Astros in for a 4 game weekend set - June 7-10

[WastinSomeTime]

Is Rua doing the Nellie Cruz thing where he would tear it up at AAA and then get called up and flail away. With Cruz you had a feeling that he would eventually get it going at the MLB level. Not so much with Rua and I was a fan of his at Hickory. I have lost faith in him producing at this level. With that said he will go crazy the next time called up. HA! Heineman tore it up at Frisco and when called up to RR started slow but now is on a roll.

 

[DT LUNA]

What is happening that should make me optimistic at this time? And why do you have your panties in such a wad?

1. Guzman
2. Profar
3. IHF
4. DeShields
5.Mazara
6. One and one half years for development before 2020/2021
Surely you can find something optimistic out of that.

 

[Kelleyman]

1. Guzman
2. Profar
3. IHF
4. DeShields
5.Mazara
6. One and one half years for development before 2020/2021
Surely you can find something optimistic out of that.

Bullpen is on a roll and we might net a future SP with trades at the ASB

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Now that is good news

It's not actually confirmed from what I can see.

 

[Kelleyman]

Intersecting snapshot

 

[Kelleyman]

It's not actually confirmed from what I can see.

Correct nothing official yet

 

[saddles]

The transition to AA was very difficult for Hernandez in the first inning.

 

[DT LUNA]

Bullpen is on a roll and we might net a future SP with trades at the ASB

exactly and that is optimistic to me.

 

[Kelleyman]

The transition to AA was very difficult for Hernandez in the first inning.

Perhaps jitters. Not watching read control issues

 

[saddles]

Is Rua doing the Nellie Cruz thing where he would tear it up at AAA and then get called up and flail away. With Cruz you had a feeling that he would eventually get it going at the MLB level. Not so much with Rua and I was a fan of his at Hickory. I have lost faith in him producing at this level. With that said he will go crazy the next time called up. HA! Heineman tore it up at Frisco and when called up to RR started slow but now is on a roll.

He is allowed to play every day there and not allowed to do that here for more than a few days at a time.

 

[saddles]

Perhaps jitters. Not watching read control issues

It is the biggest jump for a minor leaguer so an initial struggle should be expected.

 

[Nightcrawler]

What is happening that should make me optimistic at this time? And why do you have your panties in such a wad?

Definitely not odors play / contract

 

[Kelleyman]

It is the biggest jump for a minor leaguer so an initial struggle should be expected.

Young pitcher getting squeezed per stat cast as well

 

[Nightcrawler]

Interesting game going on in Miami right now.


Brinson almost took Madison bumgarner deep. The giants had the lead and brought in Sam dyson who gave up 3 runs, including a 2 run homer. Marlins are ahead by 2 now. Just your classic Sam dyson blown save.

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

Not at all unusual

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

There are two Rangers' prospects on the Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet this week.

17. Pedro Gonzalez, OF, Rangers
Team: Low Class A Hickory (South Atlantic)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .360/.429/.880 (9-for-25), 6 R, 4 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: When Gonzalez makes contact, good things happen. The 6-foot-6 outfielder has bulked up over the last couple of years, with the strength and leverage to drive the ball with impact, as more than half of his hits this year have been extra-base hits. Now it’s a matter of Gonzalez taking a more selective approach and making adjustments to a long swing to cut down on his whiffs and improve his ability to get on base. (BB)

18. Hunter Cole, OF, Rangers
Team: Triple-A Round Rock (Pacific Coast)
Age: 25
Why He’s Here: .417/.440/1.000 (10-for-24), 10 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: Cole bashed his way out of the Texas League this season by hitting .330/.412/.515 with 19 extra-base hits and 29 walks in 53 games at Double-A Frisco. The breakout party didn’t stop when he reached Triple-A. Cole homered twice in his first Pacific Coast League game (at Salt Lake) and proceeded to belt two more homers and two doubles in his first five games.

 

[saddles]

Jonathan Hernandez Goes to Frisco

He’s on the big league 40-man and he’s been on the prospect radar for a minute, but he’s had a breakout 2018 thanks to the driving factor for (nearly) all successful starting pitchers: stuff. Jon’s stuff is up this season. He’s a 4-pitch fella and by all accounts, all 4 pitches are better this year. And that’s the key. That’s why there may be some magic happening here. Big league hitters are freakishly good and to get those freaks out, you gotta not only know what you’re doing, but you gotta have something in your bag that is just as freakishly good. And that’s stuff.

For the bulk of Jon’s minor league career, he’s looked like a dude, but folks were unsure if that meant starting dude or relieving dude. The FB has always been fast and remains 93-96 T 98, but it was kinda hittable at times. Now it wiggles and runs. The SL was sometimes soft, now it tilts and dives. The CH came out of the hand after slowing down the arm to a visible drag. Now it fades and launches from Jon’s digits at an indistinguishable armspeed. The CB has always been a pretty good pitch and it’s still a pretty good pitch. In short, Jon’s a FB/SL/CH/CB guy and depending on the day, either the CH or SL can look like a potential double-plus pitch.

Jon pitched in the Future’s Game last year and went to big league Spring Training this season, but even though he was on the radar, he wasn’t THIS much on the radar. But when the stuff ticks up, and it looks like you might have an arsenal capable of getting big league hitters out 2 or 3 times in the same game, you’re gonna pop up on THE radars. Sure, he’s added good weight, and sure he’s attacking hitters this season thanks to a more aggressive mindset, but it’s the stuff that matters. Sure there’s a boatload left for him to learn about the art of pitching and sure there’s healthy improvements he can make in command, but it’s the stuff that matters. In a year that’s seen Texas waylaid by injuries to too many of their top pitching prospects and bullpen moves for at least 2 others, Jon’s emergence this season has been the air in our sails. There are plenty of other guys starting games on the Rangers farm. At least 20 of them. But at this very moment, at this blip in time, only 1 looks to have the stuff to start under the brightest lights of them all. Jonathan Hernandez has been telling us all year, he has the stuff. So welcome to AA. Welcome to the upper levels of the minors, Jon. Hope you brought your stuff.

 

[donaldson79]

As Rangers visit Dodgers, a pitcher could be Texas' top return from trade that sent Yu Darvish to LA