Houston Astros 2014 Season Thread

[eagle eye]

You knew it was bound to happen but if you haven't been following Houston day to day you may not realize that despite winning 7 in a row last week or so the last two were won on a home run by Springer and good pitching. The offensive explosion we enjoyed there for a while has cooled off --- a lot. On Tuesday Houston won due to timely hitting and a couple of long balls late for insurance runs and good pitching. Tuesday's game made you think the team-wide slump was over but it was just an anomoly. The Astros faced a pitcher coming off his worst game of the season in his last start but he turned it around and had his best start of the season including a historic 2nd inning where he struck out the side in 9 pitches. Who was he? Garrett Richards who lowered his ERA down to 3.25 after tossing 8 shutout innings allowing only 4 hits with no walks and 9 Ks. Richards is a pretty good pitcher and we need to give him credit but Houston is also not hitting very well and they haven't been for a week now. Richards became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1972 -- that's 42 years if you are counting -- to strike out all three batters he faced in an inning on just nine pitches. You have to consider who he struck out before you lose perspective on this accomplishment. Jon Singleton in his second game in the bigs, Matt Dominguez who has lost 20 points on his BA in the last week and Chris Carter the reigning strike out king in the AL but the fact is nine pitches, 3 outs -- history. It usually happens in sports, especially the pros, when a player has a bad game he often follows it up with a good one and the Astros were the victims of the truth of this adage. Jarred Cosart pitched pretty well going 6-2/3 innings allowing only 3 runs on 8 hits, a walk and 8 Ks. This isn't a bad outing and definitely qualifies as a quality start. Kyle Farnsworth finished off the 7th for Cosart and a scoreless 8th. Jerome Williams finished the game for Houston allowing one run. A disturbing thing is Williams propensity to allow at least a run every outing. With so many pitchers doing well at OKC Williams could find himself expendable.

 

Bo Porter made me wonder again about WTF he's thinking. Jon Singleton went 1-3 with a home run and a walk in his MLB debut Tuesday night so naturally Porter assumes the kid has arrived and he moved him up to 5th in the batting order. Impatient or something I can't explain why you do crap like that to a rookie. Give him a chance to settle in. Bat him 6th or 7th where the pressure to produce is lessened. I used to give Porter a pass because the team has been so bad but I'm noticing a peculiar trend of bad decisions by Porter. Team consistancy is sometimes due to a manager or head coach. Coaching plays a lot in sports and this roller coaster ride the Astros are on this season seems to point to a lacking by Porter.

 

Two bits of good news;

1. George Springer (hitting in the 2 hole) was named AL Player of the Month of May. Nice job.

 

2. The MLB Draft is tonight with Houston owning the #1 pick. Will Carlos Rodon be the guy or one of the high school fireballers or maybe they go position player. These questions will be answered tonight about 6:15 pm on MLB.com and MLB Network.

 

The Astros postgame show on Tuesday night began with the tag line, "The Summer of Springleton has begun!" I like this. the combining of the Springer's and Singleton's names and it is a lot catchier than something like the "Killer S'es". Not quite the same pop as "Killer B's" was.

 

 

[KABrother88]

Not discrediting what Richards did in his "immaculate inning" but his was the 75th in baseball history and on the 125th anniversary of John Clarkson of the Boston Beaneaters becoming the first to do it...that 42 years between Ryan and Richard's perfect innings is actually in Angels history...not baseball...there have been 4 such innings this season alone and Justin Masterson of the Indians had one on Monday. In case anyone was wondering there have been 6 Astros/.45 pitchers to accomplish it (Bob Bruce - 1964, Pete Harnish - 1991, Mike Magnante - 1997, Randy Johnson - 1998, Shane Reynolds - 1999, and Brandon Backe - 2004). This is the 5th time Houston has been on the wrong end (Sandy Koufax - 1963, Trevor Wilson - 1992, Jason Isringhausen - 2002, Ben Sheets - 2004, and Richards last night). 4 people have done it multiple times. Lefty Grove who did it twice in a 35 day span, Nolan Ryan had one in each league, Randy Johnson had 2, and Sandy Koufax did it 3 times in a 3 season span.

[eagle eye]

Not discrediting what Richards did in his "immaculate inning" but his was the 75th in baseball history and on the 125th anniversary of John Clarkson of the Boston Beaneaters becoming the first to do it...that 42 years between Ryan and Richard's perfect innings is actually in Angels history...not baseball...there have been 4 such innings this season alone and Justin Masterson of the Indians had one on Monday. In case anyone was wondering there have been 6 Astros/.45 pitchers to accomplish it (Bob Bruce - 1964, Pete Harnish - 1991, Mike Magnante - 1997, Randy Johnson - 1998, Shane Reynolds - 1999, and Brandon Backe - 2004). This is the 5th time Houston has been on the wrong end (Sandy Koufax - 1963, Trevor Wilson - 1992, Jason Isringhausen - 2002, Ben Sheets - 2004, and Richards last night). 4 people have done it multiple times. Lefty Grove who did it twice in a 35 day span, Nolan Ryan had one in each league, Randy Johnson had 2, and Sandy Koufax did it 3 times in a 3 season span.

 

Thanks for clarification! That looks like you did a good bit of research to come up with this list of facts. I stand corrected and it's pretty awesome info. Thanks again KABro!

[eagle eye]

In this week's MLB First Year Player Draft Houston will get the first pick in the draft but they also have more picks in the top 100. Here is a list of the draft picks the Astros have in first 100 picks.

 

#1 - First pick 1st round

#37 - 3rd pick in Competative Round A

#42 - first pick in 2nd round

#75 - first pick in the 3rd round

 

The Astros also have the first pick in rounds 4 through 40. The draft begins tonight and will continue tomorrow and conclude on Saturday. 4 picks in the top 75 isn't a bad thing.

[KABrother88]

I am getting a little excited for the draft...ready to see what Luhnow has up his sleeve this year...still seeing that most "experts" are pegging Aiken but some have conceded and say they really have no clue what Houston will do but have a feeling that Houston knows the $ amount each of the top 2-3 players would ask for and they will take cheapest one.

 

Looking at MLB.com's scouting reports all three of the top pitcher received an overall grade of 65 (on a 20-80 scale) which is the same as Correa and Appel currently and ahead of Singleton who is at 55. Spots 37, 42, and 75 are all occupied by players receiving a grade of 50. Our current top 20 has numbers 13-20 getting 45s so theoretically we should land 4 guys in our top 12...and this is on a prospect list many consider the best in baseball...that just shows you how deep this draft is. Fun begins in about 5 hours

[KABrother88]

So Mark Appel made his return to Lancaster on Saturday and got absolutely shellacked to the tune of 10 earned runs including 3 HRs while just recording 4 outs. He was supposed to be back on the mound today but the team discovered he has tendinitis in his thumb and he'll be shut down for 2 weeks...has to be very frustrating for him. Good news is that ESPN scout Keith Law said his velocity and stuff were fine. I guess he was just not hitting his spots and leaving pitches over too much of the plate

[Big T]

Watch the Draft live tonight. The coverage started at 5:00 but the draft starts at 6:00.

 

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2014/watch-live/

[Big T]

1-1 LHP Brady Aiken

[KABrother88]

Glad he was the pick...can't remember who said it but one of the MLB.com guys said he will be placed as the #2 prospect in Houston's system once the rankings are redone (assuming he signs). Idk if that has anything to do with Appel's struggles this season or if Aiken is just that high on his board

[eagle eye]

I thought they might go with Rodon because he would be the most likely to sign. But that notion was shot down last week when Jeff Luhnow said they would draft the best player on their board regardless of anything including signability. A 17 year old with a 98 mph fastball and good curve. He could fast track like Dwight Gooden did. I guess we'll know next week whether or not he signs. He is already committed to a college if that means anything at this point.

[Big T]

There is no doubt he will sign. The only question is whether or not the Astros can get him for under the max and save some money for the following rounds. I do have to admit, I am wary of taking a HS pitcher at 1-1 but he was the unanimous pick there soooo.... We shall see.

[Big T]

1A-37 Derek Fisher OF from UVA. I am slightly confused about this pick. Hasn't exactly lit it up in College.

[Big T]

2-1 AJ Reed 1B from U Kentucky. Here is the power bat that we desperately needed. Defense makes me more than a little wary, but his bat is legit!

[eagle eye]

According to MLB.com draft tracker. Fisher plays in a pitchers park at Virginia and many hitters from Virginia often do well in the bigs. MLB.com likes his approach from the left side and he is capable of hitting for average. He's more of a line drive hitter able to use the whole field but with a potential to develop power.

 

With pick #42 Houston takes 1B A J Reed who MLB.com is calling the college baseball Babe Ruth. They (mlb.com) is saying that they are surprised Reed fell to this point in the draft. Looks like Houston got a steal here.

[Big T]

Oh, and the Astros are winners 8-5 tonight.

[eagle eye]

No thanks to Paul Clemens. The guy stunk it up in the ninth. Astros had an 8-3 lead going into the ninth and the first 5 batters reached base with 2 hits and 3 walks. Just aweful. Chad Qualls came in and saved the day.

 

I won't see the Astros 3rd round pick tonight. Cautiously pleased with things so far.

[KABrother88]

Think they did pretty well on day one of the draft...Aiken was the consensus #1 player so you can't complain about going chalk there. Derek Fisher is a guy with multiple NBA championships and will bring a winning attitude to Houston...wait it's not that guy?...in all seriousness I've heard good things about Fisher and he missed 6 weeks in the middle of the season this year with a hamate bone injury so that why his numbers were less than desirable. A.J. Reed is an absolute smasher...he's should be a guy who puts up 25-30 HRs regularly and I think he'll be good enough with the glove to play 1st in Singleton can't...if not the he can DH. He led the nation in HRs (23), slugging (.735), an OPS (1.211) and was named SEC player of the year...oh yea and he won 12 games with a 2.09 ERA on the side. I kinda hoped we would scoop up Sean Ried-Foley at 37 but figured we would start going with position players since we went pitcher heavy to start last years draft...of the position players available at 37 I was a fan of Jacob Gatewood but he's kid of a poor mans Carlos Correa with a little more pop so not too too surprised they didn't double up on that position.

 

A couple of players I wouldn't mind us taking to start round 3 tomorrow include J.B. Bukauskas and Michael Cederoth...Bukauskas is a small framed HS RHP who can pump it up into the upper 90s and flirt triple digits and Cederoth is a 6'6" RHP from San Diego State who can bring it as well...he was moved to the bullpen this season and that may be his future home...but wouldn't be surprised if he was converted back to a started after he's drafted

[KABrother88]

Well now I see that Bukauskas was one of the handful of HS pitchers that sent every team a letter asking them not to draft him as he wanted to play collegiately at North Carolina...so cross him off the list...still the Cederoth is a good value pick at 75...not Stephen Strausburg coming out of the same school but have seen some people say he Cederoth reminded them of the former #1 overall selection in 2009.

[Big T]

3-1 JD Davis 1B from Cal State Fullerton.

[KABrother88]

Good pick I think...thought they may grab another pitcher but with so many in this draft no complaining getting bats while you can...another 2-way guy who played 3rd and served as the closer for Fullerton...MLB.com gave him a 50 grade as a position player and pitcher...which would be a top 12 at either position in the current rankings. Very good power

[KABrother88]

I'd like Cobi Johnson or Chris Oliver here at 106

[Big T]

4-1 RHP from A&M Daniel Mengden

[KABrother88]

Eh...not a lot for me to get excited about with that one...expect to start seeing some college seniors start to go for team to under slot them since they don't have leverage...I'd take a guy like Sam Bumpers lol

[Big T]

I will be surprised if they take a SS this early Lol. Not with Correa taking up that spot for the foreseeable future.

[KABrother88]

Not saying next round...rounds 5-10 have been college senior heavy recently...looking for him to go 7th-8th round...you never know with Luhnow...he did draft Fontana in the 2nd round in 2012 after taking Correa 1st overall...I'm a believer that you can never have enough shortstops on a team