Didn't say they cared, it was an observation. I'm actually a proponent of not promoting all the big guys (Springer, DDJ, Fontana, etc..) but I know a lot of guys here are.
Here's a slew of minor league moves (WTHB). Not only am I working on tonight's recap, I'm preparing an assessment of the position players in the system right now. Long night dead ahead. Now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have done this on Sunday...
Hah I had plans for a similar assessment, albeit post-season, on the back burner. Take your time man, I don't think the system is going to be looking much different in a few days. I'm looking forward to the good work. Thanks man, XCR
Sunday Stories Welcome back, Jarred Cosart. Organization sweep!!!! Recap OKC whacked New Orleans 12-3 to earn a split in the series. All 8 starting position players had at least 1 hit. Angel Sanchez went 1-4 with 2 RBI, 1 coming on a single, and the other on a groundout. Jay Fernandez, in his first game since being promoted from Corpus, was immediately placed in the lineup and went 1-4 with 2 RBI, getting that first one the hard way. He was plunked with the bases loaded and added an RBI single in the 7th. Jimmy Paredes went 2-3, drawing a walk with the bases loaded in the 2nd. J.B. Shuck had an RBI double and drew a walk with the bases loaded. Mike Hessman had an RBI double and a sac fly. Even Hector Ambriz, a reliever, got in on the fun, as he hit a sac fly in the 8th. Brett Oberholtzer turned in a very strong start, with a 2-run homer to Bryan Petersen in the top of the 1st being the only mistake all night. In 6 innings, he allowed 2 runs (both on the homer, 1 was earned) on 2 hits (the other was a single in the 4th), walked 2, and struck out 3. Ambriz allowed the other run, which was scored in the 8th. But he cancelled that out with his sac fly. Corpus took 3 out of 4 in their series with Frisco by winning this contest 5-2. It was an excellent outing from the Hooks' pitchers. One night after allowing 19 in an 11-7 loss, they went out and fired the first 1-hitter in Hooks history. Jarred Cosart, just activated from the DL, went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on the lone hit (an RBI triple from Jurickson Profar), walked 4, and struck out 5. He induced 11 groundouts to 2 flyouts. The other Frisco run scored when Engel Beltre grounded into a fielder's choice. Jonathan Singleton made a diving stop and threw home, but it wasn't in time. Singleton went 1-3 with an RBI single and a sac fly. Drew Muren also went 1-3 and added in a sac fly. Austin Wates had a big night, going 3-5 with a 2-run homer (4) in the bottom of the 6th and scoring twice. Kevin Chapman retired all 7 batters he faced to get the win, striking out 2. Jason Stoffel racked up his 15th save of the season by striking out 2 in a 1-2-3 9th inning. I'm going to leave you with this tweet from Lancaster play-by-play man Jason Schwartz: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Is this baseball?</p>— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasondschwartz/status/224669250349056001" data-datetime="2012-07-16T00:58:18+00:00">July 16, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Garden-variety Cali League game, as Lancaster topped Modesto 12-8. Yes, the Hangar definitely lived up to its name as both teams combined to send 7 out of the "park." For the Jethawks, everyone had at least 2 hits except for Ben Heath (who had 1) and Grant Hogue (who had none, but made up for it with a steal (15) and 2 walks). After David Martinez put them into a 4-0 hole after the 1st, the Jethawks answered with 7 in the bottom of the 2nd. George Springer (3-run, 18) and Domingo Santana (2-run, 14) took Tyler Matzek for a ride. Not wanting to be left out, Telvin Nash (22, 4th inning) and Alex Todd (2, 3 season, 7th inning) added solo shots of their own. Erik Castro, Enrique Hernandez, and Jonathan Meyer each had 2 hits and an RBI. Martinez went 7 innings, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits (3 homers), walking 2 and striking out 4. Jose Trinidad pitched a scoreless 8th, then allowed 2 runs in the 9th while getting 2 outs. Kirk Clark got the final out for his 8th save. Lexington was in the process of pounding Hagerstown as they had an 8-1 lead, then the rain forced a suspension of the game in the middle of the 4th. The game will be finished, starting at 5:05 Eastern. Brian Goodwin took Mike Foltynewicz deep to lead off the game. The Legends didn't take too kindly to that and proceeded to shell Chris McKenzie for 6 in the bottom of the 1st. Jose Fernandez had a 2-run double, and Ryan McCurdy had a 2-run single. Matt Duffy drove in a run the painful way: getting hit with the bases loaded. Zach Johnson has a sac fly. Ruben Sosa and Nolan Fontana both have 2 hits and an RBI. Sosa has scored twice, while Fontana is 2-2. Delino DeShields is 0-1, but he's drawn 2 walks and has a steal (66). Goodwin's homer was the only run that Foltynewicz has allowed through 4 innings. He's allowed 5 hits, walked 2, and struck out 1. Tri-City and Jamestown were rained out. Doubleheader manana. Greeneville swept their doubleheader with Bristol, winning Game 1 4-1 and Game 2 4-0. In Game 1, Angel Ibanez scored the 1st run of the game on a wild pitch from Euclides Leyer. Terrell Joyce followed that up with a 2-run shot. He added a solo shot off Leyer in the 6th, giving him 3 on the season. Frederick Tiburcio, who has struggled badly to open the season, threw a 7-inning complete game, allowing a run on 3 hits, walking 2, and fanning 9. In Game 2, it was more of the same from the Appy Astros. Dominant pitching, and some nice hitting. Brian Blasik went 2-4 with an RBI single in the 1st. D'Andre Toney had an RBI double in the 4th, and Jimmy Howick added an RBI single in the 6th. Angel Ibanez went 2-4. Ernesto Genoves doubled and came around to score on Toney's double. In a spot start, Mike Hauschild allowed 2 hits and struck out 5 over 3 shutout innings. Chris Lee got the win, retiring all 6 batters he faced, striking out 4. Mike Dimock and Tanner Bushue each threw a scoreless inning. In the DSL All-Star game, the AL defeated the NL 6-3. Samil De Los Santos allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and walked 1 while getting 2 outs in the 3rd. Edwin Villarroel got the last out in the top of the 9th.
Is there a reason Brett Wallace isn't in Houston? I honestly would like to see Barnes, Paredes, F Martinez and Dominguez all in Houston also. I can see reasons why they aren't, but Brett Wallace not being here goes against all logic. Do the Astros think Scott Moore, Brian Bixler and Matt Downs are better long term options. Wallace sure as hell doesn't need more seasoning. CJ, Bogusevic, and Schafer I've seen enough from.
No clue. Scott Moore being here blows my mind. He got off to a nice little start, but reality is sinking in.
Wallace is going to get at least 2 months in Houston. With all the other roster spots in flux, I honestly think they just have ignored him for a while. Sorting out 1B/3B in addition to the pen, SS, C, etc... was probably not a big thing for them. Do I agree? no but that's just my read on the situation.
Some guy's personal scouting observations on Springer and Santana: PROSPECT CORNER: FIRST HALF OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CAL LEAGUE
This is from 'Cats Corner, a ValleyCats blog on MLB.com. ValleyCats play-by-play man Evan Valenti drops some wisdom on the 2012 ValleyCats.
Santana is my favorite prospect in the org right now. His age, size, raw power, upside are very exciting and the fact that he was the PTBNL makes it even sweeter. I think he'll have plenty of time to work on his plate discipline and overall game before he makes it to Houston. Springer on the other hand I think will always be somewhat K-prone. I don't think they should completely wait until he's "fixed" that part of his game entirely before moving him up & up. Plus, it's kinda hard to tell him to fix the "contact" part of his swing when he's hitting .331. I'd say he makes pretty good contact. Ultimately I'd just like to see the guy in the majors before his 24th birthday.
I like Santana a lot too. Scouts and analysts all said he could end up being the best player in the Pence trade. I believe it. He's got a ton going for him. Just gotta take his development one step at a time. I think with Springer as long as he's hitting as well as he is he's not going to really take the adjustments seriously. I.e. he'll have to struggle before he's forced to adjust. I'd really like for him to make those adjustments at the A+ level, but it looks like he won't get the opportunity in the Cali league. So he'll get the promotion to CC next season and probably hit a wall. Make no mistake, these swing deficits are big enough to stop him from being an every day regular.
He needs to be moved back up. He's been in the org. since 2009 and hasn't pitched above AA. He should get the call to full season ball soon.
