Kent Emanuel named Opening Day starter for Corpus. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HooksBlog?src=hash">#HooksBlog</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/CoffinMJC">@CoffinMJC</a> breaks down our rotation including Opening Day starter <a href="https://twitter.com/KentEmanuel">@KentEmanuel</a>. <a href="https://t.co/LezNaozfxm">https://t.co/LezNaozfxm</a> <a href="http://t.co/oFQUvZbw9b">pic.twitter.com/oFQUvZbw9b</a></p>— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks/status/585524272287850497">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So, with a new Minor League season upon us, what are your predictions for this season? Who's going to be the first promotion to Houston? Who's going to surprise? Who's going to disappoint? Who's going to have to step up in a huge way if they want to consider themselves part of the Astros' future plans?
I predict for the first time in 3 years, people will be less interested in this thread... and more interested in the actual game threads. No slight to the work you've been doing here, tellitlikeitis. You've filled a tremendous void while we've all been patiently waiting for the MLB team to actually be a true MLB team. At the very least, this should provide everybody the daily Correa fix along with a place for people to express the mixed emotions on Appel with every fluctuating performance (if any).
Corpus Christi is going to be great the first half of the season, but a lot of that roster will end up in AAA by season's end. First one up? I'll exclude the guys that have been to the show, so I'll go with Luis Cruz, despite him being behind Sipp/Thatcher/Chapman in the relief lefty role. Ronald Torreyes will make his MLB debut this season. I don not expect Appel to join them. James Hoyt is a guy I expect to put forth a great season, and possibly make his debut. Only thing holding him back is a much improved MLB pen. I think Daniel Mengden will make a leap forward. Josh Hader stands out as potentially falling back some.
When the Stros played the Hooks in one of the last ST games, the feed was decent except for the outfield camera. That feed looked like the camera had a fire directly underneath, really opaque and difficult to see. If that was the quality of the Hooks feed, I'd pass. That'd annoy the crap out of me.
Fresno has a lot of guys that look like they could be up and down guys or backups. It won't slow down the top prospects, but it does look like Astros are going to need to make some trades.
Minor League Opening Day is tomorrow! All times Central. Fresno hosts Las Vegas at 9:05. Corpus Christi is in Springfield. First pitch is at 7:10. Lancaster starts the defense of their California League title as they host San Jose at 8:30 Quad Cities will be on the road as they play in Peoria at 7.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Alex White also clears waivers, go to Class AAA Fresno along with Alex Presley.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/585890600022454272">April 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Opening Day starters: Fresno - Brad Peacock Corpus - Kent Emanuel Lancaster - Brian Holmes Quad Cities - Chris Lee
Mark Appel will be on the mound tomorrow for Corpus as they take on Springfield. He's being paired with Kyle Westwood in the Hooks' tandem rotation. A few highlights from tonight: - #1 hit a 2-run double in Corpus Christi's 9-4 win over Springfield. - Brett Phillips finished 2-5 with a triple and an RBI single, while Danry Vasquez delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th, giving Lancaster a 3-2 victory over San Jose. - Also in the Corpus game, Tony Kemp went 4-5 with a 2-run single, a walk, and a stolen base. - Derek Fisher went 1-2 with 3 walks and a stolen base as Quad Cities topped Peoria 7-3. - In his first game as a member of the Astros organization, Angel Baez got a 3-inning save for Corpus. He allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and fanned 2. - The first homer in the Astros minor league system this season belongs to Brandon Meredith, who clubbed a 3-run homer for Corpus. - Kevin Comer threw 4 scoreless for Quad Cities, striking out 2; only 1 batter reached base on him via HBP.
Friendly reminder ... AstrosFarm.com has all of the box scores for the previous day's games, both minor and major leagues. From last night, Jamie Ritchie, the next Johnny Bench until he is not, was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.
What The Heck Jayne also has excellent recaps from the previous night's minor league games, for those who like to read about. A tellitlikeitis's approved resource, I suspect.
