Some links surrounding the team that will jump ship from the NL Central into the AL West for the 2013 season…
- The Astros have begun doing their homework for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, and a familiar name could be in play once again, according to Brian McTaggart and Clark Goble of MLB.com. Stanford right-hander and Houston native Mark Appel will once again be among the team's candidates at 1-1, but he is just one of several players the team is considering, says scouting director Mike Elias. Appel, of course, was favored by many to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, but fell to the Pirates at No. 8 and did not sign. Houston instead selected Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa.
- General manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters, including McTaggart and Goble, that the team is narrowing its search for a manager. The 'Stros started with a list of 45 candidates, narrowed that to nine, and have since whittled the list down even further.
- Marty Noble of MLB.com writes that Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar is the right man for the managerial job in Houston. Bogar served as a minor league manager in the Houston organization from 2004-05, and Noble feels that he is a "bright, motivated, dedicated, sincere, balanced, [and] personable" candidate who can generate "tangible improvement."
- The Astros signed a two-year player development contract with the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits, McTaggart reports. Luhnow worked with the River Bandits when they were affiliated with the Cardinals, and a number of current Houston players have previously played there, including Brett Wallace and Tyler Greene.
- Lastly, McTaggart tweets that the Astros will not renew the contract of catching instructor Danny Sheaffer, who has been with Houston as a minor league instructor since 2009.
Another former Winter Haven Red Sox player (Sheaffer) name brought up.. Too bad his ex manager from when he played isn’t still managing (Rac Slider) instead of many of his former players being brought up lately
Sadly for Appel he chose Boras. He’s going to be the first player under the new CBA that will be made an example for other future draftees. He’ll go in about the same spot he did the previous year and will have to accept pretty much exactly what he would have received before.
Well if he’s going to get the same money either way and he likes it at Stanford, no real downside to finishing his degree.
It’s hilarious that people think Appel is regretting chosing the bast baseball agent.
Brad Ausmus said No.
Craig Biggio said No.
Kevin Bass said No.
Kenny Lofton said “This isn’t an interview for Center Fielder?”
What about the other 32 that turned them down so far? I ask because I enjoyed the above list so much.
Biggio was actually one of the people conducting the interviews.
I still think they were fine when they had Cecil Cooper. Coop definitely deserves another managerial shot.
He should leave Boras and find another agent, if he wants to stop being seen as a bad Appel.