The Minor League Reports staff want to give you some update information on what’s happening in the Astros farm system.
Funky Salem Doubleheader
On Saturday June 11, the Salem Avalanche, the Astros high-A affiliate, and Lynchburg Hillcats will play a day/night doubleheader. What makes this unusual is that it will be played at two ballparks. The day portion is scheduled for noon at Salem Memorial Stadium. The night game will be played at Lynchburg’s City Stadium. First pitch scheduled for 7:05. The two cities are just 58 driving miles apart and are closer together than any other two cities in the Carolina League making this a prime natural rivalry. The series will be called the “Highway 460 Series” and will feature a logo to be released this spring.
Round Rock Express take on the Houston Astros
As a way to kick off the Express new season and first in AAA the Astros and Express will play a spring training tune up game on April 1. Game time is set for 6:05. And, that’s no fooling.
Managerial Changes for 2005
The Astros promoted Jackie Moore from AA to AAA. However with the Astros moving their AAA team to Round Rock Moore will not have to do any moving. Nice of the Astros to do that for him.
The new AA manager for the new AA Corpus Christi Hooks is Dave Clark. Yeah, that Dave Clark.
The new high-A Salem Avalanche manager is Ivan DeJesus. DeJesus managed the low-A Lexington Legends in 2004. Salem is also introducing a new look logo for 2005. You can check it out at their home webpage.
After winning the Appalachain League championship with Greeneville, Tim Bogar steps up to take over the reigns from DeJesus at low-A Lexington. Hopefully another championship will follow Tim.
Gregg Langbehn returns for his second season with the Tri-City Valley Cats. He guided the Cats to the Stedler Division Championship and help them reach the New York-Penn league Championship series.
At rookie Greeneville, Russ Nixon steps into Bogar’s shoes as manager. Nixon moves to Greeneville from Salem where he was manager in 2004. Nixon will begin his 53rd season in professional baseball.
We want to wish all the Astros minor league managers good luck in the 2005 season.