Sayonara, Nick Stavinoha

Instead of Oklahoma City's RedHawks Field at Bricktown or Houston's Minute Maid Park, Nick Stavinoha will be patrolling the outfield of Hiroshima's Mazda Zum-Zum Stadium in 2012. Zachary Levine reported yesterday that Stavinoha, who went to Jersey Village High School in the Houston area, was released from his obligation to the Astros so he could sign with the Hiroshima Carp of Japanese Baseball's Central League. Stavinoha, who had spent his professional career to date in the St. Louis organization, was a non-roster invite to Houston's 2012 Spring Training.