Happy Birthday - 8/7

Happy Birthday to ~

LHP Wade LeBlanc (29)
If you were on vacation in June, you might have missed this guy completely. Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round in 2006, LeBlanc was claimed off waivers from Miami on June 8th, pitched in three games (3.2IP with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.909 WHIP) and was DFA'd on June 24th. He is currently plying his wares in Oklahoma City. In nine games (seven starts), he is 3-1 with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.448 WHIP.

IF/OF Andy Simunic (28)
Drafted by Houston in the 17th round in 2008 out of the University of Tennessee, Simunic has a batting line of .278/.346/.299 in 44 games for Oklahoma City this season. The ultimate utility player, Simunic has done everything in his minor league career except catch. I found him to be one of the more entertaining interviews I've conducted this year. You can read my June interview with him here.

LHP Ambiorix de Leon (22)
A NDFA out of the Dominican Republic, de Leon is in his fourth season in the Astros organization and his second season with the GCL Astros. In five games (three starts), he is 1-0 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.209 WHIP.

MGR Rodney Linares (36)
Linares is in his seventh season managing in the Astros minor league system. He managed the Greeneville Astros from 2007 to 2009, Lexington from 2010 to 2011 and is now in his second season managing the Hi-A Lancaster club in the California League. He guided the team to its first California League Championship and has already assured a return to the playoffs in 2013.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

RHP Don Larsen (84)
Larsen came to Houston from the Giants and pitched in 30 games for the Colt .45's in 1964 and in one game for the Astros in 1965 before being traded to Baltimore. In those 31 games (11 starts), he was 4-8 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.132 WHIP. In 1956, he pitched a perfect game in the World Series for the Yankees, an accomplishment that I personally find to be one of the greatest single accomplishments in the history of baseball.