Jesse Crain isn't going to pitch until late April but if he comes back strong and performs well he could be good trade bait to a bullpen needy contender during the non-waiver trading deadline on July 31. The Astros had signed Jesse Crain as a high-reward, low-risk signing. He made the all-star team last year with the White Sox. He produced a stellar ERA of 0.74 over 38 games played. He's a solid reliever if he just stays healthy.



http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/16/jesse-crain-at-least-two-weeks-from-mound-work/

"According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, Crain — who signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Astros in December — is at least two weeks away from his first mound work of the spring. That puts him well behind the other relievers in Astros camp and it’s a certainty now that he will open the 2014 campaign with a 15-day disabled list stint.

Crain owns a fantastic 2.10 ERA and 10.6 K/9 in 150 innings since the beginning of the 2011 season. If his health begins to cooperate, he should eventually move his way toward Houston’s closer role."

We have to get this guy on the mound and dominating again. I'd like to see him fetch the Astros a couple of good prospects in late July. I doubt he's going to re-sign here long term anyways. He's too good of a reliever that can become a reliable closer or set-up man much less a seventh inning guy. Many contenders will value a guy like him and trade wise every team can pretty much absorb his cheaper one year salary for a stretch drive and playoff run.

The Astros ended their spring training schedule with a couple of exhibition wins over the Texas Rangers in San Antonio. Well actually they play one more exhibition game tomorrow afternoon at Minute Maid Park against Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz, a Mexican league baseball team.

I saw a lot of positive things this spring but we'll see what happens on Tuesday Night against the Yankees. First game of the 2014 regular season and the Astros will try to end their 15-game losing streak which carries over from last season's miserable 51-111 season. I wouldn't say that I'm excited but more or less eager to see how much they have improved if any.

I expect another long and miserable season but hopefully some of the young talent will shine and it will be more exciting to watch.

Tuesday Night's season opener from Minute Maid Park: Scott Feldman versus CC Sabathia

I really like our projected top three of the batting order: Dexter Fowler, Robbie Grossman and Jose Altuve. Bo Porter has the right idea. All of them are good contact hitters and can get on base with pretty good speed. If only we had a better middle of the order we'd have a respectable offensive ball club.

Guys like Chris Carter and Matt Dominguez can both hit 20-to-25 homers but they strike out a ton and don't work the counts or draw walks. And of course Jason Castro is an all-star catcher who's a much better hitter than he gets credit for. He hit .276 last year with 18 home runs himself.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Mar 31 2014 05:08pm

time to call up george springer

He will be called up some time this season to play right field. There is no room for him in left field or center field. L.J. Hoes and that guy we signed off waivers (Alex Presley) will split time in right field for now, hitting low in the lineup I'm guessing (7 or 8). We have a better looking lineup to start this season. Probably our best looking lineup in four or five years.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Mar 31 2014 05:10pm

Also kargus, both Mark Appel and Carlos Correa played well to end spring training but they also are going to start the year in the minor leagues. I can't wait until all three guys are called up. That's probably when the Astros will turn the corner and become a .500 type of team. I'm hoping by 2016 or 2017 they will be good enough to produce a winning record.

Add whoever we draft number one overall in this June's draft (likely Carlos Rodon) into the mix as well. Jonathan Villar is only 22 years old but he has more MLB experience than Correa so there's no need to rush the teenager up. I wouldn't be surprised if Appel and Springer are both called up a month or two from now depending on how well or how bad the Astros are playing at that time.

The lineup for tonight's season opener

Houston Astros
1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. Robbie Grossman (S) LF
3. Jose Altuve (R) 2B
4. Jason Castro (L) C
5. Jesus Guzman (R) 1B
6. Chris Carter (R) DH
7. Matt Dominguez (R) 3B
8. L.J. Hoes (R) RF
9. Jonathan Villar (S) SS
Starting Pitcher: Scott Feldman (R)

I like it a lot. That top three is no joke. I'd rather have George Springer in right field instead of L.J. Hoes because Springer has 30-30 potential and can hit much higher in the batting order. There was no reason for the Astros to send him back down to the minor leagues. I expect him to be called up for good in May or June.

Jesus Guzman was a guy the Astros signed from the San Diego Padres in free agency this past off-season. He should take advantages of the short porch in left field during home games, aka the .315 foot Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park. Ideally he'd come off the bench as a pinch-hitter with some pop on a really good team, but there is an opportunity for him to start in Houston whether as a first baseman or DH. We released Brett Wallace so Jesus Guzman should see plenty of at-bats this season.

lego astros

6-0 Astros after two innings. Fowler (two doubles) and Altuve (two singles, two RBIs) are both 2-for-2.
Jesus Guzman has a two-run homer and L.J. Hoes has a solo blast. Really good start but a lot of game left.
Did you see Nolan Ryan throw that wild pitch five feet past Craig Biggio before the game? That was wild.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Apr 1 2014 05:59pm

Adda boy Chad Qualls. At least he got out of the 8th inning inducing a big double play ball. In the past the Astros would have given up four or five runs in that situation instead of two. I expect a much improved bullpen this year. We have all-star Jesse Crain returning in a few weeks. He started the season on the 15-day DL. He'll likely become the closer once he's healthy.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Apr 1 2014 07:49pm