Eddie's Farm: July 24

Oklahoma City (45-57)

Andy Van Hekken is pitching like he wants to play in Houston, and the Astros beat up Memphis, 7-0. AVH threw 7IP, 3H/0ER, 8K:2BB for a well-deserved win; Wesley Wright threw 2IP, allowing 2H/0ER, 2K:0BB.

J.B. Shuck was 3x5 with an RBI, and Luis Durango was 2x5 with a triple and RBI. J.R. Towles had a hit and a walk, and Van Hekken got a hit and two walks.

Man of the Match: Andy Van Hekken

Corpus (38-61)

Rare power outage for Corpus as of late, getting one run on ten hits, yet losing to Frisco 2-1. Erick Abreu threw 6.1IP, 5H/2ER, 8K:0BB, and Chris Hicks got five outs in five batters faced.

The Hooks got ten hits, yet only had five ABs w/RISP. Johnathan Villar (BB, RBI), Jake Goebbert, Chris Wallace, and Brandon Barnes had two hits each. Kody Hinze got an 0-fer for the first time in his last (at least) ten games.

Man of the Match: Erick Abreu

Lancaster (38-62)

Lancaster got three runs in the bottom of the 1st to take a 3-2 lead, but lost to Lake Elsinore, 5-4. The Storm did all their damage off Jake Buchanan, who allowed 7H/5ER, 4K:1BB, 3HR. Shane Wolf, Wander Alvino (3BB), Wes Musick, and Kirk Clark combined for 3IP, 0H/0ER, 3K:3BB of relief.

Austin Wates picked up where he left off in his first game since coming off the DL, going 2x3 with two doubles and an RBI. David Flores was 1x4 with 2RBI, Jonathan Meyer was 1x4 with an RBI.

Man of the Match: Austin Wates

Lexington (46-54)

Savannah doubled up Lexington with a 4-2 win. Alex Sogard allowed 8H/4ER, 4K:0BB in 4.2IP, and Gabe Garcia threw 3.1IP, 3H/0ER, 3K:0BB.

The Legends only got three hits - two from Roberto Pena, and one from Mike Kvasnicka. Tyler Burnett got the lone RBI.

Man of the Match: Gabe Garcia

Tri-City (15-21)

Great game from Nick Tropeano, who got his first professional win - ValleyCats win 2-0. Tropeano threw 6IP, 2H/0ER, 9K:1BB with seven groundouts and one flyout. Mitchell Lambson gave up a hit and two walks in 2IP, and Ryan Cole allowed a hit in 1IP.

The ValleyCats got 11 hits, went 1x11 w/RISP, but still managed to get it done. John Hinson (1st pro HR), Justin Gominsky (2B), Matt Duffy (2B, RBI), and Drew Muren (2B, BB) had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Nick Tropeano

Greeneville (12-21)

Johnson City scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th for a 4-3 win over Greeneville. Chris Lee allowed 5H/3ER, 4K:0BB, HR in 5IP; Jeremiah Meiners took the loss with 2H/1ER, 3K:0BB, WP, HBP in 2.1IP, and Matison Smith closed it out with the final 0.2IP allowing 1H/0ER - but gave up the ER charged to Meiners.

Luis Alvarez was 2x3 with a triple; Jorge Sosa, Garen Wright (2B), and Darwin Rivera had your RBIs.

Man of the Match: Luis Alvarez

Eddie's Farm: June 30

Oklahoma City (34-47)

Memphis took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd, and while the RedHawks cut it to 2-1 in the 7th, Memphis went on to win 3-1. Nelson Figueroa lasted 1.2IP, 3H/2ER, 1K:2BB and got ejected (along with manager Tony DeFrancesco in the 2nd), where the bullpen took over. A bullpen of Danny Meszaros (3.1IP), Casey Fien (1IP), Ross Wolf (1IP), and Fernando Rodriguez (1IP) combined to allowed 5H/1ER, 5K:3BB in the final 6.1IP.

OKC was held to four hits, and came courtesy of Drew Locke, Oswaldo Navarro (BB), Brandon Barnes, and Koby Clemens - who hit his 9th homer of the season.

Man of the Match: The bullpen.

Corpus (28-49)

Tulsa enjoyed a three-run 6th to go on for a 4-3 win over Corpus. Jonnathan Aristil had a Mr. Hyde game, allowing just 2H/1R (0ER), 4K:0BB in 5IP while Pat Urckfitz allowed 1H/3ER, 0K:3BB, getting the BS/L in 0.2IP. Kyle Greenwalt got the final out of the 6th. Arcenio Leon and Blake King had scoreless innings.

Johnathan Villar and J.D. Martinez (2B, BB, RBI) had two hits each, and Chris Wallace and Jake Goebbert added a hit, walk, and RBI each.

Man of the Match: J.D. Martinez

Lancaster (30-47)

High Desert jumped out to an 8-0 lead by the middle of the 4th, and though the JetHawks scored in five different innings, they lost 10-6. Errors marred starter Zach Grimmett's performance, allowing 8H/8R (2ER), 5K:1BB, 2HR in 3.2IP. Wander Alvino walked three batters in 0.2IP; Shane Wolf allowed 5H/2ER, 4K:0BB in 4.1IP and Kirk Clark got the final out of the game.

Austin Wates was 4x5 with two doubles and an RBI, and Jay Austin (BB, 2RBI), Jose Carlos Thompson, Rene Garcia (2B, HR, BB, 2RBI, E), and Andy Simunic (3B, BB) had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Austin Wates

Lexington (37-41)

West Virginia scored the tying run in the bottom of the 9th, and got the walk-off in the bottom of the 14th for a 5-4 win over Lexington. Carlos Quevedo threw 7IP, 9H/3ER, 2K:0BB; Jason Chowning allowed 2H/1ER - the ER coming on a game-tying homer with two outs in the bottom of the 9th - 3K:0BB; Gabe Garcia allowed 3H in 4.1IP and was charged with the loss when Murilo Gouvea intentionally walked a batter, and gave up the walk-off single.

Delino DeShields (SB), Enrique Hernandez (two doubles, RBI), Telvin Nash (SB, RBI), Jhonny Medrano (BB) and Ben Orloff (SB, BB) had two hits each.

Man of the Match: Gabe Garcia

Tri-City (6-7)

A six-run 3rd put the game further out of reach for an 8-0 Lowell win over Tri-City. Euris Quezada lasted 2IP, allowing 4H/5ER, 2WP; Mitchell Lambson allowed 2H/2ER (and three runs charged to Quezada), 0K:1BB, WP; Adam Champion threw 3IP, 4H/0ER, 3K:0BB, and Ebert Rosario allowed 2H/1ER, 2K:1BB in 2IP.

Miles Hamblin and Zach Johnson had two hits each, while Justin Gominsky, John Hinson, and Ryan McCurdy added your other three hits.

Man of the Match: Adam Champion

Greeneville (2-8)

Crazy one in Danville, as the Gastros had a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the 8th, where Danville put up seven runs. Greeneville got four back in the top of the 9th but ultimately fell short in an 11-10 loss. Tyson Perez allowed 4H/1ER, 2K:1BB in the start; Mark Jones allowed 4H/3R (2ER) in 0.1IP; Jeremiah Meiners got two nice outs; Brad Propst took the loss with 3H/3ER, 3K:0BB in 2.1IP; Scott Zuloaga took the loss, walking both batters he faced and Paris Shewey allowed three inherited runners to score, as well as two of his own, with 3H/2ER, 1K:0BB in 0.2IP.

Jordan Scott (2B, 2BB, RBI), Chase Davidson (2B, BB, 3RBI), Darwin Rivera (2B, RBI), and Jose Monzon (2RBI) had two hits each. Jorge Sosa (2B, BB) and Ernesto Genoves (BB) added RBIs.

Man of the Match: Jordan Scott

GCL Astros (3-6)

The GCL Marlins put up a four-spot in the 6th and beat the GCL Astros 4-1. Enderson Franco allowed 2H/2ER, 3K:2BB in 5IP while Zach Hardoin allowed the runs charged to Franco, and Justin Gill gave up the two runs charged to Hardoin in 1.2IP and Blake Ford struck out two of the three batters he faced.

The Astros got four hits on the night: courtesy of Justin Shults (BB), Chris Epps (SB, outfield assist), Kevin Gonzalez, and Luca Martone (2B). Kyle Redinger was 0x1, but drew two walks, and Javaris Reynolds had a walk and an RBI.

Man of the Match: Chris Epps

Tranzactionz

Missed this from last week, but there have been some releasings:

In addition to Cesar Carrillo and Fernando Nieve, the Astros released pitcher Emmanuel Cedeno and catcher John Curtis.

Cedeno posted a rather high walk rate in 2010, and didn't make it past the GCL at 22 years old.

Curtis hit .264/.333/.342 spread out among Lancaster, Corpus, and Round Rock in 2010 (but with the vast majority of his games at Lancaster).

We also see:

May 8: Jason Bourgeois placed on DL, Joe Inglett called up from OKC.
May 8: J.D. Martinez placed on DL (hamstring), Andrew Robinson promoted to Corpus from Lancaster
May 7: Lexington pitcher Gabe Garcia placed on 7-Day DL with left elbow tendinitis. OF Emilio King assigned to Lexington from Greeneville.
May 6: Jordan Comadena promoted to Lancaster from Tri-City

Tranzactionz!

Got some transactions for you:

June 15

Activated Tanner Bushue from the 7-Day DL
Placed Robby Donovan on the Temporarily Inactive List

June 14

Placed Michael Garciaparra, Collin DeLome, Chris Shelton, and Sam Gervacio on the 7-Day DL. Activated Drew Meyer from the 7-Day DL. Haven't seen any corresponding moves yet...

Berkman on HGH testing

Fallas Notes column makes another appearance, this time for Berkman's view of the possibility of an HGH test in baseball:

I think it's good. We have educational sessions here on the minor league side just to make sure our players understand the program and what it entails, what they can and can't take, and we try to make sure they understand the parameters for that program...

...Over the years I think we have done a good job, but players sometimes make bad decisions. I think we have to continue to find ways to improve the program, and this is one more step.”

Fallas then notes that Mitch Einertson and Gabe Garcia have received 50-game suspensions for banned substances. While this is true, it should be pointed out that Garcia was suspended for Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Einertson was suspended for a "drug of abuse," not a performance-enhancing drug.

Greeneville Astros: Gabe Garcia

Gabe Garcia
How did he get here?: Signed contract prior to 2007 season
Stats: 5'11", 142 lbs, Throws: Left
Age as of April 1, 2010: 20

Splits!

Split	IP	ERA/WHIP	K:BB	BAA
Season	38.2	7.91/1.94	32:6	.401
vs LHB	8	4.50/2.12	5:1	.421
vs RHB	30.2	8.80/1.89	27:5	.396
Home	9.2	10.24/2.28	12:1	.438
Away	29	7.14/1.72	20:5	.387
Bases Empty	17	x/2.12	14:3	.388
Runners On	21.1	x/1.80	18:3	.414
w/RISP	12.1	x/2.03	14:2	.411
June	2.1	15.43/3.43	4:1	.538
July	22	10.23/2.18	16:4	.431
August	14.1	3.14/1.33	12:1	.316

K/9 Rate: 7.4
BB/9 Rate: 1.4
Groundout/Flyout Rate: 1.20
K:BB Ratio: 5.33

The negatives pretty much speak for themselves. However, it's worth noting that in Garcia's first six starts, he had an ERA of 13.66. In his last four starts, his ERA was 3.82. His K:BB ratio was excellent, he just gave up a lot of hits. As he moves forward (and this was his first season in the States), that BAA should come down.

JJO wonders if the Astros have a drug problem

JJO asks if the Astros' organization has a drug problem, in the wake of Gabe Garcia's 50-game suspension yesterday.

What constitutes a drug problem in the farm system? Is it one guy being caught or two or a dozen? How about one a month? Or two a month?

How about if it's two in one month being suspended for 50 games.

Well, the Astros this month have been so lousy that their number of series victories in the majors (one) is half the number of minor-league players suspended (two) for violating baseball's minor-league drug prevention and treatment.

Any way you cut that, you must say there is a problem considering Houston is the city that produced admitted performance-enhancement drug user Andy Pettitte.

Let's stop there for a second, because this is a little absurd. Lumping Andy Pettitte in with this season's Astros' minor-league suspensions is a stretch. JJO is basically saying Houston, the city, has a drug problem, not just the Astros. Which, as a member of the graduating class of Sam Rayburn High School (class of '98), I could agree with. But if we're basing drugs in baseball on drugs in metropolitan areas, everybody has a drug problem.

Let's pick it back up:
Asked how many of his minor-leaguers have tested positive this year, Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett, the farm director, said he couldn't give out that information. So it's unclear how rampant drug use is in the Astros' farm system, if at all.

Lumping Einertson in with Garcia isn't fair, either, because they were two totally different types of drugs. Garcia used performance-enhancing drugs. Einertson used performance-debilitating drugs.

Anyhow, Wade, on his concern:
"That said, I think our numbers, I know they're below the average for the 30 clubs. But again, what we as an industry have to get to the point of zero players testing positive of any type of substances. And basically having zero tolerance for it. That's what the drug program has accomplished. If you see enough of your teammates missing 50 games, I think the message — unless you're a little dense — the message should be getting through. Some of these kids who have tested, I think they were somewhat victimized by ignorance of what they're ingesting, where they got things. Other guys that where recreational drug usage or things like that that are occurring in our game then player have to look at their own lifestyles and figure out that's not going to work. The kid that just got suspended off the Greeneville club, I saw him pitch the other night. He walked off the mound in the fifth or sixth inning, and he's not going to see the mound for another 50 games. He's going to be pretty deep into next season before he's able to compete again...

...No matter what the circumstances are it's a shame that something like that would occur. That's why we have to continue to educate the kids and make sure that they know that they can't walk to the corner store or go into some health food outfit and think that they're getting something that isn't going to get them in trouble."

Do the Astros have a drug problem? If one person is on drugs, it's a problem, but it's a little premature to say it's a rampant, organization-wide issue.

Well that's not very sporting

Greenville pitcher Gabriel Garcia has been suspended 50 games for violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He tested positive for metabolites of Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Garcia is 0-4 with a 7.91 ERA / 1.92 WHIP in 38.2IP this season.

Eddie's Farm: August 10

Only three games from App League through PCL play last night...

Round Rock
The Big Bats came out last night as the Express got 15 runs on 17 hits in a 15-3 win over Portland. Saccomanno and Manzella were each 3x5, Saccomanno getting 4RBI, with Manzella throwing in 2RBI. Chris Johnson was 2x5 with a 2-run homer and 3RBI total. Abercrombie, Smith, and Bogusevic all had two hits each (Abercrombie throwing in another homer). The Express were 8x13 with RISP, and only left three runners on base all night. Felipe Paulino got back on track with 5IP, 4H/1ER, 4K:3BB, and Josh Muecke threw 2IP, 3H/2ER, 2K:1BB. Geary threw two perfect innings to close it out.

Corpus
The Hooks lost their fifth straight game after a 4-3 loss to Midland. Jimmy Van Ostrand and Nick Moresi had two hits each, with Sutil, Locke, Castro, and Molina providing the other hits. Andy Van Hekken threw 7IP, 5H/3ER, 7K:0BB and gave up 2HR for a hard-luck loss. But this story is more about Aaron Boone than about Corpus' loss to Midland. Boone was 0x2 in right field last night, five months after undergoing open heart surgery.

Boone:
"For the first day, it went pretty well. I wasn't overly emotional. The crowd gave me a nice hand. It was part of the process, part of the journey I'm on to hopefully making it back in a few weeks. I think if I were to play in the Majors, it would be more emotional for me. It felt like a [Spring] Training game. I had some nerves and excitement. It felt OK, though it was a little overwhelming facing a real pitcher. I'm in shape and ready to do this, and it was very rewarding to be back out there."

Greeneville
The Gastros tied it up with Elizabethton in the 9th, but the Elizabethtons got it back in the bottom of the 9th, winning 3-2. Greeneville managed just five hits - two from Jiovanni Mier - and Wilton Infante hit a homer, but the Gastros committed three errors (none to come back and bite them with unearned runs). Gabe Garcia threw 6IP, 4H/2ER, 5K:1BB. Abraham Gonzalez threw 2IP, 0H/0ER, 3K:1BB relief, but David Martinez gave up 1H/1ER, 0K:2BB, getting just one out in the 9th, and the loss.

Eddie's Farm: August 5

Round Rock
Got the piss kicked out of them 8-0 at the hands of the Tacoma Rainiers. Like the Astros, the Express drew no walks, and do much in the way of hitting, either. Abercrombie and Bogusevic each had two hits with Chris Johnson and Yordany providing the other two. Yorman Bazardo threw 5IP, 5H/5ER, 4K:3BB. Josh Muecke gave up 2ER in 2IP.

Corpus
Andy Van Hekken got his sixth win for the Hooks with a 5-2win. Drew Locke was 4x5 and got his 100th RBI of the season; Nick Moresi (who is human and he wants to be loved...just like everybody else) was 3x4 with an RBI, while Jhon Florentino provided a two-run triple. Wladimir Sutil and a rehabbing Darin Erstad were both 2x5. AVH threw 7IP, 5H/1ER, 2K:3BB, while C-Lo threw 1IP, 1H/1ER and Evan Englebrook closed it out with a scoreless 9th.

Lancaster
By the end of the 2nd, Lancaster had a 13-4 lead, and closed it out with an 18-5 win. Obviously, that means a lot of hits. Jack Shuck was 5x6 with 2RBI, Brandon Barnes was 4x4 with 3RBI. Ebert Rosario hit his 1st homer for Lancaster with a 3x5, 3RBI day. Clemens and Weston were both 3x6 and Cabral and Corrado had two hits each. The JetHawks were 12x23 with RISP in a good old-fashioned nut-thumping. Shane Wolf threw 7IP, 9H/5ER, 8K:3BB.

Lexington
Brian Pellegrini provided the only RBI as the Legends were shut down by Greenville 3-1. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff got on base more than anybody else with two walks, and he was the only Legend in the lineup with a batting average higher than .295 (now hitting .412). Jordan Lyles' record dropped to 6-10 (with a 3.44 ERA) with 7IP, 7H/3ER, 6K:0BB.

Tri-City
Tri-City dropped another one to Mahoning Valley 5-3. Renzo Tello was 3x4, Erik Castro was 2x4 with an RBI, and Jhonny Medrano hit a two-run homer. Colton Pitkin threw 4IP, 6H/5ER, 3K:3BB. Clark, Schurz, and Modica stopped the bleeding with five scoreless innings in relief.

Greeneville
Greeneville actually had a 7-5 lead going into the 7th. But unfortunately, the game is nine innings long, and Bluefield won 10-7. Our boy Aaron Bray was 2x4 with a double, walk, and an RBI. Kyle Miller posted the same line, and Wilton Infante was 2x5 with a triple. Brutal, though: the Gastros committed four errors leading to five unearned runs. Gabe Garcia threw 3.2IP, 7H/5R (1ER), 4K:0BB, and Jeiler Castillo was charged with the loss with 2IP, 5H/3ER.

GCL Astros
The GCL Marlins threw a 2-hitter and that's a recipe for a 5-0 win. Suniaga and Pedro Feliz got the hits. Ricardo Batista was tagged with the loss after giving up 7H/4ER in 2IP. Garrett Bullock picked up 3IP, 3H/1R (0ER) in relief.