A look at the full-season minor league affiliates Sometimes it feels like a broken record: The Major-League team is God-awful. BUT DON'T FRET! THE SYSTEM IS REALLY GOOD. And while we try to contextualize that from time to time, it's appropriate to look at just how good they are. Farmstros has noted that 2013 is the first time since 2001 that the Astros have had six affiliates make the playoffs. But if we take a narrower look at the system, we see that the 2013 Astros organization has now hit Legendary status as all four of their minor-league full season affiliates have recorded 80 wins. Let's put this in context with the Top 20 teams in full-season Minor-League Baseball (by winning percentage): 1. Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low-A Minnesota): 88-50 (.638) 2. Binghamton Mets (Double-A NY Mets): 86-55 (.610) 3. Durham Bulls (Triple-A Tampa Bay): 87-57 (.604) 4. Potomac Nationals (High-A Washington): 84-55 (.604) 5. Augusta Greenjackets (Low-A San Francisco): 82-55 (.599) 6. Daytona Cubs (High-A Chicago): 75-51 (.595) 7. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low-A Tampa Bay): 82-56 (.594) 8. Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A Houston): 83-57 (.593) 8. San Jose Giants (High-A San Francisco): 83-57 (.593) 10. Quad Cities River Bandits (Low-A Houston): 81-57 (.587) 11. Lancaster JetHawks (High-A Houston): 82-58 (.586) 11. West Virginia Power (Low-A Pittsburgh): 82-58 (.586) 13. Fort Myers Miracle (High-A Minnesota): 79-56 (.585) 14. Hagerstown Suns (Low-A Washington): 80-57 (.584) 15. South Bend Silver Hawks (Low-A Arizona): 81-58 (.583) 16. Oklahoma City RedHawks (Triple-A Houston): 82-62 (.569) 17. Mobile Bay Bears (Double-A Arizona): 79-60 (.568) 18. Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A NY Mets): 81-63 (.563) 19. San Antonio Missions (Double-A San Diego): 78-61 (.561) 20. Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A Boston) 80-63 (.559) Organizations with no teams at 80+ wins: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado, Detroit, Kansas City, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Miami, Milwaukee, NY Yankees, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, Texas, Toronto Organizations with one team at 80+ wins: Arizona, Boston, Minnesota Organizations with two teams at 80+ wins: NY Mets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Washington Organizations with three teams at 80+ wins: Organizations with all four teams at 80+ wins: Houston So you can get an idea of just how the full-season affiliates shake out from the above list, but to put them in order of winning percentage: Houston: 328-234 (.584) NY Mets: 315-239 (.569) Minnesota: 310-249 (.555) Tampa Bay: 307-247 (.554) Washington: 307-255 (.546) San Francisco: 303-259 (.539) Arizona: 297-265 (.528) Texas: 296-266 (.527) San Diego: 288-274 (.512) Oakland: 287-276 (.510) Pittsburgh: 282-278 (.504) Miami: 278-276 (.502) Chicago Cubs: 272-271 (.501) Atlanta: 278-283 (.496) LA Angels: 276-281 (.496) NY Yankees: 275-284 (.492) Colorado: 273-284 (.490) Boston: 275-287 (.489) Chicago White Sox: 274-286 (.489) Detroit: 270-287 (.485) Seattle: 269-289 (.482) Toronto: 266-288 (.480) St. Louis: 265-289 (.478) LA Dodgers: 267-295 (.475) Baltimore: 263-298 (.469) Kansas City: 260-302 (.463) Philadelphia: 257-300 (.461) Cleveland: 250-312 (.445) Cincinnati: 248-313 (.442) Milwaukee: 241-310 (.437) So, have at it.
Makes sense. PTBNL had to be named by September 15th, which is most likely the end of the minor league playoffs. If the PTBNL is not on a playoff team, the trade could be completed asap. I wonder if Luhnow would then turn around and drop the PTBNL on one of the Astros minor league playoff teams.
Tri-City wins the NYPL Stedler Division and clinches a playoff berth. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Six Astros affiliates made the playoffs in 2013. Six Astros affiliates made the playoffs from 2007-2012. Total.</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/statuses/375059364521852928">September 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tuesday Stories One final ticket punched. Win or go home! Recap Tri-City 6, Brooklyn 3 The ValleyCats simply did what they needed to do: win and they're in. James Ramsay doubled to lead off the bottom of the 1st and scored the first run of the game on a Tyler White single. Ryan Dineen got on with a single and scored the other run in the 1st on an error. In the 2nd, Jake Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning, and then he made his journey around the bases before scoring on a wild pitch. White and Conrad Gregor found themselves on base in the 3rd when Ronnie Mitchell sent them both home with a triple. Mitchell didn't score, though, as he got erased at home on a fielder's choice. Instead, Brett Booth, who got plunked, scored the 3rd run of the 3rd when he came home on a sac fly from Chan-Jong Moon. Mitchell and White both went 2-4. Evan Grills was solid in his 6 innings, as he allowed 2 runs (both in the 2nd) on 5 hits and fanned 8. Kevin Comer got 2 outs in the 7th and allowed a solo homer to Matt Oberste. He allowed another hit, walked 1, and struck out 1. Tyler Brunnemann got the final out of the 7th and the first out of the 8th, allowing a hit and walking 1. And Gonzalo Sanudo continues to mow everyone down, as he closed out with 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out 3. He has a 51:4 K:BB ratio across 3 levels this season. Thanks, Mike Kvasnicka? In the ValleyCats' regular-season finale, Troy Scribner will take on Miller Diaz. First pitch is at 6:00 Eastern. Appalachian League Playoffs: West Division Finals, Game 3: Greeneville 7, Kingsport 3 Greeneville's goin' to the 'ship!!!!!! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/GvilleAstros">@GvilleAstros</a> don't quit, man. 7-3 comeback win, on to the finals!</p>— Oz Ocampo (@OzOcampo) <a href="https://twitter.com/OzOcampo/statuses/375082684667920384">September 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The Appy Astros put up 5 in the top of the 9th to move on to the Appalachian League Championship Series. Frederick Tiburcio pitched valiantly for 6 innings, as he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7. Sebastian Kessay went 1 1/3 and allowed an unearned run on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1. Raul Rivera finished it with 1 2/3 scoreless, allowing a hit and striking out 1. Down 2-0 in the 7th, Chase McDonald started the rally with a double to lead off the inning. He scored Greeneville's first run of the game on an Angel Ibañez single. After Ariel Ovando walked and Thomas Lindauer was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Brett Phillips drew a walk to tie the game at 2. In the bottom of the 8th, Kessay walked Yeixon Ruiz to lead it off. Then an errant pickoff throw put Ruiz on 3rd, and a sac fly from Jeff McNeil gave them a 3-2 lead. Ibañez was the first out of the 9th inning when he grounded out. Ariel Ovando followed with a double, and Marc Wik came in to pinch-run. Thomas Lindauer struck out for the 2nd out..... and it all came down to Brett Phillips. Down 0-2, he ripped the game-tying RBI double. Then, after Tanner Mathis was intentionally walked, Juan Santana put the Appy Astros in front by spraying a 2-2 pitch into right field to bring Phillips home. Edwin Gomez joined in with an RBI single to make it 5-3, and then McDonald delivered the haymaker in the form of a 2-run double. McDonald finished 3-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Phillips, in the 9 spot, was 2-3. Brian Holberton was 2-5. In the Appalachian League Championship Series, Greeneville will take on Pulaski. The best-of-3 begins tomorrow in Greeneville.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>MiLB playoff fever! Four Astros playoff teams in action tonight: Omaha at OKC San Antonio at CC Cedar Rapids at QC Pulaski at GVL</p>— Jeff Luhnow (@jluhnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow/statuses/375261918526574592">September 4, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
WTHB: A few playoff roster moves Chris Epps to OKC from Lancaster Austin Elkins placed on DL, Luis Reynoso to Quad Cities from Greeneville
Wednesday's Story PLAYOFFS?????? Recap Pacific Coast League American Conference Championship Series, Game 1: Omaha 3, Oklahoma City 1 Omaha leads 1-0. (best-of-5) Asher Wojciechowski actually pitched pretty well, but the OKC offense was largely silent as they dropped the opening game. Wojo threw 8 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 2, and struck out 5. Pat Urckfitz allowed a hit as he got an out in the 9th, and Jose Cisnero got the last 2 outs of the 9th. Jimmy Paredes had an RBI reached on error in the 7th inning. Scoring on the play was Che-Hsuan Lin. George Springer was 2-3 with a walk. In game 2, David Martinez will face Clayton Mortensen. First pitch is at 7:05. Texas League South Division Series, Game 1: Corpus Christi 2, San Antonio 1 in 11 innings Corpus leads 1-0. (best-of-5) The Hooks took game 1 of this series with a walk-off sac fly in the 11th from Matt Duffy. He and Domingo Santana had starring roles in both of the Hooks' runs; he drove in both of those runs, and Santana scored each time. The first came in the 7th on an RBI single that tied the game at 1. Santana had drawn a walk with 1 out in the inning and advanced to 2nd on a single from Erik Castro. After Jonathan Meyer struck out for the 2nd out, Duffy laced an 0-1 pitch back up the middle for the first Corpus run of the evening. Santana led off the 11th with a single, moved to 2nd on a Castro walk, and got to 3rd on a sac bunt from Meyer. Duffy's flyout in the 11th was deep enough for Santana to scamper home with the winning run. Domingo Santana was the only Hooks player to have a multi-hit night, as he went 2-4. He also had a big defensive play in the 1st. Rico Noel tripled to lead off the game, and after Mike Foltynewicz punched out Cory Spangenberg, he got Adam Buschini to fly out to Santana, who turned a sac fly attempt into an inning-ending double play, gunning down Noel at the plate. Mike Foltynewicz pitched 7 innings and gave up a run on 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6. Alex Sogard pitched 2 scoreless and allowed a hit, walked 1, and fanned 2. Jonas Dufek gave up 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2 in 2 scoreless. Game 2 of this series features Nick Tropeano on the mound, as he takes on Eddie Bonine. First pitch is at 7:05. In injured Astros news: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rehabbing Astros catcher Carlos Corporan will be the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23cchooks&src=hash">#cchooks</a> designated hitter in Thursday's Game 2 of the TxLg South Division series w/SA</p>— George Vondracek (@Caller_GeorgeV) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caller_GeorgeV/statuses/375473650826096640">September 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Lancaster: Bye The Jethawks await the winner of the California League South Division Mini-Series between Inland Empire and Rancho Cucamonga. The South Division Championship Series begins Saturday. Midwest League West 1st Round, Game 1: Quad Cities 2, Cedar Rapids 1 Quad Cities leads 1-0. Teoscar Hernandez broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 8th by scoring on a double play. Rio Ruiz tied the game in the 4th with an RBI single. The River finished 2-2 with a walk, and the guy who scored on the play, 2012's #1, went 3-4. Chris Devenski went 5 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 1. Mitch Lambson was excellent in his 2 2/3 innings of relief, as he allowed a hit and fanned 5. Andrew Walter struck out 3 in 1 1/3 to get the win. The series now shifts to Cedar Rapids, and the River Bandits have a chance to advance at the first time of asking. Joe Bircher will take the mound to face Tim Shibuya at 6:35. If a 3rd game is needed, Josh Hader will take on Tim Atherton at the same time on Friday. Brooklyn 4, Tri-City 2 The ValleyCats dropped their season finale to finish the year 44-32. Tyler White hit an RBI groundout in the 1st to put TC on the board first and Ydarqui Marte had an RBI single in the 2nd. Jon Kemmer went 3-3, and Yonathan Mejia, who was named a GCL All-Star, was 2-5 with a double. Edgar Gonzalez began his rehab assignment. Oh sorry, I was yawning. He did throw a 1-2-3 1st, striking out 1. So he had that going for him. Troy Scribner allowed a solo homer to Juan Carlos Gamboa, who was the smallest guy on the field, to lead off the 3rd. That was the only hit that he allowed in 3 innings. He also walked 1 and struck out 5. Randall Fant failed to record an out in the 5th. He allowed 3 runs (2 inherited) on 3 walks. Krishawn Holley didn't allow any runs in 2 innings, but he did allow 2 of Fant's runners to score. Holley allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 4. Zach Dando walked 1 and struck out 2 in 2 scoreless, and Chris Munnelly gave up a hit and fanned 1 in the 9th. The ValleyCats will take on the Aberdeen IronBirds in the New York-Penn League Semifinals. In the other series, State College will take on Jamestown. The NYPL playoffs begin Friday. In game 1 of the best-of-3, Tri-City will head to Aberdeen. Appalachian League Championship, Game 1: Pulaski 5, Greeneville 3 Pulaski leads 1-0. The Appy Astros couldn't get their bats going as they only managed 4 hits. Chase McDonald, on the other hand, refused to be silenced. He hit a 2-run homer (1, 7 reg. season/playoffs) in the 1st to put them on the board first. In the 6th, he added an RBI single. Francis Ramirez pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4. Kevin Ferguson got 2 outs in the 6th. Erick Gonzalez went 2 1/3 and allowed 2 runs (both in the 7th) on 4 hits and struck out 1. Ryan Connolly struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 9th. In game 2, Luis Ordosgoitti will start against Edwin Diaz, the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>According to this article, 2009 2nd Rd pick RHP Tanner Bushue has announced his retirement from baseball. <a href="http://t.co/B2g5aYTUJ7">http://t.co/B2g5aYTUJ7</a> h/t Santa</p>— Jayne (@whattheheck57) <a href="https://twitter.com/whattheheck57/statuses/375606630387159041">September 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After his first 2 years he appeared to have a future in the show, but then the bottom fell out. When you fail this bad a Low-A for 4 years, it's time to seek another path in life. He got a $530,000 signing bonus, so pro ball wasn't a complete bust. Also apparently 8 semesters of college are paid for by the Astros, not sure if thats standard for High School contracts or not. If he was smart thats certainly a good start in life.
According to Astros County's coverage of "Happy Trails, Tanner Bushue," there are now 8 players from the 2009 Draft remaining with the organization.
Pretty bad draft looking back on it. A lot of us were disappointed with Mier as a 1st round pick, but happier with Bushue. Good chance JD is gone soon. Of course it reminds you that the vast majority of draft picks fail. 2008: Castro/Lyles are here. Luis Cruz is the only potential really left. 2010: DDJ/Folty/Velasquez/Buchanan/Wates 2011: Springer/Tropeano There are a few more between 2010/2011 that have potential to make it, but those are the only guys you'd currently expect to make it (Dufek/Shirley/Duffy/Houser/Lee/etc.).
Quad Cities advances to the West Division Finals with a 4-2 win over Cedar Rapids, giving them the sweep in the 3-game series. They'll be taking on Beloit. Unfortunately, Greeneville walked off with a loss in Pulaski, giving the Mariners the Appalachian League title.
George Springer just hit a 2-run shot for OKC. They're really up against it, as they're down 2-0 to Omaha.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>JAPHET!!!!! AMADOR with his first bomb!</p>— Jeff Luhnow (@jluhnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow/statuses/376145231298572288">September 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I know we have a ridiculously deep system so this is a difficult question, but is Michael Feliz a top 10 prospect for us ? He had a great year in Short A and is still dominating in the playoffs. Although he reportedly still lacks a solidified change up and there are some questions about his breaking ball, his pure fastball and flashes of an above average breaking pitch make me say yes. Our system has an absolute plethora of great arms right now; Joe Musgrove seems to have come on string towards the end of the year ( despite his outing last night ,which wasn't even that bad). He still has tons of questions of course but if reports on his stuff mirror his original scouting report during the draft, then he's a guy who could be in the same position as Feliz next year. Which to me is a top10/ fringe top 10 guy in one of the strongest systems in baseball.
