Apparently Carlos Correa had a double and a triple on the back fields today against major league pitching.
Villar continues to get a lot of playing time despite hitting very poorly. I wonder why they're pushing him so much this ST.
Lyles will be in the rotation (or on the DL). Keep in mind that Bedard hasn't pitched due to injury, and outside of Humber, all other rotation candidates have been terrible as well.
FWIW, he has a hit in 3 straight games, and he hasn't struck out in those same games. Lo should make the team out of ST.
Lyles has really disappointed me. He had such a dominant stretch through the minors there for a while I was hoping he would make it to the majors and be a really good #3 or solid #2 for a long time.
He's got the tools to be a good SS, no doubt. I just figured they'd be focusing on figuring the Gonzo, Greene, Elmore trio first. I'm 50/50 on Lo making the team out of ST. His ST stats are certainly very good but he hasn't pitched above HiA in two years. I haven't seen him on tape this spring but reports about his stuff have been solid.
Gonzalez and Greene have gotten plenty of time (and the team has a better idea of what they have in those 2). Elmore was playing every day, don't know what happened to him.
Lo's really impressed and definitely has a shot at making the Opening Day roster. However, OKC is a more likely destination for him. A back end of the pen consisting of Stoffel, Chapman, and Lo would be pretty stout there.
Brian McTaggart: First Cuts DeShields, Springer among Astros' first cuts Gone from Astros camp are: -Delino DeShields -George Springer -Marc Krauss -Jake Goebbert -Chris Wallace -Rudy Owens -Sam Demel <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Next round of <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> cuts will likely come Wednesday. There's a group of players added to roster this winter who can't be cut yet.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/310734949277917184">March 10, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
El Paso is building a downtown AAA stadium that will be the home to the Padres affiliate starting in 2014...
Andy Martino of New York Daily News is linking the Yankees to Carlos Pena/the Astros to fill one of their corner infield vacancies. Link
Asking price 3 bags of peanuts? I can somewhat buy into the role that Pena would be playing for the Astros team; as the token veteran to show all the kids on the team what it takes to be a professional ballplayer. For the Yankees however, I'm sure they can wait a few weeks for the roster cuts to find a veteran with some pop who can man a corner IF slot for the vets minimum salary until Tex gets back.
Would the Astros trade a free agent signee before opening day? Plenty of free agents signed to one year contracts get traded during the season, but off-hand I can't remember one getting traded before the season actually starts. Regardless, I'd be shocked if the four 1b/dh types on the roster (Carter, Pena, Wallace, Friedman) all make the 25 man roster. Something has to give.
If the Astros can pry away a C-/B+ prospect in the lower levels (Rk/LoA/HiA) that doesn't get in the way of the glut of pitchers at the higher levels then I say go for it. A Domingo Santana-esque lottery ticket. Otherwise they're pretty full of BOR-ceiling starters and second division regular-ceiling hitters at the upper levels.
If Luhnow acquires Carter early in the offseason, Pena does not even get signed by the Astros. With Pena on the team, Carter is being forced into the outfield, which in turn may force JD Martinez down to AAA. And Pena will be traded by the trade deadline to a contender. I see no reason that this can not get done now.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz @OrtizKicks Jim Crane says "we've been looking in this area," when asked about moving spring training to Palm Beach area. When asked if he's talked to Palm Beach officials, Crane had half smile and said, "we've been talking everybody that will listen."
