2012 Astros Minor League Thread

A player who hits 250+ and who can knows how to take a walk is very valuable.

A player who hit less than 250 better have a gold glove or he will have trouble making the team, regardless of ability to take a walk.

The further south a player goes from 250 the less likely that player is going to get walked, since pitchers will stop nibbling on the corners.

 

One person complained (2, my bad). He is in a slump, but the one nice thing about guys who a) take walks b) put the ball in play is that they are still contributing.

Nolan Fontana is 0-11 in his last 4 games, but has 6R, 3SB, 1RBI in that stretch.

 

Only 7? The Tri-City team is the all-star team.

 

That's called the championship team.

 

Presuming that said player can't hit a ball that's right down the middle.

I'd say its much more valuable to have a gifted "judge of the strike zone" who may not hit a ton vs. the "all or nothing" type hitter who strikes out in waves. This is also presuming that the guy with the good eye is not completely INEPT with the bat, which some are painting Fontana to be.

 

This is all I was saying. Better stuff + better command means that there will be less nibbling. He needs to continue his approach while hitting mistakes, plus waiting and working for "his pitch". He has not shown the ability to do that, in college or in his brief pro career.

He's a fascinating prospect to foillow.

 

Baseball America posted a link that Shows the prospects with the best tools at each league, and these are the Astros that made it (courtesy from Mike Fast, a commenter at The Crawfish Boxes who also happens to also work for the Astros Front Office)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/best-tools/2012/2613858.html

"Here are the Astros
PCL Best Defensive 3B: Matt Dominguez
East. Lg Best Strike-Zone Judgement: Robbie Grossman
Tex Lg Best Baserunner: Jonathan Villar
Tex Lg Best Infield Arm: Jonathan Villar
Cal Lg Best Defensive OF: George Springer
Sally Lg Fastest Baserunner: Delino Deshields Jr.
Sally Lg Best Baserunner: Delino Deshields Jr.
Sally Lg Best Changeup: Nick Tropeano"

 

Aaron West with another gem tonight.

How does he project? What is his ceiling?

 

Here's a post-draft blurb written by clack at the Crawfish Boxes

 

In the battle of the over 7 era starters, Paul Clemens lost the pitchers duel with Nick Maronde in Texas League action. Clemens actually put up one of his better recent lines: 6ip, 3h, 1r, 1er, 5k but Maronde has pitched a shutout through 6 ip so far. Arcenio Leon is in for the Hooks so Clemens is on the hook for the L.

 

Springer with a hideous night.........YUCK! I hate all these strikeouts!!!!!!!

 

I've pretty much written off this part of the season for the Jethawks batters. I got my evaluation through 400 ab's. Springer and Santana are K-prone but have shown they're ready for a higher competition level. They both need to learn to make adjustments at the TL; I don't believe they'll do it in Cali when they're hitting so well there.

 

2nd that for me, myself, and I.

 

Jorge? Cool beans.

 

I absolutely LOVE the fact that Luhnow is not afraid to mix things up with this club. He's thrown caution to the wind for the most part and is going to find out who the real players are in this system and will cut the ones who aren't.

Even though the big league club's record stinks, this is the best I've felt about the organization since 2006.

 

Anyone big left for a promotion? I don't think Santana gets promoted into the Corpus OF glut. DDJ is a possibility.