The only constant is change, but Astros news keeps coming anyway. Thus in an effort to keep folks abreast on all things Astros (or as an alternative to the torture of reading Justice and the like) we’ll be updating y’all here and again on what ‘the media’ is saying about your Houston Astros, as well as other topics we feel like posting on. So without further adieu, here is a sampling of the things you may have missed the past week or so.
___________
Kazuo “Mats who-ee”
Kaz took ground balls before Saturday’s game, and while he progressing fine and is eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday, Coop might give him a couple more days off for good measure. (Astros.com), (Chron.com)
“He looks like he’s moving freely and looks like things are coming along,” said manager Cecil Cooper, who watched Matsui closely. “We won’t rush him, that’s for sure. We’ve got some options so we don’t need to rush him. He’s got to be 100 percent coming back.” (from Astros.com link)
Options is right, as Maysonet (Matsui’s primary replacement during this latest DL stint) is hitting .366 (15 for 41) with a couple of doubles, 6 runs, a home run and 6 RBIs (and flashing some decent leather to boot).
“Maysonet has done an outstanding job,” Cooper said. “I think way more than we anticipated. We wanted him to come and spell guys at different positions, but he’s come in here and taken over second base and done a great job.” (from Astros.com link)
Perhaps it is time for Matsui, his personal massage therapist and translator to hit the road…
Props to Mr. Happy for the “Mats who-ee” gem and to Sphinx Drummond for the assist.
__________
I don’t need no stinking rehab
Geary continues to throw pain free, but after initially planning to make two minor league rehab appearances before coming off the DL, Geary and the Astros have decided to cancel them and throw simulated games instead. (Tag’s Lines)
“We felt it was better for me to get a read from Major League hitters,” Geary said. “As you throw your innings, your professional team is the one that’s going to give you a good read.”
When he a threw his previous simulated game, Geary said Michaels told him he wasn’t throwing as well during his second at-bat against him.
“That right there tells me I would rather listen to hitters up here than go down and face hitters who are greedy and want to absolutely crush you,” said Geary, who said he feels healthy enough to pitch now.
On another front however, Papa Grande is excited about the prospect of making three minor league appearances and is set to do beginning this week. (Astros.com)
“My legs are good and my arm is ready to pitch,” Valverde said. “The thing is I haven’t pitched in a month. I have to take it day-by-day and see what happens. Everything is perfect right now, and Sunday I will have to throw again and after that will go to the Minor Leagues.”
“I’m so excited,” Valverde said. “I see my teammates excited, too, because I’m real close. I’m ready, you know what I mean? I’m ready to be in the game.”
__________
Tip your waitress, not your pitches…
Pudge thinks Wandy is tipping his pitches. (Astros.com)
Rodriguez was pummeled in Thursday’s 10-3 loss to Colorado, giving up 10 hits, including four home runs, in five innings against a team he had dominated a few weeks earlier. [Wandy] told reporters after the game he believed the hitter could tell what he was throwing, and his catcher apparently agreed.
***
“[Pudge] told me, ‘I think you’re moving your [left] elbow a little bit when you throw your curveball,'” Wandy Rodriguez said. “When I saw the video today, I didn’t see anything, so I don’t know what’s going on.”
Although it is unclear as to whether or not Wandy is actually tipping pitches as of late, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for the left hander to be doing so.
“Wandy’s had a history of that,” [Dewey Robinson] said. “Last year, a couple of teams had his pitches, and it makes a big difference because his curveball is so good. If you know it’s coming, you can lay off of it and wait for a fastball, and it makes a difference. “We don’t know if teams did it or not this year, but it’s always something we have to guard against, so we constantly look at video to see if we can pick something up the other team has.”
Read about it here in the TZ.
__________
I thought Wandy was having control problems, but who knew?
Alberto Arias was day-to-day after being taken to the hospital as a result of being hit in the head by a ball thrown by Wandy during pregame warmups on Friday. (Astros.com , Chron.com , Chron.com)
“It was really scary [Arias said]. I didn’t see the ball until it hit me. It just came right at me and hit right here (points to forehead)…”.
Fortunately for Arias, Rex Jones happened to be dropping things off in the dugout when it happened and came over to assist when he heard players yelling his name from the outfield.
Although a precautionary CT scan came back negative, Arias continued to experience headaches and dizziness, and was unavailable on Friday and Saturday. Footer noted that she thought he was available for Sundays game though.
__________
’09 Draft Notes
Footer may no longer be the beat writer at Astros.com, but she is still maintaining a presence there and her bog remains a must read. (McTaggart also has a blog, Tag’s Lines at Astros.com, and it too provides some excellent information).
Among other things, Footers new gig has allowed for unique glimpse into the Astros draft preparations this year. Here is a sampling of her most recent comments (although you’ll be shorting yourself if you don’t read them in their entirety): (LINK)
The Astros have been knee-deep in Draft meetings pretty much every day, all day, for quite some time. On Thursday, they granted me access to one of these meetings, which involved front office staffers and cross-checkers preparing for the final stages leading up to next weeks’ Draft.
Among those in attendance were GM Ed Wade, Assistant GM of Scouting Bobby Heck, the team’s regional and national cross checkers and two scouts. The group is in the process of merging the lists of potential draftees they put together last week from the three regions — East, West and Midwest.
<!–[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]–>
<!–[endif]–>
The amount of information they have on each player is mind-boggling. They watch video and discuss, discuss, discuss — about personalities, family backgrounds, projections as to where the player might fit in on a Major League club and who, if any, current or past players a certain prospect might resemble, perhaps by his build, athleticism, swing, or pitch delivery.
<!–[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]–>
<!–[endif]–>
The one thing that struck me is how little Wade talked. He sat stoically in his seat and listened intently as Heck and his staff dissected each and every player. There was rarely a lull in the conversation and it was my first exposure to just how much GMs rely on their scouts, and how much these guys stick their necks out for players they believe in. So much is riding on their observations and judgments, and I can’t imagine how gratifying it is when one of their guys makes it to the “Show.”
She also discussed Fridays workout held at MMPUS for 46 potential draftees: (LINK)
“It was outstanding, in terms of the quality and quantity of players,” general manager Ed Wade said. “The scouts did a tremendous job putting the whole thing together.
<!–[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]–>
<!–[endif]–>
“There was never any down time. It started at 9 in the morning and went to 2:30 There was not a minute lost. The body of work that our scouts have put in will be the determining factor as to who we take, but this is a chance for us to see these kids in our environment, give them a chance to soak in what the Major League experience is like. We think it’s a win-win, but from a standpoint of what took place today, I thought it was a perfect day.”
McTaggart also writes on the upcoming draft, and while the information provided is somewhat generic it does provide us with a tidbit here and there. (Astros.com)
The Astros don’t pick until 20 others have selected in the first round, so a lot could change. Expect Houston to continue to try to rebuild its Minor League system by taking the best athlete available, but don’t be surprised if it goes after pitching. There could be a pair of intriguing left-handers available in Kentucky’s James Paxton and Lipscomb’s Rex Brothers, but if athletic high school center fielder Everett Williams of Austin, Texas, is available the Astros might not be able to pass him up.
For continuing commentary and information on this years draft, make sure and Ride the Bus!