Some background info on Reynolds.... He'll turn 25 on May 5. He was drafted by the Angels in the 6th round in 2009 out of Durango High School in Las Vegas. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers from the Angels on the 7th, but DFA'd him on the 18th.
I think he has a lot of ability. However he has a lot to overcome. He has admitted he did not work hard in high school or the lower minors. He also has family issues and is battling addiction to multiple substances. Expecting him to overcome all of those issues and hit major league pitching is probably a real stretch. I would love for him to surprise everyone and hit 35-40 homers with a 370 OBP like he is probably capable of.... but he is running out of time.
Sure. But I think the far more salient point is the K/9 rate at AA than the BB/9 rate in rookie ball. If y'all are hoping his BB/9 rate goes back under 2.00, then good luck. If he could maintain a >4 K/BB ratio throughout the minors he'd be a starter in the majors already, not a waiver claim minor league reliever. I think the hope is that his 2015 season was a blip on the radar and his true talent level is closer to 2014. His 2014 numbers in the Texas league were actually very good: 3.4 BB/9 and a 9.2 K/9 for a 2.73 K/BB ratio. If you're telling me that there's a plus-plus velocity fastball underlying those numbers, that's a very intriguing pitcher. A free pitcher no less.
Also K/BB is a skewed statistic when the BB/9 is abnormally low. Brady Rodgers has consistently had walk rates under 2.0 for most of his minor league career which produced K/BBs over 4.0. The flip side is that his career minor league strikeout rate has been under 7 K/9. Rodgers is not an elite prospect by any means.
I just think expectations are unrealistic... he really never had a dominating minor league season, OPS wise. He wasn't as good as the player he was traded for (Pence) if you compare their minor league careers. Add in the off the field stuff, and I agree its going to be a real stretch (especially on a team that has little to no room to experiment anymore). I don't think this will be his last chance in baseball... but its probably his last chance with the Astros.
Did you just ignore the first part of my statement where I said if he's hitting. If he struggles he's done, but if he's being productive the team is gonna give him a longer leash. He's younger, team controlled longer, and can competently play a position on the field. Gattis is extremely replaceable production given how little else he does. Reed is coming up and is gonna get a look one way or the other.
Definitely agree. Just was saying what he meant. I prefer K%-BB%, but below AA it is more just more for a follow list as K% is the more important component at lower levels.
I just don't see where Singleton has earned or is entitled to be gifted that chance. Everybody's in ultimate wishful thinking mode on him...meanwhile guys who have actually shown the ability to not be a walking corpse against major league pitching are deemed "extremely replaceable."
He's still young and he's done enough to warrant ABs on a short leash. It doesn't cost much to try him especially considering he's likely just keeping bench warm for Reed or White. Someone takes those ABs or he loses them again is to be seen. Some guys need 2 or 3 three attempts before sticking.
Has he really done enough though? I'd just as readily say that a guy like Matt Duffy, or even Reed/White themselves warrant all those AB's over Singleton right now. Had he not signed the contract, its still a stretch to say he'd deserve the opportunities he's already gotten, and his place on the 40-man. Perhaps... but most of those guys show more glimmers, and less flails, than Singleton has in his 350+ major league AB's. Again, its wishful thinking...
Reed and White will get every opportunity Singleton has/will. 400 and something MLB ABs just isn't enough to say Singleton has exhausted all his chances..though he is getting close. I expect by all star break Singleton plays well enough to be traded away for a AA reliever w/o cash, but not well enough to hold off Reed and/or White.
I hope that the best performer at first during ST gets the job. But is Singleton getting JD Martinez close? /snark Based on what I have seen, I boldly predict that Duffy or White wins the starting first job.
Players develop at theit own pace. Can't keep them all, but I believe Astros gave him more time than they have Singleton at this point.
My take is that Singleton was promoted before he was ready (and much sooner, with less minor league production, than they've promoted most of their prospects)... but he signed the contract, so there was really no harm (in service time reasons) in promoting him. But he never deserved that promotion, and hasn't lived up to that contract.... and only blind speculation can confirm if the contract has hindered his development or he simply was who he was and they mis-judged his potential thus far (sorta like they did with Grossman when they offered him the deal too). At this point, they need to be putting the best team out there... and there's nothing to suggest that Singleton deserves more AB's over Reed/White other than the fact that he's already undeservedly on the 40 man roster. I'd actually favor Duffy to get those AB's.
Fact is, none of those guys have don anything to "deserve" the 1B job. All have potential though. There are enough of them to just have a full blown open competition in spring training and see who wins Can't see Reed up before super 2 though
"Report: Astros to Sign Cuban Pitcher Carlos Sierra" via @TeamStream http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/astros-sign-cuban-pitcher-carlos-sierra.html …
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: Cuban RHP Carlos Sierra agreed to a deal with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a>. Sierra is subject to int'l signing rules. Background: <a href="https://t.co/mSYP79BF4N">https://t.co/mSYP79BF4N</a></p>— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/680115168743849984">December 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carlos Sierra not looked at as a major pick-up but Astros are high on him. He’s 21, four-pitch mix, lot of strikes. Not big money.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/680125519652872192">December 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Reed, White and Duffy have hit very well in the minors (better than Singleton). Duffy didn't embarrass himself in the majors either. Singleton has had an opportunity.... not an extended one, but at the same time he's done nothing to be entitled to that. Don't think teams will be worrying as much about super 2 deadline as its likely going away when next year's CBA is re-done.
I also don't think the team is in a position to worry about Super 2 now. Not when you start the season as a WS contender and are putting your team together as such. I think they'll wait out the 20 days or whatever, but that's all they can really afford. (Unless Singleton/whoever is blowing it up at 1B and DH)
Astros now have the 18th pick in Amateur draft. Dave Murphy sign with Nationals, so Nationals surrender their 17th pick
