Astros Minor League Recaps

Friday’s Games

Quad Cities River Bandits 6, Beloit Snappers 3 (14)

The River Bandits scored five runs in the 14^th inning Friday to win and break a tie that had held since the third frame. Jordan Jankowski pitched the first five innings Friday, allowing one run in the third over two hits (HR) and recording 1-2-3 sets in every other inning he worked. Jankowski finished with four Ks and a pair of walks. Gerardo Sanchez, who threw four innings (9-12), had a nice outing, allowing one hit and striking out six. Mitchell Lambson (2-2) followed Sanchez and picked up the win while giving up two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out three. John Neely signed in for the last two outs and earned his ninth save of the season after giving up a hit and a walk. Quad Cities got on the board in the third inning when Carlos Correa (3X6 2B RBI SO) hit an RBI single to score Terrell Joyce (1X4 2R 2BB 2S0). Joyce was on board after hitting a leadoff double, his eighth of the year. The 14^th inning scoring was initiated by a Jonathan Singleton (1X6 R HR 2RBI 3SO) two run homer and also saw a two RBI double by Jordan Scott (1X1 2B 2RBI) before Joyce scored the River Bandits’ final run on a Teoscar Hernandez single (1X7 RBI SO).

Visalia Rawhide 12, Lancaster JetHawks 10

Lancaster got out to a hot start in this game but dropped eight runs in the fourth and saw their winning streak come to and end on Friday. Blair Walters took the start and pitched three and a third before leaving the game because he was hit in the arm by a liner. Walters allowed four runs (2ER) on five hits (2HR) during his stint. Jonas Dufek (0-2) entered in the third to replace Walters and allowed six runs on five hits and a walk while recording just one out to earn the loss. Brandon Meredith (1X3 2R HR 4RBI 2BB) finished Friday with four RBI, three coming from a three-RBI homer in the first to get the JetHawks on the board. Matt Duffy (3X5 2R 2B HR RBI) and Andrew Aplin (3X5 R 2B RBI) both hit three-for-five in the game. Aplin tallied his ninth longball of the year on a solo shot in the fourth.

Corpus Christi Hooks 3, Arkansas Travelers 5

The Hooks didn’t have quite enough offensive momentum to overtake their opponents in this game Friday and saw their win streak end too. Bobby Doran started things off on the mound for Corpus and allowed a run on two hits, two walks and four Ks in his five innings at the wheel. Pat Urckfitz (2-2), who came on an out into the seventh, took the loss and tallied his first blown save after recording two runs on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Drew Muren went three-for-four at the plate Friday with a double and run scored. George Springer had two hits in the game (2X4), both doubles and also picked up a walk and a strikeout.

Omaha Storm Chasers, Oklahoma City RedHawks 

-Postponed

Player of the Day: Jon Singleton homered in his third straight game to help the River Bandits add to their win streak and start the game off in style. These honors are just icing on that cake.

Pitcher of the Game: The whole Quad Cities crew did well on Friday, but Jankowski, Sanchez and Lambson really stood out. So all three are gonna get it today. Jankowski threw four 1-2-3 frames, Sanchez gave up just a hit and K-ed six over four innings and Lambson, well, he K-ed three in a row in the 13th. Great games, guys.

Lexington Legends Season Recap

Last week, I took a look at the DSL Astros season, the GCL Astros season, and the Greeneville Astros season. Now let's look at the Lexington Legends Lo-A affiliate. Here's a quick look at how the 2011 and 2012 teams compare.

2011 Win Percentage - .428
2012 Win Percentage - .500

2011 Runs Scored - Runs Allowed = Run Differential - 645 - 731 = (86)
2012 Runs Scored - Runs Allowed = Run Differential - 691 - 664 = 27

2011 Team ERA & WHIP - 4.63 & 1.413
2012 Team ERA & WHIP - 4.26 & 1.387

2011 Team Batting Line - .255/.327/.389
2012 Team Batting Line - .252/.344/.380

The results for Lexington are somewhat deceptive. As late as mid-August, they were substantially over .500 before hitting a skid in which they lost 16 of 18. I don't know if these players were simply out of gas after many of them participated in their first full professional season, but I'm sure that was a factor. And I'm certain that the loss of Delino DeShields as he was promoted to Lancaster in early August was a factor as well. The season-long chemistry established with DeShields at the top of the order had to be difficult to recreate.

There was a 10-game swing in the win column and a 113-run swing in the run differential. Although the pitching stats don't show a dramatic difference, the team went from toward the bottom of the pack in league ERA and WHIP to solidly in the middle, and went from 9th in saves and 12th in strikeouts (out of 14 teams) to second in the league in both of those categories. Team batting average and slugging percentage are roughly where they were last season. The biggest improvements are in on-base percentage (from 9th to 4th in the league), runs scored and RBIs (from 8th to 4th), and walks and stolen bases (from the bottom of the pack to 2nd in the league).

Here are some individual standouts from the team ~

I'll take a complete look at 2B Delino DeShields, Jr. when I write my season recap on the Lancaster team, but it bears noting that despite having been gone from the Lexington club for almost a month, DeShields is still a league leader in numerous categories, including stolen bases (1st), runs (2nd), OBP (7th) and walks (8th). He's also in the top 20 in the league in batting average, slugging, OPS and hits. He was recently named a South Atlantic League post-season All-Star.

3B Matt Duffy ended the season with a .280/.387/.447 batting line and a team leading 138 hits (7th in the league) and 16 home runs (tied for 9th in the league). He was also in the top 20 in the league in OBP, slugging, runs, RBI and doubles. He also held the dubious "honor" of being hit by pitch 41 times in the season, leading all of the minor leagues ... by far.

1B Zach Johnson led the team, and the league, in RBI with 108 and was tied for the lead on all Astros minor league teams with Erik Castro of Lancaster. He also led the team in walks (5th in the league) and doubles (tied for 3rd in the league), and was in the top three on the team in runs, hits and home runs. He ended the season hitting .238/.339/.406 and was also named to the South Atlantic League post-season All-Star team.

Although OF Brandon Meredith didn't play in enough games to qualify as a league leader in slugging, his .506 slugging percentage over 86 games was still impressive. In 48 fewer games than Zach Johnson and Matt Duffy, Meredith managed to tie Johnson in home runs and trail Duffy by just one. He was also in the top five on the team in runs, RBI, hits, doubles and triples. He ended the season with a .278/.377/.506 batting line.

RF/C Mike Kvasnicka was also limited in playing time due to injuries and similarly to Meredith managed to rank highly in several categories, including doubles, home runs and RBIs. SS Nolan Fontana led the team with a .464 OBP, albeit only over 49 games as he drew 65 walks, only 10 fewer than Zach Johnson who had played in 134 games.

RHP Mike Foltynewicz had an absolute breakthrough season. He turned a 5-11 2011 season into a 14-4 2012 campaign. He was tied for first in wins in the South Atlantic league, and was second in innings pitched, fourth in ERA, sixth in strikeouts and tied for 13th in WHIP among qualifiers. He also made the post-season All-Star squad. He ended the season with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.362 WHIP.

LHP Luis Cruz ended the season with a 9-8 record, a 4.05 ERA (tied for 13th) and a 1.357 WHIP (also tied for 13th). He was third in the league in strikeouts, fifth in innings pitched and tied for 11th in wins.

RHP Dayan Diaz was 5-4 with 19 saves in 41 appearances out of the bullpen. His ERA of 1.85 led the entire Astros system for pitchers making at least 30 appearances and was accompanied by a 1.200 WHIP. He was tied for third in the league in saves.

LHP Mitch Lambson started at Greeneville and was quickly promoted as he dominated the Appy League. His combined record for the season was 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA, a 0.975 WHIP, 10.6 SO/9 and a 5.40 SO/BB ratio. At Lexington, he had a 2.72 ERA and a 1.101 WHIP.

The sample size on RHP Chris Devenski (5 starts with Lexington) is too small for generalized conclusions, but I would be remiss if I didn't note his complete game no-hitter on his last start of the season, including his 16 strikeouts from that game. I would also be remiss if I didn't point out Hitting Coach Josh Bonifay's inclusion as a coach for the South Atlantic League post-season All-Star team (Hum you!)

I hope to have a post-season look at the Oklahoma City squad ready by the end of the week, but no promises.

Who's Hot - Lexington Legends

Let's take a look at each of the full season teams and see who's been hot lately. First up, the Lexington Legends.

2B Delino DeShields
DeShields is now hitting .298/.402/.430 for the season and .368/.455/.500 over his last 10 games. Here's how he ranks in the South Atlantic League and in the Houston farm system in several categories.

• 75 Stolen Bases - 1st in SAL/1st in Houston system
• 86 Runs Scored - 1st in SAL/2nd in Houston system
• 119 Hits - 3rd in SAL/4th in Houston system
• 65 Walks - Tied for 3rd in SAL/2nd in Houston system (98 strikeouts)

1B Zach Johnson
Johnson is hitting .249/.345/.421 for the season and .273/.419/.515 with ten RBI in his last ten games. Here's how he ranks.

• 86 RBI - 1st in SAL/1st in Houston system
• 30 Doubles - Tied for 1st in SAL/2nd in Houston system
• 57 Walks - 6th in SAL/3rd in Houston system (only 70 strikeouts)

C/OF Mike Kvasnicka
After a very slow start, Kvasnicka is now hitting .233/.275/.415 for the season and .324/.375/.595 in his last 10 games. His 15 home runs have him tied for fourth place in the Sally League and tied for seventh place in the Houston organization.

OF Brandon Meredith
Meredith also had a somewhat slow start, but is now hitting .273/.373/.489 with 14 doubles, three triples and ten home runs for the season (64 games) and .417/.488/.722 with five doubles and two home runs over the last ten games.

C Luis Alvarez
In 13 games with Lexington, Alvarez is .306/.340/.488 with a double, a triple and two home runs.

SS Nolan Fontana
Fontana hasn't been hitting particularly well over his last ten games, but he continues to draw walks at a high rate. In 20 games for Lexington, he already has 30 walks. His OBP is .516.

LHP Mitch Lambson
Lambson is 3-1 with a 1.19 ERA and a 0.725 WHIP for the season, and he has a 1.74 ERA and 0.870 WHIP since his promotion to Lexington. Most impressively, Lambson has allowed only five walks to 36 strikeouts.

LHP Tommy Shirley
Shirley is 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.178 WHIP for the season and has a 3.00 ERA and 1.238 WHIP since his promotion to Lexington.

There are two players who didn't make my "hot" list because they are never very hot or very cold. They are the most consistent players on the team.

3B Matt Duffy
Duffy is hitting .297/.387/.465 for the season with 28 doubles, one triple and 12 home runs. He is tied for fifth in doubles and is tied for fourth in hits and total bases in the Sally League (and ranks in the top five in the Houston system in those categories as well). He has continued to do what he did in his first season as he hits consistently on the road and at home, against lefties and righties, month after month.

RHP Mike Foltynewicz
Folty has had a couple of rough outings in July, but he is still tied for the league lead in wins with 11 and is in fifth place in the league with a 3.05 ERA.

Next Up: Lancaster

Happy Birthday - 7/20

LHP Mitch Lambson (22)
Drafted in the 19th round out of Arizona State in 2011, Lambson only spent four games with Greeneville this season before he and his 0.00 ERA were kicked upstairs to Lexington. For the season, he is 2-1 with a 1.51 ERA and a 0.708 WHIP in 10 appearances.

One former Astro with a birthday today ~

OF Gary Woods (58)
Woods came to Houston in a December 1978 trade with the Blue Jays and played for Houston in 1980 and 1981. In 74 games for Houston, he hit .264/.315/.368. He was first in fielding percentage in the National League as an outfielder in 1982.

Non-Prospect Prospects to Watch - Part 2

Since everyone was coming up with lists of top prospects, I decided to dig a bit deeper and find a few players who don't appear on any top prospect list anywhere, but whose upside could land them there eventually.  In case you missed it, I covered the position players in Part 1 here.  This week I will be looking at the pitchers.

LHP MITCHELL LAMBSON
In 22 games with Tri-City, the 6'1" 198 lb. lefty went 2-6 with 2 saves, a 4.33 ERA, a 1.160 WHIP and a .248 batting average against with 39 strikeouts and 8 walks in 35.1 innings pitched.  What first caught my notice with Lambson was his 9.9 SO/9 and his 4.88 SO:BB ratio so I decided to dig a little further.

He was projected by Baseball Prospect Report to work mostly around 86-88 with the ability to bump 90, but it wasn't his fastball that they wanted to talk about:

"The seperator for Lambson is the above-average change-up, CHG in shorthand, though some scouts might write OMG. I had it at 72-74 and I’m sold on the arm slot repetition. These lefties with the change-up need to have a fearless side to them, the willingness to throw it any time in the count ...  He won’t be an overpowering guy so the change , the moxie and the downhill fastball movement will punch the ticket."

And Baseball Draft Report agreed:

"Lambson’s change is so good and he relies on it so heavily, there really is no other way to talk about him without first mentioning the pitch ... a funky lefthander with the chance to put up surprising results in an unconventional manner. In other words, don’t sleep on Lambson."

They go on to mention his plus command and plus control.

Finally, I looked at his splits.  He had a 2.25 ERA and a 1.167 WHIP against lefties and a 5.40 ERA and a 1.157 WHIP vs. right-handed hitters.  Of his 8 walks and 4 home runs allowed, all were against right-handed batters, and although he struck out right-handed batters at a higher rate and kept them to a lower batting average, those walks and home runs came back to hurt him.  He will have to find consistency against right-handed batters to avoid being pigeonholed as a LOOGY, but if he continues to miss bats at his current high rate, I will keep watching this 21-year old.

RHP LUIS ORDOSGOITTI
Ordosgoitti spent most of his 2011 season at Greeneville where he was 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.227 WHIP in 9 appearances (7 starts) over 44 innings pitched.  The then 18-year old also had an 8.6 SO/9 and a 6.00 SO/BB ratio for Greeneville.  If that's not enough reason to watch him, Orodosgoitti will be 19 for the entire 2012 season and at 6'4" 180 lbs. has plenty of room to fill out and increase velocity.

There's not a great deal of information out there on the big Venezuelan right-hander.  Nathaniel Stoltz of Seedlings to Stars calls him "a really intriguing sleeper arm" who he wouldn't be shocked to see on some top 100 lists next year.  I asked Jeff Luhnow about Ordosgoitti.  He wasn't familiar with him, but after looking him up, said that "reports are very positive as are his numbers," and went on to cite a good fastball, developing curveball and change-up ... "a possible major league starter."

Luis is another pitcher that will miss a lot of bats.  His biggest problem in 2011 were his road numbers.  While he had a 1.59 ERA at home for Greeneville, his road ERA was 6.33.  If he can get his road numbers under control and continues to fill out that 6'4" frame, Ordosgoitti could be going places quickly.  I look forward to seeing what he can do in 2012.

LHP REYMIN GUDUAN
Guduan wasn't on my original list of three until I saw a tweet from Jeff Luhnow when he was in the Dominican Republic that Guduan had an "impressive arm" and "was up to 97 in fall."  And he might still not be on my short list had I not delved a little more deeply on his numbers.

Guduan was definitely on my "watch list" with his 2.16 ERA and 12 SO/9 for the DSL in 13 starts, but there was the matter of 42 walks to go with 61 strikeouts and the 13 wild pitches and the 4 hit batters that gave me pause.  But hitting 97 on the radar gun will get you a little more leeway, particularly for a 6'4" 185 lb. lefty who still has time to fill out since he doesn't turn 20 for a couple of weeks.

So I looked for improvement and I found it.  In 2010, he had a 0.61 SO/BB ratio and 8.40 SO/9.  Here is how he fared last summer:
June   3.24 ERA   1.740 WHIP   0.95 SO/BB   9.72 SO/9   10.26 BB/9
July   1.47 ERA   1.582 WHIP   2.08 SO/BB   13.25 SO/9   6.38 BB/9
Aug   0.93 ERA   1.138 WHIP  2.50 SO/BB   13.97 SO/9   5.59 BB/9

Sure, I'd still like to see less wildness, but "effectively wild" can work too.  Did I mention that he's a lefty that can throw 97?  Yeah, that will get you on the short list every time.

HONORABLE MENTION

LHP GABRIEL GARCIA

• Why he could have made the list - 8.8 SO/9 and 4.25 SO/BB ratio for Lexington, a very strong winter in Venezuela and this (about 1:08 in - dude has moves!)
• Why he didn't make the list - edged out by LHP's Lambson and Guduan

RHP RYAN COLE

• Why he could have made the list - 10 saves, 2.33 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, 4.17 SO/BB ratio for Tri-City, intangibles and pure gut feeling
• Why he didn't make the list - I ran out of room

RHP JASON CHOWNING

• Why he could have made the list - terrific numbers (2.45 ERA, 1.261 WHIP and 9.2 SO/9 in 35 appearances for Lexington) before he got hurt
• Why he didn't make the list - he got hurt; we'll have to see how he bounces back

Tweet of the Day

@lambda3xMitchell Lambson

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