Hooks Walk Off With Win
Since the Astros visited Corpus Christi to play an exhibition game, it allows me, a minor league contributor, to write a recap involving the big boys. Corpus Christ Caller reporter Greg Rajan even gets the call up to post the MLB recap in the place of the illustrious Allyson Footer.
Corpus Christi enjoyed it’s first visit from a major league time since 1958 when the Giants played the Indians. Whataburger Field sold more tickets than ever before (9,118); beating the previous mark (9,022) set when Roger Clemens was on his minor league whirlwind tour. This despite the fact that tickets cost $26.50 more than they did in 1958.
The best part of the game for the Astros was Wandy Rodriguez’s dominate performance on the mound. He faced one over the minimum for 6 innings. He gave us a double to Wlad Sutil but fanned 11 Hooks batters along the way. He left the game with a 2-0 cushion that wasn’t safe.Read More
Exhibition, Hooks, Minor RecapKeppinger knows ‘Stros?
“I know Matsui plays second, Tejada plays short,” Keppinger told reporters in Sarasota, Fla. “I don’t know who plays third base. I know Wiggington played there last year. Blum? I’m not sure, I have no idea. I’ll find out in a couple of days.”
Wade likes him because
“He doesn’t strike out a lot,” Wade added. “He’s a rare player who has more walks than strikeouts every season. He’s a contact hitter, a blue-collar player and he fits perfectly on our club.”
“I’m not prepared to say Chris Johnson is not going to make the club or anything of that nature,” Wade said. “I think we need to let this play out. But from the standpoint to be able to go out and find somebody who fits the role that Boone was going to fit and then some, I don’t think we could have done any better than Keppinger.” Link
A couple of days ago, 3/29
“There’s lot of different ways to go,” Wade said. “We don’t have to carry a pure shortstop because (Class AAA) Round Rock is only a couple of hours away, and if somebody goes down, other than (Miguel Tejada) getting a day off and putting Blum over there — we can grab somebody. We have some decisions to make.” Link
Tell it to David Newhan.
Astros 2009 Outlook
CBSSportsline.com/Danny Knobler provide their outlook for this year’s Houston Astros team.
RR Outfield, Flores Rehab, Lyles Ready for Lex, Tip Released
The minor league opening day is getting closer and news is starting to get out about rosters. It looks like Round Rock is going to have one very fast outfield. Brian Bogusevic and Yordany Ramirez are both fleet enough to patrol center with ease. Now we learn from News 8 in Austin that Eli Iorg is “practically a shoe in” for the roster in Round Rock. They will be exciting on the bases if Ramirez can improve on his .254 OBP, Iorg can improve on his .268 average at AA and Bogusevic can continue hitting the baseball as he has since converting from a pitcher late last year.
Speaking of speedy outfielders, KRIS-TV caught up with Josh Flores in spring training. They inteviewed him about his freak injury that caused him to miss all of last season. Look for Flores to be in Corpus Christi this season.
Jordan Lyles is ready to be a Legend… in a Legends uniform anyway. He talked with his home town paper about preparing for his first go at full season baseball.
“It’s been different. It’s the first time I’ve been able to concentrate on baseball,” Lyles said by phone Friday. “I haven’t experienced things like this. I’ve hit the weight room harder than I ever have and it’s been pretty good so far.”
Lyles says he’s added 15 pounds and reported at 215 when he arrived at the Astros spring training facility in Kissimmee, Fla….“(Spring training) has been everything that I imagined it would be, and I’m happy with the decision to turn pro and not go to South Carolina,”
Tip Fairchild’s hometown paper has been following his career closely and they were the first to let us know that he had been released from the Astros.
“He had a great spring, better than he’s ever had. That’s the hard part,” Bill Fairchild said. “Every time I’ve talked to him, he’s had unbelievable outings. I think he was surprised by (the release), as were many of his friends. The day before he got released, he had a short outing, one inning, and threw five pitches – two ground balls and a strikeout. And he’d done that many times this spring.”
Roy talks about “his” catcher, and the WBC. Boone, “more serious than expected”
Oswalt pitched six innings, with Rodriguez catching all 96 pitches.