Astros Minor League Open Thread
by David Coleman on May 24, 2010 6:14 PM CDT
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PrintSince there is no big league game tonight, I thought it'd be nice to have an open thread on the minor league games. I've been too swamped this past week to catch up on how guys have been doing, but hopefully will have something on the minors for Wednesday. Until then, let's talk the draft, the minors or anything else you've got on your mind.
Games for Monday:
Las Vegas 51s (19-25) at Round Rock Express (19-24)
Wesley Wright, LHP (2-0, 4.20 ERA) vs. Marty McLeary, RHP (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Midland RockHounds (20-23) at Corpus Christi Hooks (21-22)
Carlos Hernandez, LHP (3-0, 1.98 ERA) vs. Jeremy Johnson, RHP (0-3, 4.98 ERA)
High Desert Mavericks (26-18) at Lancaster JetHawks (15-28)
Ryan Feierabend, LHP (0-1, 5.31 ERA) vs. Shane Wolf, RHP (3-2, 4.15 ERA)
Lexington Legends at West Virginia Power
Juan Minaya, RHP (0-5, 6.19 ERA) vs. Nathan Baker, LHP (2-3, 3.99 ERA)
I'll also take this opportunity to pimp Andy Seiler's Draft Notebook. Just got a preview of the one I bought and MLB Bonus Baby's excellent content did not disappoint. Seiler has graciously allowed me to reproduce some of the content here, but if you want to read about all the players the Astros draft come June 6th, you'll have to buy one yourself (which I recommend).
Here's what he had to say about UT-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice, who has been linked to the Astros in at least one mock draft:
Michael Choice Position: OF School: UT-Arlington State: TX Year: Jr. Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 215
Bats: R Throws: R Birth Date: 11/10/89 Seiler Rating: 1B2 Last Drafted: Never
Year G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG 2008 50 197 39 74 9 3 7 51 8 0 21 35 .376 .440 .558 2009 56 225 64 93 13 3 11 52 5 3 29 30 .413 .494 .644 2010 56 183 62 70 10 1 16 57 12 4 71 49 .383 .568 .710
Michael Choice is a solidly-built college outfielder from the University of Texas at Arlington. Choice came
to UTA from Timberview High School in Mansfield, Texas, just south of Arlington. He wasn’t even really
recruited, though he was more than walk-on at UTA. He started immediately once arriving on campus,
and he hasn’t given up his center fielder’s job since, starting every single game since his freshman year.
He hit immediately, too, though it wasn’t until a successful stint with Team USA last summer that he
really began to be noticed on the national stage. A monster year as a junior has only elevated his status
as a potential big-time bat, and the tools, seen as fringy before the spring, started to receive more
favorable ratings as the season went on. His best tools involve his bat, as he’s an above-average hitter
with plus-plus raw power, and his speed rates as above-average, as well, giving him big offensive
potential. He’s a little more raw as a fielder, and the majority of scouts think he’ll shift over to a corner
outfield spot as a pro, as his range is more average than true center field range, and his arm is solid-
average. He has the potential to be an all-star player due to his bat, and while he’s not a huge ceiling
player, he’s a solid first round option, and he could go in the upper half of the first round and sign for
slot money.
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Chris Johnson makes a foolish mistake
With a runner on second, he dives to stop a grounder into the hole but doesn’t come up with it, the shortstop behind him gets to it, and the runner on second slips in behind Johnson to take third with nobody out. Shortstop was ready to throw the ball to Johnson and they could have got the runner but Johnson wasn’t paying attention to the runner.
The radio announcers won’t stop talking about how Castro shouldn’t be called up soon. Maybe a little homerism on display, not wanting to lose him just as he’s starting to hit, but they might have a point too. It’s not like we really need him at this point, might as well let him get a little more polished against high level pitching and conserve his ML service time.
Good to hear about Castro. With his age and lack of experience actually catching games, I think more time behind the plate will also be a good thing. His defense is good right now, but with a little experience and better instincts, he could really make an impact defensively.
by David Coleman on May 24, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I am puzzled that he isn’t hitting for more power, watching him hit. He has very good bat speed and a little loft in his swing (though it’s true it’s more of an LD swing), and he’s tall and strong.
This may sound crazy, but I can see .300/.400 and 15-20 homers in that swing.
He’s been very unlucky this year. His swing is very solid, its just his BABIP is bad. Its .303 right now as compared to a .336 career. It is improving (April .261 May .340) so his stats should be creeping up
Wesley Wright getting pounded
Round Rock scored 7 runs for him, then Wright gave up 6. He’s getting behind almost every batter and his command is really very bad. He seems scared to use anything but his fastball.
I don’t know what he looked like during the Dominican Winter League, but this doesn’t look like a successful experiment. Maybe he just needs some time to get used to pitching every fifth day. Maybe his control will come back under control as the season progresses. Right now, though, I am pretty bummed with Wright’s performance.
by David Coleman on May 24, 2010 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for the stuff about Michael Choice
I will order it and can’t wait to see the stuff on Cox, Josh Sale & the prep arms.
Offensive Players of the Week
Minor League Offensive Players of the Week have been posted. CJ is the PCL hitter of the week and Kody Hinze is the hitter of the week for the Sally League.
Pitchers of the Week
Minor League Pitchers of the Week have been posted as well and Douglas Arguello was the pitcher of the week for the Texas League.
I would be cautious on putting much weight on errors, particularly in the lower minors. Some of the minor league fields are not good, and, at the least, there is no consistency in standards for maintaining and lighting the fields. Very good ML shortstops often committed a large number of errors at some point in their minor league careers. Adam Everett had 24 and 25 error seasons in AAA New Orleans. Nomar Garciaparra had 24 errors in AA. Rafael Furcal had 34 errors in A+ ball. You get the idea.
I was looking at team stats the other day. Lexington has one of the best offenses but mediocre to bad pitching. Lancaster has one of the worst offenses and a mediocre pitching staff. CC has really good to mediocre pitching and the same for the offense. No wonder CC is the only with a winning record.
Corpus Christi
Shuck 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. Steele 2-for-4 with a double. Clemens doesn’t appear to be in the lineup. Not sure why.
Yes, you're right, my mistake.
I even read it and thought “triple” but for some reason I wrote double. Just one of those days…
Sounds like Levine is close to joining the "cut Feliz" bandwagon
MILWAUKEE — This little chart ran on this little blog back in December after Pedro Feliz was signed. They are his declining OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages) figures since 2003 despite moving to a hitter’s haven in Philadelphia.
2003 SFO .793
2004 SFO .790
2005 SFO .717
2006 SFO .709
2007 SFO .708
2008 PHL .705
2009 PHL .694
Well, if the 2010 season has shown us anything (that we already knew), it’s that those numbers don’t tend to improve upon leaving Philadelphia and that they don’t tend to improve upon turning 35.
…
Or — and I don’t expect this right away — they could go the Kaz Matsui route. Cut their losses on the field while keeping the losses coming in the bank account, as those losses are unavoidable barring a trade.
The reason this comes up is how well Chris Johnson has hit at Class AAA Round Rock. Johnson was just named the Pacific Coast League player of the week, hitting 11-for-24 with seven of those 11 hits going for extra bases.
The clock is ticking on Johnson. At 25, he is on the verge of losing his prospect status, and it would be a shame if Johnson were to cross his peak without getting a chance to show what he can do on a regular basis. The Astros have very few luxuries this year, but one of them is the ability to take some chances. See what some players, who might not get a chance on a contending team, can do.
Does anybody know anything about what the plans are for SP Chris Hicks (Lancaster last year), DH Brian Pelligrini (Lancaster/Lexington last year), and RP James McDonald (Lexington last year)? None of them look to be on the extended spring roster and all 3 were in full season ball last year, so unless they’ve been released, they should have been full season again this year. I had/have a lot of hope for Chris Hicks.
I’m also a little surprised Telvin Nash, BJ Hyatt, Eric Castro, and Enrique Hernandez weren’t on Lexington’s roster. Wonder how they’re looking in Florida.
Hicks and Pelligrini both are in EST for rehab. I don’t know details on their injuries though. MacDonald is on the restricted list for Tri-City, not sure the reasoning behind that.
Telvin Nash is extremely raw. I expected him to be in Lexington, but apparently he is not quite ready for full season ball. Based on his stats last year in GCL (which is the lowest level besides the Dominican League in the Astros organization) which were not impressive, it is quite understandable.
Hyatt also had a poor debut in Greenville. He’ll likely be in SS this year. He struggled with control last year so we’ll see what happens this year. If he can solve his control problem i can see them using him as a Starter, otherwise he’ll be a bullpen guy. Last years trouble also included bad luck with his BABIP was over .400.
Erik Castro transitioned to 3rd base last year after being the catcher for Stephen Strasburg in Junior College. He had a very solid debut in SS last year, so he’s the most surprising that didn’t make Lexingtons roster, but then again, he’s blocked there with Meyer.
Enrique Hernandez is another guy that was in the GCL last year, so he is also very raw. He’ll likely be in either Greeneville or Tri-City. Its hard to jump from GCL to full season ball. Bushue did it, but he’s an amazing talent.
MacDonald retired this spring to pursue a career as a journalist. He got a journalism degree from Boston College and wrote for a newspaper up in Connecticut in the offseason.
by David Coleman on May 26, 2010 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
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