I was thinking about Chase Davidson today when I heard that HS SS Rio Ruiz and college SS Nolan Fontana (rounds 2 and 4) signed. They signed for way over slot, just like Lance McCullers did, using the money that the Astros DIDN’T give to Carlos Correa. Why Chase Davidson – and who the heck is he?
He was our 3rd round pick in 08 (Lyles was a 1st rounder same year) who turned down whatever money he was offered, probably wasn’t THAT much, and went to U of Ga for 3 years and got picked again in 2011 round 41 after 3 years of college. No degree, no college glory and no bonus. Anyway, he got put in rookie ball, killed the ball, and is now just starting low A short season ball at age 22. Sometimes gambles pay off (see Aaron Crow) and sometimes they don’t. Fontana, by the way, is starting at A ball.
Speaking of gambles, the Astros gambled that Jason Maxwell’s painful bone-chipped ankle would magically somehow just be OK, but it wasn’t, so off he went to the Operating Room. His AB last night was worse than bad – looked like it hurt as bad to walk as it did to swing.
So they called up lefty Scott Moore, 3B/OF, Detroit’s first rounder in 02, who is hitting .324/.409/.564/.974. He has a .640 OPS over 184 ML ABs, in case all yall curious. Travis Buck got DFAd (but asked to stay at AAA) and Fernando Martinez got returned to AAA. Which means that the Astros really don’t have any righty bat to come off the bench, unless you, for some reason, want to think of Matt Downs as a bat, don’t ask me why.
Jordan Lyles came out tonight, knowing he would HAVE to look really good in order to not get sent down instead of Dallas Keuchel on Thursday. He was going to get to face the worst lineup in the NL, and he’s have to not suck. Plus, he would be facing Kip Wells, a pitcher who hadn’t been major league quality in years, and hadn’t showed any evidence that he’d be turning into Ryan Vogelsong.
First 2 innings, Wells didn’t look good, but the Astros hitters looked worse – Lyles couldn’t lay down the bunt for the squeeze with bases loaded 1 out – 2 walks and an IF single – in the second and Bixler couldn’t get anyone home neither.
sigh
Venable led off the 3rd with a homer off the top of the RF bullpen railing – the review was right. Single off Bixler’s glove (Altuve is still sitting – supposed to me “much better” – OKayyyyy), single to right, swinging K on a pitch at the neck, walk, groundout to short. 60 pitches already. Not exactly looking sharp.
Padres 1 Astros 0
Then Lowrie makes sure we won’t get shutout with a homer on a FB right down the middle over the RF bullpen fence. Bogu singles, but otherwise, no more. Ump, by the way, has an inconsistent strike zone. His name is DJ Rayburn. I disremember seeing his name before, so either he’s a fill in or a new callup. Or didn’t seriously piss me off before.
Astros 1 Padres 1
4th – Lyles must have heard my thoughts bout AAA because he gets 3 outs on 8 pitches.
Julio Daniel flies out – hey, where’s that new swing???!!! Schafer singles up the middle (just as I was saying how it’s time for him to go – you know that Michael Bourn has SEVEN homers already? That’s more than CJ or Carlos. And Michael hit one 422′ today. Yes, it’s a FINE contract year for the boy.)
5th – Jordan loses his grip – gets a popup on a pitch out of the zone, gives up a walk, flyout (on a pitch out of the zone), ANOTHER walk, then a swinging K. Jim Deshaeis is up front about how Lyles doesn’t have good command.
Stros get lucky – Lowrie singles, Bogu bunts back to Kip Wells, who whirls and throwa a DEAD easy 1-6-3 into CF and it’s men on first and third, no outs. Then CJ is up, Kip throws a WP and Lowrie runs home and Stros grab the lead as Bogu gets to second. Then CJ singles to left and Bogu runs home. Castro flies out, JD is up. Passed ball and CJ is on second. Julio Daniel fouls off a bunch of breakers and finally connects on one and hits it OFF the Conoco Pump – naturally it’s not on BBTN home runs even though it went a GOOD 440 feet. They didn’t even mention the Astros GAME on BBTN – spent at least half the time screeching about the ump who mistakenly thought a Yankees – you notice it’s the stupid Yankees – OF caught a foul ball when he leaned into the stands. The camera saw a fan get it and hold it up, so this is good material for screeching on and on about how umps make mistakes – not that it mattered in that particular game.
Where was I? Oh yeah -
Astros 5 Padres 1
6th – Lyles at 84 pitches. Let’s see if he’s any more confident with a 4 run lead. And yep – 6 pitches 3 outs, with a really good play from Bixler at second.
Nick Vincent, RHP, just called up from AA, is out. Lyles lines out, Bixler Ks, Lowrie flies out.
7th – Lyles at 91 pitches, back out. Walks Venable, then gets what should be a 6-4-3, only Bixler gets slid into and doesn’t turn the DP. Carlos Quentin singles to the LF bullpen and it’s men on first and third, 1 out instead of 2 out, man on first. Lyles has given up 4 walks, 6 hits and a run on a solo homer. He can feel good because he certainly outpitched Wandy, but not sure it’s going to be enough because he’ll be compared to Keuchel.
Lefty Abad is in to face lefty Kotsay. OOPS – righty Chase Headley in. And THE LEFTY STRIKES OUT THE RIGHTY!!!
You see that Millsie-poo? Can you believe it??? Leftys getting out rightys!!! Rightys getting out leftys!!!! It’s a crazy crazy world out there these days. What’s next, Dogs and cats living together???!!!!
Where was I? Oh yeah
Vincent back out. 1 walk, 2 flyouts, 1 K. Wonder if we can get 2 innings from our tired guys as good as the 2 innings the Pads got from Vincent.
8th – Abad back out, gets 1,2,3 out
LHP Alex Hinshaw, LHP out. 1,2,3 out.
9th – David Carpenter in to mopup. K, single up the middle, walk.
mopup FAIL
Closer in to face Carlos Quentin. Flyout to the Hill. Two run single to right. Another single. Men on first and third. HBP, bases loaded. Groundout, game ovah.
Tags: Houston Astros, San Diego Padres
Getting rid of Pence, I sort of understand. Bourn, though, still not over that. Just you wait, he’ll be the second coming of Willie Mays, yet!
i’m not over bourn neither and am not impressed with his replacement. he’s gonna get a big contract from SOMEbody. i wonder what boras is going to do with his guys and free agency now that prospects aren’t getting much money or ANY major league contracts when they first sign. the owners are thinking of getting lots of evan longoria deals, i’m sure.
How about Lucas Harrell tonight ? Just watched him pitch..although that was one nerve wracking 9th inning.
Martinez’s relay throw to Snyder to get the runner at home saved the game for Harrell.
that was INDEED a nerve wracking 9th- after pretty smooth sailing the previous 8. i was really REALLY shocked that millsie poo didn’t pull him
second coming off Mays LOL not hardly, maybe on defense only.