Chris Coste outrighted to Round Rock; now a free agent

Is this good news for J.R. Towles or Jason Castro?

over 2 years ago David Coleman 11 comments 0 recs |

Comments

I’m hoping Mills is the good news for Towles. Dustin Pedroia for instant had a horrible start to his year, but Francona continued to send him out there and he ended with a pretty good rookie year.

My hope is with Mills Towles will get more of an opportunity to start this upcoming year, even if he starts off slow. It’s amazing what can happen to a player when the coaching staff has confidence in you, something I don’t think Towles has had.

by Timothy De Block on Oct 28, 2009 9:44 AM CDT reply actions

Well, in all honesty, the news is probably best for Q.

As for Towles, I hope that whatever Dave Clark said to him at the end of 2009 that got him to start hitting post-Coop, I hope that sticks.

by AstroAndy on Oct 28, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

Why Q?

He’s 29, he doesn’t hit and profiles as a backup catcher.

Towles 25 has upside and has the potential to be a better offensive option that Q, and from the defensive statistics I’ve viewed he’s not far off and could be better defensively than Q.

by Timothy De Block on Oct 28, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Because we'll always need a back up catcher

And with the other back up option outrighted, Q must feel pretty good about his job prospects.

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by Stephen Higdon on Oct 28, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

as long as he's not starting fine by me

by Timothy De Block on Oct 28, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

By initial reaction is that it is good news....

for one of the utility players or pinch hitters. I think Coste was picked up to provide better pinch hitting vs. LHP and some depth at both 1st base and catcher. I don’t think his best chance to make the team would be as the primary back up catcher, but rather as a pinch hitter and reserve 1st baseman. I think the Astros are still likely to look at signing a veteran free agent catcher, just like last year (at least, based on Wade’s comments).

by clack on Oct 28, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions

Like Blum and/or Keppinger?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Oct 28, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

… or possibly Erstad. Maybe it just means that the Astros will look for other free agents to fill the LH pinch hitting role.

by clack on Oct 28, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

correction…I should have said Jason Michaels instead of Erstad, since Michaels hits from the right side like Coste. And by “LH pinch hitting role,” I meant pinch hitting vs. LHP. And it’s really hard to see how this all fits together until we know how the Astros plan to fill 3d base and shortstop.

by clack on Oct 28, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Personally, I think it’d be a waste for Wade to bother signing a veteran catcher this off-season. For one thing, the market is terrible, and none of the options are significantly better than Quintero offensively. It’s pretty much a market of has-beens and backup catchers. For another thing, spending that money at third base and/or shortstop would give a better offensive upgrade for the dollar.

Finally, and most importantly, I’d really like to see them give Towles an extended chance to prove himself. The most he ever had was a quarter of a season, and while he did very poorly, he was also the victim of unbelievably terrible luck (.157 BABIP). Yet his walk rate was good—9.9%—and he hit for power at a 15-20 home run rate. Even with a batting average of .137, due to his poor luck, his OBP was still .250, which is almost as good as Quintero’s.

by OremLK on Oct 28, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I don’t disagree with you. But I’m just reflecting something Wade has said in the recent past. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Astros will come up with anybody off the free agent market, or perhaps will only come up with a marginal catcher who simply competes with Towles and Quintero. Hopefully, if that happens, it is Quintero who is most affected.

by clack on Oct 28, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

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