Bogusevic in DWL - Worth Noting

But I don’t mind predicting 30+ doubles, if he gets the playing time. If he keeps that walk rate up, he’s got a solid argument to be the leadoff hitter.

Considering it’s coupled with a .500 slugging percentage. I know it’s the DWL, but it indicates he’s waiting for his pitch and then making the pitcher pay. I hope he can keep that up against stiffer competition.

Forgot to say he had a nice approach at the plate.

But I won’t lie. A top of the lineup consisting of Bogusevic, Lowrie, Martinez, and Lee really doesn’t sound too terrible to me at this point. Obviously not a playoff lineup, but if there is ANY growth from Altuve and Paredes (or Johnson) at least watching the Astros hit might not be as brutal as last season.

But I’m much more interested in K% and BB%

Rene Garcia was the 35th rd draft pick in ‘08 out of a HS in Puerto Rico. He is alleged to have a very good defensive profile, but hasn’t hit consistently or with any power, so those #‘s are very encouraging. He may be Chris Wallace’s backup in CC in 2012. He was invited to ST last season, so apparently he’s not totally lost in the shuffle. If he can improve his bat, he could end up as a Q wannabe.

I’m not sold on him defensively at any position. He’s only had 25 IP in the outfield, so it’s really hard to say how he’d play there, but he grades really poorly in the infield, other than 1B. He may be better suited to the outfield, who knows. I’m also interested to see what he would do with playing time, but I’m not sure where he fits on this roster unless the Astros give up on either Paredes or Schafer in 2012, and decide that Bourgeois is not a starter. I think it’s much more likely that Downs plays the Darrin Erstad role, filling in at all positions except for pitcher, catcher, shorstop, and center, and winds up with something like 250-300 AB at most. But a lot of that is going to depend on how Paredes, Altuve, and Johnson play. I think the outfield is too deep for Downs to crack a decent role out there.

I’m not on Twitter, but thanks for asking. I have this deep-rooted aversion to social media that was born in my post-college days due to a bad experience involving global warming and my next-door-neighbor’s dad. I only recently got back on Facebook, and that’s only so I could promote TCB like the good organizational soldier that I am.

In the majors, Bogusevic has only been allowed to bat against lefties 15 times. That should tell us something. In the Winter Leagues, it probably wouldn’t matter much because the pitchers are pretty awful compared to the majors so even a good line against lefties there would be too small a sample to mean much.

Click the link in the original post and then click on his name and scroll down a bit.

………AVG OBP SLG
vLHP: .271 .386 .396 48AB 3DBL 0TPL 1HR 8BB 14K
vRHP: .347 .484 .569 72AB 5DBL 1TPL 3HR 19BB 14K

So yeah, he’s still faring much better against righties.

2011 vs LHP (AAA): .217/.276/.290 [69AB 0HR 5BB 19K]
2011 vs. RHP (AAA): .282/.399/.450 [149AB 3HR 25BB 30K]

source: minorleaguecentral dot com

So his offensive stats would have to be ridiculously good to merit a starting gig in the major leagues. I just don’t see it happening. If Altuve and Paredes are both sent down (a scenario that I doubt, but is very possible given their ages), CJ will likely get another crack at 3B with Downs at 2B.

But to be honest, Downs doesn’t play gifted defense either, so it’s really hard to say. I think CJ either gets traded for a minor league reliever, or he gets released to give him a chance to stick elsewhere.

I think he’s Aaron Boone with worse defense. But if he can manage anywhere near average defense at 3B, he could put up a consistent 750 OPS. I’d like to see Paredes start in AAA and see if CJ can’t get a good start and build some value.

Bogey was an exciting player to watch in right field last year. I was just waiting for someone to run on him.