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General Discussion => The Bus Ride Discussion Forum => Topic started by: astrosfan76 on October 10, 2012, 08:13:44 am
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AFL season began last night for Mesa. Cosart and Singleton were the only Astros in the game, both starting. Singleton went 1-5 with a single and 2 K's. Cosart was great through 3 1/3 perfect innings, then hit a wall and didn't record another out. The sequence went: Single on a sharp groundball to CF, single on a soft line drive to LF, missed catch error by Cosart, then a single on a sharp line drive to CF, scoring two. That was the last batter he faced.
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Singleton with a triple and HR yesterday for Mesa. Springer 0-for-3 with a BB, Mier played 2B and went 1-for-4. Sogard gave up 3 unearned runs in 1 1/3 IP, Lo 1 ER and 2 Ks in 1 IP.
Box (http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=g_box&gid=2012_10_10_srrwin_msswin_1)
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Since instructionals were over and the news of the AFL was deserving of it's own thread it has been moved.
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Good game yesterday for some of the good guys:
Springer: 2-3 with a HR, triple, 2 walks, 4 RBI, and 3 runs
Borchering: Only 1-4 with a walk, but that 1 hit was a 2-run HR
Lo: 1 IP striking out 1 and walking 1
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Singleton and Springer with more big performances:
Singleton: 1-2 HR, 2 RBI, and 2 walks
Springer: 2-2 with a double, 2 RBI, SB, walk and HBP
In 5 games, Singleton has 5 RBI. In 4 games, Springer has 6. Perhaps even more impressively, Springer has 4 walks against 2 Ks in those games. Small sample size, for sure, but would be a nice trend to see carry over.
Mier also got action at 3B, going 0-3 with a walk and an RBI on a Sac Fly. Sogard pitched a scoreless inning, working around 2 singles and walk, striking out 2.
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Thanks for the updates. That's exciting. I'm not surprised by Singleton's great start but Springer is a very pleasant surprise to me if only because of the Lancaster effect this year.
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"Early Standouts in the AFL" per Keith Law (ESPN Insider content): LINK (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8494035/kaleb-cowart-nick-castellanos-early-standouts-arizona-fall-league-mlb)
Jarred Cosart has been the most impressive pitcher I've seen, sitting 94-97 mph in his outing on Tuesday night with a hard curveball at 79-82 and a changeup with good arm speed in the lower 80s. He still cuts himself off during his delivery, but he isn't firing as hard across his body as he used to. His command was behind his control, as he was mostly around the plate but often missed the target.
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Law is about six months behind.
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Law is about six months behind.
The earth is round.
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Singleton named co-AFL-Player of the Week. Article (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121016&content_id=39850736&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb) has some nice bits, including these:
But Linares isn't buying the DH talk.
"He's going to be an everyday first baseman in the big leagues, period," Linares said. "As I said, he can hit, and he's above average defensively."
... Singleton is not completely opposed to trying the outfield again, but he feels much more comfortable at first.
"I have worked hard on my defense," he said.
Howard and Detroit's Prince Fielder are first basemen who Singleton has followed closely.
"I'd like to be like them and be as much of a complete player as I can," Singleton said.
Thankfully, he looks a lot slimmer than Howard or Prince.
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Cosart gave up 7 runs (only 3 or 4 earned) and didn't make it out of the 1st inning yesterday. Hopefully it'll be a learning experience for him.
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Nice article on Singleton from MLB.com.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121104&content_id=40169684&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121104&content_id=40169684&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou)
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Springer hit 2 HR today and finished perfect at the plate, adding a single and 2 walks. Decent little story on him here (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121109&content_id=40224302&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb). Also has this bit:
Another top Astros prospect, right-handed starter Jarred Cosart, gave up three runs on four hits, including Marisnick's run-scoring three-bagger in the third, but struck out six batters over four innings.
"His results might not say it," Springer said of Cosart (0-2, 7.20 ERA), "but he's done well here. I'd probably say he has opened up some eyes here."
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Springer with another bomb today. He's having a good fall.
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Springer with another bomb today. He's having a good fall.
Yep, he has to be in the running for MVP at this point.
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Mier is also going well. Up to .296/.316/.426 with 7 doubles in 14 games. Only 2 walks but they have been one of his strong suits in his pro career so far, so I doubt that's a concern. He's been playing a lot of 3B and 2B in AZ, so I wonder if the Astros are grooming him for a utility role, or maybe there's just not as much PT available at SS on the Mesa roster.
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Mier is also going well. Up to .296/.316/.426 with 7 doubles in 14 games. Only 2 walks but they have been one of his strong suits in his pro career so far, so I doubt that's a concern. He's been playing a lot of 3B and 2B in AZ, so I wonder if the Astros are grooming him for a utility role, or maybe there's just not as much PT available at SS on the Mesa roster.
Could be using the league to get him reps at different positions. It's hard to imagine him having a future at shortstop with the big-league club, but he could be valuable off the bench. The lack of walks is uncharacteristic. He should be at Corpus this season, so that will be a good test for his patience.
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Mier is also going well. Up to .296/.316/.426 with 7 doubles in 14 games. Only 2 walks but they have been one of his strong suits in his pro career so far, so I doubt that's a concern. He's been playing a lot of 3B and 2B in AZ, so I wonder if the Astros are grooming him for a utility role, or maybe there's just not as much PT available at SS on the Mesa roster.
I remember Goldstein tweeting in the past (before hired by the Astros) that he thought the only chance Mier had at making the big leagues was as a utility bench guy.
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I remember Goldstein tweeting in the past (before hired by the Astros) that he thought the only chance Mier had at making the big leagues was as a utility bench guy.
See, that's a bizarre comment to me, because the one thing it seems everyone agrees on is that Mier's SS defense is exceptional, or at least well-above-average. The question has always been his bat, and he has shown flashes of talent there. But every year there seem to be a handful of MLB teams who simply need a good-fielding SS, and whether he hits is a very secondary concern. The 2012 WS Champs come to mind. While that's not necessarily a player you can say will have a long career, or be a starter year-in, year-out, it seems hyperbole to say that his "only" chance to even make the big leagues is as a utility man. "Best" chance, perhaps.
Could be using the league to get him reps at different positions. It's hard to imagine him having a future at shortstop with the big-league club, but he could be valuable off the bench. The lack of walks is uncharacteristic. He should be at Corpus this season, so that will be a good test for his patience.
That's probably true in the Astros' case. With Villar (and who knows about Lowrie) ahead of him, and Fontana and Correa starting to breathe down his neck, he's unlikely to have a large window of opportunity to be their starting SS.
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Don't forget The King.
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See, that's a bizarre comment to me, because the one thing it seems everyone agrees on is that Mier's SS defense is exceptional, or at least well-above-average. The question has always been his bat, and he has shown flashes of talent there. But every year there seem to be a handful of MLB teams who simply need a good-fielding SS, and whether he hits is a very secondary concern. The 2012 WS Champs come to mind. While that's not necessarily a player you can say will have a long career, or be a starter year-in, year-out, it seems hyperbole to say that his "only" chance to even make the big leagues is as a utility man. "Best" chance, perhaps.
That's probably true in the Astros' case. With Villar (and who knows about Lowrie) ahead of him, and Fontana and Correa starting to breathe down his neck, he's unlikely to have a large window of opportunity to be their starting SS.
Exceptional defense? I remember reading he was pretty good, but I don't remember any raving reviews.
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Exceptional defense? I remember reading he was pretty good, but I don't remember any raving reviews.
I'm not talking Adam Everett level, but more than "pretty good". BA's scouting report after the 2009 season (when he was the Astros #2 prospect) said "He projects to stay at shortstop with a plus arm, great actions, good hands and above-average range to both sides." and they named him Best Infield Arm and Best Defensive Infielder in the system.
Around the same time he was named #2 prospect in the Appy League, and that report said "Mier is a classic shortstop defender who shows great instincts and maturity on the field to go with above-average range and arm strength. His quick feet and impressive technique, combined with average speed, make him a rare high school shortstop who projects to stay at the position as a pro. A need for more consistency in turning double plays and in making strong throws on routine plays were the only critiques of Mier's defensive play, but they're not long-term concerns.
After the 2010 season, they wrote "Mier draws J.J. Hardy comparisons as a solid athlete with smooth actions and sound fundamental skills at shortstop. He's fairly consistent and projects as a possible plus defender with soft hands and a slightly above-average arm. "
After 2011, "A good athlete with fringy speed, Mier has above-average defensive tools with soft hands and an accurate, average throwing arm. He improved at making the routine play in 2011, cutting his errors to 22 after making 34 the previous season. He made better decisions and avoided high-risk plays."
So yeah, "exceptional" was probably too strong, but a SS with above-average range, arm, hands, and instincts is nothing to sniff at. I may be biased, though. I think he could make a bit of a comeback and end up being a decent MLB player.
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I'm not talking Adam Everett level, but more than "pretty good". BA's scouting report after the 2009 season (when he was the Astros #2 prospect) said "He projects to stay at shortstop with a plus arm, great actions, good hands and above-average range to both sides." and they named him Best Infield Arm and Best Defensive Infielder in the system.
Around the same time he was named #2 prospect in the Appy League, and that report said "Mier is a classic shortstop defender who shows great instincts and maturity on the field to go with above-average range and arm strength. His quick feet and impressive technique, combined with average speed, make him a rare high school shortstop who projects to stay at the position as a pro. A need for more consistency in turning double plays and in making strong throws on routine plays were the only critiques of Mier's defensive play, but they're not long-term concerns.
After the 2010 season, they wrote "Mier draws J.J. Hardy comparisons as a solid athlete with smooth actions and sound fundamental skills at shortstop. He's fairly consistent and projects as a possible plus defender with soft hands and a slightly above-average arm. "
After 2011, "A good athlete with fringy speed, Mier has above-average defensive tools with soft hands and an accurate, average throwing arm. He improved at making the routine play in 2011, cutting his errors to 22 after making 34 the previous season. He made better decisions and avoided high-risk plays."
So yeah, "exceptional" was probably too strong, but a SS with above-average range, arm, hands, and instincts is nothing to sniff at. I may be biased, though. I think he could make a bit of a comeback and end up being a decent MLB player.
Cool. I wasn't calling you out or anything, just never remembered reading anything other than disappointment. Maybe Mier will become the Astros version of Kareem Jackson.
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Cool. I wasn't calling you out or anything, just never remembered reading anything other than disappointment. Maybe Mier will become the Astros version of Kareem Jackson.
No worries, didn't think you were.