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Astros draft catcher Jason Castro at #10

Lucas_arms_-_all_in_london_tiny by lnewcomer on

Quick reaction around the 'nets seems to be that this was a stretch, possibly because he was the best rated catcher. Consensus that this was not the "best available" talent on the board.

We've drafted catchers in several of the last few drafts, and most of them haven't worked out well so far. I thought Towles was viewed as someone who would solidfy the position for the next few years. He has struggled obviously this year, but I'm surprised the team would give up on him.

I guess the optimistic view is that the Astros' brain trust thinks this guy can be an All Star at a premium position, or has a big enough bat that he can move to one of the corner IF positions w/ tolerable defense.

No idea about signability.

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let's not forget...

we’re not exactly replacing Towles with Castro tomorrow, especially with a tough position like catching. In other words, I don’t think we’ve “given up” on Towles just b/c we drafted another catcher.

Looks like Castro is a polished lefty hitter who could move up quickly. I like to see that more than taking a young HS catcher, as we have in the recent past.

by alamosweet on Jun 5, 2008 2:44 PM CDT   0 recs

it's hardly a vote of confidence for Towles

I understand that he’s not going to be ready right now. But it’s hard to understand what the strategy is.

Unfortunately, I think I agree that this was a player picked for signability purposes.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

this doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy

“Behind the plate, he’s solid-average in all respects: hands, arm, plate-blocking. His upside is as an average regular catcher in the big leagues, unless he develops more power. He has a very high probability of making it as a backup.”

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18754&draftyear=2008

still, it’s a crap shoot

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 2:57 PM CDT   0 recs

I hope the Astros know something everybody else doesn't....

The Astros’ selection is getting bashed all over. The Baseball Prospectus chat/blog was full of disbelief and shock that the Astros made the selection. It’s not so much that Castro is a bad player, but rather that he is viewed as a late first round talent, and some highly rated options, both pitching and hitters, were there for the Astros to take. In particular, Smoak, one of the top 2 or 3 college hitters, had fallen into the Astros’ laps, but they didn’t take him. The Rangers did take Smoak with the subsequent pick. Some bloggers speculate that perhaps the Astros felt that they could sign Castro for a lower bonus amount than the higher rated prospects.

by clack on Jun 5, 2008 3:13 PM CDT   0 recs

lol, Kevin Goldstein's response was a bit over the top

Kevin Goldstein (12:10:37 PM PT): 10. Astros—Jason Castro, C, Stanford.

Are you f-ing kidding me? Words can not describe how dumb this is. They just can’t. I’m utterly speechless. At least I get to rip Houston’s drafts once again. I’m rambling to myslef here it total disbelief.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

smoak

i’d heard about him before the draft and he certainly had a lot of hype. if he lives up to it, we’ll have to live w/ him doing it up I45 in Arlington

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Keith Law on Castro

from the ESPN live draft comments

Castro didn’t get to catch last year in the Cape Cod League because the team had Posey. Castro was expected to go in the second half of the first round. He’s a contact hitter; he will not hit for a lot of power. He’s an average regular catcher in the big leagues. But I don’t see him as a star. By the way, the next best college catcher in the draft is well below Castro.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:18 PM CDT   0 recs

and Keith Law on Smoak to Rangers (right after Astros picked)

This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He’s a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers’ ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Really?!

Another catcher? And not even the best one available. I was watching live and I couldn’t believe they passed on Smoak. If they didn’t want to take him because of the money, they at least should of went with a pitcher or something. Garbage, absolute garbage.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 3:22 PM CDT   0 recs

I keep torturing myself

The Cards picked a 3B prospect at 13, about whom Law says:

“Wallace has the best pure bat in the college ranks. He will hit for average and power. He draws a ton of walks and is very disciplined. He works the count, not just for walks but also to get good pitches to hit in hitter’s counts. He started to show a lot more power this year. Unlike a lot of lefty hitters, he’s already shown an ability to hit left-handed pitching, which puts him ahead of other left-handed bats. “

this guy looks pretty heavy and maybe he can’t stay at 3B, but don’t the Astros need a power hitting 3B-man? More than another catcher?

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:26 PM CDT   0 recs

Looks like

we’re the New York Jets of baseball.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 3:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Here's to

hoping we get someone like Joba in the compensation round.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 3:27 PM CDT   0 recs

quotes from the Astros brain trust

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5820879.html

"This is an offensive left-handed hitting catcher that we feel has a pretty quick return here," said Astros scouting director Bobby Heck, who is in his first year in Houston after being a prominent part of the Milwaukee Brewers’ scouting department.

"There was pitching on the board," Ed Wade said. "We had a couple of guys that were still active and alive in the draft. Again, in the work that our scouts have done and prioritizing the group that was there, Castro came out on top of the available pitching that was there at 10."

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:29 PM CDT   0 recs

No mention of other hitters

Do we even have one solid hitting prospect in our system right now?

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 3:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

wait and see I guess

the Castro pick at #10 is disappointing from perspective that we seemed to have passed on better talent, at least as ranked by the pundits.

basically, the team is asking us to trust them, but their performance in the draft over the last several years hasn’t earned them any trust. ripping out the whole scouting/drafting apparatus and sticking another one in isn’t a sufficient response without more information about what went wrong in the past and why what we’re doing now is better.

unfortunately, sports media in general and ours in houston in particular seem to be pretty bad at extracting detailed information like that from the team. quotes from Wade and Heck like the ones above are generic platitudes that don’t tell us much.

so we get to wait and see how our other 4 picks in the top 100+ turn out and hope that our guys know something all the supposed experts don’t. given baseball’s crap shoot of a draft, that’s not totally unreasonable.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Baseball America has the most positive comments of the day

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=303

Astros Go Castro

Posted Jun. 5, 2008 2:08 pm by John Manuel
Filed under: Draft Day

We heard it and it happened, with Jason Castro becoming the third catcher in the top 10 picks overall. We’re looking for the last time three catchers went in the first 10 overall picks and not finding it.

In 1975, three of the first 10 picks were catchers: Danny Goodwin at 1/1, Butch Benton to the Mets at 1/6, and Rick Cerone to the Indians at seven. There were five catchers in that first round, matching 1979 with five and surpassing the four we already have found in the first rounds of 1989 and 1994.

I’m a Jason Castro believer, but 10 seems high for him. I don’t think he was the 10th overall talent, and the Astros have a talented young catcher in J.R. Towles, so why the rush? But Castro can hit and if you believe in the bat, then you take him No. 10 overall.

The Rangers need a first baseman and Smoak is staring them in the face. Texas has been linked to Ethan Martin as well, if a college bat they liked wasn’t available.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:56 PM CDT   0 recs

15 minute break and then the Astros pick @ #38

we actually got a compensation class A pick for Trevor Miller. Go figure. The 16 picks in the compensation round will be broadcast on ESPN and then they’re done for the day.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 3:58 PM CDT   0 recs

Cards got a comp pick for Troy Percival

which seems ridiculous. the class system is jacked up

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Shooter Hunt is still available

RHP from Tulane

based on the Best Available Name we should draft him if he’s around.

last pitcher from Tulane didn’t work out so well.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:02 PM CDT   0 recs

darn it

twins grabbed him w/ the first comp pick

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

some local blurbs on Lyles

not very much here. seems to have been a 3 sports star in Hartsville, S.C.(rough pop 35K)

http://www.hvtd.com/?q=node/3103

http://www.hvtd.com/?q=node/3491

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 5:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Kevin Goldstein is not a fan of our picks, that's for sure

at this point, it’s kind of funny

Kevin Goldstein (2:26:17 PM PT): 38. Astros—Jordan Lyles, rhp, Hartsville HS

Yet another guy who few others had this high. Boy oh boy.

39. Cardinals—Lance Lynn, rhp, UMiss

He sure is huge! Joking aside, could be a solid innings eater

40. Braves—Brett DeVall, lhp, Niceville HS

So much better than Lyles that it’s not even funny.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball American on Lyles

Sandwich Shocker

Posted Jun. 5, 2008 4:27 pm by John Manuel
Filed under: Draft Day

The Astros are the Astros, and after taking Jason Castro at 10 overall—considered a reach for a late-first-round talent—they went off the board with their supplemental pick, taking 6-foot-4 Jordan Lyles. He didn’t make BA’s Top 200, and ranked seventh in the state of South Carolina, tops among prep players. Here’s Matt Blood’s scouting report on Lyles:

Righthander Jordan Lyles leads the high school ranks. Blessed with a clean and easy delivery, Lyles offers a fastball in the upper 80s and can break 90 mph on occasion. He also has room in his 6-foot-4 frame to add strength and velocity. Lyles also throws a curveball and changeup and can command all three pitches. A three-sport star in high school, Lyles is athletic on the mound. He is committed to South Carolina.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Upper 80s fastball?

This draft is ridiculous. Why do we suck so bad at drafts and everything else for that matter? A depressing day in Astroland. I know that’s a bit of an overreaction, but not one person likes either of our picks it seems. We reached for a catcher and a guy who throws an upper 80s fastball and failed to make Baseball American top 200? Seriously? Why Houston, why?!

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

6'4 and throws in the high 80's?

HS pitcher, so you would hope that either this scouting report is off, or he is expected to develop more velocity as he ages.

Seems like a strange pick for #2. Wasn’t on any “expert’s” list anywhere near this high, if at all. Will be a real test for the Astros’ commitment to signing players. This guy seems like a prime candidate to go back to school, but we’ll see what the Astros offer him.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not bothered by the velocity reading.

Very few high school pitchers who are drafted consistently throw in the 90’s. At that age, the scouts are projecting whether the pitcher is likely to throw in the 90’s in a couple of years after physical development and mechanical refinement. The fact that the Astros recently worked the kid out and he was hitting 92-93 mph may indicate that the Astros knew something about him that other teams didn’t.

by clack on Jun 6, 2008 10:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

re: Lyles

from Zach Levine at the Chron:

4:20 p.m.: With their compensatory selection for the loss of Trever Miller, the Astros pick Jordan Lyles, a high school right-handed pitcher from South Carolina.

Lyles is a tall hard-thrower, who was a prep football star in South Carolina as a wide receiver.

According to the South Carolina newspaper “The State” he’s considering going the college football route.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Figures

Astros probably picked him so they wouldn’t have to sign him.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 5:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

more on Lyles

http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/426203.html

guess he was one of the players that played at Minute Maid last Saturday, and the scouts were wowed. he was hitting 93 on the gun and struck out four batters or something like that. the scouting report from other outlets mentioned a nice, smooth delivery, and a frame with potential for an increase in velocity. still seems like he might have been a bit of a stretch, but who cares what the major media outlets say if the guy pans out. It says in the article that he’ll be reporting to Greenville, but it doesn’t say how soon. If he’s already signed, you’d think it’d be as soon as possible.

by littlevisigoth on Jun 6, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lnewcomer

Nice work by the way. I’m glad I can come here and get my info on the ‘stros draft.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 4:34 PM CDT   0 recs

had hoped we'd have more to get excited about today

I don’t know how many rounds will be held today vs. tomorrow. these are the astros picks listed on the MLB website so far

2nd round 56<br />3rd round 88
Compensation Round B 109<br />4th round 122

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Something's messed up wtih that post

but I saw earlier today we have 6 picks in the top 122. That’s good, but not if we keep picking like we are.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 4:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep

I had some ‘at’ signs in there and I think it thought I was trying to put in some HTML code or something. I don’t think there’s a way to edit a comment you’ve posted.

if memory serves we have these picks

2nd round – 56
3rd round – 88
compensation round b – 109
4th round – 122

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I say we draft

4 pitchers who can throw 100 mph. Anything but another Jason Castro and a 19 year old Jamie Moyer.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 4:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

wow, the Brewers have 6 picks out of the first 62

picked up 4 draft picks for losing FA pitchers Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 4:55 PM CDT   0 recs

Brewers drafted Brett Lawrie, a Canadian high school hitter.

In yesterday’s game thread, I linked to an article about him, and I kind of hoped the Astros might consider drafting Lawrie. He appears to have impressive hitting skills. And the Brewers’ scouts seemed to be good at identifying good young hitters.

by clack on Jun 5, 2008 5:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ya

So maybe these young hitters will be good? Hopefully?

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 5:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

baseball prospectus

Kevin Goldstein (3:37:33 PM PT): If you are looking to keep hating on Astros, one insider callled Joe Austin’s scouting bureau video the funniest things he’s ever seen and called it a 20 bat.

at this point in the draft, I think the balance of information definitely shifts from analysts to teams. just the sheer number of bodies makes it much harder to keep track of everyone

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 5:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Comment

A 20 bat means that on the 20-80 scouting scale, he is a 20. That is a polite way of saying he is as bad of a hitter as humanly possible.

by uthornfan on Jun 5, 2008 7:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

we seem consistent

drafting players the MLB Draft Tracker has never heard of.

we’re mysterious

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 5:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

profile

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=52541

Joseph (Jay) Austin is a 2008 OF/P with a 6’1’’, 180 lb. frame from Atlanta, GA who attends North Atlanta HS. Lean greyhound build, world class speed (6.2 60), runs easy. Contact hitter with quick, slashing swing, more power in there. 90 mph arm from the left side with good 76 mph curveball. Athlete who has all the tools, stock will skyrocket with hitting improvements. Good student.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 5:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball America

• Toolsy prep outfielders Destin Hood and Jay Austin went back-to-back to the Nationals and Astros. Hood is a typical Jim Bowden organization pick, a prep outfielder with football ties. He’s an Alabama signee but has earned comparisons to Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge this spring for his wiry body and strength and premium bat speed. Austin ranked No. 99 on BA’s Top 200 but had helium the last two weeks, as his raw power and speed intrigued scouts.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=330

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

amazing how fast the picks roll around

Astros almost up again at 88

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:02 PM CDT   0 recs

Ortiz w/ various links to local papers on Castro

http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/06/astros_go_with_1.html

“First he’s an athletic catcher,” Heck said. “This past year in the Cape he played first base, he played center field. He was on the same club with (Florida State catcher) Buster Posey, so his catching was limited due to a minor injury he had that he’s been slowly cleared from our doctors with.”

from one of the articles:

Castro, who bats left and throws right, is a potential first-round draft pick in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft.
“I haven’t heard too many specifics about the draft,” said Castro, who is known to teammates as ‘Stro.’ “It’s still a little while from the draft. I’m ready to sign and have the opportunity to start my professional career after this year.”

i guess the nickname fits

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:05 PM CDT   0 recs

wonder if he goes by Chase

there’s a Chase Davidson from Milton, GA, listed as a 1B/OF, who was rated #106 by Baseball America.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

if Charles = Chase then

/profile” target=”_blank”>http://www.takkle.com/people/7261745//profile

Has some physical strength on his long and mostly lean 6-foot-5 frame. His raw power is exceptional, thanks to bat speed and the use of his long levers in his left handed stroke. Has room to develop further, both in terms of future added strength and in terms of a more refined offensive approach.

listed on this page as a 1B/OF

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

more for K. Goldstein

confession: I mainly look at the pecota stuff and read Will Carroll on Baseball Prospectus. I’ve seen this guy’s name on the site a lot, but I can’t remember much of what I’ve read by him before. Usually the stuff on BP is pretty good. He’s really taking out after the Astros on their roundtable today and at this point, my disappointment w/ our first pick has almost been overcome by this guy sounding like a prick and picking on our team. Anyway, FWIW.

Kevin Goldstein (4:29:09 PM PT): Darin (Stupidtown. Home of the Houston Astros): Do you know anything about Chase Davidson?

Huge kid with huge power, but needs work and he’s not an athlete. Maybe they hope he can make up for not getting the big bat in the first.

I guess Charles is Chase

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

don't understand

why Goldstein says “not an athlete”. he’s a two sport guy that plays 1B and OF and looks like he’s stolen a fair amount of bases in high school. he certainly doesn’t sound like a lumbering oaf of a 1B.

by littlevisigoth on Jun 6, 2008 9:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

signed to play baseball w/ Georgia

Release: 11/20/2007

A 6-5, 220-pound left-handed hitting first baseman, Davidson is ranked 71st among Baseball America Top 100 prospects for the class of 2008. Currently a senior at Milton High School, he batted .396 with a team-high seven home runs and 20 RBI last season for the Eagles and coach Joey Ray. The son of Chuck and Judi Davidson, he has earned the Scholar-Athlete Award in baseball and football the past three years. He received the Offensive Player of the Year award at the annual East Cobb Baseball Awards banquet as a member of the East Cobb Braves. In the past two seasons, he has hit more than 30 home runs with 132 RBI.

“I am very excited about attending the University of Georgia, getting the opportunity to play for Coach Perno and to be a part of the Georgia baseball team,” said Davidson.

“Chase is a football/baseball guy who has plenty of toughness and that’s going to help him early in his career,” said Perno. “He carries as much raw power as any hitter that we’ve ever signed. I look for him to hit in the middle of our order and drive in a ton of runs.”

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

109 - RHP Ross Seaton (high school)

from Second Baptist in Houston

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2008/reports_popup.jsp?popup=yes&content=seaton

Texas isn’t providing the usual supply of fireballing high school arms, but Seaton is trying to represent as best he can. With a good fastball and slider, along with a changeup that should work well in the future, he’s fairly polished for a high schooler. A good athlete, he’s drawn some interest as a hitter as well and if the position or the bonus isn’t right, the bright right-hander could head to Tulane as a two-way player.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:35 PM CDT   0 recs

he likes one of them

Kevin Goldstein (4:32:23 PM PT): ok, let’s give Astros fans some hope. Ross Seaton is WAY better than the 109th best pick in the draft. If they can sign him away from Tulane, they got a very nice value there.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Seaton

/profile” target=”_blank”>http://www.takkle.com/people/7344967//profile

A long, lean right hander with a fastball in the low to mid 90’s to go with an excellent slider – which he can throw in the low 80’s. He is a fair athlete with potential two-way college ability, thanks mostly to a left handed power bat.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball America

His season’s over, and Seaton ended it as one of the most-improved—and best—prep talents in a down year for the Lone Star State.

by lnewcomer on Jun 5, 2008 6:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs