Quick note on Mark Melancon

So here's a link to an article discussing Mark Melancon, and whether or not he is mentally tough. The most interesting part is a quote pulled from the New York Daily News' Bill Madden:

"How did Cherington not know what the Yankees, who originally signed Melancon, told everyone who ever asked about him — that the kid had good stuff but a very delicate psyche not fit for pressure cooker environments like the AL East?"

Hope you're ready for this crap next year...

So Mark Melancon has been sort of a train wreck, huh?

The working title for this post was, "All Hail the All-Seeing Luhnow," but that seemed a bit much. Still, Mark Melancon has been pretty awful for the Red Sox after his off-season trade. It's too early to compare numbers to 2011, but let's look at some key Melancon stats from 2012:

*17 batters faced, six outs
*10H/11ER
*8 flyballs to 3 groundballs
*5 Homers allowed (after allowing five in all of 2011, 74.1IP).

Bobby Valentine mentioned that Melancon might see what Pawtucket had to offer in the short-term future.

Melancon didn't throw anyone under the bus

I know he's not an Astro anymore, but in an interview with Sean McAdam, Melancon reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the 2011 Astros:

"When you lose over 100 games, it's (a) struggle. It's not necessarily fun to lose like that. Everybody gave it 100 percent, but you show up to the ballpark and you've lost six in a row, it's tough."

Good to know that, even in the face of a 106-loss season, everyone in the clubhouse was able to keep their cliches intact.

Melancon's mixed emotions

Brian McTaggart describes a tortured Mark Melancon:

Mark Melancon was eating a vacation lunch on a Cancun beach with his uncle on Wednesday when his wife walked up to him with a concerned look on her face. Melancon immediately thought the worst, thinking something was wrong with the couple's baby daughter, Brooklyn Marie.

"I hadn't seen a face like that from her since Brooklyn's been around," he said. "I just figured something was wrong and she needed help. She was full of emotions and then she told me the news, and I was just thankful Brooklyn was OK."

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham talked to a very excited Mark Melancon:

Mark Melancon was on a beach in Cancun on Wednesday when he looked up and saw his wife, Mary Catherine, running his way.

“There was no reason in the world she would be running that fast and she had this expression on her face that was full of emotion,’’ Melancon said last night. “I was worried for a second that something was wrong. Then she started screaming, ‘You just got traded! It’s the Red Sox!'"
-

To McTaggart:
"I wish I could have won a little bit more, but every organization goes through those periods. I was looking forward to helping rebuild the team and create something very positive, but obviously I'm moving on and it's going to be a new and exciting adventure for me and my family."

To Abraham:
“I loved playing for the Yankees and getting a chance to pitch in the AL East. I’m glad to be going back to that division. Competition like that is good for you. I want to be on a contender with that kind of history and a front office that is solely there to win. It was amazing to me how different it was with the Astros. Houston was wonderful for my career and I enjoyed it. But now I’m in the kind of place I really want to be. Boston is the kind of team where you can create a lot of great memories."

Ahhh, the beauty of perspective...

Luhnow, on today's trade

Jeff Luhnow talked to Mark Berman about the Melancon trade today:

"Obviously we're giving up a lot in Melancon, but I feel like we're getting value back in getting a guy that can play shortstop with a good (bat), a switch-hitter, as well as a pitcher who is capable of being in the rotation next year."

Astros trade Mark Melancon, get a shortstop

Have a seat, Angel Sanchez. The Astros have a new shortstop, Jed Lowrie.

Jeff Luhnow has apparently pulled the trigger on a trade with the Red Sox sending 2011 closer Mark Melancon to Boston for Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland.

Jed Lowrie answers the question of "Who in the hell is going to play shortstop?" A definite upgrade over Angel Sanchez, Lowrie has hit .252/.324/.408 in parts of four seasons with the Red Sox. His breakout year was in an injury-shortened 2010, when he hit .287/.381/.526 in 55 games, with 25K:25BB.

In 88 games for Boston in 2011, he regressed, hitting .252/.303/.382. Fire Brand of the American League has a review of Lowrie's 2011, with this money-quote:
Certainly, if you think this is a good buy-low situation, then now is a good time to get in. Depending on who you talk to, in 2011 Lowrie is everything from a 4-win shortstop to an injury-riddled super-utility. If I were dealing for him, I would bet the latter.

I didn't watch the Red Sox in 2011, because they play in an inferior league, but I feel like Lowrie's promise is an upgrade over Angel Sanchez' existing skill set.

Kyle Weiland is a 25-year old 6'4" 195lb RHP from Albuquerque, and was the Red Sox' 3rd Round pick in 2008. He appared in seven games (five starts) for the Red Sox in 2011, pretty much getting beat up (7.66 ERA/1.66 WHIP), but in 90 minor-league appareances (85 starts), has a 3.51 ERA/1.22 WHIP, with a 2.49 K:BB ratio. In Triple-A in 2011, Weiland threw 128.1IP, allowing 108H/51ER, 126K:55BB.

Sox Prospects says:
90-95 MPH fastball that comes in two-seam and four-seam varieties. Two-seamer has excellent late life and arm-side run. Attacks the zone with solid-average command of his fastball. Doesn't make a lot of mistakes with it and uses both sides of the plate, but can leave it up on occasions. 78-81 MPH curveball has made strides since signing.

WEEI's Alex Speier has this excellent article on Weiland, where Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller says:
“From what I understand, they always thought, ‘He was a closer in college and maybe he’ll be a reliever again.’ But what I’ve seen from him as a starter, he’s certainly got the ability and stuff to do it. It’s good that he’s getting the opportunity. He’s earned it – especially this year. At a certain point, if he’s able to have success in Triple-A as a starter, he’s able to hold his velocity, maybe you think, ‘Oh, maybe he’s a starter.’

The Astros of course are (reportedly) losing Mark Melancon, the 26-year old closer acquired from the Yankees in the 2010 Berkman trade, and 20 saves. With Brandon Lyon and his millions expected to be back (and healthy-ish), Melancon was expendable, and the 2012 Astros need a shortstop more than they needed Melancon. Jed Lowrie is under team control until 2015 (Arbitration-eligible this off-season), and Weiland is under team control until 2018.

Who does this affect most on the current roster? Brandon Lyon gets his job back (presumably). Jimmy Paredes stays at 3rd, and Jonathan Villar now has the luxury of having time to develop. It also may pave the way for a Wandy/Myers trade, as the Astros have Weiland waiting in the wings for the rotation.

Ooooh, what does this mean for Brandon Lyon?

Ken Rosenthal (and/or Jon Paul Morosi) talked to Ed Wade, who probably has mixed emotions about the sale of the Astros. Anyhow, they suggest the Astros won't be big players in free agency (no shock), thinking that maybe the Astros will get a shortstop, and some low-cost relief pitching. But how about that closer situation? It's not Brandon Lyon - it's Mark Melancon.

Wade:
“The plan is for us to recognize that we’re rebuilding, to fill our needs with as many young players as we can.”

Wade also goes on to mention that the corner outfield spots will be manned by combinations of Martinez, Shuck, Bourgeois, and Bogusevic.

Wade:
“We’re pretty much the land of opportunity right now.”

Melancon drawing respect

Tracy Ringolsby has a good piece on Mark Melancon, and the impression that he made when he was with the Yankees.

Yankees Scouting Director Damon Oppenheimer:
"He has a curiosity. He wants to learn, and not just about baseball....Mariano (Rivera) talks about the questions Mark asked, the way he wanted to learn the game and understand it, it made an impression on the big leaguers. They respect him."

Using Mark Melancon

Here's a good piece shared with us by Citizen Andrew on the usage of Mark Melancon in Sunday's loss to the Pirates.

We admittedly missed the game for various reasons and, personally, I'm a happier man for it.

Melancon is now CL1

Brian McTaggart quotes Mills saying that, in Lyon's absence, Mark Melancon is your closer. Not bad for a guy who, one year ago, was a reliever in Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

Here's the tale of the tape:

Player	K/9	BB/9	AVGa	BABIP	GB/FB	LD%
Melancon	6.89	3.45	.233	.292	5.00	21.7%
Lyon	3.97	2.38	.389	.417	1.77	21.5%

Courtesy of Brooks Baseball, we see that Lyon threw his fastball at an average of 89.75mph, topping out at 90.3mph. Melancon has been averaging 92.1mph on his fastball.

Mark Melancon did not see the trade to the Astros coming

An article in the Times-Leader focuses on Mark Melancon, who was quite surprised when the Yankees dealt him to the Astros.

Melancon:
“I was shocked, because it was so out of the blue. At that time, I was focused on being in pinstripes. It didn’t really enter my mind I would be pitching for somebody else.”

Then when he saw how much worse the Astros are than the Yankees, he got excited:
“After about five minutes of realizing what type of opportunity I had here in the Astros organization, I was excited."

While You Were Drinking: March 21

Here's a recap of what you may have missed over the weekend because you were puking in the kiddie pool:

-Good Lord, Reid Ryan is happy not to be with the Astros anymore. ("“Our fans are really going to see the difference on the field: the amount of hard-throwing pitchers we will have, we really haven’t had a guy that can hit the ball out of the ballpark the last couple of years. We’ll have that, and just speed and some younger players coming through,"

-Something that's not news, is now news, as the Astros won't be attending Doug Davis' workout.

-With a captip to SBN Houston, Ken Rosenthal reports that the Astros are apparently still in the market for a lefty off the bench, and another catcher. Click the TCB link for some good reaction.

-In a McTaggart notebook, Mark Melancon is working on a cutter and has a good shot at the OD11 roster.

-Everyone went guano crazy over the return of St. Louis Cardinal Lance Berkman over the weekend.

-J.A. Happ feels good.

-Brett Myers gets the Opening Day loss start against Roy Halladay on April 1.

-Angel Sanchez' back concerns Mills (and may earn him a trip to Oklahoma City).

-Ryan Rowland-Smith is out of the running for SP5. Nelson Figueroa is your likely SP5 candidate.

-In Former Astros news, Hector Gimenez just may make the Dodgers' OD11 roster.

-J.R. Towles is hoping this is his year.

Minor League Ball's preliminary prospect list

One of our favorite prospect blogs, Minor League Ball, has posted its preliminary Top 20 prospect list.

Here are the Top 10, you'll have to click it to get the next 10:

1) Jordan Lyles
2) Delino DeShields
3) Mike Foltynewicz
4) Austin Wates
5) J.D. Martinez
6) Tanner Bushue
7) Aneury Rodriguez
8) Mark Melancon
9) Jonathan Villar
10) Jimmy Paredes

Interesting that Rule 5 pick Anuery Rodriguez is now our 7th-best prospect. And all of these come in on the Ed Wade tenure.

How the Astros are trying not to get Strasburged

David Barron has a good article on how the Astros are treating their pitchers so as not to get Strasburged.

Doug Brocail:
"We joke about it all the time. As soon as you sign a kid, sit him out for a year, have Tommy John surgery, fix it before it breaks and go from there...

..."We try to limit our young kids. If you have a kid who you think is going to pitch in the majors, if he throws a nine-inning shutout, the next outing should be five innings. Get his work in, and give him a rest."

Tal Smith:
"Even with the emphasis on training, we have more injuries, which doesn't make sense. We used to take kids who were 17 and 18 and have them pitch on four-day rotations. The workload is not as severe. With that, and with training methods, you'd think injuries would be reduced, but they're not."

Mark Melancon, who had TJ surgery in 2006:
"I got to work on my delivery - just some mechanics I cleaned up. For me, it was a great thing, and I didn't have any setbacks going through the process. A lot of that is mental and just kind of preparing yourself not to have setbacks.."

On his mechanics, post-Tommy John:
"I don't feel like a whole lot is different there. Maybe mechanically there are a couple things different. It's just caused most of the time by the amount of use put on our arms and the unnatural motion. It's bound to happen."

Lots o' moves

We hear a few things, though a full Tranzactionz post will come later:

Tommy Manzella will join Round Rock to continue his rehab.

Mark Melancon - who came over in the Berkman trade - has been called up, while Wesley Wright has been sent down.

Nelson Figueroa will get the start:
"I enjoy starting. When I first got here I discussed it with Brad (Mills) that if I had a preference I would be a starter."

Later today, we'll sift through some thoughts on the demotion of Wesley Wright, and post them accordingly. Meanwhile, feel free to post your own.

Tranzactionz

Got some minor-league transactions for you from yesterday and today:

Round Rock
*Jack Shuck promoted from Corpus
*Mark Melancon assigned to Round Rock

Corpus
Via Twitter, Albert Cartwright assigned to Corpus from Lancaster.

Lancaster
*Jose Altuve assigned to Lancaster from Lexington

Lexington
*Barry Butera assigned to Lexington from Lancaster
*Yordany Ramirez assigned to Lexington from Round Rock
*Jimmy Paredes assigned to Lexington

Tri-City
*John Frawley assigned to Tri-City from Greeneville

GCL Astros
*Ebert Rosario assigned to GCL Astros from Lancaster
*Placed RHP Dayan Diaz on 60-Day DL
*Placed C Alfredo Gonzalez on 60-Day DL

Melancon to Express, Shuck promoted

The Express have released that Mark Melancon has been assigned to Round Rock, while Jack Shuck has been promoted to Round Rock from Corpus.

Analysis of the Berkman deal

Keith Law has an Insider-Only analysis of the Berkman deal, and it's fairly complimentary:

Houston could easily have gotten nothing in this deal, but both guys coming back their way have some value.

On Melancon:
Arm action is a train wreck, but he has power stuff, including a 92 to 94 mph fastball, a power curve in the low- to mid-80s and a hard change. On the right night, he'll show three above-average pitches.

On Paredes:
Toolsy, athletic infielder without a clear position. He could end up in centerfield long term, but he is still very crude overall and his swing and body don't point to future power. He needs to learn to take a walk more than once every week and a half.

There's more, but I'm uncomfortable pulling too much stuff from a pay-article. Meanwhile, Jonathan Mayo drops some knowledge on us about the two:

On Melancon:
Melancon is a hard worker with outstanding makeup, possessing the kind of aggressive mentality teams like to see in a short reliever. The Yankees had hoped he'd be a seventh- or eighth-inning guy for them, but he has the stuff and makeup to close. The one thing he needs to do is command his fastball better. He's been elevating too many of them, making them too hittable for Major League hitters. If he can command the lower part of the zone better, Houston could have a future closer on their hands.

On Paredes:
He should hit for average in the future and many feel he'll grow into power as he matures. Plate discipline -- 18 walks in 99 games -- has been an issue, and it remains to be seen how much he can improve in that area of his game. He had arm surgery a while back, but he's 100 percent now and has a plus arm. In all likelihood, he'll have to use that arm in the outfield and could have the tools to play either center or right. His hands and feet don't work well enough to stay in the middle infield, but with a plus run tool, plus arm and plus body, there's still plenty to like about this high-ceiling prospect.