I think a better comparison for Moran is James Loney. I am talking about offensive comparison, both high contact guys that physically look like they should hit for power but they have a swing plane that is more line drive.
More moves from WTHB <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>According to source, OF Teoscar Hernandez has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JetHawks?src=hash">#JetHawks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Eric Smith (@Eric_L_Smith) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_L_Smith/statuses/496326698967646208">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sounds like it's time to get down to Corpus for a weekend with Moran, Teoscar, Appel & Hader there now.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'm now hearing from multiple sources that Troy Scribner (<a href="https://twitter.com/troyscribs">@troyscribs</a>) is being promoted to Quad Cities. No official confirmation yet tho.</p>— Jayne Hansen (@JayneWTHB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayneWTHB/statuses/496328526627237888">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source saying that LHP Luis Cruz is headed to OKC, but I haven't heard that confirmed yet.</p>— Jayne Hansen (@JayneWTHB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayneWTHB/statuses/496278969646194688">August 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Interesting...the shuffle after the all-star break is in full force. [SECOND UPDATE] Another source is telling me that OF Teoscar Hernandez and LHP Josh Hader are headed from Lancaster to Corpus Christi, and that OF Brett Phillips is going from Quad Cities to Lancaster. This is unconfirmed at this time. I'm also hearing that RHP Troy Scribner is being promoted from Tri-City but have no further information on that; I would assume that he would go to Quad Cities. Posted by Jayne Hansen at 7:26 AM
They waited for him to pitch a poor game to call him up. His last game he allowed 5 runs in 4.1 IP. Close enough. Really excited about these promotions, they have now been confirmed.
Now we'll see if Hader and Teoscar are legit. These are the types of guys that can really boost a system.
Hernandez definitely, Lancaster has repeatedly proven to be a complete mirage for many players. He actually hit better on the road so there is reason to be optimistic, but it was still the Cali league. If Teoscar can carry his offensive numbers to Double A he is gonna shoot up prospect lists with his tools I would be shocked if Hader doesn't pitch very well at CC after what he did in the impossibly difficult Lancaster.
It could still happen. While he appears to be mentally strong enough to not be rattled by the Lancaster effect (and competitive enough to send out complaining tweets), its still a higher level with more high-end hitting prospects. Appel was just so horrible that the mental component could not be separated from the talent aspect, and the Astros simply could not figure out which one was getting the best of him without a move. I will say that despite Hader doing well at A ball, having Lancaster as an affiliate seems to make the Astros front office job much harder... and messes with players on both ends of the spectrum.
Of course it could still happen, but i would imagine a young pitchers who dominates both levels of A ball suddenly being overmatched in any significant way by AA would be very much the exception not the rule. He may not dominate immediately, but i feel pretty confident he's the type of pitcher that won't bust until he hits the show, if he ever does bust.
Why I like talking about complex league prospects, I'll never know. But.... Harold Arauz has had an extremely impressive US debut, as he's 4-1 with 2 saves and a 2.21 ERA in 9 appearances (4 starts) this year in the GCL. Today, he allowed just 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 9 over 5.2 shutout innings. His line now stands at: 36.2 IP, 23 H (1 HR allowed), 9 ER, 15 BB, 48 K, 1.05 WHIP, .176 opponent average, 2.94 groundout/airout ratio According to MLB Farm, he had a 69.7% groundball rate entering today's game.
He's got 6 on the season. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THERE IT GOES!!!! J.D. Davis cranks an opposite-field, three-run HOME RUN!!!! The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiverBandits?src=hash">#RiverBandits</a> take a 3-1 lead in the 1st!!!!</p>— QC River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits/statuses/496451165068869634">August 5, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
