The Farmstros Five for the week of June 17-23, 2009
Top Performer
Luis Cruz, LHP, Greeenville. The 2008 draftee had arm problems shorten his first season of pro ball. He came out throwing on opening night of year two. He pitched six scoreless, hitless innings for Greeneville.
The Other Four:
Bud Norris, RHP, Round Rock. Norris extended his scoreless streak to 20 IP with an eight inning stint allowing three hits and striking out 10.
Polin Trinidad, LHP, Corpus Christi. Trinidad pitched an 8 1/3 inning complete game, losing the game although he only allowed one earned run.
T.J. Steele, OF, Lancaster. Steele went into the all-star break hot. He was 10 for 19 with six runs scored, one double, three triples and seven RBI.
Jordan Lyles, RHP, Lexington. Lyles pitched six scoreless innings striking out 11 while allowing only two hits.
0 recs | 10 comments
Bud Norris has earned a start with Houston
don’t you think?
Joe in Birmingham - June 24, 2009
most definitely
striking out a \a batter an inning, not getting hit much, and keeping the ball in the park at AAA. He’s walking a few more than you’d like, but whatever. He’s probably (well, almost certainly) a better bet than Backe.
Only_A_Lad - June 24, 2009
Call him up already
We are pushing everybody up quicker in the system, but somehow he isn’t getting his shot because he is being blocked by old and terrible arms
Z-Dub - June 24, 2009
His strikeout and slider have earned a start...the only question is whether his changeup deserves to see the big leagues
Hard to be a starter if he’s only got two pitches…so long as he’s making progress on the changeup, I don’t mind him working on it in AAA. If it doesn’t look like it’ll ever come along, he needs to be in our bullpen, stat.
AstroAndy - June 24, 2009
whoops
should read “fastball and slider”, though to be honest, I hear his fastball is so good it might as well be called “strikeout”
AstroAndy - June 24, 2009
To some extent, Norris is also blocked by Paulino.
Paulino is almost ready to come off the DL, and he should get Backe’s spot in the rotation. I think you have give Paulino a few more starts in the majors. If he doesn’t pitch well, then maybe send him back to Round Rock, but I’m still hopeful that he is ready to be a ML starter.
It’s hard to move Ortiz out of the rotation, since he arguably has been the Astros best pitcher in recent weeks. You could make an argument for moving either Hampton or Moehler to the bullpen, but I don’t see it happening because of the money invested in both players.
Given that background, I wouldn’t mind seeing Norris called up for a spot start when the next emergency arises.
In keeping with AstroAndy’s comment, above, Dewey Robinson’s quotes about Norris didn’t exactly sound like a ringing endorsement for calling up Norris. Robinson said Norris can’t pitch as a ML starter until his change up has developed well enough. He also raised some concerns about Norris keeping his emotions in check.
clack - June 24, 2009
Bud will be the first guy called up
Hopefully by the All-star break. It certainly looks like he’s ready for his M.L. shot. Trinidad could come up and take his spot in RR. He’s an intriguing guy to me as well. I got to watch him on TV last year and seemed to have good stuff. I’m excited about younger guys getting a shot at the ML level. We’re getting good performances from Bourn 26, Pence 26, Arias 25 and Fulchino 29 (not exactly young but at 29, hes a kid on this team). I think Norris can make a difference as well as Paulino. Hopefully Castro can step in next year and we’ve got a much younger team
Astrofan - June 24, 2009
The concern I would have about Trinidad is that his K rate isn’t great. You would like to see a few more Ks against AA competition, particularly since he isn’t really a groundball pitcher. He doesn’t walk many battters though.
clack - June 25, 2009
Cruz
Watch him pitch that game. Used change up masterfully. Threw only 72 pitches (unofficially) in 6 innings. The two walks were both 4 pitch walks.
Most impressive to me was a 9 pitch at bat where he got the guy swinging on a change in the 5th inning.
G-StrosFan - June 25, 2009
Masterful use of a change up
Sounds ever so enticing. Thanks for the personal touch, we can’t cull those insights out of numbers.
I’m glad we have someone on the ground in Greenville, hopefully you’ll keep us abreast of anything that would otherwise slip through the cracks.
Stephen Higdon - June 25, 2009
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