Abercrombe

[Lurch]

Astros add Marlins outfielder Abercrombie to roster

Get the easy jokes out of the way...

Fitch to play SS

No word if he will use half naked kids on his baseball card.

[Limey]

A sub-Mendoza outfielder.  I'm guessing RF?

[Bench]

A sub-Mendoza outfielder.  I'm guessing RF?

Nah. His arm's too strong.

[SaltyParker]

It certainly makes good sense to stock someone like this instead of say a... Dan Wesson.

[pravata]

It certainly makes good sense to stock someone like this instead of say a... Dan Wesson.

Or even Barry Wesson (30) compared to Reggie Damascus Abercrombie (26)

[SaltyParker]

yeah thats it,...Barry Wesson

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Or even Barry Wesson (30) compared to Reggie Damascus Abercrombie (26)

This seems too good to be true.  Any of the minor league folks know anything about this kid?

[David in Jackson]

Astros add Marlins outfielder Abercrombie to roster

Get the easy jokes out of the way...

Fitch to play SS

No word if he will use half naked kids on his baseball card.

Looks like Jimerson to me: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/Reggie-Abercrombie.shtml

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Oh sure.  All speedy black outfielders look the same to you, huh?

Based on Wade's comments in the article, they're going into this with eyes open, not with the ruby lenses of, say, The Richard Hildalgo Experience this past spring.

He has a lot of good tools," Wade said. "He's a speedy outfielder and can play all three outfield positions. He struggled in Florida offensively, but our people liked him.

Translation: he's got a lot of potential, but we expect him to produce. 

[idlelife]

I heard a story once that he wears #61 in honor of his parents.  The 6 is for his father, who wore it (not sure if it was in school or if he played in the minors/majors) and the 1 ... is because his mother is #1.  I'm not making this up.  I'm not that clever.

I kind of dig it.

[David in Jackson]

Oh sure.  All speedy black outfielders look the same to you, huh?

Based on Wade's comments in the article, they're going into this with eyes open, not with the ruby lenses of, say, The Richard Hildalgo Experience this past spring.

Translation: he's got a lot of potential, but we expect him to produce. 

When they are the same age, have roughly the same ML experience, strike out a ton, have good power, can play all the three OF spots and are unlikely to ever contribute, then yes.

[pravata]

When they are the same age, have roughly the same ML experience, strike out a ton, have good power, can play all the three OF spots and are unlikely to ever contribute, then yes.

They differ in one important aspect, one is in the Astros organization, the other is not.

[Phil_in_CS]

Oh sure.  All speedy black outfielders look the same to you, huh?

HD?

[JimR]

Looks like Jimerson to me: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/Reggie-Abercrombie.shtml

and you'd be wrong.

[MusicMan]

I'll say this much, sight unseen:

If this kid was 41 of 47 on SB attempts at Albuquerque, then I'd wager he has better baserunning instincts than any current Astro.

[pravata]

I'll say this much, sight unseen:

If this kid was 41 of 47 on SB attempts at Albuquerque, then I'd wager he has better baserunning instincts than any current Astro.

Slight nit, steals are a combination of things, but it is mostly a learned skill.  Of course it's rare to steal if you're slow. But somewhere he got instruction on how to read a pitcher, take a lead, slide into the base.  I'd wager he got more of that kind of instruction than any current Astro.

[MusicMan]

"Instincts" was the wrong word, perhaps.  I agree that stealing is a learned skill (for proving via the negative, see "Glenn Barker"), but if you're a very, very good base stealler, you're highly unlikely to be as bad a baserunner as our current crop.

[pravata]

"Instincts" was the wrong word, perhaps.  I agree that stealing is a learned skill (for proving via the negative, see "Glenn Barker"), but if you're a very, very good base stealler, you're highly unlikely to be as bad a baserunner as our current crop.

Agreed.  If you simply know how to take a proper lead you have a leg up on those guys.  One exception is Carlos Lee.  In spite of the huge hitch he has to do to get himself into first gear, he seems to know when to go.  Dunderhead running the basepaths though.

[Jacksonian]

Slight nit, steals are a combination of things, but it is mostly a learned skill.  Of course it's rare to steal if you're slow. But somewhere he got instruction on how to read a pitcher, take a lead, slide into the base.  I'd wager he got more of that kind of instruction than any current Astro.

Anderson has been very successful.

[pravata]

Anderson has been very successful.

That's one.

[Jacksonian]

That's one.

I don't recall ever hearing that Burke was a bad baserunner.

[pravata]

I don't recall ever hearing that Burke was a bad baserunner.

Not bad, but for as fast as he is, not remarkable (as in worthy of being remarked on) either.  He doesn't typically take the extra base.

[Jacksonian]

Not bad, but for as fast as he is, not remarkable (as in worthy of being remarked on) either.  He doesn't typically take the extra base.

How's 'bout Everett?

[pravata]

How's 'bout Everett?

For the purposes of this thread, I'm pretending he learned baserunning in Boston... No, Everett is good too, and he shows good judgement.  Bruntlett is good also, but I think he was pressing this season and took some chances he shouldn't have.

[Limey]

Not bad, but for as fast as he is, not remarkable (as in worthy of being remarked on) either.

See baseball field, everything else Burke does on a

[Jacksonian]

For the purposes of this thread, I'm pretending he learned baserunning in Boston... No, Everett is good too, and he shows good judgement.  Bruntlett is good also, but I think he was pressing this season and took some chances he shouldn't have.

The reason I mentioned these guys is that they all went to D1 programs and were expected to be problems for pitchers on the basepaths.  So, it's likely they received quality baserunning instruction prior to being drafted.  Did Rice care much about Berkman on the basepaths?

[pravata]

The reason I mentioned these guys is that they all went to D1 programs and were expected to be problems for pitchers on the basepaths.  So, it's likely they received quality baserunning instruction prior to being drafted.  Did Rice care much about Berkman on the basepaths?

Does Berkman?  He's not catcher slow so baserunning, if not an asset, shouldn't be the crapshoot that it is.  Then there's Pence.  He's very fast, but either makes bad decisions or his techniques are poor.  So much so that his neglect (or lack of instruction) caused him to miss an entire month of the season.   

[Noe]

When the Astros announced that speed as an element of the team was lacking, they pretty much told everyone the plan to re-tool or tinker with the makeup.  This is a perfect example of the shift to speed, on defense for sure and on offense, potentially a really good fit and a move that is very Hunsicker-ish.  Fly under the radar screen, make small two-degree shifts to improve the team.  Shades of Carl Everett in potential.

Remember, you have the core set on this team.  It's the peripheral around that core that can help you change from average to above average as a team.

[Duman]

He tore up the PCL this year but hasn't done that well over the long hall.  This is his 4th organization - LA Dodgers (draft), Diamondbacks (trade), Marlins (waivers), Astros (waivers).

He looks like a viable 4th outfielder in defense & speed but I am concerned about the high number of K's and the low # of walks.  Hard to use the speed if you are walking back to the bench after a K.

[Jacksonian]

He tore up the PCL this year but hasn't done that well over the long hall.  This is his 4th organization - LA Dodgers (draft), Diamondbacks (trade), Marlins (waivers), Astros (waivers).

He looks like a viable 4th outfielder in defense & speed but I am concerned about the high number of K's and the low # of walks.  Hard to use the speed if you are walking back to the bench after a K.

If he does make the team as the 4 or 5 outfielder though, his primary jobs are going to be to replace Lee or Pence late in the game defensively, to pinch run close and late, and to do whatever the job requires at the plate while pinch hitting.  And, I'd guess he generally wouldn't be the first choice to ph when the game is close and late.  I don't think the K rate would factor much in the decision to put him on the 25-man.

[Noe]

He tore up the PCL this year but hasn't done that well over the long hall.  This is his 4th organization - LA Dodgers (draft), Diamondbacks (trade), Marlins (waivers), Astros (waivers).

He looks like a viable 4th outfielder in defense & speed but I am concerned about the high number of K's and the low # of walks.  Hard to use the speed if you are walking back to the bench after a K.

Yes, hence why "on defense for sure and on offense, potentially a really good fit".  Anything more refined and you're looking at making a huge trade or a huge signing from the FA market.  This is neither, this is the Hunsicker-ish below the radar move that tend to work if everything breaks right.  If not, you're not out a 100 million dollars or three minor league players for your one returned failed starter.

[Mike S]

If he does make the team as the 4 or 5 outfielder though, his primary jobs are going to be to replace Lee or Pence late in the game defensively, to pinch run close and late, and to do whatever the job requires at the plate while pinch hitting.  And, I'd guess he generally wouldn't be the first choice to ph when the game is close and late.  I don't think the K rate would factor much in the decision to put him on the 25-man.

So, we're looking at a younger version of Glenn Barker?

[Bench]

So, we're looking at a younger version of Glenn Barker?

But without the pickoffs.