Garner targets bubble players in lineups

03/01/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Grapefruit League games begin on Thursday, but Phil Garner's first lineup of the exhibition season isn't necessarily representative of the team that will take the field at Minute Maid Park on Opening Day.
Several veterans were omitted from the starting nine for Thursday's matchup with the Indians, slated to begin at 1:05 p.m. ET at Osceola County Stadium. Namely, Jeff Bagwell, Brad Ausmus and Preston Wilson won't appear in the first game.
Bagwell's initial spring appearance will be Friday in Winter Haven, as will Wilson's. Ausmus likely will play for the first time on Saturday, against the Braves.
The schedule is nothing more than an effort on Garner's part to pace his veteran players, especially Bagwell, who is still in rehab mode and will serve as the designated hitter for much of the first half of the Grapefruit season, if not longer.
It's likely Bagwell will lead off when he does play, considering the goal is to give him as many at-bats this spring as possible.
But finding playing time for those not trying out for the team this spring isn't a priority for Garner, at least not in the early going. He's more concerned with the players on the bubble, whose chances to make the club out of Spring Training may be slim now, but can increase as the season progresses.
"For veterans, they're not important at all," Garner said of the first few days of exhibition games. "Guys you know made the team, it's not important. Guys that need to make an impression, all the games are important.
"We're not going to trash you in the first week, two weeks. But what you can see is hustle, attitude, determination. Sometimes the ability to make an adjustment will show up."
Just ask Luke Scott. At this time last year, he was a virtual no-name, hoping for enough playing time at the big league level to make an impression on management before being shipped out to Minor League camp.
But Scott went on a non-stop hit barrage through the second half of March, and by the end of the exhibition season, he had earned a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Scott's odds to make the team this year are much slimmer. The outfield is crowded, with Jason Lane, Wilson and Lance Berkman as virtual locks. If Bagwell doesn't play, Berkman would move to first, which creates a little more room in the outfield. Still, that doesn't really help Scott's chances, because if Berkman moves out, Willy Taveras moves in.
Scott's best chance is to make the team as a bench player, but that will happen only if the Astros carry 11 pitchers. In all likelihood, the Astros will carry 12.
But a lot can happen between Opening Day and October. In that span last year, the Astros made 24 roster moves, most of which involved recalling a player from the Minor Leagues. That's where an organization's depth is tested, and players such as Scott have to be ready.
"They're making their assumptions and judgements on everything you do," Scott said. "You've just got to go out there and basically be yourself, do what you can do, play the game the best you can and see what happens."
In other words, the "meaningless" tag that is often placed on exhibition games doesn't apply. Wins and losses may have absolutely no bearing on a team's well-being, but these games are quite important to those very young players and the not-so-young ones who are looking for a career boost.
This spring, Garner will attempt to measure who can help the Astros, now, and down the road.
"What sometimes is hard for players to realize is that your spring leaves you with an impression," Garner said. "If you have a rotten spring, it's not necessarily a bad impression. If you have a rotten spring and you moped around and you haven't worked hard and you let it beat you down, that's not a good impression."
In other words, pouting because of a logjam at a particular position won't score you any brownie points.
"There's not too many open spots," Garner said. "If that beats you down, then I probably don't want you anyway. If you're going to let that get you down, and you're going to tell me, 'I didn't feel like I had a chance,' well, we'll see you later, pal. You're not going to be the guy that I'm thinking about if I'm going to want somebody."
The odds are tough here, anyway. What you're looking for are the guys that are going to beat the odds. They're the guys, when the game's on the line and you're facing Pedro [Martinez], you're trying to win a ballgame, I want the guy up there that doesn't believe in odds against you. I want the guy up there that says, 'I want to beat the odds.'"

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Burke's '05 injury a silver lining

03/01/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Question: What's the best way to add strength to your right arm?
In Chris Burke's case, the answer is simple: Dislocate the shoulder in your left.
Initially, Burke's injury last September -- a partially dislocated shoulder and slight tear in his labrum on a diving play in center field -- resulted in a week of missed games. But six months later, that misfortune may have actually been a blessing, because he had to add a new round of exercises to his routine over the winter.
"I had to do shoulder-stabilizing exercises with my left shoulder, and when you do shoulder exercises, you don't just do one shoulder," Burke said. "You do them both together. So, my right arm feels better."
That's encouraging news, considering the club is considering playing Burke at shortstop and in left field. Arm strength is somewhat of an issue, so this added strength might just help his cause.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways," Burke said.
As for whether the offseason training will help him throw harder, Burke chose not to look too deeply into the matter.
"I just think there's less soreness," he said. "Usually, this time of year, you have a little more soreness, getting back to throwing every day. So far, I've had less."
Rings: All uniformed personnel from last year's pennant-winning club will be sized for rings on Thursday at the Kissimmee complex. A diagram of the National League champion ring was posted on the bulletin board in the Astros clubhouse Wednesday.
On the top, an Astros star -- filled with 20 diamonds -- sits atop a large ruby, with four diamonds down each side. The top is engraved with "National League Champions."
On one side, the player's name will be engraved next to the words "First World Series," with an Astros logo sitting on top of a logo of the state of Texas.
The other side will feature an engraved "Astros," a depiction of Minute Maid Park and the year "2005."
In addition to players and coaches, all full-time Astros employees will receive a National League championship ring.
Lineup: Craig Biggio will lead off as the designated hitter in the first Grapefruit League game on Thursday against the Cleveland Indians. He'll be followed by Willy Taveras in center, Burke at second, Morgan Ensberg at third, Jason Lane in right field, Adam Everett at shortstop, Luke Scott in left, Eric Munson at first base and Humberto Quintero catching.
Manager Phil Garner will work in Preston Wilson in the second game of the exhibition season on Friday in Winter Haven, and Brad Ausmus will play his first spring game on Saturday, at home against the Braves.
Jeff Bagwell will DH in Winter Haven on Friday and at home on Saturday, pending the Braves' expected approval to implement the DH rule at the Astros' home ballpark.
Springer: Russ Springer, recovering from a pulled rib cage muscle, threw approximately 35-40 pitches off the mound Wednesday.
"I turned it up a little bit more," he said. "As long as it feels good, I'm going to keep rolling. I just don't want to take any back steps."
Springer will throw again on Friday.
Minor setback: Mike Lamb won't play in the spring opener on Thursday because of a sore Achilles tendon, but the infielder doesn't appear concerned that the discomfort will linger.
"You can call it day-to-day," he said. "Better now than later."
Pecking order: In a last-minute scheduling twist, the Astros announced that Dan Wheeler will start against the Indians on Thursday, not Brad Lidge, as earlier reported.
Apparently, being one of the top closers in the league doesn't carry as much weight as it used to.
"It's simple," pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "Wheeler's got more time in the big leagues. He's got seniority. We do it by the hierarchy, and Wheeler's the senior member of the club."
Indeed, he is. According to the newly released, hot-off-the-presses, 436-page Astros media guide, Wheeler has 3.047 years of big league service time. Lidge has only 3.043 years.
Advantage, Wheeler.
"He used to have only two days on me," Lidge insisted. "At some point, he ended up gaining two phantom days in the offseason."
Lidge does not appear to be miffed by his second-inning assignment. After all, it keeps him and Wheeler in the same order as fans have grown accustomed to in the last year.
"It doesn't bother me," Lidge said. "Put it this way. If we went out there in a different order, we might get confused and run out backward. This is probably a good idea."
Following their brief appearances against the Tribe, Lidge and Wheeler will head to the airport to fly to Phoenix, where Team USA is training for the World Baseball Classic.
Final results: As expected, Lidge's group won the annual pitchers spring bunting contest with a final score of 570. Much credit, however, has to go to Roy Oswalt's group, which had a strong showing in the final days to finish second with 545. Andy Pettitte's crew finished third with 310 points, followed by Springer and Wheeler's group, whose poor performance netted them a paltry 242 points.
"Complete tailspin," tournament commish Doug Mansolino said.
Odds and ends: The Astros practiced sliding during morning workouts on Thursday, and this drill wasn't limited to players only. "It brought back old memories," Garner said. "My rear end's on fire, from where I bounced on the ground instead of slid. Getting old is tough." ... Wilson and Pettitte were not in camp Wednesday but instead were tending to personal matters. Garner expects both to return Thursday. ... Former Astros catcher Tony Eusebio, who lives in Kissimmee, dropped by the Astros complex to say hi to old teammates. Eusebio played for the Astros from 1994-2001. ... The Astros signed five players to one-year contracts Wednesday: Brandon Backe ($442,500); Eric Bruntlett ($365,000), Mike Gallo ($365,000), Hector Gimenez ($327,000) and Chad Qualls ($376,000).

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Rocket's final Classic tuneup

03/02/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- In one final tuneup before heading to Arizona, Roger Clemens threw three innings to Houston Astros Minor League mini-campers during an intrasquad game on the backfields of Osceola County Stadium on Thursday.
Wearing a red Team USA cap and a plain black shirt, Clemens, this time playing on the same team with his son, Koby, threw 38 pitches -- 24 for strikes.
This was his second appearance in Kissimmee. Rocket also threw 84 pitches Monday in a simulated game, and added 28 onto that total during a session of batting practice.
On Thursday, Clemens, who faced top pitching prospect Troy Patton in this game, said he recovered nicely from Monday's outing.
"For me, right now, the 30-hour mark is when the soreness sets in," he said. "I was able to work a lot of that out and come back today, and the ball was coming out of my hand nice. It was a little bit more of a game situation, so that was nice."
Clemens, along with Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler, is scheduled to fly to Phoenix on Thursday to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. He'll face South Africa on March 10 in Game 3.
"I've taken the day they told me [I'm starting] and worked back," he said. "That's how I ended up here. They told me to be ready for anything. They've given me the dates when I should be ready to throw.
"I realize I can maybe catch an inning between starts if someone's not feeling right. I think they can be a little more liberal with me than they can with the other guys just for obvious reasons."
Clemens, currently an unsigned player, has yet to decide if he wants to pitch beyond the World Baseball Classic. The Astros cannot sign him until May 1, but several other teams -- the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers -- have made their pitches to Rocket. He reiterated on Thursday that he's not thinking about anything past the Classic.
Having battled back and hamstring problems in the past, Clemens seemed to have no issues during either of his two sessions in Kissimmee.
"The ball was coming out of my hand nice," he said. "The location was a lot better than I expected, and the breaking ball's ahead of schedule."
Minor procedure: Andy Pettitte returned to Houston on Wednesday to have outpatient surgery to remove a growth on his forehead. The growth had developed into a staph infection, which necessitated the procedure.
Pettitte noticed the bump while on a Christmas vacation in Maui, and doctors speculated the growth may have stemmed from an insect bite.
"We thought it was gone, but I got down here [to Kissimmee] and I started wearing my hat, and it started getting a little bit bigger," Pettitte said. "They said yesterday they found something, they have no idea what it was. It was keeping it kind of irritated and infected."
The procedure took approximately 45 minutes and Pettitte was back at the airport soon after to return to Florida. Groggy and somewhat disoriented, Pettitte shared a terminal with two groups of travelers who recognized him immediately -- native New Yorkers (and most likely, Yankees fans) and about 80 high school kids from Pettitte's hometown of Deer Park, also traveling to New York.
"I had a massive headache," he said with a laugh. "Everybody was coming up to me. I kind of had my nose buried in a magazine, trying to get a nap."
Ring-a-ding-ding: There was a certain giddiness among players and coaches as they stood in line in the lunchroom of the home clubhouse and waited to be sized for their National League championship rings.
The rings will be handed out during a pregame ceremony prior to the second game of the regular season on April 4. Players receive the rings for no charge and are permitted to order additional ones for a fee.
"We're going to order another ring, put 'Clemens' on the side of it, then sell it on eBay as Clemens' World Series ring," Lidge joked. "How much cake is that going to bring?"
Lidge, Wheeler start: Wheeler threw six pitches in his one-inning outing of the Astros' Grapefruit League opener against the Indians on Thursday, followed by Lidge, who threw 16 pitches. Each pitched one inning before leaving for Arizona.
Wheeler pitched to three batters, inducing two fly balls and a groundout. Lidge allowed two hits and struck out one.
"Overall, I actually felt pretty solid on my fastball/slider combination," Lidge said. "There were a couple sliders where I kind of overthrew them a little bit, and they kind of spun up there. I had a couple good sharp ones down. Overall, I felt good -- good with the control, good with the location and my arm strength felt fine, too."
Klassen out of WBC: Non-roster invite Danny Klassen will not participate for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic after suffering a bone bruise and sprained ACL in his right knee. Klassen suffered the injury during Monday's workout and is expected to be sidelined for 10 to 14 days.
Odds and ends: Jeff Bagwell will play Friday and Saturday, both days serving as the designated hitter. ... Preston Wilson's first spring game will be Saturday, against the Braves. ... Lidge, Wheeler, Carlos Hernandez and Mike Gallo will join their respective teams for the Classic, beginning Friday. Willy Taveras will remain in Kissimmee, as the Dominican club will train at the Astros' facility. ... The Astros signed three players to one-year contracts: Jason Lane ($450,000), Chris Burke ($362,500) and Willy Taveras ($400,000).

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Astros come up short in spring opener

03/02/2006
Indians at the plate: Second baseman Ronnie Belliard knocked a three-run homer off Steve Sparks in the fifth, giving the Tribe a 5-2 lead. Shortstop Ramon Vazquez also contributed a two-run single in that frame.
Astros at the plate: First baseman Eric Munson drove in Houston's first hit with a single to right-center in the second, and designated hitter Craig Biggio followed with an RBI single to center. Second baseman Chris Burke recorded a double in the first, and right fielder Charlton Jimerson tripled in the sixth.
Indians on the mound: Starter Jake Westbrook pitched two innings, allowing five hits, two runs and no walks. He struck out one.
Astros on the mound: Starter Dan Wheeler threw six pitches in his one inning of work, allowing no hits. Brad Lidge followed with a 16-pitch second frame, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Grapefruit League records: Indians 1-0; Astros 0-1.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Indians race past Astros in opener

03/02/2006
Indians at the plate: Second baseman Ronnie Belliard knocked a three-run homer off Steve Sparks in the fifth, giving the Tribe a 5-2 lead. Shortstop Ramon Vazquez also contributed a two-run single in that frame.
Astros at the plate: First baseman Eric Munson drove in Houston's first hit with a single to right-center in the second, and designated hitter Craig Biggio followed with an RBI single to center. Second baseman Chris Burke recorded a double in the first, and right fielder Charlton Jimerson tripled in the sixth.
Indians on the mound: Starter Jake Westbrook pitched two innings, allowing five hits, two runs and no walks. He struck out one.
Astros on the mound: Starter Dan Wheeler threw six pitches in his one inning of work, allowing no hits. Brad Lidge followed with a 16-pitch second frame, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Grapefruit League records: Indians 1-0; Astros 0-1.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Reds' Ruhle diagnosed with cancer

03/02/2006
LAKELAND, Fla. -- When Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle asked to address the clubhouse Thursday morning, it wasn't to talk about the first Grapefruit League game later that day or scheduling bullpen sessions for his pitchers.
Instead, Ruhle delivered sobering news that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
"He's upbeat and we're optimistic," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "But it does hit you in the gut when you hear that word [cancer]."
The 55-year-old Ruhle declined to reveal the exact nature of the disease he was dealing with, but planned to continue performing his duties for the club.
"I'm going to focus totally on remission, as well as being a coach," Ruhle said. "But the remission part is going to be the priority."
Doctors discovered Ruhle's cancer after he took his annual physical as Spring Training opened two weeks ago. He missed the club's workout on Monday and received a confirmed diagnosis.
"I figured a coach missing a workout in Spring Training for a doctor's appointment, something's not good," manager Jerry Narron said. "When they had the physicals, right away the blood test came back and said there was something. We were all hoping that first test was wrong."
"Hopefully, it opens everybody's eyes," veteran reliever Chris Hammond said. "Did he feel any different? The older you get, you have to be careful. God doesn't guarantee us tomorrow."
Ruhle, who met the team in Lakeland just before Cincinnati played the Tigers, appeared to be in good spirits while discussing his condition with reporters after the game.
"There's more or less an understanding that there are medical advances and you deal with what the new information is," Ruhle said. "I'm fortunate that the timing of it was during Spring Training and they got the physicals and I got an early diagnosis. It allows me to go ahead and start treatment basically before symptoms [appear]. Everything is a positive mindset. It's something we can treat and put it in remission."
Ruhle never considered taking a leave of absence from coaching.
"No," he said. "It's what I do. It's where you're supposed to be, at Spring Training."
Ruhle, who keeps his offseason home near the Reds complex in Sarasota, will undergo his treatments in Florida.
"He'll be with us as much as he can this spring and go from there, basically," Narron said.
Bullpen coach Tom Hume will assume Ruhle's duties on days he is unable to get to the ballpark.
"Vern's the pitching coach," Krivsky made clear. "We're just going to have to play it by ear by how he feels and that type of thing. Everybody reacts to treatments differently. We'll have to wait and see and be guided by how he feels and what the doctors feel. The bottom line is, we're here to support Vern."
After he joined the Reds organization in 2004 as a pitching coach with rookie level Billings, Ruhle was promoted to Minor League pitching coordinator before the 2005 season. He became the big league pitching coach for the team when Don Gullett was dismissed in June along with manager Dave Miley.
Ruhle pitched for the Tigers, Astros, Indians and Angels from 1974-86 and was 67-88 with a 3.73 ERA. From 1997-2003, he was a pitching coach for the Astros, Phillies and Mets.
"I'll add one more person to my prayer list," Hammond said. "The only thing you can do for him is stay positive."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Hirsh may not be far from Houston

03/03/2006
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Not only are the Houston Astros conservative when it comes to rushing players to the big leagues, they're also cautious about becoming too giddy about a player through the media.
But it's hard not to get a little excited about Jason Hirsh, the Astros' top pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. While Hirsch is projected to begin the year in Triple-A Round Rock's rotation, he is certain to get a nice, long look from manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura this spring.
And with two rotation spots up for grabs, anything can happen between now and April 3. Hirsh is one of three potential rookies, along with Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve, who could crack the rotation before camp breaks. Even if Hirsh doesn't make the team out of Spring Training, it's likely that we'll see the 6-foot-8 right-hander at some point during the season.
So for now, label Hirsch the Astros' Top Prospect. Of course, that's what Roy Oswalt was in April 2001. By May, he had progressed just a bit, to No. 3 Starter. In other words, things can change quickly in this game.
"He'll get some innings under his belt [and] pitch in some big-league games," assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. "Our thought process is to send him to Triple-A, put him in the rotation and have him to continue to develop. If he continues to do well, there's a chance realistically [that] we'll see him in Houston at some point during the season. We don't expect that to happen out of Spring Training. We're going to keep an open mind about it, but realistically, we see him gong to Triple-A."
Hirsh, tabbed by Baseball America as owning the best control of all Astros prospects, had a breakout season in 2005 at Double-A Corpus Christi, posting a 13-8 record and a 2.87 ERA over 29 starts. The Astros considered moving him to Triple-A halfway through the year, but they decided to keep him in Corpus for the duration.
"We felt like, with the success that he had at Double-A, [it was best] just leave him there and let him complete a solid year at Double-A, " Bennett said. "And I think he benefited from that."
The reward for the 24-year-old Hirsh, who struck out 165 batters over 172 1/3 innings while walking only 42, was earning Texas League Pitcher of the Year honors.
When the Astros didn't offer Roger Clemens arbitration in December, it was clear that at least two spots would be available this year. Prior to the Clemens announcement, Hirsh had it in his mind that he was headed for Triple-A. Afterward, he let himself -- briefly -- ponder the notion of making the rotation out of Spring Training.
"I don't want to say it raised my hopes, because losing a guy like Roger is obviously a big blow to this staff," Hirsh said. "But to have an opportunity like I have now, because of that situation, that makes my Spring Training a little more important to me."
The Astros like Hirsh's talent, but they're also impressed with the other elements that factor into a player's success. Maturity, humility and coachability are also taken into account, and the Astros like what Hirsh brings to a clubhouse.
"He's a very mature kid," Bennett said. "He keeps everything in perspective. He's not looking too far down the road. He understands he still has to do some things before he gets to the big leagues. He's good with the media, he's a good teammate and he's going to be big part of our future."
Garner hasn't watched Hirsh long enough to make a definitive call on the young right-hander, but the skipper will be watching closely this spring. The Astros invited only five non-roster pitchers to camp this year, and they'll be without the services of three pitchers during the World Baseball Classic.
This means that the club probably won't have to make as many cuts after the first week of games, which will give the young pitchers more time to impress the boss. It's likely that Hirsh won't be shipped out anytime soon.
"He looks to me like he maintains good concentration," Garner said. "Whatever he's doing, he looks like he focuses at it. He looks like he throws the ball down in zone well, which is really good for as big as he is. And his stuff's good.
"He looks like he has some of the other ingredients that you've got to have to go along with having good stuff. He's a good athlete. He swings the bat pretty good and he moves on the mound well."
The next few weeks will be critical for Hirsh, who will try to block out the raised expectations that began sometime last season. He, like the Astros, is determined not to get ahead of himself.
"They told me going into Spring Training, 'Just be normal -- don't try to show up anybody. Just be yourself and things will fall into place,' " Hirsh said. "They know what I can do. They obviously saw last year [that] I had a pretty good season. Hopefully, I can carry it into spring."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Bagwell gets in his at-bats

03/03/2006
WINTER HAVEN -- It's likely Jeff Bagwell had never led off a game at any point in his baseball life, and on Friday manager Phil Garner joked that he inserted the first baseman in that spot for speed reasons.
In truth, Bagwell, serving as the designated hitter, led off the Astros game in Winter Haven because Garner wants him to have as many at-bats as possible this spring. When the Astros host the Braves on Saturday, Bagwell will hit second, which is where he'll likely hit in the regular season, too.
With general manager Tim Purpura and company watching from the second row behind the plate at Chain of Lakes Park, Bagwell had three at-bats. He reached on an error in his first, knocked a solid single to left-center in the second and struck out in the third.
"It's always nice to get a hit, but if I didn't get a hit it still wouldn't have meant anything," he said. "I've been asked about that, about if I have to show that I can hit. I don't believe that I do. It's not that."
It's the throwing, which he has yet to do in a game situation. He's on a two days on, one off schedule in that respect, and by next week, he thinks he may inch closer to throwing on an everyday basis. At some point, he'll be ready to play his position at first base.
"It's whether or not I can throw, hit, play in a game, play back-to-back games, play three games in a row, and be able to still hit," Bagwell said. "There's only one guy that's going to be able to know that, and that's me, and how I feel."
Bagwell jokingly refers to this spring as a tryout camp. Although he says it in jest, there's some truth in that. He's being watched closer now than in any of his 15 years in the big leagues.
"I know there's more eyes on me now," he said. "Usually, it's just, 'Leave him alone, we'll get him ready, somehow he's going to make it on April 1 and everything will be fine.' It's not that anymore. It's a whole different animal out there right now."
Bagwell had a cortisone shot just before he arrived to Kissimmee, and if things go well this spring, he'll have another just before Opening Day.
But a lot can happen between now and April 3. He's trying to pace himself but admitted he feels somewhat rushed because of the club's urgency to know whether he can contribute in 2006. He doesn't blame the Astros in that respect.
"That's what makes it weird, different for me," he said. "It's not the same. It's not a normal Spring Training for me, obviously. It is what it is. I've come to grips with it. All I want to do is come down here and see if I could play."
Burke at short: The Chris Burke at shortstop experiment began in earnest on Friday, although the Astros weren't any closer to figuring out if he could play there when the game was over as they were before it started. That's because during Burke's four innings, no one hit the ball to him.
"I didn't get a ball hit to me at intrasquad, either," Burke said, referring to the Astros' scrimmage last Tuesday. "So maybe I'm allergic to the ball."
Chances are, he'll have more opportunities. Garner plans to play him at short a lot this spring, and by the time camp breaks, Garner should have a good idea whether Burke has the arm strength to play there as a backup option for Adam Everett.
Burke played shortstop in college at the University of Tennessee and in his first year of pro ball in 2001. The next season, he was converted to a second baseman, partly because of the question of arm strength. Five years later, it appears the Astros are willing to revisit the shortstop option.
"I want him to get some playing time there," Garner said. "If I want to make a double-switch sometime, I want to see if I would feel comfortable with that. I know [Eric] Bruntlett can play shortstop. I want to see what [Burke] can do."
Said Burke: "For me, it's been so long since I've been out there, I'm just going to go out there and make all the routine plays and see what happens."
Although he's pretty much guaranteed a spot on the roster, Burke is taking nothing for granted this spring.
"I always have something to show them," he said. "I'm always playing with something to prove."
Smart guy: Baseball players are often unfairly lumped into one big stereotype -- that of the "dumb jock." Consider Bruntlett the exception to that rule.
Not only did Bruntlett score a 1460 out of 1600 on his SATs, but he also completed his course work at Stanford University in 3 1/2 years.
"I didn't have any classes in the spring of my last year there," he said. "I slept until practice every day. It was a good deal."
Bruntlett, who majored in economics at Stanford, was modest about the SAT score.
"I've got everybody fooled," he said. "I'm not that smart. I got lucky."
Odds and ends: The Astros brought seven Minor League players with them to Winter Haven: right-handers Paul Estrada, Jailen Peguero and Chris Sampson, left-hander Josh Muecke and infielders Jonny Ash, Brooks Conrad and Ben Zobrist. "Just in case we need them, you never know," Garner said. ... Garner was impressed with right-hander Matt Albers' performance against the Indians in the Grapefruit League opener Thursday. "He threw a bunch of fastballs," Garner said. "He got to where I thought he was going to try a couple breaking balls, but he kept going with fastballs. I liked that."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Lane hot at the plate in win vs. Tribe

03/03/2006
Astros at the plate: Jason Lane had a big day, notching an RBI double in the first inning off C.C. Sabathia, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the second and cranking out a solo home run off Cliff Lee in the fourth. Chris Burke got the Astros on the board with a run-scoring triple in the first. Second baseman Eric Bruntlett cleared the bases with a double in the second.
Indians at the plate: Jason Michaels knocked in the Tribe's first run with a hard-hit single in the third off Fernando Nieve, and Jhonny Peralta followed with a three-run homer to right-center field. The two are expected to provide a similar punch in the two and three spots of the lineup this season. Non-roster invitee Ryan Mulhern added a solo shot off right-hander Jason Hirsh in the sixth.
Astros on the mound: Right-handed starter Tyler Buchholz had a nice, painless day, holding the Indians scoreless on one hit in his two innings of work. Nieve had a tougher go of it, giving up four runs on four hits in two innings.
Indians on the mound: Sabathia didn't look very sharp, as he was beaten up for seven runs, five of which were earned, on six hits over 1 2/3 innings. Lee was touched for a run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts in his two innings of work.
Cactus League records: Astros, 1-1; Indians, 1-1.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Bagwell compensates off field

03/04/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Jeff Bagwell isn't quite ready to play his position at first base, but he did find a way to practice his between-innings routine while still serving as the Houston Astros' designated hitter on Saturday.
After each of his three at-bats during the Astros' game with the Braves, Bagwell and pitching teammate Russ Springer walked to the field just behind the left-field wall and played catch for several minutes. The purpose was to give Bagwell the feel of being on the field in between innings, when he would normally be throwing the ball around to his infield teammates.
"It's a simulated-game type environment," manager Phil Garner said.
Bagwell is still on a two day on, one off schedule in terms of throwing. He hopes to start throwing every day in the near future, possibly this week.
"I'm on an accelerated program," he said. "I'm usually not throwing at any time until the second week of games."
As for how the strain of Saturday's drill with Springer affected his shoulder, Bagwell said he would know more Sunday.
"It's a little sore," he said. "It's probably the most throwing I've done since I've been down here."
Berkman starts Sunday: Lance Berkman will appear in his first spring game on Sunday, when the Astros play the Dominican club at Osceola County Stadium.
Berkman had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in his knee in late January and had planned to skip the first few spring games as a precaution. He'll play first base in his spring debut.
"One or two missed games wasn't going to hurt me," he said.
Enemy? The World Baseball Classic is logistically a little easier for Willy Taveras than teammates Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler, because Taveras' Dominican team is training at the Astros' facility in Kissimmee.
This means that instead of hopping on the plane and flying cross-country, he just had to pack a duffel bag and head about 300 feet to the Minor League clubhouse, where the Dominican team is housed.
"They joked with me, 'All you have to do is jump and you're right there,'" Taveras said.
Taveras will play for the Dominican club Sunday, but will be back with the Astros on Monday when they host the Nationals. Taveras will then rejoin the Dominican team Tuesday for the duration of that club's participation in the Classic.
Props for Bruntlett: The Astros' decision not to re-sign Jose Vizcaino stemmed largely from the fact that they view two players, Chris Burke and Eric Bruntlett, as Vizcaino-type players.
While Burke is a projected future starter, it appears Bruntlett will be a utility role player for however long his Astros tenure lasts. That may be why Burke receives more attention than Bruntlett, but Garner warned not to forget about Bruntlett, whom he labeled last year as the club's "secret weapon."
After all, it was Bruntlett who started the 4-6-3 double play to end Game 4 of the National League Championship Series last year.
"You look at two guys on the field, and your eyes are drawn toward Burke for some reason," Garner said. "He's feisty. When you're around the club, he's the one chirping all the time, and Bruntlett's in the background. But when [Bruntlett] plays, he's very smooth. He doesn't draw your attention to it, and the next thing you know, he's made a great play. He's made a very difficult play look very easy."
Inching closer: Springer threw off a mound and used all of his pitches Friday, and he should be ready to appear in a game soon.
"I took the fastball up another notch," he said. "I'm pretty close. As long as my mechanics don't bother me. When my mechanics are off, it bothers me. I'll be out there before long."
Springer long tossed on Saturday and will throw off a mound again on Sunday.
Well wishes: Garner sent his best wishes to Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
"From what we've heard, he sounds like he can make a full recovery," Garner said. "He's a good man. You just know it's going to be a tough process, what he's going to go through."
Garner and Ruhle were teammates in Houston from 1981-84. Ruhle, who played for the Astros from 1978-84, was also the club's pitching coach from 1997-2000.
Gallo: Left-hander Mike Gallo pitched for Team Italy on Saturday in its 6-5 loss to the Tigers. Gallo worked a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. He didn't allow a baserunner.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Crafty Oswalt ahead of the curve

03/04/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Around this time last year, Roy Oswalt decided to spend much of his spring season developing a split-fingered fastball. But in doing so, he somewhat ignored his curveball, and he paid for it later. When the regular season started, it took him a solid two months to regain a feel for what got him to the big leagues in the first place.
So this spring, Oswalt has altered his schedule. He's first going to work on his normal repertoire of pitches, and then later, he'll fiddle with the less pressing issues.
"Last year, I got to trying a few more pitches in Spring Training," he said. "I lost my feel of my curveball for the first month or two. I'm going to try to get the basics down first and make sure they're sharp, before I start on something else. Last year, I threw a split during the season in different games. Some games it worked well, some games it didn't. I may work on that toward the end of Spring Training, but I'll get my other stuff going first."
The first order of business is fastballs and curveballs. Later this month, he'll focus on his changeups and sliders. Oswalt's had only one outing this spring, but it's obvious he is sticking to his plan. He threw 19 pitches on Saturday, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings while facing seven Braves hitters.
He threw mostly curveballs and fastballs, mixed in with a slider or two to left-handed hitters.
"He just wanted to go out and throw the ball over the plate," manager Phil Garner said. "That's what he did. He didn't throw too many breaking balls. He just threw some fastballs. He got them where he wanted them."
Oswalt hasn't been officially announced as the Astros' Opening Day starter, but considering he's been in a class by himself for the last two years, Garner's decision really isn't one. Oswalt topped a phenomenal 2004 with an even better '05, posting a second consecutive 20-win season while posting a 2.94 ERA.
Oswalt also pitched the game of his life last October, when he coasted through seven innings to lead the Astros to a pennant-clinching win over the Cardinals in Game 6 of the NLCS. He threw mostly fastballs in that win, and this spring, he keeps reminding himself that what worked for him then could certainly be advantageous this year, too.
"I threw 110 pitches, and 90-95 were fastballs," he recalled. "When you throw that percentage of fastballs, usually at some point during a game they're going to start getting on you. They didn't, for seven innings. Hopefully this year, during the spring, maybe I can work on that, where I may throw more fastballs. You never know. You have to go by the feel of the game and the way you feel."
Oswalt's success is related not only to his "stuff," but his efficiency. He threw nearly 500 innings in the last two seasons, but he managed to keep his pitch counts relatively low.
When he looks to long-term goals, he tends to lean toward what he needs to do to keep his team in the game, rather than focus on wins and losses.
"It's hard to set a goal in wins," he said. "I feel if I can pitch the way I pitched the last two years, I'll be successful as far as keeping guys in the game, late into the ballgame.
"A lot of guys win or lose ballgames early in the game. A lot of guys hit their pitch count early in the game, in the sixth inning, and don't get a chance to win it in the seventh and eighth. If you keep pitching deep into ballgames, you eat up a lot of innings, and you can be successful down the road."
Without a doubt, Oswalt and Andy Pettitte will form one of the top duos among starting pitchers in the National League. After that, the rotation is somewhat suspect, with Brandon Backe filling the No. 3 role and Nos. 4 and 5 up for grabs.
Oswalt feels left-hander Carlos Hernandez is making quite a case for himself this spring, and he thinks that if Backe receives a full season of 35 starts, he'll benefit from the consistency.
Although he's only 28, Oswalt knows he's one of the elder statesmen of this starting staff. And he's accepted the responsibilities that accompany that label.
"When I came up, the older guys, you have to pick up things from them to get yourself through the season as far as how they prepare themselves and how they go about their business," he said. "You can pick up things like that, from guys who have been here a while."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

End is imminent for Clemens

03/04/2006
PHOENIX -- The days of his active baseball career are dwindling to a precious few and Roger Clemens is well aware of it. Whether its this year or next year -- and he still hasn't made that determination -- Clemens will hang them up.
"Like I've said, I know that it's time to retire when the chants go from 'Roger (stinks)' to 'dad (stinks),'" Clemens said on Saturday.
Or when one of his sons hits a homer off him, which occurred during batting practice this week at Astros Minor League camp in Kissimmee, Fla. When that happens, Clemens knows he's moving from over the hill to over the mountain.
But that time isn't quite here yet, even though the short-cropped goatee he's sporting is speckled with a little bit of gray. Clemens will be 44-years-old on Aug. 4, but on Sunday he'll haul those old bones back on the mound in competition once again as Team USA plays its tune-up game for the World Baseball Classic against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The U.S. opens tournament play on Tuesday against Mexico at Phoenix's Chase Field, and Clemens will pitch for real with a start in Game 3 against South Africa on Friday in Scottsdale.
When last he pitched, Clemens was tossing for the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the World Series. He came out after an inning when he tore a hamstring. In the conference call announcing his participation in the Classic on Jan. 17, Clemens said his arm was still way ahead of his legs.
But he was encouraged with his last batting practice outing and is slated to toss the first two innings on Sunday, whether Barry Bonds is in the lineup for the Giants or not. Bonds, recovering from three surgeries last year on his right knee, has yet to make an appearance for the Giants this spring.
"I think I'm fine," Clemens said. "I just know [pitching coach Marcel] Lachemann came to me and backtracked from the game I'm supposed to work in and wondered if I could throw. I told them I'd do whatever they want. I'm supposed to start [on Sunday] and throw a couple of innings from what I understand. I'll probably throw a little more than I normally would have in the bullpen. And I'll probably throw a little more after I come out of the game to simulate three or four innings."
The idea is to have Clemens hitting on all cylinders for a possible tournament-clinching start in the finals on March 20 at San Diego's PETCO Park, if Team USA gets that far. Clemens could also start Game 3 of the second round in Anaheim on March 16 if the U.S. needs a win to clinch a berth in the semifinals.
It's all up to his health at this point. Clemens has the will, as his 341 wins and 4,502 strikeouts attest. But on some days he might now have the way to go about it.
"It takes me longer to recover now after I pitch," said Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner whose 1.87 ERA last season led all of Major League Baseball. "I ice and after about the 30-hour mark I ice again a little bit to reduce the swelling. It's the normal swelling, I consider that."
Asked if the swelling was restricted to his arm, Clemens said: "No, everywhere. Surely you've felt that yourself at some point."
Clemens, who's a free agent, said he still has interest from four teams about playing his 23rd season -- the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Astros. Under terms of the Basic Agreement, he can't sign and play with the Astros until May 1.
The Yankees and Red Sox, of course, are old friends. And Clemens is back together on this team with Derek Jeter. The pair played on Yankees' World Series winners in 1999 and 2000. Al Leiter was a pitcher on the Mets squad that lost to the Yankees in 2000, the last time they won the World Series.
Whether Clemens picks it back up after the Classic is still very much to be determined, although he's pitched what many thought was his last game three times already: in the 2003 World Series for the Yankees; in Japan in 2004 for MLB All-Star team that toured that country; and last October in Game 1 of the World Series.
On Thursday night, Clemens hosted a dinner for some of his new teammates where they talked about life, baseball and this shared World Baseball Classic experience. Clemens said he wore one of his World Series rings.
"It was the 2000 ring," he said. "It's nice to have a choice."
In rings and retirement, both.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Oswalt in fine form, but Astros fall

03/04/2006
Braves at the plate: Infielder Martin Prado knocked a bases-clearing double, driving in two runs, as part of a four-run sixth. Outfielder James Jurries knocked two singles and a double and drew a walk. Outfielder Kelly Johnson recorded two hits.
Astros at the plate: Morgan Ensberg led off the fifth with a homer to left field to start a three-run inning. Luke Scott continued the inning with an RBI triple. Preston Wilson was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Craig Biggio was 2-for-3.
Braves on the mound: Starter Tim Hudson allowed five hits, four of which were infield hits, and one earned run over two innings. Hudson walked one and struck out one.
Astros on the mound: Starter Roy Oswalt threw 19 pitches, allowing two hits over two shutout frames. He walked none and struck out one.
Grapefruit League records: Braves 2-1; Astros 1-2.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Pettitte nearing game action

03/05/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte threw 34 pitches to three Astros hitters on the backfields of Osceola County Stadium on Sunday morning, and he appears to be close to appearing in a live game.
Pettitte threw to Hunter Pence, Chris Burke and Kevin Orie, with Brad Ausmus behind the plate and Pettitte's two sons, Josh and Jared, in the outfield shagging fly balls.
Pettitte will throw a long bullpen session on Tuesday and a simulated game Friday, and then he should be ready to join the Astros' spring rotation.
"I'll be ready to get in a game," Pettitte said. "Before I go in, I'd like to face some hitters without the screen up there."
Pettitte has been about a week behind the rest of the pitchers this spring, after deciding to forego his normal throwing routine in January in order to rest. The left-hander is on schedule to make his first start of the regular season on April 4, the second game of a three-game set with the Marlins.
Bagwell update: Jeff Bagwell reported feeling "normal soreness" on Sunday, one day after throwing more than he had all spring.
On Saturday, Bagwell simulated his between-inning routine after his at-bats as the designated hitter by playing catch with Russ Springer behind the left-field wall. He threw about as long as he would throw to his infield teammates from first base between innings in a live game.
Bagwell was the DH during the Astros' game with the Dominican Republic on Sunday, but he took the day off from his simulated throwing routine.
"I'll do the same thing tomorrow as yesterday," Bagwell said.
Control issues: Ezequiel Astacio struggled with his control in his first spring outing, walking four batters over two innings on Sunday against Team Dominican.
Astacio, facing a lineup featuring stars Miguel Tejada, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Moises Alou, issued three consecutive walks after yielding a two-out single to Pujols in the opening frame.
"I didn't have my control," Astacio said. "The sinker was going too wide. I wanted to keep the ball down, so if they made contact, they keep the ball in the ballpark. That lineup doesn't have any weak spots."
Lidge the scout: The Astros signed a 27-year-old left-hander on Sunday, on the recommendation of ... Brad Lidge.
Brad Whitworth, formerly an Angels farmhand, had been pitching in the Independent League for the last two years. A native of Denver, Whitworth and Lidge became friends a few years ago when Lidge was rehabbing from elbow surgery. They've been workout buddies ever since.
Lidge was impressed enough with Whitworth's workouts to call scouting director Paul Ricciarini, who sent coordinator of amateur scouting Tad Slowick to Denver to watch the left-hander work out.
"Tad was favorably impressed," Ricciarini said. "He'll compete for a job at [Class A] Salem or [Double-A] Corpus Christi."
If Whitworth makes it to the big leagues, he'll have Lidge to thank.
"I told [Lidge], he's got a career after his career," Ricciarini joked.
Two uniforms: In an interesting twist that can only occur during a game that has no bearings on the standings, Astros right-hander Juan Gutierrez pitched the top of the ninth and the bottom of the ninth during Houston's game against the Dominican Republic.
Because Gutierrez made quick work of the Dominicans in the top of the frame and because Dominican right-hander Ronnie Martinez (who also is an Astros farmhand) threw too many pitches in the bottom of the eighth and because the Dominican team had no more available pitchers, the Astros "loaned" Gutierrez to the Dominican club.
Gutierrez quickly ran into the visitor's dugout, put on a Dominican jersey and retook the mound.
Week of caring: The Astros kicked off their annual Week of Caring in Kissimmee this week with several community events at Osceola County Stadium.
The Week of Caring features ballpark visits by children from Give Kids the World and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida; Make Reading Come Alive with 400 elementary school students from Kissimmee's Heritage Christian School; and the National Education Association's "Read Across America" event with 125 students from Kissimmee's Thacker Elementary School.
Odds and ends: Bench coach Cecil Cooper managed the Astros' game in Clearwater, while manager Phil Garner remained in Kissimmee to manage the other half of the split squad that hosted Team Dominican. ... The Astros will send representatives to several sites during the World Baseball Classic. General manager Tim Purpura and Ricciarini will watch Carlos Hernandez pitch for the Venezuelan team, as well as center fielder Willy Taveras, who is playing for the Dominican club. Those teams play at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, the spring home of the Braves, this week. Coordinator of Major League scouting Fred Nelson and special assignment scout Bob Skinner are in Phoenix, watching Roger Clemens, Lidge and Dan Wheeler. ... In addition to hitting during Pettitte's side session, Pence, the Astros' first pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, appeared in the Astros' game against the Dominican. Minor Leaguers Ben Zobrist, Jonny Ash, Neil Sellers, Chris Sampson and Josh Muecke also played. ... Club owner Drayton McLane, who was in Kissimmee on Sunday, plans to attend the World Baseball Classic finals in San Diego. ... The Astros renewed the contracts of outfielder Luke Scott and left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. Both contracts have a Major League value of $327,000.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Zobrist uses analytical approach

03/05/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Infielder Ben Zobrist has received quite a bit of ribbing this spring, mainly because of his batting stance. Zobrist keeps his body back and his hands low, a la Ted Williams, and Zobrist's teammates have taken note.
"He loves Ted Williams, and who doesn't, if you're a hitter?" Minor League hitting coordinator Sean Berry said.
Actually, the comparisons have more to do with Zobrist's mental approach than the fact that he and Williams are both left-handed hitters with the same stance. Apparently, Zobrist is a rather cerebral hitter, just like Williams.
"He's very analytical about hitting," Berry said. "That's the way Williams was. He really thought about his swings, and Ben definitely analyzes his swings -- thus, the comparisons."
On the move: The Astros are impressed with right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier, who was put on the 40-man roster over the winter and currently is participating in his first big-league Spring Training.
The club has taken particular note of his work ethic and mound presence early in the Grapefruit League season.
"That's something [director of pitching development] Dewey [Robinson] and the staff have really worked on in the last year or so, [improving] his mound presence," assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. "Not only him, but all the other pitchers in the organization. But that's really stood out."
Barthmaier, 22, played most of the season at Class A Lexington last year, compiling an 11-6 record and a 2.27 ERA over 25 starts.
On the pine: Right-handed pitcher Chance Douglass has been sidelined with a tender elbow, but the club does not expect the injury to linger past a few days.
Name in the game: Joe Slusarski, who pitched for Houston from 1999-2001, is entering his fourth season as a coach in the Astros organization and second as the pitching coach for Double-A Corpus Christi. Under "Slu's" watch last year, the Hooks sent three pitchers to the Texas League All-Star Game, and right-hander Jason Hirsh was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
They're No. 1: Left-hander Brian Bogusevic hasn't pitched in a game yet, but he has appeared in simulated situations this spring. Bogusevic, the Astros' No. 1 pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, will work heavily on his mechanics this month, which will mark the beginning of his first full year in the Houston organization.
"He's doing a nice job," Bennett said. "This year, coming into camp, we finally started to talk to him about his mechanics and what our plans are for him this spring. Last year, we let him come in and get used to the program. Now, we're taking it to step two and really getting focused on making some adjustments to prepare him for the season."
Class of '05: Bennett has been impressed with outfielder Josh Flores, the fourth-round pick of the 2005 draft. A "big, strong kid," according to Bennett, Flores appears to be solid in both elements of his game.
"He stands out in his uniform, and then when you watch him play, he's got ability defensively and offensively," Bennett said. "We don't have many guys in our system that have the ability to hit for average, hit for power and play average to above average defense. He's a guy that shows those talents. That's what makes him exciting. He plays with a lot of energy and he's got some tools. The ball jumps off his bat."
What they're saying: "He's got a good fastball with very good sink, a good breaking ball that he can throw for strikes and he continues to work on the changeup, which I think down the road can be a very good pitch for him." -- Bennett, on Barthmaier

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Astros fall to Dominican club

03/05/2006
Team Dominican at the plate: David "Big Papi" Ortiz knocked a solo homer off right-handed prospect Chris Sampson in the sixth to begin a three-run inning. The Dominican club also plated three in the fifth off knuckleballer Steve Sparks. Adrian Beltre led off the frame with a double to left and scored on Juan Encarnacion's double, also hit to left. Alfonso Soriano drove in Encarnacion with a single to left, and Miguel Tejada drove in the final run with a base hit to center.
Astros at the plate: The Astros' big inning was the fifth. Lance Berkman led off with a single to center, moved to third on Morgan Ensberg's double and scored on a base hit by Preston Wilson. Chris Burke doubled to drive in both runners.
Team Dominican on the mound: Starter Francisco Liriano allowed one unearned run on no hits with two walks and four strikeouts over two innings.
Astros right-hander Juan Gutierrez pitched the ninth for Houston, and then he changed uniforms and threw the bottom of the inning for the Dominican club.
Astros on the mound: Starter Ezequiel Astacio struggled with his control, walking four while yielding two runs on three hits and striking out one in two innings.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Astros unable to hold off Phillies

03/05/2006
Astros at the plate: Mike Rodriguez was the hitting star, lacing a tiebreaking two-run double down the right-field line in the eighth. Adam Everett, one of two Houston regulars in the lineup, was responsible for the first run when he led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on Eric Munson's double.
Phillies at the plate: Chris Roberson accounted for Philadelphia's first run with a fifth-inning homer. Shawn Garrett, trying to make the team as a backup outfielder, homered to right in the ninth. In the same inning, Joe Thurston tripled and scored on Chris Coste's game-tying single. Shane Victorino's two-out single in the 10th drove in Peter Bergeron from third base with the winning run.
Astros on the mound: Dave Borkowski tossed two scoreless innings, allowin] two hits while striking out one. Jailen Peguero couldn't nail down the the save as he allowed two runs in the ninth. Jailen Peguero couldn't nail down the the save, as he allowed two runs in the ninth.
Phillies on the mound: Cory Lidle made his first Grapefruit League start of 2006, allowing one runs on two hits in three innings. Robinson Tejeda worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out one. Julio Santana had a rough outing, surrendering two runs on one hit and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.
Grapefruit League records: Astros 2-2; Phillies 4-0.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Backe impressive, not satisfied

03/06/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Brandon Backe didn't allow any hits or runs in his three innings on Monday against the Nationals, but that didn't necessarily mean he was pleased with the outing.
Backe concentrated on two pitches: the sinker, which worked well for him, and the changeup, which gave him problems.
"Today, inconsistency with my changeup has me thinking about working on it a little bit more," he said. "I don't want anybody to score, and I don't want anybody to get a hit, but right now, it's basically about how I'm pitching. If they get a hit off a good pitch, then I'm satisfied. If they get out on a bad pitch, then I'm not satisfied."
Backe used as an example a high fastball he threw to Nick Johnson early in the outing.
"He swung and missed, but that is not where I wanted to go with it," Backe said. "I wanted to go in, and it frustrated me.
"The outcome really has no bearing on what I'm trying to do out there on the mound. I'm trying to basically fine tune myself. On some of those pitches, I was way off. It's expected. It's early in Spring Training still. Maybe I'm putting too much on myself, but I still feel like, for my first outing, being consistent with my changeup was a little off."
Bagwell: Jeff Bagwell could take his position at first base for the first time since last May this weekend.
No final decisions have been made, but if Bagwell's simulated throwing action continues to go well this week, he might try to test his shoulder either during the Astros' home game with the Phillies on Saturday or Sunday's road game at Vero Beach, Fla., against the Dodgers.
Manager Phil Garner, on the recommendation of team doctors and Bagwell's honest opinion, will make that call later in the week.
"We're in constant conversation with Jeff to see how he feels," Garner said. "It'll be a combination of the doctors and where Jeff thinks he is. If it's OK, then good. That's what we'll do."
For the third time in a week, Bagwell simulated throwing to infielders by playing catch with Russ Springer behind the left-field wall in between his at-bats on Monday against the Nationals. The point of the exercise is to keep his shoulder loose and to get the feel of his between-innings routine when he does return to first base.
"It feels better as I do it," Bagwell said. "The key is during the course of a game, is it going to stay like that? Or at least that it stays the same, not regresses."
Bagwell sounded somewhat optimistic that a return to his position is in the near future.
"The key for me will be throwing and then being able to play," Bagwell said. "If all I had to do was hit, I could make it. We'll have to see. Hopefully, I can make a progression, talk with [head athletic trainer] Dave [Labossiere] and [Garner] and find out maybe next weekend if I can play in a game."
Dierker leaves booth: Larry Dierker, who served as a color analyst on selected broadcasts during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, is stepping away from the TV booth this year. As a result, Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies will serve as the television broadcast team for all 155 games.
Dierker will take on a greater role within the club's community development team, assisting that department with special events and charitable and promotional projects. He will oversee the Astros Alumni activities, including the annual golf tournament.
He will also devote a significant amount of time toward a major event benefiting literacy next spring.
"After considering priorities at this stage of my life and baseball career, I have decided to move toward the community-relations aspect of baseball," Dierker said. "I also want to devote more time to my friends with the Astros Alumni Club. It was a difficult decision to give up broadcasting, but I have always tried to follow the path with my heart, and this is where it is leading me."
Kids impress: Several Minor Leaguers are going to see plenty of playing time during Grapefruit League competition this spring, and Garner is already impressed with what he's observed from the dugout.
A handful of prospects played in the Astros' contest with the Dominican team on Sunday, including Ben Zobrist, Hunter Pence, Jonathan Ash and Tommy Manzella.
"It's good to get to watch the kids play," Garner said. "We've got good kids, and it's fun to see them get a chance to play. Pence was nervous in his first at-bat. The second, he hit a pea off the wall."
Rockin' stadium: Osceola County Stadium was never louder than it was Sunday, considering an estimated 80 percent of the fans were rooting for Team Dominican Republic.
The fans cheered every ground ball, fly ball and run scored, and while the stadium is normally less than half full by the time a spring game ends, the seats were still filled when the marathon four-hour game concluded.
"I asked [Albert] Pujols if this is what it's like all the time, and he said, 'Yes,' " hitting coach Gary Gaetti said. "They really love their baseball in the Dominican. It made for a good game."
Odds and ends: In a last minute change of plans, Willy Taveras did not play for the Astros on Monday against the Nationals. He worked out with the Dominican club, which will begin World Baseball Classic competition on Tuesday against Team Venezuela at Disney's Wide World of Sports at 1 p.m. ET. ... Springer, recovering from a strained muscle near his rib cage, threw a bullpen session on Sunday. He planned to long toss on Monday. "I'd like to get in a game by the end of the week or the first of next week," he said. "It's hard to predict."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Mailbag: How much time will Burke see?

03/06/2006
Although Spring Training has just started, Chris Burke appears to already be shining with several extra-base hits. Considering the crowded outfield and the job security of the middle infielders, how many times this season could we anticipate seeing Burke? I hope his improving talent and lack of a place to put him doesn't put him in a spot for good trade collateral. -- Reese E., Bellaire, Texas
The Astros have no interest in trading Burke. He doesn't have a starting job, but I can promise you he'll get plenty of at-bats this year. General manager Tim Purpura loves the combination of Phil Garner and Burke -- a creative, risk-taking manager and a young, hungry, talented player who will adapt to anything. You'll see Burke in left, at second and maybe short. By the end of Spring Training, we should have a gauge on whether Burke can adequately back up Adam Everett at shortstop.
I know you have reported on this before, but I really don't want to accidentally miss a televised preseason game. Which games are televised again? -- Steve G., San Marcos, Texas
No problem, it can't hurt to print a reminder. In addition to full regular-season coverage, MLB.TV will broadcast several Astros games throughout Spring Training:
• March 15: Yankees• March 16: Yankees• March 18: Indians• March 25: Mets• March 27: Tigers• March 28: Braves• March 29 Indians
ESPN will televise only the March 15 Astros-Yankees matchup, and FSN will carry just two games -- March 22 versus the Indians and March 28 versus the Braves.
If you're interested in coverage of games not televised or broadcast on MLB.TV, many more games throughout the Grapefruit League schedule will be audio broadcast on Gameday Audio.
Based on Milo Hamilton's comments in his book, it seems that Alan Ashby's firing took Hamilton by surprise? Do you know why Ash was released, and is there a possibility the Astros would hire him back? -- Richie E., Seabrook, Texas
It is my understanding that Hamilton was very surprised when the Astros decided to cut ties with Ashby. Hamilton was firmly in Ashby's corner when Ashby was interviewing for the road play-by-play job.
Ash was released because during the interview process, the Astros stumbled upon two extremely strong candidates for the road play-by-play job and decided to hire both. I've only known Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan a short time, but I can understand why the Astros wanted both. They're extremely talented, knowledgeable and funny. I'm confident you're going to like them.
Plus, they toiled for more than a decade covering the Minor Leagues. I spent one year covering the Minors -- 366 days to be exact -- and I spent every one of those days plotting my way out. That life can be brutal. In that respect, you have to be happy for those who are given a chance to be in the big leagues, especially Raymond and Dolan, who clearly paid their dues.
Do you think that Carlos Hernandez will make the Astros' five-man rotation at the start of the season?-- Thomas S., Houston
Hernandez is creating quite a buzz here in camp, and I would say he's got a heck of a chance to win a spot this spring. He's regained some of his velocity, and his curveball looks good. He's going to spend most of this month with the Venezuelan team in the World Baseball Classic, but representatives from the organization will be following his every move. Phil Garner may have to make a decision based on what the scouts say, but he'll just have to trust their judgment.
I need to start off by saying that I am a St. Louis native, and I have been a lifelong Cardinals fan. As a Cardinals fan, I was born into a fundamental dislike (hate?) of the Cubs. Honestly, I've always seen your Houston team as our strongest competition within the division. So my question is, how do Astros fans view Cardinals fans? Fans of each team have had their hearts broken by the other team recently, only to have them crushed in the World Series. Is it time for me to hate the Astros also?-- Tom C., St. Louis
I can't speak for Astros fans, but I can tell you what Astros players think of Cardinals fans. St. Louis is considered to be one of the hardest places to win, one of the best places to play. The fans are terrific -- smart, respectful, and they applaud good defensive plays, from both teams.
I recently saw a photo that perfectly illustrates your typical Cardinals fan. It was a shot of Craig Biggio, walking back into the dugout minutes after the Astros won the pennant at Busch Stadium last year. The fans behind the dugout were applauding him, and one woman, wearing a Cardinals jersey and cap, was giving him a thumbs up. That's just awesome.
I can't tell you whether or not to hate the Astros, but it's my feeling that there has always been a respect between the players and fans of these two organizations.
What do you think about the signing of Preston Wilson? I believe that he will be a big help to our lineup, but won't he jam the outfield? I think it was Purpura that said that if Jeff Bagwell comes back, Willy Taveras is out and Wilson goes in. I don't think that we should be discarding Taveras to the bench so fast. But, of course, if Baggy doesn't come back, no big deal.-- Michelle G., Clear Lake City, Texas
Nothing is set in stone at this point. The Astros needed a bat in a bad way, and they have one in Wilson. If Bagwell can't play, and they hadn't signed Wilson, that would have left the offense in a pretty desperate state. They couldn't let the offseason pass without addressing the offense, even if it means Taveras loses his job.
If Bagwell can play, Taveras would likely start the year in Triple-A. He's not going to be a bench player. He needs to play every day, and if there's no room for him in the outfield, he'll have to find his at-bats elsewhere. Again, no decisions have been made. We'll have to see what's up with Bagwell first.
Who do you think will be the first player to enter the Hall of Fame with an Astros cap?-- Charles T., Houston
Bagwell and Biggio are considered to be future Hall of Famers. Who gets there first depends on who retires first and whether they get in on the first, second, third ballot or beyond. I would imagine this will be Bagwell's last year. I would guess Biggio will be ready to hang it up after 2007. If both are first-ballot Hall of Famers, Bagwell goes in first.
It would be very cool to see them go in together. That will depend more on dumb luck than credentials. It's up to the writers to decide how long they have to wait once they hit the five-year eligibility mark. Some writers get a kick out of making candidates wait for several years before they vote them in. I don't have any idea how they'll vote once Bagwell and Biggio become eligible.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Fast start pushes Astros past Nationals

03/06/2006
Nationals at the plate: Catcher Wiki Gonzalez was the Nats' lone multi-hit producer, going 2-for-3. Brandon Waston ended the threat of a shutout when he doubled in the sixth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daryle Ward.
Astros at the plate: The Astros scored six in the first frame in a rally started by leadoff man Craig Biggio, who was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Jeff Bagwell was 0-for-1 and walked twice. Preston Wilson went 2-for-2.
Nationals on the mound: Left-hander Mike Bacsik didn't get out of the first inning, allowing six runs (three earned) on four hits. He faced a total of 10 batters.
Astros on the mound: Right-hander Brandon Backe threw three scoreless frames, allowing no hits and one walk.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Results cloud solid pitching outings

03/07/2006
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Advice to Fernando Nieve and Taylor Buchholz: Ignore the box score from Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Mets.
For if anything was as misleading in describing the two men's performances, the box score would be it. Just ask manager Phil Garner.
"They actually threw some pitches that were pretty good pitches," Garner said. "We just didn't get 'em."
Nor did Nieve and Buchholz get much help from their defense. For both of them, errors kept alive innings that should have ended with no runs. Instead, the Mets pushed across two runs in the second on Nieve's watch, and then they cashed in on an error on Buchholz's watch that piled on four more runs.
"It appeared to be long innings, and we appeared to be getting behind guys," Garner said. "But they were throwing the ball in pretty good location."
Those words should offer comfort to both men. Nieve and Buchholz, scouts across the game will say, are high-end prospects who now find themselves fighting for a spot in the back-end of the Astros rotation.
They might, in fact, be fighting each other. So any opportunity one has to take a step ahead of the other might inch him closer to a job in the big leagues.
Neither man did himself much harm, the numbers notwithstanding, with his work against the Mets.
In three innings, Nieve gave up four hits, two walks and three runs. Two of those runs were unearned. Buchholz worked three innings as well. He gave up four hits, one walk and four runs. Just one of those runs was earned.
All things considered, not a bad day's work for the young right-handers, Garner said.
Still, he wasn't close to anointing either man with the title of Astros starter. Not after just two outings apiece this spring. A handful of games into the Grapefruit League schedule simply does not give a manager a lot to judge.
"It's way too early," Garner said.
He did, however, praise Buchholz and Nieve on the way they have been throwing the baseball.
"What I want to see now is [for them to] pound the strike zone a little bit earlier," Garner said. "We're missing too many times at 1-1 counts. It's such a critical count for me, and we're missing with 'em.
"We need to get the ball in the strike zone. We need to make 'em put it in play at that count."
Garner saw part of this problem as a product of early Spring Training, but as two outings turn into three, four and five, he said he expects control to improve. He'll look to see that 1-1 count become a 1-2 count, or something better -- an out.
He also attributed part of the problem to nerves, which is understandable with so much at stake for both Nieve and Buchholz. But they won't be able to cling to that excuse forever.
"That's what you gotta deal with, 'cause they're darn sure gonna be nervous when we get into the playoffs," Garner said. "So you gotta be able to [throw strikes] when you're nervous."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Notes: Garner biding time with Bagwell

03/07/2006
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- To call the Jeff Bagwell situation a real situation might not have things in the right perspective.
To be certain, Astros manager Phil Garner isn't looking at it as a problem that falls in the major category. It's just one of the many things that come for a manager who's trying to put together a ballclub. Besides, who can do much about an injury?
But Bagwell's health remains under close scrutiny.
The veteran first baseman didn't make the trip to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday. Garner said Bagwell was a "little stiff" from playing in a string of games, but Garner didn't see the stiffness as a concern. He certainly has no plans to rush Bagwell, who's coming off a shoulder injury.
"All I'm trying to do, from a baseball standpoint, is get him in good baseball condition and try to get his feedback in terms of playing the game," Garner said. "At that point, we'll decide where he'll go from there."
What that means is where Bagwell fits on the 25-man roster. Is he still a Major League performer? Can the Astros -- and Garner -- count on him, day in and day out? Or should Bagwell -- dare anybody speak the word -- retire?
To use that word about Bagwell isn't something that anybody seems comfortable with. Still, the Astros need him on the field, not on the disabled list. At some point, they'll need to know what he can or can't do.
That point isn't now, Garner said.
"If you're talking about a decision, that he's come to the conclusion that he can't play anymore, then that's a pretty tough decision to make and say, 'I'm done, ' " he said of Bagwell. "If he doesn't actually feel it and he needs more time, you've got to give the guy more time."
A-OK: Andy Pettitte threw off a mound Tuesday, which could be great news for the Astros.
The veteran left-hander reported afterward that he felt good, a team spokesman said. At this point, Pettitte is on schedule to throw a simulated game Friday. If that goes well, he'll likely start March 15 against the Yankees.
Farewell to a friend: Gary Gaetti remained shocked.
"It's hard to believe," Gaetti said Tuesday.
He was right. The death of former Twins teammate Kirby Puckett still stung, more so for the people who played alongside him during a golden era of Twins baseball. Gaetti, now the Astros hitting coach, was one of Puckett's sidekicks.
"I loved watching him play," Gaetti said.
He recounted the '91 World Series that turned Puckett into a baseball icon. He could still remember Puckett's rounding the bases in Game 6, pumping his fist in celebration of his walk-off homer.
As vivid as that memory is to Gaetti, it's not as vivid as Puckett's trademark: the toothy smile.
"I can't help think about the guy's smile," Gaetti said. "He had an infectious personality. That's what I'll remember."
A Classic look: Left-hander Carlos Hernandez, competing for one of maybe two spots in the Astros rotation, allowed a two-run homer to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz in the ninth inning Tuesday of the World Baseball Classic game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
The question is: The Astros have had three Spring Training homes in their history. Kissimmee, Fla., is their current home, but do you know what the first Spring Training home for the franchise was?
Quote 'em: "You have a lot of guys in that clubhouse, again, counting on you to do well. They look forward for you to do that, regardless of age, regardless of experience, regardless of, you know, what other intangibles you bring. They expect you to go out there and do well, and I expect the same from those guys." -- Roger Clemens
And the answer: When the franchise joined the National League, the site of the team's first Spring Training home was Apache Junction, Ariz. The team spent two Spring Trainings in Arizona before moving to Cocoa, Fla., for 10 years.
Odds and ends: Minor Leaguers Ben Zobrist, Brooks Conrad and Mike Rodriguez made the trip to Port St. Lucie. ... The Astros have 49 players in camp, a figure that includes 38 players from the team's 40-man roster. ... Right-hander Russ Springer threw off a mound Tuesday.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Astros' bats quiet in loss to Mets

03/07/2006
Mets at the plate: Chris Woodward hit a bases-loaded single in the second, his third RBI swing in two days. Kaz Matsui, hitless in nine at-bats before Tuesday, had two hits, including a two-run triple. Julio Franco added two singles.
Astros at the plate: Brian Gordon drove in the run against Royce Ring, and Hector Gimenez had a double.
Mets on the mound: Steve Trachsel made his second start of the spring and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing four hits. Billy Wagner put in another scoreless inning. Ring allowed one run in his two innings.
Astros on the mound: Astros starter Taylor Buchholz was responsible for three runs -- one earned -- in three innings. He allowed four hits and two walks.
Grapefruit League records: Mets 3-2; Astros 2-3.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Astros quick hits

03/07/2006
The Houston Astros haven't let the fact that they were swept in the World Series diminish what they accomplished in 2005. After starting the year 15-30, they spent the final four-plus months recording the best record in baseball, capturing the Wild Card on the last day of the season.
Even without Roger Clemens, expectations are high again this year. Most of the World Series club remained intact, and there's always the hope that Clemens will return sometime in May or June. The Astros have been contenders every year but one for more than a decade, and another run to the postseason is not just a goal. It's an expectation.
Team strength: The bullpen was the strength of the club last year, and the same should apply in '06. The back end is solid, with Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler and Brad Lidge returning for a repeat performance. Russ Springer adds a veteran leadership in the middle innings, and this year, manager Phil Garner will have two left-handers to mix-and-match in Trever Miller and Mike Gallo.
Achilles heel: It's hard to imagine the offense will struggle as it did last year, but until it proves otherwise, it has to be considered a guarded weakness. Can Morgan Ensberg repeat his performance? Will Craig Biggio remain steady at 40? Can Adam Everett give a lift to the bottom of the order? Will Jason Lane shed the "streaky" label? Can Jeff Bagwell contribute? If all goes right, the Astros should be a decent offensive team. But how often does everything go right?
Top newcomer: Preston Wilson signed a unique deal in the offseason: one year with a club option for another three. The Astros are always thinking two or three years ahead of their fans, but they're mainly concerned with what Wilson can bring to the team this season. It's not often that a club that finished in the bottom half in the league in nearly every offensive category makes it to the World Series, and they're not banking on that happening again. That's why they signed Wilson. He knocked 25 homers and drove in 90 for two teams in 2005, and the Astros expect the same from their soon-to-be No. 5 hitter. Wilson's presence should make the hitters ahead of him better, because pitchers won't be able to pitch around Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg as readily as they did last year.
Ready to make The Leap: Sure, Chris Burke doesn't have a starting job. But you can bet he'll play a lot this year. Tim Purpura loves the Phil Garner-Burke combination: a creative, risk-taker type manager and a young, hungry player loaded with talent. Burke will play a little left, a little second, maybe a little short. That'll add up to a lot in one key area: plate appearances.
On the hot seat: Jeff Bagwell isn't trying out for the team, but he is trying out his surgically repaired right shoulder. It's likely Bagwell will make the final call on whether he can play or not. If he starts the season and doesn't hit well, he'll stay in the lineup. If the throwing motion begins to hurt him and it affects his hitting, decisions will have to be made. The Astros are counting on Bagwell to be honest, and he's given every indication he'll do just that.
You can bank on: Is there anyone more reliable than Lance Berkman? Health issues aside, there's no one better in clutch situations than this three-time All-Star. To gauge his value to a club, imagine if he had played a full season last year. Think the Astros would have sunk to 15-30 in their first seven weeks? Fat chance.
Obviously, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte will win. But what about the rest of the rotation? Brandon Backe will be the X-factor, but even more uncertain is the rest of the rotation. The back end will have some combination of two inexperienced returnees in Wandy Rodriguez and Ezequiel Astacio, a former flamethrower attempting to reinvent himself in Carlos Hernandez, and three rookies in Jason Hirsh, Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve. If whoever lands the fourth- and fifth-starter jobs begins the year on a strong note, that could be a good indication about how this year is going to end.
Games you don't want to miss (home games only):
Cardinals, May 3-4: First rematch of last year's NLCS contestants.
Braves, June 8-11: A four-game set with their consummate postseason rival caps a 10-game homestand.
Cubs, July 3-5: The start of an all Cubs and Cards homestand to end the first half.

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Top prospect Hirsh taking it easy

03/07/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Not only are the Houston Astros conservative when it comes to rushing players to the big leagues, they're also cautious about becoming too giddy about a player through the media.
But it's hard not to get a little excited about Jason Hirsh, the Astros' first draft pick in 2003. While he's projected to begin the year in Triple-A Round Rock's rotation, he is certain to get a nice, long look from manager Phil Garner and general Tim Purpura this spring.
And with two rotation spots up for grabs, anything can happen between now and April 3. Hirsh is one of three potential rookies, along with Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve, who could crack the rotation before camp breaks. Even if Hirsh doesn't make the team out of Spring Training, it's likely we'll see the 6-foot-8 right-hander at some point during the season.
So for now, label him top prospect. Of course, that's what Roy Oswalt was in April of 2001. By May, he had progressed just a bit, to No. 3 starter. In other words, things can change quickly in this game.
"He'll get some innings under his belt, pitch in some big league games," assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. "Our thought process is to send him to Triple-A, put him in the rotation and have him to continue to develop. If he continues to do well, there's a chance realistically we'll see him in Houston at some point during the season. We don't expect that to happen out of Spring Training. We're going to keep an open mind about it, but realistically, we see him going to Triple-A."
Hirsh, tabbed by Baseball America as having the best control of all Astros prospects, had a breakout season in 2005 at Double-A Corpus Christi, recording a 13-8 record and a 2.87 ERA over 29 starts. The Astros considered moving him to Triple-A halfway through the year, but decided to keep him in Corpus for the duration.
"We felt like, with the success that he had at Double-A, just leave him there and let him complete a solid year at Double-A, " Bennett said. "And I think he benefited from that."
The reward was Texas League Pitcher of the Year honors for the 24-year-old Hirsh, who struck out 165 batters over 172 1/3 innings while walking only 42.
When the Astros didn't offer Roger Clemens arbitration in December, it was clear that at least two spots would be available this year. Before the Clemens announcement, Hirsh had it in his mind he was headed for Triple-A. After, he let himself, briefly, to ponder the notion of making the rotation out of Spring Training.
"I don't want to say it raised my hopes, because losing a guy like Roger is obviously a big blow to this staff," Hirsh said. "But to have an opportunity like I have now, because of that situation, that makes my Spring Training a little more important to me."
The Astros like Hirsh's talent, but they're also impressed with the other elements that factor into a player's success. Maturity, humility and coachability are also taken into account, and the Astros like what Hirsh brings to a clubhouse.
"He's a very mature kid," Bennett said. "He keeps everything in perspective. He's not looking too far down the road. He undertsands he still has to do some things before he gets to the big leagues. He's good with the media, he's a good teammate and he's going to be a big part of our future."
Garner hasn't watched Hirsh long enough to make a definitive call on the young right-hander, but the skipper will be watching closely this spring. The Astros invited only five non-roster pitchers to camp this year, and they'll be without the services of three pitchers during the World Baseball Classic.
This means the club probably won't have to make as many cuts after the first week of games, which will give the young pitchers more time to impress the boss. It's likely Hirsh won't be shipped out anytime soon.
"He looks to me like he maintains good concentration," Garner said. "Whatever he's doing, he looks like he focuses at it. He looks like he throws the ball down in zone well, which is really good for as big as he is. And his stuff's good.
"He looks like he has some of the other ingredients that you've got to have to go along with having good stuff. He's a good athlete. He swings the bat pretty good and he moves on the mound well."
The next few weeks will be critical for Hirsh, who will try to block out the raised expectations that began sometime last season. He, like the Astros, is determined not to get ahead of himself.
"They told me, going into Spring Training, just be normal, don't try to show up anybody, just be yourself and things will fall into place," Hirsh said. "They know what I can do. They obviously saw last year I had a pretty good season. Hopefully, I can carry it into spring."

Source: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/

Righty Backe focusing on bigger picture

03/07/2006
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Ask Phil Garner about the Houston Astros starting rotation, and the first thing the skipper will mention is his desire for Brandon Backe to have a breakout year.
Backe finding success as the No. 3 starter isn't just a desire. It's more or less a necessity, and how he fares this year will likely affect on which side of .500 the Astros finish.
It's not just up to him, of course. But barring injury, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte are virtual locks to record winning records. If Backe can record double digits in wins -- and that means a number closer to 15 than to 10 -- that could make the Astros' rotation, somewhat suspect without Roger Clemens, as good as the one that led the club to the World Series last year.
"I want him to be in that 15 [win] range and in that nine-loss range," Garner said. "I want to see him six, seven games above .500."
How important is it for Backe to have a good year? In Garner's opinion, it's "critical."
"If you're going to win, your first three starters have to be above .500, or, if your third starter's not, then the bullpen has to pick up the wins," Garner said. "If the third starter and fourth starters aren't better than .500 and you win, then you're looking at the bullpen, and someone is 10, 12 games above .500. That's the way it has to be."
The Astros' bullpen should be a strength of the club this year, but Garner would rather not have to count on his relievers absorbing a bulk of the wins. That's how it was in 2004, when Oswalt and Clemens were the only two proven, reliable starters. It worked out well, but odds are against them that lightning could strike twice in that regard.
Last year, Oswalt, Pettitte and Clemens were one of the top -- if not the top -- trios in the league. Assuming Backe has a solid year (with a Rocket return looming in the background), the Astros will be in good shape.
Especially if they can win the old-fashioned way, instead of having to piece it together.
"We really weren't a strong come-from-behind team last year," Garner said. "Maybe it'll be different this year. I think our offense will be better, but I prefer our starters get the lead, keep the lead and then we turn it over to the bullpen with the lead."
Most higher-ups in Astros ranks believe that given a full, healthy season of close to 35 starts, Backe would benefit from consistency alone. He appeared to be on track last year before missing a month with a strained intercostal muscle. Still, he recorded career highs in wins (10), innings (149 1/3), starts (25) and strikeouts (97).
He also loves pitching at Minute Maid Park -- in two seasons with the Astros, he's 10-3 at home with a 3.12 ERA. But it's his postseason performance that has raised overall expectations. He allowed one earned run over 12 2/3 innings during the League Championship Series and World Series last year. That comes on the heels, of course, of his heroic performance during Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS, when he held the Cardinals scoreless for eight in a game the Astros won on Jeff Kent's walkoff home run.
Now, it's time to transition that postseason success into solid performances over a six-month period.
"I just want to take what I learned from last year, and make it better this year," Backe said. "I just want to become a better pitcher this year. Just work on things that need to be done, and I'm sure everything will pan out to be good or great or whatever the case may be.
"Yes, I know that this could be a big year for me. But at the same token, I don't want me thinking about that to hurt my season."
Backe's made progress over the years. Witho