By Michael N
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on April 7, 2000.
Thank the Diety, Minor League ball is back! We here in Central Texas are very pleased Nolan Ryan bought his kid a new toy so we can all witness first-hand the development of the Astros of the future in the AA Texas League. I’ve got my ticket. You better get yours because they are going fast. I suggest Thurdays. They are dollar beer nights.
The Astros were kind enough to fax over to me late last night the Opening Day rosters for each of the 4 full-season minor league teams: New Orleans, Round Rock, Kissimmee and Michigan. Unfortunately it looks as though some key young pitchers will be missing some time early this season. They are Wilfredo Rodriguez, Tony McKnight and Jeriome Robertson. At this time I don’t have good information on the extent of injuries or any timetable for their return. But as soon as I get that information, I’ll pass it on.
For now, the following are the rosters for the teams currently competing in the minors and a short preview of each team. A (*) indicates players on the 40-man roster.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS
Pitchers:
Right-handers: Travis Driskill, Kip Gross, Rick Huisman, Rusty Meacham, Wade Miller*, Joe Slusarski, Bryan Wolff.
Left-handers: Wayne Franklin*, Erik Plantenberg.
Catchers:
Frank Charles, Raul Chavez, Pedro Lopez.
Infielders:
Adam Everett*, Julio Lugo*, Ryan Miller, Mike Robertson, Victor Sanchez, Jamie Saylor, Chris Truby*.
Outfielders:
Lance Berkman*, James Betzsold, Omar Ramirez, Marc Sagmoen.
On DL:
Right-handed pitchers Tony McKnight* and Brian Powell.
Get ready, Zephyrs fans, for what could very well be another schizophrenic season at the Shrine on Airline. Like last year’s team, there is talent on this ballclub. But it is very thin, particularly with the bat, and if the parent Astros suffer an injury or two… Berkman and Lugo could be gone in a flash and the runs scored are gonna be few and far between. The staff should be fine as there is a ton of experience to compliment young comers Wade Miller and Tony McKnight.
Adam Everett is the player to watch on this team. Houston paid a heavy price to bring this slick fielding SS into the fold. No one questions his ability to play defense. What Zephyr fans need to look for is a sign this guy will be able to develop a decent stick. Houston has had enough Roger Metzger, Craig Reynolds and Tim Bogar quality shortstops. The glove is good and necessary at that position, no question. But I want my Dickie Thon back, dammit.
Should this team stay intact, they could very well challenge for the AAA playoffs. Let’s hope that is the case because it means the Astros are staying healthy and winning.
ROUND ROCK EXPRESS
Pitchers:
Right-handers: Jason Green*, Russell Herbert, Fernando Hernandez, Mark Hutton, Eric Ireland*, Mark Persails, Doug Sessions, Tom Shearn
Left-handers: Brian Braswell, Scott Navarro
Catchers:
Carlos Maldonado, Jerrey Thurston.
Infielders:
Kevin Burns, Brian Dallimore, Morgan Ensberg, Keith Ginter, David Matranga, Aaron McNeal*.
Outfielders:
Eric Cole, Kyle Logan, Colin Porter, Nelson Samboy, Barry Wesson.
On DL:
Left-handed pitchers Wilfredo Rodriguez* and Jeriome Robertson*.
It seems incredible to me that Jeriome Robertson would be repeating AA-ball this year after a fine ’99 campaign. But if he does, the Round Rock Express compete easily for the title of best staff in all of AA baseball. It may take a while for these guys to adjust to AA as most of them have little to no experience above A-ball, but the talent to succeed is obviously there. Ireland, Rodriguez, Shearn, Robertson and Navarro have all been dominant starters and the bully is anchored by Jason Green and Doug Sessions who have been nothing short of spectacular throughout their careers.
Now we get to the offense. What’s there to say other than there is not much to say. Keith Ginter and Aaron McNeal (maybe Carlos Maldonado if he proves he can hit) are the only two guys on this roster that have a real chance at ever seeing major league action, in my estimation. McNeal I expect to struggle for a while, though. He’s making a jump from mid-A ball to AA. Sure he had a monster year in Michigan last year. But he was also repeating that level. Guard yourself from high expectations from him. Ginter, though, is a player. I’ve always liked this guy and expect him to do well. But he cannot carry this offense. However, there is speed up and down the lineup so this is a team that likely will have to manufacture runs, play good defense and pitch extremely well.
Wow. What a concept.
KISSIMMEE COBRAS
Pitchers:
Right-handers: Gabe Garcia, Brad Lidge, Esteban Maldonado, Roy Oswalt, Tim Redding, Travis Wade
Left-handers: David Glick, Tim Hamulack, Kyle Kessel, Greg Miller, Jacob Whitney
Catchers:
Brandon Buckley, Scott Chapman
Infielders:
Jason Alfaro, Charley Carter, Modesto De Aza, Royce Huffman, Jhonny Perez, JJ Thomas
Outfielders:
Kevin Jordan, Jesse Joyce, Luis Lopez, Michael Rosamond, Tyler Turnquist, Alejandro Vasquez
On DL:
Catcher Camron Hahn, Infielder Aaron Miles
I feel like I’m gonna be repeating myself quite a bit throughout these reviews but this Kissimmee team is an awful lot like the Round Rock team in that it is pitching heavy and the offense has a lot of question marks. Lidge, Oswalt, Redding and Miller are all outstanding prospects with live arms. Redding and Lidge consistently throw in the mid-90s with Redding often hitting the upper limits of the 90s. Oswalt and Miller throw in the low 90s but both get outstanding movement on their pitches.
The offense is an interesting mix of guys. Perez is returning to A-ball where he enjoyed a wonderful season in ’97. Too bad it did not work out for him in AA the last two years. The rest of the team is mostly made up of guys who are a bit too old to be playing in A-ball. Guys like Charley Carter, James Thomas and Tyler Turnquist are 24-25 year olds playing in a league for 21-22 year olds. This is good and bad. Their experience may help the offense and thus the confidence of the young starters, but in terms of their own development one must doubt if they will ever see the majors at this rate.
MICHIGAN BATTLE CATS
Pitchers:
Right-handers: Travis Anderson, Chris George, Ryan Jamison, Mike Nannini, Santiago Ramirez, Derek Stanford, Johnny Whitesides
Left-handers: Mike Gallo, Darwin Peguero, Don Thomas, Luis Vasquez
Catchers:
John Buck, Danny Fatheree, Brian O’Connor
Infielders:
Luis Dominguez, Felix Escalona, Jon Helquist, Jason Lane, Johann Maya, Donaldo Mendez, Brian Schmitt
Outfielders:
Michael Hill, Derek Nicholson, Jon Topolski, Gavin Wright
This team I like top to bottom. There is a good mix of pitching, offense, defense and speed with guys playing at the appropriate level for their age. Michael Hill, Jason Lane and John Buck are all big guys with good power. Jon Helquist is a quality hitter for a 19-year old. 20-year old Gavin Wright, who just may be faster than Glen Barker, is also a quality hitter and may climb faster up the system than anyone else on this team. Keep an eye on Donaldo Mendez. He’s a pretty slick SS with good size, speed and talent who unfortunately has been regularly bitten by the injury bug. I wonder if he just might bust out this year.
The pitchers to watch on this team are clearly Mike Nannini and Travis Anderson. Nannini is pure mid-90s gas and bulldog attitude while Anderson has a truly nasty slider and good sinking action on his pitches. The rest of the staff I don’t know well enough to make sound judgements, but suffice to say Vasquez, Peguero, Gallo and Stanford show the ability to make something of themselves. Let’s hope this year is the year they do so.