The Post-ASB roster

[Reuben]

Could see some significant changes, with a number of guys coming back from rehab and whatnot.

My mildly-informed-but-mostly wild-ass guesses:
MarGon replaces Bixler (or Carpenter if they go down to a 7-man pen)
Maxwell replaces Downs
Wallace replaces Dominguez, and plays every day at 1B
Wilton replaces Del Rosario

CJ back to 3B, until they can trade him for someone else's flawed player
Schafer/Maxwell platoon religiously
The Scott Moore Experiment continues, mostly in RF, with Bogey sitting or displacing Schafer
Keuchel stays in OKC until Wandy is traded
Happ, somehow, stays in the rotation

[austro]

I don't think this rotation is reliable enough to allow them to go to a 7-man pen.

[Fredia]

i like moore he gets a crowd reaction and that does not happen a lot

[Mr. Happy]

Could see some significant changes, with a number of guys coming back from rehab and whatnot.

My mildly-informed-but-mostly wild-ass guesses:
MarGon replaces Bixler (or Carpenter if they go down to a 7-man pen)
Maxwell replaces Downs
Wallace replaces Dominguez, and plays every day at 1B
Wilton replaces Del Rosario

CJ back to 3B, until they can trade him for someone else's flawed player
Schafer/Maxwell platoon religiously
The Scott Moore Experiment continues, mostly in RF, with Bogey sitting or displacing Schafer
Keuchel stays in OKC until Wandy is traded
Happ, somehow, stays in the rotation

I can't quibble with any of this, but I suspect that we're going to see some unexpected and almost unpredictable things regarding the roster in the not-too-distant future. I don't know if it will happen right after the ASB, but I'm gearing up for some sea changes. I hope that I'm not disappointed.

[Mr. Happy]

I don't think this rotation is reliable enough to allow them to go to a 17-man pen.

FIFY

[Fredia]

but think how many calls mills could make with 17 ..one pitch specialist

[juliogotay]

Moore is no outfielder. Not much of an infielder either but I think his role is PHer occasional start at different spots.

[juliogotay]

Wouldn't discount seeing FMart again now that his concussion symptoms have dissapated.

[astrosfan76]

Dominguez to AAA, CJ back to 3B, Maxwell will be activated Friday, per McTweets.

[Navin R Johnson]

I can't imagine Wallace not being the everyday 1st baseman going forward.

[Mr. Happy]

I can't imagine Wallace not being the everyday 1st baseman going forward.

That's what I thought would happen right after the ASB, but maybe we'll be treated to 1B by committee (Downsie, Moore, etc.) for awhile.

[Navin R Johnson]

Obviously Lunhow might be of the opinion that Wallace simply isn't ready, or maybe he is of the opinion that he will never be ready and doesn't want him to prove it and remove any of his trade value.

[OregonStrosFan]

Obviously Lunhow might be of the opinion that Wallace simply isn't ready, or maybe he is of the opinion that he will never be ready and doesn't want him to prove it and remove any of his trade value.

Luhnow one Wallace in the 7/2/12 OKC paper (LINK):

Question: "Brett Wallace is a guy constantly rumored to be on his way to Houston. He had a stint earlier this year and performed well. Recently, you had a Carlos Lee trade fall through that would have brought Wallace back. Are you trying to find a place for him?"

Answer (Luhnow): “I think what I learned from Brett's last trip to the big leagues is that he is ready to come and stay. My belief is the next time he comes, he won't be coming back. Now, we don't want him to come up there and be a bat off the bench. We want him to come up there and have a regular position, whether it be third or first, and we want him to play every day. Right now, that doesn't exist, so whether it's later this month or later this summer, we have to be patient.”

[Mr. Happy]

Luhnow one Wallace in the 7/2/12 OKC paper (LINK):

Question: "Brett Wallace is a guy constantly rumored to be on his way to Houston. He had a stint earlier this year and performed well. Recently, you had a Carlos Lee trade fall through that would have brought Wallace back. Are you trying to find a place for him?"

Answer (Luhnow): “I think what I learned from Brett's last trip to the big leagues is that he is ready to come and stay. My belief is the next time he comes, he won't be coming back. Now, we don't want him to come up there and be a bat off the bench. We want him to come up there and have a regular position, whether it be third or first, and we want him to play every day. Right now, that doesn't exist, so whether it's later this month or later this summer, we have to be patient.”

But didn't he say that prior to the Lee trade?

[jbm]

Obviously Lunhow might be of the opinion that Wallace simply isn't ready, or maybe he is of the opinion that he will never be ready and doesn't want him to prove it and remove any of his trade value.

What makes you think this?  I assume they are just letting him get bats at AAA until Friday. No need to call him up with no games coming up.  However, I still find the whole Dominguez call up strange, so more strange stuff wouldn't surprise me.  

[Bench]

But didn't he say that prior to the Lee trade?

Yes, but I think it's clear that Luhnow hasn't "given up" on Wallace.

[Bench]

What makes you think this?  I assume they are just letting him get bats at AAA until Friday. No need to call him up with no games coming up.  However, I still find the whole Dominguez call up strange, so more strange stuff wouldn't surprise me.  

It's the fact that the team announced its roster plans for Friday and that evidently doesn't include Wallace.

[Mr. Happy]

What makes you think this?  I assume they are just letting him get bats at AAA until Friday. No need to call him up with no games coming up.  However, I still find the whole Dominguez call up strange, so more strange stuff wouldn't surprise me.  

I think that AAA has the same ASB as MLB, so that wouldn't be the reason why Wallace won't get the call on friday.

[Mr. Happy]

It's the fact that the team announced its roster plans for Friday and that evidently doesn't include Wallace.

Precisely. I think that they want to let Scott Moore have a few more at-bats at 1B first.

[jbm]

I think that AAA has the same ASB as MLB, so that wouldn't be the reason why Wallace won't get the call on friday.

You are correct.  Kind of blows my theory up, but I only saw that Maxwell would be activated.  Not sure why that move precludes a Wallace call up later in the week. 

[OregonStrosFan]

...I still find the whole Dominguez call up strange, so more strange stuff wouldn't surprise me.  

Via Levine (LINK):

Third baseman Matt Dominguez, acquired last week in the Carlos Lee trade, was optioned to Class AAA Oklahoma City after Sunday’s loss to the Brewers.  The move isn’t unexpected, as the Astros have said all along they just wanted to get a look at the more defense-oriented prospect.

Also in that article:

[Mills] wasn’t as clear on what will happen at first base, though he mentioned Saturday that Brett Wallace was a candidate. *** [The roster spot vacated by Dominguez] will go to outfielder Justin Maxwell, who will continue rehabbing his ankle this week with Class AA Corpus Christi.

[Bench]

You are correct.  Kind of blows my theory up, but I only saw that Maxwell would be activated.  Not sure why that move precludes a Wallace call up later in the week. 

It certainly doesn't preclude it but Dominguez getting sent down is the only corresponding move that opens a spot. 

[OregonStrosFan]

You are correct.  Kind of blows my theory up, but I only saw that Maxwell would be activated.  Not sure why that move precludes a Wallace call up later in the week.

It doesn't, and I'd think he will be...  That's my $0.02, and I'm sticking to it...

[Mr. Happy]

It doesn't, and I'd think he will be...  That's my $0.02, and I'm sticking to it...

I think that you are correct, and that means bad news for either Downsie or Bixler.

[jbm]

Third baseman Matt Dominguez, acquired last week in the Carlos Lee trade, was optioned to Class AAA Oklahoma City after Sunday’s loss to the Brewers.  The move isn’t unexpected, as the Astros have said all along they just wanted to get a look at the more defense-oriented prospect.

Still seems weird to me.  Maybe he only trusts Pettini's opinion, and wanted him to have a look.  Presumably, they "looked" at him before acquiring him. I hope so, at least. 

[Mr. Happy]

Still seems weird to me.  Maybe he only trusts Pettini's opinion, and wanted him to have a look.  Presumably, they "looked" at him before acquiring him. I hope so, at least. 

I fail to see what's so weird about it, especially given that the Astros are going downhill fast, so what's the harm. It's not like we're in a pennant fight. I felt that Dominguez was over-matched by big league pitching. I'd be interested in what some of you have to say about that.

[juliogotay]

I fail to see what's so weird about it, especially given that the Astros are going downhill fast, so what's the harm. It's not like we're in a pennant fight. I felt that Dominguez was over-matched by big league pitching. I'd be interested in what some of you have to say about that.

Extremely small sample size of course but he appears to be overmatched by AA pitching for the most part.  That's his rep...good glove, no stick and he lived up to both in his weekend in town.

[jbm]

I fail to see what's so weird about it, especially given that the Astros are going downhill fast, so what's the harm. It's not like we're in a pennant fight. I felt that Dominguez was over-matched by big league pitching. I'd be interested in what some of you have to say about that.

Using that logic, why demote him?  Or, just bring up any old player for a pre-determined four game "look."

Of course he was over-matched. He has been over-matched by AAA pitching all year.  That is why it was weird.  That is also why it was pre-determined to be a four game stint.

[Mr. Happy]

Extremely small sample size of course but he appears to be overmatched by AA pitching for the most part.  That's his rep...good glove, no stick and he lived up to both in his weekend in town.

That's not the recipe for a prospect--more like a suspect.

[OregonStrosFan]

Still seems weird to me.  Maybe he only trusts Pettini's opinion, and wanted him to have a look.  Presumably, they "looked" at him before acquiring him. I hope so, at least.

Seems kinda weird to me as well, but it'd been my 'read' that Luhnow knew what he had, but wanted to give Mills and crew a chance to see what they had in Dominguez - kind of a 'for future reference' type thing.  After all, Mills and his crew had plenty of opportunities to see most of the other potential 1B/3B options during Spring Training or last season...

[Mr. Happy]

Using that logic, why demote him?  Or, just bring up any old player for a pre-determined four game "look."

Of course he was over-matched. He has been over-matched by AAA pitching all year.  That is why it was weird.  That is also why it was pre-determined to be a four game stint.

I understand your point. But in the grand scheme of things, I think that they just wanted a short look at him with the parent club until Maxwell comes back, which will be friday. What will be interesting is to see how much time Maxwell takes away from Schreefer, if any (my money is that he will) and how much time Moore takes from Bogusevic.

[Navin R Johnson]

What makes you think this?  I assume they are just letting him get bats at AAA until Friday. No need to call him up with no games coming up. 

If they call him up on Thursday, then you can disregard my post.  It only applies if they decide to leave Wallace in AAA post ASB.

[juliogotay]

That's not the recipe for a prospect--more like a suspect.

 There is hope that he will develop offensively. I keep hearing that he's just 22 so it's  worth a gamble with his defensive abilities. If he eventually hits .250 with 15 HRS and plays well defensively he's better than any current option, right?

[austro]

That's not the recipe for a prospect--more like a suspect.

I'm surprised the Luhnow got somebody who can walk and chew gum at the same time in exchange for Lee.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm surprised the Luhnow got somebody who can walk and chew gum at the same time in exchange for Lee.

+1

[jbm]

I don't really disagree, but remember, he paid almost all of Lee's remaining salary.  So, if you (or other GMs) figure Lee is really worth X per year, then Luhnow should have got half of that value in return.  We won't have any idea if he did for a long time. 

[Reuben]

Lopez coming up, Carpenter going down, according to Levine. I assumed it would be Del Rosario (who's been bad in AAA too), but I applaud the decision to get Carp out of there. Hopefully he figures things out.

[Mr. Happy]

Lopez coming up, Carpenter going down, according to Levine. I assumed it would be Del Rosario (who's been bad in AAA too), but I applaud the decision to get Carp out of there. Hopefully he figures things out.

If we had options down in OkC, I'd send down Carpenter, EDR and the Angel of Doom.