At the time he posted that message he had allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 2 innings. Based on that, yes it was pretty bad. He settled in nicely though
Domingo Santana is starting to get to some big numbers, currently sporting a .303/.382/.505 line. .823 OPS in April .899 OPS in May .941 OPS in June Given the complete lack of production from LF, there's really no reason he should be in AAA much longer.
Damn close to a "quality" start for Appel. Eagerly awaiting the following fact free comments ... Spoiler The three hits Appel gave up were home runs to a player who suspiciously looked like Kris Bryant. Spoiler Luhnow is brain dead for not bringing up Appel to spot start for Keuchel, since Appel is *now* so obviously ready for The Bigs.
Domingo Santana's spray chart: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> 21 year old prospect Domingo Santana is flashing serious opposite field power. 13 HRs at AAA batting .303 <a href="http://t.co/lCwsTQEuZx">pic.twitter.com/lCwsTQEuZx</a></p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/statuses/482877688193884160">June 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wow, he goes oppo quite a bit. Nice. AND still just 21 years old. I wouldn't be completely upset if he didn't get called up this season, as long as he keeps developing like he has been. Never thought he'd have an avg. around .300.
The Lancaster Effect: At A+ Lancaster, Chan Moon has 17 ABs with 6 hits, 2 of which were home runs. At A- Quad Cities, Chan had 233 ABs with 65 hits, 2 of which were home runs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Couple power arms on the mound here today. Burlington's Yunior Marte up to 94 in the first, Greeneville's Jose Montero up to 95.</p>— Nathaniel Stoltz (@stoltz_baseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/stoltz_baseball/statuses/483024630052319233">June 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nathaniel Stoltz is taking in another Greeneville game. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Greeneville's Josh James working 91-93, inconsistent CH 80-85 flashes around average.</p>— Nathaniel Stoltz (@stoltz_baseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/stoltz_baseball/statuses/483047279067398144">June 29, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kyle Smith came in and pitched 3 innings after Shirley and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits (1Hr) and a walk while striking out 6. Not too bad.
Conrad Gregor loves him some California, now hitting .400 at Lancaster .400/.475/.686. They need to go ahead and move him on to CC and stop wasting time. Unfortunately the Lancaster effect is starting to do it's work on the pitchers. Aside from super Hader, every single pitcher has a a terrible ERA over the last month. There are no success stories there, only pitchers that don't stay long enough for the park to own his a$$. It really only make Hader's season that much more impressive.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Cal League’s longest hitting streak this yr belongs to <a href="https://twitter.com/conradgregor55">@conradgregor55</a>. Extends to 17 with 3-run 2B. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JetHawks?src=hash">#JetHawks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasondschwartz/statuses/483415018176663552">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Luhnow's concerned with adding more swing and miss to the ML lineup. Roster construction is not Santana's fault but its pretty inarguable that adding another TTO hitter would make the lineup extremely prone to droughts. His slash line is great, well above what I expected given his stat line last year. But he's not dominating the league. Springer left no doubt he was ready for a call-up. I think he could still benefit from more AAA time. Making adjustments as pitchers get better scouting reports, cutting down K's, improving his BB%. I think if you call up Santana now you get another Mendoza line hitter with flashes of power, e.g Chris Carter. This Fangraphs article is probably still valid. Hopefully a baseball writer will go and lay eyes on him again and update the scouting report.
With all the talk of Lancaster's effects, I took a look at how it has affected our pitching prospects that are there or been through there. Folty's ERA - 3.06 before, 3.81 at Lancaster, 2.87 at AA. about 20% affect McCullers ERA - 3.18 to 4.58, roughly 50% increase Velasquez ERA - 3.19 to 4.01 (small sample size cause he keeps getting hurt) I don't doubt overall effect of the park. But it's not like it's death to pitching prospects. Probably destroys pitchers that don't rely on strikeouts. But then again, if you can't even get Ks in A+ ball, then you're not really a prospect anyway. I say keep Appel there. MMP is a hitters friendly park. Might as well learn early how to keep the ball from being launched.
