I tuned into the CWS just in time to see Brett Eibner, sophomore from Houston now playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, hit a homer to break up the 11-0 shutout his team was suffering. And darn if I didn’t see a guy named Chad Jones, playing for LSU, smash a double an inning later. And darn if I didn’t see him pitching in lefty relief several times and giving up NO runs, in spite of the fact that he hadn’t EVER pitched before the tournament.

I know those names all right.

Guys we drafted and lowballed back in 07 in an attempt to make Bud Selig happy so he would

would

Ida know. What WOULD he do for the Astros, seeing as how we already had an ASG in 04?

Anyway, I thought I’d go and take a look at the players we drafted the last 4 years – 05, 06, 07 and 08.

Note: DNS – did not sign; OOB - out of baseball

—————–

2005 – Tim Purpura, GM: Paul Ricciarini, Scouting Director

1 (#24) Brian Bogusevic – Astros wasted 3 pointless years trying to turn him into a pitcher, then let him hit and he’s doing great as a AAA OF -
1 (#38) Eli Iorg: . 529 OPS at AAA, 715 OPS at AA last year. Got promoted because???
2 Ralph Henriquez – traded to Mets after 07 season for minor leaguer (now OOB) – still at A ball and not exactly tearing it up

3 Tommy Manzella – great glove, .740 OPS at AAA, should be in the ML next year
DNS: 3 Josh Lindblom: HS RHP – signed 2nd round Dodgers 08, doing lousy
4 Josh Flores: 23 yo CF – repeating AA and has .651 OPS, good base stealer
OOB: 5 Billy Hart: 3b/OF – crapped out after AA in 2008
6 Brandon Barnes: of, age 23, just promoted to A+ with minor league OPS of .669
OOB – 7 Timothy Johnson: crapped out after 3 years at rookie ball
8 Koby Clemens: 3B, age 22, just promoted to AA with .851 OPS at A+
9 Jordan Meaker: RHP, age 22, 1.47 ERA at A- last year, suckage at A this year
OOB – 10 Allen Langdon: crapped out after Rookie ball in 06
OOB – 11 Cory Lapinski: RH RP – crapped out after 06
OOB – 12 Tom Fairchild: RHP – crapped out in 08 after 2 horrible years at AA
OOB - 13 Eric King: crapped out in 07 at A+
14 Mark Ori: 1B, age 25, high ave, low power at AA
OOB -15 Eric Sheridan: RHP – released after 1 season (4.2 IP – 2 H, 1 BB, 7 K) at low A
OOB -16 Aaron Bulkley: OF – crapped out in 06 after 2 suckage years at A-
OOB -17 Andy Kroeker C: crapped out in 06 after 2 years at A-
DNS -18 Brian Needham: drafted 28th round 09 draft NYM
OOB – 19 Drew Himes: RHP – crapped out after 05 at A-
OOB – 20 Ryan Mitchell: RHP, crapped out at age 18 after 2 years in the rookie league
OOB – 21 Scott Sarver: LHP – gone in 06 after 20 IP at A ball
DNS – 22 T.J. Steele – redrafted by the Astros in the 8th round 08 – killing the ball at A+
23 Chris Blazek: 25 YO RH RP – on the DL at AAA – 4.28 minor league ERA
OOB – 24 Sean Walker: made it to AA last year, crapped out
OOB – 25 Jake Hurry: LHP – crapped out 06 at A ball – couldn’t strike guys out
OOB – 26 Michael Thompson: 3B - crapped out in 07 after reaching A+
DNS – 27 Matt Luca: never signed a pro contract
DNS – 28 Eric Baker: never signed a pro contract
OOB – 29 Jamie Gant: RHP – crapped out in 06 at A ball
OOB – 30 Matt Hirsh: RHP- crapped out in Rookie league 05
DNS: 31 Brad Stone P – signed with Fla in the 06 draft now struggling at AAA
OOB – 32 Cole Graham 1B – crapped out in Rookie league 05
33 Reid Kelly RHP – struggling at A+
OOB – 34 Nathan Warrick OF – crapped out in 06 at A ball
OOB: 35 Andrew Darnell: crapped out in 07 at A ball
OOB – 36 Matt Cunningham: crapped out in A ball in 06
DNS – 37 Matt Bishop: never signed pro contract
DNS: 38 Mike Colla – Picked by Pit in 14th round 08 draft, lights out at A+
DNS: 39 Zachary Williams: never played pro ball
DNS: 40  Collin Fanning: picked by STL 20th round 07, failed at A-

DNS: 41 Casey McCleskey: never played pro ball
OOB – 42 Brandon Stricklen: crapped out in A ball in 06
DNS – 43 Jacob Hower: never played pro ball
DNS – 44 Nick Cobler picked by the Twins in 47th round 07, also did not sign
DNS – 45 Craig Herrforth never played pro ball
DNS – 46 Wes Musick – drafted by Rox in 9th round of 09 draft

47 drafted : 34 signed including the first 18

now in majors – none
traded for someone who played for the Astros: none
still playing: (4) AAA; (3) AA; (3)A
crapped out in 05: 3 – 2 Rookie, one A-
crapped out in 06: 11 – 2 Rookie 9 A
crapped out in 07: 4 – 1 Rookie, 3 A
crapped out in 08: 3 AA

Check out this old MLB article from 05 for the scouting director comments on players…

——————————————

2006 – Tim Purpura, GM: Paul Ricciarini, Scouting Director

1 (#23) Maxwell Sapp: recovering from meningitis, never got past A ball
2 Sergio Perez: RHP repeating AA, not doing well, after being hurt last year
3 Nick Moresi: CF – on DL at AA, has .221 BA/.630 OPS in minors
4 Chris Johnson: 3B in AAA, on DL earlier this year, should be Astros ML in 2010
5 Casey Hudspeth: RHP – second straight year of suckage at AA
6 Bud Norris: RHP – aces high at AAA, should be with the ML club by 2010
OOB – 7 David Qualben: RHP – crapped out at A+ in 2008
8 Jimmy Van Ostrand: RF, age 24, tearing it up at AA with .882 OPS
9 Greg Buchanan: Crapped out in 2008 at A+
DNS – 10 Nate Karns: drafted 2009 12th round by Nats
OOB – 11 Thomas Vessella: crapped out in 2008 in A ball
12 Bryan Hallberg: 24 yo RHO laboring at A+
13 Christopher Salamida: 25 yo RHP pitching lousy at AA
OOB – 14 Justin Tellam: crapped out in 2008 at A ball
OOB – 15 Kevin Fox: RHP – crapped out at A- in 07
OOB – 16 Andrew Holder: crapped out in 07 at A ball
OOB – 17 Justin Stiver: threw 6 innings of 1 hit 1 walk no run ball at A- and left baseball
OOB – 18 Colt Adams: crapped out in A ball in 08
OOB – 19 Orlando Rosales: crapped out in AA in 08
DNS – 20 Mark Sobolewski drafted in the 8th round by the Jays in 08, sucking at A ball
OOB – 21 Anthony Bello: crapped out at A ball in 2008 after a mediocre year
22 Chad Wagler: RH RP – pitching OK at AA
23 Tim Torres: released by Astros after A ball in 08, now with Fla at A ball
DNS – 24 Jonathan Wiedenbauer: never signed any pro contract
DNS – 25 Jamaal Hollis: never signed any pro contract
DNS – 26 Lenell McGee: picked by Dodgers 13th round of 08 draft, didn’t last in rookie ball
OOB – 27 Cirilo Cruz: crapped out in A- in 07
OOB – 28 Brandon Caipen: crapped out in A ball in 07
OOB – 29 Rafael Parks: crapped out Rookie ball 07
30 Eric Taylor: age 23, struggling at A ball
OOB – 31 Kyle Deyoung: crapped out at A ball in 07
OOB – 32 Adam Hale: crapped out in 06 at Rookie ball
DNS – 33 Codi Harshman: still in college
DNS – 34 John Anderson: drafted by Jays in 08, sucking at A ball
DNS – 35 Patrick Allen: never signed pro contract
DNS – 36 Johnathan Moore: never signed pro contract
DNS – 37 Trent Henderson: has never signed pro contract
DNS – 38 Casey Anderson: this is getting monotonous – never signed pro contract
DNS – 39 Will Kline: picked 2nd round 07 by Rays and crapped out that year
DNS – 40 Steve Detwiler: never signed pro contract
41 Axel Gonzalez: crapped out at A- in 07
DNS – 42 Kevin Sullivan: never signed pro contract
DNS – 43 Greg Joseph: never signed pro contract
DNS – 44 Adam Pilate: never signed pro contract
DNS – 45 Cody Madison: never signed pro contract
DNS – 46 Joey Wong: picked 29th round of the 09 draft by the Rox
DNS – 47 Michael Pericht: picked 16th round Dodgers 2009
DNS – 48 Jerry Quinones: never signed pro contract
DNS – 49 Andy Launier: never signed pro contract
DNS – 50 Tyler Henley: drafted by STL 8th round 07 draft, tearing up AA

50 drafted : 28 signed and of the 22 who didn’t sign, 14 never signed a pro contract with any other team. Of the 7 signed by some other team, 3 crapped out in a year and only the 50th rounder is excelling with another Organization.

now in majors – none, but 2 players clearly look ML ready and any other club would have called them up, but not our Rookie hating manager…
traded for someone who played for the Astros: none
still playing: (2) AAA; (6) AA; (4) A
crapped out in 06: 1 in A ball, 1 in Rookie ball
crapped out in 07: 6 in A ball, 1 in Rookie ball
crapped out in 08: 6 in A ball, 1 at AA

Whoa

As usual, Drayton was serious about the slot business because almost every HS guy went to college – and they didn’t sign 17 of the last 20 players.

With any luck, they will get 2 ML players, Bud Norris and Chris Johnson out of the Draft, perhaps Jimmy Van Ostrand and Sergio Perez, if he ever pulls himself together.

———————————————

2007 - Tim Purpura, GM; Paul Ricciarini, Scouting Director (this is the – if you thought Drayton was a total cheap dipstick in 06 yew ain’t see nothin yet – draft. Not a single FA was offered arb and the 1st and 2nd round picks were forfeited because of the signing of Carlos Lee and Woody Williams…

AKA – worst draft EVAH)

DNS – 3 Derek Dietrich: star SS at Georgia Tech
DNS – 4 Brett Eibner now a star at U of Arkansas thanks to cheapo Drayton
5 Collin Delome: .813 OPS at AA
OOB – 6 David Dinelli: crapped out at Rookie ball in 08
7 Russell Dixon: 2B – massive suckage at A ball
DNS – 8 Chad Bettis: excelling at Texas Tech
OOB – 9 Luis Pardo: crapped out at A ball in 08
10 Matt Cusick: traded to the Yankees for LaTroy Hawkins; has .765 OPS at A+ as 2B
11 Robert Bono: pitching well at A ball, even with low K/9
12 Brian Pellegrini: just promoted to A ball and struggling
DNS – 13 Chad Jones: excelling at LSU as ace lefty reliever thanks to el-cheapo Drayton
14 Craig Corrado: has 529 OPS at A+
DNS – 15 Matt Fitts: picked 16th round by A’s in 08, now sucking at A ball
OOB – 16 Devon Torrence: crapped out in Rookie ball in 08
OOB – 17 Mason Roberts: crapped out in Rookie ball in 07
OOB – 18 Brian Espersen: crapped out in low A in 07
19 Jon Fixler: C - low BA, high SLG at AA
20 Kyle Greenwalt: pitching decently at A ball in spite of low K/9
21 Kyle Miller: 599 OPS at A ball
OOB – 22 Drew Anderson: crapped out Rookie ball in 07
OOB – 23 Charlie Gamble: crapped out at A- in 07 (had an OPS over 1 in college for 3 yrs)
OOB – 24 Philip Stringer: crapped out at Rookie ball in 07
OOB – 25 Kevin Carkeek: crapped out in A+ in 08
OOB – 26 Sal Iacono: crapped out at A+ in 08
OOB – 27 Brett Robinson: (Dewey’s son) crapped out in A ball in 08
OOB – 28 Jared Pitts: crapped out in A- in 07
OOB – 29 Travis Sweet 3Bcrapped out at A+ in 08
OOB – 30 Danny Gil: crapped out in A ball with Astros, picked up by Nats, threw 17 great relief innings in Rookie ball, then dropped after 08
31 Jason Dominguez: either on DL or released from A+ ball this year
32 David Miller: crapped out in 08 for Astros at A- and is on DL or dropped by Jays in 09
OOB – 33 Cody Phipps: crapped out after 11 PA in Rookie ball in 07
34 Brian Wabick: Hanging in there at A ball with high K/9, low BB/9 and 5.35 ERA
35 Jordan Powell: righty reliever pitching OK at A+
36 Albert Cartwright: 2B with .794 OPS at A ball
OOB – 37 Jake Leonhardt: crapped out in A ball in 08
DNS – 38 Robbie Weinhardt: picked in 10th round in 08 by Det, now ace reliever at A+
DNS – 39 Brian Fletcher: now playing at Auburn
DNS – 40 Kyle Erdman: never signed pro contract
41 Colton Pitkin: 19 yo righty reliever – either on DL or OOB at A-
OOB – 42 Chris Turner: crapped out in Rookie ball in 08

43 Marques Williams: hi ave low power at A ball
OOB – 44 Cat Everett: crapped out in A ball in 08 (and they gave him PLENTY of PA)

42 drafted : 34 signed (trouble is that the guys who DNS were #3, #4, #8, #13, #15)

now in majors – none
traded for someone who played for the Astros: 1 (Matt Cusick)
still playing: (0) AAA; (2 – #5, # 19) AA; (10-13, depending on whether players are on DL or released) A
crapped out in 07: 4 in Rookie, 4 in Low A (26 guys left at end of draft year)
crapped out in 08: 3 in Rookie, 7 in A ball (16 guys left at end of last year)

Of guys left in pro ball in the Astros Organization, only, Collin DeLome appears to have any chance whatsoever of reaching even AAA.

Of the DNS, 3 are stars in college ball and 1 was selected by another club the next year and is excelling

The only reason to not call this particular draft a complete and total waste of time/scouting/money is that one A ball guy was traded for a useful reliever in the ML club.

I don’t know exactly where to lay the blame for this simply dreadful draft, but if all these guys were lowball/guys who would sign for slot picks, then THAT decision rests strictly with Drayton. And the fact that exactly 3 players in this entire draft are not COMPLETE suckage doesn’t say real too much for Drayton’s decision not to spend any real money to purchase young players.

—————————————————————————–

2008 – Ed Wade, GM: Bobby Heck, Scouting Director

1 (#10)  Jason Castro: they BADLY want this guy to succeed and he’s in AA.
1 (#38)  Jordan Lyles: 18 yo righty pitching VERY well at A ball, should be in A+ soon
2 Jay Austin: 18 yo with 645 OPS at A ball
DNS – 3 Chase Davidson: chose college at Georgia (not because of no bonus offered)
3 Ross Seaton: 19 yo righty pitching VERY well at A ball in spite of low K/9
4 T.J. Steele: 22 yo OF slaughtering the ball at A+ with 1.065 OPS;  time for AA
5 David Duncan: pitching LOUSY at A+ and wasn’t that good in college either
6 J.B. Shuck : 22 yo with 808 OPS at A+
7 Jonathan Gaston: 22 yo with 1.058 OPS at A+
8 Brad Dydalewicz: 19 yo lefty pitching lights out at A ball - too many walks, though
9 Luis Cruz: pitched 23.2 very good innings in Rookie ball, had arm trouble, now at low A
OOB – 10 Jarred Holloway: crapped out in 08 at age 18 in Rookie ball
11 Jacob Priday: barely hanging on in A ball with 666 OPS
12 Jeff Hulett: sucked at A- last year and 1 AB this year – don’t know if he is on DL or gone
13 Kyle Godfrey: 22 yo repeating A-
14 Chris Hicks: 22 yo righty sucking at A+
15 Phil Disher: 24 yo killed ball at A- and now with 534 OPS at A ball

DNS – 16 Josh Poythress: went to Fresno State instead
17 Andy Simunic: 23 yo 2B with 581 OPS at A ball
18 David Flores: 22 yo 3B with 669 OPS at A+
19 Ashton Mowdy: very good 23 yo righty reliever at A ball with 0.81 WHIP over 31 IP
DNS – 20 Shea Robin: never signed pro contract
DNS: 21 Rodarrick Jones: went to college at UNO
DNS – 22 Terrance Jackson: LHP, still in college, best I can tell
DNS – 23 Chase Hutchingson: must have gone on to 4 year college from JuCo
24 Danny Meier: 23 yo – 1 AB at A- this year, didn’t do well at A- last year
25 Michael Hacker: lil lefty reliever is walktastic at A-
26 Shane Wolf: 22 yo lefty starter struggling at A+
OOB – 27 Nate Pettus: 19 yo crapped out at Rookie ball in 08
28 Zach Grimmett: 18 yo threw 31 IP in relief at Rookie ball, now in A-
29 Chris Jackson: 22 yo SS barely surviving at A+
30 Michael Diaz: 22 yo 2B with 676 OPS at A ball
31 Philip Rummel: 24 yo reliever pitching horribly at A+ (44 H/ 24 IP)
DNS – 32 Bryan Vollmuth: at college with Southern Miss
DNS – 33 Shawn Armstrong: went to ECU
DNS – 34 Jordan Jankowski: went to college at Miami, Ohio
35 Rene Garcia: 18 yo C – 4 AB at A- this year, had 795 OPS at Rookie ball in 08
DNS – 36 Austin Wood: RHP – went to Fla State (NOT the UT closer)
37 Kirkland Rivers: 23 yo RH RP pitched 7.1 good innings at A ball
DNS – 38 Kristofer Castellanos: LHP went to Fla State
DNS – 39 Tyson Van Winkle: picked in 10th round 2009 draft by Dbax
DNS – 40 Scott Lawson: went to U of Miami
DNS – 41 Tony McClendon: went to Cal State Fullerton
DNS – 42 Ryan Danbury: age 21, never signed pro contract
DNS – 43 Austin Green: went to U of San Diego/San Diego State??
DNS – 44 Edmond Sparks: picked 23rd round 09 draft by Braves
DNS – 45 Grayson Garvin: went to Vanderbilt
DNS – 46 Mike Modica: age 23, picked AGAIN by Astros, this time in 24th round 2009
47 Nathan Metroka: 460 OPS at A ball in 44 PA

48 Danny Meszaros: 23 yo righty reliever, struggling to adjust to AA – 19 IP with 1.31 WHIP
OOB – 49 Chase Lehr: crapped out in 9.2 IP at Rookie ball in 08
DNS – 50 Jamal Austin: went to UAB

51 drafted : 30 signed

now in majors – none
traded for someone who played for the Astros: none
still playing: (0) AAA; (2) AA; (22) A
crapped out in 08: 5 in Rookie ball, 1 at A-

7 of the players in the 1st 10 rounds are playing well – 2 are already gone (and I’m not sure why one of them didn’t return as he did VERY well). Rounds 19, 37 and 48 are looking decent and may have a chance to succeed to at least AAA.

The remaining players look as if they are barely hanging on by their fingernails.

Interesting that they decided to oust some guys only 18 or 19 years old after only a few IP or PA. Wonder why.

You notice that Ed Wade didn’t sign hardly any of the last 20 picks either.

Other thing – I hate to judge the Astros by other Organizations because the Astros seem to try to keep young players in the minors until they are at least 27 years old, if not older or Designated For Success No Matter What like Jason Castro. And when they finally get around to calling them up, like Maysonet, they glue them to the bench in favor of ANY crappy veteran.

Last thing – the only seriously terrible draft by Purpura was the last one because he didn’t sign ANY player with ANY upside of those he actually did get signed and he only managed to get 1, maybe 2, decent minor leaguers.

That is SAD.

ADDENDUM 6/24/08:

At this time, the Astros have signed 28 of their 51 picks, including 2,3,4,5,6,9,10.

Tags: Houston Astros

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 6:40 am and is filed under Astros baseball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.