Greg Rajan, Hooks beat writer: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It was easier to get Kim Jong Il on the line than it is to get a roster for a certain Double-A ballclub right now. Why the state secret?</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/186505850112835584" data-datetime="2012-04-01T17:30:34+00:00">April 1, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> lulz
Lexington's 25 has been revealed. Thanks Farmstros! http://www.farmstros.blogspot.com/2012/03/lexington-legends.html Here's how I think the roster will shape up: Rotation: 1. Tropeano 2. Foltynewicz 3. Bushue 4. Dufek 5. Hallock Bullpen: Chowning, Cruz, Diaz, Dufek, Gouvea, Grills, Quevedo, Zuloaga Starters: C: Kvasnicka 1B: Johnson 2B: DeShields 3B: Duffy SS: Todd LF: Scott CF: Gominsky RF: King
Rotation is definitely solid, but that lineup will likely be the worst in the Sally. Most of the position players are basically late round organization filler. Springer skipped Lexington and no Houser/Armstrong. I would have expected Meredith and Davidson in Lexington.
DeShields and Kvnasnicka should be able to demolish the SAL repeating the league. If they don't show significant improvement though, DeShields will be a mid range grade C prospect and Kvasnicka will be a non-prospect.
Also, Bushue spending a third year in Lexington is a big vote of no-confidence by Luhnow's front office, not that I can blame them.
A few snafus though. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>There are 26 players on the @<a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks">cchooks</a> roster released by <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a>. That means somebody has to go to the DL or inactive list by Thursday.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/187212493934968832" data-datetime="2012-04-03T16:18:31+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The @<a href="https://twitter.com/okcredhawks">okcredhawks</a> roster still has two open spots that need filling</p>— Mike Tauser (@farmstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/farmstros/status/187211099408576512" data-datetime="2012-04-03T16:12:58+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> http://farmstros.blogspot.com/2012/04/seven-starters-in-lexington.html
A few names were left off from the rosters. Some understandable, some http://farmstros.blogspot.com/2012/04/ten-who-apparently-wont-be-on-roster.html <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lowest draft pick still in the system: Brian Streilein, 37th Rd pick in 2010</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/status/187231738177658880" data-datetime="2012-04-03T17:34:59+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> ^^ Not counting 2011 draftees, where Chris Epps (45) would be in this spot. Also, Chase Davidson (41) and Blake Ford (44) were lower than Streilein. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Only five players on the @<a href="https://twitter.com/okcredhawks">okcredhawks</a> roster were drafted by the Astros</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/status/187230613370183680" data-datetime="2012-04-03T17:30:31+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I can't imagine they'd think Ovando is a sunk cost this early. He must be one of the extended spring training peeps
The Tri-City ValleyCats, Greeneville Astros, GCL Astros and DSL Astros rosters still need to filled. Some of these players through merit and/or injury will make the jump this summer to Lexington.
Lancaster Rotation 1. Andrew Robinson 2. RJ Alaniz 3. Alex Sogard 4. Bobby Doran 5. Wes Musick Bullpen Clark, DeLeon (closer), Garcia, Grimmett, Martinez, Streilein, Trinidad, Urckfitz Batting Order 1. Dan Adamson- RF 2. Jio Mier- SS 3. George Springer- CF 4. Domingo Santana- LF 5. Telvin Nash- 1B 6. Rafael Valenzuela- DH 7. Jonathan Meyer- 3B 8. Enrique Hernandez- 2B 9. Ben Heath- C This has the potential to be the best lineup in the Cali League. I hope the pitching won't be as abused as last year. Robinson could be this year's Jake Buchanan, and Alaniz could be Jose Cisnero without the 6+ ERA. Corpus Rotation 1. Jarred Cosart 2. Brett Oberholtzer 3. Ross Seaton 4. Jose Cisnero 5. Jake Buchanan Bullpen Abreu, Aristil, Chapman, Hicks, Leon, Stoffel, Villar, Zeid Batting Order 1. Jonathan Villar- SS 2. Austin Wates- CF 3. Jonathan Singleton- 1B 4. Kody Hinze- DH 5. Adam Bailey- RF 6. Chris Wallace- C 7. Brandon Barnes- LF 8. Jordan Kreke- 3B 9. Jose Martinez- 2B This will be the most improved team in the system. Cosart and Oberholtzer could be on their way up by August. Cisnero is primed to break out after his escape from Lancaster. Singleton should be at 20 homers by his callup. Hope Wates shows a little more pop; not a bad debut, but a low .400s slugging percentage in Lancaster leaves a little more to be desired.
Astros County did a run down on how each minor league player got to the Astros: Where did these guys come from: Oklahoma City Where Did These Guys Come From: Corpus Where Did These Guys Come From: Lancaster Where Did These Guys Come From: Lexington
Some clarification on why some players were left off: we all know about Jay Austin's broken wrist from the Arizona Fall League (or not). He'll probably repeat Lancaster, but his window's damn near closed. Can you believe he'll be turning 22 this season? He's been around a while. Drafted at 17. Brandon Wikoff's been injured too. Did not know that. He might repeat Corpus and get moved up to OKC at some point. Reprising his role as the utility infielder. Vince Velasquez, Ariel Ovando, Adrian Houser? They're filed under the "understandable" folder. Jack Armstrong? Really thought he'd be in Lexington. Ditto for Chase Davidson, although I think he might be taking the Kody Hinze route: one stop at a time, unless he mashes.
Corpus rotation is pretty much set. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Per @<a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks">cchooks</a> manager Keith Bodie, Jarred Cosart will start Thursday's opener, followed by Ross Seaton and Jose Cisnero.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/187289008097853440" data-datetime="2012-04-03T21:22:33+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The turns for Jake Buchanan and Brett Oberholtzer will be determined based on their possible use in <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a> exhibitions today and tomorrow.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/187289158438486017" data-datetime="2012-04-03T21:23:09+00:00">April 3, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It's nice too see so many promising young prospects starting to fill out the farm teams, but still shows how much more there is to build. I like the Corpus squad alot and think they can really win some games.
So it looks like these guys will be in one of the short-season stops? What kind of spring did Armstrong have? Seems funny to me after all the talk by his dad and the wrangling to try and get him 1st round money. He doesn't even break camp on a team.
Seems to me like the Astros want to ensure that Armstrong is completely healthy before assigning him somewhere. The question then is whether he becomes a starter or a reliever.
It is not uncommon for draftees to spend their first full professional season in extended spring training followed by a short season minor league stint. Springer playing in AA in his first full season is the exception not the rule.
Armstrong also signed late and iirc only pitched a handful of innings last summer in the Astros minors. Other draftees signed early, got significant time in the short season leagues and made the low A Lexington team.
