Happy Birthday to ~
2B/SS Jean Estrella (18)
A non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic, Estrella had a very successful first professional season. After 50 games with the DSL Astros, he received a late season promotion to play his final eight games with the Gulf Coast League Astros, hitting a combined .278/.354/.308 for the season.
Two former Astros celebrate today as well ~
C Bruce Bochy (59)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1975, Bochy was an Astro from 1978 to 1980 before playing for the Mets and the Padres. As an Astro, he hit .239/.308/.321 over 132 games. Shortly after he quit playing in 1988, he started managing in the minor leagues, graduating to manager of the San Diego Padres in 1995 at the ripe old age of 40. After a dozen years at the helm in San Diego, he started managing the Giants in 2007, leading them to World Series Championships in 2010 and 2012.
SS Tommy Manzella (31)
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2005, Manzella played in 90 games for Houston in 2009 and 2010. Despite hitting .289/.339/.417 in 133 games at AAA in 2009 prior to his September call-up that year, he struggled at the plate in the majors, hitting .224/.266/.262. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August of 2011. After bouncing around for the last three years (Diamondbacks, Brewers, White Sox, Rockies, Blue Jays, White Sox, Diamondbacks), he was released by the Diamondbacks in March 2014.
A LOOK AT THE ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Showing posts with label Tommy Manzella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tommy Manzella. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Happy Birthday - 4/16
No future Astros, only former Astros with birthdays today ~
C Bruce Bochy (58)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1975, Bochy was an Astro from 1978 to 1980 before playing for the Mets and the Padres. As an Astro, he hit .239/.308/.321 over 132 games. Shortly after he quit playing in 1988, he started managing in the minor leagues, graduating to manager of the San Diego Padres in 1995 at the ripe old age of 40. After a dozen years at the helm in San Diego, he started managing the Giants in 2007, leading them to World Series Championships in 2010 and 2012.
SS Tommy Manzella (30)
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2005, Manzella played in 90 games for Houston in 2009 and 2010. Despite hitting .289/.339/.417 in 133 games at AAA in 2009 prior to his September call-up that year, he struggled at the plate in the majors, hitting .224/.266/.262. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August of 2011. He is currently playing for the AAA affiliate of the Rockies.
C Bruce Bochy (58)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1975, Bochy was an Astro from 1978 to 1980 before playing for the Mets and the Padres. As an Astro, he hit .239/.308/.321 over 132 games. Shortly after he quit playing in 1988, he started managing in the minor leagues, graduating to manager of the San Diego Padres in 1995 at the ripe old age of 40. After a dozen years at the helm in San Diego, he started managing the Giants in 2007, leading them to World Series Championships in 2010 and 2012.
SS Tommy Manzella (30)
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2005, Manzella played in 90 games for Houston in 2009 and 2010. Despite hitting .289/.339/.417 in 133 games at AAA in 2009 prior to his September call-up that year, he struggled at the plate in the majors, hitting .224/.266/.262. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August of 2011. He is currently playing for the AAA affiliate of the Rockies.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
No Birthdays Today But ...
I was poking around to see what might have happened on this date that was Astros-related. It was one year ago today that Tommy Manzella was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks. Tommy was a third round pick by the Astros in 2005.
He started the 2012 season with the Diamondbacks, but was released after only 15 games. He then played in 62 games for the Brewers organization before he was once again sent to the curb. He was just signed by the White Sox organization on July 31st and is currently playing for their AAA team.
What a year it's been for Tommy.
He started the 2012 season with the Diamondbacks, but was released after only 15 games. He then played in 62 games for the Brewers organization before he was once again sent to the curb. He was just signed by the White Sox organization on July 31st and is currently playing for their AAA team.
What a year it's been for Tommy.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Happy Birthday - 4/16
No future Astros, only former Astros with birthdays today ~
C Bruce Bochy (57)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1975, Bochy was an Astro from 1978 to 1980 before playing for the Mets and the Padres. As an Astro, he hit .239/.308/.321 over 132 games. Shortly after he quit playing in 1988, he started managing in the minor leagues, graduating to manager of the San Diego Padres in 1995 at the ripe old age of 40. After a dozen years at the helm in San Diego, he started managing the Giants in 2007. Going in to the 2012 season, Bochy is 1360-1376 with 2 Pennants and a World Series title on his resume.
SS Tommy Manzella (29)
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2005, Manzella played in 90 games for Houston in 2009 and 2010. Despite hitting .289/.339/.417 in 133 games at AAA in 2009 prior to his September call-up that year, he struggled at the plate in the majors, hitting .224/.266/.262. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August of 2011.
C Bruce Bochy (57)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1975, Bochy was an Astro from 1978 to 1980 before playing for the Mets and the Padres. As an Astro, he hit .239/.308/.321 over 132 games. Shortly after he quit playing in 1988, he started managing in the minor leagues, graduating to manager of the San Diego Padres in 1995 at the ripe old age of 40. After a dozen years at the helm in San Diego, he started managing the Giants in 2007. Going in to the 2012 season, Bochy is 1360-1376 with 2 Pennants and a World Series title on his resume.
SS Tommy Manzella (29)
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2005, Manzella played in 90 games for Houston in 2009 and 2010. Despite hitting .289/.339/.417 in 133 games at AAA in 2009 prior to his September call-up that year, he struggled at the plate in the majors, hitting .224/.266/.262. He was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks in August of 2011.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Rooting for the Good Ones to Succeed
I was at an Astros game last season and, prior to the start of the game, I was watching the players do their stretching and running and tossing and general loosening up. A group of elementary kids were coming in from right field to get into position to sing the national anthem. Tommy Manzella started messing around with the kids; teasing them by feigning running right over them and then peeling off at the last second; acting like he was going to throw a missile to one of them and then playing a game of toss. The kids were giggling and I think he was too.
Seeing that display and knowing a little of Tommy's history (having lost his mom to cancer a while back and having his family home devastated by Katrina) made me really want him to succeed. It makes me a little sad that he was never able to pull it all together for the Astros organization. I hope that he is able to do great things for the Diamondbacks (as long as he's not playing against any of the Astros teams).
With that said, part of the fun of watching baseball, for me anyway, is rooting for the good guys. Euris Quezada may be a terrific individual. He may come from a background where the pressure to succeed is enormous. He may have never used any PED's. He may have never intended to use that syringe. He may have just made a mistake. But it's not going to be easy for him to convince me that he deserves my support in the same way that Tommy Manzella did. But I'm willing to try if he is.
Soapbox ----> Exit stage right
Seeing that display and knowing a little of Tommy's history (having lost his mom to cancer a while back and having his family home devastated by Katrina) made me really want him to succeed. It makes me a little sad that he was never able to pull it all together for the Astros organization. I hope that he is able to do great things for the Diamondbacks (as long as he's not playing against any of the Astros teams).
With that said, part of the fun of watching baseball, for me anyway, is rooting for the good guys. Euris Quezada may be a terrific individual. He may come from a background where the pressure to succeed is enormous. He may have never used any PED's. He may have never intended to use that syringe. He may have just made a mistake. But it's not going to be easy for him to convince me that he deserves my support in the same way that Tommy Manzella did. But I'm willing to try if he is.
Soapbox ----> Exit stage right
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