SBNation.com User Blog: Wrigley Faithful

Player Interview: Travis Ballew, RHP, Houston Astros (MiLB)

Wrigley Faithful — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:04:34 -0000

Folks, meet Travis Ballew. This Texas State alumnus made adjusting to professional baseball look like a cake walk, with a 1.62 ERA in 39 innings for Low-A Tri-City in the NY-Penn League after being drafted in the 23rd round of this year's draft. In this post, I get to know the diminutive righty, including his run-in with Storm Troopers at the park:

Here's the question all players get: when did you know that baseball was what you wanted to do with your life?
I really started to realize that I wanted to play professional baseball probably around my sophomore year of high school. I was starting to get a lot of interest from big colleges and I was also developing pretty well as a pitcher. It was always fun to go out and play on any given day like it still continues to be today.

Having been called beforehand by Tampa, Miami and Philly, were you especially surprised that none of them selected you in the Draft? Did you expect to end up with Houston, or another team altogether?
I had talked to the Astros a little bit before the draft. I had the same expectations from every team on where I would get drafted. I was really just hoping to get an opportunity to play after my Junior year of college.

What was the first thing you did once you heard you were drafted?
It was a pretty exciting time around the house. It was a very exciting day for my family. my best friend Wesley, and my girlfriend Nicki, who were all over at my house the day of the draft. I got a lot of congratulation texts and tweets right after I had been selected. It was a very joyful time in my life. After I had been selected I just kind of relaxed because it had been a stressful 3 days during the draft.

What would you say was the biggest adjustment for you once you reported to the Astros organization?
The biggest adjustment probably has been how much time you spend at the field. You arrive at the field around 2. Practice before and then you have a 2.5 hour to 4 hour game that you may or may not pitch in. It is totally a different schedule that what I was used to coming from college.

Has there been one experience you've had that really made a lasting impression on you, good or bad?
The best experience has been making it to the playoffs in my first professional year. It's fun to go into pro ball and have a winning season your first season. It's a big confidence booster to you as a first year player. It also was fun when we clinched the division and had the "champagne" (fake, obviously) in the bullpen at Brooklyn. I also got to enjoy that after we beat Auburn in the playoffs to advance to the Championship round.

Have you yet had a moment on the mound when you felt you might not be able to make it as a pro?
Up to this point I have not had a moment where I did not feel i could make it (emphasis added by yours truly). I was very happy with my pitching my first year. I had to get used to relieving because my Junior year of college I was a starter. Overall I was very proud of my first season.

Describe your pitching repertoire: What pitch would you say is your "go-to" pitch? Anything specific you may not have a great deal of confidence in (mechanics, pitching from the stretch, inconsistencies in breaking pitches, etc)?
My go-to pitch has always been my breaking ball. I seem to always have pretty good control of it. In the off-season I am going to spend a lot of time working on my fast ball and developing a good third pitch.

What would you say has been the funniest or strangest experience you've had as a pro?
I would have to say one of the funniest is how many people actually participated in Star Wars Promotion Night. I do not think I have ever seen that many Darth Vaders, Yodas, and Stormtroopers at one place at one time. It was pretty cool to see fans that actually participated though.

If you couldn't play professional baseball, what would you most like to do?
Most likely I would probably be teaching somewhere and coaching baseball. That's what I plan on doing if baseball does not work out. Hopefully I won't ever have to do that though haha.

Lexington First-Hand: October 1, 2012-A Look At The Legends Infield

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:19:05 -0000

I thought I'd make some general comments on this year's Legends team, as I see it. Despite what some may think (and the standings, for that matter), there is a fair amount of talent here to be excited about.

Today I'll cover the starting infield and some observations I've made, for what it's worth.

At first base, Zach Johnson mashed nearly all season long, leading the team in doubles, walks and RBI, as well as placing 3^rd in hits. While his BA leaves a bit to be desired (.238), his OBP was 101 points higher. He turned 24 on June 16^th, so the hope is that he'll be starting next season in Lancaster, where he'll likely continue on his tear. I have some concern that his swing may be a little bit long here and there, but he times it so well it shouldn't affect his numbers in the long-term. Adjusting to better breaking pitches in Class AA could be a real challenge for him at first, however. While he did make 13 errors in 119 games at first this year, I believe he will develop into a steady and reliable glove man.

Manning second, Delino Deshields Jr put up some stellar offensive numbers this year. While swiping 83 bags and scoring 96 runs for Lexington, he was also promoted to Class A+ Lancaster where he added another 13 steals and broke the 100-steal mark. A bit of trivia for you: he also became the only minor leaguer in history with 10 homers and 100 steals in a season. While his offense is certainly not lacking, his defense still leaves a lot to be desired. He shows great range in the field, but his footwork needs improvement and his hands still play a bit stiffer than I'd like to see. He has made strides in improving his defense, but he may profile better as a CF at this point. With Jose Altuve entrenched at the keystone for Houston, center field looks more and more likely (assuming Altuve isn't traded).

At short, Chan Moon provided much excitement with his exceptional range and flashy glovework. He has a solid-average arm for short but may need to get rid of the ball a little sooner to compensate as he climbs the ladder. Moon has at least average speed on the bases but would likely not steal more than 10-15 bases in the majors (assuming full-time play). He's not going to wow you with the bat, but he can be clutch at times and never does anything at the plate or in the field without giving 100%. He was a real joy to watch. Also of note, Nolan Fontana may at first glance seem to have struggled with the bat (.225 in 222 PA), but he drew walks like there was no tomorrow (65!), 21 more times than he struck out. An OBP of .464 is noteworthy, even if he only played in 49 games. I'll be curious to see if he can manage to keep up the pace, next year. He seemed at times to be daring the pitchers to walk him, and still he drew the walks. He has good range and a strong arm, and is solidly built (5'11", 192). From what I saw of him, it wouldn't surprise me to see him develop at least avg-plus power in the next couple of years.

Manning the hot corner, Matt Duffy has quietly gone about the business of hitting .300-plus for much of the season (though he ended up at .280), finishing first on the team in HR, first in hits, second in doubles and RBI, and second in runs scored. He plays the position with a noticeable passion and seems to truly enjoy the game, which is not something that many opposing players seemed to show in their play and which I consider a true asset. He has at least an average arm for the position and does flash the leather from time to time on some hard-hit balls, but 19 errors in 117 games doesn't bode well for his future at third. I can see him playing more 1B in the future, with plus defense and average to avg-plus offensive numbers.

That will do it, for now. Next, I'll offer my take on the outfield, then pitchers and catchers after that. Also, I'll be joining the TCB podcast crew on October 7^th for more observations on the 2012 Legends. Stay tuned.

Lexington First-Hand, September 3rd, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:35:14 -0000

I wanted to post a sort of bonus article on this fine Labor Day. This report concerns the solid talent (and future possibilities) of Lexington LHP Kyle Hallock, who only recently returned from rehab for an early-season arm injury, quite a bit earlier than I had expected. I talk about what sets him apart from the average pitcher, as well as a bit about his current ability and future potential.

Kyle Hallock

Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 185 lb.

Born: August 6, 1988 in Sandusky, Ohio, US (Age 24)

Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 49th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft from Kent State University (Kent, OH) and theHouston Astros in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from Kent State University (Kent, OH).

Minor League Service Time (01/2012): 0 years

Stats:

2012 Season
Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
AST	GCL	0	2	3.12	5	5	0	0	0	8.2	10	4	3	0	3	7	2.60	.294
LEX	SAL	1	1	10.29	6	6	0	0	0	21.0	37	26	24	6	13	14	1.69	.398
Minors		1	3	8.19	11	11	0	0	0	29.2	47	30	27	6	16	21	1.90	.370

(Source: MiLB.com)

Overview: Having faced early adversity this season in his outstanding arm rehab effort in Kissimmee after being sent to Lexington to begin the year, Kyle Hallock has maintained a quiet cool about this obstacle and simply worked his butt off to get back. He met that goal recently, coming back to the Legends just before the season ended. The Mid-Atlantic Conference Pitcher Of The Year for Kent State in his senior year of 2011, Kyle made the decision to return to the school after being drafted in the 49^th round by the Phillies in 2010. This turned out to be a great move for him, as Houston picked him in the 10^th round in 2011.

Strengths: What the Astros saw in Hallock is readily apparent when you see him pitch. The 24-year old lefty has an obvious feel for pitching, and he approaches his game with a strong confidence without being cocky or arrogant. In short, he has a good head for the game. He throws his fastball typically from 86-88, touching 90 when he needs it (especially with runners on), a circle change in the mid-70s, an 1-7 curve with some sweeping action to it and a sharp slider around 80-82. The curve has fall-off-the-table drop to it, when it's at its sharpest. Part of his strength lies in the fact that he can throw any four of these pitches for strikes at any time, and all four are at least solid-average. His curve, in particular, could become a plus pitch for him, in time. He works both sides of the plate smartly, refusing to give in to a batter without laying a big fat meatball over the plate just to get ahead in the count. At 6'2", 190, he is slightly project-able physically, but is most likely to maintain his current weight or even drop a bit. I would personally hope that he never weighs less than 180, as the long season can be quite a grind. He has simple, clean mechanics, easily repeatable, and he gets a reasonably long stride off the mound. His arm slot is consistent. He has very good control, as evidenced by his 2.5 BB/9 in Tri-City last year and the fact that he has yet to hit a batter in 91 1/3 professional innings pitched. He never appears to be shaken or unnerved by pressure situations, and shows a good pick-off move as well.

Weaknesses: Without adding a MPH or two to his velocity, he will have to work carefully as he climbs the ladder and faces stiffer competition. His secondary pitches are strong enough even now to compensate for this, but it may become a necessity for survival in places like Lancaster (where good pitchers go to die). Minute Maid Park is not exactly a pitcher's venue either, unless said pitcher has a serious masochistic streak. His health will be a concern going into 2013, so seeing how he bounces back from his recent injury will tell the story. He does sometimes get the change-up a bit high in the zone or nearly in the dirt, but I believe he will develop plus feel for it in time. He shows the ball a little longer than he should from time to time, allowing hitters to zero in more quickly. Developing endurance will be foremost on the to-do list at the start of next season as long as he is healthy. These are all things for which he can compensate or overcome with practice and further development, and he is well-equipped to do so both physically and mentally.

Overall: After spending a bit of time speaking with Kyle, it's readily apparent that he is well aware of how significant is his opportunity to advance, especially with Houston's lack of pitching depth at the ML level. He sometimes seems to be in awe of his status as a professional, which is frankly rather refreshing in a game which has its share of cocky wunderkinds who are more than happy to strut their stuff when the chance presents itself. I have high hopes for this young lefty, and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a solid #4 or #5 in the majors. If he doesn't succeed as a starter, he would be a Godsend for the bullpen (at any level). How many teams can roll out a lefty with four solid pitches in relief? I would expect him to return to Lexington to begin 2013, with a chance to advance to High-A either mid-season or just afterward. He is old for Class A, but keep in mind his time missed to injury and the fact that this was only his second year in pro ball. There is a lot of potential here; I expect him to fulfill it.

Lexington First-Hand: August 30th, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:55:47 -0000

Today, I'm writing about one of my favorite players in the game, anywhere: Legends LHP Mitchell Lambson. This is a kid who loves the game, and that alone is enough to make me follow a player's career. So many others don't really seem to be fans of the very game they're playing at a professional level, and that frankly confounds me. This is not the case with Lambson. Here's a little bit o' info on the up-and-coming lefty.

Mitchell Adam Lambson

Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 198 lb.

Born: July 20, 1990 in Tualatin, Oregon, US (Age 22)

Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ).

Minor League Service Time (01/2012): 0 years

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GF	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2011	20	Tri-City	NYPL	A-	HOU	2	6	.250	4.33	22	10	2	35.1	33	19	17	4	8	39	2	1	2	149	1.160	8.4	1.0	2.0	9.9	4.88
2012	21	2 Teams	2 Lgs	A-Rk	HOU	3	1	.750	2.22	22	10	1	44.2	33	12	11	2	9	53	2	0	2	179	0.940	6.6	0.4	1.8	10.7	5.89
2012	21	Greeneville	APPY	Rk	HOU	1	0	1.000	0.00	4	2	1	9.2	4	0	0	0	0	12	0	0	0	34	0.414	3.7	0.0	0.0	11.2
2012	21	Lexington	SALL	A	HOU	2	1	.667	2.83	18	8	0	35.0	29	12	11	2	9	41	2	0	2	145	1.086	7.5	0.5	2.3	10.5	4.56
2 Seasons						5	7	.417	3.15	44	20	3	80.0	66	31	28	6	17	92	4	1	4	328	1.038	7.4	0.7	1.9	10.4	5.41

(source: Baseball-Reference.com)

Overview: This is a young pitcher I've been following since March of this year, when I first saw him throwing a pen session in Spring Training. He loves the game and it shows; it never seems to be like 'work' to him, and that's one of the things that makes him stand out, to me. As you'll see, however, there's much more to this sleeper prospect than many people may know.

Strengths: To begin with, Lambson works with the standard set of pitches: 2-seamer, change-up, curve and slider. He pitches from the stretch, gets a long stride off the mound and releases from a point somewhere around 52 feet away from the plate, when he's fully extended. He shows strong, sound mechanics, and is very consistent in his delivery and release point, and he gets a great deal of power from his hips and leg drive. His fastball ranges 88-90, with a peak around 91. He gets a bit of tail and sink on it, when it's going well. The curve is 11-5 and comes in at 73-76, though generally sits at 74. I saw one game when every curve he threw was 74 on the money every time. The real strength here is the change-up. Though the curve is a dangerous weapon for him, the change really sets him apart. It comes in around 74-76, with a lot of tail and sink, and I've seen it as slow as 72. There have been reports of a 20 MPH separation between his FB and change, and I'm inclined to believe it. This pitch is as close to a classic, early-20^th century slow-ball as I've ever seen. He throws it about 30-40 percent of the time, and at times even more. He can throw it in any count, to any batter, anytime, and he generates his fair share of grounders and weak flys from it. Basically, he reminds me a lot of major league LHP Sean Marshall, and I think his ceiling is around that same neighborhood; a guy who could be a short man in frequent appearances or give you 3+ innings when needed without losing effectiveness. Using him as a lefty specialist would be a waste of his ability.

Weaknesses: There are no glaring weaknesses that I've noticed here. He does everything very well, and he's definitely got the foundation for a solid and successful career. One thing that I've seen is that with his lack of velocity, he cannot afford to miss his spots too often. On occasion his velocity will fail to touch even 90, and while it certainly helps that his change and curve keep hitters from sitting on his fastball he has to be even finer on those days. His velocity has dipped to 86 (rarely) and I see it more as a result of the rigors of everyday ballgames and adjusting to this lifestyle. I don't see it as being a long-term issue. I do, in fact, think he will probably peak around 92, velocity-wise, which could make a significant difference for his promotion chances.

He might consider more of a slide step with runners on, as well. He seems to maintain the high leg kick even with ducks on the pond, so that's another chance for improvement.

Overall: As I stated before, Mitchell loves the game. It's surprising to me, the number of baseball players who just don't seem to care much for the game. When they're off the field, they may not even give it a second thought; many players I've spoken with seem to have this attitude about what they do. Maybe it's the pressure and the fact that they've gone from playing the game as amateurs to being paid to play that affects their perspective. That's perfectly understandable, but none of that has changed this kid's feelings about and love for the game, which is something that will work very much to his advantage in the future, in my opinion. He's very personable, very professional, and very much appreciative of the opportunity he's been given. I expect him to achieve significantly more than one might usually expect from a 19^th round pick.

Lexington First-Hand: August 23rd, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:13:56 -0000

Today, I take a look at OF Brandon Meredith, a player who is quietly making his mark with the Legends this year. I'd like to also point out a very nice interview by MLB Reports from 2011 which gives a little more insight into what makes Brandon tick. Check it out.

Brandon Christopher Meredith
Bats: Right, Throws: Right 
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 225 lb.
Born: December 19, 1989 in Chula Vista, California, US (Age 22)
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft from Montgomery HS (San Diego, CA) and theHouston Astros in the 6th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from San Diego State University (San Diego, CA).
(Source: baseball-reference.com)

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF
2011	21	Tri-City	NYPL	A-	HOU	35	144	119	24	29	7	4	1	10	7	3	19	29	.244	.371	.395	.766	47	3	5	1	0
2012	22	Lexington	SALL	A	HOU	84	360	307	52	86	19	4	15	48	11	3	42	82	.280	.379	.515	.893	158	9	8	1	2
2 Seasons						119	504	426	76	115	26	8	16	58	18	6	61	111	.270	.376	.481	.858	205	12	13	2	2

Introduction: Perhaps the hitter with the most raw power on the Legends (now that Deshields has moved on), Brandon Meredith has made his mark while barely making a sound beyond the Lexington area. Of note is the assessment written by TCB writer/supervising editor David Coleman in June of last year, which should be read in conjunction with this post. The former San Diego State outfielder made quite an impression in his time as a college hitter, but will his numbers this season allay fears that he might not be able to fully adjust to wood bats in the pros? So far, that answer seems to be 'yes'.

Batting: Meredith is impressively built, giving the impression that he might just as well be a defensive end in the NFL as an outfielder in pro baseball. Still, this is nothing new to MLB (see just about any cleanup hitter in the Majors for examples), and Meredith has used his plus power to great effect.Having gone .280/15 HR/48 RBI/19 2B in 84 games seems to illustrate said power. Meredith takes a wide stance, with both feet turned slightly back toward the catcher. He starts his hands just above shoulder height, pointing the bat head significantly toward the pitcher he's about to assault. One thing I notice about his at-bats is that he never, EVER seems to swing at a ball on which he doesn't fully intend to cause serious, irreparable harm. He takes a sizable stride without using a high leg kick and almost always swings for the big fly, though he makes consistent contact and draws enough walks to keep his OBP nearly 100 points higher than his BA. His OPS of .893 is 172 points above league average and 65 points ahead of current #2 on the roster, 3B Matt Duffy. His swing plane is fairly level, with just a slightly upward lift at the end, producing high line drives and more than his share of extra base hits. His hitting away from home has been significantly better than at The Bank (.300, 12, 31 in away games vs. .244, 3, 17 at home), and his second half BA is 98 points higher than his first half performance (.218, 1, 12 in first half; .316, 14, 36 in second half), so consistency this year has been elusive overall. This is his first year in Class A, however, and he appears to have hit his stride. While he is hitting .147 in his last 10 games (5-47), I wouldn't expect this to carry much farther.

Fielding: This is where we run into issues. While Meredith is very strong and runs well for someone with a 6'2", 225 frame, he often shows stiff actions in the field and his routes could use some work. He's certainly capable of making the flashy play, but don't expect it to happen every day. He has at least an average arm for left but his less-than-fluid motion in the outfield is disconcerting in that left is basically where he'll have to play if he's not eventually moved to first. At present, he has ample power for first base, but he will need considerable work to be a candidate for that position. With some work on his flexibility he could be a left fielder with at least average range and an above-average arm; otherwise, he's a 1B at best, a DH at worst. He isn't afraid to give up the body on a fielding play, as he shows the same aggression in the field (selectively) as he does at the plate. The way I see it, he'll probably settle in at DH with occasional starts in left and/or first.

Baserunning: Meredith is also fairly aggressive on the basepaths (see a pattern developing, here?), and will more than occasionally take the extra base on head-first slides seemingly daring you to throw him out. His straight-line speed is better than average, and he gets decent leads and jumps. He won't steal a ton of bases but his percentages will probably be above average for years to come. Think 10-15 steals with a 70% success rate, and that's what you should expect at his peak. His athleticism will be limited if he doesn't work more on agility and flexibility than strength training.

Intangibles: As far as I've seen, Meredith is a 'call em as I see em' kind of guy, which seems to match his playing style. He carries himself with a quiet calm, focusing his aggression (again, that word) on moments in the game which require actual motion (batting, fielding, baserunning: see the connection?), and generally seems to appear as if he has an 'I belong here' look on his face. This confidence is well-deserved, in my opinion, but as this is only Class A ball we'll have to reserve final judgement until he climbs the ladder. Personally, I can see him making the jump to AA next year. I wouldn't expect him to have trouble adjusting, mentally. He knows he's earned the right to be here. He will likely be a quiet leader, if he is in fact looked upon as a leader at all.

Overall: Meredith is, more or less, what he appears to be and where he seems to belong, this year. If he makes the Majors, I can see him becoming a power-hitting part-time starter and bench hitter, at least, and a starting LF with average range and an average glove at most. As long as he's with the Astros, he has plenty of opportunity to prove himself. He'll definitely need to get more flexible in order to maximize his chances, because right now that's the biggest physical negative that I've seen. Also of note: while he is obviously very muscular, he is carrying that musculature on a somewhat smaller frame than one would expect. Basically, he's not as "big-boned" as you'd expect, so you could say that he's close to being over-developed, physically. Anyway, I digress. If he hits his potential, think .280 with 15-20 homers and 75 RBIs at the top end. Right now, there's still work to be done if he is to hit that peak.

Cleaning House: Mills, Meacham, Barnett Shown The Door

Wrigley Faithful — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 04:10:57 -0000

So it's finally happened.

Astros manager Brad Mills, first base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Mike Barnett are gone, Daddy, gone. Interims will be named Sunday.

I suppose it had to be this way; after all, it's not like we're gonna see a pennant in MMP anytime, soon. But who is really to blame for the Godawful showing the 'Stros have made, this season? Who's really at fault, here? Thoughts?

So it's finally happened.

Astros manager Brad Mills, first base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Mike Barnett are gone, Daddy, gone. Interims will be named Sunday.

Lexington First-Hand, August 15th, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:29:21 -0000

Today, I'll be taking a look at Lexington's unassuming third sacker Matt Duffy, who has quietly contributed to the Legends and their second-half run at 1st place and a playoff spot.

Matthew Edward Duffy

Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 3", Weight: 227 lb.

Born: February 6, 1989 in Milton, Massachusetts, US (Age 23)

Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN).

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF
2011	22	Tri-City	NYPL	A-	HOU	63	266	235	36	70	20	1	2	37	2	2	15	41	.298	.370	.417	.787	98	9	13	1	2
2012	23	Lexington	SALL	A	HOU	118	519	434	69	128	31	1	14	62	5	3	43	93	.295	.399	.468	.867	203	9	36	0	6
2 Seasons						181	785	669	105	198	51	2	16	99	7	5	58	134	.296	.389	.450	.839	301	18	49	1	8

(From Baseball-Reference.com)

Overview: The 23 year-old third baseman has been carrying on in quiet, relative obscurity for the nearly two years he's been in pro ball, but if it's one thing that gets my attention, it's low-round picks making some noise with their bats. Duffy certainly fits that description.

Batting: At 6'3", 227, Duffy has the physical presence you'd like to see in a power-hitting corner infielder. His approach to this point, however, has been more geared toward making consistent contact and popping doubles with regularity. Duffy takes a wide, slightly open stance, starts with his hands set high and has a bit of a bat twirl that seems to be more pronounced in late-inning pressure situations (at least based on what I've seen, personally). He's not afraid to take a big cut, but his quick hands allow him to do so without sacrificing much in the way of bat control. He has a high uppercut in his swing path which has thus far produced around league-average HR totals, but power is not really his game anyway. Duffy goes to the opposite field on a regular basis, and shows strong gap-to-gap doubles power. Think Mark Grace or Hal Morris, and somewhere in between you'll probably find Duffy's potential. That's certainly not a bad thing, either. He makes hard contact frequently, turning on inside fastballs and taking the outside pitch to right-center. I see no glaring negatives in his hitting mechanics, except that he could stand to shorten up a bit in situations with RISP (like most young players, right?).

Fielding: I enjoy seeing Duffman in the field even more than I like watching him bat. This is where his personality really seems to shine through. He sets very low when he's at the ready, tapping his glove on the ground once or twice before the pitch is delivered. He's definitely a little stronger going to his glove side, but he'll snag a grounder headed for left field, plant and throw, and beat some runners by two steps at least. I've seen him make off-balance throws that were right on target a number of times. Those are his strengths. The weakness here lies to his right, as it seems more of his errors occur there. He does have strong fundamentals and he moves well for his size (definitely), but he is by no means fast. His quick reflexes and solid footwork get him in front of at least a few hard-hit balls that the average third baseman might miss. He throws from a ¾ arm slot but gets in trouble if he has to rush and drops his slot. As a fielder, I see him more as a first baseman with an above-average glove, with occasional starts at the hot corner.

Baserunning: As I stated before, Duffy runs well for his size. He'll even steal the occasional base for you, but this is more from a combination of smart baserunning, high-percentage chances and a defense caught unaware. He's good enough to reach double-digits in steals, but consider those a bonus. Duffy takes an average lead, advances when he should and won't run into a lot of bad outs. He has a clue, out there. He could be perhaps a bit better conditioned (sorry, Matt; no offense), but I believe he'll make that effort and present to Spring Training next year in even better shape. He's probably never going to score a ton of runs, unless he bats ahead of some power bats. Fortunately, he hits like a potential #3, right now. Hitting behind Deshields and LF Jordan Scott hasn't hurt him any, especially with a clubber like 1B Zach Johnson behind him.

Summary: This kid came to play. He seems to go about things without any fanfare and I can't remember the last time I heard him speak when exiting the clubhouse post-game. But he does the important things well, and while there is definite room for improvement (could stand to cut down on errors, relax a bit more with RISP), Duffy could make those adjustments. Problem is, while this is only his second year in pro ball, he turned 23 before the season even started and so does not have time on his side. He will need to be promoted before year's end or start 2012 in either High-A or AA to have a chance at making The Show. While there are plenty of minor leaguers who made it all the way up who posted numbers inferior to Duffy's, there are also a great number of players who were similar or even better than him at the plate who never got close. If he works hard in the off-season, hits the gym and comes out swinging in 2013, I see him assigned to High-A Lancaster at least (possibly AA Corpus Christi) if he doesn't get promoted before this year is over.

Legends win, feelin the love; 5/10/2012

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:46:20 -0000

Legends win, feelin the love; 5/10/2012

RHP Dayan Diaz loosening up fast; 7/13/2012.

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:42:53 -0000

RHP Dayan Diaz loosening up fast; 7/13/2012.

SS Nolan Fontana drifting to his right for a grounder; 8/11/2012 @ home vs. WV Power.

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:35:11 -0000

SS Nolan Fontana drifting to his right for a grounder; 8/11/2012 @ home vs. WV Power.

Lexington First-Hand; August 8th, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:35:19 -0000

With the caveat that our dear readers keep in mind my eternal optimism (balanced with a dash of stark realism), I humbly offer my take on a fan favorite here in Lexington, that player being RHP Luis Ordosgoitti.

Remember: be gentle.

Name: Luis Enrique Ordosgoitti
HT: 6'4" WT: 180
Born: September 22, 1992 in Maturin, VE (Age 19)
Acquired: 2010, as free agent

2012 Season:

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
LEX	SAL	5	3	5.02	16	16	0	0	0	89.2	111	55	50	9	23	70	1.32	.307

(From MiLB.com)

Overview: Always glad to shake some hands and meet some fans, Ordo is a personable presence in the rotation here in Lexington. As a 19 year-old righty in the Sally League he's playing against older and more experienced competition, and while his numbers may reflect this you'd never know it from talking with him. Optimism is the call-word for this 3rd year pro.

Bringin' it, 6/14/2012 (Photo: Yours Truly)

Strengths: Luis throws a standard set of pitches (2-seamer, 4-seamer, curve and circle change), and stays around the plate frequently. He has a 3/4 to high-3/4 arm slot with easy action and takes a long yet effortless stride toward the plate. He has a projectable frame, which could lead to another tick or two on the fastball. When he comes around in his windup, he almost gives you the impression that he's a sidearmer. His 4-seam FB comes in around 90-92, 2-seamer around 86-88, curve in the mid-70's and change around 80-82. He's not one to back off a challenging hitter, but he's learning how to minimize the hitters' chances as much as he can. Ordo will come right at you, but he's definitely not a strikeout artist. His game, when it's on, produces lots of grounders (42.8%, thus far this year, with an average of 8 per game), and so he relies on a strong infield to have his back. He gets decent run and sink on the 2-seamer, and there's plenty of separation between his 4-seamer and his change. There is little, if any, discernible difference in his arm speed when he throws a breaking ball or off-speed pitch. He has a decent move to first, as well. He's helped to keep the running game down (40% caught stealing when he's on the mound).

Weaknesses: Part of the problem of pitching to contact is that sometimes you get hit, and hit hard. Ordosgoitti has given up 32 doubles in 16 games, this year, along with 9 homers, and opposing batters have an .840 OPS against him. While he gets lots of grounders, his groundout/airout ratio sits at a disappointing 1.32. A big part of that is there are a lot of well-hit grounders to deal with, many of which are often unreachable. He keeps his walks down (23 in 89 2/3 IP) and strikes out his share of hitters (7.0/9IP), but he's not going to overpower a lot of guys. That's not his game. At this point in his development he's learning to maximize his assets, i.e. keep the ball down, throw the 2-seamer down and in to righties, change-up to lefties, etc., and he still has a long way to go with that. Again, he's only 19. His curve gets a little slurvy at times and he gets his change-up a little high in the zone more often than I'd hope to see.

He has a tendency to give the hitter a good, long look at the ball before he delivers, which can't be helping him any. I'd like to see him push off the mound a bit more as opposed to drifting toward the plate, although with the injury issues he's had this year it may do more harm than good.

5/23/2012, turning over the change.

Outlook: With the ability he's shown thus far, I'd expect his ceiling to be somewhere around 4th or 5th starter/middle reliever, but much depends on his ability as far as damage control are concerned. With a strong quartet of gloves behind him in the infield he can be reasonably comfortable playing his game, but a few things will need to happen before he can move on to the wind tunnel that is Lancaster. With a little more time in the weight room he could be hitting 94 with regularity, and that could change things dramatically for a groundball pitcher. I'd like to see what he could do coming out of the pen in short appearances, but as it stands now he will likely repeat at Class A Lexington next year, with a chance at a late-season promotion. What helps him is that he's got the right attitude and seems to be very coachable, from what I've witnessed. With the extra time here in Lexington, along with a little more muscle mass from his time in the gym, Luis could be seen as a bit of a sleeper-type in the next year or two.

Lexington First-Hand, August 2nd, 2012

Wrigley Faithful — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 03:45:05 -0000

With the boys out of town, I thought I'd share a few observations about some of our Legends regarding their progress/regress/general development.

Let's start with the infield. At first base, Zach Johnson is tearing up scoreboards across the league, accounting for 143 runs (scored or driven in) on his own. He draws his share of walks, 59 so far, but his batting average continues to drop. This is partly owing to his struggles vs. LHP (.215 BAA in 121 AB) and the fact that he's been fighting to overcome May and June, during which he sat in the .230 range and plated only 34 RBI. My only other concern about him is that he's doing all this as a 24 year-old (he turned 24 on June 16th) and thus is a little old for the league. He'll have to race against time and make it up to at least Class AA by next August or he may be facing life as an organizational soldier/Quad-A type.

Over at the keystone, 2B Delino Deshields Jr is setting the league on its ear. With 77 steals on the year thus far, he is now second among ALL minor leaguers behind Class AA Pensacola's "Sliding" Billy Hamilton. He leads the Legends in hits, as well, and is showing an heretofore uncharacteristic patience at the plate. His selectivity could still use some work, and he still is prone to working himself into an unfavorable count, thus exposing himself to far more breaking pitches (which he struggles against). He has started to show a tendency to swing weakly in 2-strike counts in an attempt at guarding the plate. These AB often end in strikeouts. He has the physical gifts to overcome this, so I'm not too concerned about it...yet.

There's been a bit of a revolving door at shortstop this year, with Chan Moon and Alex Todd being promoted in short order. This spot is being manned by 2012's 2nd round pick Nolan Fontana, who doesn't seem to have had any difficulty adjusting to play in the Sally League (.284, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 20 R, 6 SB in 23 G). His K:BB ratio is fabulous (31 BB, 18 SO), so he's shown a great eye at the plate. He has been a little shaky in the field (5 E in 108 chances) but this may be due more to his plus range than any defensive shortcomings. I expect him to move up the chain with relative ease, and he could even leapfrog Jiovanni Mier, especially with Jio's recent struggles with a bad wheel.

Third base has been handled by Matt Duffy almost exclusively, this year, with Moon and Johnson filling in on rare occasion. The Duffman has had a great season with the stick (.863 OPS), and while his K:BB ratio is well over 2:1 (35 BB, 87 SO), his OBP has hovered around 90 points higher than his BA for much of the season. Duffy started to slow down in July, likely owing to fatigue and the rigors of full-season pro ball, so I would expect Fontana and Johnson to spell Duffy from time to time, with SS Jose Fernandez covering short when Fontana moves to third and (perhaps even) Mike Kvasnicka taking first when Johnson is at the hot corner. Who knows? With Kvasnicka's versatility, as well as his burgeoning power, we could see him add a new glove to his growing collection.

Something I've noticed about Kvas: his swing has been getting a little longer over the past month, and with his power numbers jumping as they have (pre-ASB: 8 HR, 24 RBI-post-ASB: 7 HR, 28 RBI in 18 fewer games, thus far) it seems to me that he may be pressing a bit and swinging for the fences most every time at bat. Lots of big flies often gets a player noticed by the brass, and can certainly increase one's chances for promotion. Mike entered the 2012 season as a 24 year-old repeating the same level, and changing positions on top of that, so I'd imagine he's starting to wonder where his future lies. As a C-OF-sometimes 3B who's a switch-hitter with pop, I can't imagine that Houston wouldn't want to give him a little bit more time to blossom in the minors. His value is clear.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll be keeping my eye on the boys at The Bank, with a focus on OF to come and an in-depth multiparter on our pitchers, along with scouting analysis and anything else that I happen to notice. Stay tuned.

Legends First-Hand: All You Can't See In A Box Score

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:45:44 -0000

Please welcome Wrigley Faithful to our writing team. He lives in Lexington and will be bringing us first-hand looks at the Legends going forward. Check his stuff out on Twitter at @TheGrandOldGame and at his website here.

On Tuesday night, I was at The Bank watching our Legends put another win IN the bank. While it may not have been a spectacular game, statistically, this game was a fair example of what differences there can be between seeing a game first-hand and piecing together the action simply by reading a box score.

For those of you who are veteran baseball fans, you probably know what I mean when I say that. Little things might never show up in a box score, a recap or even the story of the game itself. Things like well-placed sac bunts, amazing glove work or a timely double play may show up as stats in the paper, but the real story is in seeing them all up close and personal.

Tuesday's game saw RHP Jonas Dufek take the mound, he of the hard curve, whose bulldog determination is quickly evident in both his approach and his expression. Dufek's game is notable for that curve, as it is definitely a swing-and-miss pitch at this level (more on Dufek to come in a post on The Crawfish Boxes, coming soon). Anyway, Dufek had reasonable ease dealing with Augusta's batters, spreading 8 hits over 7 innings and striking out 8 while only walking one batter and allowing 3 runs (2 earned). But it takes more than a strong pitching performance to win a game.

First example of a notable play which would be only glossed over in the box score: CF Justin "Go Go" Gominsky made what can only be described as a "HOLYCRAPDIDYOUSEETHATCATCH?" kind of play, turning his back on home plate in deep right-center to run down a long fly off the bat of Augusta 3B Jose Cuevas and invoking shades of Willie Mays in the process. For an encore, Augusta's Kelby Tomlinson singled to CF and Brett Krill, who had singled to lead off the inning, was gunned down at home by (you guessed it) the cannon that Gominsky calls a right arm.

Here's what the game recap said about it:

"Jose Cuevas flies out to center fielder Justin Gominsky."

...and

"Kelby Tomlinson singles on a line drive to center fielder Justin Gominsky. Brett Krill out at home on the throw, center fielder"

Well, yeah. That's what happened. But from reading that, you don't know if he flew out right behind second base or if he had a homer robbed by a well-timed leap. Nor do you get the image of Go Go firing from deep center and beating the dumbfounded Krill by two steps. It's just the facts, and that's fine because that's all it's supposed to be.

Another example of this type of play: SS Nolan Fontana took a fastball to the noggin in the 4th and took his base, showing (thankfully) no ill effects. Then, when 1B Zach Johnson made contact on a hit-and-run play Fontana nearly tripped over his own feet dodging yet another baseball running full steam ahead for his vital organs with evil intent. Would it have made a difference in whether or not he reached third instead of second? Arguable, at best, but still a play worth noticing if the Legends ended up losing by one run. Fortunately he was able to score when DH Brandon Meredith lined to right and scored the still-thankfully-not-suffering-from-head-injury Fontana. As a side note, Meredith is one large individual; this guy, he LIVES in the gym.

You also wouldn't know how hard-hit the grounder was when it was fielded by the swift glove-work of Dufek, or the rope smacked by Meredith to lead off the bottom of the 7th. You wouldn't know about the missile fired off the bat of 2B Delino Deshields Jr, a ball hit so hard it initially appeared to slice through the glove of the Augusta third baseman. You wouldn't have seen the called third strike he took that seemed to be nearly in the left-hander's box in the 4th, or the fastball that nearly took one of Gominsky's fingers off on a bunt attempt (and the ensuing shock when he was denied first base by a bewilderingly horrible call by the home plate umpire). Gominsky actually laid down a nice bunt to advance RF Mike Kvasnicka after that, but it was on a 2-strike count and, thus, a bit more risky. The box score wouldn't tell you that, either.

There are other things a box score won't show you. It won't tell you how Kvasnicka's swing seems to be getting a bit longer from the left-hander's box, or how Meredith's aggression hurts him at the plate (sometimes). But it also won't paint an image of a jubilant team bum-rushing the hero-du-jour C Luis Alvarez, who sent the fans home happy with an RBI single to notch the win for the Legends. Oh, it will mention the RBI single, sure, but not the celebration which ensued as a result. A pretty important part of the game, if you ask me.

They have their place, of course, and strictly as an archival means of recording baseball history they work just fine. But they won't tell the whole story, not by a long shot.

For that, I guess you have to be there.

Interview with LHP Mitchell Lambson; Thoughts On Being a Host Parent

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:38:10 -0000

I had the good fortune to interview 2011 draftee LHP Mitchell Lambson, recently. Very enthusiastic young man, loves the game. I very much appreciated speaking to him, even if it was just by email and FB.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/05/player-interview-mitchell-lambson-lhp.html

Also, a few thoughts in a guest spot on what it's been like to be part of a host family for our Lexington Legends, this year.

http://legendsmom.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-being-part-of-host-family-really.html

And dealing with some hard demotions from the fan's point of view.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/05/transactions-hallock-bushue-king-sent.html

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/05/player-interview-mitchell-lambson-lhp.html

Also, a few thoughts in a guest spot on what it's been like to be part of a host family for our Lexington Legends, this year.

http://legendsmom.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-being-part-of-host-family-really.html

And dealing with some hard demotions from the fan's point of view.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/05/transactions-hallock-bushue-king-sent.html

Photos From Legends First Day Practice, 4-3-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:06:34 -0000

http://cprphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lexington-Legends-First-Practice-of-2012-4-3-2012/G0000N3wpIW6hEtQ/0/1

Had a lot of fun meeting the players a couple of days ago and managed to come away with some fair pics of the event. Win-win. I'll be hosting IF Alex Todd this year; great kid, got a chance to talk quite a lot with him that evening. Lexington is going to have an interesting year, I think, with all the returning players and bats like Tyler Burnett, Mike Kvasnicka and Emilio King back in the order. Also met LHP Kyle Hallock that evening, along with seeing RHP Jason Chowning again (always nice to talk to Chow; lively, energetic kid). Really excited to get this year started, weather permitting of course.

http://cprphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lexington-Legends-First-Practice-of-2012-4-3-2012/G0000N3wpIW6hEtQ/0/1

Transactions: More Houston Assignments

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:43:06 -0000

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/transactions-more-houston-assignments.html

Still more assignments to be posted. I'm not entirely sure if someone else has posted about some or all of these guys already, but if they have I certainly am not trying to steal anyone's thunder. Or whatever you wanna call it. Anyway, here's a few more players heading to Class A Lexington, for the time being. Can't wait for the SAL season to start!

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/transactions-more-houston-assignments.html

More Transactions: Jordan Scott To Class A Lexington

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:43:31 -0000

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/transactions-houston-of-jordan-scott.html

Another bit o' news for the Houston faithful: Houston OF and 2011 Greeneville star Jordan Scott will be reporting to Class A Lexington to start 2012. It will be good to see JT tearing up the playing fields at Whitaker Bank Ballpark this year. He reports to Lexington on Monday, so he'll have plenty of time to get settled in. Hope to see 2012 become a banner year for the young up-and-coming prospect. We'll certainly be here to see it all.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/transactions-houston-of-jordan-scott.html

Houston's Chowning Heading to Lexington

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:40:20 -0000

According to the man himself, RHP Jason Chowning will be heading to Class A Lexington to start the 2012 season.

@Subber10 has news on more roster moves, so hit him up. I'd expect that Chow may not be here that long, then he'll be bumped up the ladder once the Houston brass is sure his arm is gonna hold up. He's certainly put in a lot of work in the off-season, especially in the gym, so I have faith that he'll be just fine.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/houstons-chowning-reporting-to.html

According to the man himself, RHP Jason Chowning will be heading to Class A Lexington to start the 2012 season.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/houstons-chowning-reporting-to.html

Last Round of Pics: Astros Mini-Camp, March 7th

Wrigley Faithful — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:15:26 -0000

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-kissimmee-march-7th-pics-mini.html

This is the last round of pics from March 7th, which was a travel day for me but I managed to stick around to get a few more shots. They didn't open the camp up for visitors until the day I left (typical luck), which I would have known had I bothered to ask before I left for Florida. Oh well, there's always next year. Hope Houston maintains their connection with Class A Lexington after this season.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-kissimmee-march-7th-pics-mini.html

Jayson Werth homers to RF off RHP Kris Medlin, 3-6-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:59:34 -0000

Jayson Werth homers to RF off RHP Kris Medlin, 3-6-2012

LHP Gio Gonzalez

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:57:43 -0000

LHP Gio Gonzalez

Chad Tracy bouncing a double off the RCF wall.

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:56:34 -0000

Chad Tracy bouncing a double off the RCF wall.

Bryce Harper on deck, 3-6-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:55:14 -0000

Bryce Harper on deck, 3-6-2012

Anthony Rendon tracks a fly ball.

Wrigley Faithful — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:53:59 -0000

Anthony Rendon tracks a fly ball.

More Pics from Astros Mini-Camp, March 4th

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:39:05 -0000

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-kissimmee-pics-from-mini-camp.html

Somehow I was able to get a handful more pics from the Astros mini-camp yesterday, even though 99 percent of them were shot from behind a chain link fence inside a tiny part of the area where I actually could walk around without being shooed away by Astros personnel. Tomorrow I'm actually heading to Orlando and ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex to shoot a little more and talk to a man with around 40 years of baseball stories to tell.

Whatever it was, RHP Blake King definitely pulled/strained/sprained something.

Wrigley Faithful — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:27:24 -0000

Whatever it was, RHP Blake King definitely pulled/strained/sprained something.

Photos from Washington Nationals @ Houston Astros, 3-3-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:07:37 -0000

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-kissimmee-day-6-nats-astros.html

A few more shots from today's game at the Osceola Complex. The ~~Gnats~~ Nats rolled into town long enough to be shot down by Chris Johnson and his fellow Astros. Jose Altuve had the honor of registering Houston's first base hit of the Spring, a bouncer between third and short but legitimate, nonetheless. Tomorrow finds them in Viera at Space Coast Stadium and looking to make it back-to-back wins to start things up. If I had one wish for this game, it would be that Brett Wallace doesn't trip over his own pants while running to first. I've got pajamas that are tighter than that.

http://grandoldgame.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-kissimmee-day-6-nats-astros.html

SS Jed Lowrie positioning for a grounder; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:05:12 -0000

SS Jed Lowrie positioning for a grounder; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012

RHP Brett Myers warming up; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:02:50 -0000

RHP Brett Myers warming up; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012

Chris Johnson rounding 2nd after his 2-run homer; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012

Wrigley Faithful — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:00:25 -0000

Chris Johnson rounding 2nd after his 2-run homer; WASH @ HOU, 3-3-2012