Berkman celebrates 10 years in the majors
David Barron at the Chronicle thinks it has been a dandy decade for Lance Berkman.
Lance Berkman made his major league debut on July 16, 1999 in the Astrodome against the Detroit Tigers.
“[10 years is] a significant milestone,” [said Berkman]. “When you start as a young player, what you hear about is getting your 10 years. It’s sort of a special thing. I don’t know how many people get to it, but more guys who start out don’t get there than those who do.”
Puma gets some love for being in the top 20 among active players in six primary offensive categories (and in the top five Astros in every significant offensive category).
“There aren’t many better in this generation,” said Red Sox consultant and baseball historian Bill James.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that he belongs with (Craig) Biggio and (Jeff) Bagwell,” said his college coach, Rice’s Wayne Graham.
“He’s trending Hall of Fame,” said … Jim Deshaies. “It depends on how long he plays. He’s real close to being on the (Astros) mountain now, and when he’s done, he will be.”
It’s the attitude that wins ‘em over.
“The likability factor is substantial,” Deshaies said. “To say that people view him as John Kruk would be too much of a stretch, but he’s not an Adonis-type guy. If Lance can do it … he looks more like we do. “In reality, he’s in great shape and is strong. There’s just something about his look — the whole Fat Elvis thing. That, and his sense of humor.”
Said Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, a teammate for nine years: “It’s his carefree attitude more than anything. He can be going not too good and still have an upbeat attitude. The biggest thing is that he can criticize himself before anybody else does, so people don’t know where to go once he does it to himself.”
Life under Wayne Graham.
“He makes you tough mentally,” Berkman said. “This is a tough sport in a lot of ways, particularly as you move along, and nobody has helped me more with the mental side of the game.
“He says I chewed him out, and I call it constructive criticism,” Graham said. “I did provide him with a lot of after-dinner material. He should be grateful. But he remembers some things I don’t remember. I’m not so sure he’s not inventing some of those stories.”
Berkman on the road to Damascus’
“I had a buddy [Kara’s brother] who was a strong Christian and lived his life in accordance with that. This guy was different, and the more that I was around him, I realized that I was a guy who claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn’t look any different from someone who didn’t claim Christianity. That was my Damascus road experience, where God said either you’re in or you’re out. If you’re going to claim to be a Christian, you’d better demonstrate that. Otherwise, don’t even bother.”
And then there is the story of the nickname, but you already know that one…
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Richard Oliver at the San Antonio Express thinks Berkman is still scary (10 years later).
Berkman admits that over the years, he’s battled himself nearly as much as two-seam fastballs.
After the intrinsic urgency of high school and college baseball, “You sign a professional contract, you go to the Florida State League, and there’s 10 people in the stands, it’s a thousand degrees, and there’s no intensity,” he said. “It’s just a completely different environment. So you have to learn how to manufacture concentration.
“Now that I’ve played 10 years, for me it’s a constant battle to keep my focus, keep my concentration at a level that it needs to be.”
That’s where a little terror comes in handy.
“That,” Berkman said, “is when it’s fun.”
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The San Antonio Express also gives a brief comparison of other 1997 draftees that have made it to the majors.
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Midterm report
Brian McTaggart writes about the Astros season thusfar.
You have probably heard this one before. The Astros get off to a slow start in April and May before clawing their way back to respectability at the All-Star break and putting themselves in position to contend in the National League Central division. *** But if Houston is going to have another second-half surge, it’s going to need the starting pitching to hold up. *** The offense, meanwhile, needs to find more consistency.
All things considered, Ed Wade thinks the Astros are in a pretty good position.
“We’ve been inconsistent offensively, and we’ve left a lot of opportunities out there. But that being said, the pleasant part of things is the starting rotation has stepped up and done exactly what we had hoped and expected it was capable of doing, especially at the top, with Roy and Wandy.”
McTaggart’s mid-season awards: Berkman for the ‘club MVP’; Wandy for ‘staff ace’; the starting rotation for the ‘greatest strength’; the offense for the ‘biggest problem’; and Michael Bourn for the ‘biggest surprise’.
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Miscellaneous Astros (related) Links
Jerome Solomon asks you “how many games will the Astros win?”
Since 1997, the Astros have been .500 or better at the All-Star break seven times. Guess what. They made the playoffs in six of those seasons.
There’s an Astros fan in Bristol? Really? Evidently so, and Astros County has a Q&A with him.
Astros County: How hard is it to be an Astros fan in Bristol?
Robert Flores: I wouldn’t say it’s hard but it can be lonely. There aren’t alot of us up here. This is mostly Red Sox/Yankee country.
The Sporting News puts the fantasy baseball spin on Brian Moehler.
Frank Fitzpatrick at San Luis Obispo Tribune says that it was ‘control problems’ that KO’d Roger Clemens.
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Power rankings
Larry Dobrow, special to CBS sports, ranks the Astros at 20 (Cardinals at 12, Cubs at 16 and Brewers 17). He also presents a season-to-date recap in ‘precisely eight words’ and gives his predictions on the second half.
“[Recap] You can’t understand them so don’t reprimand them.” … MVP: Lance Berkman. His slow start was just that: a slow start, as opposed to the first hints of imminent decline … LVP: There’s no single worst offender — which is pretty astonishing, given that the Astros use Kaz Matsui, Brian Moehler and Russ Ortiz on a regular basis … BCS: GM Ed Wade convinces Drayton McLane that most of the players aren’t likely to replicate their darn-OK first-half performances, then trades away contract-year guys like Jose Valverde to restock the farm … WCS: Drayton McLane goes for it, like he always does, and the farm system continues to exist in a state of suspended disrepair … Prediction: Beats the crap out of me. I thought they’d win 66 games this year, tops, with that pitching staff. I have no credibility in all matters Astro.
Aram Tolegiam at Fox Sports has the Astros at 18 (Cards at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 16).
Not sure even Astros fans want Drayton McLane to make a run for it this year. But then again, Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman should only get hotter.
ESPN has the Astros at 19 (Cards at 8, Brewers at 11 and Cubs at 17).
By going 8-4 in their past 12 games, the Astros finished at .500 at the All-Star break.
Ryan Fagan at The Sporting News has the Astros at 19 (Cards at 8, Brewers at 15 and Cubs at 18).
Houston is in contention and has been the king of the second half in recent years. Don’t count out the Astros.
Anthony Stalter at The Scores Report has the Astros at 19, and labels them ‘pretenders’ (Cardinals at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 17).
The Houston faithful has to at least be somewhat pleased that the ‘Stros are making an effort to stay competitive this season. But this isn’t a very good offensive club and while the pitching has actually been pretty decent, it’s not good enough to carry Houston in the second half. At this point, I think the Cubs have more overall firepower to turn things around than the Astros do, but maybe Houston will make things interesting for a little while in the NL Central.
Jack Davis at Scouting the Sports has the Astros at 15 (Cardinals at 10, Brewers at 12 and Cubs at 16).
-Somehow, the Houston Astros remain in the race for the division crown. Maybe it’s the lack of a dominant first place team, but we gotta give it to the Astros. Miguel Tejada is having a great year, batting .329, and Jose Valverde is finally healthy. Wandy Rodriguez has been stellar, only surrendering a 2.96 ERA. I don’t expect the Astros to finish the season over .500, but after a few solid finishes, we are in for a treat.
The Bleacher Report ranks the Astros at 16 (Cubs at 11, Cardinals at 13 and Brewers at 15)
At this point, the Astros are making a decent Wild Card push, but the offense will not carry them past the Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs.
Then again, everyone knows that power rankings are bullshit.
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The definition of mediocrity
Collin Atherton at the Study of Sports says that the Astros are the definition of mediocrity.
Are the Astros a good team or a bad team?
[T]his is not a good team, at least thus far. But you can’t say it’s a bad team either, not when they sit at the .500 mark and in a dead heat with the preseason favorite Chicago Cubs.
At the halfway point, have the Astros been a success or a failure?
[I]f you’re grading the Astros’ first 88 games of the schedule based solely on preseason expectations, then it’s clearly been a success. The experts in Vegas set the over/under for Houston wins at 73 ½ prior to the season. Right now, the Astros are on pace to win 81 games and have placed themselves in prime position to at least contend in the NL Central during the second half of the season.
What are the Astros’ keys to contention?
And if the Astros do wish to contend in the second half, it’ll be these next four weeks or so in particular that will have the biggest impact on their postseason chances. *** [I]f Houston can come out of the break playing high-caliber ball for two or three weeks, then that will be a great indicator that they can really be in this thing for the entire duration.
Are the pieces there to make a run?
[A]fter analyzing his lineup, Ed Wade should not be thinking that they have the pieces to put together a productive offense in the second half. If he is under that assumption, then he’s either in denial or very dumb. I’m guessing Ed Wade is not dumb. But he might be in denial if he believes this club as currently comprised has the look of a championship team.
Do the Astros stand a chance?
They’re at .500 now, and that’s probably an overachievement, taking all things into consideration. But hey, the Astros are only 3.5 games out! And who in the National League Central right now looks to be unbeatable? It’s the worst division in baseball, and in that, the Astros have a chance.
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Win Susan
Not an Astros, or even a baseball related story, but a worthwhile read nevertheless.