July is the month of All-Stars, pennant chasing teams making the start of their push and of course the MLB trading deadline. July is also the month where you expect some players to step up for a team if any hopes for post season glory is to be realized. The Houston Astros were no different than any of the other Wild Card and NL Central contenders, all 28 of them, in that they got some very good performances from some players and thus the hunt was on and fans were getting excited. For the July Spike Award, the candidates were Lance Berkman, Alberto Arias, Jeff Keppinger and Aaron Boone. For the July Star Award, the candidates were Michael Bourn, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriquez. This was an interesting vote and the winners are:
July 2009 Spike Award This month’s Spike Award winner is a pitcher who helped solidify a shaky bullpen beset by injury and inconsistency. Geoff Geary, Doug Brocail, Chris Sampson were key contributors in Houston’s bullpen along with LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde. A bullpen considered a strength of the team. Well the best plans of mice and men can and will go awry and in terms of a bullpen need, this plan of Ed Wade certainly did.
Well, he's got the closer snear down pat!
So the search was on for a pitcher that could provide good work to help salvage a season that was going nowhere fast. In steps Alberto Arias, a pitcher who has a nice arsenal of pitches, all with late movement and just hard enough to keep hitters on notice. Arias enjoyed a successful month as the setup man pressed into the role because of injuries to Chris Sampson and LaTroy Hawkins. He did well, posting a .265 ERA in 17 IPs, recording 13 strikeouts and only 5 walks. Now, with some of the injured returning, Arias is an interesting prospect for more work as a key setup man along with Sampson and Hawkins. Some even think he may be a good closer candidate if he keeps up the good work.
Honorable mention: Aaron Boone got some love from the SnS because of his desire to return this season from heart surgery. Wow, coming back from heart surgery all within the same season is hard to ponder, but he’s planning on it and it’s worth following.
July 2009 Star Award
Hey, a Wandy Rodriquez three-peat?
Yes indeed, it is a Wandy season after all, as the little lefty took home his third Star Award by posting an outstanding performance for the month of July. He had a .075 ERA in 36 IPs, tossing his first complete game of the season. He also posted his tenth win for the season in the month of July when he registered four wins total for the month without a loss.
Tipping my pitches, eh? Here, guess what I'm going to throw now!
10 wins is his highest win total so far for his career. In the month of July, he had 34 strikeouts and 7 walks. He also helped the club make a push upwards from inconsistency to solid winner, becoming a part of a one-two gut punch for opposing teams with Roy Oswalt.
Honorable Mention: Miguel Tejada continues to post good numbers, not succumbing to the late season swoon predicted by many. Miggy is the leader on the club now with the injury to Lance Berkman and the happy go lucky attitude of Carlos Lee. Leadership is a wonderful thing if you post the stats to back up your words and Miggy has.