It seems that, although in the form of baby steps, the Astros are beginning to trust what they are developing. The past few years the Astros have shown a major bias to veterans. Callups for prospects from the minors were infrequent, and those that did make it had a short leash. This year, though, it seems that Ed Wade and Cecil Cooper are more open to giving them a chance.

Felipe Paulino: As covered previously, the final rotation spot was ultimately won out of Spring Training by Russ Ortiz (35 years old), whose only real competition was Jose Capellan (29). While one might argue that these two were the best candidates for the job, there is no denying that they would be chosen for their experience as well. Paulino was sent to Round Rock, where he pitched 12 dominant innings in which he only let up 1 run. When Brian Moehler got injured an opening was created in the rotation, and Paulino got the call. Paulino shined in his season debut, pitching 6 scoreless innings against the Reds with 6 strikeouts and only 2 walks. When Moehler came back Cecil Cooper decided to keep Paulino in the rotation, opting to move Russ Ortiz to a bullpen spot. The season has been very up-and-down since then for Paulino. His next few starts were similarly impressive, and at one point he held an era of 2.55 in the rotation. His past few starts, however, have been less than pleasing. He has let up at least 4 earned runs in his last 4 starts. Regardless, Cooper is sticking with Paulino. Inconsistency is to be expected from a young pitcher in his first full major league season, and he has shown he is more than capable of being a solid starter in the MLB. Hopefully all Paulino needs is some more experience in the MLB as well as help from the Astros coaches.

Edwin Maysonet: Also covered was that battle for utility infielder, which Jason Smith ultimately won over Maysonet in Spring Training. Smith was clearly not the answer; he was hitless in his time with the Astros. Maysonet, meanwhile, was hitting .309 in AAA and was begging for a callup. Maysonet was called up only recently, but he sure made his mark early. In his 13th career major league game, Maysonet went 4-4 with two doubles, his first career home run, and 4 RBI’s. Though he might not be considered a “prospect” anymore, Maysonet still is talent developed through our minor league system and is finally getting a well deserved chance. It’s still way too early to call him an MLB “success,” but this is a spot that Maysonet earned through a few solid years in the minor leagues and I expect him to hold his spot on the Astros for the rest of the year.

Michael Bourn: In 2008, Astros fans watched as Brad Lidge dominated for the World Series winners and all we had to show for it was a player that ultimately ended the season as a backup. This year the tides have turned. While Lidge is having his struggles, Michael Bourn is showing that hard work pays off. Burn played winter ball this year and worked on and adjusted his swing, and at Spring Training he went out of his way to spend an extra hour or so in the batting cage with hitting coach Sean Berry. For all of the abuse that Sean Berry gets, I can tell you as a person that personally witnessed it that you have Sean Berry to thank for the year Michael Bourn is having offensively. While continuing to be one of the best fielding center fielders in the MLB, Bourn is showing that he can be the top of the order hitter that the Astros were hoping to acquire. Bourn’s average has rose over 50 points to .289 with his OBP raising about 65 points to .354. He is also much smarter on the basepaths this year without sacrificing his aggressive tendencies. His SB percentage has jumped up from 80% to 84%, yet is on pace for 48 steals in 138 games (compared to the 41 he had in the same number of games last year). Last year was a major disappointment for Bourn, but the Astros gave him a chance to regain the the role he began last season instead of putting in guys like Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels.

Let’s hope that this is a trend and that the Astros will continue to commit to what we develop; these stopgap veteran additions have been good enough to contend into the summer but are not going to get us into even the playoffs, let alone into the Word Series. Let’s highlight a few potential call-ups for this season:

Bud Norris: The 24 year old pitcher is our first prospect since Hunter Pence that has been able to live up to the hype this deep into his development. In 53 innings he has posted a 2.55 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. In majority of his starts he has pitched 6+ innings, which is crucial in deciding whether he will eventually become a starter or reliever in the MLB. I will honestly be shocked if he is not up by August at the latest.

Yordany Ramirez: Signed as an FA in 2007, Yordany Ramirez was known to be an MLB caliber fielder. The bat was what made him a big question mark. Last year he put up a pathetic .231 average and .254 OBP, but this year he has shined, with a .287 average and .301 OBP along with 6 HR and on pace for 6 more than last year. Now 25, the Astros may decide that he is ready for his first test in the majors and might give him the call over Reggie Abercrombie, who is hitting slightly worse, in the case of an injury to an outfielder.

Tommy Manzella: Aside from simply being better so far this year, another reason why Maysonet got the call a few days ago over Manzella was that Manzella could use a bit more time in the minor leagues. Like Yordany Ramirez, Tommy Manzella already was a major league fielder but as a hitter was just as bad as, if not worse than, Adam Everett. This year, Manzella suddenly found out how to hit. Manzella is raking in Round Rock, with a .304 average, .354 OBP, and has already surpassed his HR, RBI, and SB totals from last year. It’s no secret that the Astros plan on making Manzella the shortstop of the future, and if the Astros manage to trade Tejada (let’s hope so) in the next month or two then that process could begin this summer.

By: Adam Herman on May 30th, 2009
Tagged as: Astros News

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With word coming out a few days ago that Sutton was the Player To Be Named Later in the Jeff Keppinger deal, there was a reaction from a large portion of the fanbase that is typical; outrage. Many were fed up with the Astros trading away “another top prospect” for nothing more than a “utility” player. The Astros had a questionable bench to begin with and once Aaron Boone fell there was clearly a need for an addition to the bench, and through 15 at bats so far has hit safely in nearly half of them. We should be happy, right? No, instead we’re running after management with torches in our hands because of the loss of a soon to be 26 year old breaking reaching AAA for the first time in his career.

Here are the reasons why this trade makes complete sense:

1) Drew Sutton has been completely irrelevant up until his fantastic season last year in AA as a 25 year old. The guy had absolutely no value up until this spring. Ed Wade saw this as the perfect opportunity to sell high. At this point last year Drew Sutton wouldn’t have garnered anything short of a career minor leaguer, so while his value is up there for what could easily by a short period of time why not utilize his value while you can?

2) Roster space. The infield was clogged in Round Rock. You had your prospects in Maysonet, Manzella, and Sutton along with your much needed veterans in Gall, Kata, and Saccomanno. As Cooper stressed in Spring Training, you need the veterans going far into the season since injuries are inevitable. There was simply no room for all three of the prospects. Edwin Maysonet already proved to be more major league ready this spring after making it to one of the last days before being sent back. Tommy Manzella has been called the shortstop of the future with a glove compared to Adam Everett. Ultimately, that leaves Sutton as the odd man out; especially with Tejada likely gone after this year (leaving a shortstop spot open next season) while Matsui will be here for the next 2 years (no opening for Sutton.)

3) Sutton’s overall potential. The guy is soon to be 26 years old and has yet to do anything until last year where he pounded on a bunch of players who are either washed up career minor leaguers or 21 and 22 year old pitchers working their way up. It’s the equivalent of a 30 year old mashing in AAA, like a Mark Saccomano. Let’s say everything goes perfectly for Sutton. He’s simply a late bloomer and will find himself producing in AAA. Wha’ts next for him? He’s not going to be the next Craig Biggio, hell, he’s not even a guarantee to be the next Chris Burke. At the very best Sutton will simply become… a Jeff Keppinger! Which leaves me baffled as to why people are panicking over this trade. Why WOULDN’T the Astros move a guy who one day MIGHT be as good as Jeff Keppinger if right now we can have the guaranteed production? If in two years the Astros are missing Drew Sutton it will only prove the state of the team to be substantially worse than it already is.

By: Adam Herman on Apr 21st, 2009
Tagged as: Transactions

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Update on March 31st: Edwin Maysonet has been optioned down to AAA. Has Jason Smith won a roster spot, or is Jeff Keppinger simply good enough for manager Cecil Cooper? If The Astros do decide that Keppinger can fill the utility role then they would have a roster spot open for what would likely be used for an extra Bullpen arm.

With Mark Loretta now with the Dodgers the Astros have a significant hole to fill in the 25 man roster. Yesterday, Cecil Cooper and Astros management narrowed down the competition for this spot by sending infielders John Gall and Matt Kata to minor league camp. Gall impressed at the plate, hitting for a .375 average in his 24 at-bats. Kata, though less impressive offensively (a .231 average) was a good veteran presence with very sound defense. Cooper acknowledged that either of these two very well could be on the Astros at some point this season, saying that the “veteran guys” are the players you might need “down the road.”

With that, the utility infield spot is down to two very different players; veteran Jason Smith and rookie Edwin Maysonet. The 30 year old Smith, who is a non-roster invitee, has only 257 MLB games in the last 8 years. He had hovered around the Mendoza Line for much of his career, including his .214 average in 22 games with Kansas City last year. Nonetheless, Smith has been praised for his ability to hit as the situation warrants, and plays solid defense. What is likely also appealing to Astros management is his versatility. Smith has spent quality time at shortstop, 2nd base, and 3rd base; a characteristic that made Mark Loretta so useful the past two seasons. On the other hand, Edwin Maysonet is a late bloomer. At 27 years old it’s hard to call Maysonet a prospect, but the past few years he has truly improved incredibly, and last year put up a solid .341 On Base Percentage. Maysonet is also versatile, with ample time at 2nd base and shortstop, though he’s only had 2 games at 3rd base in his minor league career. One element that Maysonet could potentially bring over Smith is speed. While he’s not an elite runner he does have a good amount of speed that could result in double digit steals. With about 2 weeks left in Spring Training the next few games could very well decide who wins the job. While this decision is unlikely to make or break the season it is still exciting to watch as two unlikely candidates, a non-roster invitee journeyman and a late blooming prospect, compete for a spot on the Astros.

By: Adam Herman on Mar 23rd, 2009
Tagged as: Astros News

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