“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.”

Kennebec Journal:

I’m pretty close to 100 percent,” Fairchild said Tuesday. “I’m just getting the last bit of velocity back.”

Fairchild’s fastball is currently in the high 80s, down a couple of miles an hour from two years ago when he posted 14 wins on three Houston minor league teams. A more important number is the 80 pitches he expects to throw Saturday.

Bango Daily News:

“Now I’m plugged into extended rehab starts and pitched against the Braves today with a lot of rehab guys and guys going to short season leagues,” he said. “Today [Friday] I threw three innings in a start and my pitch count was 50. I gave up one hit in the first with five Ks.

“I’m still finding my location and the only thing I’m fighting is building up my arm strength and finding my fastball, but my breaking ball and changeup were both back.”….

“I don’t know if they’ll send me for any more rehab starts, maybe in Salem. I guess it depends on who has an opening in the rotation,” he said. “Their goal is to keep me healthy and keep me in Double-A.”

Fairchild said the best advice he got came from Astros starter Brandon Backe, who had similar surgery in 2006.

“He’s really helped me as far as knowing what to expect,” he said. “The last advice he gave me was don’t try to make a name for myself, just get my work in and be healthy and work toward a good August.”

He’s been throwing 65 pitches his last couple of outings, against major and minor leaguers on rehab assignments and those waiting to be sent to short-season Single A ball.

“I should be able to make (five-inning) starts after (Saturday),” Fairchild said. “The last few starts I’ve had, I haven’t thought about my elbow at all. Now it’s just a matter of getting my shoulder ready for the season.”

Koby Clemens was tracked down by the New York Daily News to talk about how he is handling the controversy surrounding his dad, Roger. Daddy Dearest is how they titled the article.

“There’s a lot of people that you think are your real friends. As it’s gone further and further there aren’t that many people pulling for my dad anymore, which really hurts. There’s a lot of people that have done tons and tons of worse stuff, including the man that is against him.”

It took 14 innings but the Avs got the win. Koby Clemens went 3 for 6 at the plate, just a HR short of the cycle. The Blue Rocks were testing him on the base paths with 8 stolen base attempts. They were successful in 5. Jimmy Van Ostrand also went 3 for 6.

In the 11th and in the 13th, Wlad Sutil was at the plate with two outs and the go ahead run on 3rd. He struck out both times. The second strike out caused Avs play by play man, Jason Benetti to quip that the base runners were heard saying “You picked a fine time to leave us Sutil”.

In the 14th, with two outs, Jordan Parraz walked and stole second and scored the winning run on Cesar Quintero’s double.

“As soon as Parraz went to second I was thinking, get a base hit, get him home,” Quintero said through the translation of teammate Osvaldo Fernando.

On the 14 inning game, Manager Pankovits said:

“I’m just happy nobody got hurt.”

Lexington

Manager Greg Langbehn had a heart to heart meeting with his players Tuesday afternoon, and it appears to have worked.

“We addressed some things before the (afternoon) workout today. So, hopefully, we can put some things together and get on a little better roll.”

Langbehn didn’t specify what was addressed, but in general the topic was “just being ready to play everyday and getting after it a little bit more. … Create some things and make things happen.”

The Legends responded by tying a team record for runs in a game in a 13-2 victory.

Max Sapp, Craig Carrado and Russell Dixon all had 3 hits, with Sapp driving in 3 runs on a double and a HR. However, he wasn’t the big RBI guy of the night. That distinction belonged to Steve Brown who drove in 4 runs on a 1 for 4 night, bringing this praise from his manager.

“We don’t really have a true four-hole hitter. He just seems to be a fit for us right now. … He’s putting the ball in play. He was 4-for-4 in situational hitting.”

Langbehn also heaped praise on his starter Leandro Cespedes who had another solid start.

“I like how he responded after the first inning,” Langbehn said. “He was a little lethargic the first inning. His command wasn’t there and it just didn’t seem like he was into it. He picked it up a little bit and started attacking the zone.”

Sacrifice double play? That is something you don’t see too often in game logs but here it is:

Steve Brown flies into sacrifice double play, right fielder David Marks to catcher Luis Exposito to third baseman Manuel Arambarris. Craig Corrado scores. Russell Dixon out at 3rd on the throw.

Corpus Christi

The Hooks lost their first game of the season. Brad James pitched well but was out dueled in the 2-0 defeat. Kaz Matsui started his comeback with a lead off double and was the only Hook to get to second base on the night.

“With three hits, you usually don’t get to second base too much,” Hooks outfielder Eli Iorg said. “(Rosa) made some good pitches, he worked fast and he threw strikes. Sometimes you hit the ball and it just doesn’t find holes. It was just one of those nights for us.”

Luis Pujols is on his teams league leading 12 errors in the first 6 games.

I am concerned about the errors and I already told the coaching staff I’m concerned because we’ve made too many throwing errors,” Pujols said. “Normally you don’t see that. It’s something that we’re going to have to address quickly.”

Round Rock

Brandon Duckworth took out his frustration at being snubbed by the Royals in favor of Hideo Nomo and helped Omaha defeat the Express 2-1.

Duckworth nearly got an opportunity to return to Kansas City last week, as the team was looking to add a non-roster pitcher (Peralta and Musser were ineligible because they had been optioned less than 10 days earlier). The Royals decided to go with Hideo Nomo.

“You can (get caught up in it),” Duckworth said. “I’m not going to lie. You hear about it, and you’re hoping because you’d much rather be in the big leagues. But they made their decision. When the time comes that they think they need me there, I’ll be there.”

Josh Mueke’s bounced back after giving up a first inning homer to only allow 2 other hits over 5 innings, while striking out 5 and walking none. He earned the win after his teammates scored 2 in the sixth and single runs in the 7th and 8th for a 4-2 win.

Corpus Christi

The bats came alive for Corpus Christi as they tied a team record for runs in a 15-5 drilling of Tulsa. Although the bats were the story, Brian Bogusevic had a decent start to his 2008 season. He reached his 75 pitch limit 2 batters into the 5th and ended with a line of 4 innings pitched, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 3 strike outs.

“It was pretty good,” Hooks manager Luis Pujols said. “We were able to score early in the game and maintain. Bogusevic gave us four good innings, and we were able to hang on.”

Remember that, 10 run wins equal holding on for Manager Pujols.

Ryan McKeller pitched 3 innings of shut out relief for the win and got a hit and an RBI as well.

Kaz Matsui will be joining the Hooks on Tuesday.

“That’s the plan right now,” said Ricky Bennett, the Astros’ assistant general manager and director of player development. “He’s got a doctor’s appointment Monday and if all goes well then he’ll go on assignment in Corpus on Tuesday. There’s an off day Wednesday and he’ll got back (to Houston) and then to Tulsa Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday. That’s the plan right now. That all could change pending his doctor’s appointment.”

Salem

Polin Trinidad shook off a line drive off his pitching hand from the first batter in the first inning and earned an opening day win for the Avs.

“There’s something about that kid, he just competes,” Avalanche manager Jim Pankovits said. “He may not throw 92 or 93, his stuff might not be eye-opening, but he knows how to pitch and he’s mature beyond his years.

“He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

The Avalanche scored 4 runs in the 5th with 2 outs to put enough runs on the board for the 4-3 over Potomac.

Clemens Spotted Spending

The local paper has a story about how nicely people behaved having Roger Clemens in the house to watch Koby. Apparently southern decorum doesn’t extend to keeping transactions private.

Still, in this town, benefit of the doubt and courtesy rule. Clemens easily made his way through the crowd to the gift shop and spent about $220 on 10 Avalanche T-shirts and four or five hats, according to the shop employees. Even those who asked for autographs did so respectfully, waiting until after he’d finished his shopping.

“He was so low-key and polite,” said Charles Cooper, who helped ring up Clemens’ merchandise. “He talked to everybody. Very pleasant.

Round Rock:

The buzz about Yordany Ramirez keeps building:

“Ramirez in center has made some plays in the last few weeks of spring training that in — my, how many years I’ve been playing? — I haven’t seen before,” said Klassen. “He’s pretty special out there.”

Corpus Christi

Roster changes lead the news with Harold Eckert being released, Brian Gordon moving down from AAA and placed on the inactive list. This move was precipitated by the Astros signing Tim Byrdak to pitch at AAA. Gordon will be on the inactive list along with Tip Fairchild (TJ surgery) and Sergio Perez (groin).

Here is the expected opening day line up.

As for the Hooks’ starting lineup, second baseman Drew Sutton, shortstop Tommy Manzella and third baseman Chris Johnson are penciled in as the first three hitters. First baseman Robert Cosby, right fielder Mitch Einertson and catcher Lou Santangelo are the 4-6 hitters, followed by center fielder Eli Iorg and left fielder Billy Hart. Right-hander Brad James is scheduled to face Tulsa right-hander Alan Johnson.

Salem

The Clemens name continues to be expected to sell tickets and papers. The local paper features Clemens move to catcher. Clemens let’s it be known he is willing to play anywhere, with one condition.

“Whatever’s going to get me to the big leagues and let me stay in the big leagues– really, I’d play anywhere as long as I get to hit.”

Lexington

Lexington’s local paper comes with a strong start to the season with a feature on Colin DeLome.

“He can run. He can hit. He can juice the ball out of the ballpark,” said Gregg Langbehn, manager of the Legends. “He’s a pretty serviceable outfielder, seems to make all the plays.”

Langbehn plans to work with the 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitter on spraying the ball to all fields. The right-field deck at Applebee’s Park can be enticing, but Langbehn says he doesn’t want DeLome to get “pull happy.”

DeLome on playing for Jim Gilligan at Lamar:

“He really helped me learn the game of baseball, the mental side of it,” said DeLome, who also played shortstop in high school. “Really come into my swing and start playing ball, and give me the chance to be here.”

DeLome on DeLome:

“I definitely need to keep working on arm strength. Make sure my defense stays steady, because this is only my fourth full season to be in the outfield,” he said. “At the plate, though, I feel great right now. Please throw me a low, inside fastball. We’ll see how far it can go over the party deck. Other than that, I’m just looking to put the ball in play, start off the season with hits. I’m not worried about hitting home runs or anything.”

Rotation News:

The plan to “piggyback” start Carlos Ladeuth and Colt Adams — each pitching half a game — is on hold. Instead, each will get a start at Asheville, plugging a hole left by Jeff Icenogle. Icenogle will skip a start as a result of taking a ball off his left calf during spring training.

Of course Koby Clemens is highlighted because he sells tickets and papers. Other new players of note are:

Jordan Parraz
Jimmy Van Ostrand
Jhon Florentino (article notes had 27 errors last year, most on team but has played an errorless spring)
Jason Dominguez makes the jump from Tri Cities
David Qualben
Josh Appell – acquired in the trade for Ralphie Henriquez and pitched in the NYPL last year.

Notable repeats are:
Wlad Sutil
Polin Trinadad
Cesar Quintero
Raymar Diaz – who is moving to the bullpen

Notable names not mentioned:
Bud Norris – who may make the jump to AA
Sergio Severino – who may repeat Lexington

Quotes of note:

On Parraz- “Pankovits said, “has a lot of tools. He’s a tool box.” Pankovits said will play mostly center and right fields to take advantage of his “absolute cannon” of an arm.”

On Clemens – “He’s getting better every day,” Pankovits said. “Obviously he has a ways to go, but I like his enthusiasm. He seems to work at it. He’s been swinging the bat well this spring, and hopefully that will help him with his catching.

“He’s got a huge challenge ahead of him, but I wouldn’t bet against him.”