The Houston Astros are building back their franchise from nothing and they are using analytics and numbers as their main factor in making decisions, which is one reason why some players were miffed that 2013 number one overall pick Mark Appel was promoted to Double-A and also given a special bullpen session in front of executives.
According to Hardball Talk, the top pick in the draft last year was promoted by the Astros to Double-A Corpus Christi despite having some ghastly numbers at High-A ball, including a 9.74 ERA and a near 2.00 WHIP and that had some players angry when he was at the major league park this week. The Houston Chronicle reports that Appel was at Minute Maid Park and threw a bullpen session for executives and some players were seen agitated about it.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle tweeted out some info about the session, writing that some players cursed at the idea of Appel getting a session and some made issue about the fact that he was promoted. Some said that he has not yet "paid his dues" and this is another interesting nugget with the Astros, as they have been in the news about what happened with George Springer and his promotion to the majors along with what happened with Brady Aiken and his contract negotiations this summer.
This again sounds like one of baseball's odd issues for players, not exactly like the unwritten rules thing, but something down that line. Appel is a top investment for the team and while yes, his numbers are bad, team often likes to move higher level prospects through the system faster and perhaps they feel a change of scenery was the right move to get him back on track.
