Author Topic: BA Prospect Hot Sheet (Read 13486 times)

OregonStrosFan · « **on:** April 29, 2011, 12:16:27 pm »

A couple of Astros MiLB'ers made the BA Prospect Hot Sheet for the week of 4/22-4/28. (Baseball America LINK)

In the team photo

Astros 2B Jose Altuve will have several big strikes against him—he's a 5-foot-5 second baseman trying to make the big leagues. Only two players 5-foot-5 or shorter have been major league regulars since Jackie Robinson integrated the game in 1947. (They would be Freddie Patek and Albie Pearson.) ***

Helium Watch

• When a team drafts a senior college catcher in the 16th round, he carries the tag of organizational player. Every professional team needs to have two or three catchers, and you have to find them somewhere. But Chris Wallace... is doing everything he can to prove he's a prospect. *** Wallace, 22, has proven he isn't a one-day wonder. He went 4-for-5 with two triples and a home run last Friday, and he's now hitting .432/.506/.865 for the season. Wallace didn't hit anything like this in college, so don't start projecting stardom or anything, but catcher is a position where late-round, slow developers sometimes surprise.

JimR · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2011, 12:19:34 pm »

i am completely shocked that Patek made it. why? i struck him out in a semipro game on a Fourth of July in Seguin when he was between his army discharge and his reporting to his first ST camp. why he did not give up the game on the spot, i do not know.

MusicMan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2011, 12:20:47 pm »

Am I correct that little Freddie was never known for his bat?

JimR · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2011, 01:41:07 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on April 29, 2011, 12:20:47 pm

Am I correct that little Freddie was never known for his bat?

in Seguin he was. the locals were in awe that he was playing, but i had no idea who he was.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2011, 02:58:28 pm »

Quote from: JimR on April 29, 2011, 01:41:07 pm

in Seguin he was. the locals were in awe that he was playing, but i had no idea who he was.

So Coach, you pitched against Freddie Patek (14 years in MLB, 3x All Star) and Tom Paciorek (18 years in MLB, All Star in 1981). You've commented a lot on Paciorek (in The 27th Out - btw, if y'all haven't read this in a while I'd HIGHLY recommend you do so again - you WILL NOT be disappointed) and a little bit on Patek here, any other future MLB'ers that you faced or others that coulda/woudla/shoulda been MLB'ers that you'd ~~care~~ be willing to opine/reminisce/comment about?

JimR · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2011, 05:37:17 pm »

Kenny Boswell ('69 Mets and finished with the Astros) and I were both class of '63, but he went to Travis HS. I faced him a lot and could get him out. They had another guy, though, who hit about .900 against me. i mercifully have forgotten his name.

pots · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2011, 12:35:49 pm »

Lyles makes his first appearance on the hot sheet:

"The Scoop: Lyles continues to pitch well beyond his years, carving up hitters nearly a decade older than him despite not having a mid-90s fastball to throw by them. Lyles compensates by spotting his fastball, using an advanced changeup and mixing in an improving breaking ball to keep putting away hitters. Though he's probably one of the five best starting pitchers in the organization right now, there's no rush for the Astros to bring him up to Houston yet. Still, with a 3.55 ERA and a 28-8 K-BB mark in 33 innings, it has to be tempting"

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2011, 12:49:33 pm »

Foltynewicz with his first appearance on the hot sheet as well. Unfortunately its in the 'not so hot' section. LINK

That said, a couple of good tidbits about him nevertheless:

And if there's a silver lining for Foltynewicz, whose easy arm action produces regular 92-93 mph heat already, it's that he's finding the strike zone with regularity—he's walks just 2.7 batters per nine innings. At this stage, it's all about improved fastball location and tighter secondary stuff.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2011, 01:05:29 pm »

Lyles makes the Hot Sheet 'Team Photo,' but I guess they cropped it a bit high as Jose Altuve is nowhere to be seen in it... LINK

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2011, 01:07:50 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on May 27, 2011, 01:05:29 pm

Lyles makes the Hot Sheet 'Team Photo,' but I guess they cropped it a bit high as Jose Altuve is nowhere to be seen in it... LINK

+

Reuben · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2011, 01:53:50 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on May 27, 2011, 01:05:29 pm

Lyles makes the Hot Sheet 'Team Photo,' but I guess they cropped it a bit high as Jose Altuve is nowhere to be seen in it... LINK

I see that Dylan Bundy's older brother (Orioles org) is named "Bobby". I see what you did there, Bundy parents... I'm still holding out hope they have a third named "Bud" or "Al," though.

moriartp · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:05:28 pm »

No mention of Altuve in the chat either.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:30:44 pm »

Quote from: moriartp on May 27, 2011, 04:05:28 pm

No mention of Altuve in the chat either.

Despite at least one question (mine) submission regarding him.

moriartp · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:34:59 pm »

I asked one too. I guess they figured his performance over the past week speaks for itself.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:42:22 pm »

I asked one, but it was within the last 5 minutes of the chat.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2011, 04:51:02 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on May 27, 2011, 04:42:22 pm

I asked one, but it was within the last 5 minutes of the chat.

Asked mine 30 minutes before. One of the things they noted in the chat re: another prospect was that he didn't have enough XBH to merit a mention, though it was considered (that, and he was an older player - 22 - in Low A). IICR (and I'm about 65% on this) Callis has never been much of a believer.

pots · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:11:22 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on May 27, 2011, 04:51:02 pm

Asked mine 30 minutes before. One of the things they noted in the chat re: another prospect was that he didn't have enough XBH to merit a mention, though it was considered (that, and he was an older player - 22 - in Low A). IICR (and I'm about 65% on this) Callis has never been much of a believer.

Odd astros.com has him turning 21 earlier this month 5/6/1990

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:16:13 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on May 27, 2011, 04:51:02 pm

Asked mine 30 minutes before. One of the things they noted in the chat re: another prospect was that he didn't have enough XBH to merit a mention, though it was considered (that, and he was an older player - 22 - in Low A). IICR (and I'm about 65% on this) Callis has never been much of a believer.

I saw that, also. Still should have been in the team photo, imo. But, if he keeps leading the minors in BA (and it's not even close), they have to mention him at some point, don't they? Think it was Jim Shonerd, or someone, doing the chat, so we have to find someone there to show him some love.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:19:45 pm »

Quote from: pots on May 27, 2011, 05:11:22 pm

Odd astros.com has him turning 21 earlier this month 5/6/1990

BasballCube has his birthday as 2/20/88, but they also have him listed as 6'1" 185. Stats are right, though.

moriartp · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:31:03 pm »

Quote from: pots on May 27, 2011, 05:11:22 pm

Odd astros.com has him turning 21 earlier this month 5/6/1990

I think OSF was referring to the other player mentioned in the chat.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:39:17 pm »

Quote from: moriartp on May 27, 2011, 05:31:03 pm

I think OSF was referring to the other player mentioned in the chat.

Correct, was not referring to Altuve.

Quote from: astrosfan76 on May 27, 2011, 05:19:45 pm

BasballCube has his birthday as 2/20/88, but they also have him listed as 6'1" 185. Stats are right, though.

There is another Jose Altuve ("Jose Luis (Arena) Altuve") that played in the Natinals [sic] organization from '06-'09 who has those vitals (2/20/88, 6'1" 185). Baseball-Reference still sends me to that Altuve 1st unless I add 'Astros' to the search. I'd imagine some of the other sites (like baseball cube) just have their info crossed up or something along those lines.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2011, 05:41:59 pm »

Appy Astros and I did ask BA's Matt Eddy re: the Altuve 'overlook' via Twitter though, and he responded (which was appreciated) with the following:

@StreetJL @AppyAstros Just not good enough. No conspiracy. Altuve ranked just 17th among Top-30 prospects in runs created this week. And that's not even taking into account super favorable hitting conditions. Sorry, that should have read Altuve ranked 17th *among position players,* so not even counting pitchers.

I should note, however, that last week's Hot Sheet had a 22 yr-old CAL kid at #1.

Reuben · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2011, 07:05:37 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on May 27, 2011, 05:41:59 pm

Appy Astros and I did ask BA's Matt Eddy re: the Altuve 'overlook' via Twitter though, and he responded (which was appreciated) with the following:

@StreetJL @AppyAstros Just not good enough. No conspiracy. Altuve ranked just 17th among Top-30 prospects in runs created this week. And that's not even taking into account super favorable hitting conditions. Sorry, that should have read Altuve ranked 17th *among position players,* so not even counting pitchers.

I should note, however, that last week's Hot Sheet had a 22 yr-old CAL kid at #1.

Fine with me. I'd be perfectly happy if Altuve continues to fly under the radar. I'm sure he's got the Astros' attention though.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2011, 07:49:29 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on May 27, 2011, 07:05:37 pm

Fine with me. I'd be perfectly happy if Altuve continues to fly under the radar. I'm sure he's got the Astros' attention though.

Yep. I don't expect him to hit .400, but if he keeps up his XBH and SB pace, he could have 60 XBH, 50 SB, and a strong BB/K ratio. Well, that's me assuming his season is 1/3 of the way over. Anyway, that's production that can't be looked over, regardless of the park.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #24 on:** June 03, 2011, 01:39:58 pm »

Holy crap, he actually made it onto a BA Hot Sheet! LINK

No. 6 JOSE ALTUVE, 2B ASTROS Team: high Class A Lancaster (California) / Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)

Why He's Here: .448/.484/.862 (13-for-29), 3 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBIs, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-2 SB
The Scoop: The true test begins now for Altuve, the Astros' little engine that could. Promoted to Double-A in time for Wednesday's game, Altuve has gone 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs in two games for Corpus Christi. The diminutive second baseman (he's listed at 5-foot-7 and a squat 170 pounds) owns a career .324 average in the minors, fueled in part by a .362 mark for Lancaster in 83 career games. But that undersells how hot Altuve has been this season.

The body-comp visual is jarring, but Altuve went a Ted Williams-esque 87-for-213 (.408) for the JetHawks this season, a performance that included a .464/.492/.670 batting line while flying the friendly skies of Lancaster. The Cal League liberally rewards those who put the ball in play frequently, and Altuve was no exception. He collected a hit in such instances more than 44 percent of the time, compared with a league average rate of 33 and a half percent.

They balance this out, however, with putting Jio in the 'Not So Hot' section...

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 03, 2011, 01:43:11 pm »

They also pick at Heck's early-round HS picks (sans Lyles), calling their development "painfully slow." I think it's a little unfair to place that label on DDS and Folty at this point, but that's just me.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #26 on:** June 03, 2011, 01:58:11 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on June 03, 2011, 01:43:11 pm

They also pick at Heck's early-round HS picks (sans Lyles), calling their development "painfully slow." I think it's a little unfair to place that label on DDS and Folty at this point, but that's just me.

Yep, thought that was a ridiculous comment re: the '10 first round picks (especially DDJ, who signed very late). Bushue has been a bit slower than I had hoped, but that's seemingly been injury related. Seaton has progressed enough to be at least holding his own in Double-A (though not as well as I'd hoped). As for Jay Austin, I'm not particularly a fan and have in large part written that pick off...

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 03, 2011, 02:40:17 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on June 03, 2011, 01:58:11 pm

Yep, thought that was a ridiculous comment re: the '10 first round picks (especially DDJ, who signed very late). Bushue has been a bit slower than I had hoped, but that's seemingly been injury related. Seaton has progressed enough to be at least holding his own in Double-A (though not as well as I'd hoped). As for Jay Austin, I'm not particularly a fan and have in large part written that pick off...

Seaton's been the most frustrating to me. The tools are there, but he hasn't been able to put it together. Signing him was considered a coup at the time. Austin's been a tease, but he didn't come with the same expectations.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #28 on:** June 03, 2011, 02:50:34 pm »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on June 03, 2011, 02:40:17 pm

Seaton's been the most frustrating to me. The tools are there, but he hasn't been able to put it together. Signing him was considered a coup at the time. Austin's been a tease, but he didn't come with the same expectations.

I can generally agree on Seaton, though something that Heck said in an interview with Stephen Goff (Examiner) before the season has stuck with me though: (Article: Heck, Astros remain confident in RHP Ross Seaton)

"... [Bobby Heck:] I expect him to be in Corpus Christi this year. He's only 21-years-old. If he had gone to college, he would be entering the Draft this year. To be pitching at the Double-A level at 21 is really good...."

Put another way, how many college pitchers in this years draft are going to sign and start in Double-A or higher? A couple from the first round certainly. I think the depth of college pitchers in this year's draft that could start in Double-A or higher is an enigma though.

All in all, I wish he'd been able to follow the meteoric path of Lyles and that some of the projections and hopes had been more tangible by now (and am a tad disappointed that they are not), but the kid has time still. I have time still...

Navin R Johnson · « **Reply #29 on:** June 03, 2011, 02:56:37 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on June 03, 2011, 02:50:34 pm

"... [Bobby Heck:] I expect him to be in Corpus Christi this year. He's only 21-years-old. If he had gone to college, he would be entering the Draft this year. To be pitching at the Double-A level at 21 is really good...."

Put another way, how many college pitchers in this years draft are going to sign and start in Double-A or higher?

That is why I don't put much stock into DDJR's performance this year. He would be a freshman at LSU right now. Then you factor in trying to learn a new position on top of that. Maybe he will be a bust, but it seems way early to start even worrying about that.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #30 on:** June 03, 2011, 03:19:19 pm »

BA Hot Sheet chat question re: Nash. LINK

Clint (Fort Myers): Haven't heard much on the status of Telvin Nash update. Is he close to coming back from injury and is this guy legit?

J.J. Cooper: It's a hamate injury, so it wouldn't be a shock if he's not really 100 percent til next year. A lot of times it takes a year to get full strength back in your hand after that kind of injury. He still needs a lot of ABs, so this is a setback, but he was doing a good job of turning tools into skills before the injury.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 10, 2011, 02:44:03 pm »

No Astros on the good or bad list, but this praise in the chat:

Quote

Tim (Houston, TX): I know it's a tiny sample size, but Jose Altuve seems to have had no trouble adjusting to AA. Are you becoming a believer?

Ben Badler: Not sure if that's meant to be a pun, but yes, I think there's a good chance he has a solid big league career.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:12:45 pm »

Despite "only" hitting .345 for the week, Altuve was in the team photo this week.

Quote

Astros 2B Jose Altuve got off to a blazing start at high Class A Lancaster, but questions remained if the 21-year old would be able to continue his tear outside of one of the best hitting environments in the minor leagues. The Astros promoted Altuve to Double-A at the start of June and, so far, he has continued to hit. He went 10-for-29 (.345) with six extra-base hits this week, including four doubles and two triples. He's hitting .393/.422/.689 in his first two weeks with Corpus Christi

Funny thing is, it seemed like he was having a rough week since his average dropped below .400.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2011/2611960.html

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #33 on:** June 17, 2011, 03:33:24 pm »

I thought Keuchel earned a place on the Hot Sheet this week as well. Alas, I thought wrong... Pretty sure that its the low strikeout numbers that is keeping him off... but... 3.36 ERA pitching in LAN last season along with being 3rd in the Texas league in ERA (2.99) and WHIP (1.13) surely have gotta be catching someone's attention over at BA. Surely...

pots · « **Reply #34 on:** July 08, 2011, 02:04:44 pm »

Look who's back on the hot sheet. Team photo:

"Astros OF J.D. Martinez has followed his breakout 2010 season with a .333/.402/.522 line so far with Double-A Corpus Christi, continuing to prove he can flat out hit. Martinez, 23, showed pop this week as well, homering three times to bring his season total to nine. He put together five straight multi-hit games while batting .458/.536/.958 (11-for-24) and mixing in a double, a triple and eight RBIs on the week"

Reuben · « **Reply #35 on:** July 08, 2011, 02:32:11 pm »

BA's mid-season Top 50 Prospects list has 0 Astros (Lyles not being eligible whilst in MLB). Anthony Gose is at #45, he must be having a good season.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #36 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:14:30 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on July 08, 2011, 02:32:11 pm

BA's mid-season Top 50 Prospects list has 0 Astros (Lyles not being eligible whilst in MLB). Anthony Gose is at #45, he must be having a good season.

He's been up and down this year and doing ok. His speed is intact. He still has developing to do and strikes out too much for my taste. That list has an emphasis on tools.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #37 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:16:07 pm »

From the Hot Sheet chat: LINK. Let's just say J.J. Cooper is not a Martinez/Altuve fan...

Tom (Texas): Would JD Martinez and/or Jose "Mighty Mouse" Altuve make your Top 100 list right now?

J.J. Cooper: Sorry neither of 'em would make it for me. Martinez's value is all tied up in the bat and I don't think he'll hit enough to be a regular. Altuve has torn the cover off the ball this year, but all that's done for most scouts is bump him from being an org player to a potential big league backup. I asked six scout/front office types specifically about him and didn't find one who projects him to be a big league regular. The guys who liked him think he could be a backup second baseman who maybe plays as a backup corner outfielder too.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #38 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:19:54 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on July 08, 2011, 03:16:07 pm

From the Hot Sheet chat: LINK. Let's just say J.J. Cooper is not a Martinez/Altuve fan...

Tom (Texas): Would JD Martinez and/or Jose "Mighty Mouse" Altuve make your Top 100 list right now?

J.J. Cooper: Sorry neither of 'em would make it for me. Martinez's value is all tied up in the bat and I don't think he'll hit enough to be a regular. Altuve has torn the cover off the ball this year, but all that's done for most scouts is bump him from being an org player to a potential big league backup. I asked six scout/front office types specifically about him and didn't find one who projects him to be a big league regular. The guys who liked him think he could be a backup second baseman who maybe plays as a backup corner outfielder too.

Height haters. I'm sure those guys would have said similar things about Pedroia.

Altuve has been an equal to or better hitter for both average and power than Pedroia and Kipnis (who is in Cooper's top 50 prospects) at equivalent levels in their careers. And he's done so being younger than both of them at the same level.

austro · « **Reply #39 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:21:16 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 08, 2011, 03:19:54 pm

Height haters. I'm sure those guys would have said similar things about Pedroia.

Altuve has been an equal to or better hitter for both average and power than Pedroia and Kipnis (who is in Cooper's top 50 prospects) at equivalent levels in their careers. And he's done so being younger than both of them at the same level.

You're overlooking the obvious: he's in the Astros' org. If he were any good, he'd be in some other org. QED.

Andyzipp · « **Reply #40 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:31:42 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 08, 2011, 03:19:54 pm

Height haters. I'm sure those guys would have said similar things about Pedroia.

Never. He came up in one of the only two valid major league organizations.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #41 on:** July 08, 2011, 03:36:07 pm »

Quote from: Andyzipp on July 08, 2011, 03:31:42 pm

Never. He came up in one of the only two valid major league organizations.

Cooper has always struck me as the guy who never really has his own opinions but rather takes what other say, reformulates it, then presents it as his own. So, what you said.

Hornstros · « **Reply #42 on:** July 08, 2011, 04:25:12 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 08, 2011, 03:36:07 pm

Cooper has always struck me as the guy who never really has his own opinions but rather takes what other say, reformulates it, then presents it as his own. So, what you said.

The Carlos Mencia of baseball analysts.

I thought JD Martinez was a lock for the hot sheet this week. I imagine he didn't create enough runs in the eyes of BA

Jacksonian · « **Reply #43 on:** July 08, 2011, 04:56:47 pm »

Quote from: Hornstros on July 08, 2011, 04:25:12 pm

The Carlos Mencia of baseball analysts.

I thought JD Martinez was a lock for the hot sheet this week. I imagine he didn't create enough runs in the eyes of BA Cooper.

Callis has shown to be his own man.

moriartp · « **Reply #44 on:** July 08, 2011, 06:00:43 pm »

Ben Badler is also really good. His international coverage blows everyone else out of the water. A lot of their writers who specialize in a particular area (Aaron Fitt covering college baseball, for example) do excellent work.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #45 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:06:52 am »

Quote from: moriartp on July 08, 2011, 06:00:43 pm

Ben Badler is also really good. His international coverage blows everyone else out of the water. A lot of their writers who specialize in a particular area (Aaron Fitt covering college baseball, for example) do excellent work.

Badler's article on the Futures Game (Altuve excerpts below): LINK

Best Showcase: *** Watch him in batting practice and he won't blow anyone away. Watch him over time in games, and Altuve is the type of player who grows on scouts, while his .381/.420/.576 combined line through 85 games at high Class A Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi speaks for itself. He had plenty of attention after the game as well, with more media members surrounding him than any other player in the World clubhouse.

"I love Altuve," said one pro scout. "I think his swing is good and he plays above his tools. He does the small things. He has a baseball sense, he makes contact and he's always in the right place at the right time. For me, his size doesn't matter because I think he's going to hit."

Navin R Johnson · « **Reply #46 on:** July 11, 2011, 12:56:19 pm »

I can imagine Keith Law gritting his teeth has he read that scout say that. Probably like nails on a chalkboard to him.

jbm · « **Reply #47 on:** July 11, 2011, 01:44:15 pm »

I liked how Altuve cut off his yapping about what a great prospect Miller is.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #48 on:** July 11, 2011, 02:01:33 pm »

Quote from: jbm on July 11, 2011, 01:44:15 pm

I liked how Altuve cut off his yapping about what a great prospect Miller is.

Miller has had more on his mind that baseball this past weekend... Again, tragic. (link re: Shannon Stone death)

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #49 on:** July 11, 2011, 02:05:28 pm »

Quote from: Navin R Johnson on July 11, 2011, 12:56:19 pm

I can imagine Keith Law gritting his teeth has he read that scout say that. Probably like nails on a chalkboard to him.

Perhaps not.

• Jose Altuve (Houston) is tiny -- apparently only about 5-foot-5½ if you ask him -- and recent history is very much against him on that count. It does look like these insanely high batting averages he's posting aren't a fluke, though. He does wrap his bat slightly with his hands high and deep, but after that he does just about everything right, with plenty of hand strength to whip the bat around into the zone and very good rotation from top to bottom to drive the ball. He's not a burner and looks like he'll have only doubles power, but if you hit in the low-.300s with a handful of walks and solid defense at second base, you're at least an everyday player -- and probably a fan favorite.

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **Reply #50 on:** July 11, 2011, 03:18:47 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on July 11, 2011, 02:05:28 pm

Perhaps not.

• Jose Altuve (Houston) is tiny -- apparently only about 5-foot-5½ if you ask him -- and recent history is very much against him on that count. It does look like these insanely high batting averages he's posting aren't a fluke, though. He does wrap his bat slightly with his hands high and deep, but after that he does just about everything right, with plenty of hand strength to whip the bat around into the zone and very good rotation from top to bottom to drive the ball. He's not a burner and looks like he'll have only doubles power, but if you hit in the low-.300s with a handful of walks and solid defense at second base, you're at least an everyday player -- and probably a fan favorite.

He's making "damning with faint praise" into performance art.

Duman · « **Reply #51 on:** July 12, 2011, 08:00:08 am »

RE: Fan Favorite Comment

If he comes up and hits in the 280-300 range He has the chance to be a bobble head day worthy kinda PR boom for the Astros. Let's look at his credentials:

1. Attractive with out the hat on - Every time my wife sees him she says "He is sooo cute." She has never said this about Pence.
2. He is bi-lingual
3. He interviews very well/ media friendly
4. He has good people skills - if you saw his mic'd up video, notice the eye contact he is making with the people when he gives them back their stuff he has signed.
5. Plays hard and uni will always be dirty. (the way all of us say we would play the game if we had any talent)

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #52 on:** July 14, 2011, 12:25:15 pm »

Quote from: GreatBagwellsBeard on July 11, 2011, 03:18:47 pm

He's making "damning with faint praise" into performance art.

Didn't see this coming... Keith Law's Updated Top 50 LINK (sub req'd)

50. Jose Altuve. Analysis: The little man can hit. If he was 5-foot-10, the industry would be all over him. Preseason Ranking: NR

jbm · « **Reply #53 on:** July 14, 2011, 01:01:20 pm »

He can hit, who knew?

It has been fun watching and rewatching the futures game. The more I see these players, the more I realize that ranking them is folly. Not to say I wouldn't want one over another, it's just that all of their futures are so variable (as evidenced by the fact that last year's list, and next year's will be so very different from this list), and these lists tend to obscure that basic truth.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #54 on:** July 15, 2011, 01:26:20 pm »

Mike Foltynewicz gets some mention in the 'Team Photo' this week. LINK

After a seven-runs-in-four-innings drubbing on May 11, low Class A Lexington RHP Mike Foltynewicz's ERA stood at 6.63. If anything, the Astros's 2010 first-rounder appeared headed for an assignment to short-season ball in June. But then the 19-year-old reeled off three straight strong outings (three runs in 18 innings, 12 strikeouts) to begin the process of redeeming his full-season debut. In 11 starts since he bottomed out, Foltynewicz has gone 5-1, 2.70 with 40 strikeouts in 60 innings. A power pitcher who can run it up to 95 mph, he still needs to refine his secondary stuff and cut down on the walks (3.9 per nine innings this season), but his last two starts represent an encouraging step: 11 1/3 innings, 12 strikeouts, five walks, three runs allowed (2.38 ERA) on nine hits . . .

juliogotay · « **Reply #55 on:** July 15, 2011, 02:50:37 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on July 15, 2011, 01:26:20 pm

Mike Foltynewicz gets some mention in the 'Team Photo' this week. LINK

After a seven-runs-in-four-innings drubbing on May 11, low Class A Lexington RHP Mike Foltynewicz's ERA stood at 6.63. If anything, the Astros's 2010 first-rounder appeared headed for an assignment to short-season ball in June. But then the 19-year-old reeled off three straight strong outings (three runs in 18 innings, 12 strikeouts) to begin the process of redeeming his full-season debut. In 11 starts since he bottomed out, Foltynewicz has gone 5-1, 2.70 with 40 strikeouts in 60 innings. A power pitcher who can run it up to 95 mph, he still needs to refine his secondary stuff and cut down on the walks (3.9 per nine innings this season), but his last two starts represent an encouraging step: 11 1/3 innings, 12 strikeouts, five walks, three runs allowed (2.38 ERA) on nine hits . . .

impressive two games? this guy's late to the party. Folty has had an impressive run since May or so.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #56 on:** August 14, 2011, 03:23:18 pm »

A reliever on the Hot Sheet? An Astros reliever at that? Well, it happened (in the Team Photo section)! LINK

It's almost impossible for relievers to make the Hot Sheet, as it's just too tough to rack up enough innings in a week to make a splash. But in Astros RHP Murilo Gouvea's case, that wasn't a problem. Gouvea struck out 10 batters in four innings for low Class A Lexington on Saturday and followed that up by throwing five one-hit innings on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Brazillan has a 30-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio since the all-star break . . .

Alas, they balanced it out with an Astros entry in the Not-So-Hot portion of the Hot Sheet...

Delino DeShields, 2b, Astros. DeShields' first pro season has been a mammoth struggle. The eighth overall pick in 2010 has slumped to a .220/.301/.308 batting line with low Class A Lexington after going 1-for-20 with eight whiffs this week. He started to turn things on in July when he hit .320—though he had just two extra-base hits in 97 at-bats—but now he's in the midst of a 2-for-30 slump to begin August. DeShields turns 19 next Tuesday, so there's still plenty of time for a turnaround, and he has shown his plus speed with 26 stolen bases this year.

Duder · « **Reply #57 on:** August 26, 2011, 12:16:42 pm »

This week's hot sheet features two players acquired in the Phillies trade. LINK

3. Domingo Santana
Team: low Class A Lexington (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He's Here: .417/.500/1.000 (10-for-24), 8 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO
The Scoop: The Astros scooped Santana from the Phillies as the player to be named in the Hunter Pence deal, adding a powerful but strikeout-prone bat to their system. The immediate returns could not be better. After hitting seven home runs in 96 games for Philadelphia's low Class A Lakewood club, Santana went deep four times in his first nine games for the Astros' affiliate in the same league. At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Santana has massive raw power but plenty of holes in his swing—he's struck out 127 times in 105 games—but Houston got plenty of upside for a fourth player in a trade that injected their farm system with much-needed life.

11. Jarred Cosart
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He's Here: 0-0, 0.75, 2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 7 SO, 22/4 G/F
The Scoop: Outside of one disastrous outing, Cosart has pitched like the front-line arm the Astros wanted as one of the centerpieces of the deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies. Promoted from high Class A to Double-A after changing organizations, the Texas native was roughed up in his second start back in his home state, giving up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings on Aug. 7. Other than that, Cosart's been all but untouchable. In his other four Corpus Christi starts, Cosart has pitched 24 innings and allowed all of two runs on 13 hits. While his strikeout numbers haven't been what you'd expect from a power arm, Cosart's been inducing groundouts by the bushel, including 12 in a six-inning start on Wednesday against Midland, the team that hammered him previously.