Speaking of Moran, he's on an 8-game hitting streak after going 2-4 tonight. One of those hits was a 2-run homer, his 6th of the year.
I figured that offense would be weak. Now with Cameron and Dawson struggling so bad it's pitiful. Need Almonte-Wrenn-Ayarza-Alvarez to be their 1-4 and carry the offense.
With Moran's speed he will likely carry a below average BABIP. But overall some really good signs out of him. Wouldn't be shocked to see him included as a secondary piece (or even the primary piece for a lefty reliever) at the deadline.
Ferguson is in the same boat Tyler White was coming up, as an older later round draft pick he's never going to get hype (or likely even an extended look in the majors) until he produces in AAA. Jon Kemmer has been in a similar situation, but unlike white there was no opening in Houston to give him an opportunity. Ferguson strikes out more than white but also has more power, I wonder what his defense is like.
He's slow, but he sprays the field and hits a lot of liners. If he carries a low BABIP, I'd expect it to be a lot closer to average than most guys his speed.
It'd be nice to get the walks down, but that's a solid enough outing. Down in BC, Tucker and Martin are both heating up. Tucker started solid, but he's picked it up -- current ranks: 3rd in OPS (1.029) 3rd in OBP (.410) 3rd in SLG (.619) T-6th in BA (.320) 1st in RBI (41) T-3rd in Triples (4) T-3rd in HR (8) T-3rd in steals (12) In May, Tucker is slashing .344/.456/.688 (1.143 OPS). Jason Martin is not too far behind in May, with a .343/.405/.686 slash line. Colin Moran spent a stint injured, but since coming back in May (8 games), he's got 3 HR in 29 AB, with a .379/.438/.793 for a blistering 1.231 OPS.
Haven't looked at the rosters, but if there's room then Martin should move up. He's had just about a full season of double A ball and he needs a bigger challenge. Tucker could probably move up based on performance but if he got a full half-season at A+ to let pitchers adjust to him and see how he responds that'd be reasonable too. For some reason, I've starting pulling for Moran. He's gone from unjustifiably hyped prospect with a reasonable path to the majors to post-hype scrapper who's retooling and improving while being completely blocked. I hope he gets another shot with the Astros. Most of the current crop of AAA/AAAA players seem like they could have 4-6 years careers as bench bats if they got the opportunity.
Tucker's last week has been weird. His GB% was in mid 20s last week and is now in mid 30s for the season. He basically went powerless after getting everything in the air earlier in the season, but it hasn't hurt him. His BB% is 16% and K% dropped to 3% over last 7 games leading to an OBP of 0.500.
I think the issue is that there's no room on the AAA roster. The OF in AA has plenty of potential to make room; Garcia and Boyd are non-prospects who can be released, and Ferguson (who is an older prospect) is ready for AAA. Laureano has struggled big time so he isn't going anywhere. This would be my full season OFs: AAA: Ferguson, Tucker, Teoscar/Fisher, Kemmer, Aplin. One of Teoscar/Fisher would be promoted or traded. Alternatively Kemmer or Aplin would be traded/released. AA: Laureano, Martin, Tucker, Garcia. Boyd would be released. High A: Straw, Porter, Sewald, Wrenn A: Cameron, Dawson, Benedetti, Alvarez. Alvarez can also play 1B/DH, with Almonte and Duarte getting some time in CF in addition to playing the infield.
Rodrigo Ayarza hit a 3-run homer in the 1st inning of Quad Cities' game in Kane County. It's his 6th of the year. It's also the first runs of the series for the River Bandits after they were shut out in the first three games. The smallest man on the River Bandits roster leads them in home runs. His previous career high in homers was 3 back in 2015.
What is the point trading Moran now especially when 1st base and 3rd base positions are well below average offensively. Moran's value has declined tremendously since he was drafted and now with adjustments he's finally hitting with power. We would be trading at a disadvantage. At least Reed would get a better return. I would rather bring up Moran if he continues his progress and play him at a corner infield. This assumes if either our corner infielders are still not producing.
He whacked a 2-run homer in the 9th, giving him 7 on the season. He had 7 home runs in 228 games prior to this season. Quad Cities won 15-8.
Colin Moran just homered again. 3-run shot is his 7th of the season and puts Fresno up 8-2 on Memphis in the 6th
I wonder which pitcher Houston could get for a package of Martes, Reed, Fisher, and Paulino. With Moran, Armenteros, Thornton, and Deetz breaking out (along with White and Teoscar still looking pretty good), those guys seem pretty expendable. AAA roster if they traded those 4: C Stassi, Centeno IF White, Kemp, Brignac, Moran, Mayfield OF Tucker, Kemmer, Teoscar, Aplin, Ferguson Rotation: Musgrove (at this rate he will be the odd man out if they add a pitcher), Thornton, Armenteros, Deetz, Hauschild Bullpen: Comer, Jankowski, Diaz, Tolliver, West, Guduan, Perez, Thompson
Paulino is another guy I wouldn't trade. He is a top 50 prospect if healthy but his repetitive dl stints have hurt his value and consider fragile. We are trading at a disadvantage again. At the very least he can impact as a reliever right away but still holding on hope he can stay healthy and start. Martes, Fisher, Reed are type of guys I would test the market. Reed's stock has lost some value but relatively more intact compared to some others. Guys like Paulino and Moran will not move the scale too much in deals because GMs will bring up so many more points against them. We will have to continue adding prospects to sweeten the deals to a point of diminishing returns.
First outing since coming off the DL. He's made a couple of stellar starts against his old organization in the Texas League. Ferguson also extended his hitting streak to 18 games. He's 2-2 with 3 walks and scored a run.
Your assumption in saying Houston is trading at a disadvantage is that either other teams aren't informed or Houston's front office is stupid. Other teams see Morans improvement. Other teams see how good Paulino is. If Luhnow suggests Moran/Paulino as a meaningful piece in a trade and the opposing GM mentions anything negative, then obviously there's not a match. But a smart opposing GM will acknowledge the prospects value and negotiate accordingly. So Houston is not trading at a disadvantage unless they allow it.
On Paulino, every team would bring up injury just as Astros would. Other teams will want to see him well for a while before giving him the benefit of the doubt. Astros either try to build back his value, keep him, or trade at a disadvantage. On Moran, Astros would not be at a disadvantage.
