George Springer

[jester9450]

Is it time to bring him up yet.

[juliogotay]

Where would he play? This Houston OF is loaded with All-Star candidates.

[jester9450]

Make room for him maybe the best hitter in the hole Org.

[austro]

We watched him tonight at RR, and he hit home runs in his first two ABs, the first a drive over the LF bullpen and the second a moon shot that landed on top of the equipment shed in CF. in his third AB he smacked a ball that wound as a triple (although it probably would have been a double against a more competent defense -- RR looked really bad on defense). He also dropped a ball in LCF after a good jump and a long run, although in his defense he was probably distracted by a too-close left-fielder.

His bat is quick, quick, quick, and he lets the ball travel deep into the zone before he pounds it. But that makes his high strikeout rate all the more surprising to me. He needs to spend more time in AAA, because I guarantee that pitchers at this level will figure out his holes and exploit them until he adjusts. There is no reason to call him up early and watch him get carved up by major league pitching. Let's see a prolonged mastery of AAA first.

But he is exciting and could be special.

[Reuben]

Even if, long-term, he ends up as only a .250-.260 hitter in the big leagues due to his contact issues, if he's flirting with 30-30 yearly and playing great defense in CF, that's a hell of a player.

[Taras Bulba]

Reminded me of a poor man's Carlos Beltran.  But, I was drinking Diet Pepsi.

[astrosfan76]

Reminded me of a poor man's Carlos Beltran.  But, I was drinking Diet Pepsi.

I've always felt a Mike Cameron comp is fair.

[Mr. Happy]

Even if, long-term, he ends up as only a .250-.260 hitter in the big leagues due to his contact issues, if he's flirting with 30-30 yearly and playing great defense in CF, that's a hell of a player.

if he's going to be that good, bring him up now. However, like Austro, I believe that he could benefit from seeing some more AAA pitching.

[HudsonHawk]

if he's going to be that good, bring him up now. However, like Austro, I believe that he could benefit from seeing some more AAA pitching.

If he can benefit from more AAA seasoning, why on earth would you bring him up now?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

If I thought that he could help the Astros win their division, I'd say bring him up now. I look forward to seeing him this September.

[Mr. Happy]

If he can benefit from more AAA seasoning, why on earth would you bring him up now?

I said that I'd prefer to give him more time in AAA. However, if they are sure that he's good enough to hit .250-.260 and flirt with 30-30 and that is his ceiling, then why prolong his stay down there? Nevertheless, if they see his ceiling as higher than that, then keep him down on the farm.

[NeilT]

If he can benefit from more AAA seasoning, why on earth would you bring him up now?

To sell tickets?

[austro]

I said that I'd prefer to give him more time in AAA. However, if they are sure that he's good enough to hit .250-.260 and flirt with 30-30 and that is his ceiling, then why prolong his stay down there? Nevertheless, if they see his ceiling as higher than that, then keep him down on the farm.

I think his ceiling is higher than that. If he can refine his approach enough to make pitchers come into the zone against him, I think he can hit for average *and* power. But I don't know the root cause of his current high strikeout totals.

[Bench]

But I don't know the root cause of his current high strikeout totals.

Georgie be hacking.

[jbm]

Georgie be hacking.

That would be my guess also. 

I agree about the higher ceiling.  Don't know how likely he achieves it, but his ceiling is monstrous.

[Mr. Happy]

That would be my guess also. 

I agree about the higher ceiling.  Don't know how likely he achieves it, but his ceiling is monstrous.

That's really great to hear.

[Fredia]

ok why has no one mentioned hunter pence? i guess the fanbase and ownership have both changed since then

[pots]

ok why has no one mentioned hunter pence? i guess the fanbase and ownership have both changed since then

I was about to, they both play hard but their approach at the plate, even though both have aggresive swings, are different.  Springer, by his own words, goes up there with a plan.  It certainly didn't seem like Pence!!! had a plan, just be hacking.  Plus Springer is supposedly a good center fielder. Pence!!! was a horrible right fielder.  

ETA
Oh and Springer is much faster

[Bench]

I was about to, they both play hard but their approach at the plate, even though both have aggresive swings, are different.  Springer, by his own words, goes up there with a plan.  It certainly didn't seem like Pence!!! had a plan, just be hacking.  Plus Springer is supposedly a good center fielder. Pence!!! was a horrible right fielder. 

Does Springer have googlie eyes?

[WakePhil]

Does Springer have googlie eyes?

Does he remind you of an effette frenchman with his elbows stapled to his knees throwing bookcases uphill?

Any opportunity to reset this: http://www.spikesnstars.com/forums/index.php?topic=115593.msg467796#msg467796

[Reuben]

In BA's Prospect Report email today, they noted of Springer: "Now 25 HR total, 28 SB, making case for Minor League POY award".

[austro]

If anybody has the opportunity to go out to the Dell tonight, I encourage you to do so. (I can't make it myself.) It would be nice to have some other eyes confirm what Drew and Sphinx and I were seeing last night.

[VirtualBob]

If anybody has the opportunity to go out to the Dell tonight, I encourage you to do so. (I can't make it myself.) It would be nice to have some other eyes confirm what Drew and Sphinx and I were seeing last night.

I am planning on it, but plans may fall through.

[JimR]

report from my friend at Dell Diamond: "Springer is unbelievable."

[jaklewein]

Ok...so basically expectations should be anywhere from Matt Kemp to Mike Cameron to say...Chris Young (now with OAK)?

[Navin R Johnson]

or Jayson Werth?

[jaklewein]

or Jayson Werth?

I thought about him but wasn't sure that he was in the same class defensively.

[AstroNut]

Went this past weekend here in New Orleans and he went yard his first two at bats...bombs.

And his speed stood out...looks like the real deal and looks ready

[VirtualBob]

I am planning on it, but plans may fall through.

I made it. Section 118 row 5 seat 5 if anyone else is around. Report to follow in bus ride.

[morningwood75]

I made it. Section 118 row 5 seat 5 if anyone else is around. Report to follow in bus ride.

Let us know about Singleton as well. Thanks!

[VirtualBob]

Springer looks comfortable and disciplined. 4-pitch walk in the 1st with a couple of them pretty close, and a 2-run HR in the 3rd off the top of the equipment shed above the 407 sign.

Singleton looked awful in his first AB. Two called strikes on slow curves and one weak swung at a third one. All three probably wide. Trouble with the curve?  In his defense, Richmond is a bit wild, but has a knee-buckling 74mph hook. Lots of missed bats tonight, especially by LH batters.

[VirtualBob]

Another 3-pitch K for Singleton. Slider (looking), Curve, Curve. Swings looked better, but no contact.

[VirtualBob]

Springer caught looking at one of this slow curves for strike 3 in the 6th. Singleton made contact, grounding out to 2B.

[juliogotay]

Springer caught looking at one of this slow curves for strike 3 in the 6th. Singleton made contact, grounding out to 2B.

Anybody else doing anything? Villar? Who is pitching?

[VirtualBob]

Anybody else doing anything? Villar? Who is pitching?

Villar out of lineup.

Peacock done after 6 shutout innings and 96 pitches. FB 94-95 early but 96 several tomes in the 6th. A ?cutter? At 92-93 with movement, but often out of the zone. A ?slider? In high 80's looked good, and a ?change? Ranging from 75-83 was an out pitch against LHB. 

Stiffen on in relief.

[VirtualBob]

Marwin is looking very good at SS. Just ended the 7th with a good play on the right side of 2B. Also had a slicing double down the line in left.

[hostros7]

Marwin is looking very good at SS. Just ended the 7th with a good play on the right side of 2B. Also had a slicing double down the line in left.

Still no Ronny cedeno though

[VirtualBob]

Still no Ronny cedeno though

Gag. Hope you just forgot the [sarc] tag.

[VirtualBob]

Gross an with a 3-run shot to left and half the very sparse crowd heading for the exits. 5-0 Redhawks.

Marwin followed with a ringing single and Laird with a dinger to straight-away center. 7-0 good guys.

[VirtualBob]

Back to Springer. He walked on a full count off Justin Miller in the 7th after watching strike 2. The last two were FB low in/out of the zone. He then K'd to end the 9th missing badly on strikes 2 & 3, both sliders low and away from Miller.

[matadorph]

Springer, Castro, Lyles, Folty, Cosart, Santana, JD Martinez, Keuchel....

Thanks, Ed. Nicely done, sir.

[hostros7]

Springer, Castro, Lyles, Folty, Cosart, Santana, JD Martinez, Keuchel....

Thanks, Ed. Nicely done, sir.

Singleton as well

[Reuben]

Singleton as well

Villar too - the Oswalt trade, along with Wallace, who, frankly, I think has a better chance of becoming a decent MLB player than JD Martinez at this point.

Also DeShields... really, any number of guys from Wade/Heck's tenure could still potentially turn out well- Buchanan, David Martinez...