How will J.R. Towles do this time around?

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Germatic	How will J.R. Towles do this time around?	Lead	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 47 (07/01/2008 10:20 PM) AAA Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None With Quintero going on the DL, J.R. Towles will get another shot at catcher. Looking at his stats from Round Rock (found here), he has been hitting well. .288 - 5 HR - 11 RBI with a .985 OPS in 18 games with the Express. Do yall think he will be the primary catcher immediately given his success in the minors? If he is, do yall think he can hold onto the job this time?
Clack		#1	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 14660 (07/01/2008 10:53 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	My instinct tells me that he will do well. But it's anyone's guess really. Cooper's decisions are hard to figure, so who knows how much he will play. If it is my decision, I would make him the starter for 3 or 4 games per week. If he hits well, it will make for an interesting decision when Quintero comes off the DL. However, unless Towles just crushes the ball during his stint, I would expect him to go back to AAA when Quintero comes off the DL.
danocaster		#2	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 263 (07/01/2008 11:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I can't believe Towles is hitting .288 already. I could've swore he was at .200 or so just a couple of weeks ago. I have a feeling I'm alone on this, but I hope Q hangs around. According to the article on the Astros site, he's made working with the pitchers his top priority. Someone commented recently that the pitchers are not shaking him off over and over, so apparently he's getting batter at it. His BA is .244 right now which isn't great, but it's better than what they've had and from I've seen, he seems to hit the ball hard a lot. Plus, he's got the cannon. I hope Towles in AAA for the year to get all the experience and growing that he needs, while keeping Q up would be the best move for the future. Then can have them both on the roster next year. Don't get me wrong, I want Towles to succeed, but I don''t want to see him brought up after another sample size success, and lose Q. I don't think he'll clear waivers again.
Clack		#3	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 14663 (07/02/2008 1:29 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	From chron.com, a description of the change in Towles' batting: Express hitting coach Ron Jackson and manager Dave Clark had Towles move his hands forward, which has made him quicker on the attack and widened his hitting zone. They're back to where they were when he hit .375 in 14 games with the Astros last September. "I could tell the difference immediately," Towles said. "They had my hands back (with the Astros), and it didn't feel right. It had me locked out, and I wasn't able to get to pitches that I'm able to now." He's getting to them and doing damage. And Monday night was an indicator that good things are happening.
Bob Hulsey		#4	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 4229 (07/02/2008 1:53 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I think he will be better. How much better is hard to say because, obviously, he'll be facing better pitchers. If his post-retrun batting average is somewhere at .220 or higher, I'd label that a success. If not, I'd send him back as soon as Quintero is ready to return. "We don't do anything easy. We're the Astros." - Craig Biggio
zachdevil		#5	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 375 (07/02/2008 8:13 AM) ALL-STAR Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Clack wrote: From chron.com, a description of the change in Towles' batting: Express hitting coach Ron Jackson and manager Dave Clark had Towles move his hands forward, which has made him quicker on the attack and widened his hitting zone. They're back to where they were when he hit .375 in 14 games with the Astros last September. "I could tell the difference immediately," Towles said. "They had my hands back (with the Astros), and it didn't feel right. It had me locked out, and I wasn't able to get to pitches that I'm able to now." He's getting to them and doing damage. And Monday night was an indicator that good things are happening. Not a ringing endorsement of the Astros hitting coach. Why would he change up what had made Towles effective. The Astros need all new coaches man, get some professionals in here. Cecil Cooper is not my idea of a professional.
The Ausmus LongBall		#6	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1060 (07/02/2008 8:15 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Clack wrote: From chron.com, a description of the change in Towles' batting: Express hitting coach Ron Jackson and manager Dave Clark had Towles move his hands forward, which has made him quicker on the attack and widened his hitting zone. They're back to where they were when he hit .375 in 14 games with the Astros last September. "I could tell the difference immediately," Towles said. "They had my hands back (with the Astros), and it didn't feel right. It had me locked out, and I wasn't able to get to pitches that I'm able to now." He's getting to them and doing damage. And Monday night was an indicator that good things are happening. Why were the Astros tinkering with his stance in the first place? No such thing as going with what works or if it ain't broke don't fix it? Bah!
The Ausmus LongBall		#7	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1061 (07/02/2008 8:19 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	zachdevil wrote: Clack wrote: From chron.com, a description of the change in Towles' batting: Express hitting coach Ron Jackson and manager Dave Clark had Towles move his hands forward, which has made him quicker on the attack and widened his hitting zone. They're back to where they were when he hit .375 in 14 games with the Astros last September. "I could tell the difference immediately," Towles said. "They had my hands back (with the Astros), and it didn't feel right. It had me locked out, and I wasn't able to get to pitches that I'm able to now." He's getting to them and doing damage. And Monday night was an indicator that good things are happening. Not a ringing endorsement of the Astros hitting coach. Why would he change up what had made Towles effective. The Astros need all new coaches man, get some professionals in here. Cecil Cooper is not my idea of a professional. You beat me to it, but you're so right and I am so lost as to what our coaching staff is actually capable of or qualified for. Maybe Sean Berry can mix in some words of patience to Tejada so he'll stop swinging at every pitch thrown in his general vicinity instead of tinkering with a rookie's batting stance.
barzilla		#8	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 4671 (07/02/2008 10:04 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That does seem a bit fishy to me. However, we haven't heard about who has been successful because no one complains when they are successful. It seems to me that most pitching and hitting coaches have guys they are successful with and guys they are not. Check out my new blog at http://commons.chron.com/barzilla
rdkapp		#9	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 2009 (07/02/2008 10:14 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	barzilla wrote: . . . . It seems to me that most pitching and hitting coaches have guys they are successful with and guys they are not. Except Dave Duncan, who seems to be successful with just about every pitcher that signs with the Cards, barring injury.
Clack		#10	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 14664 (07/02/2008 11:48 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Quote: Except Dave Duncan, who seems to be successful with just about every pitcher that signs with the Cards, barring injury. Well, I definitely agree with you when we're talking about free agent pitchers. He seems to be able to get the most out of veteran pitchers. But some people think that Duncan isn't as good a coach for rookie pitchers. Anthony Reyes, formerly the Cards' No. 1 pitching prospect, has been a notable failure so far. Duncan favors groundball pitchers, and he has been unsuccessful in molding Reyes to that style. That has created a divide among Cards' fans, some of whom feel that Duncan "ruined" Reyes, while other feel that Reyes is just too stubborn.
barzilla		#11	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 4674 (07/02/2008 3:18 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Exactly Clack. It really is in the eye of the beholder. Even Leo Mazzone had his Steve Averys. I think there are coaches out there that are more successful than not (Mazzone and Duncan qualify) but all have success and failure. My issue with the Astros is that they rarely ever seem to go for the best of the best. Out of the ex Astros coaches only Rudy Jaramillo stands as a well-thought of coach (although Jim Hickey might get there with the Rays). Let's face it, Berry can't be as bad as Harry Spillman was, but he's not exactly a pedigreed coach. That being said, I think too much is made of changing players' styles. Miguel Tejada will always be a free swinger. I believe you can't change players fundamentally. Heck, Pudge Rodriguez busted his ass and became a good hitter, but he still draws about ten walks a season. In terms of Towles I just hope Berry has the good sense to get out of the way and let him hit like he has been in AAA. He might not be a good hitter for average, but if he can add a little punch to this offense then all the better. Check out my new blog at http://commons.chron.com/barzilla

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