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antidan444 · 06-17-2014, 08:59 PM

March 22, 2014

Wanted to share this very positive story from the Houston beat reporter:

TEENAGER KAUFFMAN SHOWING HE MAY BELONG, AFTER ALL

By BRETT JENKINS
Houston Chronicle

For a few short weeks in spring training, Dan Kauffman has made a lot of people eat crow.

Those people — and there were plenty of them — were the ones who criticized the Houston Astros' selection of the young right-hander with the first overall pick in last year's draft. They said he wasn't tall enough (5-foot-8) and doesn't throw hard enough (his sinker tops out around 92 mph). They pointed to his ordinary high school stats — a 2.95 ERA and a 76-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 88 1/3 innings — as another poor sign. And when Kauffman struggled for most of two months while bouncing around various minor league stops, those people voiced their opinions even louder.

"I heard it. How could I not?" Kauffman said. "The thing is, I'm always my harshest critic. People saying I sucked last fall didn't bother me, because I did suck. I needed to get better. I needed a fire lit under me."

The Astros were once again roundly criticized for placing Kauffman on the 40-man roster this offseason. But at least for now, The Astros and Kauffman are getting the last laughs.

Instead of floundering this spring, Kauffman has flourished. He has made more appearances (10) and pitched more innings (18 2/3) than any other pitcher, and they've been quality innings — He's 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA.

Kauffman points to his final two starts with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks as the start of his turnaround.

"I was really struggling with my control — walking far too many people, trying to be too fine and not trusting my stuff," Kauffman said. "I was tired of the walks, and I just told myself that I was going to throw strikes, and if I get hit hard, at least they're earning it, but they weren't earning it when I was walking people. I'm going to go after hitters."

Kauffman hasn't walked a batter this spring — stretching his consecutive innings streak without a walk to 33 innings. Opposing hitters are not making much solid contact against him, either, hitting just .245 against his assortment of movement-heavy pitches.

"I've been able to make some good pitches with runners in scoring position, get some double-play grounders, let my defense do the work," Kauffman said. "I'm still working on putting hitters away when ahead in the count, and I want to get a few more strikeouts, but mostly I'm trusting my stuff, and it's working out."

Astros manager Bo Porter has liked what he's seen from the 19-year-old, and thinks there's a spot in the bullpen for him this season.

"The thing about him is he learned from his struggles, put his chin down and got to work," Porter said. "He's one of the first guys in here, one of the last to leave. He doesn't have that 'first overall pick' entitled attitude, and I think some of that is he's heard the criticism, he's gone through the trials and he's channeled all that in a positive way.

"I'd love to have him out there (in the bullpen). I don't know for sure if he's ready stuff-wise, but from a character standpoint, the way he carries himself and goes about his business, absolutely he's ready."

Kauffman is trying to keep his excitement at a possible roster spot muted.

"Of course, thats been the goal since I arrived for spring," Kauffman said. "But no matter what the organization decides, the bottom line is, whatever the name on the front of my jersey is, I'm going to give that team everything I have, and I'm going to keep working to get where I want to be."

06-17-2014, 08:59 PM	#50
antidan444 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 158	March 22, 2014 Wanted to share this very positive story from the Houston beat reporter: TEENAGER KAUFFMAN SHOWING HE MAY BELONG, AFTER ALL By BRETT JENKINS Houston Chronicle For a few short weeks in spring training, Dan Kauffman has made a lot of people eat crow. Those people — and there were plenty of them — were the ones who criticized the Houston Astros' selection of the young right-hander with the first overall pick in last year's draft. They said he wasn't tall enough (5-foot-8) and doesn't throw hard enough (his sinker tops out around 92 mph). They pointed to his ordinary high school stats — a 2.95 ERA and a 76-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 88 1/3 innings — as another poor sign. And when Kauffman struggled for most of two months while bouncing around various minor league stops, those people voiced their opinions even louder. "I heard it. How could I not?" Kauffman said. "The thing is, I'm always my harshest critic. People saying I sucked last fall didn't bother me, because I did suck. I needed to get better. I needed a fire lit under me." The Astros were once again roundly criticized for placing Kauffman on the 40-man roster this offseason. But at least for now, The Astros and Kauffman are getting the last laughs. Instead of floundering this spring, Kauffman has flourished. He has made more appearances (10) and pitched more innings (18 2/3) than any other pitcher, and they've been quality innings — He's 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. Kauffman points to his final two starts with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks as the start of his turnaround. "I was really struggling with my control — walking far too many people, trying to be too fine and not trusting my stuff," Kauffman said. "I was tired of the walks, and I just told myself that I was going to throw strikes, and if I get hit hard, at least they're earning it, but they weren't earning it when I was walking people. I'm going to go after hitters." Kauffman hasn't walked a batter this spring — stretching his consecutive innings streak without a walk to 33 innings. Opposing hitters are not making much solid contact against him, either, hitting just .245 against his assortment of movement-heavy pitches. "I've been able to make some good pitches with runners in scoring position, get some double-play grounders, let my defense do the work," Kauffman said. "I'm still working on putting hitters away when ahead in the count, and I want to get a few more strikeouts, but mostly I'm trusting my stuff, and it's working out." Astros manager Bo Porter has liked what he's seen from the 19-year-old, and thinks there's a spot in the bullpen for him this season. "The thing about him is he learned from his struggles, put his chin down and got to work," Porter said. "He's one of the first guys in here, one of the last to leave. He doesn't have that 'first overall pick' entitled attitude, and I think some of that is he's heard the criticism, he's gone through the trials and he's channeled all that in a positive way. "I'd love to have him out there (in the bullpen). I don't know for sure if he's ready stuff-wise, but from a character standpoint, the way he carries himself and goes about his business, absolutely he's ready." Kauffman is trying to keep his excitement at a possible roster spot muted. "Of course, thats been the goal since I arrived for spring," Kauffman said. "But no matter what the organization decides, the bottom line is, whatever the name on the front of my jersey is, I'm going to give that team everything I have, and I'm going to keep working to get where I want to be."