Our farm system is ridiculously stacked right now. We know about the Folty's and Appels of the world. But when you just look at the stats there are so many guys pitching well, people like Mike Hauschild ,David Martinez and Jake Buchanan who aren't really even viewed as prospects. Not saying we have 15 future all stars, but you can easily see 10-15 pitchers who are worth noting.
And this is on the heels of the better part of the past 2 decades, where there were seemingly never more than one notable pitching prospect worth tracking at any given time in the entire system, and none of them were really huge upside guys: elarton, hirsch, patton, norris, lyles...
Kevin Ferguson was assigned to Greeneville from the GCL. Ferguson, a 22-year-old undrafted LHP from Northeastern, was 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA in 9 relief appearances in Kissimmee. In 11 innings, he allowed a run on 7 hits, walked 2, and struck out 9.
Monday Stories In a light slate, Josh Hader took the mound for the first time as a member of the Astros organization. And OKC looked to extend their win streak to 11. Recap Oklahoma City 6, Colorado Springs 2 The Redhawks' 11th straight win gave them a series win over the Sky Sox. After Colorado Springs took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd, OKC ran off 6 unanswered. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Tonight's game might've been won in 3rd inn. Trailed 1-0, but LeBlanc got out of bases loaded, 0 out jam. OKC took lead next inn. & won 6-2</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/statuses/364584749748076546">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Jonathan Singleton was 2-4, and both of his hits were doubles. The 2nd double came in the 4th and put the Redhawks in front 2-1. He and Jose Martinez drove in all but one of the runs. Martinez was 2-3 with a sac fly in the 4th and a couple of RBI singles in the 6th and the 8th. He also scored on a wild pitch in the 8th. Marwin Gonzalez was 2-4 with a double and 2 runs scored. He and Brandon Laird both scored twice. Wade LeBlanc tightroped out of almost certain disaster in the 3rd, as OKC announcer Alex Freedman tweeted above. He went 6 innings and allowed a run on 5 hits, walked 4, and struck out 5. Jorge De Leon threw 1 2/3 scoreless and allowed a hit and fanned 2. Science Guy got the final out of the 8th. Hector Ambriz allowed an unearned run on a hit and struck out 1 in the 9th. How about a dozen in a row? How about a sweep? Those would sound nice before they head out on a roadtrip. Paul Clemens will start the finale against Collin McHugh at 7:05. Corpus Christi was off The Hooks will begin a 3-game series against Northwest Arkansas at 7:05. The pitching matchup pits David Martinez against Kyle Zimmer, the Royals' top prospect. Lancaster was off The Jethawks hit the road. First up is 3 in Modesto beginning at 7:05 Pacific. Starters for both sides are TBA. Quad Cities 6, Cedar Rapids 2 The River Bandits jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and as Corpus announcer Mike Coffin would say, Josh Hader was in a rocking chair. And I would say that he was rocking rather comfortably. In his debut for the Astros organization, Hader threw 6 shutout innings, allowed a hit (double), and struck out 2. Jamaine Cotton threw the final 2 innings, and he allowed a consolation 2-run homer to Adam Brett Walker in the 9th. Cotton went 3 innings and allowed 2 other hits. The River Bandits jumped out to a 3-0 lead out of the gate. Rio Ruiz hit a 2-run single and Jobduan Morales had an RBI infield single. The River was 2-5. Morales was 2-4. Carlos Correa went 3-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI single in the 2nd. Morales stole home (1) as part of a double steal in the 3rd. In the 9th, Bobby Borchering grounded into an RBI force out. In his first game with QC, Tony Kemp went 2-4 with a double and scored a run. The series finale has Mark Appel going against Josue Montanez. First pitch is at 6:35. Tri-City was off The ValleyCats are home and will begin a 3-game series with Williamsport beginning at 7:00 Eastern. Randall Fant will take on Yacksel Rios. Greeneville was off The Appy Astros will begin a 3-game series in Bristol beginning at 7:00 Eastern. TBA will be opposed by Tyler Barnette. GCL Yankees1 3, GCL Astros 1 Agapito Barrios had a decent start, but the bats were largely silenced. The Kissimmee Stros' lone run came on an RBI single from Javaris Reynolds in the 6th. Alex Gonzalez was 1-4 with a double for their lone extra-base hit. Barrios allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 in 5 innings. Zach Dando went 2 1/3 and gave up an inherited unearned run on 3 hits, walked 1, and fanned 2. Juan Carlos Santos threw 1 2/3 and gave up a hit and fanned 2. They'll be back at it in Tampa at noon Eastern. DSL Astros 2, DSL Athletics 1 The Academy only mustered up 3 hits, but they also mustered up one more run. Both of their runs came in the 3rd. Luis Payano had an RBI reached on error, and Marlon Avea scored on a Kristian Trompiz GIDP. Elieser Hernandez went 5 innings and allowed a run on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Starlyng Sanchez got 2 outs in the 6th, allowing a hit, a walk, and striking out 1. Yonquelys Martinez got the final out of the 6th and then threw a 1-2-3 7th. Angel Heredia threw 2 scoreless and allowed 2 hits and fanned 3.
I'd really like to see at least some more doubles from Correa. Not that I'm complaining or anything...
Came across Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 prospects that was put out on July 8th. The 'Stros had the following on the list: 9) Carlos Correa 20) George Springer 22) Jonathan Singleton 31) Mike Foltynewicz 46) Lance McCullers jr
I get the feeling we are going to be losing a couple of guys in the Rule 5 draft. Lots of ML-ready talent. Just a matter if they are the real deal or not.
The top 40 guys not on the MLB 25 man roster will be getting a hard look at, leading into the Rule 5 draft. If any are MLB ready, they will be the first of the September callups.
And if we need to make room for some guys, there are a few on this list that I wouldn't mind seeing replaced.
This. It was so frustrating back in 2006 and 2007, when folks were losing their minds at the thought of losing "top prospects" Hirsh and Patton. The reality, of course, is that it's all relative to the system... and they just weren't good. Best of a bad bunch is still bad. Now, there are guys ranked near #20 in our system today that might be top 3 prospects elsewhere. Hopefully people remember that the next time we hear "but he's team X's top prospect!" thrown out there.
List of Rule 5 eligible guys (at the beginning of the season). http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/4/29/4282612/2013-rule-5-implications Of the guys we acquired, only Hoes has to be on the 40-man roster.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>One more ... Appel. Still think Cosart winds up as a closer. <a href="https://twitter.com/gwilley5">@gwilley5</a>: Cosart or Appel <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/statuses/364772740554690562">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yes. <a href="https://twitter.com/ARankin11">@arankin11</a>: If the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> draft Rodon, where would he fit in their system? Above Appel?</p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/statuses/364772265340055554">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Springer, higher ceiling. <a href="https://twitter.com/cselzer22">@cselzer22</a>: Better prospect: Springer or Polanco? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pirates&src=hash">#Pirates</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/statuses/364770790891200513">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Think you're looking 2014 more than 2013. <a href="https://twitter.com/CamHartman">@camhartman</a>:Timetable on call ups for Springer, Singleton, Appel? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23astros&src=hash">#astros</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/statuses/364770883589517312">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>If they don't, they're close. Haven't broken down systems recently, to be honest. <a href="https://twitter.com/LEXthePEX">@lexthepex</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> have deepest farm system in baseball?</p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/statuses/364764910216945664">August 6, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That is a pretty long list. Highlighted the ones I think may need protecting, which is way more than can possibly be protected. Luhnow will earn his paycheck on these decisions. C Carlos Perez - 22 C Rene Garcia - 23 C Max Stassi - 23 C Jobduan Morales - 21 C Ryan McCurdy - 25 1B Jonathan Singleton - 22 1B/3B Bobby Borchering - 22 1B/DH Erik Castro - 25 1B/DH Telvin Nash - 22 1B/DH Rafael Valenzuela - 25 2B Jose Martinez - 27 2B Enrique Hernandez - 22 IF Brandon Wikoff - 25 IF Andy Simunic - 27 SS Jiovanni Mier - 22 SS Ben Orloff - 25 3B Jonathan Meyer - 22 OF Domingo Santana - 20 OF Michael Burgess - 24 OF Austin Wates - 24 OF Marc Krauss - 25 RHP Asher Wojciechowski- 24 RHP Tanner Bushue - 22 RHP Bobby Doran - 24 RHP Matt Heidenreich - 22 RHP David Martinez - 25 RHP Jake Buchanan - 23 RHP Andrew Robinson - 25 RHP Carlos Quevedo - 23 RHP Josh Zeid - 26 RHP Jason Stoffel - 24 RHP Ruben Alaniz - 22 RHP Jorge De Leon - 25 RHP Kyle Weiland- 26 RHP Cameron Lamb - 23 LHP Wes Musick - 26 LHP Alex Sogard - 25 LHP Sergio Escalona - 28 LHP Eric Berger - 27 LHP Colt Cain - 22 LHP Kevin Chapman - 25 LHP Patrick Urckfitz - 24 LHP Luis Cruz - 22 LHP Tom Shirley - 24
Given the Astros' current glut of Rule 5 eligible prospects, should Jeff Luhnow be exploring any trades leading up to the Rule 5 Draft where he can package multiple good (but not top-25) prospects into a solid veteran? Perhaps a closer or set-up man (even if just to perpetuate Luhnow's "turn-a-closer-into-prospects" system)? I'm not sure how often something like that is done or if many teams have suffered the "good problem" of having TOO MANY prospects to protect in recent years.
This is exactly what I was thinking. How great would that be? We have some live bullpen arms proving that they can be difference makers, but trading for someone that can make a difference now over the off season with the purpose of making 40 man room... that would be fantastic.
I definitely think he will look to trade if he thinks he will lose somebody. Probably see people go for as little as cash only.
The question becomes can a solid veteran be had without inclusion of any top 25 prospects. Hopefully, the kind of vet were talking about here is not the Carter, Pena, Ankiel, Cedeno type.
At this point our system is so deep that I think the reality is that we lose at least one or two guys. Teams generally only use Rule 5 claims on guys who are close-ish to the Majors though, since you don't want to use a 40 man spot for a fringe-y guy. That said, I think all 3 of the catchers (Perez, Garcia, Stassi) are candidates to be picked, as well as the advanced pitchers (Stoffel, Chapman, Buchanan, Wojo, Martinez). Protecting Singleton should be a no brainer, and Krauss and Zeid are already on the 40 man. A guy like Domingo Santana is interesting, though. Still so young and raw that he wouldn't really fit on a team's 40-man roster, but definitely a sexy prospect.
