Wednesday Morning Hot Links

*The Astros continued to do good things and everyone's favorite closer got in a game for the first time in a week to shut it down. Astros win, 4-2, their 7th comeback win of the season. Houston is back on top in the AL West by a half-game.

*McCullers: 5IP, 5H/2ER, 3K:4BB. 52 of his 89 pitches were for strikes. Peacock (2IP, 3K), Devenski (1IP) and Giles (1IP, 1H) held Oakland to one hit and four strikeouts over the last four innings.

McCullers threw 26 changeups (a career-high tied with his last start) to 28 curves. McCullers:
My breaking ball has been a little bit elusive so far this year. I've flashed it at times, but it's hard when you know how to pitch one way and that way is not really there for you....If anyone knows where my curveball's at, I'd like it overnighted to Minute Maid. 

Hinch, on Giles getting the game-ending GIDP, one week after getting blown up against the Yankees:
It was nice to see him close out the game, especially under a little bit of duress...He's coming off some emotional outings, and for him to get the ball where he needed, it's nice to see.

Oakland scored their two runs on McCullers' Wild Pitch (he had two) and a sac fly.

*McCullers and the Astros showed Class when McCullers stepped off the mound before Stephen Piscotty's first AB to let the crowd give him a standing ovation. McCullers:
It's tough, man. I feel for him and I feel for his family. From everything I've heard he's an awesome guy. I just wanted him to have some time to be able to come up and have the fans recognize him. I wanted that moment to be his.

Emotional standing O for Stephen's first AB. Then he singled for Gretchen. pic.twitter.com/RvY80qu7Z0

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 9, 2018

*George Springer was 2x4 with a walk and 2RBI. Springer's last ten games: 18x45 (.400), 9 RBI.

*Other two-hit games: Gurriel, Marwin. Marwin Gonzalez is 7x14 in his last three games.

*Bregman hit his 3rd home run of the season. He got his 3rd HR in the Astros' 45th game of the season in 2017.

*Seeing as how the bottom of the lineup actually got some hits last night (5-9 in the lineup: 6x20, three runs scored), Hinch is pleased:
The first two games here, we've gotten production out of the bottom of the order and that sets up nicely for the top of the order. When the bottom of the order contributes, it's a complete lineup.

*FanGraphs: The Astros aren't the only team adding spin.

*Speaking of spin rate, it's worth mentioning that the Friday, May 18 pitching matchup is projected to be Tyler Bauer vs. Justin Verlander.

*Now at 47 straight games, Carlos Correa is six games shy of tying Adam Everett's franchise-high errorless streak.

*Over at WTHB, Jayne has a great interview with Corpus 1B Taylor Jones who is...no longer under the radar.

*Couple of notable minor-league transactions yesterday:
-Justin Ferrell was promoted from Buies Creek to Corpus. Ferrell had thrown 16.2IP, 6H/3ER, 24K:4BB.
-JJ Matijevic was promoted from Quad Cities to Buies Creek. Matijevic was hitting .354/.446/.708.

*Brett Adcock was a little more wild last night for Buies Creek, but ran his scoreless IP streak to 17 with 5IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:5BB. Wild West Sheriff Kit Scheetz struck out eight in four perfect innings.

*James Paxton became the first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in Canada. ESPN's David Schoenfield asks if Paxton is for real or not. Having watched him dominate the Astros for three years (which probably means I've watched more Mariners games than all of ESPN's writers combined), yeah, I'd say James Paxton is for real.

*SI: Paxton's no-hitter is a perfect example of modern baseball.

*Charlie Crockett, descendant of David Crockett (NOTE: NOT "DAVY") talked music, race, and Texas. He's playing at the Houston House of Blues Friday night.

*Andre Dawson has owned a funeral home in Florida for ten years.

PreStros Morning Report: July 23

Fresno (57-42, 11.0 up)

Fresno had a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 4th at Las Vegas before Asher Wojciechowski's wheels fell off in a 9-4 loss. Wojciechowski threw 4.2IP, 9H/7ER, 2K:3BB.

Three 'Stros of the Game:

3. Robbie Grossman: 2x4, 2B

2. Tyler White: 1x2, 2B, 2BB, RBI

1. Matt Duffy: 2x3, 2B, HR, BB, 2RBI

Corpus (61-36, clinched playoff berth)

Corpus and Frisco were in a downright Homerthon, hitting a combined six home runs, but Frisco got the last laugh in a 6-5 win over the Hooks. 

Three 'Stros of the Game:

3. Jack Mayfield: 1x3, BB, HR, 2RBI

2. Juan Minaya: 2.1IP, 0H/0ER, 5K:0BB

1. Jon Kemmer: 2x3, 2B, HR, BB, 2RBI

Lancaster (50-46, 13-13 in 2nd half - tied)

Lancaster stopped a five-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over Stockton in which Jacob Nottingham went 1x4 for Stockton after walking across the field to the visitor's dugout. 

Three Stros of the Game:

3. Chase McDonald: 2x3, 2B, BB, RBI

2. Mott Hyde: 2x4, 2B, 3RBI

1. Yuhl/Radziewski: 9IP, 7H/1R (0ER), 9K:1BB

Quad Cities (61-35, clinched playoff berth)

It was 0-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th, but Kane County pulled away with three unearned runs in a 5-2 win over Quad Cities

Three 'Stros of the Game: 

3. Alex Bregman: 0x2, BB, SB, RBI

2. Jason Martin: 1x4, 3B, RBI

1. Justin Ferrell: 6IP, 4H/1ER, 1K:1BB

Tri-City (18-15, 1.0 up)

Tri-City gave up two 1st inning runs, but scored four unanswered in a 4-2 win at Lowell to reclaim the division lead.

Three 'Stros of the Game:

3. Anthony Hermelyn: 0x4, RBI, two runners thrown out

2. Aaron Mizell: 2x4, 3B, RBI, outfield assist

1. Scott Weathersby: 4IP, 4H/0ER, 7K:0BB

Greeneville (16-12, 2.0 up)

Greeneville scored eight unanswered runs in an 8-1 win over Bluefield. 

Three 'Stros of the Game: 

3. Ford Stainback: 2x3, BB, SB

2. Marlon Avea: 3x4, 2B, BB, 3RBI

1. Jose Hernandez: 4IP, 2H/0ER, 8K:0BB

Note: Hernandez, pitching in his 3rd game for Greeneville, has thrown 7.2IP, 5H/1ER, 13K:1BB in his last two appearances.

GCL Astros (9-19, 5.5 back)

Once again the GCL Astros fell apart late, carrying a 2-1 lead over the GCL Braves into the 9th, then allowing the tying run in the top of the 9th and the go-ahead run(s) in the 10th for a 4-2 loss. 

Three 'Stros of the Game:

3. Frankeny Fernandez: 2x4, 2B

2. Daz Cameron: 0x2, BB, 2SB, Outfield Assist

1. Enrique Chavez: 4IP, 2H/1ER, 3K:1BB

June Draft: Rounds 36-40

Continuing the grouping of the prospects together: now the last few rounds 36-40.

36-1066:  Justin Ferrell, RHP (Reliever), Connors State College, Oklahoma.

Justin Ferrell is listed as a 6-7, 195 RHP.  He closed for the Connors State team, recording 24 appearances, going 4-1 with 11 saves.  He threw 38.1 innings (striking out 43, and walking 10), and had an ERA of 1.64.  He is, apparently a commit to the University of Arkansans.

Daddy_Slank is on twitter, too.


37-1096:  Eric Peterson, RHP, North Carolina State University.

Eric is one of identical twins.  His brother, Patrick, is also a pitcher.  He is a junior, listed at 6-4, 195, from Bear, Delaware.  He and his brother made some headlines when they left the Temple baseball programme to attend NC State (that link.  Prior to that, Baseball America wrote a favourable article about them (+ video of him and his brother).

Eric Peterson was plenty solid this year for NC State.  He went 4-4 in 20 games (19 as a reliever), throwing 56 IP, giving up 45 hits, 14 walks and 63 strikeouts.  He saved three games.

Temple wasn't that happy about losing the Peterson twins, but their programme was due to end at the conclusion of the 2014 season.


38-1126:  Micheal Foster, 2B, Northeastern University

In the 38th exhausting round, the Astros chose Micheal Foster, a right-handed hitting second baseman from Northeastern University.  Prior to that, he attended St Mary Catholic High School in Pickering, Ontario.

He has had three years at Northeastern, recording a career .290/.355/.437 triple slash.  His best year was in 2012, when he recorded a .296/.350/.500 line.  However, in 2014, he slugged .394 in 221 at-bats, with 66 hits, 10 doubles, 1 triple and 3 home runs.  Two of those home runs came in the same game.  He stole 18 bases, and walked 22 times versus 27 strikeouts.

He also pitches a bit, but the Astros listed him as a second baseman.

He is an article about Michael from April this year, talking about the draft.  He wants to be a Blue Jay, apparently.


39-1156:  Brad Antchak, SS, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Brad Antchak is listed at 6-0, 182 pounds.  He is a Freshman, originally from Delta, British Columbia.  He hit .309/.416/.482 in 233 plate appearances.  His 59 hits included 9 doubles, 6 triples and 4 home runs.  He recorded 33 walks versus only 22 strikeouts, and 20 stolen bases versus 5 caught stealing.  Here is a recruiting video produced to assist with college recruiting.

He is also on twitter.


40-1186:  Alex Hernandez, 2B, University of Miami.

Last pick of the draft for the 'stros, and they went with a senior second baseman, Alexander Hernandez.  He is listed at 5-9, 190, and is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida.  He attended Palm Beach Central High School.  He majored in Criminology.

I can only seem to find 2013 stats for him, when he batted .267/.358/.351, walking 26 times and striking out 31 times.  He hit one home run and 16 doubles, and recorded 4 stolen bases versus 7 caught stealing.  He did play in 2014, however.

Thanks for reading AC's draft coverage, it was certainly an interesting process helping put it all together.  Note is made of the high-quality work of the Constable and Cockroach, who did the first two and one-half days.