MOD: Astros

by Dewey Finn on May 12, 2008 2:55 PM EDT

Needless to say, but the Astros minor league system needs A LOT of help. Heck, if I were to draft Mickey Mouse, he might have the best 'tools' in the system. Seriously though, lets work together and rebuild the farm to provide a future outlook that the Astros fans can look forward to.

I will be back in a little while and list some players that I am hoping will be around at our draft position. I encourage you all to do the same so that we can make a collective decision that we are comfortable with for the franchise.

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Are you going to remain under slot which is basically

required of you under McClane?

If so, Schepperts if not Hosmer…would be my 2 picks

by laxtonto on May 12, 2008 3:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Tanner Scheppers

He is a very intriguing arm who’s stock has risen rapidly. Although he lacks polish, he has an excellent fastball/slider combination. It doesn’t get the attention of Crow’s arsenal, but still very impressive. I like him more than Hosmer at this point.

Slotting is definitely an issue we are going to have to tackle and deal with.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 12, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

RE: Deputy

Please state your desire to be my Deputy.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 12, 2008 3:31 PM EDT 0 recs

I can

I can fill in if needed. I don’t think I have anything going on then.

by astrosfan76 on May 12, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Welcome aboard!

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 12, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Scheppers

The guy I really want. If he’s gone, I also like Melville, Odorizzi, Hunt and G. Beckham (not likely available) at 10. Odorizzi is a little high at 10, but not too much and he has jumped a lot this year. I’m not big on the HS position players (outside of Hosmer) at that pick. You want to go best available, but with the amount of interchangeable hitters, I would go pitcher unless there’s a discernible difference in talent. That’s just my thinking, though.

by astrosfan76 on May 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT 0 recs

re

I really think they will forget about slotting on the first pick if they can make a splash (Astros need some media wins, and some freaking talent). Would not be surprised at all to see Hosmer here.

by 31Boots on May 12, 2008 7:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Agreed

I think it’s important for the Astros organization to grab the best available player at pick #10.

There is very little in the farm system in terms of impact potential. I think an arm would be nice, but we’ll see how it plays out. #10 might be too late for Tanner Scheppers, but also too high for Shooter Hunt.

What do you guys think of the college bats being around at #10 (assuming Hosmer is off the board)?

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 12, 2008 7:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

re: college bats

I’m not really expecting these guys to be available, but Alvarez, Smoak, or Beckham would all be no-brainers. After that, it’s a little muddier when deciding whether to go hitter or pitcher. Alonso is a 1st-rounder, but unless you think he’ll tap into his power, his plate discipline isn’t going to be enough to make him an impact player.

Posey’s an interesting guy if he falls. You can find position players with a tool that grades out better, but he offers a good all-around package at a premium position. He’s not really an impact guy, though and you should still be able to add an impact guy at 10, whether a pitcher or HS player.

After them, there’s not really any other college hitters you couldn’t get a comparable player to at 38.

by astrosfan76 on May 12, 2008 9:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

See i think that the Astros will still abide by the slotting system.

All of the quotes in the media about the draft from Mclane still emphasize their willinginess to stick to slotting.

I am still thinking along the lines of  a Smoak for he doesnt have huge demands and can be moved through the system quick enough to be able to use him as a trading chip or move Berkman to the OF if need be. Scheppers and Hunt would be the 2 college arms  i would go for at the 10 slot even though Scheppers  may want more than Hunt.

Speed through the system is going to be a key to this draft aswell for the Astros. The total lack of upper end talent, especially in the high minors, ishurting the orginizaion. No trading chips to go  out and get another SP ect.... Any of the Smoak, Scheppers and Hunt group should be able to move fairly fast.

by laxtonto on May 13, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

wtf?

I am still thinking along the lines of a Smoak for he doesnt have huge demands and can be moved through the system quick enough to be able to use him as a trading chip or move Berkman to the OF if need be. Scheppers and Hunt would be the 2 college arms i would go for at the 10 slot even though Scheppers may want more than Hunt.Speed through the system is going to be a key to this draft aswell for the Astros. The total lack of upper end talent, especially in the high minors, ishurting the orginizaion. No trading chips to go out and get another SP ect…. Any of the Smoak, Scheppers and Hunt group should be able to move fairly fast.

by laxtonto on May 13, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

re: slotting

I think they will abide, also. Bobby Heck did an interview with Ortiz from the Chronicle and by his comments, it sounds like they will have to work with the slotting system (or at least close to it). They should buck the system; Callis speculated in an article that most teams will ignore the “recommendations” and that the slotting system could crumble (he based this on chats w/ scouting directors). If there’s a club that should be willing to pick the best player available, regardless of demands, it should be the Astros. Even the Pirates, who’s new President was the guy who enforced the slotting system, are going to ignore the commissioner.

That said, is the point of the mock draft to pick the best players or have the most accurate draft (compared to the real one)? If it’s to have the best draft, I wouldn’t worry about slotting in the mock draft.

Here’s the audio from the Heck interview:

by astrosfan76 on May 13, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Personally

I think we should ignore the slotting. Realistically, we don’t know how much $$$ it’s gonna take to sign these kids.

It’s most fun if we concentrate on taking the best available talent to rebuild the farm system.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 13, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fun vs.Realism

If we are trying to have fun its easy to just take the best player regardless and say, hell we will just trade him if not. The problem is that i effects everyone after Houston throughout the draft. Im thinking thismock is more designed off of realism than fun, and i personally belive we should run it accordingly.

by laxtonto on May 13, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

You can ask John

but pretty sure it doesn’t matter whether you stick with slot or not. Even if that is how he wants it to be done a lot of these teams already have said they are ignoring that aspect of the draft. You might really be hand cuffing yourself if you stick with slot.

by jfish26101 on May 13, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Here's the link

In case anyone wants it and the link above doesn’t show up again:
http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/05/heck_answers_dr.html

by astrosfan76 on May 13, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Scheppers vs Hunt

How much of a difference do you see between the two?

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 13, 2008 1:26 PM EDT 0 recs

Tanner Scheppers, College RHSP, Fresno State, Age=21, 6’ 4 – 200. Scheppers’ switch from position player to pitcher has paid huge dividends for Fresno State. The Bulldog always had a strong arm, but his bat lagged behind his defense, so the decision was made to try him on the mound. He has struggled to learn his craft being a newcomer to the position, but he has persevered and has been about as good as anyone his junior campaign.
Scheppers’ fastball sits at 93-95 and spots it very well, employs a wicked slider, shows real promise with his curve. His February showing at the USD tournament showcased his raw abilities and he was the best there, even though the two pitchers he is behind in the prospect rankings (Aaron Crow and Brian Matusz) pitched there as well. By draft day we could hear his name in the top ten.

Shooter Hunt, College RHSP, Tulane, Age=21, 6’ 3 – 200. With a name like Smuc… errr, Shooter, you better be good. This guy is a marketing campaign waiting to happen, but he matches the cool name with even cooler ability.

His sophmore season he went 99.2 IP and posted a 2.62 ERA, holding opponents to a .232 BAA and striking out 104.

The former New Jersey Player of the Year (in high school) has a nearly ideal pitcher’s build at 6’ 3 200 lbs, and employs a vicious two-pitch arsenal of mid-nineties fastball and nasty slider. If Hunt can find a consistent breaking ball and a bit better command, he could eventually be the best pitcher from this draft class. While there are a few ‘if’s’ and ‘could’s’, he is one to watch.

Hunt has better upside, but his lack command and atrue breakingball hurts his pojectablity some. Hunt could be a home run or a complete bust while Scheppers FB/Slider combo is good enough for a reliver at worse.

by laxtonto on May 13, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Monkey wrench

Well, a monkey wrench was just thrown in our projection for Scheppers. He’s had a little bit of trouble with what was originally diagnosed as shoulder tenderness has now been diagnosed as a stress fracture in his shoulder (per Jonathan Mayo). He won’t be able to pitch for 6 weeks, so we won’t have any more starts to go off of before the draft (real or mock).

This brings us to the question: Do we still take him at 10, expecting the injury to have no long-term effects or do we go with another player? Hunt had mixed results in his start against Rice last night. He gave up 4 runs (3 ER) in 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5. But, all of the earned runs occurred in the first 2 innings and he retired 13 in a row at one point. The loss was his first of the year and left him with a still respectable 2.10 ERA. Does he become the guy or do we keep looking?

by astrosfan76 on May 16, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Scheppers

I wish there was more information available about these types of injuries. I can’t recall the last time I heard of a pitcher having a stress fracture in the throwing shoulder. I guess the good news is that the tenderness/soreness that he was experiencing was not rotator cuff/labrum related.

Personally, I am very hesitant about taking Scheppers at #10. I am taking a strong look at Shooter. As John mentioned in his latest post, the kid does indeed have great stuff. Control/command remains an issue, but if/when Shooter can harness his full arsenal, he can possibly be a better starter than Crow/Matusz.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 17, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Shooter

He’s not a bad pick at #10, there are pundits who can see him going even a little higher. The question is whether you can see him developing a change and harnessing his command. Saber Scouting has his fastball currently as a 65 with 70 future, his curve as 65/65, changeup 45/50, and command 45/50. Simplifying his mechanics could improve his command and his fastball’s movement causes command problems, also. He has feel for a changeup, but hasn’t had to use it.

While not good, his walk rate isn’t terrible and he doesn’t give up very many hits. They give him a future potential of 60, which would make him a good #2 if he remained a starter. He’s already got 2 plus pitches (with potential for a plus-plus FB). There are other guys (and other positions) you could take, but he’ll probably be the quickest of the high-ceiling pitchers left to reach the majors.

by astrosfan76 on May 18, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hitter vs Pitcher

What do you think the Stros need most?

I think a good arm that can move fast would be ideal.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 17, 2008 9:08 PM EDT 0 recs

biggest need

A case could be made for just about any position really. But, I agree that the ideal for our first pick would be to get a good arm that could move quickly. Frontline starting pitching is the most pressing need at the big-league level. If the top 3 college arms (Crow, Matusz, Hunt) were gone, it might not be a bad idea to go a different direction, but if we can get one (I’d shy away from Scheppers for now), that would be the best move.

On a different note, who/what are you looking at with our subsequent picks?

by astrosfan76 on May 20, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ideally

If we can get our hands on Shooter Hunt, I would like our next pick to be a bat.

I have my eye on a few ‘toolsy’ high schoolers (Zach Collier, Brett Lawrie, Anthony Hewitt, Destin Hood). Unfortunately, some of them have a desire to play football in college. If not the HS kids, I hoping a bat like David Cooper, Allan Dykstra, Ike Davis, Eric Thames (in no particular order) are available. I used to like Dennis Raben, but have soured on him a little this spring.

Can Hunter Pence play a good CF? (Move Puma to RF if we draft Cooper or Dykstra). Although Davis and Thames might be better fits to go right into RF.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 22, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

Reese Havens

He is another guy that intrigues me (possible SS, 3B).

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on May 22, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Hood?

Was he one of the football guys you were referring to? I read on another forum (so take it for what it’s worth) that he hasn’t filed his paperwork to the NCAA to take part in summer football practices because he’s waiting to see where he’s drafted. Which if that’s being conveyed to clubs could get him drafted pretty early.

Your ideas echo mine for the supplemental round. If we grab Hunt, a prep bat would be fine for our next pick. But, grabbing one just to grab one doesn’t make sense. I’m a big Davis fan, also if he’s still available.

Pence is serviceable in center, though it’s possible that there wouldn’t be any overlap if we drafted a 1B. Berkman has an option for ‘11, but who knows if he’ll play after that. So, there could be a one year overlap, but maybe no more.

As for sliding Pence for a RF, that wouldn’t be the worst move, especially for a guy with a good arm. Pence’s arm can play, but I wouldn’t call it strong. Really, he’s probably best in LF, but he’s come a long way with his defense and can play wherever you need him to.

by astrosfan76 on May 22, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up 0 recs