Minor Matters: More Astro Stargazing

Don’t look now, but the Astros have rhymed off four straight wins and are now holding their own after a simply abysmal start. Houston has even pulled within a half game of the Reds and Cubs for a share of fourth place in the NL Central. The offense is still the worst in the NL, but at least the pitching is heading in the right direction. As we’ve done a couple of times in recent days, lLet’s again turn our attention to Houston’s minor league ranks and check in on some of their prospects.

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Cheat Sheets: 2010 Relief Pitcher Rankings

Closers make up 10 per cent of the counting categories in Fantasy baseball and undoubtedly will contribute 90 per cent of a team owner’s grief. The game of spin-the-closer already commenced on numerous even before Opening Day. The value in drafting a proven, stable closer at the top-end might never be higher than it is this year as we watch the early turnover in mid- and lower-tier closers. If you’re in a gambling mood when shopping for saves, it would be prudent to tie yourself to the corresponding set-up man. An ounce of prevention could be a smart move this season.

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Minor Matters: Help on the Way for Houston?

The Houston Astros have started to dig their way out of an early-season hole by winning the final two games in Chicago this weekend. But even with this modest winning streak, the ‘Stros still find themselves six games under .500, owners of the worst offense and one of the worst pitching staffs in the NL. In a nutshell, it’s going to be a long year in Houston. And yes, we have a problem.

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Fantasy Notes: The Wright Stuff?

Wright was a seventh round pick of the Dodgers way back in 2003 and came to Houston in the Rule V draft in 2007. He’s a good strikeout pitcher, having averaged 10.8 K/9 in five seasons in the minors, although you’d expect that figure to drop with him starting. Of course, what Wright really needs to do to succeed, whether as a starter or a reliever, is to improve his control. Last year he walked 25 in just 44 2/3 IP with the Astros, and that was actually an improvement over his rookie season when he issued 34 free passes in 55 2/3 IP. In his first start of the season for Round Rock, Wright wasn’t awful, giving up just one earned run (and one unearned run) in four innings, but the six hits and two walks against just two strikeouts tells me he has a long way to go. Wright will get another crack Saturday night to show that he has a future as a starter.

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Fantasy Notes: Boof Trying to Work his Way Back

And while he was sharper as a starter that year, he wound up in a swingman role, and had a butt ugly season. He could still help a Red Sox bullpen that had a rough opening week, perhaps in a long relief role, but Bonser is expected to spend the maximum allowable time on his rehab assignment in Triple-A. And judging by how hard he was hit in his first start, that’s a good idea. Clearly, there’s no reason to give Bonser any Fantasy consideration until he proves he’s healthy and can actually get out major league hitters, never mind Triple-A batters.

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