Mickey is a 26 year old righty who was drafted in the 31st round by Oakland in the 08 draft. He reached AAA in 2010, had a 5+ ERA, was demoted to AA for 2011, posted a 4.03 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP and was released halfway thru the season and picked up by the Astros as minor league filler and sent to AAA. He didn’t exactly look like Mr. Ace Person – slightly more walks and hits, so no real change in ERA, but his WHIP went up to 1.60.

He had himself a real chence this year – the AAA team is winning because it is mostly AAAA guys who have OPS well over .800 and they out hit the other teams. The starters have been beyond terrible, and relievers like Juan Abreu have been absolutely awful. The only starter who managed to keep an ERA under 5 is Dallas Keuchel – and Wes Musick, who unfortunately got hurt and went on the DL after 6 good games.

But anyway, Mickey really had a chance and he significantly improved his game – he even started 2 games for the first time since college – tells you how horrible the AAA starters are – and posted a 3.05 ERA over 65 IP – 62 H, 8 HR, 14 BB, 72 K, 22 ER/24 R (and for THAT awful fielding team – is awesome) for a 3.05 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

He wasn’t even on the 40 man at the beginning of the year – not sure who they took off it, but here he is with a ML contract. He has just spent one day in the bigs and he hereby has medical insurance for the rest of his life – yeah, all you need is one day in the bigs. All that money they make, it’s the LEAST they can do for all the guys who very often don’t get more than a few games in The Show after all those low paychecks and hard work in the minors to be a supporting cast for The Pimpees.

Anyway, he gets out the 2 rightys he’s allowed to face and is pulled for Rhiner Cruz and his 7.71 ERA to face lefty Eric Hinski. I don’t understand THAT one. Naturally, he immediately doubles. At least it isn’t like it’s Mickey’s problem. This is Millsie-poo and his silliness.

Makes it very hard to care about this team. There are some things I don’t blame Millsie-poo for, like using Francisco Cordero – because he didn’t have a choice in the matter. But putting in Rhiner Cruz in a non-mopup situation? Stupid. I seriously doubt he’s going to be here next year. Crane/Luhnow have to show the fans that they Are Serious About Winning – or something.

Francisco went on the DL with pain in the foot – or something. Why the heck they won’t just DFA him I don’t know – it’s not like someone wants him.

The Astros just traded for 29 yo Houston boy RHP Garrett Mock (failed reliever for the Nats, last in the majors in 2010 – has a ML ERA over 5, but a good AAA record for the Red Sox AAA club – 48.2 IP with 18 R/ER, 49 H, 6 HR, 23 walks and 53 Ks – a 1.48 WHIP, but he looks like Aroldis Chapman next to what is relieving now) for “future considerations” whatever the heck that is.

We also picked up 33 year old homie Brian sanches (from Beaumont) who was the Royals second rounder in 99. He was a decent reliever for the Nats for several years, but had only 6 bad innings for the Phils this year and has been at AAA all year with a 2.51 ERA/1.24 WHIP.

No idea who is getting released/sent down.

You ask about AAA pitchers – well, you know Abad and Del Rosario (now off the 40 man) – well, there is:

Hector Ambriz, age 28, DFAd by Cleveland and picked up by the Astros 6/20: 14.1 IP over 11 games with 20 H, 4 BB, 10 K, no HR, 7 ER for an ace-like 4.40 ERA/1.67 WHIP

Juan Abreu (from the Bourn trade, remember?) He has a 98 MPH FB but it looks like AAA hitters can hit straight FB and can lay off ones in the dirt and over the head of the catcher. 45.2 IP, 46 H, 34!!! walks, 54 K for a 7.09 ERA

Jose Valdez, RHP, age 29,  the closer, has a 5.51 ERA. Remember him? he came in the Berkman trade and he pitched 14 awful innings for the ML club last year. Lifetime health insurance, now.

Sergio Perez, age 27, one of our first rounders in 05 – got hurt a lot and is now, to be nice about it, ineffective. 4.13 ERA as a reliever over 52.1 IP – 54 H, 6 HR, 23 W, 44 K, 24 ER/26 R.

Starters?

Paul Clemens got sent down because of his 6+ ERA

Brett Oberholzer (these 2 guys were obtained for Michael Bourn, remember? Plus Mary Jane Schafer – the Braves fans laughed themselves sick) pitched 9 games over 49 IP with 60 hits, TWELVE homers, 12 BB, 35 K for a 6.05 ERA

Brian Bass, 30 yo RHP, triple A filler picked up earlier this year off waivers, has a 6.75 ERA and trust me, you’ll barf at the rest of his numbers. I doubt he’s good enough for double A.

Rudy Owens, 24 yo LHP, picked up in the Wandy trade, has pitched 2 games over 9.1 innings and given up 11 H, 2 HR, 6 BB, 7 K and 8 ER. Yeah, I know, small sample size. He had a 3.14 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP with the Pirates AAA club.

Wes Musick, picked up from the Rox in 2010 in the Lindstrom trade, had a 3.62 ERA/1.38 WHIP in the 6 games he started before he got hurt.

Jarred Cosart only threw 3.2 innings before he got hurt.

Jake Buchanan, our 8th round pick of the 2010 draft, was promoted from AA with his 5.oo ERA (really) and he now has a 10+ ERA in 1 GS and 2 in relief at AAA. Really.

Ross Seaton just got called up (again) and he had been hit hard in his last 4 starts. Guess they needed someone breathing.

And I saved the best for last. Jose Cisnero, an original Astro, who is getting NO pub, has a thrown 2 starts, 7 innings each, given up 1 run in each start, total of 11 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 7 K.

The Bourn trade looks bad, the Oswalt trade looks bad and the Pence trade gave Singleton – and we still have to see if he can hit AAA pitching, let alone ML pitching. Yeah, I know that was Ed Wade. But so far, I’m not thrilled with all the gambles that Luhnow picked up neither.

Oh yeah – Tim Hudson beat the Astros, naturally, who got a run because Dan Uggla made an error. Jose Altuve made 2 really nice plays. Michael Bourn stole a base. Oops, wrong team.

In other Ex-Stros news, Wandy feels at home on the Pirates – got no run support today and gave up the losing homer to the pitcher. Take THAT you DH luvvvers!!!!! And his 05 – 07 teammates Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless inning.

Berkman is back on the DL with his knees again.

Chris Johnson went 1 fer 3 with an RBI.

Hunter Pence went 1 fer 5 with an RBI and a SB – he’s only got FIVE this year? Whoa.

The Rox are losing tonight by 9 runs – why can’t they just like WIN??!! please!! We’re only 3 gamse ahead. I mean, we lose and lose and lose and no matter HOW bad we do, Colorado is hanging in there with the losses.

Tomorrow, it’s Lucas Harrell, our ace, yes, our ace, with his 4.03 ERA, vs Paul Maholm (freshly traded from the salary dumping Cubs – don’t ask me why a HUGE money market team like them should be running on empty) who we last faced June 29 when he threw 8.1 innings of 4 hit, scoreless ball.

Tags: Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros

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