We're a month into the season, so I thought I'd start some discussion about which players have been the most pleasant surprises and which players have been the biggest disappointments.

Continue reading this post »

Generally I've been extremely pleased with the moves Jeff Luhnow and the Astros have made this offseason. They filled a gaping hole at shortstop in the Melancon trade. They got 2 decent prospects for 2 AAAA players. But there were a few things I wish they'd done that they haven't.

Continue reading this post »

I was in Kissimmee on Thursday, so I thought I'd share some observations.

Continue reading this post »

So the final tally: C- 26th – I think we’ll be higher; Snyder will get more than 250ABs and Castro will outperform projections
1B- 26th – I think we’ll be higher;Lee will be a better fielder than they project.
2B- 13th – Agree pretty much; may be a bit optimistic for Altuve to post 2.5 WAR
SS – 12th – Agree
3B – 29th – unfortunately agree, may end up closer to 25th but still won’t be good here. Mostly because of the limited defensive upside of CJ/Wally.
RF- 30th – disagree; Bogie will outperform his offensive projections. Should finish closer to 20th<
CF – 30th – unfortunately agree.
LF – 11th – Agree although I would’ve been slightly more pessimistic, somewhere in the mid teens.

One thing that’s good to see is that the 3 positions that are average or better are manned by young players (Lowrie, Altuve, JD Martinez). Those 3 could possibly form part of the foundation for a future winning team.

Wanted to toss around who you all thought would make the opening day roster.
Guaranteed:

Due to their guaranteed salaries, these players, if healthy, are virtually guaranteed to be on the 25 man roster on opening day: Snyder, Lee, Lowrie, Cust, Q, Wandy, Myers, Happ, and Lyon

Based on 2011 performance, Lopez, Downs and Norris are guaranteed roster spots as well.

So after slotting in the players whose positions are "guaranteed" (a total of 12 spots), we're left with 12 open spots: 2B, 3B, RF, CF, LF, 2 bench spots, 1 SP, and 5 RP spots. Let's take it position by position:

2B: Based on what we've seen, unless he tanks, Altuve is going to be the 2B. The only way he doesn't make the roster is if he plays poorly in ST AND multiple infielders make a strong case, giving the decision makers the idea to move Altuve to AAA and put Downs at 2B, opening up another bench spot.

3B: Chris Johnson, Brett Wallace, and Jimmy Paredes are the primary contenders for this position. It's not inconceivable that Marwin Gonzalez plays out of his mind, making a case for moving him to starting SS and Lowrie to 3B, or that Downs makes a case for starting 3B. I think that Johnson enters ST in the lead, if for no other reason than that he has nothing left to gain from being sent down. Paredes, at only 23, is young enough and has a high enough ceiling that AAA could really help him, and Wallace could use AAA to find his power (and possibly work on playing multiple positions). This will be the funnest battle to watch over the next month, because the starting 3B job is very likely to be decided by who performs the best out of CJ, Wally, and Paredes.

RF: I think Bogusevic is the overwhelming favorite, based on his 2011 performance, his overall trajectory, and the fact that he doesn't have any options remaining, so he can't be sent down without passing through waivers, which I think a team would take him. Unless he plays really poorly, he'll be at least part of a platoon in RF.

CF: Jordan Schafer has to enter as the favorite here as well, based on the fact that he is also out of options and would be unlikely to pass through waivers. Even if he plays poorly in spring, he's very likely to make the roster and be at worst a bench outfielder and defensive replacement.

LF: Based on what we've been told and his 2011 performance, JD Martinez is the overwhelming favorite here. At this point for him not to make the team, he'd have to have an awful spring combined with a tremendous spring by a couple of other players. He does have options remaining.

Bench: Here's where it gets dicey. There are 2 spots here, and traditionally 1 would be filled by a backup SS/IF with the other going to a backup CF/OF. In that case, the frontrunners would be Marwin Gonzalez and Jason Bourgeois, respectively. As a Rule 5 pick, Gonzalez must stay on the 25 man or be sent back to the Cubs. Bourgeois had a very good 2011 and has proven to be a viable 4th OF and excellent basestealer. That said, there are endless possibilities and options. Assuming Altuve, and CJ are your 2B/3B, and Downs is your 1st bench IF, the list includes Wallace, Paredes, Shuck, F Mart, Castro (if healthy), Ruggiano, Buck, Barnes, Goebbert, Bixler, Sanchez, Hernandez, Snyder, Thurston, and Moore. The only position players I don't feel have any chance to make the roster are Corporan, Springer, DeShields, Villar, and Singleton.

SP: Like 3B, the 5th starter job will be fun to watch. In my opinion, the out-of-options Harrell and Sosa enter as the leaders, but they'll still have to pitch very well to earn the job. Many people are listing Livan Hernandez as the frontrunner, but I don't see it. The 40 man is full and there really aren't any players I think Houston is ready to cut loose to make room for a 37 year old. If Harrell/Sosa falter, the pecking order I would list right now would be Kyle Weiland, Aneury Rodriguez, and Jordan Lyles being given 1st dibs, then Hernandez and Zack Duke, followed by Xavier Cedeno and Paul Clemens as extreme long shots. Harrell, Sosa, Weiland, and Aneury have a chance to earn a relief role if they can't lock down the 5th starter spot, although I think all of those players are likely to be kept as starters in AAA in that case.

RPs: Another place where a lot can happen. You have to think David Carpenter has a pretty strong case for a roster spot due to his profile and 2011 #'s. Rhiner Cruz, the other Rule 5 pick, has to stay on the 25 man or be sent back to his former team, but I think he'll have to put up a solid performance to avoid that fate. He's got the heat so it's certainly possible. 4 pitchers put up good #'s in 2011 and deserve a longer than normal look in spring: Juan Abreu, Fernando Rodriguez, Enerio Del Rosario, and Sergio Escalona. The bullpen will feature at least 1 lefty, and Wesley Wright is out of options, so he may be the leader for the LOOGY role. Others in the mix include Fernando Abad, Arcenio Leon, Jorge De Leon, Henry Villar, Lance Pendleton, and Jose Valdez.

For me, this will be a very exciting spring, and I hope the decisions are tough because of too many players doing well.

Here's my prediction:

CF Schafer
2B Altuve
LF Martinez
1B Lee
RF Bogusevic
3B Johnson
SS Lowrie
C Snyder

Bench: Cust, Downs, Q, Marwin, Bourgeois

Rotation: Wandy, Norris, Myers, Happ, Sosa

Bullpen: Harrell, Wright, Cruz, Abreu, Carpenter, Lopez, Lyon

Warning: this post is 4300 words long, so it's probably more for newbies than TCB regulars. I remember when I first started following the astros, I wasn't able to find a good in depth resource for all the prospects in the system. There just wasn't much out there beyond the traditional top 10 lists. So here's an overview of who Houston has in its system heading into the 2012 season. Among all of MLB, I think Houston's farm would rank somewhere in the late teens at this point, which is good when you consider that those rankings wouldn't include promoted players like Lyles, Altuve, etc. If the rankings were based on all players age 25 and under, I think Houston would rank a little higher, somewhere in the 10-15 range. With the top pick in the draft and few more pieces to sell (Wandy, Lee, Myers), a little luck could see Houston begin 2013 with a top 10 farm system and a rapidly improving big league team. So let's go through the prospects, by position, after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

This is a fun game...

Continue reading this post »

While trying to make myself feel better about our 100 loss, tradition-abandoning, low-payroll, middling-farm-system team, I realized that between finishing with the league-worst record and having Clint Barmes reach Type B Free Agent status, Houston is likely to end up with 4 of the top 65 overall picks in the 2012 Amatuer Draft. While initially making me feel pretty optimistic, after a tiny amount of research, I ended up feeling even worse...

Continue reading this post »

MLB - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Brett Myers - 31 - Wandy more likely to be moved, and I doubt they move both. He's an innings eater who can be a good #4 on a playoff team and will make decent tradebait at next year's deadline. He'll be the opening day starter in lieu of a true ace.

Wandy Rodriguez - 33 - If he's traded, pencil in Sosa. Wandy's a very good #2 or #3 on any team.

Bud Norris - 27 - A good #3 pitcher. Was a good #2 for most of last season, but I don't see much more upside.

JA Happ - 29 - Take his MLB career to this point as a whole and he profiles as a decent #4.

Lucas Harrell - 26 - I have him beating out Henry Sosa among others. Enough competition that this spot should be fine. Along with Sosa, may be a stopgap player.

AAA - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Jordan Lyles - 21 - At this point likely a #3 starter, but could have a few years as a #2. Still, at his age, a VERY good opening day AAA starter.

Paul Clemens - 24 - Profiles much like Norris, could be a #2, but may be just a #4.

Dallas Keuchel - 24 - Probably tops out as a mid-rotation (#4) guy, but his floor is pretty high.

Aneury Rodriguez - 24 - Can now be moved back to the minors and into a rotation; I still have hope for him to be a middle rotation type, but at worst he's proven he can contribute in a bullpen.

Xavier Cedeno - 25 - Lefty resurrected himself last year; could be a back end starter or a LOOGY.

AA - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Jarred Cosart - 21 - Top 50 prospect could be anywhere from a future ace to just a setup man.

Brett Oberholtzer - 22 - Floor of a #5, ceiling of a #3.

Jake Buchanan - 22 - Opened some eyes last year, great #s so far. Probably ends up as a back end guy or middle reliever.

Ross Seaton - 22 - May just be a middle reliever at this point, but probably has a major league future.

Jose Cisnero - 23 - Ace potential, but just as likely may never make it past AA.

A+ - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Jack Armstrong Jr. - 21 - If he stays healthy, he's very likely to reach the bigs, even if it's not as a starter. Wide range of outcomes here.

Nick Tropeano - 21 - High floor, put up great #'s in pro debut. I'm calling him a #4 starter down the road.

Kyle Hallock - 23 - Another one with a high floor, also labeling him an eventual #4.

Jonas Dufek - 23 - Could have trouble in Lancaster, but debut was encouraging.

Bobby Doran - 23 - Former 4th rounder gets another crack at it. Hopes not high.

A - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Mike Foltynewicz - 20 - Former 1st rounder repeats; I expect domination. Future #2.

Tanner Bushue - 20 - Needs to show improvement and stay healthy. Looking like a bust at this point but the upside is still there.

Ruben Alaniz - 20 - Sleeper prospect has the goods. Future #3.

Tom Shirley - 23 - Injury risk is there. If healthy, has #2 upside, likely eventual reliever.

Jamaine Cotton - 21 - Could be many different players here, but Cotton opened eyes in 2011. A long way away.

Short Season - Age - Profile (Assuming no injuries)

Adrian Houser - 19 - A long ways away, but so far so good.

Vincent Velasquez - 19 - Injury muddied the waters, but the talent is there.

Michael Feliz - 18 - Bust potential is huge, but could be a future ace.

Christopher Lee - 19 - High pick didn't show much in debut.

Brandon Culbreth - 19 - High pick didn't show much in debut.

Luis Ordosgoitti - 19 - Opened some eyes, but was moved around.

Jose Montero - 18 - Not sure why he didn't pitch in 2011. Very high ceiling.

Harold Arauz - 17 - Big money int'l signee will get career started in 2012.

Edgar Ferreira - 19 - Took a step back in 2011. High bust potential but got big money in 2009.

Evan Grills - 19 - Made some progress and I've got him as a sleeper. Canadian will open some eyes in 2012 and will be a future #3.

2012 will mark the 4th full year for the 2008 draft class, which is the current front office's first and for many fans marked the point at which the farm system began to improve. Of the 52 players Houston drafted, 18 remain in the system. 3 have made their big league debuts. So far, no player drafted higher than the 10th round has flamed out completely. For most of the remaining players, I believe that 2012 represents a make or break season, especially when you consider the talent that has accumulated around and behind them through the 2009-2011 drafts and various trades. Here's a run down of who is left and where they stand:

Jason Castro- 2011 was a lost season, but he's already in the bigs and is penciled in as the starting catcher in Houston next year. Profiles as an average bat and above average defender, provided he fully recovers from his knee injury.

Jordan Lyles- Made his big league debut in 2011 and is likely to be a part of Houston's rotation for the foreseeable future. Profiles as a #3 starter.

Jay Austin- 2011 was a step backward, as he started in High A (repeating) and was eventually demoted back to Lexington, where he continued to struggle. Is participating in the Arizona Fall League for the 2nd consecutive year to try and regain some of his value. A plus athlete in CF, he just hasn't hit well enough to advance past A ball. Next season may be his last chance to turn things around before he becomes a totally forgotten man behind other CFers in the system like Springer, Wates, etc.

Ross Seaton- Continued to advance, moving up to AA in 2011. He struggled, but showed flashes of what got him drafted in the 3rd round. Likely due for a repeat season in AA in 2012, he needs to show improvement to continue on the path to the bigs. He's still fairly young, so he will probably have at least 1 more year before being labelled a bust. At this point he probably projects as a 5th starter or long reliever.

TJ Steele- 2011 was a success in the sense that Steele was able to finally stay relatively healthy, but the season was a failure in terms of on-field performance. At this point, Steele is an afterthought among farmstros outfielders and will probably be slated for backup duty in Corpus. Barring a drastic turnaround, it's unlikely he ever sets foot in Minute Maid.

David Duncan- the former 5th rounder has bounced around A ball and was even released before being resigned this year. The 6'9" lefty is a long shot to be very relevant, and 2012 likely represents his last season as a professional unless he stays healthy and makes a very good shoing.

Jack Shuck- Shuck has progressed quickly through the system and made his debut in Houston this year. His total lack of power has been balanced by his on-base skill and ability to play all 3 OF positions. He'll be in the mix to be one of the backup outfielders in Houston next year, which is where he profiles to stay long term as a 4th or 5th OF.

Jon Gaston- the former minor league HR leader continued his downward trajectory, struggling mightily in a repeat year in AA. He has shown good defense and power, but strikes out far too much to continue to advance. Like Steele, he'll likely be slated for backup duty in Corpus next year, which will probably be his last chance to turn things around. At this point a major league career looks unlikely.

Brad Dydalewicz- Another players whose stock fell in 2011, the former Lexington 5 member had a distastrous 2011. It's unclear what went wrong, but if he doesn't show signs of life in 2012, he's destined to be released.

Luis Cruz- An interesting prospect who is still fairly young, Cruz began 2011 on the DL before struggling in Lancaster, which got him demoted to Lexington. There, he did quite well. He'll likely get another chance in Lancaster next season, but he may have to make it as a reliever. If he struggles again, it's probably the end of the road.

Chris Hicks- Hicks had a resurrection after being out all of 2010. He pitched in relief for Lancaster and Corpus and put up great numbers. He's currently in the AFL, and if he isn't added to the 40 man roster, there's a small chance another team could take a flyer on him in the Rule 5 draft. If not, he'll begin in AA or AAA with a chance to make it to Houston by the end of the year. I for one wouldn't mind seeing him transitioned back to starting. For now, he projects as a solid late-inning reliever.

Andy Simunic- struggled in AA before getting demoted back to Lancaster. He's never really put up very good hitting stats, and though he has played many positions, he doesn't appear to have the glove to justify everyday playing time. May get a chance as a bench player in Corpus but his career is in serious jeopardy.

David Flores- Flores started 2011 in AA, was unable to hit, and was demoted back to Lancaster, where he showed why putting stock in #'s put up in High A is a fool's errand. THere's still some hope that he can figure out AA, and this year will likely be his last chance, if he's even given that much. He may be a bench player in Corpus, with his career hinging on his ability to seize limited opportunities.

Shane Wolf- Another 2008 draftee who started in AA and ended in Lancaster. It may be the end of the line, and if he is given another shot, he'll absolutely have to show massive improvement to keep his big league hopes alive.

Nate Pettus- A supposed power arm who missed the entire season due to injury. Wherever he starts the year, he'll need to stay healthy and be a very good reliever to keep moving.

Zach Grimmett- The 28th rounder spent 2011 in Lancaster, splitting time between the bullpen and the rotation. While he wasn't completely overmatched, he certainly didn't change anyone's perception about his potential. With the talent expected to be in Corpus next season, I expect him to be a numbers casualty.

Rene Garcia- A plus defensive catcher, he's been to big league training camp, but struggled offensively the last few years. May get a chance as the backup in AA or again in Lancaster, but if he doesn't show drastic offensive improvement, 2012 will probably be his last in Houston's system.

Danny Meszaros- After rocketing all the way to AA in his first year, Meszaros took a pretty big step back in 2011. Still, his one plus pitch may be enough to get him to Houston. He's likely to start the year in AAA, and if he gets back on track, he could see HOuston sometime next year. He's an older prospect for his experience, so if he struggles again next season, the leash probably won't be long enough to keep him around.

What say you? Which 2008 prospects are you going to watch closely next year? Which ones are underrated? Overrated?

I did a quick look at the rosters for the playoff bound teams (focusing on OPS and ERA...I know, I know) trying to narrow down exactly why Houston was so terrible. Really, what's the difference between a 50 win team and a 80 win team? Here's my loose thoughts, position by position:

Catcher- a big area of weakness. Not only was the position virtually devoid of offensive production, the players not named Q weren't very efficient defenders either. Jason Castro's injury really dug this team an early hole. We learned that JR Towles is not a major league player. We already knew that Q was a stellar defensive catcher with limited offense. Corporan and Cancel were never expected to amount to much, and they lived up to that billing. Next season, the 'stros will be counting on Castro in a big way (again). Of course this is purely speculation, but had Castro been healthy and performed to his potential this season, he could have been the difference in 4 or 5 games. The median OPS for NL playoff team catchers was .784. It's highly unlikely that Castro can reach that mark, but anywhere over 700 would be acceptable, as long as that level of production is accompanied by above average defense. It's a total crapshoot in predicting how Castro will perform, given the serious injury, lack of major league sample size, and relatively short minor league career. Catcher remains a major concern for 2012.

1st Base- Brett Wallace disappointed in a pretty big way this season. It's too early to completely write him off, and his late season dead-center bomb was a thing of beauty, but in 2011, he certainly hurt more than he helped. 3 of the 4 NL playoff 1B's are likely future HOFers (Pujols, Fielder, Howard). Carlos Lee had a good 2nd half and will be back next year. While he won't match the numbers of the 3 players mentioned above, his production should be above average. And if he falters or is somehow miraculously traded, there are a few young players (Wallace, Hinze, Singleton) who could be ready to step in and claim the job long term. 1st appears solid for 2012.

2nd Base- I was a fan of the Bill Hall signing. I liked that he was a versatile fielder with a history of solid power. Needless to say, I was wrong and he didn't pan out. Had he been a success, the Astros could have won a few more games. The median OPS for NL playoff 2B was 748. While Jose Altuve's cold finish doesn't point to him reaching that level next year, long term I think that's about where he'll plateau. Matt Downs' emergence alleviates the pressure on multiple positions (2B, 3B, RF), so between Downs, Altuve, and Jimmy Paredes, 2B should not be a main area of concern for Houston next year.

Shortstop- Clint Barmes was a pleasant surprise. He provided superb defense and good power for his position. It would shock me if he wasn't brought back, as there aren't many other options, either on the farm or in free agency. Other than going with a low-ceiling player like Angel Sanchez or Vlad Sutil (ugh), or moving Jimmy Paredes over from 3rd, the astros will be forced to sign a veteran, and it may as well be a sure gloved veteran who won't break the bank. Other than Jimmy Rollins, the NL playoff teams fielded weak-hitting shortstops, so Barmes' 2011 #'s measure up well. Provided he is re-signed, this will not be an area of concern. If Houston doesn't re-sign Barmes and tries to fill the vacancy from within, things could get ugly.

3rd Base- 3B was a mixed bag for houston in 2011. CJ's collapse was mitigated by Downs' solid year and the pleasant surprise of Paredes' performance. It seems as if offense at 3B has degraded league-wide over the last few seasons. Median OPS for NL playoff teams was 721 in 2011. Between Johnson, Paredes, and Downs, that number seems achievable. While the youth adds uncertainty, 3B is not a major area of concern going into the offseason.

Right Field- After Hunter Pence was traded, Brian Bogusevic solidified himself as a major league player. His 805 OPS in less than full time duty is promising, especially when combined with his plu plus arm. While he won't measure up to the RF on this year's NL playoff teams (Upton, Hart, Pence, Berkman), he should be given a chance to show his true talent. If he falters, Jason Bourgeois and others should be able to adequately man the position.

Center Field- Along with catcher and shortstop, centerfield is among the chief offensive concerns going in to next season. Successful teams have strong players in this spot, and while Jordan Schafer has shown flashes of ability, his numbers were severely lacking. I'm sure he'll be given 1st crack at the job next season, and the team's offensive success will rely heavily on whether he, Shuck, or Bourgeois can be above average. CF is a major concern in 2012.

Left Field- JD Martinez showed he belonged. He's not going to be Matt Holliday or Ryan Braun, but he's probably already better than Raul Ibanez and Arizona's Parra. If he has a sophomore slump, it's possible that Carlos LEe could take over for him and have one of the young 1B called up. LF is not a major concern going into 2012.

Rotation- Of the 4 NL playoff teams (20 rotation members), only 3 starting pitchers total had ERA's over 4, and none had ERA's over 5. That's a stark contrast to Houston's 2011 rotation, which featured Wandy and Norris with ERA's under 4, Myers in the 4's, and everyone else over 5. Given the rhetoric coming out of the front office and the status of the 40 man roster and Rule 5 eligibles, it looks likely that at least 1 of Myers/Wandy will be traded this offseason. If both are kept, the rotation has a chance to be adequate even though it will still clearly lack a true ace. Norris is a good #3. Wandy is inarguably a #2 in the NL. Most teams would be happy with Myers at the #4. The group vying for the #5 spot shoudl produce at least 1 quality starter between Happ, Sosa, Lyles, Aneury, Harrell, etc. If the offense and bullpen were stronger, it might make sense to try and get over the hump and acquire a top of hte rotation starter. But that's not the case. Sosa and Lyles have potential to be very good, but a rotation of Norris, Happ, and 3 others (not including Wandy or Myers) would be just short of disastrous. The depth is there, and long term starting pitching may even be a strength, but the opening day starter for 2012 could be the worst in the majors.

Bullpen- Despite the fact that the bullpen was cause for many losses, there were some very positive signs. Wilton Lopez further cemented himself as a good setup man. Fernando Rodriguez, David Carpenter, Juan Abreu, Sergio Escalona, Wes WRight, Xavier Cedeno, and Enerio Del Rosario all had respectable performances in the big leagues. That amount of depth should make for an improved reliver corps. The main difference between Houston and winning teams, bullpen-wise, is at closer. While Melancon may end up being an adequate closer, at this point between him and Brandon Lyon, the position is not adequately filled. It doesn't make sense to bring in a proven closer at this stage, so Melancon will likely be counted on again, which is concerning.

Why was Houston SO terrible this year? My top 5 reasons:
1. Bad luck.
2. Castro's injury (lack of any offense at catcher). It casted a pall over the entire season.
3. Combined struggles of Wallace, Johnson, and Hall to start the year. They were counted on, and not at the bottom of the order.
4. Lack of an ace. Not having a guaranteed win every 5 days allowed for too many losing streaks to keep going.
5. Lack of an elite closer. Just look at the blown saves, etc. Ugh.

What are the biggest question marks next season?
1. Will Houston continue to be this unlucky? (Doubtful, but that doesn't mean they won't lose 100 games again.)
2. How will Castro perform? (Remains to be seen, but the AFL may provide some answers.)
3. Who will play SS? (If it's not Barmes, Astros' fans could be in for a long season.)
4. Who will man the rotation? (If Wandy isn't here, things could get ugly. (uglier?))
5. How will these young guys respond to a full season? (Castro, Wallace, Altuve, Paredes, Johnson, Bogusevic, Schafer, Martinez, Shuck, Sosa, Harrell, Lyles, Escalona, Carpenter, Cedeno, Del Rosario, and Abreu. That's a partial list of players expected to contribute next season who have yet to log a FULL major league season. Yikes.)

I'm thinking 68 wins next season. What say you? Why were the Astros so terrible this year (ifyou can narrow it down)? What are the most important things keeping them from being competitive next year? What are you expecting in 2012?

The final review of the Houston farm teams...

Continue reading this post »

Reviews keep on going...

Continue reading this post »

Here's a review of how the boys in hitter-friendly High A Lancaster performed in 2011:

Continue reading this post »

Let's look at how the Houston farmhands at class A Lexington did this season:

Continue reading this post »

The minor leagues wrapped up, so I'm gonna keep posting my thoughts on each farm team to have a place to discuss.

Continue reading this post »

As I did for the GCL and DSL teams, here's a post to discuss the Rookie Level Greeneville Astros farm team.

Continue reading this post »

The GCL wrapped up its season today, so I thought I'd write a review like I did for the DSL team.

Continue reading this post »

Well, It's that time of year when the minor league teams' seasons start ending, which is always a good time to take stock in who is on the farm and how they've developed over the course of the year. The first team to finish their season this year is the Dominican Summer League Astros. Let's see who they had and how they did:

Continue reading this post »

Mods feel free to delete if this is redundant, but the thread from earlier today got bulky IMHO.

 

Pence appears to have been dealt to Philly for Cosart, Singleton, and 2 PTBNL (non-major prospects).  A fair return IMHO.

 

Continue reading this post »

He has been getting more time at 1B. He is owed $19M next season, and while he is obviously on the decline, his numbers aren't terrible. With his track record, and if Houston were willing to throw in $10M toward his next season, would there be any takers? If Wade really is under a mandate to get payroll to $60M next season, I would think this would be something to consider, especially with JD Martinez doing what he's doing in AA. There seem to be a few teams looking for a righthanded bat. Nothing would make me happier than to not have to watch him for another season. Anybody see this happening?

Via MLBTR. If this is the number moving forward, Astros fans are in for a rough stretch. I don't think a $60M payroll can make for a sustained winner. One thing it made me think is that the $60M rumor increases the likelihood of Wade taking a lower offer just to shed payroll, which increases the number of trades likely to be made this deadline. Let's break it down.

Continue reading this post »

The trade deadline is a little over 2 weeks away.  Below I have handicapped the chances of each player on the 25 man roster getting traded.  I did this last year and liked the outcome.  Who do y'all think gets moved and what should the return be?

Continue reading this post »

Since Ed Wade's comment a few weeks ago referring to the organization being "absolute sellers at the deadline", I've been thinking about the best way forward.  Essentially, Houston can either keep Pence, Bourn, and Wandy, and try to fill the gaps in the offseason, or the team can completely sell off it's valuable peices and adhere to the philosophy Crane and Wade have been preaching, which is to get good, and stay good.  While I love Pence, Bourn, and Wandy, I'm of the opinion that the team needs to go ahead and do a massive sell-off, find out which of their top prospects they can build around, and save free agent dollars for when they are ready to contend again.  With that in mind, I've put together a fictional 2012 roster for discussion. 

Continue reading this post »

I went to the Express-Redhawks game last night, so I figured I'd write up a review of what I saw while I nurse my hangover.

Continue reading this post »

MLBTR posted this article about what to expect if Houston becomes sellers (i.e. continues to lose and be out of conention at the deadline); I thought it was worth reposting and discussing here.

Continue reading this post »

In honor of our series with the Marlins, I propose this hypothetical trade:

 

Astros receive:

Josh Johnson

Hanley Ramirez

 

Marlins receive:

Bud Norris

Jordan Lyles

Tanner Bushue

Patrick Urckfitz

Jonathan Villar

Matt Downs

Jay Austin

JD Martinez

Continue reading this post »

I don't see a thread for the opening day game, figured I'd start one...

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_01_houmlb_phimlb_1

Continue reading this post »

When April 1st rolls around, the Houston Astros will field a different team than the one that ended the 2010 season.  Take a look at the changes after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

An Bleacher Report article linked by Astros Daily featured a top 10 list of Astros prospects 20 years old or younger, and it got me thinking about Houston's collection of super young prospects, so I put together an imaginary 25 man roster comprised of Astros prospects who fit that description:

Continue reading this post »