Houston Astros’ Rebuilding Process Being Helped by Prospects Like Mike Foltynewicz

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Andrew Martin

Folty

With a 1962 New York Mets-esque 13-33 record, the Houston Astros have a lot of holes they will need to fill if they want to have any chance of respectability in the future. Fortunately, they have thrown themselves into rebuilding through player development, and have a number of young prospects who are looking like they will be major pieces in the coming years. Among the team’s top young pitchers is Mike Foltynewicz, who is getting closer and closer to a spot in the major league starting rotation. (more…)

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How the Astros Move To The AL Affects MLB And You

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Daniel Marino

Astros

Schedule:  As we all know, this move has necessitated an interleague series throughout the entire season.  The last series of the regular season has the Detroit Tigers playing against the Florida Marlins.  That could have a definite impact on the AL race, especially if the Tigers have an unexpected struggle to make the playoffs and end up needing the wins.  Though MLB really can’t see the future when the schedule is created, a series between the Astros and Marlins would have been more fair, but I get why that couldn’t be done or foreseen. (more…)

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AL West Players To Watch

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Daniel Marino

DeSheilds

Dan Marino continues his trek through each division in the major leagues and giving you one player he thinks is the: Rookie to Watch, Breakthrough Player, The Party’s Over, Non-Roster Invitee Most Likely to Stick, and Just Not Seeing it.

Now, in part five of six, he brings you the American League West:

Part 1: AL East Players to Watch.

Part 2: NL East Players to Watch.

Part 3: AL Central Players to Watch.

Part 4: NL Central Players to Watch.

Houston Astros (more…)

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A’s Trade Former Top Prospects for Jed Lowrie

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

Jed

The Oakland Athletics, in a  move to bolster their major league roster, acquired shortstop Jed Lowrie and right-handed reliever Fernando Rodriguez from the Houston Astros in exchange for catching prospect Max Stassi and former top prospects Chris Carter and Brad Peacock.

The Oakland A’s signed Hiroyuki Nakajima to be their shortstop in 2013 but, before the trade, were slated to give second base duties to Scott Sizemore and third base duties to Josh Donaldson. With none of the three players mentioned above having a proven track record of success in the majors, adding someone like Lowrie, who can play all three positions, was something Billy Beane needed to do for his contending club.
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2013 Houston Astros Top 16 Prospects

Posted on November 27, 2012 by mlbdirtstaff

Just a few short years ago the Houston Astros had one of the worst farm systems in baseball. General Manager Jeff Lunhow and his crew have changed the way this franchise thinks and, via trades and the draft, he has turned this system into one of the best in all of baseball.

Below are our top 16 prospects with 2013 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. This is a collaborative effort and the final outcome does not mirror mine, Mikey’s, nor Spencer’s personal lists. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names to keep an eye on. Enjoy. -Jonathan C. Mitchell

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Only Qualified Applicants Need Apply

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Daniel Marino

In 1983, this former major league player had seven at-bats with the Oakland A’s.  He had one hit, and finished with a .143 batting average.  It was his only season in the major leagues.  The former player’s name is Dave Hudgens…the current New York Mets hitting coach. (more…)

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The Return of Roger Clemens is All Show and No Substance

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Andrew Martin

With two scoreless outings with the independent league Sugar Land Skeeters under his belted paunch, 50 year old Roger Clemens is poised to attempt a comeback to the majors with the Houston Astros, either this year or next. Already possessing 354 career wins, Clemens has had one of the most successful, albeit controversial, careers of any pitcher in baseball history. However, since throwing his last major league pitch in 2007 his legacy has been eviscerated. It remains to be seen why fans should embrace his potential return, since it is clear that it is more about the fans being taken advantage of than it is a heartwarming baseball story. (more…)

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The Sounds Of Silence

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Junius Worth

Infographic by Craig Robinson, on twitter as @Flipflopflying

All the context you need to know is that culture is highly correlated to the pulse of the baseball environment. Baseball is but a Summer poem and the beauty of the game, the LYRICAL aspect interlaces itself into the lives of fathers and sons, and daughters and America.

It goes all the way back to the beginning, baseball has been part of Amrica’s popular culture as early as the 1850′s, celebrated in art, story and song. The Beastie Boy’s have since their beginning have also had a close relationship to popular culture, been on top of it and pretty quickly put their mark on it. (more…)

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Catching Up With Danny Sheaffer

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Andrew Martin

Danny Sheaffer’s baseball career began with great promise. The right-handed hitting Clemson University catcher was taken with the 20th overall selection in the first round of the 1981 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Despite his status as a top prospect, his journey to the major leagues proved to be a long one, but he never gave up and played in the big leagues in 7 of his 18 professional seasons, a testament to his hard work and determination. (more…)

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Chatting with the Astros’ Andrew Aplin

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Andrew Martin

With the 2012 Houston Astros starting to approach the level of futility of such memorably bad teams like the 1962 New York Mets, fans can only hope that the future has better things in store. Their new GM, Jeff Luhnow, acquired some excellent prospects in his first draft this year and through some trades of veterans. One of the best youngsters brought in by Luhnow is outfielder Andrew Aplin, a high draft pick and polished player who is being counted on to develop into an integral part of the Astros’ future. (more…)

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