Towles continued to hit well this Spring and the Astros brass convinced itself that J.R. was the missing link to the Astros bottom of the order batting problems. Well .... J.R. proved in the opening weeks of the season he has a lot to learn about hitting major league pitching ... and he was sent back down to the farm.

But that's probably where he belonged anyway ... at least for awhile longer. Last year .... Towles had one of those magical seasons. He began the season at Salem in single-A ball,
transitioned up to Corpus Christi(AA) ....up through Round Rock(AAA) ... and then up wih the Astros in the final 40 games of 2007. Wow ....that must have been a fun ride for the Crosby native. That ride stopped for a short while when he was sent back to AAA ball earlier this season ..... but he's back in the Bigs now .... and he's going to do everything he can to stay up here.

He told me yesterday he feels more comfortable at the plate now .... do to a mechanics change in his hand placement ...when he takes his stance at the plate ..... and watching him swing during Thursday afternoon's series finale with the Dodgers .... it looks like he's on to something. His two out double in the 5th at least made the game more interesting ...... and if can continue to give the Astros more offense from his position ... then he'll continue to get the lion's share of playing time ....no matter what Humberto Quintero's playing status is.