Sunday Morning Hot Links

*Random 2017 Astros Fact:

From his debut in 2009 through the 2016 season, Josh Reddick hit .218/.280/.360 against left-handed pitching. In 2017 he hit .315/.360/.402 against left-handed pitching.

*Brian McCann is open to ending his career with the Braves. The Astros have a $15m option* following the 2018 season which could help make that happen. McCann:
(Atlanta) is my home. I played close to 10 years here. This organization is really, really, really close to my heart. I love this organization. 

McCann's 2019 option vests if he:
*Gets 601 PAs in 2018 AND
*Catches 90 games in 2018 AND
*Is not on the DL at the end of the 2018 season

Before that quote, McCann had really nice things to say about the 2017 Astros.

*Former Astros Great Wesley Wright has retired and will join the Twins as a scout. Having been selected from the Dodgers in the 2007 Rule 5 draft, Wright spent parts of six years in the Astros' organization with a 4.44 ERA / 1.43 WHIP, striking out 9.0 batters per nine innings.

*Arizona Fall League stats check!

Kyle Tucker went 3x5 with a double and 3RBI in last night's 16-2 Mesa win over Salt River.

Kyle Tucker (72 ABs): .222/.325/.319, 18K:9BB
Yordan Alvarez (16 ABs): .313/.353/.438, 6K:1BB

Framber Valdez: 15.2IP, 21H/11R (6ER), 9K:6BB, 3.45 ERA / 1.72 WHIP
Dean Deetz: 9IP, 9H/7R (6ER), 19K:3BB, 6.00 ERA / 1.33 WHIP
Riley Ferrell: 8.2IP, 5H/4ER, 6K:9BB, 4.15 ERA / 1.62 WHIP
Brendan McCurry: 6.2IP, 6H/3ER, 5K:3BB, 4.05 ERA / 1.35 WHIP

*ESPN's Steve Wulf writes about the biggest week in Jewish baseball history.

*Somewhere at a Texas country club Josh Beckett apparently trucked the lead singer of an open mic country band...while he was singing. Not sure where. Trying furiously to find that out.

*The San Antonio Express-News' Mike Finger went to Floresville to write about Sutherland Springs and football. This is an amazing article.

*We'll forgive Joe Musgrove's grammatical error while he lit this Dodger fan up:

Been to busy celebrating a championship to hear it... sorry https://t.co/nM9lbglFRO

— Joe Musgrove (@musgrove23Stros) November 11, 2017

Tuesday Morning Hot Links

On this date in 1999 the Astros signed 19-year old pitcher Eny Cabreja to an amateur free agent contract. Following the 2002 season he would be known as Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy went 80-84 in eight seasons with the Astros, posting a 4.04 ERA/1.34 WHIP.

*First things first on the saddest I've been for a celebrity death since Elliott Smith:

10. Let's Dance
9. Sorrow
8. Drive-In Saturday
7. Space Oddity
6. Diamond Dogs
5. Heroes
4. All The Young Dudes
3. Changes
2. Rebel Rebel
1. Life on Mars?

*Luhnow would like to add more depth to the rotation that currently features Keuchel, McHugh, McCullers, Feldman, and...a host of candidates for SP5.

*Cardinals GM John Mozeliak says that, despite the Cardinals running their own investigation into Chris Correa's "hack" of Ground Control, he only realized the scope of Correa's actions when the indictment was made public.

He also wants you to remember The Cardinal Way:
I certainly am aware of what's been said, or at least mentioned on social media outlets. Some of it is not very flattering. You think about all the different elements that go into this, and your hope is that in the end, you can still be proud of what we do here.

*The Cardinals are looking at a range of punishments from "fines to financial restraints to confiscating draft picks...the Astros also could be awarded damages."

*SB Nation's Mike Bates:
In the wake of Chris Correa's admission that he illegally spied on the Astros, the Commissioner is probably going to do what he seems to always do: Nothing.

*Nathaniel Grow's breakdown of the big ol' lawsuit about MLB broadcasts is a must-read.

*More than 1100 current and former minor-league players have signed on to a class-action lawsuit against MLB and 22 baseball teams for violations of labor laws.

*NY Post's Ken Davidoff: The Hall of Fame/PED topic is the most controversial for the Hall since the Negro Leagues.

*The Diamondbacks signed Wesley Wright.

Wednesday Morning Link Dump

A surprisingly large dump for you this morning. Wait...

*The Astros still have money left in the checkbook, but it seems as though their big spending this off-season is pretty much over. Within that Chron link, there's a good salary breakdown by position type.

*Even though Venezuelan Winter League club Magallanes tweeted that Jose Altuve would be joining them in a couple of weeks, the Astros have not yet given their approval for him to do so.

*The Astros treated Lowrie "like a goal, not a contingency" this off-season, said Brodie Van Wagenen, Lowrie's agent.

*Keith Law, on Jed Lowrie ($):
It's a deal that underpays him based on expected performance but prices in his injury risk and the probability that he's not able to stay at shortstop for the entire deal.

*Houston signed Dan Johnson to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Johnson has spent just 114 games in the Majors from 2008-2014, but hit a cool homer in the bottom of the 9th during G162 for the Rays that helped them get to the playoffs. So that's what the Astros will be looking for this September: playoff-clinching homers.

*Palm Beach County commissioners approved a deal to seek a land-swap with the city of West Palm Beach on a proposed Astros/Nationals Spring Training facility, but it may not happen. Line of the day comes from Palm Beach County commissioner Steve Abrams, regarding the deal:
It looks like we're trading Giancarlo Stanton for a .200 hitter on the Astros.

*Delino DeShields just wants to help the Rangers, despite being hesitant:
I was hoping I would get selected, but not by the Rangers, of all team, the Texas rival. It's a good opportunity to get my career going...They can move me around a little bit if they want to. I didn't forget how to play second base. It's only been a year. I adjusted to the outfield pretty good. I'm athletic enough to do whatever they tell me to do. Whatever role I have on this team I just want to do whatever I can to help.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/foul-territory-blog/article4523207.html#storylink=cpy

*Not sure how I missed this from earlier in the off-season but the Braves not only hired Bo Porter as their 3B coach, they hired former Astros bench coach Dave Trembley as their Director of Player Development and Minor League Field Coordinator. Former Astros catcher Robinson Cancel will manage the Braves' Gulf Coast League team.

*Wesley Wright signed with Baltimore.

Wesley Wright got traded to the Rays for a sack of cash.

Wesley Wright has been traded to the Rays for "Cash Considerations." Which means that the Astros put Wright on waivers, Tampa Bay claimed him, and they agreed to trade money.

Wright, a Rule 5 pick in 2007, made his Astros debut in 2008 and had spent six seasons with the team. He had a career 4.44 ERA/1.43 WHIP with Houston, though he had a career-best 3.27 ERA/1.19 WHIP in 2012. In 41.1IP in 2013, he allowed 45H/18ER, 40K:16BB for a 1.48 WHIP. Which is not good.

Jason Castro is now the longest-tenured Astro, having been with the team since June 22, 2010.

Phil Humber will take his roster spot.

Josh Reddick talks about the AB

In Susan Slusser's game recap for the San Francisco Chronicle, Josh Reddick talked about the at-bat that led to the game-winning home run against Wesley Wright:

Reddick said he was actually sitting slider, which he’s seen before from Wright, but he only got one in the at-bat. After a check-swing 3-1 that ran the count full, he said, “I was a little frustrated and had a little talk with myself. Then he threw one down the middle and I was fortunate I didn’t miss it.”

Yes. Fortunate. Throwing it right down the middle of the plate sure can lead to some good fortune there, Wesley Wright. 

Wesley Wright is on the Braves' wish list

The Braves want a left-handed reliever. The Astros have Wesley Wright. The Braves are interested in Wesley Wright, apparently, but are more interested in the Cubs' James Russell or the Brewers' (and former Brave) Mike Gonzalez.

Bullpen Power Rankings

The bullpen is awful. Awful. Awful. 5.31 ERA/1.56 WHIP awful - and that includes Bedard's, Clemens', and Keuchel's solid multi-inning relief outings. in 50.2IP, they've collectively allowed 59H/31ER, 23K:20BB, 2 HBP, 6 HR. So let's break down the Bullpen Power Rankings, shall we?

1. Dallas Keuchel

If either Keuchel or Clemens, next on the list, were given opportunities to start, I'd be totally fine with it. But Keuchel leads us off, because in his three appearances in relief, he's thrown 3IP twice and 2IP once, maintaining a 1.13 ERA, and allowed eight baserunners total in his 8IP. Yes, he allowed one of Peacock's runners to score, but that's because it was a liner to right and Peacock is a ninnymuggins for that guy getting to third in the first place. 69 of his 104 pitches have been thrown for strikes, and he's generated two GIDPs.

2. Paul Clemens

If I factored likeability into the Power Rankings, Clemens would have jumped Keuchel (and I really like Keuchel). I'm willing to write off his 4IP, 6H/5ER, 0K:1BB, 3HR performance on April 9 (the 16-9 win over Seattle) because it was his Major-League debut. His performance two nights ago, in which he threw 5.1IP, 1H/0ER, 3K:2BB is enough for me, because Bedard nutted his start so badly and Clemens shut it down. The Astros only scored one run in those 5.1IP, but that's not what we're talking about right now. Basically, he's the last guy on this list in whom I'm actually okay with coming into the game. 

3. Wesley Wright

Wesley Wright, the elder statesman on the club, has been okay in his seven appearances - bookended by rough outings. On April 2 (the Yu Darvish game), he allowed a hit, a walk, and both ended up scoring. Then he put together five outings that were fair: 3.2IP, 2H/0ER, 1K:0BB. Problem is, those two hits came against Oakland in G5 when he inherited two runners that both scored, and put the Astros from a tie situation to a Down 2 situation. In G13, at Oakland, the Astros were down seven runs, but he still allowed three baserunners and threw 12 of his 23 pitches for strikes. Two of those runners scored.

4. Hector Ambriz

In his season opener, Ambriz came into the game with the Astros down one run to the Rangers in G3. By the time he left, the Astros were down four runs. In his next outing, nobody scored, but he gave up three hits. Then a clean outing, and another 3H/4R (1ER) performance. In his last three appearances, though (3IP), he's allowed 4H/0ER and 28 of his 39 pitches have been for strikes. 

5. Jose Veras

Veras, the $1.85m man, has appeared in five games and the Astros have been worse off when he left in three of them. Every other outing he gets tagged up - 2ER in G2, 3H/1ER in G6, and then he blew the save against the Angels on Saturday night that would have won the road series by allowing 2H/2ER, 1K:1BB. It was a high-leverage situation, but one more out and the Astros be 4-4 on the road trip, instead of 3-5. 

6. Rhiner Cruz

Ugh. Rhiner Cruz. Throws it hard, but has no idea where it's headed. In his last three outings, the Astros have been worse off when he left than when he came in. In fact, in his last three outings (2.2IP), he has allowed 5H/4ER, 1K:2BB and 29 of his 52 pitches have been for strikes. In those three games, his ERA has gone from 1.50 to 5.19. Whenever Cruz comes in the game, that's when I take the dog out for a walk.


7. Xavier Cedeno

Cedeno, easily the 3rd-best lefty in the bullpen (out of three) has a 17.18 ERA and has allowed 14 baserunners on the way to getting eleven outs (1K:5BB). And while his ERA is inflated, FanGraphs puts his FIP at 7.72 with a 9.23 xFIP. So it's not as though he's suffering from terrible defense. He did throw 2.2IP in G6 when the Astros were already down eight runs to the A's, and allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:1BB, but he has allowed earned runs in three of his four appearances.

Wesley Wright avoids arbitration

Couldn't we have just done this all at once? Now Wesley Wright has agreed to a contract for 2013, with details yet to be determined.

That takes care of everybody!

Norris, Lowrie, Wright file for arbitration

Bud Norris, Jed Lowrie and Wesley Wright filed for arbitration yesterday, and while Jeff Luhnow previously said that they weren't necessarily interested in signing arb-eligibles to long-term contracts, that may not be the case anymore. The Astros and each of the players have to exchange numbers by Friday, and will have arbitration hearings between February 4-20 if a deal cannot be reached.

In 2012, their salaries were as follows:
Lowrie:  $1.15m
Norris: $511,000
Wright: $512,000

Baseball-Reference projects that Norris will make around $2.9m, Lowrie - $1.9m, and Wright - $900,000.

Just consider this for a second: The Astros have $6.15m committed to the 2014 payroll. $5.5m of that goes to the Pirates to help pay for Wandy Rodriguez. How does that stack up against the rest of the God-forsaken AL West?

Angels: $127.1m
Rangers: $60.1m
Mariners: $28.7m
A's: $14.5m

Yeah, this'll be fun.

Castro may return next week

In the latest edition of Brian McTaggart's Notebook, Jason Castro says that his troublesome right knee is feeling better, with the possibility that he'll be back on the field for Houston in about a week.

Also in Tag's notes:

*Wilton Lopez was on call as Houston's closer last night. Whether CoCo gets another shot remains to be seen...

*Wesley Wright (2008) and Bud Norris (2009) are now your Astros' senior statesmen.

*Pittsburgh's starter on Saturday will look awfully familiar, as Magic Wandy ups his street cred with a new fight song.

It's Friday morning, do you know where Lowrie's thumb is?

Still no word about Jed Lowrie's thumb, and his availability for tonight's opener against the Rockies. But at least he's happy:

“Considering I could barely pick up a bat four days ago, I’m really happy with the progression.”
-
Levine also gives us some insight into how Abad and Wright will be used - mainly Abad as the LOOGY, and Wright coming in for full innings.

Wandy won't necessarily go out of his way to help you

There's a funny little quote from J.D. Martinez on Wandy Rodriguez, the longest-tenured Astro.

Martinez:
"He's not afraid to help you. Not so much that he'll go out of his way, but if he sees something, he'll talk to you if he sees you down and he'll tell you something. It's always nice to have guys like that. If he sees something, he'll let you know, but he's not an all-over-the-top-of-you type of guy, which is cool."

Here are your longest-tenured Astros:
1. Wandy - 2005
2. Carlos Lee - 2007
3. Wesley Wright - 2008
4. Bud Norris - July 29, 2009
5. Chris Johnson - Sept 9, 2009

They're the only players on the Opening Day roster to make their team debut prior to 2010.

A handy little note from Brian McTaggart

Brian McTaggart just tweeted out a helpful little note:

As the Astros continue to trim roster in next few days, remember Wright, Bogusevic, Schafer, Sosa and Harrell are out of options.

So, this means that they would have to pass through waivers before getting officially sent to Oklahoma City. If another team claims them, well, they'll just have to work something out.

The Astros don't unleash the beast

Remember when Wesley Wright left Wrigley on a stretcher because of dehydration, and we assumed that perhaps it could have been because it was 351 degrees and Cooper let him throw 51 pitches?

Apparently, it's because Wright drank "several cans of Red Bull" before coming out of the bullpen. And the Astros can't have that. So they have kinda sorta banned energy drinks.

Ed Wade:
"We've had a couple of issues regarding dehydration, and our people think they can be traced to misuse, overuse of energy drinks. It just seemed that we shouldn't be creating an environment where we're almost facilitating the effects of dehydration."

It can't be that Wright was a 24-year old kid, and 24-year olds are looking for something, anything to drink too much of. Like Red Bull. Or Yuengling. So the Astros and Diamondbacks don't provide energy drinks anymore. What's next? Carlos Lee forces the Astros to ban Corn Nuts?

Wright to remain in the bullpen

It could be a telling sign for the bounced-around lefty - Brad Mills has requested that Wesley Wright pitch exclusively as a reliever in this off-season's winter season.

So this will mark the first time since 2008 that the Astros haven't tried to screw with a lefty specialist - Wright in 2009, Abad in 2010 - in the off-season.

Fulchino down, Wright up

In the yo-yo game that is the 2011 Astros, Jeff Fulchino has been optioned to OKC, with the Astros calling up Wesley Wright, due to the "need" to have another lefty option in the bullpen.

Even More Tranzactionz!

There was a whirlwind of activity following yesterday's Tranzactionz post, so let's break it down as follows:

Promoted

Wesley Wright, Jeff Fulchino: From OKC to Houston
Henry Sosa: From Corpus to OKC

Sent Down

J.A. Happ: From Houston to OKC
Brian Esposito: From OKC to Corpus

DL'ed

Enerio Del Rosario (Houston)
Jimmy Van Ostrand (Corpus)
Jason Chowning (Lexington)

This had to happen. J.A. Happ, I mean. In his last eleven starts, the Astros are 1-10 (not that it really matters), but he has also allowed 78H/50ER, 48K:32BB in 55.2IP. Yes, in eleven starts, he's thrown 55.2IP. He's been quite unlucky over that stretch, suffering from a .391 BABIP, but he's only throwing 59% of his pitches for strikes, as well. He's not fooling anyone, either - only getting 7% swinging strikes, and 28% line drives.

Alright, now, Henry Sosa. He's already made his OKC debut - throwing 7IP, 5H/0ER, 3K:3BB on Friday night. This is something we can justifiably be excited about. Opponents were hitting .222 against him in three Corpus starts, with 17K:4BBin 18.2IP.

Tranzactionz

Wesley Wright was sent back to OKC, presumably because Matt Downs' wife has had a baby, and he's ready to get some sleep.

We noted that Bobby Doran pitched last night for Lancaster, and indeed he was activated off the Disabled List - and was replaced by Jio Mier.

Employees of the Month: June 2011

Remember, Employees of the Month get 10% off in the Team Store, and get to park near the front. Let's go...

Houston Astros:
Carlos Lee - was 30x99 with 11K:15BB and 3HR, hitting .303/.388/.505 in June.

Bud Norris - went 2-2 (somehow) with a 2.53 ERA/1.03 WHIP, allowing 20H/9ER, 27K:13BB in 32IP. Opponents hit .183/.270/.229.

Oklahoma City:
Drew Locke - hit .309/.377/.509, with seven extra-base hits.

Wesley Wright - In 17IP, allowed 13H/5ER, 13K:7BB, and opponents hit .213 against him.

Corpus:
Jose Altuve - Who else? In 27 games he got 40 hits, hitting .364/.383/.564.

Dallas Keuchel - In 33IP Keuchel allowed 24H/8ER, 22K:8BB, getting a 2.40 GB/FB ratio.

Lancaster:
Kody Hinze - Unbelievable. Three straight months with an OPS above 1.000, and June was his best so far. Hit .357/.505/.690, with eight homers, 20K:24BB.

Kirk Clark - In ten games (12.2IP), allowed 7H/2ER, 9K:1BB.

Lexington:
Tyler Burnett - This was a difficult choice, but Burnett hit .286/.375/.377 with 11 walks in June

Jason Chowning - In 14.1IP, he allowed 13H/3ER, 12K:3BB.

Next month we'll hit up Tri-City, Greeneville, and the GCL Astros.

Wesley Wright no longer throwing side-arm

Good article in The Oklahoman today on Wesley Wright's sidearm experiment which, like so many of my own personal experiments, was abandoned.

“I was just trying to see if it would benefit my career and see if it would help me get back to the big leagues...It just wasn't me. I didn't feel comfortable and I was out there thinking too much. Now I'm able to go out there and focus on what I've been doing my whole life and that's just letting my natural athletic ability take over.”

Wright says the experiment taught him the unteachable lesson of keeping the ball down, though. /blinks.