A LOOK AT THE ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
I'm A Busy Girl ...
I have a couple of new posts up with The Crawfish Boxes and The Futurists. In this piece at TCB I look at some under the radar pitching prospects. And in this one for The Futurists, I look at the success of the Tri-City team and those players who are contributing to that success.
Who's Hot - Corpus Christi Hooks
Let's take a look at each of the full season teams and see who's been hot lately. So far, we've looked at the Lexington Legends and the Lancaster JetHawks. Today the Corpus Christi Hooks ~
OF Drew Locke
Ever since coming back into the Houston organization 45 games ago, Locke has been hitting up a storm leaving him with a .311/.359/.458 batting line. In his last 10 games, he is hitting .441/.500/.529.
1B Jon Singleton
Singleton has hit .284/.400/.491 for the season and .387/.472/.613 in his last 10 games. He leads the Texas League in runs scored and is second in walks.
OF Adam Bailey
Bailey has a way of sneaking up on you. After his promotion to Corpus, he started slowly but now has his batting average up to .263. In his last 10 games, he is hitting .308/.296/.500. He's hitting much better but he's not drawing walks.
2B Jose Martinez
Martinez is another one of those players that you can't really call hot because he was never really cold. For the season he is hitting .305/.363/.474 and .316/.372/.368 over his last ten. He ranks second in hits in the Texas League and fourth in RBI.
3B Andy Simunic, OF Austin Wates and C Rene Garcia were also having good stretches at the plate before going on the DL.
RHP Jason Stoffel
Stoffel's ERA has actually been creeping up a tiny bit as of late, but eight saves in July (out of his 20 total saves) keeps him on the hot list. Stoffel has a 1.87 ERA and a 0.992 WHIP in 42 appearances. He is second in the Texas League in saves, first in the Houston organization.
LHP Kevin Chapman
Despite a slight hiccup against Midland on Sunday, the normally reliable Chapman has been just that in July as he has a 2-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and a 0.771 WHIP in nine appearances.
LHP Alex Sogard
Sogard has had his troubles this season but he has had a nice stretch lately. In his last 10 games, he is 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.119 WHIP.
RHP Matt Heidenreich
Since joining the Houston organization, Heidenreich is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.769 WHIP in two starts. He has struck out 11 while walking only one batter.
RHP Asher Wojciechowski
Similarly, Wojciechowski has done well in his first two starts with the Hooks. Despite some wildness in his last outing, he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.083 WHIP.
Next up - Last stop Oklahoma City
OF Drew Locke
Ever since coming back into the Houston organization 45 games ago, Locke has been hitting up a storm leaving him with a .311/.359/.458 batting line. In his last 10 games, he is hitting .441/.500/.529.
1B Jon Singleton
Singleton has hit .284/.400/.491 for the season and .387/.472/.613 in his last 10 games. He leads the Texas League in runs scored and is second in walks.
OF Adam Bailey
Bailey has a way of sneaking up on you. After his promotion to Corpus, he started slowly but now has his batting average up to .263. In his last 10 games, he is hitting .308/.296/.500. He's hitting much better but he's not drawing walks.
2B Jose Martinez
Martinez is another one of those players that you can't really call hot because he was never really cold. For the season he is hitting .305/.363/.474 and .316/.372/.368 over his last ten. He ranks second in hits in the Texas League and fourth in RBI.
3B Andy Simunic, OF Austin Wates and C Rene Garcia were also having good stretches at the plate before going on the DL.
RHP Jason Stoffel
Stoffel's ERA has actually been creeping up a tiny bit as of late, but eight saves in July (out of his 20 total saves) keeps him on the hot list. Stoffel has a 1.87 ERA and a 0.992 WHIP in 42 appearances. He is second in the Texas League in saves, first in the Houston organization.
LHP Kevin Chapman
Despite a slight hiccup against Midland on Sunday, the normally reliable Chapman has been just that in July as he has a 2-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and a 0.771 WHIP in nine appearances.
LHP Alex Sogard
Sogard has had his troubles this season but he has had a nice stretch lately. In his last 10 games, he is 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.119 WHIP.
RHP Matt Heidenreich
Since joining the Houston organization, Heidenreich is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.769 WHIP in two starts. He has struck out 11 while walking only one batter.
RHP Asher Wojciechowski
Similarly, Wojciechowski has done well in his first two starts with the Hooks. Despite some wildness in his last outing, he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.083 WHIP.
Next up - Last stop Oklahoma City
Minor League Recaps
Tuesday's Games
DSL Giants over DSL Astros 6-1 in 10 innings
Yes, you read that correctly. The score was tied 0-0 through nine innings and Victor Mesa coughed up six runs (four earned) in the tenth. Ouch! Francisco Baso, Juan Hernandez and Johan Arias combined for 8.2 innings of shutout ball. The Astros were held to four hits. More words won't make this game any better.
GCL Marlins over the GCL Astros 2-1 in 13 innings
Seven pitchers combined in this one. Lance McCullers got the start and went three innings with three hits, one walk and five strikeouts. A good three inning outing by Brandon Culbreth was sandwiched between perfect innings from Ambiorix de Leon and Krishawn Holley. Erick Gonzalez was charged with a blown save as he couldn't make one run hold up and Alan Abreu was pegged with the loss. These Astros also only managed to scrape together four hits. Juan Santana had two of them, including an RBI single and a double.
Bluefield over Greeneville 5-1
Adrian Houser got his third loss of the season in a rain delayed game in which he gave up four runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings thanks in large part to two wild pitches and a hit batter. Zach Dando gave up the final run in 2.1 innings of relief. The worst part of this game is that Greeneville outhit Bluefield 10 to 6 and yet were outscored 5-1. D'Andre Toney, Brian Blasik, Jean Batista and Ricky Gingras each contributed two hits, including doubles from Toney and Batista. Unfortunately, their only score was courtesy of a Brian Blasik RBI single.
Tri-City - Off Day
Lexington over Asheville 9-6
Asheville has often had their way with Lexington this season so it's always gratifying to see Lexington win. It is particularly gratifying when Delino DeShields hits his ninth home run, Brandon Meredith hits his 11th home run, Matt Duffy hits his 13th home run and Mike Foltynewicz gets his 12th win. Folty was in good form, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Unfortunately, Mitch Lambson had a rare hiccup as he allowed four runs in 1.1 innings before giving way to Evan Grills and Dayan Diaz (S, 15) to shut the door. The offense was en fuego for Lexington with multi-hit nights for DeShields, Ruben Sosa and Duffy and multi-RBI nights for Zach Johnson and Duffy. Zach Johnson now has 91 RBI for the season.
Stockton over Lancaster 6-5 in 10 innings
Just not a good day for the farm system in extra inning games. Colton Cain gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in his four inning debut. It was the three-run shot in the fourth that was his undoing. He was followed by Chia Jen-Lo who gave up his first run of the season in his two innings of work. Two scoreless from Jorge de Leon and then Carlos Quevedo had a rare stumble as he allowed the winning run in the 10th. Erik Castro is starting to convince me that his slump is in the rearview mirror as he went two-for-five with a home run. George Springer aka Superman was two-for-five with a triple, home run, two RBI, and scored two runs.
Corpus Christi over San Antonio 8-7
Six pitchers in this one. You guys really don't care whether I sleep or not, do you? Here goes. Matt Heidenreich - 5IP 4H 2R 0BB 4SO 1HR. Then messiness from Arcenio Leon, Alex Sogard and Josh Zeid as they combined to allow five runs in 2.2 innings. Then Adalberto Flores and Kevin Chapman (S, 2) shut the door. It should never have gotten this close as the Hooks led 6-2 at one point, but it did and Jon Singleton's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the game winner. Singleton had a good night all around as he went two-for-three with the solo homer, a walk and scored three runs; Jose Martinez was two-for-three with a walk and scored two runs; Marc Krauss launched a two-run bomb in his first at bat with Houston; and Drew Locke and Jordan Kreke also drove in two runs each.
Omaha over Oklahoma City 12-5
Everybody's ERA took a hit in this one: Rudy Owens (five runs over 4.1 innings), Mark Hamburger (two runs over 1.2 innings), Enerio del Rosario (three runs over one inning), and Aneury Rodriguez (two runs over two innings). Oklahoma City had the early lead with a five-run third but they were never able to get another run across the plate. Mike Hessman and Brad Snyder each contributed two run home runs to the cause; Angel Sanchez was four-for-four with a double, a triple and a run scored.
Players of the Day: George Springer and Matt Duffy get to share the honors. Springer may be flashier, but Duffy just gets it done day in and day out.
Pitcher of the Day: Mike Foltynewicz earned his 12th win to reclaim the Sally League lead. I agree with Folty's girlfriend; he is indeed a studmuffin.
DSL Giants over DSL Astros 6-1 in 10 innings
Yes, you read that correctly. The score was tied 0-0 through nine innings and Victor Mesa coughed up six runs (four earned) in the tenth. Ouch! Francisco Baso, Juan Hernandez and Johan Arias combined for 8.2 innings of shutout ball. The Astros were held to four hits. More words won't make this game any better.
GCL Marlins over the GCL Astros 2-1 in 13 innings
Seven pitchers combined in this one. Lance McCullers got the start and went three innings with three hits, one walk and five strikeouts. A good three inning outing by Brandon Culbreth was sandwiched between perfect innings from Ambiorix de Leon and Krishawn Holley. Erick Gonzalez was charged with a blown save as he couldn't make one run hold up and Alan Abreu was pegged with the loss. These Astros also only managed to scrape together four hits. Juan Santana had two of them, including an RBI single and a double.
Bluefield over Greeneville 5-1
Adrian Houser got his third loss of the season in a rain delayed game in which he gave up four runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings thanks in large part to two wild pitches and a hit batter. Zach Dando gave up the final run in 2.1 innings of relief. The worst part of this game is that Greeneville outhit Bluefield 10 to 6 and yet were outscored 5-1. D'Andre Toney, Brian Blasik, Jean Batista and Ricky Gingras each contributed two hits, including doubles from Toney and Batista. Unfortunately, their only score was courtesy of a Brian Blasik RBI single.
Tri-City - Off Day
Lexington over Asheville 9-6
Asheville has often had their way with Lexington this season so it's always gratifying to see Lexington win. It is particularly gratifying when Delino DeShields hits his ninth home run, Brandon Meredith hits his 11th home run, Matt Duffy hits his 13th home run and Mike Foltynewicz gets his 12th win. Folty was in good form, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Unfortunately, Mitch Lambson had a rare hiccup as he allowed four runs in 1.1 innings before giving way to Evan Grills and Dayan Diaz (S, 15) to shut the door. The offense was en fuego for Lexington with multi-hit nights for DeShields, Ruben Sosa and Duffy and multi-RBI nights for Zach Johnson and Duffy. Zach Johnson now has 91 RBI for the season.
Stockton over Lancaster 6-5 in 10 innings
Just not a good day for the farm system in extra inning games. Colton Cain gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in his four inning debut. It was the three-run shot in the fourth that was his undoing. He was followed by Chia Jen-Lo who gave up his first run of the season in his two innings of work. Two scoreless from Jorge de Leon and then Carlos Quevedo had a rare stumble as he allowed the winning run in the 10th. Erik Castro is starting to convince me that his slump is in the rearview mirror as he went two-for-five with a home run. George Springer aka Superman was two-for-five with a triple, home run, two RBI, and scored two runs.
Corpus Christi over San Antonio 8-7
Six pitchers in this one. You guys really don't care whether I sleep or not, do you? Here goes. Matt Heidenreich - 5IP 4H 2R 0BB 4SO 1HR. Then messiness from Arcenio Leon, Alex Sogard and Josh Zeid as they combined to allow five runs in 2.2 innings. Then Adalberto Flores and Kevin Chapman (S, 2) shut the door. It should never have gotten this close as the Hooks led 6-2 at one point, but it did and Jon Singleton's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the game winner. Singleton had a good night all around as he went two-for-three with the solo homer, a walk and scored three runs; Jose Martinez was two-for-three with a walk and scored two runs; Marc Krauss launched a two-run bomb in his first at bat with Houston; and Drew Locke and Jordan Kreke also drove in two runs each.
Omaha over Oklahoma City 12-5
Everybody's ERA took a hit in this one: Rudy Owens (five runs over 4.1 innings), Mark Hamburger (two runs over 1.2 innings), Enerio del Rosario (three runs over one inning), and Aneury Rodriguez (two runs over two innings). Oklahoma City had the early lead with a five-run third but they were never able to get another run across the plate. Mike Hessman and Brad Snyder each contributed two run home runs to the cause; Angel Sanchez was four-for-four with a double, a triple and a run scored.
Players of the Day: George Springer and Matt Duffy get to share the honors. Springer may be flashier, but Duffy just gets it done day in and day out.
Pitcher of the Day: Mike Foltynewicz earned his 12th win to reclaim the Sally League lead. I agree with Folty's girlfriend; he is indeed a studmuffin.
Happy Birthday - 8/1
No future Astros with birthdays today, only former Astros ~
OF Greg Gross (60)
Drafted in the fourth round by Houston in 1970, Gross played for the Astros from 1973 to 1976 and again in 1989 at the end of his career. Gross only played in a handful of games in 1973 and was thus eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration in 1974; he came in second to Bake McBride as he hit .314/.393/.377 with 21 doubles and eight triples that season. In five seasons for the Astros he hit .293/.376/.351 in 490 games. He won a World Series with Philadelphia in 1980.
C Milt May (62)
Originally drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round in 1968, May came to Houston in an October 1973 trade with Pittsburgh. In 238 games for the Astros in 1974 and 1975, he hit .265/.319/.360 with a caught stealing percentage that averaged around 40%. May was first in the National League in fielding percentage as a catcher in 1974, and was first in both caught stealing and assists as a catcher in 1975.
RHP Travis Driskill (41)
A fourth round pick by Cleveland in 1993, Driskill came to Houston as a free agent. He only pitched in three games for Houston at the major league level, one in 2005 and two in 2007. In seven innings, he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He was a pitching coach in the Astros system through 2011.
OF Greg Gross (60)
Drafted in the fourth round by Houston in 1970, Gross played for the Astros from 1973 to 1976 and again in 1989 at the end of his career. Gross only played in a handful of games in 1973 and was thus eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration in 1974; he came in second to Bake McBride as he hit .314/.393/.377 with 21 doubles and eight triples that season. In five seasons for the Astros he hit .293/.376/.351 in 490 games. He won a World Series with Philadelphia in 1980.
C Milt May (62)
Originally drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round in 1968, May came to Houston in an October 1973 trade with Pittsburgh. In 238 games for the Astros in 1974 and 1975, he hit .265/.319/.360 with a caught stealing percentage that averaged around 40%. May was first in the National League in fielding percentage as a catcher in 1974, and was first in both caught stealing and assists as a catcher in 1975.
RHP Travis Driskill (41)
A fourth round pick by Cleveland in 1993, Driskill came to Houston as a free agent. He only pitched in three games for Houston at the major league level, one in 2005 and two in 2007. In seven innings, he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He was a pitching coach in the Astros system through 2011.
Tweet of the Day
. @cchooks RHP Matt Heidenreich on running the bases: “I didn’t know how hard it was. I couldn’t breathe. ... But it was fun.”
Roster Moves
Corpus Christi
3B Andy Simunic was placed on the 7-day DL.
IF Bobby Borchering wa activated.
OF Marc Krauss was activated.
3B Andy Simunic was placed on the 7-day DL.
IF Bobby Borchering wa activated.
OF Marc Krauss was activated.
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