1st Round Pick Mier Reaches Agreement

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Astros have announced they reached an agreement with Jiovanni Mier, the 21st overall pick of the MLB Draft. Mier is reported to be heading to Greeneville once he passes a physical in Houston.

“I’m just really excited to get going right now,” Mier said. “The money isn’t really that big of a deal. It’s nice to have, but I am really excited about having a chance to play professional baseball. It’s a dream come true.”

Oh to be a teen again and have thoughts like 1.385 million dollars isn’t that big of a deal.

The Astros have now 34 of their 51 picks and 23 of the top 25. Greeneville is now home to Mier, Meyer (3rd sup), Hyatt (4th). The Gulf Coast League Astros are home to Bushue (2nd), and Nash (3rd). While Tri Cities has Wikoff (5th), Walker (8th), Orloff (9th) & Castro (10th). If the Astros are able to sign Dallas Keuchel (7th), who is the lone unsigned pick from the top 10 rounds, he will likely go to Tri Cities as well.

Mier

Max Sapp Update

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Two years after being drafted in the first round. Max Sapp appears to have a new appreciation for life. After his life threatening bout with Meningitis during the off season and then the return of seizures during spring training. He is working out at home in Orlando and focusing on trying to get ready to return to baseball when the doctors give him the go ahead. The Orlando Sentinel interviewed Sapp on his outlook on life as he works his way back.

On his return to baseball:

“We don’t want to rush him or push him too hard or too soon or too fast,” said Ricky Bennett, the Astros’ director of player development.

On his growth as a person going through this ordeal:

“He’s having to learn patience,” said his mom, Missy Sapp. “Young people aren’t the most patient people in the world, and he’s having to learn it.”

On his physical shape right now:

He cannot control how his brain will respond when he weans himself off Phenobarbital, but he can build up his body. In the hospital, his weight plummeted from 215 pounds to 188 pounds. He now has about 210 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame and hopes to gain eight more pounds of muscle.

And on his current attitude:

“He’s just a lot more jovial, a lot more talkative and laughs a lot more,” (former high school coach) Holbrook said. “I think he’s found that as much passion as he has for the sport, it’s not the most important thing in the world.”

“I’m a guy who came from dying three times, and now I’m here alive working out,” he said. “So anything’s possible.”

Max Sapp

Numbers Don’t Lyles

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Not an original headline. I stole it from an article at Project Prospect. They recap the reaction to Lyles selection from BP (Boy oh boy) and BA (sandwich shocker). The they give Bobby Heck credit where credit is due. Ryan Fay, highlights the fact the Lyles is getting better as the season is progressing! Here is a sample of the progress by the numbers.

He’s missed more bats as the season has progressed. He fanned 23.3% in April and 28.2% in May. He’s opened June with an even bigger bang, striking out 45.7% through his first two starts of the month.

Lyles’ walk rate was never a problem, but he’s gotten stingier with the free passes. In the first month the year, he walked 7.0% but cut it to 4.2% in May and has yet to walk a batter in June.

While his groundball rate isn’t great (44%), it’s gotten higher throughout the year. It sat at 38% in April, 47% in May and so far in June rests at a more-acceptable 50%.

He also reports that Lyles fast ball was clocked in the mid 90’s during spring training. Good to have someone outside the organization touting Lyles development.

Bobby Heck, Jordan Lyles

Ed Wade Steps on the Bus

Posted on June 14, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Last night, I went to Asheville NC to see the Legends play the Asheville Tourist. My son & I snuck in (with permission) to see some BP. It was wrapping up and I think I see Ed Wade walk by. I say to my son, “I think that is Ed Wade, General Manager of the Astros.” He wasn’t impressed.

Mr. Wade was there with Clarance Johns (Regional Supervisor of East scouting) to take in the Legends game and look at some of last years developing draft picks. I identified myself as a fan from Greeneville and as one of the guys who covers the minors for SpikesnStars.com, a fan website. There was a brief look on his face that I coudn’t discern if it was “Oh, crap, that’s worse that if he had said, “I am with 60 minutes”. Of if the look was “huh, he looks to normal to be living in his mom’s basement. I feel for his kid.”

Regardless, I engaged the nice gentlemen in some small talk about how Mr. Wade had traded away some of our families favorite kids from Greeneville (Patton, Parraz, Ralphie Henriquez…). I then explained that we were there to catch up with some of the guys from last years team. He said he didn’t think he would be trading any of the starting pitchers anytime soon.

With small talk over, I got down to the real questions I wanted answered. The most important question to Astro Fans named Duman! “What does the new GCL team mean for the talent we will see in Greeneville.” What? You thought I was going to ask about the LaTroy Hawkins to the Twins rumors? Please.

Mr. Wade said that Greeneville should be getting the upper tier highschool kids, some of the upper tier foriegn kids and some of the guys in extended spring training. He said the Gulf Coast League Astros, would have the less refined HS kids and foriegn players. So he summed it up by saying, we shouldn’t see much of a difference in Greeneville.

I then followed up by inquiring about how signings were coming from the draft, esp. the upper tier guys. He said they were coming along and basically minimized things. Mr. Johns chimed in and reported that 3, 4 & 5 are signed. I don’t know if that is round or pick order.

I thanked them for their time and left to let them get down to the business of whatever it is they do hanging out at a minor league park before a game.

Ed Wade

Woodbat Leagues… The New DFE

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

A few years ago, a kid could be drafted and if he attended a junior college/community college, he could be called a DFE. Draft, Follow, & Evaluate. He just had to sign before the next draft. Now the signing deadline is August 17th. MLB teams have two months to evaluate talent and reach an agreement to sign or else lose the right to those players. It now appears that the woodbat and summer college leagues are being used to be the place where further evaluation can take place before signing.

13th round pick Jake Goebbert is one example of how this strategy is being used. He had already committed to play in the Cape Cod League. He missed a fair amount of the season with a lacerated kidney. He sustained the injury hitting an outfield wall at a dead sprint in April at the Metrodome. He just was cleared to swing a bat three weeks ago. He will be followed by Astros’ scouts during his time playing for the Harwich (Ma.) Mariners. Then he will sign or can return to Northwestern for his senior season.

draft

Driskill on Lyles

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

A year after being drafted in the supplemental portion of the 1st round, Jordan Lyles is getting some high praise from his Lexington pitching coach, Travis Driskill.

“I would say his season is going totally in the right direction,“ Lexington Legends pitching coach Travis Driskill said of Lyles on Monday. “He is head and shoulders above some kids.“…

He said Lyles first came into the league with a fastball and a change up. Now, however, Driskill said Lyles has added a curveball to his repertoire, and that pitch is working well for him. “Now he is displaying a curveball that has the makings of a good pitch for him.“…

“I expect big things out of him. In my mind, and in the mind of the organization, he is doing everything he is able to do to advance to the next level.“

Lyles

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