1) Signed a minor league deal, basically costing us nothing, so no possible harm 2) Provided a veteran presence during Spring Training 3) Weiland & maybe Harrell pitched Livan out. 4) He was insurance if somebody went down in ST, or if they found a trade partner for Wandy. 5) Luhnow didn't know what he had, since he is new to the organization, so he wanted something proven, until he could see with his own eyes.
Ed Wade never would have made this move, better or worse I like the confidence the FO has in the young arms.
Forgot to mention... it's a split-squad day with the Braves. The Braves send a team to Kissimmee, while the Astros send one to Disney World. And here are the lineups for both. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros home lineup vs. Braves: Bixler 2B, Sanchez SS, Buck RF, Martinez LF, Johnson 3B, Castro C, Downs 1B, Barnes CF, Norris P.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/185788914274021377" data-datetime="2012-03-30T18:01:43+00:00">March 30, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros lineup on ROAD vs. Braves: CF Shuck, 2B Altuve, RF Bogusevic, 1B Lee, 3B Wallace, C Snyder, LF Ruggiano, SS Gonzalez, P Weiland</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/185788961669656577" data-datetime="2012-03-30T18:01:54+00:00">March 30, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Also, a list of minor league guys that were moved up to travel with the team/help host the Braves. From the Astros website. I don't know where they'll be, but they were moved up. Crawfish Boxes has a running blog on the game. http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/3...uad-houston-astros-vs-atlanta-braves#comments
Lulz at the Astros broadcast. They said McCann is a very durable catcher when healthy. Great job Milo.
Astros split with the Braves, winning 5-1 at home and losing 3-1 away. Bud Norris went 6, allowing a run on 4 hits and struck out 3 without issuing a walk. Jarred Cosart pitched the 7th and allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, and struck out 1. Chris Johnson with 2 RBIs. At Disney World, looks like Kyle Weiland got the bare minimum quality start, allowing 5 hits, walking 1, and striking out 5. Chris Snyder homered for the only run.
Bogusevic is mostly likely our starting RF. Buck & Shuck are the leading candidates for the two backup OF spots.
Shuck is definitely the starter, he's a lot younger and has a much bigger future in the Astros organization. If he's not playing everyday he should be in AAA.
Unless Shuck happens to discover some power, which, going off his college and minors track record, is very highly unlikely, he'll be a 4th OF-type player, which is pretty much his status right now. I think he can supplant Schafer if he fails, though.
Pretty much this. He doesn't really need more time in the minors. He doesn't have the elite speed of a Michael Bourn to get away with having a lack of power, so he will never be a ML regular. He'll be good for our bench though.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros lead Yankees 3-2 on Justin Ruggiano's 1st HR of spring. He's played well lately trying to win an outfield spot.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/186146408695476224" data-datetime="2012-03-31T17:42:16+00:00">March 31, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Jordan Lyles on the mound today. Allowed 2 runs in the top of the 1st on a Mark Teixeira single and a Raul Ibanez groundout.
Jordan Lyles allowed 2 in the 1st, then 2 more in the 3rd off a Raul Ibanez single and a Francisco Cervelli sac fly. The 5th was where the wheels fell off, when he allowed 2 2-run homers to Robinson Cano and and Ibanez. Disappointing final outing from him. Here's his line: 4.2 IP, 11 H (2 HR), 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. And as I typed that, Carlos Lee sent one out. The Astros are still trailing 8-6.
R.J. Alaniz was moved up from the minors today. He gave up a homer to Dante Bichette on his very first pitch, but struck out the next 3 guys he faced. One of which was Bill Hall.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>After the home run, it was a great outing for Astros' R.J. Alaniz. 1 more hit and 5 strikeouts in 2 innings.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/186168860184035328" data-datetime="2012-03-31T19:11:29+00:00">March 31, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Speaking of Dante Bichette, he victimized Brandon Lyon on the first pitch for another homer. Lyon also served another one for Jose Gil.... who was the 9 hitter. Brandon Lyon had an alright spring, I'll give him that though. If he doesn't do anything of note by June, Luhnow should certainly consider cutting him loose.
Lyles, in all likelihood, probably pitched himself out of the Opening Day 25-man roster today. So we'll probably see Weiland and Harrell as the #4 and #5 starters, respectively. The bolded part is definitely worth noting. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp...tebook_id=27789000&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou
McTaggart's latest piece on Jed Lowrie does not sound encouraging at all. DL is a real possibility. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...31&content_id=27783958&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou
