Round Rock 2010

[Duman]

Your one stop shop for all talk of the 2010 Express

[VirtualBob]

Two games
Two AB's for Ramirez
Two hits for Ramirez
Zero starts for Ramirez

Coach said it well in another thread ... somebody must hate him.

[juliogotay]

Two games
Two AB's for Ramirez
Two hits for Ramirez
Zero starts for Ramirez

Coach said it well in another thread ... somebody must hate him.

Ramirez 3for5 with 4 RBIs incl a 3run homer last nite in OKC.

[VirtualBob]

Made it to my first RR game yesterday and thought I would share some impressions.

Drew Meyer looks lost at the plate, though he played a competent 2B.

Colin DeLome looked very competent in LF (though there was only one really challenging play).  He consistently got good jumps on the ball and threw smoothly to the correct base/cut-off.  His first HR was a wind-blown pop-up, but the second was solidly hit.  I don't know if he has a future as an MLB starter, but he may end up as a 4/5th OF in the future.

Brian Bogusevic looked lost in RF.  He consistently got bad breaks and took poor lines to the ball.  He overran one soft liner and only made the catch with an acrobatic leap, and his poor line allowed another ball to drop in for a hit.

Edwin Maysonet looked solid at SS, but he needs to keep his head in the game on the basepaths.  In the 4th he hit a pop to shallow right and after rounding 1st he stopped to watch the play.  When the NO RF dropped the ball, he belatedly continued on to 2B where he was thrown out.  He should have been in standing with no throw.  This is not the kind of hustle that is likely to get him back to Houston anytime soon.

Jason Castro had several very good AB's.  He seems to have good plate discipline and hit the ball very hard a couple of times.  I could not really judge his receiving from my angle.

The Puma really loafed into second on his first 2B, but he turned it on a bit more on the second one.  In the 6th he crushed a ball to the walkway behind the berm in RF.  It was great to see him in RR, but I am very happy he is returning to Houston tomorrow.  

Matt Kata made an outstanding play at 3B to end the game.  I wonder whether he will move back to 2B if/when Chris Johnson comes back down, or whether he will end up as a bench player.  Of course, I would prefer to see the Astros vote for the future and off-load Matsui, but I doubt that will happen.  Among other things, I do not see Johnson getting much PT at 3B after Berkman moves Feliz off 1B, and I doubt they want him to sit or be a utility player at this point.  

[VirtualBob]

TJ Burton was in uniform for RR Sunday and closed out the 9-1 squeaker.  @farmstros reports (via twitter) that Jared Wells has been sent to CC ... I guess that was the corresponding move. 

Meanwhile, with Johnson to the DL, no help for the RR infield.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

 Went to the noon game today.  Didn't take notes but happy to offer my observations... just keep them in the proper perspective.

Castros - Behind the plate, seems to be a very smooth receiver.  His arm is not all that impressive, from what I could tell, but he was noticeably better than the Sound catcher in both regards.  At the plate, he was lucky to see a first pitch fastball.  After that, it was nothing but off-speed stuff, and he was out in front or swinging through on ever one.  He had a big 0 fer today.  He made a nice play with bases loaded, on a dribbler back to the pitcher.  Stepped on home plate and fired a missile to Shelton to end the inning, saving Bazardo from logging a horrible inning, otherwise. 

Bourgeois looks good, nice player.  Made me wonder what Houston has in mind for this kid.  Insurance?  Trade bait?  Looked solid at the plate, didn't try to do too much.  1-4 on the day. 

Bogusevic... yeah... I think he's had better days.  0-fer at the plate.  In the field, he doesn't look as lost as Pence, but I can see he might have issues with routes on well hit balls. 

I was not impressed by Meyer's range at 2B. 

Maysonet had a solid game. 

Kata is a good defensive player and showed it on some balls hit to 3B.

Shelton... eh, I see why there is a shortage of 1B prospects in the Astros system.  Hit a HR, but otherwise, made a bad play on a 1 hopper that eventually led to the Sound putting up 2 runs in the 1st.   

Delome, solid game, but not much hit his way. 

Banks seemed to get better as the game progressed. 

Bazardo looked smooth in his mechanics but gave up hit after hit.  I think he gave up the hardest hit balls all day. 

Corcoran looked good. 

That's my first game in RR, I hope to see some more this year, before they become... gasp... a Rangers affiliate.

[Jacksonian]

Went to the noon game today.  Didn't take notes but happy to offer my observations... just keep them in the proper perspective.

Castros - Behind the plate, seems to be a very smooth receiver.  His arm is not all that impressive, from what I could tell, but he was noticeably better than the Sound catcher in both regards.  At the plate, he was lucky to see a first pitch fastball.  After that, it was nothing but off-speed stuff, and he was out in front or swinging through on ever one.  He had a big 0 fer today.  He made a nice play with bases loaded, on a dribbler back to the pitcher.  Stepped on home plate and fired a missile to Shelton to end the inning, saving Bazardo from logging a horrible inning, otherwise. 

If the league is off-speeding his ass to death that would explain the low average and lack of extra-base hits.  Good lessons for a young player to learn in there.

[BUWebguy]

If the league is off-speeding his ass to death that would explain the low average and lack of extra-base hits.  Good lessons for a young player to learn in there.

And another reason to let him get some more ABs at RR before getting called up.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

If the league is off-speeding his ass to death that would explain the low average and lack of extra-base hits.  Good lessons for a young player to learn in there.

Figured something along those lines.  There was one other observation I had.  Each time Castro and the Sound's Norris Hopper came to bat, the game seemed to slow down.  The pitcher took his time and really seemed to focus on the situation versus the other hitters.  It seemed like with the other hitters, the pitcher was going through a cycle: Fastball, fastball, slider....  Later in the game, the pitcher might work in the curve.  With these two (Hopper and Castro) it was less predictable.  It could be just my novice eyes , I can't say for certain.  But it sure seemed to be the case.

I hope to make some more trips out to Dell Diamond this season (kids are finally old enough to last more than 30mins).  If I get out there again, and see a difference, will gladly share.  Just keep in mind, I am purely an amateur, in every sense of the word. 

[Leeaire]

Figured something along those lines.  There was one other observation I had.  Each time Castro and the Sound's Norris Hopper came to bat, the game seemed to slow down.  The pitcher took his time and really seemed to focus on the situation versus the other hitters.  It seemed like with the other hitters, the pitcher was going through a cycle: Fastball, fastball, slider....  Later in the game, the pitcher might work in the curve.  With these two (Hopper and Castro) it was less predictable.  It could be just my novice eyes , I can't say for certain.  But it sure seemed to be the case.

I hope to make some more trips out to Dell Diamond this season (kids are finally old enough to last more than 30mins).  If I get out there again, and see a difference, will gladly share.  Just keep in mind, I am purely an amateur, in every sense of the word. 

Thank you anyway! Amateur or not, the information you are giving is appreciated.

[OregonStrosFan]

Bogusevic went 4x4 today.  His stats so far this season: G-29, AB-110, R-22, H-37, 2B-9, 3B-0, HR-4, RBI-16, TB-58, BB-12, SO-22, SB-5, CS-0, AVG-.336, OBP-.402, SLG-.527, OPS-.929   

[Leeaire]

This is his 3rd year being a position player, right? It's great to see him doing well...unfortunately the OF for the stros is booked unless some trades happen.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

This is his 3rd year being a position player, right? It's great to see him doing well...unfortunately the OF for the stros is booked unless some trades happen.

Have you seen young Mr. Pence?  He is VERY demotable.

[BUWebguy]

Have you seen young Mr. Pence?  He is VERY demotable.

Please ban this user immediately. Sincerely, Pam

[pots]

Have you seen young Mr. Pence?  He is VERY demotable.

Another plus for Bogusevic over Pence!!!, he's a lefty.  Would fit nicely in between Lee and Feliz.

[VirtualBob]

Corcoran sucks.  That is all.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

So, this Oswaldo Navarro kid.  Any one have any comments or observations to offer? 

[VirtualBob]

So, this Oswaldo Navarro kid.  Any one have any comments or observations to offer? 

Journeyman from Venezuela ... signed in off-season out of Seattle organization.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Journeyman from Venezuela ... signed in off-season out of Seattle organization.

Thanks.  I had googled him earlier and suspected the same.  But he sure is tearing it up right now...

[VirtualBob]

Thanks.  I had googled him earlier and suspected the same.  But he sure is tearing it up right now...

Why google the whole interweb when you can go right to Baseball Register or Baseball Cube and search for the name there?