Victor Fraile - Getty Images
3 months ago: CHON BURI, THAILAND - FEBRUARY 16: Na Yeon Choi of South Korea plays a shoot on the 17th hole during day one of the LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club on February 16, 2012 in Chon Buri, Thailand. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
While conroestro was educating us on sophomore slumps I was putting together these links of education.
Joe Posnanski » Posts Aging (with chart!) «
By Joe Posnanski
Prospect Analysis: Lessons Learned - Minor League Ball
By John Sickels
Hoffman: Former Astros manager Larry Dierker grew to love reading - Houston Chronicle
By Ken Hoffman
Five Guys Who Played For and Managed the Astros « The Pecan Park Eagle
By Bill McCurdy
Competition will be theme of spring for Astros | astros.com: News
Brian McTaggart has a very in-depth look at what to expect for Spring Training
Quadruple A: AstroBrit's Astros from Across the Atlantic: Astros Fanfest links
I was going to grab all the links for Fan Fest, but Josh appears to of already done that.
Astros County: Your Neighborhood Astros Blog & Grill: Prospects to watch in 2012
By Juvenile Count Clerk AKA Bryan Trostel
Tips and notes for the Spring Training traveler. « Alyson's Footnotes
By Alyson Footer
Farmstros: So You Want to Go to Minor League Spring Training
Another Spring Training guide
The Grand Old Game: Player Interview: Jordan Scott, OF, Tri-City Valleycats (Class A-, NY-Penn League)
Jordan Scott talks about his time in the Minor Leagues.
Quadruple A: AstroBrit's Astros from Across the Atlantic: Shift of ownership may present opportunity to get J.R. Richard's #50 retired
By Joshua Powling
Five Guys Who Played For and Managed the Astros « The Pecan Park Eagle
By Bill McCurdy
Bob Watson's success did not come easily | astros.com: News
Twice an All-Star, Bob Watson became baseball's first African American GM when the Astros named him to that post. But the journey was not without its struggles.
Draft links after the jump...
Building Through the Draft: Worst of the Worst | FanGraphs Baseball
By Jim Breen
2011 Draft Sleepers: Rounds 10-20 - Minor League Ball
Kyle Hallock makes the list.
With More FOX Primetime Games, MLB Blackout Policy Puts on the Shift
BOOOO! Looks like I'll have some free Saturday evenings to watch Hockey or Basketball....
The 10 Worst Pitches Of The 2011 Season - Baseball Nation
Jimmy Paredes and Brett Myers make the list.
The Platoon Advantage: Pteromerhanophobia, AJ Burnett, and Jackie Jensen
Not everything is as it appears.
0 recs | 24 comments
Apparently Brandon Lyon is making good progress
BustaPozee - February 19, 2012
Seriously doubt he’ll be as effective as he was his first season…I hope he proves me wrong but I just don’t see he can be someone to be relied on heavily with te amount of shoulder instability I think he has.
Subber10 - February 19, 2012 via iPhone app
At least he’ll be better than last year, right? Right? Please.
jmike - February 20, 2012
Hooray for Bob Watson
and a gold star for Tal Smith
Joe in Birmingham - February 19, 2012
Im Still mad over the Uni debacle
Might as well not even have the .45s unis….Stupid Bud.
Silentjay - February 19, 2012
That does really suck, but I think the hats are the coolest part anyway. I’ll have to make it to one of those games.
MadMartygan - February 19, 2012
I agree with the hats being cool
But why would the C be in a puff of smoke without the gun? And its creating a double standard where Alcohal consumption and manufacturing is okay, and guns are not. Add the fact that gun related problems are normally made worse by booze…
Add that to the “kids will emulate/gang banggers like guns”….When was the last time anyone saw a gang with six-shooters? 1910? 1920?
Silentjay - February 20, 2012
Well, can’t say I don’t agree with you on any of those points. It is really stupid. We can have very racist caricatures of native Americans, yet having a six shooter or cigar is somehow worse.
You’ve won this round, SJ.(and I’m not being sarcastic I really do agree.)
MadMartygan - February 20, 2012
It's Stupid
MLB allows the Pittsburgh Pirates to have a name that represents violence and crimes committed at sea, yet the Astros can’t wear one of their throwback uniforms for two measly games unless they dismember half of the logo just to appease Dictator Selig.
BustaPozee - February 20, 2012
Remember these guys are the same people who told Biggio in his final Spring Training that he could no longer wear the Sunshine Kids logo for Spring Training games. Even though he had done so for every previous Spring Training for as long as he had been affiliated with that organization.
Timothy De Block - February 20, 2012
Astros are moving Kvasinicka back to Catcher
BustaPozee - February 20, 2012
Good idea. I think that makes a lot of sense.
clack - February 20, 2012
Agree, but it makes 3B an even thinner position in the minor league system. Beyond Jonathan Meyer, what legitimate prospects does Houston even have?
Snake Diggity - February 20, 2012
That’s true. But I got the feeling that Kvasnicka was made a 3d baseman simply because the Astros are thin there, which was probably a bad reason to draft him as a 3d baseman. Most analysts viewed Kvasnicka as an attractive prospect if he was drafted as a catcher.
Generally speaking, professional baseball is thin on good young 3d basemen at both the ML and minor league level right now. These things run in cycles, it seems like. Converting Paredes to a 3d baseman helped the Astros system at that position. Matt Duffy isn’t a top prospect, but he is a 3d baseman who had a decent season with Tri-City (OPS+ of 130). I wonder if the Astros are thinking about converting any other minor league position players to 3d base? The Astros are starting to build up some depth of outfielders in the minors—-I wonder if any of them could be converted to 3d base?
clack - February 20, 2012
Glad to see they are moving him back to catcher. He probably should have never been moved in the first place.
conroestro - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Possible 3B:
Erik Castro- former 10th rounder
Ben Orloff- former 9th rounder
Chase Davidson- former 3rd rounder
Zach Johnson, John Hinson – mid-round picks last year
Darwin Rivera has looked good so far but putting him in full season ball might be rushing it. I don’t really see any OF who make a ton of sense as 3B. Enrique Hernandez? Couldn’t see Goebbert, Bailey, Steele, Gaston, King, Adamson, etc. at 3B. Maybe Jordan Scott is young enough and has the tools to make the switch.
My guess as of today for 4 opening day full-season minor league 3B jobs would be Paredes in AAA, Meyer in AA, Duffy in Lancaster, and Zach Johnson, John Hinson, or Ruben Sosa in Lexington.
Snake Diggity - February 20, 2012
Kike doesn’t have the arm for 3B, doesn’t have the arm for SS, just the range. Davidson doesn’t move well enough for 3B. Ben Orloff doesn’t have the power to play 3B. Johnson and Castro will likely get work there. Tyler Burnett can play 3B, played some SS in college and moved to 1B so Kvasnicka could play 3B, so he might move back across the diamond.
Subber10 - February 20, 2012
What about Meredith
He doesnt have that big upside in the OF (from what I’ve read), so it shouldn’t be too big of a loss if he doesn’t pan out. Does he have the tools?
Its Gonna Happen - February 20, 2012 via mobile
He has some potential with the bat and is a faster runner than given credit for. However, I doubt he would have the quickness to play 3B. He said on twitter that he’s lost 20-30 lbs since the season, so he looks like he’s ready for the season and in great shape. I guess it’s possible, but I wouldn’t think he would be a candidate.
Subber10 - February 20, 2012
I really want/need to see what these guys can do
I’ve read so many conflicting reports on Meredith, I dont know what to expect. Is he heavy, is he skinny, is he fast, is he a HR threat…I’ve read so many different reports on a number of players, I cant wait for the season to start so we can see what we really have.
Its Gonna Happen - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Meredith definitely has a range of opinions on him. He has power potential, but didn’t show it this past season, a lot of that had to do with an injury. Some scouts started doubting his power with the switch in bats his last season in college, but he has the strength for power, but has yet to translate to wood bats. Needs to make some adjustments to add power to his game, but reports from NYPL that i’ve seen really paint a good picture of him at the plate. He handles himself well and works the count like a mature hitter. Just has to translate potential into production by adjusting his swing some. He won’t be a masher like Singleton, nor does he have the power of Nash, but theres power there.
Most people in NYPL said draft reports of his speed were worse than he really is, one report said he was “sneaky fast”. He was a heavy guy coming in last year, but his recent pictures on twitter show a much lighter guy.
He could have a breakout season…wouldn’t surprise me one bit. But, at the same time I don’t expect a big season.
Subber10 - February 21, 2012
Thanks for the input!
Its Gonna Happen - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Jean Carlos Batista could be a guy that could play full-season ball possibly at 3B. Maybe a slight rush but he had his moments in first pro ball experience and was in the states for the first time.
JC Thompson could also man some time at 3B in the Lancaster/CC levels.
Subber10 - February 21, 2012
I completely forgot about Thompson, but that is a good mention as well.
conroestro - February 21, 2012 via mobile
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