Thursday, August 21, 2014

Astros Minor League Snapshot with Playoff Pictures

We are now 20 weeks in to the minor league season (only one and a half weeks until the minor league regular season concludes). Let's take a look at where things stand.

OKLAHOMA CITY

3rd    68-65    .511    2.0GB    L2

Playoff Picture - 11 games left; elimination number is 11

A 5-2 week for the RedHawks put them in second place in the American Southern Division, one game in front of Iowa (who had been in a virtual tie for first this time last week before dropping six straight) and two games behind division leader Omaha. Omaha lost their last two games, but Oklahoma City failed to capitalize as they also lost the last two. The RedHawks will not play Omaha again this season, but do play Iowa in the last series of the season. Omaha will be playing two teams with winning records over the next week (Iowa will be playing the same two teams) and OKC will be playing two teams with losing records so the 'Hawks need to keep the push going. It looks like we've got a real race!

Week Ahead

The 'Hawks are home for the week and dropped the first of four against El Paso (63-69). It is the first time that the two teams have faced each other this season. That will be followed by four games against Albuquerque (58-73) starting Sunday. It will be the RedHawks first look at that team as well.

CORPUS CHRISTI

For the season:
4th    60-67    .472    14.0GB    L1

For the second half:
4th     26-31     .456     7.5GB     L1

Playoff picture - 13 games left; elimination number is 6

The Hooks had a 4-1 week, but it's likely a case of "too much, too little, too late" as they would have to jump up three spots in the standings before being eliminated. They did briefly flirt with third place in the second half earlier this week and they currently trail the Missions by only a half game. But first place Frisco leads them by seven and a half games and second place Midland leads them by six. All four teams in the division play exclusively within the division for the remainder of the season so anything can happen, but the Hooks have to win on the road this week; they are a 24-40 road team. I don't think we're going to see a miracle, but it sure would be fun.

Week Ahead

Wednesday's game in Midland was postponed due to wet grounds so the two teams will play a double-header today and the final game of the series on Friday. The Hooks lost the first game of the series on Tuesday and have only won two games (11 losses) all season at Midland so they have their work cut out for them. Saturday sees them head to Wolff Stadium in San Antonio where they are 4-7 for the season. Back home on Tuesday, the Hooks will be hosting the first place Frisco Roughriders. The Hooks are 36-27 at home and are 6-6 against Frisco at Whataburger Field this season.

LANCASTER

For the season:
1st    74-55    .574    -.-GB    W2

For the second half:
T1st     30-29     .508     -.-GB     W2

Playoff Picture - 11 games left; elimination number is N/A

The 'Hawks clinched their playoff berth by winning the first half. All that remains at this point is to see whether or not they can win the second half as well. They are currently in a tie with Lake Elsinore for first place in the second half standings. Since only three games separate the first place and last place teams in the division, the playoff picture is still murky. The JetHawks lead Inland Empire by a half game, Rancho Cucamonga by one game and High Desert by three.

Week ahead

The JetHawks will try to sweep High Desert at home tonight and will then head out to San Bernadino for three against the Inland Empire 66ers over the weekend. After an off day on Monday, they will play three more against High Desert, this time in Adelanto. Those will be the only two teams Lancaster will face for the rest of the season. The 'Hawks are 10-4 against Inland Empire and 12-9 against High Desert for those season series.

QUAD CITIES

For the season:
6th    62-65    .488    20.5GB    W1

For the second half:
5th     27-31     .466     11.0GB     W1

Playoff Picture - 12 games left; elimination number is 4

The Bandits had a bad week, going 2-5, but it is the 6-13 month of August that took the wind out of their sails and derailed any playoff hopes. At 11 games behind the leader and fifth place in the second half standings, it's all over but the crying. I would love for the Banditos to prove me wrong, though.

Week Ahead

Quad Cities will face cellar dwellers Beloit (50-77) for three on the road before returning home to face the second half second place Cedar Rapids team (67-61) for three games. They will then host seventh place Clinton (56-70) for three starting on Wednesday.

TRI-CITY

1st     42-22     .656     -.-GB     L2

Playoff Picture - 12 games left; elimination number is N/A

The ValleyCats maintained their eight game lead in the Stedler Divsion over second place Connecticut and are tied with Hudson Valley for the best record in the New York-Penn League. Vermont has been eliminated and the magic number to eliminate Lowell and Connecticut is two and five, respectively.

Week Ahead

Tri-City will face Vermont and Brooklyn the rest of the way. They will try to salvage a split in a brief two-game series with Vermont tonight at home before heading to Brooklyn for a three-game weekend series. Then it's back home for three against Vermont starting Monday. The 'Cats are 5-3 against Vermont this season. It will be their first look at Brooklyn. The Cyclones are in second place in the McNamara Division with a 35-29 record.

GREENEVILLE

4th     29-28     .509     2.5GB     W2

Playoff picture - 9 games left; elimination number is 8

Greeneville dropped to fourth place after their 3-3 week, but actually moved up to two and a half games out of the lead (Elizabethton) from three and a half games out last week. More importantly, the Appy Astros are only one game behind the two teams tied for second place (Johnson City and Kingsport). Both first and second place teams advance to the playoffs so Greeneville is very much in it. Greeneville will be playing outside the division for the next six games so they will be looking for a little help from other teams to help narrow that gap. Greeneville took it to the wire last season. I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen again this year.

Week Ahead

Greeneville will play Princeton (32-25) on the road for three games starting tonight and will then return home to host Bluefield (27-32) for three. The Astros are 2-1 and 1-2 against those two teams. Their final three games will be at Johnson City starting next Wednesday. The Appy Astros lead the season series with Johnson City 5-1.

GCL ASTROS

4th     25-28     .472     7.0GB     L2

Playoff picture - 7 games left; elimination number is 1

Another 2-4 week has all but sealed the Kissimmee 'Stros fate. With seven games left, they can, however, still salvage a .500 record.

DSL ASTROS ORANGE

7th     31-38     .449     21.5GB     W4

Playoff picture - Eliminated

The Orange team has continued to have a good month of August (12-6 record). Although they were eliminated from the playoffs a while back, they are definitely finishing their season on a high note. They have only three games remaining.

DSL ASTROS BLUE

4th     34-34      .500     7.0GB      L2

Playoff picture - Eliminated

The Blue team was eliminated this week. They have four games remaining. It would be nice to see them maintain or surpass their current .500 record to close out the season.

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