I'm so ridiculously excited for the Astros going forward. We now have tons of pitching depth. We've got some very solid OF prospects with star potential. I'm hopeful at the deadline we can deal for some prospects for the left side of our infield, which is the only area I see as weak. Of course 3B and SS are historically hard to fill positions.
I think that problem can be remedied once Jonathan Villar can get back up to speed. Also, I like the progress that Jonathan Meyer has made at the plate in Lancaster. He should be the everyday 3B in Corpus by July, because he's essentially being blocked by non-prospects.
Stories of the Night What more needs to be said? Brett O roughed up again. T.J. Steele can go away now. And the Corpus Christi manager can go with him too. Who says you can't pitch in Lancaster? Wes Musick proves that you can, and you can do it well in the process. Kyle Hallock roughed up again. So was Tanner Bushue. I think Bushue seriously needs a break from baseball to A. get his mind right, or B. get his stuff back. Also... go away, Mike Kvasnicka. Recap OKC had a day off. They are set to begin a series with Round Rock. After an excellent start over the weekend, what would Brett Oberholtzer do in an encore? He got smacked around by Midland. In 5 1/3 innings, Obie allowed 7 runs on 11 hits (solo homer), and struck out 5. I guess the encouraging thing is that he didn't walk anyone. So, Corpus fell 9-3, with the only offense coming courtesy of a 2-run homer in the 6th from Chris Wallace and an 8th-inning solo shot from Kody Hinze. The homers were their 2nd of the season. Jonathan Singleton was tonight's left fielder and went 1-3 with a walk. T.J. Steele's future with the organization should be cast into further doubt as he went 0-4 with a K to drop his average to .128. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>After his pop-up to 2nd following Wallace's homer, T.J. Steele spotted kicking wall in @<a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks">cchooks</a> dugout. Nothing new here folks, move along.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/195330985133481986" data-datetime="2012-04-26T01:58:30+00:00">April 26, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> In a continuing bizarre theme, Lancaster's pitching was once again stellar as they knocked off Rancho Cucamonga 8-2. But first things first... if you haven't heard, Telvin Nash sent #9 out of the park in the 6th. What a show of force he's displayed. However, I believe he won't be going anywhere until he drops his K rate. At least he'll draw his share of walks. Nash has got to understand that even if it's the California League, he can't just approach every at-bat with the mindset that he's gonna send one out every time he steps up. Interestingly enough, he's only hitting .235/.366/.588 at home, driving himself in 4 times. He's batting .289/.372/.737 with 5 homers and 11 RBI on the road. Now, back to the game. George Springer's RBI single in the 1st opened the scoring. The Quakes made it a 3-2 game after the top of the 7th, but the Jethawks scored 5 in the bottom half to run away with the win. Jio Mier had an RBI single in the inning, his only hit of the game. He also drew 2 walks. Also occurring in the 7th was a 2-run single by Jonathan Meyer, and Rene Garcia singling home Domingo Santana and eventually scoring on an error that allowed George Springer to reach 1st safely. Santana singled and doubled in 3 at-bats, and drew a walk. It was also his 2nd straight game without striking out. Wes Musick did well, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits (solo homer) in 6 1/3, walking 2 and fanning 5. Jose Trinidad, Pat Urckfitz, and Andrew Robinson finished with 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief, combining for 4 Ks. In a game that started at 9:05 this morning, Lexington was thrashed by Charleston by a score of 9-4. The Legends scored 4 consolation runs in the 8th, as Jordan Scott had an RBI single, and Alex Todd cleared the bases with a double. Delino DeShields went 2-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. John Hinson made his season debut at 3rd base. Batting 7th, he went 0-4 with 2 Ks. Kyle Hallock's rough start to the season continued, as he was tagged for 6 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits in 4 innings. He walked 2, fanned 1, and induced 8 groundouts. Evan Grills was the first man out of the bullpen this morning, and in 3 innings, he allowed a run on 4 hits (solo homer) and struck out 2. If there are 2 guys in this system who have pretty much made themselves afterthoughts, it's got to be Mike Kvasnicka and Tanner Bushue. Kvasnicka went 0-4 with a hat trick and committed an error as part of a wacky double play to end the 4th. Here's what happened. Bushue was the next man up after Grills, and he finished the game. In 2 innings, he allowed 2 hits, both of which were back-to-back solo homers in the 8th. He also struck out 2. Third year in Lexington, so you would expect him to have a strong showing, right? Ehhhhh.... that's not really the case. Throw in the towel!!!!
I'm a little depressed at Jimmy Paredes' future since the move back to 2nd base. He may be better suited there defensively but with Altuve on fire and Deshields Jr. improving nicely, I see no future for Paredes at 2nd which is a shame because the guy is a freak athletically. 3rd base is still a big position lacking real prospects on the farm but I guess a bonus of moving to the A.L. is the DH....
He really isn't what you want at DH. I'd hate to trade a guy with that much talent, but I think it is what the team will ultimately do.
I'm afraid you may be right but I'm curious why they didn't look to try him at short, center or left? His speed and athleticism doesn't come around everyday so I hope they find a place for him!
Luhnow originally said he could play anywhere, so I'm sure he is still open to changing positions. If he could play SS, he'd probably have been put there from the beginning given the value of the position. I think they moved him back to 2B because of other roster positions being taken. He wasn't needed in the OF and the had a pretty good idea that Wallace would be playing 3B in OKC to see if he could handle the position.
Its crazy to imagine this possible line up in 2014 1. RF - Austin Wates 2. 2B - Jose Altuve 3. 1B - Jonathan Singleton 4. LF - JD Martinez 5. DH - Telvin Nash 6. C - Mike Zunino 7. CF - George Springer 8. 3B - Jonathan Meyer (or prospect from a Wandy Trade) 9. SS - Jonathan Villar Damn thats a ton of Jonathans!
Stories of the Night OKC pours it on Round Rock. A late homer gives Corpus a victory. A Lancaster pitcher could not have picked a worse time to give up his first runs of the season. Telvin Nash's homer numbers are gaudy, I get that. But after his 2nd hat-trick in 3 games, he needs to be reined in a little. Mike Foltynewicz looked alright. Not as dominant tonight, but still nice to see him continuing to pitch well. Recap OKC used an 8-run 3rd to demolish Round Rock 11-3. The big hit in the inning was a grand slam from Mike "Crash Davis" Hessman, his 2nd homer of the season. Preceding the grand slam: an RBI single from Fernando Martinez, a 2-run single from Scott Moore and a Justin Ruggiano RBI double. Martinez finished 3-5 with 2 runs scored and added a solo homer in the 4th, his 4th of the season. Ruggiano went 2-4, Moore went 2-5, and Brad Snyder was 3-3 with a solo homer in the 5th, his 1st. In another case of "he was probably left in there for too long," Henry Sosa allowed 5 runs on 8 hits (solo homer) in 6 2/3, walking 2 and fanning 4. He threw 113 pitches to get there. Sergio Perez and Xavier Cedeno finished with 2 1/3 scoreless. A Kody Hinze solo homer in the 7th proved to be the difference in a 5-4 Corpus victory over Midland. Before that, he had an RBI double in the 5th that brought Jonathan Singleton home. Singleton finished 1-4 with a double and an RBI groundout. Austin Wates went 3-5 with an RBI, and Chris Wallace went 1-3, driving in the other run. Jake Buchanan went 6 2/3, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, walking and striking out 3. Kevin Chapman and Jason Stoffel shut the door on the Rockhounds; Chapman got the victory, allowing 1 hit and fanning 2 in 1 1/3 innings, and Stoffel got his 2nd save, striking out 2. Representing the tying run, George Springer reached on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 9th (when he was the winning run) and stole 2nd. Unfortunately, he was left there when Erik Castro struck out to end a 5-4 Lancaster loss to Rancho Cucamonga in their series finale. They were unable to get the sweep. Castro sent one out in the 4th for his 4th. Enrique Hernandez had an RBI triple in the 2nd scoring Domingo Santana, then he added a solo shot in the 6th for his 1st of the year. Springer finished 1-5 with an RBI double. Telvin Nash had his 2nd hat trick in 3 games. The Jethawks got to Zach Lee, the Dodgers' top prospect, for 4 runs in his 6 IP, but were unable to muster anything else against the Quakes bullpen, which included leaving the bases loaded in the 8th. David Martinez was scheduled to start for Lancaster tonight, but missed due to a blister on his pitching hand. It'll most likely be the only start he will miss, though. Jorge De Leon was the starter in name only, as he went 2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 1. Not a good night for Lancaster pitching, as they issued 8 walks tonight. Brad Dydalewicz returned for his first meaningful action of the season, and he allowed a run on 2 hits in the 6th. He would have gotten the win had Hernandez's homer held up, but Kirk Clark picked a very inopportune time to give up his first 2 runs of the season. Rancho got to him for 2 runs in the top of the 8th. Trailing Charleston 2-0, Lexington broke out for 5 in the bottom of the 6th, and that 5-2 lead turned into a 5-2 win. Mike Foltynewicz didn't look too bad out there, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits (solo homer) in 5 2/3 innings of work. He walked 3 and struck out 4. Not as dominant as he was in his last 3 starts, but a solid start nonetheless. I'm extremely encouraged with the progress he's made so far. Zach Johnson's 2-run double tied the game, then Roberto Pena's sac fly gave the Legends the lead, and finally, RBI singles from Drew Muren and Delino DeShields provided the final margin. Jason Chowning got the win in relief, pitching 1 1/3 hitless innings, walking 2 and fanning 2. Dayan Diaz got the 2-inning save, allowing 1 hit and walking 1. Uncharacteristically, Diaz failed to record a strikeout. In my opinion, Dayan Diaz should be someone to watch as a fast-moving bullpen arm. He should definitely be in consideration once the first waves of promotions begin. On an unrelated note, but relevant to this series.... the Yankees have really stacked this Charleston roster. Take a look at it and you'll see what I mean. The Legends will look to earn a split, but it won't be easy, as the Riverdogs will be sending out Jose Campos, the other pitcher the Yankees got in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda deal. And Campos may be a week younger than I am (damn, he's 19 and is already being considered a top prospect, while I'm here typing this), but he is legit. Maybe his performance this season will offset the loss of Pineda somewhat. At least for this season, the Mariners look like they were the overwhelming winners in this trade.
Kind of like how they cornered the market on players with the last name "Rodriguez" last season. Several possibilities for a 2014 rotation: 1. Bud Norris 2. Jarred Cosart 3. Jordan Lyles 4. Paul Clemens 5. Dallas Keuchel 1. Lyles 2. Cosart 3. Clemens 4. Norris 5. Nick Tropeano (Keuchel in middle relief) (In this 3rd scenario [and 4th], Bud Norris was traded for prospects.) 1. Lyles 2. Cosart 3. Clemens 4. Brett Oberholtzer 5. Tropeano 1. Lyles 2. Cosart 3. Clemens 4. Oberholtzer 5. Keuchel (with Tropeano as a setup man)
Extended spring training. Probably means he's headed to Tri-City. Obviously, he's light years away from being a finished product, and I think the Astros trying to emphasize to him how important it is to stay on the field every day. He missed 24 games last year in Greeneville for various injuries. If he tears up Tri-City, I'd expect to see him in Lexington in the final week or two.
Maybe.... but he pitched will in his previous start, which was 5 days ago. Tonight was probably a blip in the radar.
