If you were wondering where Reggie Abercrombie is...

He's with the Sioux Falls Pheasants.

Wade, on what to address next

Short version: Third base.

Long version:

Wade:
“We're leaving here with some pieces in place and some flexibility remaining. It was conceivable when we made it here on Sunday night that we would have been leaving here with one or two pieces in place and no flexibility and (some) needs remaining. So I think in that regard we're better off. Now, from a performance standpoint, replacing Valverde and Hawkins and (Miguel) Tejada and all those other guys we're going to have to prove it on the field. But from the standpoint knowing that we had some things we needed to address I think we've done a good job."

On Third Base:
“You got Feliz and Uribe and a couple of other guys out there in a free agent environment that would fit the need at third base. There are some trade possibilities as well. We've had some conversations with some clubs where we might be able to do something. Again, we think Blum's done a terrific job for us and Geoff will get a lot of playing time whether it's being earmarked as the front-line third baseman or getting a lot of playing time at a several different positions. We think he'll get his at-bats and at the same time we think that we can probably do something that will either augment what he does or give us somebody that can step in on a more front-line basis and be a more prototypical third base bat...

...I'd still like to bump the offense a little bit if we could. We know we have potential needs in the outfield, backup outfielders. That particular issue we'll let drift down the road. If something falls on our laps sooner rather than later we'll move on it, but I think having a few dollars to spend and patience could reap some benefits later in December or January. There's a lot of players who are still out there. I'm sure there'll be more players over the weekend with the non-tenders. The market will increase over the weekend.”

No. There aren't needs with backup outfielders. There are a couple of options in Triple-A. Bring them up. Whether it's Abercrombie or Bogusevic, they will suffice as 4th/5th outfielders. Pardon, they will suffice at replacing Darin Erstad as a 4th/5th outfielder.

Eddie's Farm: September 3

Last weekend of the season for everyone in the minor-league system, and then they'll all go home, and having learned a lesson from Ed Wade about "rewards."

Round Rock
Albuquerque got a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th for a 5-4 win over Round Rock. Reggie Abercrombie and Lou Santangelo had three hits each - Santangelo connecting on his 4th homer of the year. Chris Johnson was 2x4, and the other three RBI came from Johnson, Saccomanno, and Yordany. Billy Sadler threw 2.2IP, 4H/2ER, 3K:1BB as he continues to tune-up for his call-up after Monday. Capellan threw 5.1IP, 5H/1ER, 2K:1BB, and Daigle took his 3rd loss of the season, giving up the game-winner in 0.2IP.

Corpus
Frisco got two runs in the 6th, providing the margin for a 3-2 win over Corpus. Collin DeLome and Mark Ori were both 2x4, with DeLome and Moresi getting the RBIs. Doug Arguello threw 3IP, 2H/1ER, 3K:1BB, while Weatherby took the loss, allowing the two runs on 4H, 4K:3BB in 4IP.

Lancaster
A 6-run first certainly helps, and the JetHawks used it to pace their way to a 14-8 win over High Desert. Steve Brown was 3x5 with 2HR/3RBI, 3 runs scored. The JetHawks also got multi-hit games from Shuck (2x4), Rosario (2x5), Gaston (2x4, 3-run homer), Weston (2x5, 1HR/3RBI), and Cabral (2x5, RBI). Tom Fairchild threw 5.2IP, 8H/7ER, 4K:2BB, and four homers allowed - but still got the win. Jose Duran and Pat Urckfitz threw 3.1IP, 2H/1ER, 6K:0BB to shut the High Desert offense down.

Lexington
The Legends gave up three in the 6th and two in the 7th in a 6-4 loss to Asheville. Albert Cartwright, Jay Austin, and Chris Jackson had two hits each. David Duncan threw 5.2IP, 6H/4R (2ER), 5K:0BB, and Michael Hacker threw 0.2IP, 1H/2R (0ER), 0K:2BB. Yep, a two-run loss, and three unearned runs on two errors (Duncan, Pellegrini).

Tri-City
And that's a 4-2 win over Vermont. Erik Castro and Rene Garcia had two hits each, J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer, and Barry Butera and Nick Stanley provided the other RBI. Four pitchers were used - Robby Donovan threw 5IP, 7H/1ER, 1K:2BB, and it only got hairy for Mike Schurz, who threw 1IP, 4H/1ER, 1K. Dan Sarisky had 3Ks in his 2IP, and MacDonald got his 7th save of the season.

Eddie's Farm: August 24

This is a first - at least in a very long time - but Eddie's Farm was 0-6 last night. /sadness.

Round Rock
Memphis took it to Round Rock with a 12-7 win, and what sunk the Express was the four consecutive homers given up by new Round Rocker Armando Benitez in the 8th inning, all with two outs, to Glaus, Craig, Hamilton, and Descalso. Reggie Abercrombie hit a grand slam in the 4th for a 3x5, 4RBI day. Chris Johnson was 2x5 with three runs scored. Aside from Benitez, Erick Abreu threw 5IP, 7H/4ER, 3K:4BB; Brocail took the loss with 1IP, 3H/3ER (4 total), 0K:2BB. Roy Corcoran threw a scoreless inning between Brocail and Benitez (the Filler Bs), and Geary closed it out in the 9th with 1IP, 2H/0ER.

Corpus
Springfield scored two runs in the bottom of the 11th on a two-run walkoff homer off Charlie Weatherby III - look, are his dad/grandpa still playing? Can we drop the "III?" - for a 5-3 win over Corpus. Drew Locke accounted for all the runs with a three-run homer - his 20th - and Jason Castro was also 2x5, and is now hitting .301 for the Hooks. Hooks pitchers allowed nine hits and ten walks. Doug Arguello threw 3IP, 2H/2ER, 1K:5BB in the start, C-Lo threw 2IP, 1H/0ER, Ryan McKeller threw 3IP, 2H/1ER 4K:0BB, Danny Meszaros threw 2IP, 2H/0ER, and then Weatherby gave up two quick hits for the loss.

Lancaster
High Desert scored five runs in the bottom of the 8th for a 10-6 win over Lancater. Jack Shuck was 3x5, Koby Clemens was 2x4, and Marcos Cabral was 2x3. Cabral and Rosario contributed homers to the cause. Jon Gaston has cooled off considerably - after hitting .365 in May, and 11 homers in July, Gaston has one homer in August to go with a .187 average. His OPS, which this season has never been below .886, is .604 in August. Tom Fairchild allowed 10H/5ER (7K:1BB) in 6.1IP, Urckfitz took the loss with 1.1IP, 1H/2ER, and Jack Tilghman gave up 3H/1ER (3 total) in 0.1IP.

Lexington
The Legends were shutout again, this time 5-0 to Greensboro. Albert Cartwright was 2x4, with Wikoff, Diaz, Hulett, and Dixon contributing the other four hits. The Legends left 13 on base and were 0x8 with RISP. Jordan Lyles threw 5IP, 7H/4R (2ER).

Tri-City
You're not going to win many games giving up seven runs in an inning. That's an old baseball adage. And it rang true in a 12-6 Hudson Valley win over the ValleyCats. Sean Barksdale hit a 2-run pinch-hit jack, Erik Castro was 2x5, and Butera, De Leon and J.D. Martinez each contributed extra-base hits, but Tri-City was 3x15 with RISP. Zach Grimmett threw 3.1IP, 3H/2ER. Dan Sarisky, Max Fearnow, and Brenden Stines combined for 4.2IP of relief, allowing 11H/9ER, 5K:2BB, and 3WP.

Greeneville
Hold a lead one time. The Gastros were up 5-0 going into the 7th, and 5-3 going into the 9th. Elizabethton scored two in the top of the 9th, and seven in the top of the 15th for a 12-5 extra-innings win. Our Boy Aaron Bray was 1x3 with 2RBI and 2BB. Wilton Infante was 2x7 with 4K. Jonathan Meyer was 1x4 with 4 walks. Jose Cisnero got it right in his start, throwing 6IP, 2H/0ER, 6K:0BB. Murillo Gouvea gave up 4H/5ER in 2IP for the blown save, and Joan Belliard gave up 6H/6ER (7 total) in 0.1IP in the 15th, with 0K:2BB.

Eddie's Farm: August 15

Round Rock
Round Rock pounded out 10 runs on 14 hits as the Express beat the Reno Aces 10-4. Reggie Abercrombie was 3x4 with 4R, a triple, and a homer. Edwin Mayonset had two hits, and 4RBI, while Saccomanno and Manzella had two hits each. Jose Capellan started the game, but gave up 4H/3ER, 1K:5BB in 3IP. Josh Muecke came in in relief, threw 3IP, 4H/1ER for the win. Chad Paronto got his 20th save.

Corpus
Corpus scored the final four runs of the game, defeating Springfield 5-2. Drew Meyer was 3x4, Collin DeLome 2x4 with 3RBI, and Wladimir Sutil also had two hits on the night. Sergio Perez threw 6IP, 6H/1ER (2 total), while Meszaros, C-Lo, and Evan Englebrook combined for 3IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB.

Lancaster
Bakersfield took it to Lancaster with a 5-run 3rd, and rode it out for a 9-3 win. Matt Weston and Ronald Ramirez had two hits each (Ramirez: 2RBI), and Brandon Barnes hit a solo homer in the 1st. Chris Salamida threw 2.2IP, 7H/6ER, 4K:0BB (3HR) for his first loss in Lancaster. Bryan Hallberg threw the next 5.2IP, holding the Blaze to 5H/2ER.

Lexington
West Virginia scored two in the top of the 9th, and Lexington could only get one back in a 5-4 loss. The Legends managed just seven hits, but four of those were courtesy of Brian Pellegrini, and two of those hits were solo homers. Chris Jackson was 2x4, as well, though he struck out looking with runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. David Duncan threw 6.1IP, 6H/2ER, 5K:0BB, while Arcenio Leon and Brian Wabick combined for 2.1IP, 3H/2ER (3 total, one scored as a result of Wabick's wayward throw), 1K:2BB. The game-winner scored on Urckfitz' wild pitch.

YotD: June 16

Round Rock
Nashville shut down the Express, 5-3 in Nashville last night. The Express got six hits - all singles - and all three runs were scored in the 6th inning. Tommy Manzella got two hits, while Reggie Abercrombie took himself off the bases twice - once caught stealing, and once on a pickoff. Of last night's lineup, Manzella is the only one close to hitting .300, with a .290 average. Yorman Bazardo did what Yorman Bazardo does, and threw 7IP, 5H/1ER, 5K. Geoff Geary got the loss, allowing three hits and two walks (and four runs) in 1IP.

Corpus Christi
The Hooks spread out 10 hits over eight players (Sutil and Florentino enjoyed two-hit games) as the Hooks defeated San Antonio 4-3 on the road. Sergio Perez threw 5IP, allowing 3ER, while Andy Van Hekken, Evan Englebrook and T.J. Burton threw four innings of scoreless relief.

Lancaster
Inland Empire got four runs in each of the 7th and 8th to defeat the JetHawks 10-5. Six 66ers had multi-hit games as Chris Hicks gave up 11H/6ER in 5.2IP. Jeff Icenogle gave up four hits and a walk - three earned runs - and recorded just one out. Jon Gaston was 3x5 with a homer and Gabe Suarez was 2x4.

Lexington
Jordan Lyles got the win for Lexington, allowing 3ER in 6.2IP for the Legends, and getting 6Ks in a 5-3 win. Brian Pellegrini was 2x3, while Kyle Miller also had a multi-hit game. They got RBIs from Miller, Ebert Rosario, Steve Brown, and two from Pellegrini.

Impressions of the Express

So last night was actually the first time I had ever seen Round Rock play, and let me tell you, I was impressed. A couple of things I theoretically knew, but needed to see...

1. Reggie Abercrombie is fast. Scored from first on a double to left.
2. Bud Norris throws hard. He threw a lot of fastballs, and made the mini-Brewers look pretty silly all night long.
3. Brendan Donnelly throws really hard, too. And he has a weird wind-up.
4. Chris Johnson didn't have a great night, but made a lot of contact - except when he struck out in the 9th and got everyone in the stadium 30 free White Castles. You read that right.

Interestingly enough, there's an article on Chris Johnson in the Chronicle today.

YotD: June 13

Round Rock:
Express got one-hit by Albuquerque in a 3-0 loss. Jeremy johnson gave up 3ER in 6IP. Reggie Abercrombie got the only hit as the Isotopes faced the minimum 27 batters.

Corpus:
Down 4-1 in the 8th, the Hooks rallied to win 5-4 in the 10th over Midland. Jimmy Van Ostrand hit a 3-run double while DeLome, Locke, and Sutil each had 2-hit games. Wilton Lopez got rocked for 12 hits in 4IP (but only 3ER). Andy Van Hekken and Evan Englebrook combined for 6IP and just 1ER.

Lancaster:
Congratulations to Reid Kelly, who got his first professional win in a 12-2 win over High Desert.

Lexington:
The Legends gave up a 3-run lead in the 9th, but scored in the 10th to beat Asheville 8-7. Brian Pellegrini hit his 7th homer of the season while Eric Suttle walked in the 10th, stole 2nd, went to third on a sac fly and scored the winning run on Michael Diaz' double.

YotD: June 2

Round Rock
Jeremy Johnson threw 5.2IP of 2ER ball while Wesley Wright and Chad Paronto combined for 4.1IP of 0ER baseball as the Express beat Omaha 3-2 in 10 innings. Reggie Abercrombie, Chris Johnson, and Yordany Ramirez had two hits each, with Mark Saccomanno scoring Ramirez on a 10th inning single.

Corpus Christi
Off

Lancaster
JetHawks pitcher Dave Duncan dropped to 0-9 on the year (with some bad luck mixed in there), giving up 6ER in 5IP as Lancaster dropped to Modesto 6-3. Lancaster scored all three runs in the 9th inning. 3B David Flores had two hits and two RBI. Reliever Reid Kelly held the Nuts scoreless in four innings of relief.

Lexington
The Legends lost 5-3 to Bowling Green, but the Legends gave up three unearned runs on two errors. SP Robert Bono threw 6IP, allowing 1ER on 4H. Federico Hernandez and Brian Pellegrini had two hits and an RBI each. 2008 #1 Overall Pick Tim Beckham was 0x4 with an RBI.

YotD: May 26

Only two games in the Astros farm system last night. Let's get to it:

Round Rock
The Express spotted Yorman Bazardo six runs in the first two innings as Bazardo threw 8IP, allowing 3H/0ER with 6K:1BB against Salt Lake last night. 75 of his 112 pitches were for strikes, while Yordany Ramirez - hitting 8th - was the only Expresser (Expressite? Express?) to not get a hit. Saccomanno, Johnson, and Abercrombie each contributed 2RBI to the cause in an 8-1 win. Brian Bogusevic had three hits, while Manzella, Towles, Gall, Abercrombie and Johnson had two hits each.

Lexington
Ross Seaton (5IP) and Henry Villar (4IP) combined for a 4-1 win over Savannah, striking out seven and walking none. Lexington hitters got five doubles while Michael Diaz knocked in two runs.

So how did Moehler do?

The guy who Paulino replaced? Brian Moehler? Yeah, he threw almost as many pitches in Round Rock tonight (77) than he had to this point in the season for the Astros (82).

It's a game still in progress, but Mohler went 4IP, 3H/1ER, 0K:3BB in his first rehab start for Round Rock. The Express spotted him six runs in the 1st.

So far, four doubles by the Express - Gall, Yordany, Abercrombie, Kata - and Ramirez has a 2x4 night going to raise his average to .348.

Round Rock got their homer on last night

I know I promised a weekly minor-league spot, but in the absence of a major-league game last night, I do want to point out that they started the season in The Rock last nigh, and the Express put the whoop on the Iowa Cubs.

Abercrombie, (My Friend) Mark Saccomanno, Bogusevic and Towles all hit home runs - Towles' and Bogusevic's homers came off prized Cubs prospect Jeff Samardasoasiohssfzzz. Felipe Paulino struck out six Iowa batters in five innings, leading the Express to a 10-4 win over Iowa. John Gall, playing in left field went 1-for-1 with three walks.

Hensley gave up three hits, four walks and four earned runs in 1.1 for the dent to the Express' ERA. Lumsden and Johnson each threw scoreless appearances, as well.

Nice start, fellas.

Final Personnel Moves

Astros reassigned some guys to Round Rock in advance of Sunday's deadline.

Russ Ortiz was named SP5, officially. Jason Smith is IF5.
Jose Capellan, Reggie Abercrombie, Chris Johnson, and Lou Santangelo were sent to The Rock.

Catching situation is as follows:
C1 - Pudge
C2 - Quintero
C3 - Towles
C4 - Santangelo
C5 - Palmisano
C6 - Castro

32 players fighting for 25 spots...this isn't going to end well

By my count - which could be off - there are 32 players on the roster right now who have a shot at making the OD09 roster. That means it has to be trimmed by seven.

Let's take a look at how this could shake out.

Rotation: 6
Roy, Wandy, Hampton, Moehler, Ortiz, Capellan

Bullpen: 10
Arias, Brocail, Byrdak, de la Vara, Fulchino, Geary, Hawkins, Sampson, Valverde, Wright

Catchers: 3
Pudge, Quintero, Towles

Infielders: 7
Berkman, Blum, Johnson, Matsui, Maysonet, Smith, Tejada

Outfielders: 6
Abercrombie, Bourn, Erstad, Lee, Michaels, Pence

-
We can trim one from the rotation automatically. I think Ortiz is SP5 due to the nature of his opt-out clause and the fact that Capellan could be signed and sent to Round Rock. Cut? Capellan

Coop took eight for the bullpen on OD08, meaning we can project taking two off of this list. de la Vara is a Rule 5 pick with an 0-2 record and an 8.38 ERA, giving up five homers in 9.2 innings. So it comes down to Arias and Fulchino. Both have been impressive. Fulchino is 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. Arias has been perfect, 0-0 with an 0.00 ERA and nine baserunners (7H, 2BB) in 8.1 innings. It's hard to say, but given that Fulchino has been given more innings and opportunities, it seems like Coop is leaning towards letting him lose a job. But he's done very well. It's a toss-up, but I'll give the nod towards Fulchino making the team with Arias and de la Vara out. And I could be totally wrong.

Update: Within this piece JJO says it's unlikely Arias will break camp with the Astros.

I'm also going to say Towles heads to Round Rock, in what seems to be kind of a no-brainer, for now.

We're going to have to cut two, maybe three from the infield as the outfield seems set with five and Abercrombie is the odd man out. Coop has talked about the backup needing to be able to play short, and Alyson Footer, surprisingly mentions Chris Johnson starting the season in Round Rock. So she's closer to the situation than I am - I don't like the idea, but we'll trim Johnson from the list. Between Maysonet and Smith, it's a toss-up. Up until Maysonet's two homer day, he showed no stick, and Smith hasn't shown much of a glove. It could go either way, but I'll say that since Smith signed a minor-league contract back at the beginning of January, Maysonet will get the nod - at least initially.

To recap, here are the projected seven trimmed from the roster (as of March 23): Capellan, de la Vara, Fulchino, Towles, Abercrombie, Johnson, Smith. But who knows?

Backe is literally running out of time!

The Line Drive of Love and Reggie Abercrombie have been cleared to lose to the Nationals tonight, but Maysonet is still out with a jacked up ankle. But Backe? That's a different story.

He's still 10 days away from even throwing.
"Yeah, heck yeah it worries me," Cooper said. "It's 10 days. Ten days from now is the 23rd, the 24th then we got seven days and then we got five days. So you've got 12 days to get ready. And if you're a starting pitcher I don't know. If you're counted on to go some innings, I don't know. So what had he gone the first time? He's only gone two innings, 40 pitches or something. So there's a little concern there. Yes there is. It just cuts down on his opportunities to pitch, and that's not good. Two bullpens and probably one batting practice session and you might be squeezing in one game if that's a timeline, so yeah there is a concern."

Here's a prediction: There's no way Backe makes the team. It's not like he was Sandy Koufax before he got hurt. Apparently the Astros have until 2pm on April 1 to decide what to do, or they don't have to owe him his $1.55 million base salary.

Backe to take some more time to touch himself

Come on! Remember? He said his midsection hurt to the touch. That's what I meant. I promise.

Anyhow, Backe will be out for at least another ten days.

“You know Brandon,” Cooper said. “He wants to pitch like crazy and go out there and compete, so we’re not going to push it.”

Can you blame him? Every time he doesn't throw a no-hitter people call for his being released! Here's the thing, Backe is going to get his $1.55 million this year regardless of whether or not he's hurt. So that should help a little bit, but I still feel bad for him.

In other injury news: Jason Michaels (The Line Drive of Love), Edwin Maysonet and Reggie Abercrombie could all return by the weekend.

“I’m just being careful,” said Michaels, who took some batting practice and did some running Monday. “I didn’t want it to be something that lingered all year.”

Which would be just fine with Reggie Abercrombie.

Reggie Abercrombie's torrid spring about to get a lot more boring

Injury news: Reggie Abercrombie has a broken toe, after fouling a ball off his foot in his last at-bat last night, and will be out for at least a week.

Brutal. Abercrombie was the only one doing anything with the bat - hitting .563 with three doubles and a triple. And to have that come to a halt during your last at-bat in a 13-0 Spring Training loss? That stinks.

At what point do you start to worry?

If you look at the multimedia galleries in the Chronicle's Astros page you'll read the following:

Astros shut out by Braves
Astros take on Yankees
Astros blown out by Mets
Astros lose to Pirates
Astros fall to Nationals
15 years of outfield change

Yeah. Last night was bad. Whooped 13-0. Out hit 11-2. Four errors.

Nieve: 2IP, 4H, 5ER, 2BB
Norris: 1.1IP, 4H, 5ER, 4BB
Wright: .2IP, 2H, 3R (0ER), 2BB
Fulchino: 2IP, 1H, 1BB
Graves: 1IP, 1K
Gervacio: 1IP, 1K

Abercrombie and Smith get the only two hits. Newhan, Smith, Abercrombie and Wright committed the errors. That's eight walks, compared to 3 strikeouts. And there's only so many times you can say "At least it's spring training" before you get that nervous pit in your stomach. Says Coop: Let's hope it's spring training and it all gets kicked out of here."

No chance of having four outfielders, then?

It would be interesting, in the vein of LaRussa and Yost batting the pitcher 8th: Remove your 2B and place a rover, if you will, in shallow center-field. A speedy guy, like Bourn or Abercrombie, to cover shallow outfield and provide help for Carlos Lee and allow Bourn to cover more deep outfield at Minute Maid Park. Of course you wouldn't do this with a man on first base (which would complicate things as far as the lineup goes), to preserve the double play, but it's still an interesting idea.

The whole reason behind this thought lay in the fact that there are some good outfielders in the Astros' organization, and not much of a chance for them to play. In an AP article in the Brownsville Herald, we learn just how tough it is - and will be - for a prospect to find a place to play. Regard:

1. Carlos Lee is owed too much money for too long - and is still productive.
2. Michael Bourn was obtained for too much - and this is a make-or-break season.
3. Hunter Pence just needs to be in the lineup. He's a reminder of brighter minor league days.

And that doesn't include Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels, who have guaranteed major-league contracts.

So what of Brian Bogusevic? What of Reggie Abercrombie?

"There's a lot of guys that can play," Cooper said. "It's crowded. We've got two vets that are going to be hard to supplant but I can't say that we won't. I'll have some decisions to make when it gets down closer. You kind of know which way you're going. You've got veterans, Erstad and Michaels, that are proven major league hitters, so they have the edge over the other guys because of that but these kids are all making strong cases. We're going to see Bogusevic as much as we can and the same goes for Reggie."

Of the current five - Michaels is probably the most expendable. But why hamper the development of Bogusevic, who needs everyday ABs, to sit him on the bench five days a week? It's not a bad problem to have. It would be nice if the Astros had too many pitchers (but that's not the case).

Again, this is a situation that will - most likely - resolve itself in the next four weeks, but then again...it might not.

Did you know?

So far, in Spring Training...

Reggie Abercrombie is tied for 2nd in the Majors with six hits?
And tied for 2nd with two doubles?
Chris Johnson is tied for 4th with 5 RBI?
Michael Bourn is tied for 3rd with 2 SB?
Miguel Tejada leads all Astros with a 1.143 SLG?
Jason Smith has the 2nd highest BA in the Majors with .571?