Astros Minor League Recap: Jose Altuve Day

Happy Jose Altuve Day! Today is Altuve's debut in Astros uniform and the epitome of a shift in organizational philosophy over the last few years.  The Astros have historically been one of the more conservative teams in developing talent, partly because of in recent years, there was a lack of talent.  Now, we have a prospect going from High-A to the majors in literally fifty days!  That is insane!  It is definitely exciting.

Now, the analytical side of me has a few words to say.  I love that Altuve is getting recognition he deserves and is giving opportunities, but this is too aggressive in my opinion.  My opinion is that he's being rushed.  Even your biggest prospects get more time at AA than he did.  Then, you factor in that they also normally get time at AAA, and he has just a fraction of the time in the upper levels.  All but a small sample size of his success has been in the lower levels.  I'm not saying he's going to fail, just that it's aggressive.  I think he's a major league player, but I would have preferred the shot to come in September and Anderson Hernandez being the stop-gap until then.

Another thing to think about is a topic that was recently a fairly hot discussion recently here on TCB.  Organizational Farm Rankings.  With the potential of three to four top 100 prospects (Altuve, Martinez, Springer, Ovando), we were probably looking at 15-25 range.  Now, we have around two to three and maybe more if Chris Wallace has defensive improvements and just goes on a tear to dominate the Texas League.  But, realistically, it will probably be two that make a list and we are once again looking at a terrible ranking. 

That's why I don't put stock in those rankings.  The point of the farm system is to provide major league talent to the major league team.  In the past two years, it has done it's job better than most.  It has given Jason Castro, Chris Johnson, Brett Wallace (kind of, but not really), Jordan Lyles, and now Jose Altuve.  If they were conservative, it's possible that Castro, Lyles, and Altuve would all still be eligible for the off-season top prospect lists.  Thats potentially anywhere from four to seven top 100 prospects.  I couldn't care less about organizational rankings as long as there is talent being provided.

Oklahoma City won 9-5

• Andy Van Hekken-5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 9/3 GO/AO
• Casey Fien-1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
• Jason Bourgeois CF, RF-2-5, 2B, SB
• JB Shuck LF-3-4, 3B
• Robinson Cancel 1B-2-5, SO
• Collin DeLome RF-3-5, 2 2B, SO
• Koby Clemens 3B, 1B-1-4, HR, BB, SO
• Tommy Manzella SS-2-4, BB, SO

Corpus Christi won 4-2

• Erik Abreu-6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, 2/7 GO/AO
• Henry Villar-2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3/0 GO/AO
• Danny Meszaros-1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
• Jonathan Villar SS-1-4, 2B, 2 SO
• JD Martinez LF-1-3, 2B, SO
• Kody Hinze DH-2-4
• Jacob Goebbert RF-2-4, 2B, SO
• Chris Wallace C-2-3, BB

Lancaster: Off

Lexington: Off

Tri-City won 10-6

• Nick Tropeano-4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R< 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR, 4/2 GO/AO
• Mitchell Lambson-1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
• Garret Cole-1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
• Justin Gominsky CF-4-5, 2B
• Zach Johnson 1B-2-5, HR
• Brandon Meredith LF-2-4, 2B, 3B
• John Hinson 2B-1-4, 2B, SO, CS, PO
• Bubby Williams DH-2-4, 2B, SO
• Drew Muren RF-1-2, 2 BB, SO, CS

Greeneville won 7-2

• Chris Lee-5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 11/2 GO/AO
• Jamaine Cotton-4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 3/2 GO/AO
• Jordan Scott CF-2-5
• Chase Davidson DH-1-4, 2B, BB, 2 SO, SB
• Jesse Wierzbicki 1B-1-4, HR, BB
• Ariel Ovando RF-1-5, 3 SO
• Garen Wright LF-2-3, BB, 2 SB
• Darwin Rivera 3B-1-4, 2B
• Luis Alvarez C-2-4, SB, CS

GCL Astros lost 6-4

• Adrian Houser-2 1/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 6/0 GO/AO
• Pedro Gomez-2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
• Javaris Reynolds CF-2-5, SO
• Alfredo Gonzalez C-1-1, 3B
• Chris Epps LF-2-2, 2B, 2 BB

DSL Astros lost 12-6

• Samil De Los Santos-3 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 1 SO, 4/0 GO/AO
• Victor Mesa-2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 5/1 GO/AO
• Juan Santana SS-1-4, 2B, BB, SO
• Teoscar Hernandez CF-2-5, 3B
• Mario Gonzalez 1B-0-1, 3 BB