Series Thread: Off to the Cooler Confines of Colorado.....7/20-22

[Bmurph]

Angels feel they are a big left handed bat away from going all the
way. They will have their eyes on Moreland this weekend. He probably
won't get traded and I wouldn't like to see him go unless a deal improves
the club.

I don't know what they have to give up besides Heaney, maybe? I certainly don't think JD trades MM within the division though

 

[Senator_fan]

I don't know what they have to give up besides Heaney, maybe? I certainly don't think JD trades MM within the division though

Heaney is hot right now. Doubt if Stoneman and Sciosa would
go for that.

 

[Bmurph]

Heaney is hot right now. Doubt if Stoneman and Sciosa would
go for that.

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register also hears that the Angels are opening up to not only the idea of rental players, but also to the idea of adding a right-handed bat. (Previously, the Angels have been said to prefer left-handed bats due to the heavily right-handed nature of their lineup.) According to Fletcher, the only player that seems off limits in the Angels’ minor league system is Sean Newcomb. Pitchers Chris Ellis and Nate Smith — two of the club’s top-ranked prospects — could potentially be had. Fletcher adds (via Twitter) that Andrew Heaney is probably not available either.

Appears it is doubtful

 

[saddles]

Is Tate already ahead of Ortiz?

I wonder if that would have been the case if Ortiz could have stayed healthy this year.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Minor League report for last night from DMN:

Texas Rangers minor-league report: Ross Wolf dazzles for Triple-A Round Rock | | Dallas Morning News

 

[donaldson79]

Minor League report for last night from DMN:

Texas Rangers minor-league report: Ross Wolf dazzles for Triple-A Round Rock | | Dallas Morning News

I just read this and was getting ready to post it myself. haha

Kind of had forgotten about this guy really. Having a nice season.

 

[Bmurph]

Nice to see Williams and Brinson doing well. Clark still raking.

Cody Buckel has just fallen off the planet, it seems he will just never get it back

 

[fordman84]

will do! thanks. do you know the answer to yu's contract situation by any chance?

I can help with this. Good to see ya again Elzie. If I can dig it up, do you want your old account active again or this new one?

 

[fordman84]

I can help with this. Good to see ya again Elzie. If I can dig it up, do you want your old account active again or this new one?

Tried to update your old email to your new one and the database didn't like it. I've asked hammer to update it and get the old account back up and running.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Is Tate already ahead of Ortiz?

Yes. He's ahead of Ortiz, Thompson & Chi Chi. He's the best pitching prospect in system according to K.Law.

 

[Bmurph]

Yes. He's ahead of Ortiz, Thompson & Chi Chi. He's the best pitching prospect in system according to K.Law.

Nice

 

[donaldson79]

Odor hit .143 for April and May, with 1 HR, and 25 Ks. Went down for 5 weeks. Came back and has hit .370, cut down on his Ks to 12.

Boy, did Norm shower him with praise - justifiably - for his AB in the 9th! Keep in mind, this entire season, Odor has not walked when behind 0-2 even once.

 

[romeo212000]

Odor hit .143 for April and May, with 1 HR, and 25 Ks. Went down for 5 weeks. Came back and has hit .370, cut down on his Ks to 12.

Boy, did Norm shower him with praise - justifiably - for his AB in the 9th! Keep in mind, this entire season, Odor has not walked when behind 0-2 even once.

He's got an uncanny ability to put the bat on the ball hard. He reminds me of Michael young a little because he doesn't mind hitting with 2 strikes.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Odor hit .143 for April and May, with 1 HR, and 25 Ks. Went down for 5 weeks. Came back and has hit .370, cut down on his Ks to 12.

Boy, did Norm shower him with praise - justifiably - for his AB in the 9th! Keep in mind, this entire season, Odor has not walked when behind 0-2 even once.

He was noted for his ability to play as though he was someone with more experience last year when he came up. Making adjustments was a part of that. It's been a long time since I've been this excited about a kid from our system making the big team.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Nice to see Williams and Brinson doing well. Clark still raking.

Cody Buckel has just fallen off the planet, it seems he will just never get it back

He is our next 8th inning setup guy.

 

[romeo212000]

He was noted for his ability to play as though he was someone with more experience last year when he came up. Making adjustments was a part of that. It's been a long time since I've been this excited about a kid from our system making the big team.

I think he'll be a left handed altuve.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Odor hit .143 for April and May, with 1 HR, and 25 Ks. Went down for 5 weeks. Came back and has hit .370, cut down on his Ks to 12.

Boy, did Norm shower him with praise - justifiably - for his AB in the 9th! Keep in mind, this entire season, Odor has not walked when behind 0-2 even once.

The thing that is amazing about that was we have a 21 year old at bat in the 9th of a tied game who is a double away from the cycle. He did not get overanxious in hopes of hitting for the cycle but did what was best for the team which was just get on base any way you can. As I have said, a walk is as good as a hit and that was the case right there. Great AB. I have been on the Odor bandwagon since Myrtle Beach so I am glad he got things turned around.

 

[romeo212000]

The thing that is amazing about that was we have a 21 year old at bat in the 9th of a tied game who is a double away from the cycle. He did not get overanxious in hopes of hitting for the cycle but did what was best for the team which was just get on base any way you can. As I have said, a walk is as good as a hit and that was the case right there. Great AB. I have been on the Odor bandwagon since Myrtle Beach so I am glad he got things turned around.

Looks like one of the first pieces of this team returning to contender status.

 

[Bmurph]

Astros Acquire Scott Kazmir
By Jeff Todd [July 23, 2015 at 12:13pm CDT]
Athletics starter Scott Kazmir is headed to the Astros in the year’s first major trade, Oakland has announced. Returning to the A’s in the deal are righty Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham, per the release.



Trade talks were said to be “heating up” late yesterday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported. She tabbed Houston as the likely suitor, and indeed that has come to fruition.

He’ll return to his home town in the deal. The Astros had previously pursued him in free agency, but he decided to join the A’s on a two-year, $22MM pact. Kazmir will finish that contract with the Astros, and will also pick up a $500K assignment bonus in the process. Because he was acquired in the middle of the year, the Astros won’t be able to extend Kazmir a qualifying offer, which should aid his free agent case.

In Kazmir, the Astros get a top-performing starter to slot into the club’s rotation. Though he has long been dogged by injury questions, any such concerns are much less prevalent in a rental scenario.

The 31-year-old, who burst back onto the scene after a long layoff, threw 190 1/3 quality innings last year and has been even better in 2015. He owns a 2.38 ERA over 109 2/3 frames, with 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 to go with a 45.9% groundball rate.

ERA estimators view Kazmir more as a mid-3 earned run talent, but that’s plenty useful for a Houston rotation that was in need of good innings down the stretch. He’ll join Dallas Keucheland Collin McHugh atop the rotation, which also features the sturdy Scott Feldman and youngsters Lance McCullers Jr. and Vincent Velasquez. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said that the acquisition gives his club “one of the deepest rotations in the American League,” adding that he hopes the move makes Houston “a viable force,” as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets.

By moving for a short-term piece, Luhnow avoided the need to part with the organization’s highest-rated minor league talent. That could keep some powder dry should the club look to add a bat or other piece. While neither of the pieces going to Oakland have received much hype, though, it’s worth bearing in mind that they come from a deep Houston system. And A’s GM Billy Beane obviously preferred to add the pair rather than attempting to pick up a draft pick by offering Kazmir a qualifying offer after the season.

Mengden, 22, holds the 19th overall spot in MLB.com’s ranking of Astros prospects. A fourth-round pick in 2014, the righty is said to have four pitches with some promise. That could make him a rotation piece down the line, though some view him as a reliever in the long run.

Meanwhile, in Nottingham, the A’s will add Houston’s 22nd-rated prospect, per MLB.com, which says there are some questions whether he can stick behind the dish. He just earned a call-up to the High-A level, and has put up big numbers as his promising power has turned into production. Over 329 total plate appearances this season, Nottingham owns a .326/.383/.558 slash with 14 home runs.

ASTROS MAKING MOVES

 

[darrylgann]

Kazmir to Houston for two middle prospects. Beat me to it, Murph