Roster Moves - 6/24

Oklahoma City
RHP Chris Hicks was released.

Lancaster
OF Grant Hogue was activated from the DL.

Roster Moves - 5/29

Oklahoma City
RHP Jordan Lyles was optioned back to Oklahoma City from Houston.
RHP Chris Hicks was activated from the DL and assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.

Corpus Christi
CONFIRMED Unconfirmed, but according to numerous player tweets it looks as though OF Adam Bailey will be sent from Lancaster to Corpus Christi on Wednesday (and will play at Lancaster tonight).

Lancaster
CONFIRMED Also, not confirmed by the Astros, but OF Grant Hogue confirmed in a tweet to Bryan Trostel of Astros County that he was being assigned from Extended Spring Training to Lancaster. He had started the season on the DL after breaking a hamate bone in Spring Training. Updated to Add: This move is not official until Wednesday as well.

Roster Moves - 4/10

Oklahoma City
RHP Jonathan Aristil was optioned from OKC to CC
SS Jed Lowrie was sent to OKC for a rehab assignment

Corpus Christi
RHP Chris Hicks went on the 7-day DL (per Greg Rajan, he has a sore shoulder)

Lancaster
I either missed this one or it was posted late.
RF Domingo Santana went on the 7-day DL (effective 4/6)

Lexington
RHP Nathan Pettus was assigned to LEX
C Miles Hamblin was assigned to TCV from LEX

An Interview with RHP Chris Hicks

Dallas Keuchel ‏ @kidkeuchy
Unless your hot, you should not be allowed to take pics of yourself in front of a mirror.. Period


Christopher Hicks ‏ @RonaldPineapple
@kidkeuchy I do it daily

Chris Hicks doesn't tweet a lot, but when he does it's often very funny (and very sarcastic). I didn't know much about Chris (or his Ronald Pineapple persona) and I had wondered about his sudden departure from the Arizona Fall League last October so I decided to go to the source.

First a little background ... Chris was a 14th round pick in 2008 and after a handful of appearances out of the bullpen in Tri-City that year, he was quickly sent to Lancaster the next season where he was used exclusively as a starter. In 26 starts for Lancaster in 2009, he was 9-11 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.612 WHIP. But then he lost the entire 2010 season to surgery before coming back strong in 2011 out of the bullpen. After 15 appearances at Lancaster in which he had a 3.28 ERA, a 0.973 WHIP, 10.2 SO/9 and 1.8 BB/9, he was promoted to Corpus Christi where he had a 3.77 ERA and a 1.465 WHIP (but less favorable SO and BB numbers).

Enough stats! On to the questions ...

WTH: First of all, I've got to ask about Ronald Pineapple. Is there a story behind that or just another example of what I suspect is a quirky sense of humor?

CH: I am a somewhat sarcastic person/jokester. So my wife told me to make up any name for my account, and at the time Ronald Reagan was doing a political analysis of the upcoming election, and at the same time; I was indulging into some pineapple. So obviously I just threw them together and made magic.

WTH: You started out in the Arizona Fall League after the season ended, but only made two appearances before being shut down and sent home. Was there a problem with the shoulder or was it just a precaution?

CH: I had been throwing for 15 months straight and was starting to get fatigued. So I felt it was best to rest the body and get prepared for this season.

WTH: Could you tell me a little about the shoulder injury and how that's affected your development. I know that before the injury you were used as a starter and afterwards you've been used exclusively in relief. Is that related to the injury? Do you have a preference for starting or relief?

CH: After the surgery, it is difficult to see myself going back into the starting role. Although I have succeeded in that role, I feel more comfortable out of the bullpen.

WTH: You were extremely effective at Lancaster, a ballpark that is notorious for crushing pitcher's dreams, in 2011 and almost as effective at Corpus later in the season (but for the strikeout to walk rate). How do you account for your success in such a tough venue as Lancaster and how did the two ballparks compare?

CH: In Lancaster, you have to really focus on keeping the ball down. Velocity is overrated in a park like that, since any fly ball will be a goner. (We have had pitchers batting practice and anyone can hit one out of there.) Whereas in Corpus, the elements play true to a normal baseball game. So it is much easier to succeed in a park like Corpus if you can execute the proper pitches.

WTH: What are your best pitches? Velocity? Are you working on refining or adding a pitch to your repertoire?

CH: My repertoire has pretty much stayed the same since being drafted by the Astros. Just an ordinary fastball and a decent breaking ball.

WTH: If you could "steal" a pitch from any of your Astros teammates, what pitch would it be and whose?

CH: Keuchel changeup.

WTH: What Astros teammate would you least like to face in the batter's box?

CH: Kody Hinze. Best hitter in the minors and my road roommate.

WTH: Can you tell me something about yourself that most people don't know and might be surprised to hear?

CH: Obsessed with watches and nice dress suits.

WTH: One final question. Do you prefer Chris, Christopher or Ronald?

CH: Chris.

Thank you for your time, Chris. Best of luck in the 2012 season!

Happy Birthday - 2/17

RHP Chris Hicks (25)
Drafted in the 14th round in 2008 out of Georgia Tech, Hicks split his time in 2011 between Lancaster and Corpus Christi.  At Lancaster, he pitched 24.2 innings in relief over 15 appearances, going 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA and a 0.973 WHIP.  At Corpus, he had a 3.77 ERA and a 1.465 WHIP in 14.1 innings over 13 appearances. For the season, he walked 12 batters while striking out 35.  He made just two appearances in the Arizonza Fall League before being shut down for the winter.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

LHP Mike Cosgrove (61)
Pitched in 119 games from 1972 to 1976 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.515 WHIP

IF Cody Ransom (36)
Played in 19 games for Houston in 2007

WTH 25-Man Roster

The fifth player selected to the What the Heck 25-Man Roster was RHP Chris Hicks who squeaked out a victory over Josh Zeid and Sammy Gervacio.  (As mentioned earlier, some of the top vote-getters will be recycled as candidates as we complete our bullpen.)  Also receiving votes were Blake King, Jason Stoffel, Juan Mojica, Jose Valdez, Steve Martin, Krishawn Holley, Ebert Rosario, Joan Belliard, Arcenio Leon, Daniel Meszaros and Mark Jones.  (For more information on the WTH 25-Man Roster, go here.)

Coming Monday - Let's pick our first catcher.

Arizona Fall League Update

The Salt River Rafters improved to 3-1 with a win over the Mesa Solar Sox.  Kody Hinze went 1-3 with a walk and a two run home run.  Keuchel started the game and in 3IP gave up 2H 2R(1ER) 3SO 0BB and a home run.  Chris Hicks also pitched an inning, giving up 2H 1ER 0SO 0BB.  He was charged with a blown save but he did manage to lower his ERA from 135.00 to 40.50!

Next game will be today at 6:35 MST (8:35 CST) against the Mesa Solar Sox.