For those concerned about the thought of the bullpens not getting enough work in the tandem system... rest easy.
Movin' on up... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Paul Clemens provides some much-needed bullpen help. He’s our only hope from the Bourn trade. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23astros">#astros</a></p>— Jordan Sams (@astrosjordan) <a href="https://twitter.com/astrosjordan/status/321031147821883392">April 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Big swing & miss by Springer: View from our seats: Picture of the bridge w/ pretty lights: Nick T. delivers: Domingo Santana ignoring us from 15 feet away:
Sunday Stories Extra innings and nail-biters. It's also pretty sad when the minor league affiliates have been drawing walks at a higher rate than the major league club. Quad Cities with the... Organization sweep! Double brooms! Recap Oklahoma City 14, Memphis 10 in 11 innings This game got topsy-turvy late. The Redhawks trailed 7-2 after 5, then they answered with 3 in the 6th to draw closer. Another 3-run inning in the 8th gave them the lead. The Redbirds answered with 2 in the bottom half to take a 9-8 lead, but Che-Hsuan Lin's RBI fielder's choice with 1 out in the 9th tied the game. It would remain tied at 9 until the Redhawks exploded for 5 in the 11th. Memphis was able to pull one run back, but OKC was able to secure the victory and the series. Everyone had at least 1 hit except for Jonathan Villar and Che-Hsuan Lin. Lin went 0-3, but scored twice, walked twice, stole 2 bases, and drove in 2. Villar, on the other hand, after his 0-5 showing today, is 0-14 with a walk and 4 strikeouts after the first 4 games. Jake Elmore was 5-6 with a 2-run home run (1) in the 6th and an RBI single in the 11th. He scored 3 times and walked 3 times. Trevor Crowe only had 1 hit, but he provided the fatal blow with a 3-run shot (1) in the 11th. Marc Krauss hit a solo homer (1) in the 4th and walked 3 times. Brandon Laird went 3-7 with a double and a 2-run single in the 8th. Robbie Grossman went 2-4 with the go-ahead RBI single in the 11th. He also walked 3 times. Jimmy Paredes was 3-6 with an RBI single in the 8th. The Redhawks drew 11 walks and struck out 4 times, which brings their BB:K ratio to 1. 22 walks, 22 strikeouts. Brett Oberholtzer went 4 1/3 innings and allowed 7 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and struck out 2. Kevin Chapman threw 1 2/3 scoreless, allowing 2 hits and striking out 1 as the first man out of the bullpen. Kyle Hallock, in his AAA debut, went 1 1/3 and allowed 2 runs (1 inherited) on 2 hits. Jose Valdez was charged with a blown save (by allowing Hallock's runner to score) and got the win by virtue of the Redhawks' big 11th inning. He went 2 2/3, didn't have a run charged to him, and allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and fanned 1. C.J. Fick allowed a solo homer in the 11th. Corpus Christi 3, Tulsa 2 Hooks took the opener as Enrique Hernandez's RBI double in the bottom of the 8th turned out to be the winner. Hernandez finished 3-4 and also added a solo shot (1) in the 4th off Tim Gustafson. Jonathan Meyer went 2-4, with both of his hits being doubles. They walked 4 times and struck out 7. 12 BB, 34 K. R.J. Alaniz reached the 75-pitch limit after 3 2/3. Well, he threw 74 and 47 went for strikes. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1. Jorge De Leon, who I thought was released after his abysmal showing in Lancaster last year (I was wrong; guess the organization still sort of believes in him) retired all 4 Drillers he faced as the bridge to Matt Heidenreich. Matt Heidenreich got the win with 3 scoreless. He allowed 2 hits and struck out 3. Jason Stoffel got the save (2) with a 1-2-3 9th, striking out Jayson Langfels to end the game. Lancaster 10, High Desert 4 The Jethawks took the series by blowing this game wide open in the 8th, as they dropped 5 on the Mavs. Matt Duffy's RBI triple in the inning opened the floodgates. Preston Tucker got things started with a 2-run blast (2) in the 2nd. He also added an RBI groundout in the 3rd. Can you believe it... Nolan Fontana with another multi-walk game. He finished 2-3 with a double, 3 runs scored, and walked twice. Morgan Ensberg's "Really Good Player" Player of the Game: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/morganensberg">morganensberg</a> handed the trophy off to Aplin <a href="http://t.co/z4msK9lBfK" title="http://twitter.com/rawdeezy14/status/321056680748146688/photo/1">twitter.com/rawdeezy14/sta…</a></p>— David Rollins (@rawdeezy14) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawdeezy14/status/321056680748146688">April 8, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Aplin went 3-5 with an RBI single in the 5th and an RBI double in the 8th. He also had an outfield assist, nailing Jamal Austin at 2nd. Drew Muren had a solo blast (1) in the 4th and an RBI single in the 8th. He also nailed Jamal Austin at 2nd. Rafael Valenzuela had a 2-run homer (1) in the 8th. The Jethawks walked 5 times and struck out 5 times. Their totals now stand at 15 walks and 27 strikeouts. Aaron West reached the maximum 75 pitches after 4 1/3 innings of work. He allowed 4 runs (1 inherited) on 8 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5. Theron Geith got the last 2 outs of the 5th, but not before allowing West's runner to score. He allowed 2 hits and got the victory. Luis Cruz tossed 4 scoreless as the piggybacker and allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 6. Quad Cities 3, Kane County 1 in 13 innings Sweep! Teoscar Hernandez made an impact late, as he blasted a triple with 1 out in the 13th and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball by Kane County catcher Willson Contreras. That was Hernandez's only hit of the afternoon. Jobduan Morales, in his first start of the year, was 2-5 with an RBI double in the 5th that was the first scoring play of the game. Jesse Wierzbicki was 1-6, but that one hit was an RBI single in the 13th for the River Bandits' final run. The River Bandits drew 4 walks and fanned 10 times. They've now walked 18 times and struck out 41 times. Brian Holmes was excellent in his 5 shutout innings, as he allowed 2 hits and struck out 1. His partner, Jordan Jankowski, wasn't too bad either, but he allowed the Cougars to tie the game in the 7th on Contreras' sacrifice fly. That was the only run he allowed in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1. John Neely followed that up with 3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit, walking 2, and striking out 3. Cameron Lamb inherited runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the 12th, but he induced a flyout from Bijan Rademacher to end the inning. He walked Oliver Zapata to lead off the bottom of the 13th, but retired the next 3 hitters to get the W. Three Stars 3. Enrique Hernandez, 2B, Corpus Christi 3-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R He's a sleeper in the system. He also happens to be a guy that I like because of his versatility. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a shot to make the Astros as a utility player in the spring of 2015. 2. Brian Holmes, P, Quad Cities 5 IP, 2 H, K Holmes, a 13th-round pick from last year, absolutely flummoxed the New York-Penn League in his debut. Looks like he's set to pick up right where he left off in the Midwest League. 1. Jake Elmore, 2B, Oklahoma City 5-6, 2-R HR (1), 3 RBI, 3 R Well, Elmore is at his home run total for all of last season. He's a guy who has pretty good on-base skills and usable speed. I'm still perplexed as to why Ronny Cedeño was ever picked up, to be honest. Honorable Mentions Brandon Laird, 3B, Oklahoma City: So when should we expect him to be in Houston? Jonathan Meyer, 3B, Corpus Christi: Hot start is encouraging, but he faltered badly the last time he came out strong to open a season... let's hope this one is more sustainable. Luis Cruz, P, Lancaster: Here's to hoping his second try at Lancaster ends up a little better than the first. Robbie Grossman, CF, Oklahoma City: If he were with the Astros now, he'd easily have the best on-base skills on the entire roster. Nolan Fontana, SS, Lancaster: Just the usual multi-walk game. Andrew Aplin, CF, Lancaster: Anyone winning the "Really Good Player" Player of the Game Award is an automatic Honorable Mention, unless his performance in that game warrants a Three Stars nod. Goat Jonathan Villar is currently 0-season. He has fewer hits and has scored fewer runs than Ruben Sosa, who is an emergency callup to OKC from extended spring training. Looking Ahead OKC's tandem situation is in some flux due to Dallas Keuchel's callup. But they'll be opening up a 4-game set in Nashville starting at 8:05. Rudy Owens and Jose Cisnero will team up to face Frankie De La Cruz. In Corpus, the pairings have flipped. Jake Buchanan will now be starting and Ross Seaton will be piggybacking. The Hooks will play the middle game of their series with Tulsa at 7:05. They'll be opposed by Tyler Matzek, who is probably the most talented and most mercurial pitching prospect in the Rockies system. Lancaster welcomes Lake Elsinore to The Hangar for 3 starting tomorrow at 7 Pacific. Alex Gilllingham will now start, and Mike Foltynewicz will back him up. Quad Cities starts the 2nd leg of their season-opening roadtrip with 3 in Burlington starting at 6:30. Joe Bircher and Vince Velasquez will team up to face Cam Bedrosian, who is the son of former Cy Young Award winner Steve Bedrosian and a former 1st-round pick (2010, 29th overall).
My way to maintain sanity: 85% minors, 15% Astros. Also, thanks for sharing your pics codell! Looks a little sparse for a couple of weekend games... maybe the weather (wind especially) was a factor?
Astros have a few prospects that strikeout at high rates. I would say the Astros prospects strikes out more than normal...I'm looking at Springer, Singleton, Santana mostly. I don't count Nash as a prospect any more due to his abnormal strikeout rate.
Was literally planning a trip to Corpus with my family last night...scouting out weekends they're playing at home. Great pics, codell!!!
As a result of Clemens' promotion to Houston: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23cchooks">#cchooks</a> roster moves: RHP Ross Seaton to Triple-A Oklahoma City, RHP Carlos Quevedo to CC from High-A Lancaster. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a></p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/321320644631486464">April 8, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Daniel Makarewicz covers the River Bandits. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Two @<a href="https://twitter.com/qcriverbandits">qcriverbandits</a> transactions: Jordan Jankowski transferred to EST; Michael Dimock sent to the Bandits <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23youngStros">#youngStros</a></p>— Daniel Makarewicz (@danmak57) <a href="https://twitter.com/danmak57/status/321332350069907456">April 8, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Michael Dimock was drafted in the 37th round out of Wake Forest last year. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Iowa bound <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23letiteat">#letiteat</a></p>— Michael Dimock (@slimdim23) <a href="https://twitter.com/slimdim23/status/321294260433457152">April 8, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> minor league affiliates are a combined 13-3. SS Carlos Correa and OF @<a href="https://twitter.com/prestontucker25">prestontucker25</a> lead all @<a href="https://twitter.com/astros">astros</a> prospects with 8 RBI thru 4g.</p>— Steve Grande (@AstrosGrande) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosGrande/status/321360597117698050">April 8, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm surprised Tucker is batting after Zachary Johnson. Whether it be Johnson or Tucker, one of those two guys should lead RBIs this season for Astros organization. Is Aplin recovering from an injury? Noticed he has only played in 2 games so far.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Portland, which on the other side of the bridge in a nice area. About a 8 minute drive to the stadium. We got a suite there for $114 a night. We were very happy with the hotel.
