“I’m just really excited to get going right now,” Mier said. “The money isn’t really that big of a deal. It’s nice to have, but I am really excited about having a chance to play professional baseball. It’s a dream come true.”

Oh to be a teen again and have thoughts like 1.385 million dollars isn’t that big of a deal.

The Astros have now 34 of their 51 picks and 23 of the top 25. Greeneville is now home to Mier, Meyer (3rd sup), Hyatt (4th).  The Gulf Coast League Astros are home to Bushue (2nd), and Nash (3rd).  While Tri Cities has Wikoff (5th), Walker (8th), Orloff (9th) & Castro (10th).  If the Astros are able to sign Dallas Keuchel (7th), who is the lone unsigned pick from the top 10 rounds, he will likely go to Tri Cities as well.

On his return to baseball:

“We don’t want to rush him or push him too hard or too soon or too fast,” said Ricky Bennett, the Astros’ director of player development.

On his growth as a person going through this ordeal:

“He’s having to learn patience,” said his mom, Missy Sapp. “Young people aren’t the most patient people in the world, and he’s having to learn it.”

On his physical shape right now:

He cannot control how his brain will respond when he weans himself off Phenobarbital, but he can build up his body. In the hospital, his weight plummeted from 215 pounds to 188 pounds. He now has about 210 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame and hopes to gain eight more pounds of muscle.

And on his current attitude:

“He’s just a lot more jovial, a lot more talkative and laughs a lot more,” (former high school coach) Holbrook said. “I think he’s found that as much passion as he has for the sport, it’s not the most important thing in the world.”

“I’m a guy who came from dying three times, and now I’m here alive working out,” he said. “So anything’s possible.”

He’s missed more bats as the season has progressed. He fanned 23.3% in April and 28.2% in May. He’s opened June with an even bigger bang, striking out 45.7% through his first two starts of the month.

Lyles’ walk rate was never a problem, but he’s gotten stingier with the free passes. In the first month the year, he walked 7.0% but cut it to 4.2% in May and has yet to walk a batter in June.

While his groundball rate isn’t great (44%), it’s gotten higher throughout the year. It sat at 38% in April, 47% in May and so far in June rests at a more-acceptable 50%.

He also reports that Lyles fast ball was clocked in the mid 90’s during spring training.  Good to have someone outside the organization touting Lyles development.

Mr. Wade was there with Clarance Johns (Regional Supervisor of East scouting) to take in the Legends game and look at some of last years developing draft picks.  I identified myself as a fan from Greeneville and as one of the guys who covers the minors for SpikesnStars.com, a fan website.  There was a brief look on his face that I coudn’t discern if it was “Oh, crap, that’s worse that if he had said, “I am with 60 minutes”.  Of if the look was “huh, he looks to normal to be living in his mom’s basement.  I feel for his kid.”

Regardless, I engaged the nice gentlemen in some small talk about how Mr. Wade had traded away some of our families favorite kids from Greeneville (Patton, Parraz, Ralphie Henriquez…).  I then explained that we were there to catch up with some of the guys from last years team.  He said he didn’t think he would be trading any of the starting pitchers anytime soon.

With small talk over, I got down to the real questions I wanted answered.  The most important question to Astro Fans named Duman!  “What does the new GCL team mean for the talent we will see in Greeneville.”  What? You thought I was going to ask about the LaTroy Hawkins to the Twins rumors?  Please.

Mr. Wade said that Greeneville should be getting the upper tier highschool kids, some of the upper tier foriegn kids and some of the guys in extended spring training.  He said the Gulf Coast League Astros, would have the less refined HS kids and foriegn players.  So he summed it up by saying, we shouldn’t see much of a difference in Greeneville.

I then followed up by inquiring about how signings were coming from the draft, esp. the upper tier guys.  He said they were coming along and basically minimized things.  Mr. Johns chimed in and reported that 3, 4 & 5 are signed.  I don’t know if that is round or pick order.

I thanked them for their time and left to let them get down to the business of whatever it is they do hanging out at a minor league park before a game.

13th round pick Jake Goebbert is one example of how this strategy is being used.  He had already committed to play in the Cape Cod League.  He missed a fair amount of the season with a lacerated kidney.  He sustained the injury hitting an outfield wall at a dead sprint in April at the Metrodome.  He just was cleared to swing a bat three weeks ago.  He will be followed by Astros’ scouts during his time playing for the Harwich (Ma.) Mariners.  Then he will sign or can return to Northwestern for his senior season.

“I would say his season is going totally in the right direction,“ Lexington Legends pitching coach Travis Driskill said of Lyles on Monday. “He is head and shoulders above some kids.“…

He said Lyles first came into the league with a fastball and a change up. Now, however, Driskill said Lyles has added a curveball to his repertoire, and that pitch is working well for him. “Now he is displaying a curveball that has the makings of a good pitch for him.“…

“I expect big things out of him. In my mind, and in the mind of the organization, he is doing everything he is able to do to advance to the next level.“

I have picked out a favorite this year.  He is 11th round pick, David Williams a catcher out of Crowder College.  What makes him my favorite?  First of all, he comes with a nickname in place.  Bubby!  That is a good solid nickname that yells well from the bleachers.

Then you get the stories of how proud everyone is of him:

“He’s a one-of-a-kind kid who I always knew would make it,” said Blue Springs (High) assistant coach Tim McElligott.  “I’m as thrilled as if he were my own son.”

So is former Wildcats coach Brad Mayfield, who has been unlocking the batting cage at the high school so Williams can get in some licks at the plate.

I bet Bubby’s like a kid in the candy store,” Mayfield said. “I’m so excited for him. This has been his dream for as long as I’ve known him. And he’s worked so hard. You don’t get drafted in the 11th round unless you work hard, and no one has worked harder than Bubby.”

Then you learn about the family.

“I hope that Bubby has a baseball card some day, because I want to get one,” the 12-year-old (little brother Dyllon) said late Thursday afternoon after his brother…  “All my friends will be asking me for his autograph. It will be so cool.”

And you hear what Momma has to say about him.

“Ever since Bubby was 4, he said he wanted to play baseball,” said Bubby’s mother, Toni. “And now, to see a dream come true – well, I just want to cry. I’m so proud of him, so happy for him.
“His father (David) and I told him, the one thing we want to make sure of is that he never changes. Now that he has some money, we want him to be the same person he’s always been.”

Then you read he was found by accident.

Ironically, (Astros scout Jim)Stevenson didn’t go to Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., to scout Williams.
“But when I saw him, I knew he was something special,” the veteran scout said. “I kind of came across Bubby by accident, but when I saw him, something just jumped out at me.

Then you read the kid has been taught to say the right things to the paper.

“I just know that I’m going to have the chance to play professional baseball. That’s all I ever wanted – a chance.”

and

“I wish it started tomorrow. I can hardly wait.”

Bubby has signed and his slated to begin his pro career in Greeneville, where Dyllon will be happy to know that one of the first things they will do is take Bubby’s picture for the program and his very first baseball card.

“We’re very excited about where he is in his development process,” assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. “[Minor League field coordinator] Al Pedrique just left Lancaster yesterday and [catching coordinator] Danny Sheaffer has been in there, Mike Barnett, our hitting coordinator, has been in there, and we’re all seeing the same thing.

“He’s handled every challenge we put in front of him. His game-calling is better, his blocking is better, his throwing has been outstanding and he’s ready for another challenge. We are ready to move him through the system.”

Any chance of a promotion before the year is out? Yes… but….

“I think he’s really going to develop under those circumstances and if he stays in Corpus for the rest of the year, that’s fine,” Bennett said. “I think the experience he’s going to get at this level will more more than anything else he’s ever really faced before in terms of competition and speed of the game and those types of things.”

Clemens gets more time behind the plate out of the deal.

“That’s kind of been the through process all along,” Bennett said. “When we started this season, I sat down with Koby in spring training and I told him in the first half of the season it maybe tough to get him time behind the plate, but hopefully at some point during the course of the summer he’ll get more playing time, and that time has come.”

Greg Rajan of Caller.com rehashes a quote from April that reminds us, there is going to be quicker movement through the system.

“We’ve talked about how we’re going to create an express lane in the organization,” Wade said when the Astros played an exhibition game in Corpus Christi in April. “We’ve talked about how if a player shows, one, the ability, but more importantly, the makeup to be able to jump a level, then we’re going to give him the opportunity to do that.

“I really think if somebody really shows they can excel at (Class AA) and has the right makeup, those guys can jump a level and get to the big leagues.”

THE GOOD:

The Hitters –

Andrew Locke is the hitter who has been the most consistant for the Hooks so far this season.  The rule 5 pick up from the Dodgers is hitting .376 on the season.  His average for May dropped .119 points but he still hit .327 for the month.  Mark Ori continues to hit above .300 on the season.  He hit .305 for May.  Drew Meyer saw all of his offensive numbers climb in May (.324/.397/.444).  Josh Flores raised his average from .169 at the end of April to .242 at the end of May by hitting a solid .289 in May.  He also showed some power with 8 extra base hits in May.

As a team, they have some pop.  They lead the league in Home Runs with 50 in 47 games.  Six of those homers belong to Jonathan Fixler.  In 52 at bats at AA he has 4 doubles and 6 home runs.  No singles yet.  He has an average of .192 and a slugging % of .615.

The Hooks are 3rd in runs (260), RBI (242), total bases (689), slugging (.420), and OPS (.761).  They are tied for second fewest times caught stealing (12).

Individually,  Andrew Locke is having an MVP start to the season.  Drew leads the league in RBIs (57), total bases (111), slugging % (.613) and is tied for the lead in HR (10).  He is tied for 10th in runs scored (33),  and has the 3rd most hits with 68.  He is tied for 6th in doubles (13).  Locke is getting on base at a .413 clip which is 8th best which combined with his slugging % places him at the top of OPS (1.026).  Colin DeLome shares the home run lead with Locke.  He is also tied for 3rd in runs scored (36).  He has stretched out 3 triples which ties him for 5th most.  His 82 total bases places him 9th.  He has swiped 7 bases (T-10th).  Drew Meyer has scored 37 runs (2nd) and has 57 hits (9th).  He ranks 5th in doubles (14), and is tied for 7th most walks (23).  Jimmy Van Ostrand is tied for 4th with 8 HR.  That power helps place him at 5th in Slugging (.549) and 8th in OPS (.928).  Josh Flores, is showing his speed has returned from his knee injury last year.  He has 9 steals which ties him for 8th most.

The Pitchers:

For the month, Douglas Arguello started 4 games and earned a 2.28 ERA for the month.  He had a complete game in the process.  Daniel Meszaros made 5 appearances in CC after his call up.  All but one were scoreless outings.  Chris Salamida has shown some signs of adjusting to AA.  He followed up a 13.50 ERA in April with a 3.38 in May.

The Hooks staff leads the league in complete games with 3.  They have only hit 19 batters (T-2nd fewest) and have only walked a league low 128 batters.  So they throw strikes!

Individually among the leaders, Douglas Arguello has the 9th best ERA in the league (3.26).  T. J. Burton has finished 10 games, which puts him tied for 7th most.

THE BAD

The Hitters

The Texas League is about adusting.  There are only 8 teams so you see pitchers and batters frequently.  Here are some guys who didn’t ajust to the pitchers adjustments.  James Van Ostrand followed up his .441 April with a .179 May.  Mitch Einertson followed his .288 April with a .224 May.  Wlad Sutil followed his .319 April with a .261 May. Colin DeLome followed his .280 April with a .232 May.

As a team, the Hooks have only stolen 28 bases, the second lowest total in the league.  They have the second fewest doubles (77) and the fewest triples (6).  They have taken the fewest walks (148)

Individually, Delome is tied for the second most fans with (46).   Wlad Sutil has been caught stealing 5 times which ties him for 5th place.

The Pitchers:

There are several slides that could be highlighted but we will only highlight the spectacular.  Brad James went from having a 2.81 ERA in April to a 10.71 in May.

Here is where things go from bad to ugly.  Hooks pitching staff is at the bottom of the league in ERA, Saves, Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, WHIP, Strike Outs & Home Runs.

Casey Hudspeth & Sergio Perez have both given up 62 hits to tie them for 5th.  Polin Trinidad is not far behind with 60 (T-7th).  Hudspeth has given up the 2nd most runs with 34.  Perez has given up 1 less and is tied for 4th.  Brad James has surrendered 32 and is tied for 8th most.  You reverse their order for their rank in earned runs however.  It goes James (30, T-3), Perez (29, T-5) and Hudspeth (28, T-8th).  Hudspeth has given up 8 long balls which ties him for 2nd most.  Trinidad’s 6 round trippers puts him in a tie for 5th.  Hudspeth & James each have 4 hit batters which ties them for 7th most.  They also combine for 42% of the teams total hit batters.  James’ 26 free passes puts him up in a tie for 3rd most.

Odd Stat of the Month:  Casey Hudspeth’s home / road split.  At home he is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA.  On the road, he is 0-4 with a 10.80 record.