D. Newhan, J. Baker, and possible roster-makers: The 2009 Astros take shape

by HighLeveragePerformer on Mar 30, 2009 10:21 AM CDT Comment 13 comments

The muddied roster picture is becoming a little clearer each day. Apparently, Cecil Cooper didn't personally inform David Newhan of the decision to release him. Newhan found out through the media. It was not a surprise to him though, as he's just not a shortstop. Jason Smith and Edwin Maysonet are the two players to keep your eyes on as far as making the Opening Day roster.
Chad Paronto is dealing with a shoulder injury, and a practically set in stone bullpen. After pitching well this spring, he heads to Round Rock as insurance for the big league club.
Alyson Footer's mailbag features her opinion on the state of our third base platoon. Like most of us, she thinks that the Astros will need to seek outside help going into the season:

While the Astros are very happy with the way Chris Johnson performed this spring, I don't believe he'll make the team

Her list of seven potential replacements for Aaron Boone won't wow anyone, with Jeff Baker seemingly the most attractive. Concerns over the Rockies overestimating their own players' values exists, however. It's yet to be seen if the Astros have enough in their already bare cupboards to offer the Rockies. The six other players she mentions are: Travis Metcalf (Texas), Mike Hessmann (Tigers), Jeff Keppinger (Reds), Matt Brown and Robb Quinlan (Angels), and Juan Uribe (Giants).

Baker_medium

Is the Rockies' asking price too high for Jeff Baker to become an Astro?

Jason Stark's mailbag is chock full of Astro-goodness. He mentions the Astros and Red Sox as potential suitors for both Keppinger and Baker. I would assume that the concern over Mike Lowell's hip is the impetus behind the Sox' interest in these two. Unlike Footer, Stark believes that Chris Johnson will in fact not only make the Opening Day roster, but will see the lion's share of time at third base, in the event that any that a trade doesn't occur.

Russ Ortiz looks to be the winner for the fifth starter's position, while Jose Capellan will settle for assignment to AAA Round Rock. Bullpen stability means he won't have the oppportunity to open the season with the Astros in any capacity, most likely. He's been impressive this spring, and should have a future with this organization. Age, injury, and poor performance are three reasons why Capellan may be in Houston at some point in the near future.

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info on Keppinger

we at RedReporter are doing a series of bios for players on the roster. check out the one we did for Keppinger here.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Mar 30, 2009 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the input!

by HighLeveragePerformer on Mar 30, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

choice in FA market???

Rays release Ensberg.

by HubertL on Mar 30, 2009 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

as long as we're into rehabilitating former astros...

but I don’t think the platoon would work. And, of course, this isn’t the .283/.388/.557 Ensberg who teamed up with Berkman to take the Astros to the World Series, nor is he even the .232/.323/.384 Ensberg who got traded for a PTBNL – it’s the .203/.263/.243 Ensberg who got cut outright from the Yankees.

by Only_A_Lad on Mar 30, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw some Yankee fans at BBTF wanted Ensberg to come back...

they think he is better than Ransom, who appears to be A-Rod’s replacement.

by clack on Mar 30, 2009 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cooper was quoted in a weekend article...

as saying that Chris Johnson would start at 3d base if he made the roster. Cooper said he doesn’t believe in platooning / benching a young prospect like Johnson, because he thinks Johnson needs at bats. I really doubt that Johnson can make the roster if he is hitting .230 in the spring, but I suppose I could be wrong. So, I am betting on some kind of acquisition, whether off waivers or through a minor trade.

by clack on Mar 30, 2009 12:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that seems fair

by HighLeveragePerformer on Mar 30, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dumb Question...

have either Smith or Maysonet played any 3rd in the minors?

by TexSkins on Mar 30, 2009 1:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not a dumb question

maysonet: http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=9232

smith: http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/smithja05.shtml

both have had limited time at third base, but ss is more difficult than third, so i would guess they could make the transition, but i dont know if its feasible at this time

i was also looking at ray durham, who has always been a second baseman, but id guess a transition at this point in his career would be asking too much..plus his platoon split wouldn’t be all that advantageous to the astros

by HighLeveragePerformer on Mar 30, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had thought about Durham, too

but I thought he could just be given the starting spot. But I’m pretty sure he said he was probably going to retire.

by Only_A_Lad on Mar 30, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the question,

obviously, would be his arm

by Only_A_Lad on Mar 30, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Smith got a little bit of time at 3d base this spring.

If the Astros don’t find anybody to pick up, and decide Chris Johnson isn’t ready, I could see them keeping both maysonet and smith, with one of them sharing time at 3d base with Blum. I’m not saying it’s a great solution, but it could be a stopgap for a couple of months. At least you would probably get good defense, since an adequate shortstop is probably above average defensively at 3d base. I notice that Chris Johnson continues to make errors at 3d base (another one today), which is bothersome, since he committed quite a few errors in AA.

As far as remaining free agents, Gruzelanek has not signed with anybody. Not sure why…maybe he is holding out for too much money. He hasplayed only 31 games at 3d base in his career. But he has played a lot of shortstop, which probably means that he has the arm for 3d base. He had a .743 OPS for the Royals last year, and hasn’t had a season below .700 OPS for six years (in fact, most of his seasons in that period are in the high .700’s).

by clack on Mar 30, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have you looked at this guy, Travis Metcalf's, stats?

What is he trying to do…become another Rob Deer? He strikes out a ton. He doesn’t walk. He has a low batting average. But he slugs. In 2008 for the Rangers, he had a .868 OPS, but only a .279 OBP and .232 BA. (ISO was .350, though.) He is a career .249 hitter (minors and majors) but a career ISO of .226. This has to be the kind of hitter who can drive you crazy…as in, think what he could be, if he would only make contact or walk.

I have seen Hessman’s name brought up previously. He might be OK for a 1 season stop gap. He is a classic older (30 years old) Quad-A player. But he absolutely raked in AAA last year, and continued his offensive onslaught when he was called up to Detroit late in the year. His ISO has been high every season he has played.

by clack on Mar 30, 2009 4:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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