*Here's Smilin' Ken Rosenthal (complete with a Houston/problem headline variation) on the Astros having "too many good players," mainly writing about the logjam between Chris Carter, Jake Marisnick, Evan Gattis, and Jon Singleton and just who will play where on which days:
Let's be clear: It's refreshing that the Astros finally have choices. This is a team, remember, that averaged only 54 wins from 2011 to '13, then, "jumped" to 70 last season. The roster crunch the 'Stros now face is the kind that good teams should face. Not that the Astros are guaranteed to be good, mind you. But they should at least be more interesting.
*Lance Berkman was in camp helping out the Astros yesterday.
*Evan Gattis was sent to the clubhouse with dehydration issues.
*Asher Wojciechowski has moved to the other side of the pitching rubber.
*Jason Lane will start Wednesday's Spring Training game for the Padres.
*Justin Maxwell is a non-roster invitee to the Giants.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Jason Lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Lane. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
*With the Trade Deadline coming up on Thursday, we find from Adam Kilgore that the Nationals have interest in the Astros' relievers, specifically Tony Sipp. The Astros had scouts in Single-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse over the weekend.
*Well, great. We get to talk about this some more. Jason Castro told Brian McTaggart that Appel's promotion to Double-A is "pretty much a non-issue here." Castro also texted Appel to let him know there were no hard feelings. More Castro: "It wasn't something that really should have left the clubhouse. It really started as a joke and kind of got blown out of proportion."
*Luhnow had no comment for Evan Drellich, saying the issue was an internal matter.
*Meanwhile the Chronicle continued the Hard Nipple press, retweeting and commenting on various tweets (seriously, we need to make "So Obvi" a thing)
*Josh Zeid is set for an MRI on his feet today, and Jason Castro can sympathize with him.
*The Astros may schedule a private workout for Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo. Also within that link, hitting coach John Mallee is working with Jon Singleton to shorten his swing, and L.J. Hoes to drive the ball.
*Here's an update on CSN Houston.
*DFW's economy is suffering this season, thanks to the Ramgers.
*Jason Lane is the first pitcher since Troy Percival in 2007 to make his first MLB start after Age 37.
*Houston native and former Twin/Yankee Chuck Knoblauch was arrested last week for assaulting his wife, and his induction into the Twins HOF has been canceled.
*Well, great. We get to talk about this some more. Jason Castro told Brian McTaggart that Appel's promotion to Double-A is "pretty much a non-issue here." Castro also texted Appel to let him know there were no hard feelings. More Castro: "It wasn't something that really should have left the clubhouse. It really started as a joke and kind of got blown out of proportion."
*Luhnow had no comment for Evan Drellich, saying the issue was an internal matter.
*Meanwhile the Chronicle continued the Hard Nipple press, retweeting and commenting on various tweets (seriously, we need to make "So Obvi" a thing)
*Josh Zeid is set for an MRI on his feet today, and Jason Castro can sympathize with him.
*The Astros may schedule a private workout for Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo. Also within that link, hitting coach John Mallee is working with Jon Singleton to shorten his swing, and L.J. Hoes to drive the ball.
*Here's an update on CSN Houston.
*DFW's economy is suffering this season, thanks to the Ramgers.
*Jason Lane is the first pitcher since Troy Percival in 2007 to make his first MLB start after Age 37.
*Houston native and former Twin/Yankee Chuck Knoblauch was arrested last week for assaulting his wife, and his induction into the Twins HOF has been canceled.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Best Offensive PreStros Seasons
In light of the monster season George Springer is having, I thought I'd go back and see how it stacks up against other great seasons in PreStros history. For this list, I tried to find every season in which a batter had at least 350 at bats and an OPS of at least 1.000.
George Springer
Springer, between AA Corpus and AAA Oklahoma City, is currently hitting .309/.410/.603 in 401 at bats with 57 extra base hits (25, 3, 29) and 36 stolen bases. He also has 63 walks and 137 strikeouts. He came into the season as Baseball America's #37 prospect and MLB.com's #58 prospect.
Jose Altuve
Altuve received 357 at bats between A+ Lancaster and AA Corpus in 2011 before getting the call to Houston. He hit .389/.426/.591 with 42 extra base hits (22, 10, 10) and 24 stolen bases along with 26 walks and 40 strikeouts. He was not on any preseason prospect lists heading into 2011. For his major league career so far, Altuve is hitting .285/.326/.379 in about two full season worth of at bats.
Koby Clemens
A perfect example of the Lancaster Effect, in 2009 Clemens hit .341/.415/.620 in 440 at bats with 54 walks and 111 strikeouts, including a couple weeks at Corpus at the end of the year. He totaled 73 extra base hits (45, 6, 22 ) with 123 RBI. Clemens was not ranked on any prospect lists coming into that season. Clemens never reached the majors and is currently playing for the independent Atlantic League Sugar Land Skeeters, where he is tied for 5th in the league in home runs with former Astro Daryle Ward.
Jason Lane
In 2001, Lane spent the entire season at AA Round Rock. In 526 at bats, he hit .316/.407/.608 with 76 extra base hits (36, 2, 38) with 61 walks and 98 strikeouts. He also added 14 steals, 103 runs, and 124 RBI. He was not ranked heading into the season, but Baseball American named him their #53 prospect going into the next season. Lane went on to hit .241/.314/.457 in parts of six seasons, all with Houston with the exception of 3 games with San Diego in 2007. He's currently attempting to come back as a pitcher with San Diego.
Keith Ginter
Ginter got 462 at bats with AA Round Rock in 2000 and hit .333/.457/.580 with 59 extra base hits (30, 3, 26). He also had 24 stolen bases and 108 runs to go along with 82 walks and 127 strikeouts. Ginter went on to spend parts of six season in the majors, including two full seasons with Milwaukee, and hit .243/.329/.422 for his major league career.
Mitch Melusky
In 1998, Melusky received 397 at bats with AAA New Orleans and hit .353/.465/.584 with 58 extra base hits (41, 0, 17) and 85 walks with 59 strikeouts. He was not ranked heading into the season, but after the season Baseball America had him as the #43 prospect. He showed promise in the majors before injuries derailed his career. In 414 major league at bats, Melusky hit .283/.368/.449 with 15 home runs and finished fifth in rookie of the year voting in 2000.
Ed Whited
In 1987, his first full minor league season, Whited hit .323/.407/.598 in 440 at bats for A Asheville. He had 65 extra base hits (37, 0, 28) with 12 steals and 128 RBI. In a late season call-up with the Braves in 1990, Whited hit .162/.222/.243 in 36 games, then abruptly disappeared from baseball.
Rich Johnson
Splitting the 1986 season between A Asheville and A Osceola, Johnson hit .341/.424/.581 in 504 at bats with 61 extra base hits (30, 2, 29). He had 72 walks, 105 strikeouts, and 112 RBI. He never made it above AA and was out of baseball following the 1988 season.
Ty Gainey
Gainey received 359 at bats for AAA Tucson in 1986. He hit .351/.437/.616 with 50 extra base hits (22, 11, 17) with 55 walks, 81 strikeouts, and 19 steals. In 111 major league at bats across three seasons, Gainey hit .216/.293/.288.
Gary Rajsich
Rajsich got 445 at bats for AAA Tucson in 1980 and hit .321/.435/.575 with 57 extra base hits (22, 14, 21) with 87 walks and just 41 strikeouts. In 296 major league at bats across four seasons, Rajsich hit .236/.328/.345.
Honorable Mention
Two others met my criteria, but did so over the age of 30, so I didn't include them here. They were Dave Roberts at AAA Oklahoma City in 1965 and Len Tucker at C Modesto in 1962.
Hunter Pence came as close as you can to meeting my criteria when he hit .327/.400/.598 in 453 at bats between A Lexington and A+ Salem in 2005.
Most of these examples were done at lower minor league levels, and none combine Springer's speed and power combination. This was a fun exercise, but I don't think much can be learned from it, except to say that monster minor league seasons don't have any real correlation to major league success, at least for former PreStros.
George Springer
Springer, between AA Corpus and AAA Oklahoma City, is currently hitting .309/.410/.603 in 401 at bats with 57 extra base hits (25, 3, 29) and 36 stolen bases. He also has 63 walks and 137 strikeouts. He came into the season as Baseball America's #37 prospect and MLB.com's #58 prospect.
Jose Altuve
Altuve received 357 at bats between A+ Lancaster and AA Corpus in 2011 before getting the call to Houston. He hit .389/.426/.591 with 42 extra base hits (22, 10, 10) and 24 stolen bases along with 26 walks and 40 strikeouts. He was not on any preseason prospect lists heading into 2011. For his major league career so far, Altuve is hitting .285/.326/.379 in about two full season worth of at bats.
Koby Clemens
A perfect example of the Lancaster Effect, in 2009 Clemens hit .341/.415/.620 in 440 at bats with 54 walks and 111 strikeouts, including a couple weeks at Corpus at the end of the year. He totaled 73 extra base hits (45, 6, 22 ) with 123 RBI. Clemens was not ranked on any prospect lists coming into that season. Clemens never reached the majors and is currently playing for the independent Atlantic League Sugar Land Skeeters, where he is tied for 5th in the league in home runs with former Astro Daryle Ward.
Jason Lane
In 2001, Lane spent the entire season at AA Round Rock. In 526 at bats, he hit .316/.407/.608 with 76 extra base hits (36, 2, 38) with 61 walks and 98 strikeouts. He also added 14 steals, 103 runs, and 124 RBI. He was not ranked heading into the season, but Baseball American named him their #53 prospect going into the next season. Lane went on to hit .241/.314/.457 in parts of six seasons, all with Houston with the exception of 3 games with San Diego in 2007. He's currently attempting to come back as a pitcher with San Diego.
Keith Ginter
Ginter got 462 at bats with AA Round Rock in 2000 and hit .333/.457/.580 with 59 extra base hits (30, 3, 26). He also had 24 stolen bases and 108 runs to go along with 82 walks and 127 strikeouts. Ginter went on to spend parts of six season in the majors, including two full seasons with Milwaukee, and hit .243/.329/.422 for his major league career.
Mitch Melusky
In 1998, Melusky received 397 at bats with AAA New Orleans and hit .353/.465/.584 with 58 extra base hits (41, 0, 17) and 85 walks with 59 strikeouts. He was not ranked heading into the season, but after the season Baseball America had him as the #43 prospect. He showed promise in the majors before injuries derailed his career. In 414 major league at bats, Melusky hit .283/.368/.449 with 15 home runs and finished fifth in rookie of the year voting in 2000.
Ed Whited
In 1987, his first full minor league season, Whited hit .323/.407/.598 in 440 at bats for A Asheville. He had 65 extra base hits (37, 0, 28) with 12 steals and 128 RBI. In a late season call-up with the Braves in 1990, Whited hit .162/.222/.243 in 36 games, then abruptly disappeared from baseball.
Rich Johnson
Splitting the 1986 season between A Asheville and A Osceola, Johnson hit .341/.424/.581 in 504 at bats with 61 extra base hits (30, 2, 29). He had 72 walks, 105 strikeouts, and 112 RBI. He never made it above AA and was out of baseball following the 1988 season.
Ty Gainey
Gainey received 359 at bats for AAA Tucson in 1986. He hit .351/.437/.616 with 50 extra base hits (22, 11, 17) with 55 walks, 81 strikeouts, and 19 steals. In 111 major league at bats across three seasons, Gainey hit .216/.293/.288.
Gary Rajsich
Rajsich got 445 at bats for AAA Tucson in 1980 and hit .321/.435/.575 with 57 extra base hits (22, 14, 21) with 87 walks and just 41 strikeouts. In 296 major league at bats across four seasons, Rajsich hit .236/.328/.345.
Honorable Mention
Two others met my criteria, but did so over the age of 30, so I didn't include them here. They were Dave Roberts at AAA Oklahoma City in 1965 and Len Tucker at C Modesto in 1962.
Hunter Pence came as close as you can to meeting my criteria when he hit .327/.400/.598 in 453 at bats between A Lexington and A+ Salem in 2005.
Most of these examples were done at lower minor league levels, and none combine Springer's speed and power combination. This was a fun exercise, but I don't think much can be learned from it, except to say that monster minor league seasons don't have any real correlation to major league success, at least for former PreStros.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Jason Lane, pitcher
Former Astro Jason Lane has officially made the transition from outfielder to reliver.
Lane:
“I wasn’t getting many at-bats the last few seasons as an outfielder and I was a little frustrated. I felt like the last couple years I spent in Triple-A haven't come with too many opportunities to play, so when Kevin Towers gave me an opportunity I decided to take it.”
Here's an interesting note:
(Lane) swung the bat so well he was drafted as an outfielder by the Astros in the sixth round.
Lane was told at the time if it didn’t work out as a hitter he could go back to pitching. It worked out, as Lane made it to the major leagues in 2002 and hit 26 home runs for Houston in 2005, when the Astros went to the World Series.
Lane:
“I wasn’t getting many at-bats the last few seasons as an outfielder and I was a little frustrated. I felt like the last couple years I spent in Triple-A haven't come with too many opportunities to play, so when Kevin Towers gave me an opportunity I decided to take it.”
Here's an interesting note:
(Lane) swung the bat so well he was drafted as an outfielder by the Astros in the sixth round.
Lane was told at the time if it didn’t work out as a hitter he could go back to pitching. It worked out, as Lane made it to the major leagues in 2002 and hit 26 home runs for Houston in 2005, when the Astros went to the World Series.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are popular
A couple of days after the Astros signed Kody Kirkland, it seems as though the Blue Jays are Crab-happy, now, purchasing the contract of former Astro Jason Lane.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A little perspective on the draft
Just wanted to get a little perspective, because I'm as excited about the MLB Draft as anyone really should be (among people who haven't actually been drafted), on the Draft, and what it means to a professional club.
The Astros haven't had a draftee make the Majors since 2004, so let's start there and figure out how many draft picks have actually made it to the Majors, and let's put a minimum of 10 games in the Majors, lifetime. Then let's see how many played 100+ games (and the most experienced Major Leaguer in parentheses)
2004: 49 drafted / 3 major-leaguers of 10+ games / 2 major-leaguers of 100+ games (Hunter Pence with the most ML games)
2003: 41 / 4 / 1 (Josh Anderson)
2002: 48 / 2 / 0 (Pat Misch)
2001: 49 / 6 / 2 (Chris Burke)
2000: 43 / 5 / 3 (Eric Bruntlett)
1999: 42 / 4 / 4 (Jason Lane)
1998: 41 / 5 / 4 (Morgan Ensberg played in more games, but Brad Lidge gets the nod)
1997: 40 / 4 / 3 (Lance Berkman)
1996: 83 / 4 / 2 (Roy Oswalt)
1995: 86 / 8 / 1 (Aaron Miles)
Now, the Astros have had some bad drafts in the past, but still...
The Astros haven't had a draftee make the Majors since 2004, so let's start there and figure out how many draft picks have actually made it to the Majors, and let's put a minimum of 10 games in the Majors, lifetime. Then let's see how many played 100+ games (and the most experienced Major Leaguer in parentheses)
2004: 49 drafted / 3 major-leaguers of 10+ games / 2 major-leaguers of 100+ games (Hunter Pence with the most ML games)
2003: 41 / 4 / 1 (Josh Anderson)
2002: 48 / 2 / 0 (Pat Misch)
2001: 49 / 6 / 2 (Chris Burke)
2000: 43 / 5 / 3 (Eric Bruntlett)
1999: 42 / 4 / 4 (Jason Lane)
1998: 41 / 5 / 4 (Morgan Ensberg played in more games, but Brad Lidge gets the nod)
1997: 40 / 4 / 3 (Lance Berkman)
1996: 83 / 4 / 2 (Roy Oswalt)
1995: 86 / 8 / 1 (Aaron Miles)
Now, the Astros have had some bad drafts in the past, but still...
Monday, March 30, 2009
It's been a rough few days for the 2005 Astros
It's amazing to go back and take a look at the 2005 World Series sweepee Houston Astros roster, and how many of them have had a rough few days. Regard:
C - Brad Ausmus
1B - Lance Berkman
2B - Craig Biggio
3B - Morgan Ensberg
SS - Adam Everett
LF - Chris Burke
CF - Willy Taveras
RF - Jason Lane
SP1 - Roy Oswalt
SP2 - Roger Clemens
SP3 - Andy Pettitte
SP4 - Brandon Backe
SP5 - Wandy Rodriguez
CL - Brad Lidge
Bagwell retired following 2005.
Biggio following 2007.
Ausmus left for LA this past off-season.
Ensberg just got released by the Rays.
Jason Lane just got sent down by the Blue Jays.
Chris Burke just got traded to the Mariners, and is on his third club since the DiamondB's trade.
Adam Everett got hurt last week aftersigning with the Tigers.
You look at who the Astros let go of, or got rid of, following the World Series run and it's hard to criticize them. Let's remember this as we move forward.
C - Brad Ausmus
1B - Lance Berkman
2B - Craig Biggio
3B - Morgan Ensberg
SS - Adam Everett
LF - Chris Burke
CF - Willy Taveras
RF - Jason Lane
SP1 - Roy Oswalt
SP2 - Roger Clemens
SP3 - Andy Pettitte
SP4 - Brandon Backe
SP5 - Wandy Rodriguez
CL - Brad Lidge
Bagwell retired following 2005.
Biggio following 2007.
Ausmus left for LA this past off-season.
Ensberg just got released by the Rays.
Jason Lane just got sent down by the Blue Jays.
Chris Burke just got traded to the Mariners, and is on his third club since the DiamondB's trade.
Adam Everett got hurt last week aftersigning with the Tigers.
You look at who the Astros let go of, or got rid of, following the World Series run and it's hard to criticize them. Let's remember this as we move forward.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wherefore Art Thou: Jason Lane
The second installment of the Wherefore Art Thou installment - Jason Lane! This nugget came up today:
Jason Lane signed a minor-league contract with a Spring Training invitation with the Blue Jays today.
Since leaving Houston, Lane played (kind of) with the Yankees, in a season where the Yankees tried to emulate the Astros' '05 success by having Pettitte, Clemens, Ensberg and Lane on the roster at one time. It didn't work out so well.
Lane did not play in the Majors last year.
Jason Lane signed a minor-league contract with a Spring Training invitation with the Blue Jays today.
Since leaving Houston, Lane played (kind of) with the Yankees, in a season where the Yankees tried to emulate the Astros' '05 success by having Pettitte, Clemens, Ensberg and Lane on the roster at one time. It didn't work out so well.
Lane did not play in the Majors last year.
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