Tranzactionz!

The Astros made some moves over the last couple of weeks, according to Baseball America. Here are the ones that involve new information:

-Signed LHP Xavier Cedeno

Xavier Cedeno will be 25 in August, and has spent his entire career in the Rockies' system (drafted in the 31st Round of the 2004 draft). Cedeno didn't play in 2010, after being moved to the bullpen in 2009. In 47 appearances at Double-A, Cedeno has thrown 149.2IP, 172H/72ER, 77K:59BB, with a 4.56 ERA/1.54 WHIP.

This winter, he's playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, has made seven starts (12 appearances), and posted 32H/11ER, 31K:13BB (2.32 ERA/1.05 WHIP) for Carolina.

-Released RHP Leandro Cespedes, LHP Chris Blazek, LHP Angel Gonzalez, C Carlos Mojica, 2B German Duran, 2B Pedro Feliz.

Cespedes spent the majority of 2010 in Lancaster. Chris Blazek was suspended for something in 2010 after his return to Tri-City after being drafted in 2005. The other notable name on the list is German Duran, who was picked off waivers by the Astros in July 2009 from the Rangers. Ken Rosenthal at the time thought that Duran could figure into a utility role for the Astros long-term. I guess not.

That's one less infielder

The Glut of Infielders is the name of my new band was reduced by one as the Astros have released Ramon Vazquez.

Vazquez hit .257/.330/.363 in 51 games for Round Rock, with two errors at shortstop.

I'm also not sure what this means, but it seems as though Chris Blazek has been placed on the Suspended List. The last note in the Cal League's transactions page is from July 19, when he was promoted to Lancaster from Tri-City.

ValleyCats turn triple play and Chris Blazek gets promoted

It's worth a separate post, manager Jim Pankovits didn't have much nice to say about the performance:

“We struggled in every area. I don’t know what else to say except that it’s only one game, fortunately.”

But, hey, they did turn a triple play in the 8th:
The triple play came with Brooklyn’s Juan Centeno at second base and Cody Holliday at first.

Luis Nieves lifted a soft-liner that Figueroa grabbed and fired off balance to Hernandez, who pivoted quickly and threw to Burnett.

“Tyler did a great job calling for the ball,” Hernandez said, “and I just reacted to it.

“I didn’t know if I had a chance (for the third out), I was just trying to get it and get rid of it as quickly as I could.”

Some conjectured that Holliday was out and that base umpire Aaron Reynolds may have decided to give the long-suffering hometown fans something to cheer about, as Holliday appeared to beat Hernandez’s throw.

“No, he was out,” Burnett said.

Still, Pankovits ain't happy with his team:
Pankovits noted that the ’Cats were “coming off the road,” prior to the game “but so were (the Cyclones). “That’s the way life is in this profession. Travel isn’t that difficult (in the New York-Penn League) and that’s not a legitimate excuse as far as I’m concerned.”

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We also found out from the ValleyCats that LHP Chris Blazek has been promoted to Lancaster. Blazek had reached Double-A in 2008 before an injury kept him out of 2009.

Blazek back where he was five years ago

Rounding out the posts for Tri-City's Opening Day is an article on pitcher Chris Blazek's return to Tri-City - where he started his career five years ago after being drafted in the 23rd Round in 2005.

Blazek:
“It’s tough. You don’t ever want to be back where you were five years ago, but it’s an opportunity...

...Sometimes, you think you’ll never throw in a game again. When I first started throwing off a mound, I didn’t know if I could do it. But your arm responds and you keep at it. I can still spot the fastball. That’s not a problem; it’s getting the feel back, just getting use to it again.”