Bored at work: Minor Questions for the Board

Whew, lots of questions, I’ll do the best I can… -Martinez will definitely be promoted, Gaston will probably be promoted. I can see Shuck, Gaston and Martinez getting the most time. I’m hoping Bogey and Bourgeious are the 4th/5th OFers next season which leaves DeLome and Locke as the reserves and DHs.

-Barnes is an organizational player, but maybe a late blooming reserve OFer. Simunic is a super-utility player, capable of playing every position, although not great at it. Hinze is an avg. power hitting 1B at best. Goebbert is probably an average RF/LF at best. Grimmett is a 5th starter or swing man capable of providing solid innings. He’s very young still and has some promise, but don’t expect a mid-rotation guy out of him. Nevarez has closer stuff but his command will leave him as a set-up man at best. David Carpenter is probably an average middle reliever. Kirk Clark and David Berner might be a setup guys but more likely a middle releivers. Wander Alvino, Kyle Godfrey, and Jose Trinidad look like middle relievers to me, although I like Godfrey and Trinidad more than most and see them as a chance at being above average middle relievers. Polin Trinidads window of opportunity seems to have closed. He’ll likely be tried as a LOOGY next year.

-Steele isn’t forgotten, just disappointing with results and injury issues. He’ll likely repeat CC and I hope he can put it together, he has nice tools. Although, I’m with David and don’t consider him a 5-tool player the way the FO considers him.

-Shuck at 2B is an interesting idea. Unfortunately, I think the FO would have attempted it already at this point, but I could be wrong. Just based on SB numbers and his getting most of his time at LF, I think he might struggle with reads a little.

-I think the FO has pretty much given up on Clemens at any other position. He just wasn’t that good at catcher and he’d be a backup at the position, and typically you want your backup to be solid defensively. Even though he’s athletic, his range was an issue at 3B which will probably prevent him from being used there again.

-Lancaster needed another OFer and probably didn’t want to have to pay for a wave of promotions at every level below Lancaster. So, they send one up from a team with an abundance of OFers, GCL. He had a great game last night, it’ll be interesting how he does here on out, but I still think he stays in EST next year.

-I can see Heath starting in Lancaster next year, but he may start in Lexington to continue working on his defense, with Bubby Williams getting the promotion. Although, I expect Heath to get at least half a season in Lancaster next year, he’ll be a fast mover.

-Next years rotations will be difficult to put together until later on. There will be many NRI who will take spots in RR rotation will prevent the advancement of some. Also, there could be a logjam in Lexington next year with four guys (Folty, Velasquez, Alaniz, Grills) from Greeneville and GCL with shots of being in the rotation plus the guys from Tri-City. I can see at least one going to Lancaster, but even there, you’ll have the guys Lexington moving up. The pitching coaches, managers, and FO will have some difficult decision on who to start next year.

-Chia-Jen Lo, Matt Nevarez, Danny Meszaros, Henry Villar (now starting) have closer stuff. There are a few others guys who have outside chances to be closers. If Rodney Quintero can’t develop his secondary offerings, he could be a closer candidate.

-Top 5 Overrated-Eesh, thats difficult being that everyone always downgrades Astros prospects. I think TJ Steele fits this category. Jio is now considered overrated, but I disagree with that. He’s just had a very rough season, but the tools are there.

-Top 5 underrated-I have to go with OremLK’s article from earlier on in the season and say Kyle Greenwalt. I also think J.D. will be underrated since he was a 20th round pick even though several are seeing him as a B prospect. I think Keuchel is underrated. Jose Altuve for his size. Shuck will be underrated as well for his lack of power.