An Article on the Astros' Troy Patton

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

For those who like to read up on other teams' prospects, especially those of our rivals, here's one on Troy Patton.

 

atton will start the season at Class A. Once he has mastered three things — consistently locating his fastball, throwing a breaking pitch for a strike and beginning work on a changeup — he'll move to Class AA Corpus Christi.

 

Once he can do all those things — control the fastball and throw both a breaking pitch and changeup in the strike zone — he'll be moved to Class AAA Round Rock. At that point, Phil Garner will be allowed to speak his name.

 

"The most impressive thing is how he competes," Purpura said. "He wants the ball. He wants to be out there. He goes after guys.

 

"He isn't afraid to throw his other pitches. He knows he has to throw his other pitches. That says a lot for a young kid. Young kids with good fastballs can dominate at the lower levels."

 

Patton is one of the reasons this time of the year is so fun around a baseball team. Last year at this time, the next generation of Astros — Chris Burke, Willy Taveras, Jason Lane, etc. — were on display as they stayed late.

 

This spring, there's another generation returning to work on a back field, far from Phil Garner's gaze. That generation is Hunter Pence and J.R. Towles and others.

 

Patton said he's got a long list of things to work on.

 

"On my best day, I could pitch and win in the big leagues," Patton said. "But it's all about consistency. The guys who do well in the big leagues are all about consistency. That's what they want to see from me. I've got plenty to work on."

[cubsrams1]

I saw Patton pitch twice last year in Low-A ball. He has very good stuff and very good control. Interestingly enough, I was talking with a Cubs scout later in the year about Patton and he said the Cubs were going to draft him but he was asking for more money upfront than they were willing to pay.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Welcome to NSBB!

[cubsrams1]

Well, thanks!