MILB.com has given their recap of the Astros’ minor league system after the season. They highlight the promise of the recent draft class calling Jason Castro

Castro represents one of the best Draft picks Houston has made in years. He was a no-brainer when the Astros expended the 10th overall pick on him, and will provide the club with a legitimate star quality catcher for the better part of the next decade.

They named Drew Sutton the player of the year and Polin Trinidad the pitcher of the year.  Be sure to check out the photo gallery of Astro’s prospects on the page. (more…)

From the Mailbag

“The Peavy story could get interesting, especially if all of the other teams who Peavy has said he’d approve a trade to don’t make any viable offers to the Padres.”

Link  Avoid scrolling down to the comments section.

Here is the weekly update from the Caribbean leagues. We hope to know the rosters of the Puerto Rico teams by next week to see if any Astros farm hands land there.

VENEZUELA
Leones del Caracas
Jose Lopez, C - has not played
Cesar Quintero, OF - is hitting .300 through is first 7 games. Has 6 runs already. Also has 7 K’s in 20 AB.

Caribes del Anzotegul
Josh Miller, RHP - had his second start of the season this week. He scattered 3 hits over 4 innings allowing no runs, or walks. He dropped his ERA to 2.19.
Paul Estrada, RHP - has not played
Fernando Nieve, RHP - has not played
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AFL
Drew Sutton continues to rake. He is leading the league with his average (.529), runs scored (17), total bases (T-36), walks (13), On Base Percentage (.633) and On Base Plus Slugging (1.691). Sutton has made 5 errors in the field.

Brian Bogusevic is healthy and playing well. He has now played in 6 games (13 AB) and is hitting .385. He has no extra base hits but has only struck out once. He has played no error baseball in the field. He also made an appearance in the AFL showcase game as the DH. He went 1 for 4. (more…)

Jackie Moore moves north.
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Here is your Monday update from the first week of games in the DWL & VWL.

VENEZUELA
Leones del Caracas
Jose Lopez, C - has not played
Cesar Quintero, OF - has not played

Caribes del Anzotegul
Josh Miller, RHP - has had one outing as a reliever (1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits, 1 BB) and one as a starter (7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).
Paul Estrada, RHP - has not played
Fernando Nieve, RHP - has not played (more…)

Here is your brief update from the HWL & AFL.

HWL

Jason Castro remains hot, hitting in his last 6 games and in 8 of his last 9. He is hitting .349 through 13 games. He is striking out about one every five at bats (9/43) and he has taken 9 walks so his discipline at the plate is looking pretty good. (more…)

Astros bench coach Jackie Moore will interview with the Rangers early Thursday afternoon for the job of bench coach.

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Only those in Arizona call it Fall ball.  Everywhere else calls it Winterball.  I don’ t know why?  I know it is fall now and all the leagues are playing now (except Puerto Rico who starts Nov. 6th).  So let’s reward those who can read the calendar and start with a brief recap of how Astros connected players are doing in Arizona first. (more…)

Astros general manager Ed Wade said utilizing Clemens right now as part of the team’s training process is not on his radar.

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“If we add a few players, we can contend,” ace Roy Oswalt said. “I think we’re about three players away from being real good. I’d say baseball players. Pitching is a spot to start at, for sure. Players.”
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Turns out, Pujols had nothing to do with it.

Figuring that he should develop more pitches as his major-league career deepened, Lidge fiddled around with a split-finger fastball and a cut-fastball in ‘06.

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The Astros cleared some space on their 40-man roster Wednesday, outrighting four players to Triple-A Round Rock. …Dave Borkowski, Jack Cassel, Ryan Houston and Jose Castillo … The Astros’ roster now stands at 36.

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“I figured once it was determined Sampson needed surgery, that it was a given the Astros would pick up Brocail’s option. I was wrong.

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The Arizona Falll League kicks off tomorrow.  One of the Astors’ farm hands who will be playing there is Drew Sutton.  He got some local publicity from his hometown paper. He gives some insight in what he is being told heading to Arizona for the AFL and what to expect in spring training. (more…)

On the issue of spending “Wade acknowledged the club will have “payroll flexibility,” as has been the case for several offseasons. The Astros’ payroll was somewhere between $88-92 million, and there are no indications owner Drayton McLane is going to slash the budget for ‘09.”

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In the Hawaiian Winter League, the three Astro farm hands are off to a hum drum start.  High profile 1st round pick, Jason Castro is 2 of 8 so far with no extra base hits, two walks and one K.  He has also made an error.  Jordan Parraz is 2 of 11 with two walks and three K’s.  Chris Hicks has pitched 3 innings so far with a 6.00 ERA.  He has surrendered 3 hits and 2 runs.   He has K’d 2 and walked 2. (more…)

Ben Sheets underwent another MRI scan on Monday in Milwaukee that revealed further tearing of the flexor mass, a muscle that helps stabilize the elbow. The tear was originally revealed in an MRI in late August or early September, after Sheets first felt pain in an Aug. 26 start against the Cardinals.

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