Just checked the Astros farm system. No cleanup hitter in sight :s http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/minorleagues/team_index.jsp?c_id=hou AA was a barren desert wrt hitters. AAA has four hitters of note which include <samp> AVE OBP SLG Danny Klassen 3B - .328 .394 .557 Mike Coolbaugh 3B - .306 .387 .543 Carlos Rivera 1B - .339 .404 .512 Chris Burke 2B - .310 .385 .483 </samp> Seeing how the Astros two best hitters are at 2B and 3B ... I suspect it won't be long before these guys get called up.
I have no idea why we are not sending Hunter Pence and Troy Patton up from A ball. They are simply tearing it up. Hunter Pence- .346 batting avg, 14 homers in 41 games Troy Patton- 1.38 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 45.2 innings
The Astros usually don't rush prospects, but I would think that these two would likely be up at high A Salem by the end of the year.
Patton is still only 19 years old, and you never want to rush somebody that young. He's still on a strict pitch count every game, so he rarely pitches past the 6th. He's got all the tools to be great (and he's a lefty). Pence has been on fire this year as well. Einertson has been a big dissapointment so far, after tearing it up last year in the Appalachain league.
Pence is already 22 or 23 years old. I'd rather take a chance on him and move him up to AA before he gets any older.
I still don't understand the point of leaving Burke at AAA, when the season's rapidly turning into a lost cause and he's ready for the majors. Play him or trade him for an OF/1B prospect. Orlando Palmiero is not a starting MLB outfielder.
the only thing i can think of is that he isnt nearly as good as they projected, and they dont want to show their hand in case they can move him
But how do you make that projection based on 45 ABs? Adam Everett, btw, is already 150 ABs into an absolutely brutal season. I don't care how good a fielder is, we can't carry a .220 hitter into 2006. He needs to improve at the plate, stat. Maybe we need a new hitting coach?
i agree on everett....i never thought he was anything more than an above average fielder with a crappy bat....which is why i would have like to see us go after Renteria or Cabrera as for Burkes 45 ABs.....dunno...u have a point....but maybe they saw something that they didnt like...because at this stage of the season, i wouldnt mind seeing Garner take some cuts, nevermind Burke
Renteria wouldve been awesome. Nomar would be a very nice pickup this offseason. I know he's not what he once was, and the injury history is scary, but if the doctors clear him in the offseason I think he'd be a great fit. .300/30/100 from the shortstop position would greatly help the anemic offense.
I know we've argued before about Everett, but I have to say this was my impression of him *before* last season. Last season was a pleasant surprise, but if he is not going to be able to get back to that level (I'm not saying he was TGwynn, just good at his role), then I concur with you.
Who cares if he can play SS or not...replacing everett with a worse fielder and , at best, a slightly better hitter, won't solve anything.
Where do get this slightly better bat than Everett? Are you basing it on those 45 abs? Please. I will never understand how alot of you guys think Everett was anything more than a no hit above avg field guy.
