No, the system is moving away from the wind up and strictly to the stretch. There are some pitchers that have resisted or not been happy about it (Martes). At this point I don't think it is required, but they are pushing the idea of learning to pitch from the stretch.
Andrew Miller's career was saved by pitching only out of the stretch, Yu Darvish and Stephen Strasburg. Tim Lincecum started moving to only pitching out of the stretch. I think Noah Syndergaard does as well.
Patrick Sandoval @ Wisconsin last night: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 8 K Sandoval has 61 strikeouts in 47.2 innings across 3 levels this season. He's also only allowed 1 homer. Slowly, but surely, we're starting to see him get some good results. Daz Cameron went 3-5 with a double and a 2-run single. He's now slashing .268/.341/.462 on the year, getting him over the .800 OPS mark. In 49 games after the Midwest League All-Star game, Daz is slashing .339/.402/.561.
He is slowly digging himself out of the giant hole he dug in regards to him being an uber prospect. Hopefully he keeps it up.
How my "All 21 years and younger Astros Organzation" team is doing: (Player wRC+ Level Age) C: Toro 149 A 20 Papierski 112 A- 21 IF: Y Alvarez 118 A+ 20 Arauz 114 A- 19 Nova 134 DSL 17 Cueta 104 DSL 17 Matijevic 110 A- 21 M Sierra 62 A- 19 OF: Tucker 110 AA 20 Martin 121 AA 21 Cameron 121 A 20 Celestino 102 Rk 18 Payano 166 A 21
Pitchers (Player FIP Level Age): Whitley 0.73 AA 19 F Perez 2.73 AA 19 Bukauskas 3.46 A- 20 C Martin 1.87 A- 21 C Perez 13.82 AA 21 (was 3.13 in A+) H Perez 4.04 A+ 21 Solis 2.93 Rk 17 Javier 3.32 A 20 P Sandoval 3.34 A 20 Adcock 4.15 A+ 21 LaRue 2.12 A+ 21 Martes 3.92 MLB 21
Celestino is 18. He's going to be a big league regular, just a rock solid prospect that will continue to rise as he fills out.
Fixed. Truth be told, I wouldn't trade Celestino or Nova for Alvarez. Nova could end up being a superstar.
Yordan Alvarez went 2-3 for Buies Creek tonight; both hits were doubles. He now has 4 consecutive 2-hit games for the Carolina Stros.
The DSL Orange team had 1 hit across both games of their doubleheader against the Rays 2 yesterday. Sean Mendoza hit an RBI single in the first game, which was their lone hit in both games. They got no-hit in the second game, but managed to score two runs. Deury Carrasco scored their first run by stealing his way around the bases. He now has 29 stolen bases in 58 games this season. That figure is 2nd in the system only to Myles Straw, who's stolen 36 in almost twice as many games. Carrasco's also been caught 12 times, which is the most in the system. Carrasco is slashing .262/.411/.322 with 16 RBI in 238 plate appearances (183 at-bats) this season. He's walked 47 times while striking out 43.
