Gee... I thought we didn't have any prospects down in the farm?

[Noe]

This just in: Houston Astros just may have a prospect in the minors!  Film at 11!

You know, I don't know why I didn't take the above story with the proper amount of due... but after a full off season worth of doom and gloom when it came to the Houston Astros farm system, I'm not so sure I will give the media such a free pass. 

"I try to stay away from reading stuff like that," he said. "One of my old coaches told me 10 per]cent of the stuff you read is true, and 90 percent is just people talking. I just want to play baseball." - Brad James

I know James is talking about something entirely different, but the principle remains the same to me.  What one reads in terms of farm system reports, especially doom and gloom, tends to skew reality.  One thing I have to say here (and I'm biased too, so shoot me): the Bus Ride does a really excellent job of balanced analysis and reporting.  Brad James was someone I read about on the Bus Ride two years ago when the Bus Ride informed me to look out for him.

When McTaggart asked his blog readers to give him a name to go inquire about *last year* in terms of up and coming prospects, I put James name in the hopper.  He didn't put him on the radar, instead going for the more obvious ones such as Troy Patton.  *Sigh*, I don't know why I'm even bothering to be honest, other than to to say "Good job Bus Ride!" - you got yet another one correct!

Oh, and look out for guys they're tagging now as future prospects, such as Sammy Gervacio and Sergio Perez.  The Chron should notice them in a couple of years for sure.

[Jacksonian]

This just in: Houston Astros just may have a prospect in the minors!  Film at 11!

You know, I don't know why I didn't take the above story with the proper amount of due... but after a full off season worth of doom and gloom when it came to the Houston Astros farm system, I'm not so sure I will give the media such a free pass. 

"I try to stay away from reading stuff like that," he said. "One of my old coaches told me 10 per]cent of the stuff you read is true, and 90 percent is just people talking. I just want to play baseball." - Brad James

I know James is talking about something entirely different, but the principle remains the same to me.  What one reads in terms of farm system reports, especially doom and gloom, tends to skew reality.  One thing I have to say here (and I'm biased too, so shoot me): the Bus Ride does a really excellent job of balanced analysis and reporting.  Brad James was someone I read about on the Bus Ride two years ago when the Bus Ride informed me to look out for him.

When McTaggart asked his blog readers to give him a name to go inquire about *last year* in terms of up and coming prospects, I put James name in the hopper.  He didn't put him on the radar, instead going for the more obvious ones such as Troy Patton.  *Sigh*, I don't know why I'm even bothering to be honest, other than to to say "Good job Bus Ride!" - you got yet another one correct!

Oh, and look out for guys they're tagging now as future prospects, such as Sammy Gervacio and Sergio Perez.  The Chron should notice them in a couple of years for sure.

IMO, barring injury, one they could be talking about a lot in next year or two, that you read very little about at the moment, is LHP Polin Trinidad.

[pravata]

IMO, barring injury, one they could be talking about a lot in next year or two, that you read very little about at the moment, is LHP Polin Trinidad.

shhhh.  The plan is not to let any other teams know what the Astros have in their minor leagues.  Speaking of injuries,

Troy Patton reached a frustrating point in his attempt to get past a left shoulder injury on Wednesday, when he threw a bullpen session and felt the same pain he's been experiencing for weeks. ... he said he felt progress at one point, but has "plateaued" in his past two sessions.

...  The Orioles are hoping to allow him to heal at his own pace, but if that doesn't work, they'll likely settle for surgery at some point this spring.
Link

Which team was it in a hurry to make that trade?

[homer]

shhhh.  The plan is not to let any other teams know what the Astros have in their minor leagues.  Speaking of injuries,

Troy Patton reached a frustrating point in his attempt to get past a left shoulder injury on Wednesday, when he threw a bullpen session and felt the same pain he's been experiencing for weeks. ... he said he felt progress at one point, but has "plateaued" in his past two sessions.

...  The Orioles are hoping to allow him to heal at his own pace, but if that doesn't work, they'll likely settle for surgery at some point this spring.
Link

Which team was it in a hurry to make that trade?

Cabrera's left shoulder also mentioned in same article.

[Clark in Denver]

From what I have read, I could have sworn that the Astros entire minor league systems consisted of Koby Clemens.

[Limey]

IMO, barring injury, one they could be talking about a lot in next year or two, that you read very little about at the moment, is LHP Polin Trinidad.

Good name...

[pravata]

Cabrera's left shoulder also mentioned in same article.

But that placement doesn't suggest that if the Orioles had a lick of sense they'd have asked for Brad James, or Felipe Paulino and not Troy Patton.  Instead, the smoke screen that the Astros minor leagues aren't worth paying attention to caused them to chose a pitcher with issues.

[Noe]

But that placement doesn't suggest that if the Orioles had a lick of sense they'd have asked for Brad James, or Felipe Paulino and not Troy Patton.  Instead, the smoke screen that the Astros minor leagues aren't worth paying attention to caused them to chose a pitcher with issues.

The name Troy Patton was on the radar with media, so it makes it sell-able to fans of the Orioles that they traded for a prospect.  The name Paulino only emerged for media guys when he pitched in September last year.  James no one in the media paid attention to.  Same with Perez and Gervacio. 

Scouts, however, pay attention and would've probably wanted James over Patton.  Guys like the Bus Ride knew of Paulino four years ago, also James two years ago and Perez and Gervacio as well.  There is two problems with the scouts wanting perhaps Brad James or Felipe Paulino:

1. The Astros would've been hard pressed to trade James or Paulino (seriously)
2. The inclusion of names such as Guiterrez or Patton in trades kept other teams looking at making trades and away from Paulino and James.
3. The scouts for the Orioles probably suggested Paulino or James over Patton and Guiterrez at all times. That doesn't mean the Orioles were unaware of James or Paulino as better prospects, just that they probably got an ear full of "No" from Ed Wade whilest the guy kept working on names that may entice the other team.  In the trade of Billy Wagner to the Phillies, something similar happened:

(Hunsicker): "Eddy, I'll give you Wagner if you put together a package that includes Cole Hamels"
(Wade): "No"
(Hunsicker): "Oh come on now, how about I keep it at two prospects... one of which is Hamels"
(Wade): "No"
(Hunsicker): "Okay, we're done then, thanks for taking my call..."
(Wade): "Well... wait a minute here... have your scouts ever seen Taylor Buchholz?"
(Hunsicker): "Hmmmmm... okay, I'm interested, keep talking..."

The bottomline, when Houston traded Patton, Guiterrez and Albers, the local media was all over that as an indication that the farm system was left barren yet again because that is the level of their understanding.  And Wade has a way of using prospects to get his major league team in shape, while still keeping some very good prospects in the organization.  Some of which are guys the media has no idea exist.