Split-squad day. One team goes off to the Wide World of Sports to play the Braves, the others stay to host the Pirates. With varying results. The team facing the Braves is getting hammered. If you're wondering who went where, here are the lineups, courtesy of Brian McTaggart. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>While this one is 10-1 Braves, Astros' other half got strikeout, strikeout, strikeout debut inning from top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/183990249121263616" data-datetime="2012-03-25T18:54:28+00:00">March 25, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a> prospect Jarred Cosart struck out the side in-order in 6th inning.FB 96-97, curve for call third strike on Garrett Jones.Nice!</p>— Dave Raymond (@daveraymond4) <a href="https://twitter.com/daveraymond4/status/183989262331559936" data-datetime="2012-03-25T18:50:33+00:00">March 25, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Here's J.A. Happ's pitching line through 5 innings, and he's probably done: 9 h, 3 r, 3 er, 3 er, 3 bb, 1 k</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/183985004433514496" data-datetime="2012-03-25T18:33:37+00:00">March 25, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>That's two hits for Jair Jurrjens today. And one hit for the Astros today.</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/status/183987120120147970" data-datetime="2012-03-25T18:42:02+00:00">March 25, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Final line on Duke: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 10 ER, 2 BB, K. Three of the hits were home runs.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/183982129699500032" data-datetime="2012-03-25T18:22:12+00:00">March 25, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This spring has brought back my interest in the Astros, unfortunately its all directed towards the prospects. Thus far the prospects have been very exciting while most of the veterans (including those trying to make the team) have been duds. The big league team looks like its headed towards another 60win season. I can't wait to see the opening day minor league rosters. Cosart looks real good. Springer's had his moments. Anyone up for some preseason predictions? A little over/under action? Team wins: 66 Wins leader: 14 wins # of sub 4.00 era pitchers: 1.5 # of 20HR hitters: 1.5 # of .350 OBP hitters: 0.5
Bud's next appearance will be pushed back. They're not taking any chances here. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Bud Norris' start bumped 2 days to Friday. He's been dealing with triceps stiffness. Harrell will start Wednesday.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/184362990995390464" data-datetime="2012-03-26T19:35:37+00:00">March 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Also... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Nationals defeat the Astros 7-4 in Viera dropping the club to 11-12. CJ and Brandon Barnes homer.</p>— Brett Dolan (@Astrosradio) <a href="https://twitter.com/Astrosradio/status/184362301179174913" data-datetime="2012-03-26T19:32:52+00:00">March 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wins = under Wins leader = under (Wandy has best chance, but likely dealt) Sub 4 ERA = Over (Assuming you mean only starters, Wandy/Bud should be there, but IDK if Wandy counts if he is dealt) 20HR = Over (Lee will get there, but in another uni, CJ & Martinez make it, but barely) .350 OBP = Over (Martinez/Castro/Lowrie)
http://brianmctaggart.mlblogs.com/2012/03/27/astros-release-duke-cust/ Cust and Duke cut this morning. No real surprise...I'm happy to see the re-treads leaving and Luhnow continuing with the youth movement.
In addition to Duke and Cust, Luhnow's purge of the system is in full swing. http://whattheheckbobby.blogspot.com/2012/03/confirmation-on-todays-minor-league.html The release of Greenwalt and Torrence (who abandoned baseball and decided to play football at Ohio State) leaves Collin DeLome as the only player from the 2007 draft still in the Astros' system. Albert Cartwright, who is in the Phillies system, is the only other player from that draft class still in a major league organization. Gaston's release comes as not really surprising. He was going in reverse, and with the influx of talent in the outfield, he was bound to be a casualty.
Wasn't that long ago that Greenwalt was part of that great Lexington rotation (not top tier prospects, but effective at that level), and Gaston was crushing the ball in Lancaster.
I gt the feeling I could hit .280 at Lancaster. We have got to change that affiliate, we can't send our good pitchers there, and it grossly inflates a players numbers.
agreed. good to see that you actually have to perform to make the team. i don't expect j.a. happ to make it too far into the season.
Agreed. Though, it remains to be seen whether we can send good pitchers there, because we haven't any to send. Lyles was the one good pitching prospect since Lancaster took over A+ responsibilities from Salem and he skipped it. All that can be said is that mid-level/crappy pitching prospects get destroyed there. The one positive thing you can say about Lancaster is that if hitters can't hit there, its a very bad sign.
If he could just throw strikes down in the zone, he'd be ok. But he tries to nibble, nibble, nibble, then bang....3 run homer. Hopefully he pitches well enough to be flipped for a prospect or 2 come trade deadline (and open up a spot in the rotation for Lyles and/or Clemens).
But could you hit 35 homers? Yeah, we need a new affiliate. We could really use a team in Macon, GA... It would never happen, but I'd love to have a local minor league team again (used to be the Braves A-ball team). Go into the FSL or Carolina League.
Lucas Harrell with a very solid start today. 5IP, 0 er, 3 h, 0 bb, 11 ground ball outs. 0 k's though. His era dropped to 2.16. Quietly having a very nice spring. Also, I don't care if it's spring training, I love any time the Astros kick carlos zambrano's ass.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros reassign Sanchez, Moore, Bixler to minor league camp. Del Rosario optioned, Thurston released.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/184978778366291970" data-datetime="2012-03-28T12:22:32+00:00">March 28, 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/search/%2523Nats">#Nats</a> signed LHP Zach Duke to a Minor League deal today. He most likely will start the season with Triple A Syacuse.<a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523MLB">#MLB</a></p>— William Ladson (@washingnats) <a href="https://twitter.com/washingnats/status/185446562208559104" data-datetime="2012-03-29T19:21:20+00:00">March 29, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> And, um.... Jed Lowrie got hurt again. http://brianmctaggart.mlblogs.com/2012/03/29/lowrie-awaiting-mri-results-on-thumb/
