Hooks Walk Off With Win

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

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 Recap

RR Outfield, Flores Rehab, Lyles Ready for Lex, Tip Released

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

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.”

Fairchild, Flores, Iorg, Lyles

Max Sapp Hospitalized Following Seizures

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Max Sapp, 2006 first round pick of the Astros, had one seizure Tuesday night and another Wednesday morning. He was in the hospital at the time of the second seizure. Sapp spent significant time in ICU during the off season with Viral Meningitis and was just returning to baseball condition.

“He was making progress, catching bullpens, doing well,” Bennett said. “He was happy, excited. This was obviously unexpected. We’re back to square one and we’re just focused on getting him healthy.”

The Orlando Paper has interviewed Sapp & his mother and gives the following update.

“I’m fine,” Sapp said.

Sapp’s mother, Missy, said her son could be released from the hospital as early as Thursday afternoon as long as he doesn’t have another seizure. She said doctors believe her son sustained the latest seizures because, per doctors’ orders, he was being weaned off of Phenobarbital, the more potent of his two anti-seizure medications.

Sapp

Moonlight Graham in Camp? Dax Norris Returns to CC

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Brian Esposito is in spring training hoping to eventually get his first MLB at bat. So far, he looks like Moonlight Graham.

“We were in Houston, and I believe it was June 2, 2007,” Esposito said. “I came in as a defensive replacement late in the game and got left on deck. That was it.”…

He entered the 2007 game at Minute Maid Park in the eighth inning and was credited for a putout on a strikeout. He was on deck when Astros closer Brad Lidge struck out Ryan Ludwick to end the game.

It looks like he will end up in Round Rock to start the season.

Former Hooks catcher Dax Norris returned to CC as an assistant coach on the University of Alabama baseball team this weekend.

“You want to get out there and compete sometimes, but you know, you had your years in and now it’s helping these guys achieve the level they want to get to. It’s very comfortable. It’s still like pro ball. If you don’t do the job, you get fired. It’s good to be back there and it’s a lot of pressure, but pressure, you know, that you want,” Norris said.

Lancaster’s Play by Play Guy Gets Pub, Fans Introduced to Hawkettes

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

The Lancaster JetHawks have been in the news this week and it has had very little to do with baseball players or games. Leading into the season, the Lancaster Play By Play guy, Jeff Laskey was interviewed by the Los Angeles Daily News. He was listed as the 8th best play by play voice in the Los Angeles area. He came in just behind Charlie Stiner, the play by play voice of the Dodgers.

The Lancaster marketing department has been busy. Their idea for a “Polar Bear Club” section caught Baseball America’s attention.

April typically provides a double-whammy of conditions to baseball fans in the Antelope Valley: high winds coupled with near-freezing gametime temperatures. The result has typically been the team drawing its lowest attendance total in the opening month of the season. They’re hoping that changes this year.

Fans who sign up for the Polar Bear Club will have access to a heated section and will receive a free hot chocolate and blanket in addition to discounted ticket prices for April home games at Clear Channel Stadium.

In another effort to please the crowd, the JetHawks have brought back an idea from earlier years, the Hawkettes Dance Team. You can get more info on the Hawkettes page of the Lancaster website.

Tip Fairchild Ready To Go

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Duman in From the Bus Stop

Tip Fairchild rocketed up prospect charts in 2006 only to under go Tommy John surgery that limited his 2007 & 2008 campaigns. The Maine product says he is rearing to go this spring and show what he can do.

“I’m ready to get down there. I want to see how my arm’s feeling.”

So far, Fairchild said his arm feels as well as it did before he underwent surgery. If that’s the case, he could return to his 2006 form when he won 14 games for three teams, the best among Astros minor leaguers.

“I want to go out there and forget the fact I was hurt and go play again,” he said. “And compete.”

He indicates that if a starter he will be back at Corpus but if pitching out of the pen, he expects to be in Round Rock.

“I’d rather start, but whatever’s going to get me there faster is fine with me,” he said.

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