Granted it is early in the season but something jumped out at me when I checked the Lexington stat sheet today. After 4 appearances (11 1/3 IP) Gabriel Garcia has a 0.79 ERA and 15 strike outs. Meanwhile he has only given up 5 hits, 2 walks and 1 run.
That is an impressive start for a guy who missed most of the 2010 season serving a 50 game suspension for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. When he did pitch in 2010 for Greeneville, it was an improvement over how he had pitched in 2009. In 2009, his first season in the states, he struck out 32 batters in 38 2/3 IP. Not bad, but he surrendered 69 hits and ended with an ERA of 7.91 in 10 starts. In 2010, he arrived in time to be a part of 6 games and 16.1 IP. During that time he fanned 17 but gave up 19 hits. His ERA in 2010 down to 3.86.
The opponents batting average against him has plummeted from .401 in 09, to .284 in 10 to a low .128 so far this year. His ground out to fly out ratios haven't changed much so you would assume he is simply missing more bats. That would indicate improvement in existing pitches or a new pitch he has developed. This is a pitcher I will be keeping an eye on to see if the improvements continue.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Koby Is 2 Timer & Altuve Is Being Watched
Last night in Round Rock, the former AAA affiliate of the Astros; the current affiliate, Oklahoma City, put up 9 runs in the 2nd inning. Koby Clemens contributed 4 RBIs on two home runs during the inning. Former G-Stro Doug Arguello got the win for Oklahoma City.
Clemens is hitting .317 on the season with 3 HR and 17 RBI.
Jose Altuve's hot start in Lancaster is getting some notice. John Sickles over at minorleagueball.com had this to say about Jose this morning:
Clemens is hitting .317 on the season with 3 HR and 17 RBI.
Jose Altuve's hot start in Lancaster is getting some notice. John Sickles over at minorleagueball.com had this to say about Jose this morning:
Astros second base prospect Jose Altuve is one of the more unique players in baseball. He's just 5-5, 150 pounds. He's a good athlete and strong for his size, but scouts are understandably cautious about him, despite a strong track record of hitting (including .308/.364/.445 last year in Low-A). He's at High-A Lancaster this year, hitting a stunning .451/.506/.662 in 18 games, with a 9/8 BB/K in 81 PA and 11 steals in 13 attempts. Now, Lancaster is a great place to hit, and indeed he's at .528/.571/.750 in 10 contests there this year, but he's also hitting .371/.436/.571 on the road. He's a good second baseman, is just 21 years old, and should reach Double-A later this year. We'll track him closely.Cap tip to @StreetJL for the link
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Chris Wallace Is Zoned In
Let's make the understatement of the season so far: Chris Wallace had a pretty good week. From last Saturday to last night (Friday), Wallace has hit .394 with 1 double, 2 triples and 6 HR. He has knocked in 17 RBI. Two games stand out from his week. The first was Sunday's 5-6 with a double and 3 HR, where he plated 9 runs. The other was last night where he missed the cycle because he had two triples.
Granted the season is just over two weeks old but through the first 15 games, Wallace leads the South Atlantic League in HR (7), RBI (22), Total Bases (53), slugging (.914), & OPS (1.375). He is in the top 6 in the following categories: Average, Runs, Hits, Doubles, & Triples.
When you dig deeper, in his split stats, you find that his average verses lefties (22 AB) is .409 with 7 extra base hits, and his average verse righties (36AB) is .389 with 7 extra base hits. That is a very even and impressive split.
Good starts in the Sally League should always be viewed with some caution. It is a 14 team league, so it will take a while to see teams for a second time. Therefore, it might take some time to see how you handle the other teams making adjustment to your success. I am looking forward to seeing how he does when the Legends face their first repeat opponent of the year (Hagerstown, May 5th).
Granted the season is just over two weeks old but through the first 15 games, Wallace leads the South Atlantic League in HR (7), RBI (22), Total Bases (53), slugging (.914), & OPS (1.375). He is in the top 6 in the following categories: Average, Runs, Hits, Doubles, & Triples.
When you dig deeper, in his split stats, you find that his average verses lefties (22 AB) is .409 with 7 extra base hits, and his average verse righties (36AB) is .389 with 7 extra base hits. That is a very even and impressive split.
Good starts in the Sally League should always be viewed with some caution. It is a 14 team league, so it will take a while to see teams for a second time. Therefore, it might take some time to see how you handle the other teams making adjustment to your success. I am looking forward to seeing how he does when the Legends face their first repeat opponent of the year (Hagerstown, May 5th).
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Repeat If Necessary
No player likes to repeat a level of the minors. I am sure when assignments were handed out earlier this month, there were some who expressed disappointment at going back to the same team they ended last year with, but proving you have improved is a great way to minimize your time there. Here is a look at a few former G'stros who are making the most of their repeats.
Jose Altuve - Lancaster - After hitting .276 in the last 31 games of the '10 season, and then tearing up the LVBP in his native Venezuela in winter ball, there were expectations Jose would be at AA. He is showing he is ready for a higher level of play with his hot start in Lancaster. Through his first 10 games, he is hitting .378 with 5 extra base hits and 5 for 6 stolen bases.
Jay Austin - Lancaster - Jay was one of the youngest players in the California League last year. He struggled some, hitting .261 and his OBP was lower than expected at .314. Through 10 games, Jay is hitting .341 and his OBP has jumped to .438. One of the most exciting things to see on his stat sheet is the 7 walks in 41 AB he has already taken this season. He only took 39 in 532 AB last season. He still won't be 21 until August so he is still relatively young for the league.
Brad Dydalewicz - Lexington - He was successful here in 2009, but 2010 was rough. He struggled first at Lancaster and then struggled more after he was sent back to Lexington. Three years in the same uni is never good. Brad is trying to minimize his time in Lexington this season with two solid starts so far in 2011. His sample size is small but there is some hope there.
J. D. Martinez - Corpus Christi - J. D. jumped from Lexington to Corpus last year for the last 50 games. He made contact (.302 average) but his power dropped hitting only 13 extra base hits in that span. After some time in big league spring training, he is back with the Hooks and is showing growth. He has a hit in each of his first nine games and six of his 13 hits are of the extra base variety. He is tied for the league lead with 15 RBIs.
Jiovanni Mier - Lexington - Jio struggled with the adjustment to Lexington last year. He hit only .235 and saw his OPS drop to .637. After gaining back 20 lbs. and working on his mental approach, he is off to a solid start in Lexington this season. After hitting his first HR last night, his average is sitting at .300 and his OPS is a solid .914.
Wlad Sutil - Corpus Christi - You never want to be a player who earns the title of "First player to play in 300 games" for any minor league team. Wlad earned that title earlier this week during his 3rd season with the Hooks. He got a chance at AAA last season but ended the year back at CC. This season he is there again but he is not letting anyone ignore his play. With 17 hits in his first 9 games, he is hitting .436 and is getting on base at a .500 clip. For a player who is know for his glove first, this is an eye opening start to his season.
Jose Altuve - Lancaster - After hitting .276 in the last 31 games of the '10 season, and then tearing up the LVBP in his native Venezuela in winter ball, there were expectations Jose would be at AA. He is showing he is ready for a higher level of play with his hot start in Lancaster. Through his first 10 games, he is hitting .378 with 5 extra base hits and 5 for 6 stolen bases.
Jay Austin - Lancaster - Jay was one of the youngest players in the California League last year. He struggled some, hitting .261 and his OBP was lower than expected at .314. Through 10 games, Jay is hitting .341 and his OBP has jumped to .438. One of the most exciting things to see on his stat sheet is the 7 walks in 41 AB he has already taken this season. He only took 39 in 532 AB last season. He still won't be 21 until August so he is still relatively young for the league.
Brad Dydalewicz - Lexington - He was successful here in 2009, but 2010 was rough. He struggled first at Lancaster and then struggled more after he was sent back to Lexington. Three years in the same uni is never good. Brad is trying to minimize his time in Lexington this season with two solid starts so far in 2011. His sample size is small but there is some hope there.
J. D. Martinez - Corpus Christi - J. D. jumped from Lexington to Corpus last year for the last 50 games. He made contact (.302 average) but his power dropped hitting only 13 extra base hits in that span. After some time in big league spring training, he is back with the Hooks and is showing growth. He has a hit in each of his first nine games and six of his 13 hits are of the extra base variety. He is tied for the league lead with 15 RBIs.
Jiovanni Mier - Lexington - Jio struggled with the adjustment to Lexington last year. He hit only .235 and saw his OPS drop to .637. After gaining back 20 lbs. and working on his mental approach, he is off to a solid start in Lexington this season. After hitting his first HR last night, his average is sitting at .300 and his OPS is a solid .914.
Wlad Sutil - Corpus Christi - You never want to be a player who earns the title of "First player to play in 300 games" for any minor league team. Wlad earned that title earlier this week during his 3rd season with the Hooks. He got a chance at AAA last season but ended the year back at CC. This season he is there again but he is not letting anyone ignore his play. With 17 hits in his first 9 games, he is hitting .436 and is getting on base at a .500 clip. For a player who is know for his glove first, this is an eye opening start to his season.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Photo Evidence
Here are a few photos of my Asheville trip to see the Legends. The last one is the smoking gun on the umps for not calling the game in the 5th.
Top 4 in the line up. DeShields, Mier, Wallace & Nash. Nash is a good size fellow isn't he?
Dydalewicz warming up. He pitched a good game.
Mier at the plate. He looked more comfortable than when I saw him last May.
This photo was taken during the pitching change in the 5th. Some people saw the pitching change as a stall tactic. Maybe there was an element to it but after Dydalewicz had just hit a batter in the foot to load the bases, I think a pitching change was in order. Look at the puddle, nay - pond developing between second and third. The fact that the umps let play continue with the field in this condition is unimaginable. I hope the league office addresses this. The conditions were unsafe for everyone.
One final note, notice the scoreboard in the background. Bailey's homer passed over the top left hand corner of the scoreboard. It is only 320 to the scoreboard but the scoreboard is more than 40 feet tall so It wasn't a cheap homer by any means.
Top 4 in the line up. DeShields, Mier, Wallace & Nash. Nash is a good size fellow isn't he?
Dydalewicz warming up. He pitched a good game.
Mier at the plate. He looked more comfortable than when I saw him last May.
This photo was taken during the pitching change in the 5th. Some people saw the pitching change as a stall tactic. Maybe there was an element to it but after Dydalewicz had just hit a batter in the foot to load the bases, I think a pitching change was in order. Look at the puddle, nay - pond developing between second and third. The fact that the umps let play continue with the field in this condition is unimaginable. I hope the league office addresses this. The conditions were unsafe for everyone.
One final note, notice the scoreboard in the background. Bailey's homer passed over the top left hand corner of the scoreboard. It is only 320 to the scoreboard but the scoreboard is more than 40 feet tall so It wasn't a cheap homer by any means.
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