[SPLASH] Astros sign five to minor league contracts

[rikesh316]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp...=.jsp&c_id=hou

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced today that the club has signed five players: right-handed pitchers Dave Borkowski and Steve Sparks; and infielders Danny Klassen, Eric Munson and Kevin Orie to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim Purpura.
Borkowski, 28, went 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA (88ER/182.2IP) in 29 games (28 starts) with Triple-A Ottawa in 2005. He struck out 104 batters while walking 38. In 51 Major League games (21 starts) with Detroit (1999-2001) and Baltimore (2004), Borkowski is 5-13 with a 6.33 ERA (118ER/167.2IP).

Forty-year-old Sparks is a resident of Sugar Land, TX who was a combined 7-5 with a 5.92 ERA (55ER/83.2IP) with Triple A Portland and Triple A Sacramento in 2005. He appeared in 15 games (14 starts), walked 32 and struck out 40. Over nine Major League seasons with Milwaukee (1995-96), the Angels (1998-99), Detroit (2000-03), Oakland (2003) and Arizona (2004), Sparks has compiled a 59-76 record with a 4.88 ERA (716ER/1319.2IP) in 270 games. He has made 182 starts and converted three of five save opportunities. Sparks has 658 career strikeouts and has walked 520.

Klassen, 30, played in 88 games with Triple-A Round Rock in 2005 and led the Express with a .319 average (109x342). He hit 15 home runs and collected 53 RBI. In 85 career Major League games with Arizona (1998-2000, '02) and Detroit (2003), Klassen has hit .226 (59x261) with six homers and 23 RBI.

The 28-year-old Munson played in 11 games for Tampa Bay last season and hit .167 (3x18) with two RBI. In 100 games for Triple-A Durham in 2005, he batted .285 (109x382) with 25 home runs and 71 RBI. Munson has hit .214 (167x782) in 257 career Major League games with Detroit (2000-04) and the Devil Rays (2005), including 40 home runs and 113 RBI.

Orie, 33, hit a combined .352 (123x349) with 20 home runs and 89 RBI in 113 games between Triple-A Nashville and Triple-A New Orleans in 2005. In parts of four Major League seasons with the Cubs (1997-98, 2002) and Florida (1998-99), he has batted .249 (253x1015) with 22 homers, 64 doubles and 116 RBI.

[Roxfan73]

Last year's scouting report on Munson (another USC guy):

Scouting Report



2004 Season

There were moments when Eric Munson was brilliant. He hit a 457-foot home run to straightaway center field at Comerica Park to win a June game against Arizona. He also turned on a Johan Santana fastball, driving a two-run homer to right in a 2-0 victory over Minnesota in July. Those moments were few and far between. Mostly Munson slumped. He lost his starting third-base spot to Brandon Inge and was bypassed on the depth chart at first base by Carlos Pena.



Hitting, Baserunning & Defense

Munson is a mystery. He has an exceptionally quick bat and extraordinary power. But his plate coverage is poor. He swings at too many bad pitches and does not take the ball to the opposite field enough. A catcher in college at USC, Munson is a below-average fielder. His range is lacking at both corner infield positions. His arm is erratic, and he is a slow runner.



2005 Outlook

A lot of people have waited a long time for Munson, the third overall pick in the 1999 draft, to break loose. It simply has not happened. He offers little defensively, so he has to hit to be in the lineup. So far, he has not hit, so his future is uncertain.

[rikesh316]

Munson is an intriguing talent. 3rd overall pick in 1999 draft out of USC, he really doesn't have a postion. He does have a lot of power and his numbers show it but he strikes out a lot and has a low batting average. He has 40 homers in 782 AB. Purpura has said the Danny Klassen has a good chance to make the team because he can play any position on the field and some pop. He would have been a September call-up this year but he got injured.

[NJRocket]

sigh

[Rocketman95]

Originally Posted by NJRocket sigh

BTW, you didn't move offices or anything did you? I swear we're going to have that liquid lunch soon!!

[NJRocket]

Originally Posted by Rocketman95 BTW, you didn't move offices or anything did you? I swear we're going to have that liquid lunch soon!!

hey man....i did...i changed companies....I moved down the road a bit (closer to Berry Hill)....i dont start the new gig until Jan so any day next week is cool for lunch....email me at the aol email or blackberry and let me know a day that works

[Franchise2001]

We got Munsoned

[Rocketman95]

Originally Posted by NJRocket hey man....i did...i changed companies....I moved down the road a bit (closer to Berry Hill)....i dont start the new gig until Jan so any day next week is cool for lunch....email me at the aol email or blackberry and let me know a day that works

Anyday works for me.

Man, this week would've been perfect with nearly the entire office out.

Sorry to derail.

[leroy]

I saw Klassen play a lot this past season in Round Rock. He is a solid defensive player and seems to be a good hitter. He can hit it our, but is more of a doubles type. If I remember correctly, he will hit it to all fields. He played a majority at 3rd, but I also saw him at 2B and SS. He's got a good arm and decent range.

I have also read recently that the Astros broughtt Brandon Puffer back with a minor league deal. He most likely be in AAA this season.

[Xenon]

Uhh...no comment.

[jopatmc]

Bwahahahahahahaha

Sparks, 40 years old.

Yeah, there's a keeper. Does he have pictures?

[Austin70]

Steve Sparks, Wally Sparks............whatever.

[Surfguy]

Originally Posted by jopatmc Bwahahahahahahaha Sparks, 40 years old. Yeah, there's a keeper. Does he have pictures?

[Ottomaton]

I actually kind of like Sparks. It's always entertaining to watch the knuckleball and when you're throwing 50mph knuckleballs at 30 years old you're not going to loose a whole lot when you're only throwing 50mph at 40+ years old.

I am kind of interested as to why we signed 3 AAA thirdbasemen in Orie, Munson, and Klassen.

[Hakeem06]

looks like our BIG offseason moves......

[jopatmc]

Originally Posted by Ottomaton I actually kind of like Sparks. It's always entertaining to watch the knuckleball and when you're throwing 50mph knuckleballs at 30 years old you're not going to loose a whole lot when you're only throwing 50mph at 40+ years old. I am kind of interested as to why we signed 3 AAA thirdbasemen in Orie, Munson, and Klassen.

Is he left handed? That's what we need......a 40 year old left handed, knuckleballer. LOL Bring him up and put him in the fifth slot and let him drive the hitters crazy. Sounds like a movie in the making....er...has it already been made?

BTW, I was wondering if he had pictures of Drayton.

[thewaterox]

Originally Posted by Franchise2001 We got Munsoned

Good one! :D :D