September callups

[Mr. Happy]

Shuck, Wallace, Johnson, Lyles, Towles and Harrell

[Fredia]

guess everyone else was already up

[roadrunner]

No Springer?  Ugh, classic Astros being conservative with their prospects...

[Mr. Happy]

No Springer?  Ugh, classic Astros being conservative with their prospects...

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here, or if you're just a dumbass. I'm going with the latter.

[Navin R Johnson]

I believe there are 25 games left.   What is the over/under on the # of at bats Brett Wallace gets, 40? 50?

[Mr. Happy]

I believe there are 25 games left.   What is the over/under on the # of at bats Brett Wallace gets, 40? 50?

I'll take the under, which is what I'm hoping for. I like our new lineup. He had his chance this season.

[Andyzipp]

I'll take the under, which is what I'm hoping for. I like our new lineup. He had his chance this season.

Lee really should sit, and Wallace should get the rest of the time at first.  There is zero to gain with Lee playing every day.

Of course I started thinking that in 2009.

[Mr. Happy]

Lee really should sit, and Wallace should get the rest of the time at first.  There is zero to gain with Lee playing every day.

Of course I started thinking that in 2009.

I see your point. But Carlos has his average up to .276, and he's looked better at the plate, even hitting a few balls hard. I don't see Wallace as the answer at 1B-no power. While he hits minor league pitching for a high average, I think that he still hit only one homerun down there.

[moriartp]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here, or if you're just a dumbass. I'm going with the latter.

Strong bet on sarcasm here.

[Andyzipp]

I see your point. But Carlos has his average up to .276, and he's looked better at the plate, even hitting a few balls hard. I don't see Wallace as the answer at 1B-no power. While he hits minor league pitching for a high average, I think that he still hit only one homerun down there.

He may not be the answer, but Lee should be considered a sunk cost at this point (next year is the last year of his contract, yes?  Please?).  Hell, let Clemens play there.

[BudGirl]

Lee really should sit, and Wallace should get the rest of the time at first.  There is zero to gain with Lee playing every day.

Of course I started thinking that in 2009.

Unless it is a left-handed pitcher.

[BudGirl]

I see your point. But Carlos has his average up to .276, and he's looked better at the plate, even hitting a few balls hard. I don't see Wallace as the answer at 1B-no power. While he hits minor league pitching for a high average, I think that he still hit only one homerun down there.

And Lee has tons of power still.

[Navin R Johnson]

There really isn't much of a reason to play Carlos everyday, but I'd guess that's what Mills will do.  He will probably platoon Martinez and Wallace.  And play Lee in LF on days Wallace is playing.

[Mr. Happy]

And Lee has tons of power still.

I hear you, but, yes, he has demonstrated more power than Wallace. I used to love Wallace, although I've always been concerned about his lack of demonstrated power. Just because someone *looks* like he'll hit for power eventually doesn't always make it so. His power numbers at AAA are only so-so. Look, if Mills chooses to run him out there everyday, even against southpaws, I'll root madly for him to succeed.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

There really isn't much of a reason to play Carlos everyday, but I'd guess that's what Mills will do. 

Assuming Lee is not protected by 10-5 rights (which I think we hashed out last year that he is not - given his partial no trade earlier in his contract) then 1 yr of Lee with Houston chipping in $$$ will be more tradeable than before.  To stir interest with another team, he has to play.  That's not to say I think this WILL happen.  But it's enough reason to keep running him out there.  

Plus, with more than 1 or 2 other hitters getting it done at the plate, I think Lee is finally starting to see some decent pitches.  I could be (and probably am) wrong but he doesn't seem to be chasing as much.  Hot streak?  No clue.  But there are definitely runners on far more as of late.  That leads to better opportunities, as I understand it.  

[strosrays]

I hear you, but, yes, he has demonstrated more power than Wallace. I used to love Wallace, although I've always been concerned about his lack of demonstrated power. Just because someone *looks* like he'll hit for power eventually doesn't always make it so. His power numbers at AAA are only so-so. Look, if Mills chooses to run him out there everyday, even against southpaws, I'll root madly for him to succeed.

Not saying they are anything like the same hitter, but didn't Bagwell develop his power at the major league level?  I remember when he was acquired there was talk that his previous year in the minors he only hit 4 HRs or something like that.  I don't think one had to be a big-time scout to see Bags had the potential, but we remember the 40-HR-a-year guy, not the skinny kid he started out as.

To me, Wallace looks plenty big enough to develop HR power.  I am not sure about the mechanics of his swing, etc.  But I'd give him another chance.  Looking forward at this point, what other options are there at 1B?

[Mr. Happy]

Not saying they are anything like the same hitter, but didn't Bagwell develop his power at the major league level?  I remember when he was acquired there was talk that his previous year in the minors he only hit 4 HRs or something like that.  I don't think one had to be a big-time scout to see Bags had the potential, but we remember the 40-HR-a-year guy, not the skinny kid he started out as.

To me, Wallace looks plenty big enough to develop HR power.  I am not sure about the mechanics of his swing, etc.  But I'd give him another chance.  Looking forward at this point, what other options are there at 1B?

Then let's give him another chance. But play him against lefties to see if he can hit them at this level. It's not like we're trying to win games at this point. The team could avoid 100 losses by going 16-9, but I'm not suggesting that this should trump player development at this point.

[SaltyParker]

but didn't Bagwell develop his power at the major league level? 

Bagwell had 6 HRs in 731 minor ABs
Wallace has 47 HRs in 1223 minor ABs

[geezerdonk]

There really isn't much of a reason to play Carlos everyday, but I'd guess that's what Mills will do.  He will probably platoon Martinez and Wallace.  And play Lee in LF on days Wallace is playing.

Martinez is getting way too much playing time. Astros need Lee and Michaels in the lineup every night during the stretch run. Millsie will see to it.

[Lurch]

Not saying they are anything like the same hitter, but didn't Bagwell develop his power at the major league level?  I remember when he was acquired there was talk that his previous year in the minors he only hit 4 HRs or something like that.  I don't think one had to be a big-time scout to see Bags had the potential, but we remember the 40-HR-a-year guy, not the skinny kid he started out as.

Let's not have this conversation.

[BudGirl]

Let's not have this conversation.

Why not?

[subnuclear]

Bagwell had 6 HRs in 731 minor ABs
Wallace has 47 HRs in 1223 minor ABs

At Age 24-avg-obp-slg
Bagwell - .273-.368-.444
Wallace - .268-.345-.375

Of course, Bagwell played in the Dome. I don't think that means anything except Wallace has time to figure things out.

[Mr. Happy]

Martinez is getting way too much playing time. Astros need Lee and Michaels in the lineup every night during the stretch run. Millsie will see to it.

Absofuckinglutely.

[strosrays]

At Age 24-avg-obp-slg
Bagwell - .273-.368-.444
Wallace - .268-.345-.375

Of course, Bagwell played in the Dome. I don't think that means anything except Wallace has time to figure things out.

One thing to like about Wallace re: his home park is he appears to have the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field.  Or he did.  At times.  When he played.

[sporadic]

Absofuckinglutely.

Wait, I thought that comment was over-the-top sarcastic.  Was it serious?  If so, then I am at a complete fucking loss.  Why would you not play Martinez every day?  I feel like I may be entering some sort of bizarro world here...

[geezerdonk]

Wallace may have been Houston's first baseman of the future but we probably won't ever know after Millsie mindfucked him Cooper style.

[Lurch]

Wait, I thought that comment was over-the-top sarcastic.  Was it serious?  If so, then I am at a complete fucking loss.  Why would you not play Martinez every day?  I feel like I may be entering some sort of bizarro world here...

Your sarc meter must requre a recharge between uses.

[Bench]

Wait, I thought that comment was over-the-top sarcastic.  Was it serious?  If so, then I am at a complete fucking loss.  Why would you not play Martinez every day?  I feel like I may be entering some sort of bizarro world here...

A special phenomenon known as "two people being sarcastic at the same time."

Or did I just completely miss your joke?  Fuck.  This is getting complicated.

[austro]

A special phenomenon known as "two people being sarcastic at the same time."

Or did I just completely miss your joke?  Fuck.  This is getting complicated.

Whatever you do, don't cross the streams.

[sporadic]

A special phenomenon known as "two people being sarcastic at the same time."

Or did I just completely miss your joke?  Fuck.  This is getting complicated.

my feeble mind could not process the funomenon

[Reuben]

In all likelihood the Astros right now see Wallace as, at best, a 2-3 year placeholder until Singleton is ready. Given that, I think it's likely that Carlos will play almost every day the rest of the year- who knows, if he winds up at .280, with 18 HR, 85-90 RBI, maybe they'll only have to eat about $15- of the $18-mil he's owed next year to trade him.

So in that sense, it's kind of like cutting into Wallace's time now to ensure that Wallace and Martinez both can play full-time next year (and save the team a few million bucks too). I mean, especially with a new FO likely taking over, there's almost no way Lee is on the team in 2012, right?

[austro]

I mean, especially with a new FO likely taking over, there's almost no way Lee is on the team in 2012, right?

Selig may have other plans. Meet the new front office, same as the old front office.

[HudsonHawk]

A little late to the discussion, but I think the power will come for Wallace. Maybe not Bagwellian, but 20 or so HR type power. He hits the ball hard on a line. It's just a matter of time before he starts hitting the bottom half of the ball on occassion.

[roadrunner]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here, or if you're just a dumbass. I'm going with the latter.

oh come on.  I've even posted pretty frequently this year and I still don't get the benefit of the doubt.