Author Topic: Week 8/03 - 8/09: Ask And Ye Shall Maybe Receive vol. XXI (Read 15247 times)

Jacksonian · « **on:** August 03, 2005, 12:16:25 pm »

With the new week, I thought I'd post the players I watch most closely in A and AA ball and then the players I keep an occasional eye on.

Closely

Lexington: Gutierrez, Barthmaier, Englebrook, Santangelo, Towles, Sutton, Carraballo, Einertson

Salem: Muecke, Talbot, Shortell, Albers, Douglass, Patton, Ash, Zobrist, Pence

CC: McLemore, Sampson, Hirsh, Gimenez, Anderson

Eye on

Lexington: Reineke, Diaz, Blazek, Estrada, Martinez, Reed, Torbert, Barganier, Thompson

Salem: Stiehl, Torres, Robinson, Escobar, Dewitt

CC: Merchant, Saccomanno, Whiteman, Jimerson, Mike Rodriguez, Barzilla, Robinson

I intentionally left out the short-season leagues because at those levels I watch everyone. It's so early in a player's career there that most of what goes on that's actually important doesn't show up in the box score. I listen more for news on player development and growth.

Froback · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2005, 01:19:22 pm »

I like your lists....

With reguard to SS, how about Sutil. Even though this is his second season at SS, both years he has been like an OBP machine. Assuming his defense keeps pace, he might give us great depth at ShortStop in our system, with Zobrist already showing ML potential.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2005, 01:38:13 pm »

Quote:

I like your lists....

With reguard to SS, how about Sutil. Even though this is his second season at SS, both years he has been like an OBP machine. Assuming his defense keeps pace, he might give us great depth at ShortStop in our system, with Zobrist already showing ML potential.

Sutil is likely the best defensive shortstop in the Astros minor league system. If he can continue to get on base at a good clip, say better than .350, he'll likely top the Astros minor league depth charts at short one day.

Duman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2005, 02:24:09 pm »

Thanks for the list. The only one that suprised me was seeing Sutton on the Closely followed list. He has been up an down from Salem a few times and hasn't produced when he has been there.

Observation - didn't see a lot of corner infielders on the list.

ace · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2005, 04:09:23 pm »

J.R. Towles is hitting very well in Lexington and is a real sleeper prospect. With Santangelo back, why don't the Astros promote Towles? He is hitting over .400 and has some pop and speed!

Froback · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2005, 04:23:24 pm »

Reposting this since the other forum was closed.

Comment #1: Zobrist was back in the line-up last night, after being off the night before. I guess they are just bringing him back slowly or something. He was 1-4, and was lifted for a PR, again last night (like he was on the 31st).

Comment #2: Pence seems to be adjusting fine to High-A, batting .326 and still taking walks. My guess is he will be in AA at least next year.

Question #1: If Johnny Ash is good enough to be lead-off when Zobrist is not in the line-up and he is batting well over .300, why is he not batting #2 (atleast) when Zobrist is in the line-up? Him and Ben alternated at Lexington, but DeJesus always seems to move Ash down to around 7 or 8 when he is not leading off (batted 7th last night).

Question #2: What is the story with Davidson, the Salem Catcher... I know he was injured earlier this year, but he has always been on my radar, ever since he had that season (2002, I believe) when he had like a .500 OBP most of the year at SS. I was just curious what were the expectations of him? Is he just a roster filler till he desides to hang 'em up, or might he develop into at least a Greg Zaun type back-up catcher?

juliogotay · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2005, 11:47:15 pm »

The corner infield spots in Houston appear to be in pretty good hands with Berkman/Ensberg for awhile. I am more concerned with lack of corner outfield talent. Hopefully Lane will prove to be a keeper and Pence will continue to develop. I'm not seeing much else exciting unless it is Scott. I am missing something?

Greg D · « **Reply #10 on:** August 04, 2005, 07:41:25 am »

as selected by the managers in each league:

Carolina League:
Best Defensive 1st Baseman - Scott Robinson

Texas League:
Best Pitching Prospect - Fernando Nieve
Best Fastball - Nieve
Best Breaking Ball - Jason Hirsh
Fastest Baserunner - Josh Anderson
Best Defensive Outfielder - Anderson

Froback · « **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2005, 03:31:15 pm »

Todd Self is also a 1B, kind of like Berkman... playing the OF, because 1B is blocked. So the only real corner spot we have not depth in is 3B. I don't like any of our 3B prospects above SS at the moment.

We also have a lack of high level prospects at the catcher spot too, but we have a ton at A and SS. So I view Catcher like I do corner OF. Not much at the high levels but alot of potential a the low levels.

We have decent pitching up and down though, which is always good.... well our SS squads lack a bit, but sometimes they take time to develop.

Uncle Charlie · « **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2005, 03:47:20 pm »

Wondering what the SR is on Roberto Giron. From what I can find, seems to be a pretty good pitcher if he can retain command and composure. The command seems to be much better over the last few years... He's 29, but can he help the Astros some time in the future?

Greg D · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2005, 03:54:36 pm »

Last year's 7th-round pick Andrew Alvarado (maybe I overlooked it, but I didn't see his name on either of your lists) is now out due to TJS.

Hard-throwin' Felipe Paulino joins the Legends' roster as Alvarado's replacement.

The Link

Greg D · « **Reply #18 on:** August 06, 2005, 04:16:18 pm »

the Hooks:

10 G
55.2 IP
56 H
22 R
19 ER
14 BB
35 K
3.07 ERA

His strikeout rate is down substantially from prior in the year when he was a reliever (when he whiffed 29 in 30.2 IP), but that certainly isn't unexpected.

His prospect status probably remains murky, but any lefty in the organization who experiences any bit of progress is always good news.

Greg D · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2005, 06:19:58 pm »

over his last 29 games:

.355 BA
.418 OBP
.736 SLG
13 HR
31 RBI

He's currently on a 6-game hitting streak in which he's batting .520 (13-25).

Greg D · « **Reply #20 on:** August 06, 2005, 09:35:31 pm »

over his last 13 starts as he's put up the following numbers:

86.2 IP
67 H
22 R
19 ER
23 BB
62 K
1.97 ERA

That compares to a 6.45 ERA in his first 8 starts of the season in his initial exposure to the Carolina League. Overall for the year, the Amarillo boy's 3.33 ERA ranks 2nd in the Carolina League (behind teammate Josh Muecke's 3.24 ERA).

An obvious key to his success this season is better control. The 21-year old (and second youngest player on the Avalanche roster after Troy Patton) had a 4.81 BB/9 ratio at Lexington last year, versus just 2.53 so far this year.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #21 on:** August 08, 2005, 01:20:50 pm »

Got some info. He joined the local American Legion baseball team. That's generally something drafting teams don't want draftees to do. That gives me an indication of what Lindblom thinks of the chances of signing. The person I got the info from thinks he's headed to Tennessee. However, he says Josh really wants to turn pro. So the door is still open. No word on how really far apart Josh and the Astros are, but it must quite a distance.

Duman · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2005, 02:20:07 pm »

I wouldn't think Tennessee is excited about him playing more ball either.

Uncle Charlie · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2005, 04:53:51 pm »

I haven't had a good feeling about Lindblom signing for some time now. HOU needs to make sure that this isn't Drew Stubbs again.

Greg D · « **Reply #29 on:** August 09, 2005, 12:33:19 am »

JR Towles reached base 3 times on HBPs in Lexington's game vs. Hagerstown tonight.

Oh, and he hit a 2-run shot. No, he apparently didn't show up the other side as he was rounding the bases as all three plunks occurred prior to his hitting the dinger.

EasTexAstro · « **Reply #31 on:** August 09, 2005, 09:49:42 am »

Houston Chronicle minor league notebook, if anyone is interested, though the posters here offer so much more.

Taras Bulba · « **Reply #32 on:** August 09, 2005, 10:49:49 am »

I saw the other day that Whiteman was called up to RR and had a big game last night. It seemed (at least to this casual observer) that he had sort of been in the doghouse this season. Any news on his promotion and where the Astros see him in terms of development?

rus · « **Reply #33 on:** August 09, 2005, 12:11:57 pm »

I am going to a Tri-city Valley Cats game this week in Brooklyn. Who do I need to watch when I go? I will probably be going on Thursday. Thanks for your help.

coach48 · « **Reply #35 on:** August 09, 2005, 01:25:08 pm »

what gave you the impression that he was in the dog house? something you heard or read?

Duman · « **Reply #37 on:** August 10, 2005, 12:14:27 am »

Koby Clemens was pulled from tonights game after grounding out. MILB game log say an injured leg but don't know any more specifics.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #38 on:** August 10, 2005, 11:11:12 am »

I notice that when Justin Humphries was activated at LEX, Brandon Barganier was demoted to T-C in spite of his .300+ average and (apparently) decent defense. That leaves LEX with three first basemen (including the 25-year-old sub-.200-hitting kevin Vital) and only four outfielders.

I haven't gotten a chance to see low A this year. Is there something I'm missing about this? Anybody have "the rest of the story"??