he has to go down to the low minors to build up his arm and then only got 40 innings in AA. This season he is in AAA. So basically: AA: 40 innings in his career AAA: 11 innings in his career Has only thrown 63 innings the last two years combined. My point being that I think if you look at this situation deeper, it may not be fair to expect Whitley to come out like gang busters when he has missed so much time and has pitched so seldom in the higher minors. That doesn't even include the maturity questions involved with the suspension. We may be better off with him getting a lot of solid work in AAA and working on his issues and then coming up for a cup of coffee late in the year with a chance to make the staff next spring. I know that isn't what we want to hear but it makes sense. Remember, over the last 4 years he has been through a lot. He completely changed his body and eating habits, he changed his workout habits, he went from not being a prospect to being a first round pick and the number one pitching prospect in the game. He has pitched so little, etc. If you are asking if he is a problem off the field or to coach like Martes, I have not heard that....... however, keep in mind that in the lower minors the Astros raved at how coachable Martes and Feliz were.... and that changed. Still I see no reason to assume Whitley will be like that.
C Carlos Canelon was added to Corpus’ roster as an injury replacement for Lorenzo Quintana. That leaves only RHP Nick Hernandez and RHP Hansel Paulino as unreleased players not showing up on any roster. I think it’s safe to assume both are injured. After 3 weeks: AAA hitting stars: C Jamie Ritchie IF Jack Mayfield OF Yordan Alvarez OF Derek Fisher AA: IF Josh Rojas OF Stephen Wrenn OF Chas McCormick High A: 1B Jake Adams IF Miguelangel Sierra 3B Colton Shaver OF Bryan De La Cruz A: 1B Scott Schreiber IF Enmanuel Valdez OF Jonathan LaCroix Most encouraged by Alvarez, Ritchie, Mayfield, Rojas, McCormick, Adams, and Valdez.
Somehow left Beer off my list of stars so far but obviously he has been stellar. Wish he had walked a bit more but overall great start to the season (especially the last week) and he should be in Corpus by July 1.