Who's Going to Minute Maid Park

While the minor league season runs through Labor Day, tomorrow is the official day when major league roster expand to 40. It sounds like the Astros won't be bringing up many players in September, most of them have been called up already.

I have heard Ed Wade state that he prefers to bring up players only if there is a role for them to fill.

With that in mind, here is a quick look at some new faces who may be joining the squad:

Brian Bogusevic, 1B/OF. Bogusevic is on the 40-man roster. I don't see how the Astros can't call him up and give him some September at bats and time in the outfield.

Matt Downs, IF. Downs, recently picked up on waivers, may be called up to provide a bit of infield depth with Blum and Keppinger coming back from injuries.

A catcher? There has been discussion about the club possibly brining up a third catcher to relieve Castro and Quintero. However, the only other catcher on the 40-man roster is J.R. Towles, who is out for the season with injury. To add a catcher the team would need to move someone off of the 40-man roster, most likely Brian Moehler to the 60-day Disabled List. If they do that, the question becomes what catcher? The two Round Rock catchers are Brian Esposito (.228) and Edwin Bellorin
(.189).

If the organization is set on having a third catcher, it would make more sense to bring up Federico Hernandez from Corpus Christi. Hernandez, 22, started the year in Lancaster where he batted .267 with eight HRs and 46 RBI in 84 games. He was promoted to Corpus Christi to replace Jonathon Fixler. For the Hooks, Hernandez is 11 for 39 with four doubles in 13 games. If anyone, he seems to be a catcher with a spot in the Astros' future.

I would be as tickled as any one if Jordan Lyles or J.B. Shuck got called up for a cup of coffee. However, since neither is on the 40-man roster, I can't envision another move to make room for them. If anything, it may be Lyles may get the call instead of a third catcher. However, I think the bears around Minute Maid Park are safe until sometime around June 2011.