Happy Birthday - 6/4

C Ernesto Genoves (21)
I'm going to be lazy and reprint what I had written earlier about Genoves as one of my players to watch, particularly since he's currently languishing in Extended Spring Training as far as I know.

This 20-year old from Venezuela played in Greeneville in 2011 and really made great strides at the plate. His batting average of .280 only went up a couple of points from his prior season, but his slugging percentage went from .333 with the GCL in 2010 to .464 with Greeneville in 2011. According to Seedlings to Stars, Genoves "makes solid contact" with a "decent approach and some gap power." He faded toward the end of the season and he strikes out more than I would like to see with 29 strikeouts to 12 walks over 38 games, but there are also some good signs within his splits as he hit .313 with runners on and .302 with RISP in 2011.

His defense is coming along as well. His caught stealing percentage went from 22% in 2010 to 31% in 2011 and his fielding percentage as a catcher went from .972 with 5 errors in 2010 to .984 with 4 errors in 2011. He had 9 passed balls, but Steve with Appy Astros indicated that Genoves made progress behind the plate throughout the season. Early in the season he tended to reach for balls with his glove instead of moving his body, but Steve indicated that Genoves definitely showed improvement in that area.

Over the winter, Genoves played in the Venezuelan winter league with the Liga Paralela, Venezuela's minor league system, hitting .299/.400/.478/.878 in 22 games. I look forward to seeing what he can do in 2012.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

LHP Arnold Earley (died September 29, 1999 at 66)
Earley came to Houston in a trade with the Cubs in 1967 and only pitched in 1.1 innings for the Astros with less than desirable results. His best season was in 1964 for Boston when he had a 2.68 ERA and a 1.371 WHIP over 25 appearances.

C Scott Servais (45)
Servais was drafted by Houston in the third round in 1988 and played for Houston from 1991 to 1995 and again in 2001. In 295 games for Houston, he hit .225/.284/.357.

OF/1B Darin Erstad (38)
Originally drafted by the Angels in the first round in 1985, Erstad came to Houston as a free agent at the end of his career. In 247 games for the Astros in 2008 and 2009, he hit .252/.297/.353. In his time with the Angels, he was a two time All-Star, three time Gold Glove winner and one time winner of the Silver Slugger. He got his World Series ring with the Angels in 2002. Erstad is currently head coach of his alma mater, the University of Nebraska.

C Rick Wilkins (45)
Ironically, Wilkins came to Houston from the Cubs in a trade for Scott Servais with whom he shares a birthday to the year. He spent parts of the 1995 and 1996 seasons with Houston before being traded to the Giants for C Kirt Manwaring. Wilkins hit .218/.339/.333 in 99 games.

C Tony Pena (55)
Pena only played in nine games for Houston in 1997 at the end of his career. In 18 major league seasons, playing for Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Boston, Cleveland, the White Sox and Houston, he made five All-Star appearances and won four Gold Gloves.