Monday Morning Astros, etc. Round Up

Russ Ortiz “.778 winning percentage at Minute Maid Park is tied for the highest in the stadium’s history by pitchers with at least nine decisions.”

To read this in its original form, click on Dying Quail’s “about facing off” link.

the writer is calling on the Reds to promote Stubbs, who he says can produce more than Willy Taveras right now. Justice used to bring up the Stubbs story frequently in years past, as an illustration of the Astros’ drafting problems. The Astros drafted Stubbs out of high school, knowing that he would require an above slot bonus to skip his UT scholarship. The Astros reportedly had an agreement with Stubbs. But supposedly Bud Selig called and complained to Drayton McLane that the Astros were paying him too much. McLane called off the signing.

and then look at the wrap over at Twinkie Town. They thought the game was boring. I guess having your team get beat isn’t fun, sometimes its painful, but it doesn’t sound like it was boring.

I have to say playing in the Twinkie Dome has been unpleasant for the Brewers the past couple years, but it sounded like it wasn’t a big deal for the Astros. Its interesting that Wandy did so well. Maybe there is some similarity between there and MMP that agrees with him or perhaps there really isn’t much to the home and away history other than a small sample oddity.

Besides the Twins, have you guys been following the Rockies? They’ve won something like 16 of 17 since you got 3 in a row from them. Brewers struggled against them last year as well.

Jordan Lyles, RHP, Astros (Single-A Lexington)
Houston’s supplemental first-round pick last year out of a South Carolina high school, no pitcher in the Sally League has been generating more buzz of late than Lyles. On Sunday, he tied his season high with 11 strikeouts while allowing just two hits over six shutout innings, and it was his third double-digit effort for strikeouts in his past four starts, made all the more impressive by pitch counts that have limited him to 26 batters faced or fewer each time out. With 98 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings, Lyles now leads the minor leagues in that category, and with a fastball that’s consistently been clocked up to 94-95 mph as well as a rapidly improving power curveball, signs are good that he’s going to rack up plenty more.

Bud Norris, RHP, Astros (Triple-A Round Rock)
Norris really shined last year when he pitched out of the bullpen in the Arizona Fall League and his velocity sat in the mid-90s. While most scouts have always preferred him as a future reliever, the Astros are still doing the right thing and not writing him off as a starter until absolutely necessary. On Saturday night, Norris delivered his best outing of the year, firing eight shutout innings while allowing three hits and striking out a season-high ten. His 2.11 ERA leads the Pacific Coast League, and he could be getting a big-league look soon.

Dierker is one of the broadcasters for this game I think. Probably a chance to watch Castro.