Follow the Astros of the Past...with Him

I have posted a story about Ken Webster who is following the 1966 Astros on Twitter. It is an intriguing concept that Webster is executing.

His project got me wondering "Who were the Astros of the Future in 1966?"

With all due respect to Astros County, here is a look at Tal's Farm in 1966:

Oklahoma City 89ers- Jim Ray a right-handed pitcher who ended up being my Astros Buddy several years in the future.

Amarillo Sonics- Doug Rader and Don Wilson

Salisbury (NC) Astros- John Paciorek, who went to have a career 1.000 batting average.

Cocoa Astros- Bob Watson

Durham Bulls- Larry Howard

Bismarck-Mandan Pards- Scipio Spinks

After 10 AAA starts Jordan Lyles says

What is Jordan Lyles thinking about AAA after 10 starts? Check out my latest post at Chron.com.

The Voice of the RedHawks-J.P. Shadrick

Thanks to Oklahoma City play-by-play announcer J.P. Shadrick who provided the answers for my lastest post at Chron.com.

BALLPARK TIME MACHINE

Things looked bleak for the local nine, so the Dukes devised a plan for the most interesting baseball season ever. Thus was born, THE BALLPARK TIME MACHINE.

Who is the Greenest of them All?

On the eve of Earth Day, my latest post at Chron.com takes a look at the GREEN activities of the Astros affiliates.

Wallace's Bat is not a Baseball's Friend

Chris Wallace says, "I haven't felt this good at the plate in a really long time." Read more in my latest Chron.com post.

With the 11th Pick in the 2011 Draft

Thanks to Brian McTaggart and Twitter we know the Astros first four picks in the 2011 Draft, which begins June 6.

The club will continue building their farm system with picks #11, 69, 99, and 130.

...So I dated a Hall of Famer

Oklahoma City outfielder Drew Locke got into the Hall of Fame free last week. Read about it in my latest post at Chron.com.

JetHawk announcer Jeff Lasky

Lancaster JetHawk play-by-play announcer Jeff Lasky took some time to introduce himself to the Farmstros Village. You can meet him in my lastest post at Chron.com.

Get to know J.B. Shuck

Oklahoma City centerfielder J.B. Shuck answered a few questions about himself via email. Check out what he said in my latest Chron.com post.

Extended Spring Training Roster

This information is a combination of information received from players and fans and information gathered by comparing my database with the players assigned to full-season affiliates and players released. I will update this once I get an official roster from the Astros.

Pitchers
David Duncan- Injured, rehabbing at home
Brad Dydalewicz
Paul Gerrish
B.J. Hyatt
Chia-jen Lo-Rehab
Nate Pettus-Disabled
Raul Rivera
Thomas Shirley
Vincent Velasquez-Rehab
Brandt Walker- Disabled, Rehabbing at home

Catchers

Infielders
Barry Butera
Jonathan Merritt-Disabled, out for season
Nick Stanley

Outfielders

Subber 10's Minor League ReCaps are back

Subber10 at The Crawfish Boxes is taking on daily minor league recaps as the season begins. If you want to know how the affiliates do each day, check it out. I am putting a link to Subber10's recaps in the Farmstros Favorites section for your convenience.

Spend Opening Day with Keith Elkins

The Lexingto Legends play the first game of the Astros minor league season Thursday at 6:05 (Minute Maid Park time). Keith Elkins will make the call for the Legends, and I have posted an interview with the play-by-play announcer at Chron.com.

Come with Farmstros to Chron.com for Opening Day

On the eve of my fourth year Following the Astros of the Future, it is time to embark on a brand new adventure.

I am very excited to have been granted a platform at Chron.com for my content. At the same time, going through Spring Training has shown me that if I am going to focus on putting out two or three quality posts a week at Chron.com, I won't have the time to do this arm of Farmstros as extensively as I have done it in the past.

This blog and my Twitter feed won't be completely silent, but the large majority of my time and efforts will be going towards making my posts at Chron.com as interesting and reader-attracting as possible.

Please, Follow the Astros of the Future with us at Chron.com.

The Database is Updated

I have gone through and updated the Farmstros database based on the Opening Day assignments. Still working on Extended Spring Training attendees and released players.

Which Three to See will you See?

Lexington? Lancaster? Corpus Christi? Oklahoma City? What prospects would you most like to see this season? My latest blog post at chron.com includes a handy-dandy poll.

Rosters are Set for now

First of all, thanks to the Farmstros Village (You know who you are) who helped fill up 60 of 98 roster spots. This morning Brian McTaggart at astros.com posted the affiliates' official rosters.

A few notes: It appears Farmstros missed on Andy Van Hekken as he is not on the OKC roster. McTaggart has an extra player listed for Corpus Christi and Lexington, meaning someone is going to be inactive of disabled. Farmstros has Jordan Comadena listed on the Lancaster roster, and McTaggart's JetHawk roster is one short, so we will see what happens with Funky Comadena. Finally, I have heard Enrique (Kike) Hernandez is playing OF in Lexington, instead of IF. I'll let the box scores roll in to figure that one out.

Thanks again to everyone who helped solve the puzzle as we get ready for the season.

A NOTE: Word is that Andy Van Hekken is with the club in OKC. If he stays, someone will have to be disabled or inactive.

KRIS-TV has eight videos from Spring Training

Tyler Garrett and Jason Notoras of KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi completed eight videos from Spring Training in Florida. Here are links to his work:

Meet Tom Lawless, the Hooks new manager

David Carpenter, Converted Pitcher

Many new Faces expected at Whataburger Field

Jose Altuve

J.D. Martinez

Astros Youth Movement

Catching up with Jordan Lyles

Hooks likely to have same outfield

Who's Going Where?

The minor league season starts in five days (April 7). My latest post at Chron.com calls on the Farmstros Village to help fill out the 98-player puzzle that is the rosters of the Astros' four top affiliates.

Martinez from Florida

The Hooks have posted a video interview of J.D. Martinez from Florida.