On Koby’s progress moving from 3rd to behind the plate:

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“He’s gaining every day,” Wiedenbauer said. “There are many challenges with that position. I would imagine the biggest challenge is the patience that it’s going to take, because it’s such an intricate position. It’s not going to happen overnight.

On Marques Williams who was a late round draftee out of the MLB urban academy in Compton Ca.

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“He’s a little bit older (22) for his playing experience, but he’s shown a lot of ability,” Wiedenbauer said. “It looks like he can run them down in center field, and he’s got some bat speed and some strength.”

He looked good in his very limited playing time in Greeneville last year, might jump straight to Lexington depending on how the rosters shake out

Injury News: Chad Wagler will have toe surgery and will be out for 2 to 3 months

All the minor leaguers are expected to be in camp on Friday.

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One of his most memorable moments came after Canada clinched its berth for the Athens Games, when the team gathered on the bus and sang O Canada together over and over.

“That sends goosebumps down my skin just thinking about that moment. It was just unbelievable, the camaraderie between the guys and the coaches,” Clapp recalled.

“The Pan Am Games sticks out, the game against the U.S. was huge. The game against the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic, there were some things in that game that were just phenomenal. There have been so many games that have meant so much.”
VanOstrand had a good game in the final exhibition game against Australia where he doubled and homered.

Former Astro Terry Puhl is the manager of the team.

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“I’ve managed to put on 10-15 pounds during the first couple of months. And then I’ve been doing a lot of speed work, conditioning lately, dropping the weight down and getting ready to play. And it’s been good. And it’s a fun environment too. It’s fun coming in here,” said Jimmy Van O’Strand, an 8th round pick by Houston in the 2006 MLB Draft.

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“[Cooper] told me, ‘I know what you can do,’ ” Manzella said. “It’s a chance for you to show new people in the organization what you showed us last year.’ They said [to] just go out and play and be ready to step in at any point in the year if something were to come up, injury or otherwise.

On Iorg:

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“We’re pretty excited about Eli,” said Tom Wiedenbauer, Minor League field coordinator. “He had such an unfortunate year last year with the injury. He was really starting to turn the corner and doing some good things when he got hurt. It’s exciting to see him get a chance to play again. He’s going to be a multidimensional player. He can steal bases, hit for power, play defense, throw. He does a lot of things.”

On Delome:

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“He’s a strong kid, has some power,” Wiedenbauer said of DeLome, a native of Beaumont, Texas. “As he matures physically, he’s going to have more power. He runs well.”

Brad on his experience in big boy spring training

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“Just getting to play with the older guys that are more experienced, it’s good to get in here now and get more used to it,” James said. “I don’t want to go back to the minor league side. Trust me. This is 15 times better than the minor league side.”

Bennett on the emotional side of James

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“He’s got to learn how to control his emotions on the mound,” Bennett said. “He gets amped up, he gets excited, and he gets emotional, similar to Brandon Backe. It could be a good thing.

Brad on reports he will be a starter or back end bullpen guy

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“I try to stay away from reading stuff like that,” he said. “One of my old coaches told me 10 percent of the stuff you read is true, and 90 percent is just people talking. I just want to play baseball.”

“I think down the road he’s going to learn how to channel that emotion and get hitters out. Early in games, he can be somewhat erratic in the strike zone because of those emotions. But once he learns to calm down, he’s much better with his pitch location and those types of things.”

On the difference between playing at Rice & playing in the minors:

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In college, he got a lot of coaching, with special emphasis on being a team player. Winning games was the most important part of playing college ball. A college season consists of 56 games.

“You play for your teammates, your managers and the fans,” he said.

Not so in the pros.

“Everyone is trying to move up in his separate careers,” he explained. “If you have a good day, you are not as upset if you lost.”

The mission of the coaches is to develop players, not win games. Greg worked out all during January at Minute Maid Park with members of the Astros team.

Erick Abreu – signed a minor league contract (Feb.)
Josh Appell – acquired in trade for Ralph Henriquez (Nov.)
Miguel Asencio – granted free agency (Oct.), Signed by Red Sox to minor league deal (Jan.)
Jimmy Barthmaier – claimed off waivers by Pirates (Nov.)
Phillip Barzilla – Signed by Mariners as a minor league free agent. (Nov.)
Frankie Caraballo – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Alberto Castillo – signed to minor league contract (Feb.)
Brandon Caipen – released (Feb)
Ken Chenard – Signed to minor league contract
Scott Chiasson – Signed to minor league contract
Rob Cosby – Signed to Minor League contract (Jan)
Mike Constanzo – aquired in the Lidge trade and then traded in the Tejada trade (Dec.)
Jose Cruz Jr. – signed to Minor League Contract (Nov.)
Mike De Jean – signed to Minor League Contract (Jan.)
Victor Diaz – signed to Minor League Contract (Jan.)
Travis Driskill – granted free agency (Oct.), Named Pitching Coach in Greeneville (Nov.)
Harold Eckert – Signed to minor league contract (Jan.)
Pedro Espinoza – released (Nov.)
Robert Evans – released (Jan.)
Jesse Garcia – signed to minor league contract (Feb.)
Kevin Fox – released (Dec.)
Felipe Garcia – signed to minor league contract (Dec)
Victor Garate – Selected by Dodgers in minor rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Sammy Gervacio – added to 40 man roster (Nov.)
Hector Gimenez – outrighted to AAA (Oct.), Claimed by Tampa Bay Rays (Nov.)
Brian Gordon – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Nick Gorneault – Signed to a minor league contract (Jan.)
Juan Gutierrez – traded to Arizona (Dec.)
Runelvys Hernandez – signed to minor league contract (Jan.)
Ralph Henriquez – traded to the Mets (Nov.)
Carlos Hines – signed to Minor league contract (Dec.)
Andrew Holder – released (Jan.)
Kevin Hooper – signed to Minor League Contract (Nov.), Released (Jan.)
J.R. House – signed to Minor League Contract (Jan.)
Brad James – added to 40 man roster (Nov.)
Joshua Johnson – signed to minor league contract (Feb.)
Tim Johnson – Released (Dec.)
Mike Just – signed to Minor League Contract (Dec.)
Danny Klassen – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Eric King – Released (Dec.)
Felipe Lira – signed to minor league contract (Jan.)
Kyle Middleton – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Jeff Mackor – Released (Jan.)
Natanael Mateo – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Josh Miller – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Brian Moehler – signed to minor league contract (Jan.)
Eric Munson – Claimed off Waivers by Brewers (Oct.)
David Newhan – Signed to Minor League Contract (Jan.)
Lance Niekro – signed to Minor League Contract (Jan.)
Guiseppe (Joey) Norrito – Selected from Dodgers in minor Rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Ryan Owens – Released (Nov.)
Troy Patton – Traded to Baltimore (Dec.)
Richard Paz – signed to minor league contract (Feb.)
Tomas Perez – signed to Minor League Contract (Nov.)
Julio Puentes – lost to Rays in minor rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Tim Raines Jr. – Diamond backs signed to Minor League Free Agent (Dec.)
Yordany Ramirez – Signed as a Minor League Free Agent (Oct.)
Stephen Randolph -outrighted to AAA (Oct.), re-signed to Minor League Contract (Nov.)
Cody Ransom – outrighted to AAA (Oct.), Signed with Yankees as a minor league free agent (Dec.)
Chad Reineke – added to 40 man roster (Nov.)
Levi Romero – Signed to Minor League Contract (Nov.), Selected by Rangers in minor rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Mike Rodriguez – outrighted to AAA (Oct.), signed by Baltimore as a minor league free agent (Jan.)
Ray Sadler – Signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Santo Luis – lost to White Sox in minor rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Neil Sellers – lost to Phillies in minor rule 5 draft (Dec.)
Todd Self – signed to minor league contract (Dec.)
Wesley Wright – Selected from Dodgers in Major Rule 5 Draft (Dec.)

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“I’m making a lot of money playing baseball and I’m having fun,” House, 28, said. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. I’ll play until they tear the uniform off my back.”

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“I know them (Astros),” House said. “I’ve been with them before and I felt comfortable with it.”

House also liked the fact that Dave Clark, his manager at Corpus Christi in 2006, is set to manage AAA Round Rock this season.
If House makes the team as the 3rd catcher.  That means two of the three catchers would go by J. R..  James Rogers House & Justin Richard Towles.

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From there, we caravanned out to the Playboy party. We enjoyed ourselves immensely among a plethora of A-listers: from Nick Cannon DJing and rapper Common emceeing to the cast of “Entourage” to the man, the myth, the legend himself … Hugh Hefner.

The party was unforgettable, though we paid for it the next morning.

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They still had a postgame party, though there were not too many smiles.

Earth, Wind and Fire, Lionel Richie and Alicia Keys performed live in front of roughly a thousand team members, family and guests. Although the Patriots lost, we did celebrate their amazing 18-1 season.

Tip Fairchild visited Houston last week for a doctors visit, a few bullpen sessions at the elite camp and dinner at Koby’s.

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Fairchild said he threw fastballs at about 85 miles an hour in the 10-minute, 50-pitch sessions. He said he could probably throw harder, but he tries to pitch pain-free.

“To the naked eye you wouldn’t know I was hurt,” Fairchild said. “But I know I’m still rehabbing a little longer.”
On Clemens:

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“I went over to his house Tuesday and had dinner with him,” Fairchild said….”I can’t say anything bad about him,” he said. “He’s been good to me and I’ve seen how he works out. Everybody down here is on his side.”