Cooper has switched the lineup around more times than he can count this season, something he says he will do until he gets it right. “You just got to be smart and push the right buttons,” he said. “Obviously, I haven’t been that smart because we’re not in the position we’d like to be. We just got to keep punching them and hopefully, we’ll get the right ones.”
Link
Try mashing all the buttons at the same time Coop,
7/19
“Darin’s performing well,” Cooper said. “He’s a veteran, he knows how to get it done, and we really need him to step up and play well. He was a regular at one point. I think he can handle it.” Link
7/21
“Darin’s kind of struggled a little bit with the bat so we thought it might be time to insert Michael and see if he’s a little fired up and rejuvenated and ready to go,” said Astros manager Cecil Cooper. “I think he’s pretty excited about it, so I hope he can get a jump-start.” Link
At least he wants to be here
Hernandez is getting another shot because the club has been impressed with his commitment to improve. He did not take advantage of two “out” clauses in his contract this year when he wasn’t on the big league roster.
“It bodes well for him, and he had pitched well,” Cooper said. “His first two starts here, I don’t want to say were outstanding, but he did a good job. He pitched well at Round Rock leading up to getting that first call-up. He deserves that opportunity.” Link
Joel Sherman
“Now at a time when they should be in complete-sell/complete-rebuild mode, they are thinking of adding another bottom-of-the-rotation starter to honor the delusions of owner Drayton McLane. …the fact that Houston is not pushing to turn Tejada into a few prospect assets is baseball criminality. In fact, I think the Astros should be doing what Billy Beane did with the A’s, moving his most attractive assets (Roy, Carlos, Berkman, Wigginton) for bushels in return in attempt to set the organization up for a brighter future. …” Link
That would make sense if wins were legal tender. They are not. Joel Sherman has lost sight of the essential fact of baseball. Despite being told this by numerous players at every trading deadline, he is still unaware that baseball is a business. And the business is putting paying customers in seats. The Astros have sold 89% of their seats this season, 91% in 2007 and again, 91% in 2006. The A’s, 51% so far, 54% and 56% in the past 2 seasons. Who’s delusional?