Can you imagine my reaction when I pulled up TCB on my iPhone during my lunch break at 5 o'clock last night to see over 70 comments on a RECAP? Instant jaw to the floor! Then when I get home at 9:45 and see over 100, jaw hit the floor again. That is just crazy. I read each comment and wish I could have joined in the discussion, no matter how heated it seemed to have gotten a few times.
I'll make a quick response to a few, but I don't have the time to go in-depth. Yes, the Astros are an organization that historically slow to promote guys. But, that has changed the last few years as more talent is in the system and a new regime. The guy responsible for that, Fred Nelson, is actually back in the position for the first time in several years. So, give him a few months to get back into things. He's working with a whole new staff. Give it to mid-season, and I think we'll see a lot of shuffling.
As for the old guys in AAA. Those guys are necessary for two reasons (that I can think of really quick). They are there so you don't have to push guys too quickly to fill rosters and have guys in a league over their head. Kind of like Mier and Bushue seemed to be last season. The other is that you can use them in case of injury on the major league roster so you don't have to start arbitration clocks too early. Those examples are Hyphen and Figgy and we don't have Lyles hitting super-2 status. Are there a few too many? Sure, but they were depth so we didn't have guys in over their heads. Things are getting better. Relax and be patient.
Oklahoma City lost 7-5
- Douglas Arguello-6 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, 9/2 GO/AO
- Anderson Hernandez 3B-2-5
- Jeff Keppinger 2B-2-5
- Max Ramirez C-2-4, SO-I wish he was good defensively
- Koby Clemens 1B, LF-2-3, 2 2B, BB
Corpus Christi lost 3-0
- Dallas Keuchel-8 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 9/6 GO/AO-He has more than doubled his walks in his last two outings, I hope this isn't lingering from his injury.
- Erik Abreu-1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
- Jacob Goebbert LF-2-3, 2B
Lancaster lost 16-4
- Robby Doran-1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO-He is probably my biggest disappointment so far this season.
- Yordany Ramirez-1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO-He's the only pitcher to not surrender a run.
- Jose Altuve 2B-2-5, SO
- Kody Hinze 1B-2-3, HR, BB, SO-13 HR's, get him up to CC!
- Jordan Comadena LF-2-4, 2B, 2 SO
Lexington won 7-1
- Mike Foltynewicz-7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, HR, 9/2 GO/AO-Good groundball rate! I listened to the game and he's struggling to get first pitch strikes, so he gets in a hole early, if he can get better with that, I think we'll see better strikeouts.
- Alex Gouvea-2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
- Delino Deshields 2B-2-5, SO
- Kike Hernandez LF-3-3, 2B, BB
- Tyler Burnett 1B-2-3, 2B
- Roberto Pena C-2-3, BB
- Emilio King CF-1-4, 2B, SO