Making strides

With gems in San Diego on Tuesday and San Francisco on Sunday, Roy has won consecutive starts for the first time this season (17.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 14 SO, 2 HR). Why the turnaround from his starts earlier in the season? Roy credits a change in his pitching mechanics:

“I finally got some length in my stride. The first part of the year I was throwing too far back. I’m getting a little bit more of a stride towards the plate and carrying the ball with me closer to the plate so [hitters] don’t get so much distance to see the ball.” (Astros.com)

“It feels like I’m throwing from 50 feet instead of 60 feet. The hitter doesn’t have as much distance to see the ball.” (Chron.com)

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Standing pat

The Astros are not likely to be involved in any major deals prior to the July 31^st trading deadline, and instead will consider upgrading from the farm. (My Fox Houston)

Wade comments on limited payroll flexibility and reminds of a significant move made during Spring Training:

“I’ve sounded the cautionary note on a number of occasions. People expecting big things, significant things at the trading deadline, again I have to sound the note, we extended ourselves from a payroll standpoint when we went out and signed Pudge Rodriguez in spring training. We felt we had a chance to make our club better that day and not wait until July 31 to do something like that. We made a significant move at that point in time.”

He also notes that the Astros won’t raid the farm to make a deal:

“The other thing that we’ve been very candid about is the fact that we are going to be very protective of the prospects in our system at this stage. We need to build the system. We’re pleased with the results of the last couple of drafts, but we have a long way to go in that regard…. I really think the composition of the club, as it exists today along with the potential of a couple of moves from (Triple-A) Round Rock, represents what our fans should expect us to have going forward. I don’t see on the near horizon a blockbuster deal taking place. I don’t think the blockbuster-type player is going to be available. If he is available I think the asking price from a talent standpoint will be prohibitive.”

Wade doesn’t anticipate other clubs to make significant deadline deals either:

“The economy, as it exists today, is not just in Houston. It’s affecting every club. There are not a lot of teams that are going to be in a position to be able to take on an appreciable amount of salary. So the first thing you are going to here (sic) from a club when they have an interest in a significant-salaried player is how much money are you willing to take back and I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of cash-back deals going on… I would be very, very surprised if there is a lot of significant movement at the trading deadline this year.”

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So much for the 6-man rotation experiment (for a cycle anyway)…

The Astros will start Ortiz in the non-continued game against the Nationals on Thursday and Roy on Friday. Both will be on regular rest.

“We’re going to go with just our regular five guys for these next five games,” Cecil Cooper said. “Roy is scheduled for Friday and Ortiz on Thursday. We don’t know about the suspended game.” (JdJO blog)

As for the suspended game, Cooper is not yet sure who will take the mound. (Chron.com)

“We’re waiting to see what happens Tuesday and Wednesday,” Cooper said. “It will be a little strange, a little different (in the suspended game). I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that. It will be a little different. “I’m curious as to whether we’re going to have to wear our gray and then switch to white. I’m not sure how they do that.”

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Baby steps

Brocail threw four bullpens last week, and on Monday threw his first bullpen for Astros coaches since going on the DL on May 4. (Chron.com)

“This is just the first time we’ve seen him off the mound,” Robinson said. “Just from my end of it he looked good. He only threw about 25 fastballs, but the ball’s coming out of his hand good.”

“This will be the fifth [bullpen], but it’s the first one they’ve seen,” [Brocail] said. “I’m pain-free.”

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“I missed this”

Sean Berry talks about cancer, recovery, the game and being back at work. (Chron.com)

“Every night, I wanted to jump through the TV screen. It was funny — Aaron Boone and I were calling and texting each other. What are they doing? It was stupid things, being a fan. We needed to feel part of it.”

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In Wade he trusts (and in Heck too)

Justice opines that McLane trusts Wade in a way that he has not trusted his previous general managers. (Chron.com)

Tal Smith on Wade, and on the relationship between Wade and McLane:

“Ed is a very genuine, direct, sincere person. There is no agenda. I’m not saying others had agendas, but Drayton might have perceived that they did. Drayton is very comfortable with Ed and has great confidence in Ed.”

Although McLane hasn’t approved everything Wade has proposed, he likes his approach:

“What I like about Ed is that he has his facts lined up when he brings you something. He doesn’t try to oversell anything. He comes in and says, ‘Here’s what I want. Here’s the budget. Here’s what I think we can accomplish.’ He has brought me big ideas. He thinks things through and is very decisive.”

Wade appreciates that McLane doesn’t just blindly rubber-stamp his proposals, but notes McLane generally signs off on those made to him:

“That’s the way it should be. I don’t want anyone to rubber-stamp everything we come up with. It’s my responsibility to make our case.”

“Drayton wants to have a reason why you want to do something. If you explain it and support it and articulate it, by and large he’s probably going to sign off on it.”

Within this same article, Justice also discusses the Bobby Heck hire and player development.

Heck went to work for the Astros only after being assured he’d have the freedom to do the job the way he thought it should be done.

Heck on rebuilding through the draft:

“[McLane’s] adopted what we’re trying to do here. The presentations we’ve made have shown him we can compete here at the big leagues and think long term.”

McLane on what went wrong with player development prior to the arrival of Heck;

“We didn’t have the right people. Our scouting was wrong. We selected the wrong players. Bobby came in and made some changes immediately.”

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Farm Futures

Signings update

With the reported signing of Jiovani Mier earlier this week, the Astros have signed 34 of their 51 draft picks this year. Through the first 25 rounds, only 7^th round pick Dallas Keuchel and 12^th round pick Geoffrey Thomas have yet to reach an agreement.

Keuchel talks about potentially signing with the Astros in a Q&A with the Houston Astros Examiner:

[The Astros] have definitely been persistent. [Astros scout Jim Stevenson] called and informed me that the Astros are prepared to make me an offer this week. He’s going to stop by the house in Tulsa. All he said was I’ll be happy with the offer, and it’s above the slotted system for being a seventh-round pick.

Right now, I’m 50-50 on my decision. I really like the Astros, and I would like nothing more than to sign with them. However, I do have some unfinished business at Arkansas. Before the College World Series, I was set on signing. Now, after the special experience, I need to take some time to make the best decision for myself and family.

It’s going to come down to the offer. I believe I’ve earned a fair signing bonus. Like I said, I’m 50-50 on my decision, but if they make me an offer I can’t refuse, I’m going to lean toward signing with the Astros.

Arkansas Razorback coach Dave Van Horn thinks Keuchel will sign, however, saying “Dallas is a no doubter.”

Follow along on the Astros 2009 draft class and draftee signings in the Bus Ride.

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Catching up with J.B. Shuck

Shucks hometown paper catches up with the Galion High School graduate.

Shuck, whose .316 batting average is tops among JetHawks regulars and ranks 11th in the league, inexplicably was not invited to play in Tuesday’s California League-Carolina League All-Star Game in Lake Elsinore, Calif. — not that he’s complaining.

The days off during the All Star break were welcomed.

“It was nice to get some time off to rest my body. The running that you do every day puts a pull on your body. You feel it every day.”

His thoughts on not getting an invite to the California League’s All Star game?

“I don’t know. I don’t have any home runs, that probably didn’t help. And we struggled as a team during the first half.”

What is life like in the minors?

It really is a full-time job. You put in an eight-hour day just about every day of the week. You get to the ballpark around 2 and take batting practice and infield from 3 to 5. Games usually start at 7 and last until 10. By the time you shower and eat, it’s 11:30 and it’s after midnight by the time you get home. Then you get up and do it all over again.”

Goals on progressing through the Astros farm system.

“The goal is to move up a level a year. Hopefully my next stop will be in Double A in Corpus Christi.”

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New Dominican facility

The Astros have formalized a “build-to-lease” agreement build-to-lease agreement for a new complex in the Dominican. It will consist of two-and-a-half baseball playing fields, six-pack pitching mounds, batting cages and an observation tower, as well as a two-story facility for housing, education and weight training, among other things. The complex is scheduled to be fully functional by the start of the 2010 Dominican Summer League season.

Read more about it in the Bus Ride and from the Astros.

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Odds and Ends

Time for McLane to get out his checkbook

McLane and long time friend and owner of the Royals David Glass “have Whataburgers bet on who wins the [Astros – Royals] series”. Looks like Drayton is gonna have to pay up on that one…

And in the non-story department, Drayton ‘remains enthusiastic’ about the Astros chances this year. (Tag’s lines)

“If you go back to 2004, we’re making the move awfully early… The team is [gradually] improving and has won a lot of series and we’re going to do that against the Kansas City Royals.”

McLane’s optimism is fueled by the fact that Roy has yet to get on track, and the pitching staff has been dealing with a lot of injuries, but appears to be getting healthier..

“If you asked me back in spring training, would Roy Oswalt have [three] wins at this stage and I’d say, ‘No, he’d have 8 to 10 wins at this stage. So we need Roy and his pitching and he needs run support and I think he will pitch much, much better going forward. Mike Hampton has had some injuries and I think he can pitch better going forward and Wandy will be more consistent.”

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Fox Sports follows the Royals Rusty Kuntz around for a tour of the outfield at MMPUS.

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Zach Levine has a couple of interesting comments in his live game blog on Thursday:

Regarding promotions for Lyles and Seaton:

I’d see Lyles before Seaton. Last I talked to Ricky Bennett about Seaton, they were still a little spooked about sending him up to Lancaster to that hitters’ paradise. Wouldn’t be shocked if he finished out the season in Class A and started next year in Corpus, but that’s just speculation on my part. Lyles, I didn’t ask him about specifically, but it could be the same situation.

Regarding playing time for Maysonet:

Cooper just won’t play him. He said he brought him up to be a role player and isn’t budging from that despite the strong start when injuries forced him in.

Levine discusses Maysonet further in his blog.

“He was called up to be kind of a role player and a bench player, and when he came up, he got started playing a little bit and played well,” Cooper said. “He hasn’t not played well. It’s just that the role has been diminished because guys have become healthy, the guys that were supposed to be out there playing are playing, and that makes his role more of a utility role.”

Despite the lack of playing time, Maysonet is doing what he can to stay ready to play.

“I’m asking the guys like (Darin) Erstad and (Jason) Michaels, just listening to them and going to the cages to do extra,” Maysonet said. “When you don’t play every day, you have to stay sharp.”

“I go into the cage and hit, run a little bit and try to stay loose because you can go in like they if they say ‘we need you right now.'”

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Where are they now?

Lima Time Sighting (LA Times): Lima is hoping to make a comeback by pitching for the Long Beach Armada in the independent Golden Baseball League.

Ezekiel Astacio is “happy to ride with the Colts” (Go San Angelo.com): Astacio is hoping that a stint with the United Baseball League’s San Angelo Colts will put him back on the road to the majors.

Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez is set to tie the all-time catching record tonight in Arlington.  The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle both have decent articles on Pudge’s career and his approach at Calton Fisk’s record of 2,226 games caught.

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Levine writes about the progress of Chris Johnson at Round Rock.  (link)

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Pinwheel has a bad case of man-love for Hunter Pence.  (link)

(where the only consistency is inconsistency)

Round and round and round he goes, where Kaz’ll bat, nobody knows…

Cooper said Matsui will get the nod as starter at second base when he returns. (Astros.com)

“He’s our regular second baseman,” …”We need him to play at a real high level. [If] he plays at a high level, we’re going to be pretty good with he and [Michael] Bourn at the top [of the order].”

But Cooper said Matsui will hit near the bottom of the order when he gets back. …

“It’s pretty hard to take Tejada out of that slot after all this time,” Cooper said. “He’s been really swinging the bat real well in the No. 2 hole. [Matsui] will have to play at a high level, though, for us to be really good.”

Does Cooper evens listens to the drivel that he is spouting?

[Should Matsui start when he returns? Talk about it in the TZ]

Which leads us to the curious case of Wandy and the mysterious battery mate.

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Catching Wandy

Over the last few months, Coop could not say enough of the all-Rodriguez battery:

Cooper credited the dynamic relationship between Rodriguez and catcher Ivan Rodriguez as one of the keys to the pitcher’s success. “I’ll tell you, the guy who’s squatting and catching for him has been a godsend for him,” Cooper said. “They really connect, and Wandy has been as good as any pitcher in the game right now. He is really throwing the ball well. “They’re speaking the same language, and it gives him confidence that the guy back there is putting down the right fingers.” (Astros.com)

Wandy was equally enthusiastic about the pairing:

“I’ve learned a lot from Pudge,” Wandy Rodriguez said. “He’s a very smart catcher. And with him I’m not afraid to throw any pitch at any count because I trust the way he calls games.” *** “I’ve learned to have more confidence in myself,” Wandy said. “He’s given me a lot of confidence this season. For a player of his caliber in the top category of players in history, he makes it easy to feel comfortable with him. “He’s like a friend, and that has given me more confidence.” (Chron.com)

Yet despite Wandy’s confidence in Pudge, in addition to his own comments on the benefits of the pairing, Coop decided have Quintero catch Wandy in his previous start against the Cubs (and may do so in his start today against the Rangers). When asked about the decision, Coop commented:

“[Wandy] and Pudge had worked together for 10 or 12 starts, and I just said a change might be what’s needed for awhile,” Cooper said. “I’m going to start it today and see what happens. It’s not something Pudge is really happy with but I understand that. He wants to be an everyday guy and he and Wandy have had a good run. (Tag’s Lines)

[Which of course was contrary to his “Why tinker with it?” approach that he took when defending his decision not to bat Bourn in the leadoff spot. NYCU] http://www.spikesnstars.com/2009/05/16/why-tinker-with-it%e2%80%9d/#more-3622

So which is it Coop, has Pudge suddenly lost the confidence of his young protégé in favor of Quintero, or do you simply not have a clue as to what the hell you are doing?

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the Co-ards have an eye on Tejada: (Link)

The Cardinals have expanded their search for an additional hitter to include Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada fits the profile of what the Cardinals are seeking — an offensive deterrent capable of playing multiple positions. The Astros are experiencing financial problems and could part with a player owed $13 million this season.

Are the Astros experiencing financial problems? Who knows. Ticket sales are down and there have been rumors since the off season that Wade was looking to move Tejada’s salary. That said, 4.5 games out of the division lead trading a team favorite to a division rival – not a friggin’ chance there buddy.