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Houston Astros Top 20 Prospects for 2008

Houston Astros Top 20 Prospects for 2008

  1. Troy Patton, LHP, Grade B+
  2. J.R. Towles, C, Grade B  (considering B+)
  3. Felipe Paulino, RHP, Grade B
  4. Bud Norris, RHP, Grade B-  (looks like a breakthrough candidate to me)
  5. Mike Costanzo, 3B, Grade B-
  6. Michael Bourn, OF, Grade B-  (seems like a cheat to list him but he doesn't have 150 at-bats)
  7. Mitch Einertson, OF, Grade B-  (borderline grade, could be C+)
  8. Juan Gutierrez, RHP, Grade C+ (borderline, could flip to B-)
  9. Brad James, RHP, Grade C+
  10. Sam Gervacio, RHP, Grade C+
  11. Chad Reinkie, RHP, Grade C+
  12. Jordan Parraz, OF, Grade C+  (I've always liked him for some reason)
  13. Josh Flores, OF Grade C+
  14. Eli Iorg, OF, Grade C+
  15. Collin DeLome, OF, Grade C+
  16. Paul Estrada, RHP, Grade C+
  17. Polin Trinidad, LHP, Grade C
  18. Max Sapp, C, Grade C
  19. Sergio Severino, LHP, Grade C
  20. Koby Clemens, 3B, Grade C
Not a strong system, and I might have been too generous with some of those C+ guys, who could be downgraded to regular C. Should I give Towles a B+?

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!

0 recs | Comment 23 comments

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No way Patton should be a B+
Towles and Patton should both be B prospects considering Patton's upside is more of a 3-4 starter.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 29, 2025 2:14 PM EST   0 recs

Towles and Patton
Are both B+ guys.

Like you having Parraz and Flores above Iorg.  Would have put Flores above Parraz.

Severino is fun to watch but maybe too emotional.

by Duman on Nov 29, 2025 2:49 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

i like your order
especially the prominence of brad james and jordan parraz.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (link fixed)
variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Nov 29, 2025 2:17 PM EST   0 recs

Any hope for...
Kolby Clemens? Riding his dad's coattails or a real future talent? Seemed to turn it around in June only to tank in August. Do we see any future for this kid above AA?

by dlpme77 on Nov 29, 2025 2:42 PM EST   0 recs

Inquiring minds want to know
Regardless of how good a prospect he is, he needs to be in the book so people can keep up with him.

I guess it's good that Houston's system is so bad, so that he is on this list.

by elricsi on Nov 29, 2025 7:27 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Chance for Chance?
No love for Chance Douglass?  Not even a C+?

by mckeeno on Nov 29, 2025 2:59 PM EST   0 recs

pool
Should we run a pool to see how long it takes until Shamus cries about the placement of a particular player?

by McLovin on Nov 29, 2025 3:02 PM EST   0 recs

I am not optimistic
My list

1 JR Towles
2 Troy Patton
3 Felipe Paulino
4 Mike Costanzo
5 Juan Gutierrez
6 Paul Estrada
7 Bud Norris
8 Mitch Einertson
9 Brad James
10 Max Sapp
11 Josh Flores
12 Sam Gervacio
13 Mark McLemore
14 Chance Douglass
15 E1i Iorg
16 Dennis Sarfate
17 Koby Clemens
18 Jordan Parraz
19 Jonny Ash
20 Tommy Manzella

I forgot about Reineke. Take out McLemore and put him in.
I am not 100% happy with the list from 13 on, Parraz should be a little higher, but most from there are interchangable.

Also, if you want any explanations or other info I will answer. I didn't want to waste time since so few people care, but if you do I will.

I assume all the guys we differ on will be in the book since you have to have at leaste 30 and there isn't much else to talk about.

Towles should be a B+. From past comments that is where he should be. 4 levels in one year, that is a rising stock.

Patton wasn't great, but everyone should realize he was one of the youngest players to start multiple games in the majors last year.

I don't have much on Norris but I am glad you think he will breakout.

I would have had Bourn and Costanzo flipped and hoped they will bothe turn into B level MLB players.

I have hopes for Gutierrez, because of the past, and his stuff should help him come back to a decent prospect.

I had Sapp so high because I gave him the benefit of the doubt(or really the scouts for the Stros). Duman has made it clear to me I overrated him.

If you throw in Reineke to where I put McLemore like I said later, that is on par.

Parraz is a player that actually boomed a little this year and was one of the only players that stock rose.

Everyone keeps hoping for Iorg because of physical abilities and he has one of the best stories/character in all of baseball.

I reckon you think like I do that Flores may never get the power needed to be a regular in the bigs. Maybe a 4th OF glove.

Koby is still young and most think he is a guy that could put together all his abilities into a breakout year.

The one big disagreement is the ability of Paul Estrada. From what I know, he was forced to feature his CB/FB all year because they need more development. His split is one of the best in baseball and is what gave him insane K/9 in the past. I have said before the story of Chipper Jones in St but here it is, Estrada threw him a split and Chipper stepped out and asked Ausmus "what the hell is that", then was throw another one and laughed in the box. Then in a post-game interview said he had never seen a pitch do anything like that before. Hyperbole maybe, but that is Chipper Jones.

All in all I am very satisfied with the comparability of my list and the Sickles top 20. Most of the guys on the list are longshots anyway so it is basically personal preference.

Sorry for the long post. What can I say, go with what you know.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Nov 29, 2025 3:43 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

wasn't supposes
to be a reply. There will be no replies to you
Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Nov 29, 2025 3:46 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

also
Some of the above was from a diary I started 2 days ago. I did not change the list from what I originally wrote.

https://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2007/11/27/23282/932

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Nov 29, 2025 3:57 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Max Sapp
What's up with him? Bad average. Good walk rate, but bad K rate. Hit some doubles, but only 2 HRs.

by ultxmxpx on Nov 29, 2025 3:21 PM EST   0 recs

Bad LBS
I saw him this spring and he was pushing 240LBS.  We're talking spare tire conditioning.

by Duman on Nov 29, 2025 3:24 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

+1
He seemed great coming into the draft.
Member: Coalition For The Advancement Of Greek Baseball Players

by fischbowl on Nov 29, 2025 9:48 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

John Ash
should be either #19 or #20. Look at the numbers

by ScottAZ on Nov 29, 2025 3:43 PM EST   0 recs

ori
Where does mark ori rank?  C?

by RJB7 on Nov 29, 2025 4:33 PM EST   0 recs

Oof.
Rut-row - this system sucks.
Send your top 50-100 prospects to slurveone@yahoo.com!!!

by slurve on Nov 29, 2025 5:56 PM EST   0 recs

Starting C? Towles or Ausmus?
Is Towles now the starter or is it still Ausmus (yuck)?  How many ABs do you guys think J.R. will get?

by The Colonel on Nov 29, 2025 7:58 PM EST   0 recs

re: Towles or Ausmus
Towles is the starter.  Ausmus was brought back as the backup and a mentor for JR.  Ausmus will catch Oswalt and probably 1 more guy.  So, I'm guessing they'll split duty 60/40, which would put Towles somewhere around 400+ AB.

by astrosfan76 on Nov 29, 2025 8:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Forgotten names
One name not mentioned by Sickels is Matt Cusick. For those who like Ash, Cusick is every bit the good contact hitter Ash is but he's more athletic and a better defender. Also, I expect David Dinelli to make quick work of Lexington and end the season with Salem.

Sergio Perez was favored by more Carolina League managers than Brad James so it seems logical to think he deserves mention here, too.

by Michael N on Nov 29, 2025 8:48 PM EST   0 recs

Cusick
Cusick is in the book. Ash isn't.

by John Sickels on Nov 29, 2025 9:46 PM EST   0 recs

Muy bien
Personally I would have rated him higher than Clemens but that's a dang small nit to pick.

by Michael N on Nov 29, 2025 10:48 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

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