Astros Minor League Recaps

Wednesday's Games (Not a good day in the minors, but at least the Astros won!!!)

Oklahoma City - Off Day

Midland over Corpus Christi 3-1
Nick Tropeano got the start and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five in his five innings of work and Bobby Doran allowed only two hits (one of them a solo home run) in his four innings. Despite the tandem allowing only six hits, they came out on the wrong side of the decision as the Hooks only put up one run via a Jon Singleton (1x4 2SO) RBI double, scoring Jio Mier (3x3 SB). George Springer was two-for-four with a double.

Stockton over Lancaster 13-7
Stockton and Lancaster tied a California League record dating back to 1962 as they combined for a total of 11 home runs in the game ... and the game wasn't even played in the hitter-friendly confines of The Hangar! Brady Rodgers got the start and saw his 15-inning scoreless streak snapped quickly. Before all was said and done, Rodgers allowed eight runs on seven hits, including four home runs, in only two and two-thirds innings. Tommy Shirley gave up the next three runs (two home runs) in his one and a third. And Chris Devenski (2H 1BB 6SO) kept things calm for two innings before giving up two runs in the seventh on a home run. Cameron Lamb was the only JetHawk pitcher who didn't allow a home run, or even a hit for that matter, in a perfect eighth for his Lancaster debut. After Matt Duffy doubled in Nolan Fontana in the first, all of the remaining JetHawks runs scored via the long ball with solo home runs from Telvin Nash, Duffy and Fontana, and a three-run home run from Delino DeShields. Andrew Aplin was two-for-five and M.P. Cokinos was two-for-three with a walk and scored a run.

Cedar Rapids over Quad Cities 14-5
On the other side of the coin, Cedar Rapids scored 14 runs without the benefit of the home run ball, knocking out 21 hits against the Quad Cities pitching staff. Starter Jordan Jankowski allowed five runs on nine hits in three innings, but it was Mitch Lambson who had a really bad day at the office. Lambson was charged with six runs on six hits while retiring zero batters in the fourth. Richard Rodriguez didn't help matters much, allowing two of Lambson's runs to score and allowing two more of his own on five hits. Juan Minaya pitched three innings in his Quad Cities debut, allowing one run on only one hit, a Byron Buxton lead-off triple. He also walked three and struck out three. Quad Cities actually led this game at one point with Rio Ruiz (2x4 2B RBI R) and Roberto Pena (2x4 2B RBI) in the middle of the action. Terrell Joyce also doubled and drove in a run. Carlos Correa contributed an RBI single.

DSL Red Sox over DSL Astros 3-2
The Astros used five pitchers in this game. Javier Lozana (3IP 4H 1BB 2SO) and Victor Mesa (3IP 3H 1R 3SO) gifted the bullpen with a 2-1 lead, but the 'pen couldn't hold it. The Astros scored their only runs in the third on a Luis Payano sac fly scoring Brian Pena and an RBI single from Jean Estrella (2x4). Arturo Michelina went two-for-four and Jarico Reynosos was one-for-three with a double and scored a run.

Player of the Day: Jio Mier gets the nod today. After a three-for-three outing on Wednesday, he is hitting .333/.476/.364 over his last 10 games.

Pitcher of the Day: I'm going to give Cameron Lamb a little WTHB love for stopping the bleeding in Lancaster, for not allowing a home run and for pitching a perfect frame in his Lancaster debut.

Roster Moves

Corpus Christi
OF Justin Maxwell assigned to Corpus Christi for rehab assignment
SS Jio Mier activated from the bereavement list
1B Zach Johnson placed on the temporary inactive list

Lancaster
RHP Cameron Lamb assigned from Quad Cities to Lancaster
SS Jean Batista assigned from Lancaster to Extended Spring Training

Quad Cities
RHP Juan Minaya assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities

Happy Birthday - 5/29

Happy Birthday to ~

OF Terrell Joyce (21)
Drafted by Houston in the 12th round in 2012 out of Florida College, Joyce spent his first season at Greeneville with solid results. So far this season, he has played in 40 games with Quad Cities, hitting .203/.306/.328 with seven doubles and three home runs.

RHP Cameron Lamb (24)
Originally signed out of Australia by the Giants in 2007, Lamb came to the Astros organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2012. In 10 appearances for Quad Cities, he has a 6.00 ERA and a 1.933 WHIP. Of particular note, he has been predominantly an extreme groundball pitcher in the past with good results, but his GO/AO ratio is 0.76 this season.

RHP Juan Delis (19)
Delis was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama and played in his second season for the DSL Astros in 2012. In 17 appearances, he was 1-0 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.389 WHIP.

RHP Harold Arauz (18)
Arauz signed as a NDFA out of Panama in July 2011 and played his first season for the DSL team in 2012. In eight games (five starts), he was 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

LHP Trever Miller (40)

Originally drafted by Detroit in the first round in 1991, Miller first came to Houston in this trade:

December 10, 1996: Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward to the Houston Astros for Doug Brocail, Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash.

He pitched on the major league level for Houston in 1998 and 1999 before being traded to Philadelphia in March of 2000. Miller came back to Houston for two additional seasons in 2006 and 2007. In 230 games for the Astros, he was 7-5 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.435 WHIP. He holds the record for the most appearances in a season (76) without getting a decision in 2007.

3B Charlie Hayes (48)

A fourth round pick by the Giants in 1983, Hayes played in only 31 games for Houston at the end of his major league career in 2001. He played for seven teams over 14 seasons. His best season was in 1993 for Colorado when he hit .305/.355/.522 with 45 doubles, two triples and 25 home runs.

Roster Moves

In addition to the news that OF Fernando Martinez cleared waivers and has been assigned to Oklahoma City, RHP Philip Humber has been DFA'd and RHP Edgar Gonzalez has been resigned, there are a couple of additional moves at Quad Cities.

QUAD CITIES
RHP Mike Hauschild assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training.
RHP Cameron Lamb assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training.
RHP Richard Rodriguez assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities.

There have been a lot temporary re-assignments back and forth to/from Extended Spring Training so don't read too much into these except for the assignment of Richard Rodriguez to Quad Cities since that is a new assignment. I'm assuming that Lamb is a temporary move to make room for Josh Fields on his rehab assignment.

The Mysterious Case of Kyle Hallock and Other Roster Moves

Barely more than a week ago, I outlined why I thought that it could be a BIG YEAR for Astros LHP Kyle Hallock. I felt that if he could get back to his pre-2012 injury form, he could move quickly up through the ranks. However, I did not foresee that he would pitch one inning at Low A Quad Cities and be promoted up three levels to AAA Oklahoma City the next day. Color me confused. That's a huge leap which makes me think that the promotion may be a temporary fill-in measure. It is my fervent hope, though, that Hallock makes the most of the opportunity even if it's simply a case of being in the right place at the right time (and being a lefty). I'll admit that there is a special place in my heart for Hallock who gave me my first interview ever.

In conjunction with this move, Cameron Lamb was assigned to Quad Cities from extended Spring Training. That was not unexpected since Lamb was already listed on the provisional roster released by the Astros on Monday.

Also, I am delinquent in posting the info on the trade with Oakland that netted the Astros LHP Travis Blackley for AAA OF Jake Goebbert. I think that the move will ultimately be a good one for Goebbert and I wish him nothing but the best. I got to know him a little bit in this interview from last summer. But it is our friend Astros County who tells us the ultimate story about the type of player Goebbert is. Edgar Gonzalez was removed from the 40-man roster and designated for assignment to make room for Blackley.

And finally, LHP Tommy Shirley and OF Chris Epps were placed on the temporary inactive list for Lancaster.

UPDATE: At the precise moment I posted this, it was reported that the aforesaid Travis Blackley strained his shoulder in his very first bullpen at Minute Maid Park and will be placed on the 15-day DL. Dallas Keuchel is being called up to replace him.

Live Batting Practice Videos

Here are a few of the videos I took during Spring Training of pitchers throwing live batting practice. The quality isn't great on a couple of them (and a couple look like they were filmed by the makers of Blair Witch Project), but you'll at least be able to get an idea.













This is the worst quality of all the videos, but it is our first look at Cameron Lamb, the Australian side-armer that the Astros picked up in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft over the winter.

Roster Moves

In addition to the players acquired in the Rule 5 draft yesterday, the Astros also re-claimed RHP Mickey Storey from the Yankees. Storey had been claimed off waivers by the Yankees last month when he was removed from the Astros 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft. Storey has been placed back on the 40-man roster which now stands at 40.

RHP Cameron Lamb, one of yesterday's Rule 5 draft picks, is currently playing for the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League. Tom Fee, a writer covering the Heat, posted this article about Lamb which may be of interest as we get to know Lamb a bit better. Be warned, though, that there is an oddly placed Public Service Announcement that is a tad confusing.

I have re-configured the Off-Season Transactions list in an attempt to make it more coherent (yet still comprehensive) and I have added these latest moves.

Astros Rule 5 Draft

The Astros picked 27-year old RHP Josh Fields as the first pick in the Rule 5 draft. I predicted that Jeff Luhnow would be tempted to take the former first round Mariners pick. Click on the above link for more info on Fields and why I thought he might be a possibility. (Am I getting to know the ways of Jeff Luhnow or what?)

In the second round of the Rule 5 draft, the Astros picked 1B Nate Freiman. Freiman was drafted by the Padres in the 8th round out of Duke. He has proven power and RBI potential while limiting his strikeouts to a reasonable level. I really like this pick and had my eye on him after his terrific performance for Team Israel in the WBC Qualifier. He also participated in the Arizona Fall League and his stats for that are here. He will be 26 in December.

In the first round of the AAA phase of the draft, the Astros picked RF Michael Burgess of the Cubs organization. No huge surprise that Luhnow was interested in Burgess as yet another former first round pick that he is acquiring for the organization. The 24-year old Burgess was drafted by the Nationals out of a Tampa area high school in 2007. Burgess appears to be one of those players with a lot of talent and power potential who has never quite gotten to that next level as a player. This article from March 2012 was high on Burgess' potential.

In the second round of the AAA phase of the draft, the Astros picked RHP Cameron Lamb of the Giants organization. The native of Australia has been in the Giants organization since 2007. His results were great, but his innings were greatly limited in 2012. He is currently playing in the Australian Baseball League and has a 0.00 ERA and a 0.500 WHIP with two save in five games. I wasn't able to find any information on him quickly. If I do, I will update.

The Astros did not lose anyone (including the higher profile Marc Krauss, Josh Stoffel and Carlos Perez) in the draft.