If you haven't read it (and I'm talking to all of you), you should. It's funny and crazy and insightful. Excellent read.
Harry Walker is the one who manages this crew He doesn't like it when we smoke and drink and fight and screw But when we win the game each day Then what the F can Harry say It makes a fella proud to be an Astro
The Astros released a couple of lower-level pitchers yesterday: Agapito Barrios was originally signed by the Astros in 2011 out of Panama. He pitched in the GCL, Tri-City, and Quad Cities in 2016. Austin Nicely was the Astros' 10th-round pick in 2013 out of a Virginia high school and signed for $610,000. He pitched at Tri-City and also made one appearance for Quad Cities in 2016.
That's a good reminder to keep low expectations on those HS guys who fall and sign overslot deals in the 10/11th rounds. Devonte German was another one of those guys I believe.
I remember when Nicely was drafted, Luhnow or somebody in the FO had tweeted a pic of their draftees with a bunch of decals attached to certain names. Nicely's name had a shitload of decals and the insinuation was that he was a guy a whole lot of Astros scouts really really liked. Bummer to see him flame out especially since he was a lefty, an area the farm is a little thin in right now.
Fresno Manager: Tony DeFrancesco Pitching Coach: Dyar Miller Hitting Coach: Darryl Robinson Development Coach: Aaron DelGiudice Corpus Manager: Rodney Linares Pitching Coach: Dave Borkowski Hitting Coach: Joel Chimelis Development Coach: Grant Kawamura Buies Creek Manager: Omar Lopez Pitching Coach: Chris Holt Hitting Coach: Troy Snitker Develpoment Coach: Mickey Storey Quad Cities Manager: Russ Steinhorn Pitching Coach: Drew French Hitting Coach: Ben Rosenthal Development Coach: Jason Bell Tri-City Manager: Morgan Ensberg Pitching Coach: Bill Murphy Hitting Coach: Jeremy Barnes Greeneville Manager: Danny Ortega Pitching Coach: Erick Abreu Hitting Coach: Cesar Cedeño GCL Manager: Wladimir Sutil Pitching Coach: Jose Rada Hitting Coach: Luis Mateo DSL Blue Manager: TBD Pitching Coach: Rick Aponte Hitting Coaches: Evaristo Lantigua, Omar Rosario Other coach: Erik Acevedo Rojas DSL Orange Manager: Carlos Lugo Pitching Coaches: Gerardo Olivares, Darwin Peguero Hitting Coach: Rene Rojas Other coaches: Alejandro Martinez, Selin Aquino
Current projected opening day full season rosters: AAA: C Heineman 1B Reed 2B Kemp SS Brignac 3B Moran OF T. Hernandez OF Fisher OF P. Tucker DH White Bench: 1B Singleton, IF Mayfield, C Centeno, OF Aplin Rotation: Martes, Feliz, Paulino, Rodgers, Holmes, Yuhl Bullpen: Frias, Tolliver, Guduan, Jankowski, Hoyt, Gustave Inactive/released/etc.: Stassi, Woodward, Ballard, Garcia, Kemmer, Minnis, Cotton, Reifenhauser, Perez, Mortensen, West, McCurry AA: C Stubbs 1B Gregor 2B Tanielu SS A. Sierra 3B Davis OF Laureano OF Martin OF Ferguson DH Ritchie Bench: IF Nunez, C De Oleo, IF Hyde, OF Sewald Rotation: Thornton, Sneed, Armenteros, Deetz, Emanuel, Dykxhoorn, Smith, Bower Bullpen: Freeman, Deemes, Dorris, Peterson Inactive/etc.: Avea, McDonald, Wik, Ramsay, Ayarza, Boyd, Weathersby, Santos, Schmidt, Sandoval, Sims, Heredia, Comer, Thompson High A: C Hermelyn 1B McCall 2B Birk SS Trompiz 3B Cesar OF K. Tucker OF Straw OF Wrenn DH Muniz Bench: UT Duarte, IF Michelena, UT Mizell, C Correa Rotation: C. Sierra, E. Hernandez, J. Hernandez, James, F. Valdez, Quiala, Bostick, Radziewski Bullpen: Person, Garza, E. Chavez, Ferrell Inactive/etc.: R. Castro, Marlow, Wernes, Walter, Murphy, McCanna, Thome, Winkelman A: C Rogers 1B Goedert 2B Arauz SS M. Sierra 3B Franco OF Dawson OF Cameron OF S. Johnson DH T. Jones Bench: DeGoti, C. Robinson, Benedetti, Mejia Rotation: Whitley, F. Perez, H. Perez, Alcala, C. Perez, Saldana, Britton, P. Sandoval Bullpen: L. Ramirez, J. Robles, R. Castro, N. Hernandez Inactive/etc.: Roa, Porter, Whitt, J. Ferrell, Nelson, Kessay Notables in EST: Toro, Mauricio, Amador, LaRue, Javier, Adcock, L. Chavez, B. Abreu, H. Paulino Notables in DR: N. Rodriguez, Y. Alvarez, Cueta, E. Valdez, Nova, H. Martinez, Celestino, Rafael, Y. Ramirez, Macuare, Navas
Franklin Perez did really well in A ball last year. Why would they put him there again? Also don't see Alvarez, Valdez or Celestino repeating the year in the DSL.
There's a bit of a starting pitching logjam, especially at High A, so that's hard to predict. I don't expect Celestino and those guys to repeat DSL, that's why I typed DR instead; it's just that I don't expect them to come stateside until closer to the GCL opening day.
Really I see every team as pretty stacked, although there is slight weakness in the corner infield at the lower levels. But yeah, that AAA is pretty incredible. We will have to see how much any potential trades change this outlook.
Man I had really high hopes for Conrad Gregor after his year at Lancaster. But alas it was all a Lancaster illusion. Going into his fourth year at AA. Surprised he hasn't already been let go.
I guess this is the downer perspective but I look at the AAA club and don't immediately see a guy on an upward trend. Lots of guys who have varying success at AAA but all mediocre at the ML level. I could picture a year where several of those guys get called up and no one really impacts the big league club. Of course, single-handedly A.J Reed could prove me wrong.
Touche, i guess i was locked in on the lineup. Martes/Feliz/Paulino could make for some devastating series for opponents.
That's a bummer. He was kind of a sleeper prospect, and AA infielders look pretty thin. Unless Anibal Sierra is ready for AA they're looking at Nunez and Hyde as the SS/2B combo in Corpus.
