<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">May 30 Prospect Watch: Mark Appel still looking for No. 1 pick form <a href="http://t.co/OqD2JYwGvz">http://t.co/OqD2JYwGvz</a> <a href="http://t.co/TPsruewGCP">pic.twitter.com/TPsruewGCP</a></p>— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsMLB/status/604663838638641152">May 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> THREE DOWN RHP Mark Appel, Astros: The Astros passed on Kris Bryant to select Appel first overall in 2013 (Bryant was second overall), and so far Appel has rewarded them with ... a career 5.91 ERA in 161 1/3 innings. Ouch. Appel, 23, has a 5.85 ERA with a 29/18 K/BB in 40 Double-A innings this season and simply looks nothing like No. 1 overall material. His stuff is good -- mid-90s heater, sharp slider, changeup -- depending on the day. He's been plagued by extreme inconsistency as a pro. Houston was surely expecting Appel, a college senior out of a major program (Stanford), to be in MLB by now, but he's not close to helping them.
Different draft than Appel (Rodon was a year later in 2014). Yeah, they should have taken Bryant over Appel and Rodon over Aiken, but hindsight is 20/20. Rodon was the favorite for the top pick in 2014, but towards the draft he fell off for some reason.
I know I am not the only person who finds this irritating, but it drives me mad that every article points out the Bryant over Appel decision doesnt mention that more or less universally among the "experts", the top two picks were always Appel and Gray. Bryant was never projected to go #1. If we had picked Gray, the Cubs would have drafted Appel and Bryant would be playing in Coors Field (which would be awesome). Rodon had a amazing junior year and a mediocre senior year, so he dropped.
Yeah I saw that....has anyone watched him at AAA? His OPS is down 430 points and but he is striking out at a lower rate.
His BABIP is only .250 at AAA. He was posting a .447 BABIP at AA, and that is a number that is due for some equalization, I don't care how hard you are hitting the ball. Nothing to be concerned with.
What I've enjoyed about this season is that even if Appel doesn't work out (immediately or in the future) the Astros are still pushing forward with their minor league pitching talent. Appel throws a stinker, LMJ gets promoted. Appel throws another stinker, Feliz gets promoted. If Appel continues to stink, VV will get a call-up anytime.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to the Cal League, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeFish23">@DeFish23</a>! He homers on the first pitch he sees in T1 and launches a solo homer to RF! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/longball?src=hash">#longball</a></p>— Lancaster JetHawks (@JetHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/JetHawks/status/604824636472172544">May 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Dan Straily @ OKC: 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 10 K Fresno leads 2-1 heading into the 8th. Kevin Comer and Francis Martes combined to throw a 4-hitter for Quad Cities as they won 1-0. Well, Comer allowed all 4 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 5 in 5 innings. Martes struck out 2 over 4 perfect innings.
It didn't take long for him to get acclimated to his new surroundings... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow… <a href="https://twitter.com/DeFish23">@DeFish23</a> blasts a GRAND SLAM in his 2nd at-bat. Now 2-for-2, 2HR, 5RBI in his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JetHawks?src=hash">#JetHawks</a> debut and its only the 2nd inning.</p>— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasondschwartz/status/604832455648935936">May 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
WHAT THE HELL <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guess who just hit ANOTHER grand slam...<a href="https://twitter.com/DeFish23">@DeFish23</a> is on fire! 3 HR, 9 RBI tonight! This one went out to left field. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rallytime?src=hash">#rallytime</a></p>— Lancaster JetHawks (@JetHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/JetHawks/status/604840258178400257">May 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fisher. Wow.</p>— Jeff Luhnow (@jluhnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow/status/604846152136028160">May 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
