Buies Creek Astros: Early Season Results

We are now 18 games in to the Buies Creek Astros season. Let's see where things stand!

The BC Astros are currently 12-6 and in first place in the Carolina League Southern Division, three games in front of a second place tie between Myrtle Beach (CHC) and the Carolina Mudcats (MIL). Their current run differential is +16.

Here's how the BC Astros rank in the 10-team High A Carolina League in select categories:

OFFENSE
5th in Batting Average: .255
5th in On-Base Percentage: .327
5th in Slugging Percentage: .378
5th in On-Base Plus Slugging: .706
3rd in Doubles: 30
3rd in Triples: 8
T6th in Home Runs: 9
T4th in Walks: 60
1st in Strikeouts: 167
3rd in Stolen Bases: 21

PITCHING
5th in ERA: 3.67
2nd in WHIP: 1.24
T6th in Home Runs Allowed: 11
T2nd in Walks: 62
1st in Strikeouts: 187
1st in Saves: 10

The offense has been mostly in the middle of the pack with a high strikeout rate, but that has been overcome by some eye-popping starting pitching. Let's look at the individual contributions that have helped them to their current first place standings.

Ryne Birk - July 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

TOP 20 LEAGUE OFFENSIVE LEADERS (in select categories)

OF Myles Straw
.311 BA (18th)
.386 OBP (11th)
14 R (2nd)
12 RBI (T5th)
8 BB (T14th)

2B Ryne Birk
.310 BA (19th)
.369 OBP (19th)
.517 SLG (10th)
.886 OPS (15th)
11R (T13th)
3 3B (T1st)
12 RBI (T5th)

OF Kyle Tucker
.554 SLG (6th)
.910 OPS (9th)
12 R (T5th)
6 2B (T2nd)
3 HR (T5th)
17 RBI (2nd)

OF Jason Martin
12 R (T5th)

C Eduardo de Oleo
3 HR (T5th)

1B Dex McCall
10 BB (T6th)

This is a speedy crew as well, with Kyle Tucker (6), Myles Straw (4), Osvaldo Duarte (3) and Jason Martin (3) all residing in the top 20 in the league in that category.

Alex Winkelman - May 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

TOP 20 LEAGUE PITCHING LEADERS (in select categories)

RHP Franklin Perez
0.00 ERA (T1st)
0.42 WHIP (2nd)

LHP Alex Winkelman
0.00 ERA (T1st)
0.35 WHIP (1st)
21 SO (T8th)

RHP Akeem Bostick
1.86 ERA (12th)
0.83 WHIP (6th)

From Monday: Quad Cities River Bandits

Astros Minor League Team Standing and Rankings

Well, last night wasn't the best of nights for Astros fans, major and minor, as the good guys got swept. But all four of the Astros full season minor league teams are at least at .500 and three of the four are in first or second place. Here are how the standings break down for each team, and where the Team Batting and Team Pitching rank in each team's respective league.

OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS

1st   10-5   .667   0.0GB   L1

Despite last night's loss, the RedHawks still retain first place in their division, one and a half games ahead of the second place Iowa Cubs who are on a two-game win streak. The RedHawks will not face off against their division rival Cubs until July 3rd. Out of 16 teams in the Pacific Coast League, here is how the Oklahoma City team ranks in various categories:

Team Batting
BA - 8th
OBP - 9th
SLG -5th
OPS -5th
R - 1st
H - 1st
2B - 3rd
3B - T4th
HR - T3rd
RBI - 1st
BB - 2nd
SO - 1st
SB - T1st
CS - T2nd

Team Pitching
ERA - 7th
WHIP - 2nd
Saves - T4th
BB - T11th
SO - 3rd

CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS

2nd   8-5   .615   1-0GB   L3

The Hooks are in second place in their division, one game behind the Texas Rangers AA Frisco team after the Hooks' loss to Frisco last night. The Hooks will need to break their current three-game loss streak because they play three more this weekend against the red-hot Frisco team who are on an 8-game winning streak. Here is how the team ranks out of eight teams in the Texas League:

Team Batting
BA - 3rd
OBP - 3rd
SLG -3rd
OPS - 3rd
R - 2nd
H - 3rd
2B - 2nd
3B - T2nd
HR - T3rd
RBI - 2nd
BB - 7th
SO - 7th
SB - 4th
CS - T5th

Team Pitching
ERA - 1st
WHIP - 2nd
Saves - 3rd
BB - 8th
SO - 1st

LANCASTER JETHAWKS

T1st   10-5   .667   0.0GB   L1

The JetHawks are currently tied with High Desert, a Seattle affiliate, three games ahead of Lake Elsinore (San Diego). The 'Hawks are in the midst of playing six straight against High Desert, winning two out of three against them on the road and losing the first of three against them at home last night. Here is how the team ranks in batting and pitching categories out of 10 teams in the California League:

Team Batting
BA - 2nd
OBP - 2nd
SLG - 4th
OPS - 3rd
R - 2nd
H - 2nd
2B - T3rd
3B - 2nd
HR - 7th
RBI - 4th
BB - 3rd
SO - 10th
SB - 4th
CS - 5th

Team Pitching
ERA - 4th
WHIP - 1st
Saves - 1st
BB - T8th
SO - 2nd

QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS

6th   7-7   .500   4.0GB   L1

The River Bandits are currently in sixth place in the division (out of eight teams), trailing the Kane County Cougars, a Cubs affiliate, by four games. The Cougars are dominating the division right now with an 11-3 record and having won eight in a row. Two of the three Kane County losses came at the hands of the Quad Cities team in the opening series of the season. The two teams face off next in mid-May. The Bandits are only one and a half games out of second place. Here is how the team stacks up against the other 15 teams in the Midwest League:

Team Batting
BA - 2nd
OBP - 1st
SLG - 6th
OPS - 4th
R - 9th
H - 3rd
2B - T3rd
3B - T3rd
HR - 15th
RBI - T9th
BB - 2nd
SO - 14th
SB - 7th
CS - T10th

Team Pitching
ERA - 7th
WHIP - 9th
Saves - T12th
BB - 14th
SO - 11th

For a daily update on standings, look at the sidebar on the front page of the blog. I usually remember to update it every morning.

League Leaders

Astros minor league players ranking in the top 5 in their leagues (through 4/25) ~

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Scott Moore
#1 OPS 1.273
#2 OBP .552
#2 SLG .721
#5(T) BB 12

Brian Bixler
#1 BA .429
#3 OBP .481
#4(T) SB 6

Aneury Rodriguez
#2(T) SO 26

Juan Abreu
#2(T) SV 4

Paul Clemens
#4 ERA 1.59

Dallas Keuchel
#4 WHIP 0.89
#5(T) ERA 1.67

Texas League (AA)

Brandon Barnes
#1 BA .394
#1 SLG .773
#1 OPS 1.195
#1 RBI 19
#1 2B 13
#1 H 26
#2 R 16
#5(T) HR 4

Jon Singleton
#2 BA .375
#2 OBP .459
#2 OPS 1.131
#2(T) H 24
#3 SLG .672
#3(T) R 15

Austin Wates
#2(T) H 24

Jonathan Villar
#1 SB 10

Jose Martinez
#4(T) RBI 14

Jose Cisnero
#3 SO 28
#5 ERA 1.83

California League (HiA)

Telvin Nash
#1 HR 9
#2 SLG .667
#5(T) RBI 15

George Springer
#2(T) 3B 3
#3(T) RBI 16

Jonathan Meyer
#4(T) 3B 2

Jio Mier
#4(T) BB 12

South Atlantic League (LoA)

Zach Johnson
#2 RBI 24

Jordan Scott
#2(T) BB 15

Delino DeShields Jr
#1(T) SB 11

Nick Tropeano
#3 SO 32

Jason Chowning
#2(T) SV 3