This Astros investment is paying off

Plus, Dusty Baker faces an old frenemy

April 15, 2023 The Astros got creative in their pursuit of North Carolina high school outfielder Ryan Clifford during last year's MLB Draft, signing him for a bonus of $1,256,530 -- the second-highest bonus given to an 11th-round pick in history -- that was good enough to lure him from his scholarship at Vanderbilt University.   The Astros used some of the money they saved on their bonus pool from the first 10 rounds to sign Clifford, and the early returns have been promising for the club. In his first 21 at-bats at Low-A Fayetteville, Clifford was slashing .333/.533/.476 and had walked seven times and struck out seven times. In 40 at-bats last year at Fayetteville, he also showed a knack by getting on base (.412 OBP).   "Early sample-size trends are positive," Astros director of player development Sara Goodrum said. "It's nice to see what he was doing in Spring Training translated over to the season, and it's been really encouraging to the see the walks. He had a mammoth home run pull-side on Wednesday, which was really exciting. It's been really encouraging so far."   Clifford, a 6-foot-3 left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, was ranked No. 92 on MLB Pipeline's '22 Draft Top 250, so he is a third-round talent. He's the Astros' No. 5-ranked prospect going into the season by MLB Pipeline.   "For his age [19], he's got very advanced tools and a high baseball IQ," Goodrum said. "The pitch selection and the ability to draw walks at his age has been really encouraging and great to see, and I think that's a testament to who he is as a player, and the amount of baseball that he's played at this point in his life."   Goodrum said the Astros stressed with Clifford about getting better pitches to hit during Spring Training and his swing decisions have been good, though in a small sample size. It's too early to tell what some of his swing deficiencies are going to be just yet.   "The biggest thing is he going to be able to lay off the bad pitches and swing at good pitches to be able to do damage, and so far in that very small amount it's been very encouraging," Goodrum said. ASTRO-NOTES • Astros catcher Martín Maldonado will wear a microphone during the bottom of the second inning for the ESPN broadcast of Sunday's game against the Rangers. He will become the first catcher to wear a microphone for a live interview during a regular-season game, but the mic will be cut off when starting pitcher Framber Valdez is about to throw a pitch and during mound visits. • Long-time Astros outfielder José Cruz will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Waco, Texas. Among those getting inducted with Cruz are former NFL stars Robert Brazile, Priest Holmes, Adrian Peterson and Michael Strahan. Cruz played parts of 13 seasons with the Astros and spent another 13 years as the team's first-base coach. • Has Forrest Whitley, the Astros' No. 20 prospect, turned the corner? In eight innings at Triple-A Sugar Land, he's allowed two runs and one hit while striking out 11 batters with three walks. MLB.com reporter Jim Callis addressed that question in this MLB Pipeline Inbox. TRIVIA  The Rays have tied a modern Major League record by winning their first 13 games to start the season. What's the Astros' longest winning streak to start a season? A.) 10-0 B.) 11-0 C.) 6-0 D.) 8-0 FRIENDS, RIVALS This weekend's series between the Rangers and Astros features two of the most successful managers in Major League history -- Dusty Baker of the Astros and Bruce Bochy of the Rangers. Baker's 2,099 wins entering Saturday's game are the ninth-most in Major League history, and Bochy's 2,011 wins are 11th. Bochy won three World Series titles with the Giants (2010, '12, '14), while Baker won his first last year with the Astros.   "We go way back -- back when he was in San Diego, and I was in San Francisco," Baker said. "I left [the Giants] and he took my place after Felipe Alou and we hooked up many, many times after that. You always know you have to do your homework and be ready because Bruce's teams are going to be ready. He's been a formidable foe for a long time."   Saturday's game will make the 193rd time Bochy, 67, and Baker, 73, had faced off in the regular season, with Bochy's 110 losses against Baker-led teams the most among any manager he's faced. Baker is 110-82 all-time against Bochy in the regular season.   "He had some really good teams," Bochy said. "We had a tough time against the Giants for a while there when I was in San Diego. It's good to see him… It's like old days here. We'll be battling now that we're back in the same division."   Baker said he and Bochy have many mutual friends, including former pitcher Rick Sutcliffe and singer Huey Lewis. Baker has even leaned on Bochy for tips on some fishing spots in Florida and Montana, while sharing an affinity for wine.   "Over time, you just learn to respect the guy and what he does and how he's doing," Baker said.   Bochy has bragging rights in the postseason over Baker. In 2012, Baker's 97-win Reds blew a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NLDS and lost in five games to the Giants, who went on to win the World Series.   "Despite being rivals for years, I have so much respect for the man and for what he's done," Bochy said. "He's a tremendous player, manager, coach. He's accomplished so much in this game. He's good for the game. I've always enjoyed my time with him." TRIVIA ANSWER        C.) 6-0 The Astros' longest winning streak to start a season is six games, accomplished in 1987. Houston, which won the NL West in 1986, swept the Dodgers and Expos at home to start the '87 season before going to Los Angeles and losing to the Dodgers, 4-2, in the seventh game of the season. They finished 76-86 and third in the NL West that season. FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW To subscribe to Astros Beat, visit this page and mark "Astros Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Astros or that they're checked as your favorite team. View Online    © 2023 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Please review our Privacy Policy. You (gahleexholly.hdhask@blogger.com) received this message because you registered to receive commercial email messages or purchased a ticket from MLB. Please add info@mail.mlblists.com to your address book to ensure our messages reach your inbox. 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