The Astros' Owner and G.M. Have Long-Term Plans

[Stotle]

Of course there have been hitting busts as well, but historically hitters are significantly less risky than pitchers. College hitters in particular are your safest bet.

They also tend to have the lowest ceiling due to a heavy shift towards orgs locking up the best positional talent out of high school. The Bryants of the world are much more the exception today -- you don't have your Tulos and Longorias populating college baseball anymore.

[weams]

They also tend to have the lowest ceiling due to a heavy shift towards orgs locking up the best positional talent out of high school. The Bryants of the world are much more the exception today -- you don't have your Tulos and Longorias populating college baseball anymore.

Rendon is as described.

[Stotle]

Rendon is as described.

Yup, Rendon is another one of those rarities at the collegiate ranks. The closest we've seen to him since his freshman year at Rice is probably Alex Bregman at LSU, and Bregman is a few full steps behind the upside Rendon was showing.

I mean, Rendon was a stud in every sense of the word throughout college and then spent all of, what, 80 games in the minors in total? Had he not basically lost a year to injury, we' be looking at a 23 year old establishing himself as one of the top five or so infielders in the National League. Could be a five win player with his value spread across his offense, defense and base running. Crazy.

[Can_of_corn]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/casey-close-calls-foul-on-astros-and-mlb-in-negotiations-with-no-1-draft-pick-brady-aiken-071414

But with a Friday deadline nearing for the Astros to sign high school left-hander Brady Aiken, the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, Close on Monday sharply criticized both the Astros and Major League Baseball for the way the team has handled negotiations with the pitcher.

“We are extremely disappointed that Major League Baseball is allowing the Astros to conduct business in this manner with a complete disregard for the rules governing the draft and the 29 other clubs who have followed those same rules,” said Close, who serves as a family advisor to Aiken. The standoff could lead the Astros to lose their reported $6.5 million agreement with Aiken and $1.5 million deal with their fifth-round pick, high-school right-hander Jacob Nix, who also is advised by Close.

[Stotle]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/casey-close-calls-foul-on-astros-and-mlb-in-negotiations-with-no-1-draft-pick-brady-aiken-071414

Yeah, that might get REALLY ugly. The specifics sound...unusual.

[webbrick2010]

Don't forget that the Astro's have Josh Hader who is 8-1 with a 2.6 ERA and 98 SO in 90 innings at High A (In a extreme hitters park and league).

Only 20 year old, he is starting to move up the prospects board, already better than Appel who was their #1 overall pick.

[PaulFolk]

Don't forget that the Astro's have Josh Hader who is 8-1 with a 2.6 ERA and 98 SO in 90 innings at High A (In a extreme hitters park and league).

Only 20 year old, he is starting to move up the prospects board, already better than Appel who was their #1 overall pick.

How could we forget? You bring it up in every thread, including those that are only tangentially related.

Also, there's no way Hader is a more highly rated prospect than Appel. What publication are you citing that from?

[Redskins Rick]

Don't forget that the Astro's have Josh Hader who is 8-1 with a 2.6 ERA and 98 SO in 90 innings at High A (In a extreme hitters park and league).

Only 20 year old, he is starting to move up the prospects board, already better than Appel who was their #1 overall pick.

Baseball Prospectus rates him as a realistic #4 starter and an ETA to the bigs in 2017.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=23489

[Can_of_corn]

Don't forget that the Astro's have Josh Hader who is 8-1 with a 2.6 ERA and 98 SO in 90 innings at High A (In a extreme hitters park and league).

Only 20 year old, he is starting to move up the prospects board, already better than Appel who was their #1 overall pick.

So KLaw has Appel at #33 on his list and Hader didn't make his top 50.

I am curious who, other then you, are going to rate Hader over Appel at the half way mark?

[webbrick2010]

So KLaw has Appel at #33 on his list and Hader didn't make his top 50.

I am curious who, other then you, are going to rate Hader over Appel at the half way mark?

Show's you that KLaw is just not paying attetion:

You do know that Appel and Hader are teammates pitching against the exact same competition:

Hader is 20 yo, 8-1 with 2.60 ERA, and 98 SO in 90 IP with a BAA of .204

Appel is 24 yo, 1-5 with a 10.80 ERA, 33 SO in 38 IP, with a BAS of .392

I think a lot of people know that Hader has passed Appel as a prospect

[Stotle]

Show's you that KLaw is just not paying attetion:

You do know that Appel and Hader are teammates pitching against the exact same competition:

Hader is 20 yo, 8-1 with 2.60 ERA, and 98 SO in 90 IP with a BAA of .204

Appel is 24 yo, 1-5 with a 10.80 ERA, 33 SO in 38 IP, with a BAS of .392

I think a lot of people know that Hader has passed Appel as a prospect

I was just around a load of scouts/prospect analysts last weekend and while most are concerned about the first half for Appel (and there are other issues), Hader hasn't passed him. Appel checks a lot of boxes, and some seemingly modest strides would put him back in the conversation for a top 20 overall type prospect, true #2 starter. Development isn't always linear.

Also, Hader does a lot that is non-traditional, and draws a fair amount of "bullpen guy" labels.

[Can_of_corn]

In not signing Aiken the Astros also failed to sign Nix and Marshall. If they had signed Nix they would have been over cap to the extent that they would have forfeited TWO first round picks.

Safe to say this draft was a disaster for the Astros.

[weams]

In not signing Aiken the Astros also failed to sign Nix and Marshall. If they had signed Nix they would have been over cap to the extent that they would have forfeited TWO first round picks.

Safe to say this draft was a disaster for the Astros.

As it was for the Nationals as well. The missed on two and nine.

[Can_of_corn]

As it was for the Nationals as well. The missed on two and nine.

That hurts but not anything close to the meltdown the Astros had. Their plan with the #1's has been to agree to an underslot deal then pick up more talent down the line. They forfeited the whole first slot when they didn't sign Aiken.

Throw in Appel's struggles...

[Tryptamine]

These last two drafts are going to set the Astros back badly. If they had just ponied up say 5M to Aiken, which he likely accepts, they still could have had one of Marshall or Nix. Instead they got greedy and now they lose 3 very good prospects and a years worth of prospect development.