Polin Trinidad News

Over the last several days, I've taken a few questions about Astros playing Winter Ball.

For the most part, Astros general manager Ed Wade hasn't been a fan of recalling players when rosters can be expanded Sept.

For better or worse, Polin Trinidad is fearless. Burt Hooton, his pitching coach at Class AAA Round Rock has a favorite story about Trinidad.

I have absolutely no idea what will be in this space come noon. It might be about perfect games.

Here's the first part of a roundtable with SB Nation's other SB Nation bloggers, moderated by Sky Kalkman of Beyond the Box Score .

In 1959, the Austin Senators ended the season as champions. Nearly 50 years later, they will finally receive their championship rings.

When the Express return to Dell Diamond this weekend, there will be some unfamiliar faces on the pitching mound.

A week removed from the Texas League All-Star break and a week shy of the Class AAA break, it seemed a natural time to reflect on the first half for the full season-minor league teams in the Astros' system.

The Hooks return from the all-star break Thursday night, ready to take on Tulsa with first place in hand.

A combined 16 pitchers allowed just 13 hits, struck out 18 and walked no one. Former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pitcher Trey Hearne, now toiling for Springfield, worked the first two innings for the North and was credited with the victory.

The numbers have taken a hit since Jason Castro's June 8 call-up, but the Astros' first-round pick from the 2008 draft says the experience of his first three weeks for Class AA Corpus Christi has been a good one.

Hooks catcher Jason Castro had Monday off a day after getting grazed by a foul ball in the sixth inning of Sunday night's win over Frisco.

The Hooks will have three representatives at next month's All-Star Futures Game in St.

In an otherwise poor-performing rotation for the Astros' Class AA affiliate in Corpus Christi, the 24-year-old Dominican, Polin Trinidad, is emerging as one of the team's and the Texas League's top pitchers.

The Hooks had five players named to the Texas League South Division All-Star team, league president Tom Kayser announced.

Corpus Christi's Wladimir Sutil, Collin DeLome, Polin Trinidad and Douglas Arguello and Northwest Arkansas outfielder Jordan Parraz made the Texas League's all-star teams, the league announced on Tuesday.

Wednesday was a unique night at Whataburger Field. Second baseman Kaz Matsui and closer Jose Valverde of the Houston Astros were in town to begin rehab assignments.

Starter Polin Trinidad tossed seven dominant innings and Jimmy Van Ostrand continued his rampage against Midland pitching as the Hooks romped past the RockHounds 8-1 on Wednesday night at Whataburger Field.

Both the Double-A farm team and the parent club suffer from a condition I call acute pitchers disorder.