Notes: Hernandez draws praise
02/25/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Carlos Hernandez continues to draw praise from Houston management. After an impressive debut in 2001, Hernandez's career has been going downhill following rotator cuff surgery three years ago.
That may soon change. From what the Astros have seen thus far this spring, Hernandez has his velocity back. Too often in recent years Hernandez was throwing in the low-70s for the first two or three innings because of the shoulder. The Astros don't use radar guns during workouts, but it is obvious Hernandez is throwing harder.
"In winter ball he was mid 80s from the start," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "His location is good and the ball is coming out of his hand so good, you can see that the velocity is there, he's freer and easier, his arm is up higher."
Astros manager Phil Garner said Hernandez has looked exceptional in his pitching sessions. Garner is considering the left-hander for one of the two open spots in the rotation, which would be quite a comeback for a 26-year-old who has one Major League win to his credit since the 2002 season ended.
"For him to come back and be a productive part of our rotation would be a big lift for us and certainly would answer one of the questions we've got in that four and five hole," Purpura said. "He was kind of at the depths of despair for a while. For him to come back would be a storybook type finish.
"He's come back from nowhere, that's for sure. To his credit, he never gave up. It was tough on him and I'm sure he doubted he could come back, but he never gave up. He kept on going and he's given himself a chance to get back in this thing."
No distraction: Now that Jeff Bagwell is in camp and Spring Training is back to normal, the Astros do not expect the situation to be a distraction as the team prepares for the season.
As Bagwell, attempting to come back from shoulder surgery, tries to see whether he will be able to play or not, it's business as usual for the Astros.
"It won't be a distraction because Bagwell won't let it be a distraction," Garner said. "He's not going to say anything derogatory. There were a few things said this winter, I don't think it's all that serious in that sense. It's not going to be a verbal confrontation going back and forth, so it will not be a distraction. There's just too many other things going on. The Bagwell story is a good story, as far as the media goes, but it's not a distraction for any of us here.
"It's just not a factor. One of the things that has made this organization great, and I do mean great, in the past decade is that no individual has been greater than the team. Guys have sacrificed their individuality for the benefit of the team and that's been Bagwell and [Craig] Biggio. The two of them have been great, but the whole thing they've pushed is you've got to conform to the team."
Like everyone else, Garner is pulling for Bagwell to make it all the way back.
"It's a tough story, and if he can't make it, it will be a sad story, but it will not be a distraction," Garner said.
Indoor work: Bagwell's uncertain status means Lance Berkman will have to make preparations to play both outfield and first base.
"[It] won't hurt him one bit," Garner said. "Lance won't be overworked, I can promise you that. He'll have to prepare for both positions."
Berkman and outfielder Preston Wilson will do most of their conditioning off the field so as to lessen the stress on their knees. Both have had knee surgery in the past.
"The law of diminishing returns," Garner said. "The more they do standing on their knees on the field, the less benefit they get out of it [and] the more soreness they get. So we do their conditioning off the field. Those two are running on the Stairmaster and treadmills, both will do that throughout Spring Training."
Quotable: "There's a difference between arrogant and braggadocios, and being quietly confident and proud of what you've accomplished, and I think what I'd like to see and what maybe I'm seeing is just a certain confidence, a can-do sort of attitude. Guys are upbeat. There's a little bit of buzz going on. The sense I get here is guys look forward to it, they're very pleased with what we've accomplished last year, but guys aren't satisfied. We proved we could get there. Now we've got to go back and prove we can win one." -- Garner, on the difference in the team's attitude today from what it was this time last year
Extra bases: The Astros agreed to terms with right-hander Jimmy Barthmeier and outfielder Charlton Jimerson on one-year contracts. Both deals have a Major League value of $327,000. ... Mike Lamb, one of the better pinch-hitters in the league for the last two seasons, has filled in at several spots in the infield and outfield. But Garner is looking primarily at using Lamb as the infield option this season. Lamb can play first base and third base. ... Teammates call Astros reliever Dan Wheeler "Wrecking Ball" because Wheeler recorded the final out at Busch Stadium in last season's National League Championship Series. Busch Stadium has since been torn down. The Astros have that ball, incidentally, which was caught by Jason Lane, and it will be on display at Minute Maid Park later this season. Wheeler and closer Brad Lidge threw batting practice during Saturday's workout. ... Saturday also featured an extremely popular day with all Astros players, as the club's annual Photo Day took place at Osceola County Stadium. Showing tremendous veteran leadership, left-hander Trever Miller was the first non-rookie to make it through all of the photo stations. Garner completed the photo stations before anyone else for the second year in a row. ... At the 24th Annual IDEA (Information Display and Entertainment Association) Conference held earlier this month in Los Angeles, the Astros Ballpark Entertainment crew led by Kirby Kander and Brock Jessel won the coveted Golden Matrix Award for the Best Show in Baseball. The conference featured scoreboard and videoboard personnel represented across a spectrum of the sports world, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, multi-sports facilities, Minor League teams and universities. The crew won another Golden Matrix Award for Best Promotional Video, awarded for their "Steamed Wieners" video promoting $1 hot dog nights, featuring local radio personalities Dean & Rog (from 93.7 FM The Arrow) and set to the tune of the Gary Wright classic "Dream Weaver."
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Carlos Hernandez continues to draw praise from Houston management. After an impressive debut in 2001, Hernandez's career has been going downhill following rotator cuff surgery three years ago.
That may soon change. From what the Astros have seen thus far this spring, Hernandez has his velocity back. Too often in recent years Hernandez was throwing in the low-70s for the first two or three innings because of the shoulder. The Astros don't use radar guns during workouts, but it is obvious Hernandez is throwing harder.
"In winter ball he was mid 80s from the start," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "His location is good and the ball is coming out of his hand so good, you can see that the velocity is there, he's freer and easier, his arm is up higher."
Astros manager Phil Garner said Hernandez has looked exceptional in his pitching sessions. Garner is considering the left-hander for one of the two open spots in the rotation, which would be quite a comeback for a 26-year-old who has one Major League win to his credit since the 2002 season ended.
"For him to come back and be a productive part of our rotation would be a big lift for us and certainly would answer one of the questions we've got in that four and five hole," Purpura said. "He was kind of at the depths of despair for a while. For him to come back would be a storybook type finish.
"He's come back from nowhere, that's for sure. To his credit, he never gave up. It was tough on him and I'm sure he doubted he could come back, but he never gave up. He kept on going and he's given himself a chance to get back in this thing."
No distraction: Now that Jeff Bagwell is in camp and Spring Training is back to normal, the Astros do not expect the situation to be a distraction as the team prepares for the season.
As Bagwell, attempting to come back from shoulder surgery, tries to see whether he will be able to play or not, it's business as usual for the Astros.
"It won't be a distraction because Bagwell won't let it be a distraction," Garner said. "He's not going to say anything derogatory. There were a few things said this winter, I don't think it's all that serious in that sense. It's not going to be a verbal confrontation going back and forth, so it will not be a distraction. There's just too many other things going on. The Bagwell story is a good story, as far as the media goes, but it's not a distraction for any of us here.
"It's just not a factor. One of the things that has made this organization great, and I do mean great, in the past decade is that no individual has been greater than the team. Guys have sacrificed their individuality for the benefit of the team and that's been Bagwell and [Craig] Biggio. The two of them have been great, but the whole thing they've pushed is you've got to conform to the team."
Like everyone else, Garner is pulling for Bagwell to make it all the way back.
"It's a tough story, and if he can't make it, it will be a sad story, but it will not be a distraction," Garner said.
Indoor work: Bagwell's uncertain status means Lance Berkman will have to make preparations to play both outfield and first base.
"[It] won't hurt him one bit," Garner said. "Lance won't be overworked, I can promise you that. He'll have to prepare for both positions."
Berkman and outfielder Preston Wilson will do most of their conditioning off the field so as to lessen the stress on their knees. Both have had knee surgery in the past.
"The law of diminishing returns," Garner said. "The more they do standing on their knees on the field, the less benefit they get out of it [and] the more soreness they get. So we do their conditioning off the field. Those two are running on the Stairmaster and treadmills, both will do that throughout Spring Training."
Quotable: "There's a difference between arrogant and braggadocios, and being quietly confident and proud of what you've accomplished, and I think what I'd like to see and what maybe I'm seeing is just a certain confidence, a can-do sort of attitude. Guys are upbeat. There's a little bit of buzz going on. The sense I get here is guys look forward to it, they're very pleased with what we've accomplished last year, but guys aren't satisfied. We proved we could get there. Now we've got to go back and prove we can win one." -- Garner, on the difference in the team's attitude today from what it was this time last year
Extra bases: The Astros agreed to terms with right-hander Jimmy Barthmeier and outfielder Charlton Jimerson on one-year contracts. Both deals have a Major League value of $327,000. ... Mike Lamb, one of the better pinch-hitters in the league for the last two seasons, has filled in at several spots in the infield and outfield. But Garner is looking primarily at using Lamb as the infield option this season. Lamb can play first base and third base. ... Teammates call Astros reliever Dan Wheeler "Wrecking Ball" because Wheeler recorded the final out at Busch Stadium in last season's National League Championship Series. Busch Stadium has since been torn down. The Astros have that ball, incidentally, which was caught by Jason Lane, and it will be on display at Minute Maid Park later this season. Wheeler and closer Brad Lidge threw batting practice during Saturday's workout. ... Saturday also featured an extremely popular day with all Astros players, as the club's annual Photo Day took place at Osceola County Stadium. Showing tremendous veteran leadership, left-hander Trever Miller was the first non-rookie to make it through all of the photo stations. Garner completed the photo stations before anyone else for the second year in a row. ... At the 24th Annual IDEA (Information Display and Entertainment Association) Conference held earlier this month in Los Angeles, the Astros Ballpark Entertainment crew led by Kirby Kander and Brock Jessel won the coveted Golden Matrix Award for the Best Show in Baseball. The conference featured scoreboard and videoboard personnel represented across a spectrum of the sports world, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, multi-sports facilities, Minor League teams and universities. The crew won another Golden Matrix Award for Best Promotional Video, awarded for their "Steamed Wieners" video promoting $1 hot dog nights, featuring local radio personalities Dean & Rog (from 93.7 FM The Arrow) and set to the tune of the Gary Wright classic "Dream Weaver."
Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/
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