Read More: Brandon Hicks (SS – ATL), Eric Hinske (LF – ATL), Brent Clevlen (LF – ATL), Brian McCann (C – ATL), Houston Astros

Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sports Network) – Eric Hinske and Brandon Hicks each had a two-run double as part of a six-run second inning, helping the Atlanta Braves earn a lopsided 13-3 win over the Houston Astros in Grapefruit League action.

Brian McCann chipped in with a two-run single in the second, while Brent Clevlen knocked in three runs — two with a base hit in the fourth inning.

Nate McLouth had a pair of hits, two RBI and scored three times for Atlanta. Derek Lowe earned the win for allowing two hits in a two-inning start.

Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee and Chris Johnson each had an RBI to account for the Astros offense. Wandy Rodriguez suffered the loss after getting roughed up for six runs on five hits with three walks in only 1 2/3 innings.

by Associated Press

khou.com

Posted on February 28, 2011 at 5:56 PM

Updated yesterday at 10:16 PM

 

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Derek Lowe didn’t want to throw breaking balls Monday in his first start of spring training for the Alanta Braves.

“If I was 27 years old, I’d be out here throwing curveballs and sliders like I did at the end of the year last year,” he said Monday following a 13-3 win over the Astros’ in Houston’s exhibition opener.

Lowe allowed two hits in two scoreless innings in his first spring training start.

“At my age, you try to take care of yourself as far as those type of pitches,” he said. “In two games I’ll start throwing cutters, and then the last two starts down here, I’ll have the whole arsenal.”

Lowe went 16-12 last season and finished strongly.

“That was by far the best breaking ball that I’ve had. It was sharper. It was more consistent. I was able to throw it to both sides of the plate,” he said. “I haven’t changed anything mechanically so you know it’s going to be the same. That’s probably why I feel like I can take a little bit longer.

Wandy Rodriguez of the Houston Astros tried all his pitches, but it didn’t help.

Eric Hinske and Brandon Hicks hit consecutive two-run doubles to key a six-run second inning., when Brian McCann added a two-run single off Enerio Del Rosario. Hinske also doubled against Sergio Escalona to open a four-run fifth.

“I don’t know what it is about spring training with me,” he said. “Last year, I had a terrible spring training. I try to do the best I can.”

Rodriguez allowed six runs, five hits and three walks in 1 2-3 innings, needing 43 pitches for five outs.

“He missed a couple of pitches early in counts,” Houston manager Brad Mills said. “Then he tried to make some adjustments, and got some balls right over the middle of the plate.”

Brett Wallace had three hits and scored twice for the Astros.

NOTES: The Braves had 15 hits and drew eight walks . . . Tommy Hanson is to start for the Braves Tuesday against the Astros’ Brett Myers in Kissimmee . . . Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez is out with a pulled quadriceps muscle until at least Friday . . . The Astros will use a designated hitter in their first 13 spring training games.

Derek Lowe didn’t want to throw breaking balls Monday in his first start of spring training for the Alanta Braves.

“If I was 27 years old, I’d be out here throwing curveballs and sliders like I did at the end of the year last year,” he said Monday following a 13-3 win over the Astros’ in Houston’s exhibition opener.

Lowe allowed two hits in two scoreless innings in his first spring training start.

“At my age, you try to take care of yourself as far as those type of pitches,” he said. “In two games I’ll start throwing cutters, and then the last two starts down here, I’ll have the whole arsenal.”

Lowe went 16-12 last season and finished strongly.

“That was by far the best breaking ball that I’ve had. It was sharper. It was more consistent. I was able to throw it to both sides of the plate,” he said. “I haven’t changed anything mechanically so you know it’s going to be the same. That’s probably why I feel like I can take a little bit longer.

Wandy Rodriguez of the Houston Astros tried all his pitches, but it didn’t help.

Eric Hinske and Brandon Hicks hit consecutive two-run doubles to key a six-run second inning., when Brian McCann added a two-run single off Enerio Del Rosario. Hinske also doubled against Sergio Escalona to open a four-run fifth.

“I don’t know what it is about spring training with me,” he said. “Last year, I had a terrible spring training. I try to do the best I can.”

Rodriguez allowed six runs, five hits and three walks in 1 2-3 innings, needing 43 pitched for five outs.

“He missed a couple of pitches early in counts,” Houston manager Brad Mills said. “Then he tried to make some adjustments, and got some balls right over the middle of the plate.”

Brett Wallace had three hits and scored twice for the Astros.

NOTES: The Braves had 15 hits and drew eight walks . . . Tommy Hanson is to start for the Braves Tuesday against the Astros’ Brett Myers in Kissimmee . . . Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez is out with a pulled quadriceps muscle until at least Friday . . . The Astros will use a designated hitter in their first 13 spring training games.

By David Lee – Braves Editor

Read More: Eric Hinske (LF – ATL), Scott Linebrink (P – ATL), Nate McLouth (CF – ATL), Dan Uggla (2B – ATL), Derek Lowe (P – ATL), Chipper Jones (3B – ATL), Brian McCann (C – ATL), Martin Prado (3B – ATL), George Sherrill (P – ATL), Brandon Hicks (SS – ATL), Jason Heyward (RF – ATL), Freddie Freeman (1B – ATL), Juan Abreu (P – ATL), Cory Gearrin (P – ATL), Anthony Varvaro (P – ATL), Brett Oberholtzer (P – ATL), Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves

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Feb 28, 2011 - The Atlanta Braves (0-1) host the Houston Astros (0-0) at 1:05 at Lake Buena Vista today.

Braves Lineup:

1. Martin Prado, LF

2. Nate McLouth, CF

3. Chipper Jones, DH

4. Brian McCann, C

5. Dan Uggla, 2B

6. Jason Heyward, RF

7. Alex Gonzalez, SS

8. Eric Hinske, 1B

9. Brandon Hicks, 3B

Derek Lowe, SP

The pitching lineup is Lowe, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill, Cory Gearrin, Anthony Varvaro, Juan Abreu, Brett Oberholtzer.

This is almost the regular lineup that Fredi Gonzalez is supposedly running on Opening Day, with the exception of Hinske for Freddie Freeman and Jones in at third. McLouth in the second spot just makes my blood boil thinking about the wasted outs it will cause, but I hate to repeat myself over and over.

I’m not sure of the bench players offensively that will play, but minor leaguers worth keeping an eye on that will see time on the mound are Gearrin, Varvaro, Abreu and Oberholtzer. Of the four, Oberholtzer is ranked the highest on prospect lists, ranging from eighth to mid-teens, while Gearrin and Abreu are considered between 20-30th best in the system. Varvaro and Abreu have both seen action already, and Abreu was a little shaky in his first outing.

According to David O’Brien, Chipper’s knee bounced back well from yesterday’s game. He is apparently not good enough to play third but still play back-to-back games. 

In 2010, the NL Central finished the season with only six of the top 40 starting pitchers based on ERA. Three of those pitchers belonged to one team, the St. Louis Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia.) The other three were Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez (Houston Astros) and Johnny Cueto (Reds). This means the Cubs, Pirates and Brewers were without a starter in the top 40 ERA’s in the league by the end of 2010. The potential was there, but it was never realized. Fast forward to 2011 …

The Brewers made the first move this offseason when they picked up Zack Greinke in a trade with the Royals. They gave up little for what will be their staff ace. FanGraphs projects Greinke’s 2011 stats to be about 14-15 wins and an ERA in the mid 3.00’s. The Brew Crew did not stop there, acquiring Shawn Marcum, who cobbled together a nice 2010 for Toronto in the tough AL East after missing all of 2009. These two additions, along with future Cy Young candidate Yovani Gallardo make the Brewers a contender for the NL Central crown in 2011.

The Cubs’ offseason answer to their pitching staff questions came in a trade with Tampa Bay. Matt Garza was acquired in exchange for a slew of prospects. While the big question is how Garza will fair in Wrigley, it goes without saying he is an upgrade, and makes a fine middle-of-the-rotation addition. FanGraphs projects something like 11 wins and a high 3.00 to low 4.00 ERA. He gives the Cubs a very solid top three along with Ryan Dempster and a “newly cured” Carlos Zambrano. What if Randy Wells can get his 2009 form back? Any Cubs fan can tell you that 2010’s failure came from a lack of offense. If this staff gets even a hint of support, the NL Central is well within reach.

We can’t discuss the Cubs without touching on the Cardinals. Year in and year out the Cardinals seem to have pitching, or at least starting pitching. Yes, Wainwright is gone for the 2011 season, and while this is a big blow, I don’t see it being the end of their 2011 season. Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan are unbelievable at squeezing water from a stone. Duncan got production from Todd Wellemeyer for crying out loud. Every year the duo of La Russa and Duncan seems to pull a starting pitcher out of a hat. I am sure somebody will fall in place to pick up at least some of the wreckage left behind by Wainwright’s injury. They still have Carpenter and Garcia to lean on. Let’s also not forget the sinkerball pitcher, Jake Westbrook, who I am sure Duncan will turn into a Cy Young candidate before long. Oh yes, the Cardinals are still in the hunt … even when they lose their best pitcher.

The sneakiest staff might be Houston’s. Rodriguez and Myers will once again anchor this staff. Don’t count out J.A. Happ, as he fit in nicely coming over from the Phillies in a trade last season. While I don’t see the Astros contending this year, mostly because of their offensive woes and bullpen, these three guys make for a nice base to a starting staff. Rodriguez and Myers were both in the top 40 ERA’s for starting pitchers last year, and Happ has the stuff to be included in that conversation someday, too.

Alongside these teams sit the Cincinnati Reds. Youth would be the operative word here. The potential in this starting rotation is enormous for 2011 and beyond. Yes, Bronson Arroyo is 33, but after that you have Edison Volquez (28), Cueto (25) , Homer Bailey (25) and a fifth starter in Travis Wood (24) or Mike Leake (23). There is also the tease that Cuban fireballer Aroldis Chapman (22) might one day become a starter. With the exception of Chapman and possibly Wood, all of these pitchers have seen significant success at the major league level in a starting role. The only thing keeping the Reds from a return to the playoffs is the fact that every team in the division upgraded with exception to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The NL Central has always had a few good pitchers sprinkled about its rosters. What’s new to the past decade is the depth of each team’s starting staff, not to mention the potential for more in the future. While the Astros, and more so the Pirates, have some ground to make up in this category, the remaining four teams are finding strength and depth from their starters.

Chet West writes for The View From the Bleachers blog, which is part of the SweetSpot network.

All this for a 20-year-old who nearly enrolled at South Carolina to pitch for the Gamecocks … and be a wide receiver in football.

But don’t tell Jordan Lyles he’s the next big thing.

“I don’t really listen to that stuff,” said Lyles, a Hartsville native. “People write what they want to write. I don’t really harp on what people have to say or how good they think I can be.”

Lyles has given people plenty of reason to talk, though.

Less than three years after the Astros made him the 38th pick in the 2008 Draft, Lyles is competing for a spot in the starting rotation during spring training in Kissimmee, Fla. His curveball doesn’t buckle hitters’ knees and his fastball isn’t overpowering, but his command and his focus has allowed Lyles to ascend through the Astros organization at a nearly unprecedented rate.

Drafted at 17, Lyles spent his first professional season in rookie ball and short-season Single-A in Greenville, Tenn., and Troy, N.Y., respectively. He spent all of 2009 in full-season Single-A with the Lexington Legends in Kentucky, striking out 167 and walking 38 in 144 2/3 innings.

Starting last year with Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas) last year, he was in Triple-A with Round Rock by August — after an appearance in the All-Star Futures game in Los Angeles.

“Jordan has command and is definitely a starting pitcher (in the majors),” said J.D. Alleva, the Astros scout who signed Lyles out of high school. “He’s done it at every level he’s been at. I’m not surprised how fast he’s moved up.”

Yet instead of being smug about how quickly he’s progressed through the minor leagues, Lyles has a quiet confidence that he will one day contribute to the Astros rotation.

“I’m just trying to continue to get better,” he said. “Whenever the time comes, I’ll be more than ready.”

“The Astros organization has been willing to continue to challenge him as they have continued to promote him even as a teenager,” said Lyles’ agent, Lee Long of Palmetto Sports Management. “Whether he breaks camp with the big league club or in AAA, we have every expectation that he will debut in 2011.”

One person Lyles credits for helping him be ready is Jacob Shumate, his coach at Hartsville. Shumate spent eight years in the minor leagues and used his experience to prepare Lyles as he started to emerge as a prospect with the Red Foxes.

“He had a good idea of how to keep everybody’s arm healthy and not overuse them,” Lyles said. “He wouldn’t let me go out there and throw more than 100 or so ptiches and strain my arm or anything like that. I was lucky to have him as a coach.”

For his part, Shumate remembers Lyles starting as a young pitcher who struggled with location and evolved into an elite prospect.

“His fastball was good, but his offspeed stuff was kind of behind,” Shumate said. “He did the typical things young guys do with their offspeed pitches.

“But he got older, matured, and grew into his frame. Command of the breaking ball came first, then his senior year so did his command of the changeup. I gave him a cutter his senior year too. It’s rare to see a high school kid with command of four pitches.”

While command came gradually, the mental aspect of the game has always been in Lyles’ repertoire.

“Some kids tend to get rattled if they start to give up hits,” Shumate said. “Jordan, when he starts to give up a few hits, says ‘OK, let me get this next guy out.’ He’s mature beyond his years, and it shows when he pitches. He doesn’t get rattled at all.”

Shumate does not need to check his old scorebooks to recall some of his favorite games involving Lyles. He remembers the time Lyles hit a home run with two outs in the sixth inning against Sumter for a 4-3 lead, then won the game in the seventh inning — “Jordan’s never been a real fiery type, but I could tell he was fired up by the way the ball was coming out of his hand. He had more velocity in the seventh inning than in the first.”

Lyles pitched a two-hitter against North Augusta to win the 2007 Class 4A championship for Hartsville, striking out 10 in a performance that lit up the eyes of pro scouts and college coaches. Already an all-state football player, Lyles committed to play football and baseball at South Carolina, and many reports said pro teams, convinced he would not sign out of high school, did not have him on their draft board.

But one game in his senior season convinced the Houston Astros to take a chance. Playing a team from Virginia as a senior, Lyles threw a one-hitter, allowing a solo home run in a 1-0 loss. That was the game Shumate points to as proving Lyles had a pro future, and Alleva agrees.

“Everything was eerie. He was one of those kids that just had a presence on the mound,” Alleva said. “There was nothing not to like about Jordan.”

So much so, Alleva has to reach when trying to find something he would describe as a weakness for Lyles.

“He doesn’t have many games at Triple-A, but he had a lot of success in Double-A. I’d say experience would be the only weakness, and that’s not really a negative,” he said.

Shumate mentions there was a time when Lyles didn’t have a reliable strikeout pitch: “It’s kind of funny to say this about Jordan, but his offspeed command was the issue early in high school. Later, as he started growing into his abilities, it’s hard to find a weakness. Sometimes he’ll get hit a little bit, but that’s not really a weakness because he gets people out.”

For his part, Lyles says his biggest weakness is “I don’t throw 100 miles per hour. I throw in the low 90s. That’s what I have, and that’s what I work with,” although his lack of overpowering velocity has not kept him from racking up strikeouts, organization honors and frequent promotions.

Lyles’ mental toughness also extends beyond the playing field. Many teenagers would be intimidated by the prospect of moving away from home days after high school graduation. He saw it as an opportunity.

“It’s just part of learning, growing up, and maturing,” said Lyles, who has lived in five cities in the past three years. “I got out of the house younger than most. I was 17. But for the most part it’s been easy.”

It’s that ability to block out distractions and focus on baseball that has been Lyles’ biggest asset during his meteoric rise through the minors. And it has friends, family, Hartsville and Gamecock fans who wonder ‘what if he had played for us?’ watching with admiration.

“If he’s ready to move up,” said Shumate, “then bump him up and see if he can handle it. I’m just thrilled to see him doing so well and shooting up as fast as he has.”

Chris Johnson moved to Houston over the winter, which says a lot about what kind of rookie year he had.

The Astros third baseman would not have moved away from his southwest Florida roots to a place he didn’t expect to be for a while.

“I hope so,” Johnson said Saturday. “This is the first spring that I know I’m going to have a job.”

Johnson led all major league rookies with a .308 batting average last season. The Astros, who open their exhibition season Monday, will give him every chance to pick up where he left off.

It’s a new feeling.

“I’m trying not to let it (change anything),” Johnson said. “They’re telling me to make sure you’re relaxed and ready to go when the season starts; don’t try to win a job on the first day like I have every other spring.

“So I’m trying to pace myself. It’s a learning process; this is the first time for me. I’m kind of watching the other (veterans) and trying to go about my business like they would.”

The 26-year-old Johnson tore up the Grapefruit League with eight home runs last spring and began the season on Houston’s roster. Hesitant to read too much into spring training numbers, the Astros might have sent him down if Lance Berkman had not started the season on the disabled list.

But Johnson batted only 22 times before straining an oblique muscle, then spent another six weeks in Triple-A before being called back up. He hit .316 with 11 home runs after the All-Star break.

“Everybody wants to play in the big leagues and have success in the big leagues, but until you get there and have some success, you’re still kind of wondering if you can. I proved to myself that I can do it,” he said. “Defensively I’ve got some stuff to work on. That’s one of the reasons I moved to Houston, to work with our infield coach, Bobby Meacham. But I’ve got some things to work on on both sides of the ball.”

For now, he is eager to face some opposing pitchers after seven days of organized workouts.

“There’s only so much batting practice and flips you can do,” he said. “Really we’re not going to find out much about our swings until we start seeing live pitching, so we’re all kind of anxious.”

Notes: The regular position players will not participate in Sunday’s six-inning intrasquad game. Pitching one inning each will be Nelson Figueroa, David Carpenter, Ross Wolf, Jose Valdez, Jorge DeLeon, Arcenio Leon, Fernando Abad, Casey Fien, Cesar Carillo, Douglas Arguello, Patrick Urckfitz and Jordan Lyles. … Wandy Rodriguez will pitch Monday’s exhibition opener against Atlanta’s Derek Lowe, and Brett Myers will pitch against the Braves’ Tommy Hanson on Tuesday. … With 63 players in camp, the Astros will play six split-squad games this spring in order to get as much evaluation done as possible. “It’s nice being able to get these guys at bats in those types of games, in front of a crowd and so forth,” said manager Brad Mills.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Hustling between drills in his high socks and tight cap, Hunter Pence gives the young Houston Astros an old-school look.

And that works just fine for the 27-year-old right fielder, who has become a model of stability during four major league seasons. He has put up remarkably similar statistics in each of his three full seasons, including exactly 25 home runs in three straight years.

Fresh from winning a $6.9 million salary in arbitration, Pence has become a leader by example.

“I don’t use any numbers as standards or goals,” he said. “Baseball is a daily basis thing, it’s a process. To me it’s a long, focused effort and ultimately there are no individual numbers that can accomplish what I want to accomplish. That’s to be a part of a winning team. Ultimately if you’re winning, then everyone’s going to prosper.”

Even on a team that used 11 rookies last season, Pence is somewhat reluctant to think of himself as a leader. He said bringing teammates “together” is just one of his duties.

Manager Brad Mills calls him a treat.

“That leadership comes from how he plays the game more than anything else, and that will probably increase with each year,” Mills said.

Pence was “very relieved” to have his arbitration matter settled Saturday.

“I came (to camp) early, but that’s basically like your offseason program because they can’t have it organized. You hit a little bit, you work out,” he said Thursday. “When everyone comes together is when you can really get into it. Baseball is a team sport so you start getting that team stuff going on.”

NOTES: The Astros went through another day of live batting practice Thursday, and will run the same routine Friday before a light day Saturday. “They’ve kind of gone through everything and they’re ready to start playing games,” Mills said . . . A six inning intrasquad game, not involving the regular hitters, will be played Sunday, and the Astros will open their exhibition season Monday against the Atlanta Braves at Disney World.

Kinsler could be leading off again for Rangers

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Ian Kinsler was back at the top for the Texas Rangers on Thursday, an early indication of how the lineup might change this season for the AL champions.

Manager Ron Washington wasn’t ready to declare whether Kinsler might be leading off this season like he did primarily did in 2009. But that is clearly an option the manager is considering, even if it was only the first practice game of spring training.

“We’re playing an intrasquad game, I just want to try to get some guys some at-bats,” Washington said before the six-inning game. “I think Sunday you will be able to read into what’s going on.”

The Rangers play their first spring training game Sunday against Kansas City, the team that shares the Surprise complex.

After Julio Borbon struggled in the leadoff spot to start last season, Elvis Andrus hit first most of the season. Andrus was batting second Thursday in the lineup that included most of the expected starters.

“I have fun leading off. I would like to,” Kinsler said. “I mean it would be fun, but it doesn’t matter. … We’re pretty good all the way up and down (the lineup). I think I’m going to be able to help the guys in front of me and behind me wherever I’m at.”

Even though third baseman Adrian Beltre (strained right calf) and designated hitter Michael Young (away for personal matters) didn’t play Thursday, their presence in or out of the lineup would have no effect on the top spot in the order.

Young is not expected back before Friday’s scheduled intrasquad game. Beltre likely will not play in that one either — and may also miss Sunday’s spring training opener. Beltre is still taking part in workouts, and running on a treadmill.

“We want to make sure that his calf (is healed). We don’t want him out there and then he tries to make a play and something happens,” Washington said. “April 1 is his time we want him on the field. We’ll have time to clear that up and then get him his at-bats. I just want to be cautious.”

Kinsler missed the first month of last season with a high ankle sprain, but in his 103 games after that posted a career-best .382 on-base percentage while hitting in five different spots in the batting order (first, third, fifth, sixth and ninth). He often hit behind the likes of AL MVP Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz.

“Last year I was able to get on base, and I think after those guys that are free swingers, I needed to be a little more patient and I needed to see some pitches,” Kinsler said.

The same kind of approach that is necessary in the leadoff spot.

In 265 career games leading off, Kinsler has a .284 batting average with 58 stolen bases. Overall, he had 15 stolen bases last year and has been successful on 86 percent (106 of 124) of his attempts, the best in team history and second highest among all players with at least 120 attempts since 1950.

“Like I always say, he can get you a run with one swing on the bat, he will steal you a bag, he’s an excellent bunter,” Washington said. “He can do some things.”

The Rangers wants the speedy Borbon to hit leadoff last season, but he hit only .220 with one stolen base, eight strikeouts and one walk in 14 games from the top spot. He hit .276 overall in his first full season — most games hitting ninth, like he did Thursday.

“If we had to project his down-the-line, Borbon becoming the player he can through progression, one day you may see him back in the No. 1 spot,” Washington said. “Certainly that’s what our purpose was in 2010, but maybe this will take some pressure off of him.”

The leadoff decision this season will come down to Kinsler or Andrus, who hit. 263 in 134 games batting first last season.

“Elvis does a great job working the count, working the pitcher,” Kinsler said. “I believe I can do that also. … I want to be a tablesetter. My goal is not to get us up 1-0 every time I walk up there. My goal is to start the day off right and get our offense going in the right direction.”

NOTES: C.J. Wilson, set to be the opening day pitcher, worked his scheduled one inning Thursday despite being bothered by some kind of bronchial infection. The left-hander threw nine of his 14 pitches for strikes while getting out all three batters he faced: Kinsler, Andrus and Hamilton. … The Rangers will receive their 2010 AL championship rings in a pregame ceremony April 2. … RHP Omar Beltre had surgery after being diagnosed with a genetic narrowing of the spine. Beltre is expected to travel to Arizona to join the team this weekend, depending on how he feels, and begin rehabilitation. He is at least six weeks away from baseball activities.

– Stephen Hawkins

Rangers’ Webb making progress with arm strength

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Brandon Webb is making progress for the Texas Rangers.

Manager Ron Washington says Webb threw 60-65 pitches off flat ground during a 17-minute session Thursday, and that the “ball was coming out of his hand real good.”

The Rangers decided they wanted the right-hander to build up arm strength before getting back on a mound after his short bullpen session during the first workout a week ago. The former NL Cy Young Award winner hasn’t pitched in a major league game since the 2009 opener for Arizona because of shoulder surgery.

Washington says Webb’s arm strength “is certainly picking up” and that he could throw off a mound Sunday or Monday “if everything keeps progressing.” Webb is set to throw again Friday.

Rangers RHP Beltre has spine surgery

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Rangers pitcher Omar Beltre has had surgery after being diagnosed with a genetic narrowing of the spine.

Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said Thursday that there were no surprises and that the surgery a day earlier in Texas “went as well as could be expected.”

Beltre is expected to travel to Arizona to join the team this weekend, depending on how he feels. Levine says the rehabilitation for the 29-year-old Beltre will be “very much a work in progress” and that the right-hander is at least six weeks away from any baseball activities.

The Rangers know of no other baseball players who have had a surgery for the condition known as spinal stenosis.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Hustling between drills in his high socks and tight cap, Hunter Pence gives the young Houston Astros an old-school look.

And that works for the 27-year-old right fielder, who has become a model of stability during four major league seasons. He has put up remarkably similar statistics in each of his three full seasons, including exactly 25 home runs in three straight years.

Fresh from winning a $6.9 million salary in arbitration, Pence has become a leader by example.

He says: “I don’t use any numbers as standards or goals. Baseball is a daily-basis thing, it’s a process. To me it’s a long, focused effort and ultimately there are no individual numbers that can accomplish what I want to accomplish. That’s to be a part of a winning team.”

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Houston Astros hit 108 home runs last year, the fewest in the NL and ahead of only the Seattle Mariners’ 101.

Houston’s on-base percentage (.303) and slugging average (.362) also were 29th, better only than Seattle’s statistics. The Astros’ 611 runs were 28th, topping only the totals of Pittsburgh and the Mariners. And Houston was last with 415 walks.

General manager Ed Wade says taking more walks would be a good way to start an offensive turnaround, and the point is being emphasized during spring training.

“It’s very important,” said Mike Barnett, Houston’s new hitting coach. “But how you go about it is the key. It’s not just a matter of taking pitches. To me, walks and on-base percentage are more a product of understanding your approach, what your strengths are. If you can do that, then hopefully you’ll start to see your walk numbers go up.”

Nobody is trying harder than leadoff hitter Michael Bourn, who walked 59 times last year.

“I feel like I won if I walk,” Bourn said, “but that’s part of what I have to do, is get on base, and I do that any way possible — bunting, hitting, walking. I’ve got to be able to do it, so walking is a plus for me.”

Houston gave up 133 more walks than it received. The problem wasn’t at the pitching end.

Despite playing in only 85 games before being traded, Lance Berkman led Houston hitters last year with 60 walks.

Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee, the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters, combined for 88 walks — fewer than the totals of 10 major leaguer. Rookie regulars Brett Wallace and Chris Johnson walked less than once every six games, and Wallace was hit almost as many times (seven) as he walked (eight).

Inexperience was a factor, according to general manager Ed Wade.

“We had a lot of quick at-bats last year,” Wade said. “There’s a lot of benefit to getting deeper into counts, whether it’s getting on base more often or getting into somebody’s bullpen earlier. It’s a point of emphasis that we’re going to have to pay attention to.”

The goal during the regular season will be scoring runs, not drawing walks.

“We can’t just come out here and say, `OK, We want you to walk more.’ That just doesn’t get it,” manager Brad Mills said. “Different situations in the games might call for different things. You have to take each at-bat separately.”

And each pitch.

“A lot of it is allowing yourself to get deeper into counts by not swinging at what (the pitcher) wants to get you out with,” Barnett said. “A fastball, down-away at the knees, that’s not a high-percentage pitch to have success with. But if you bring him into the middle of the plate, you work deeper into counts, and before you know it, you’re starting to walk more.”

NOTES: New 2B Bill Hall was excused for the birth of his child. … Wandy Rodriguez will start Monday’s exhibition opener and Brett Myers will start Tuesday’s home exhibition opener, both against Atlanta. Derek Lowe and Tommy Hanson will pitch for the Braves.

Michael Bourn laughs at the suggestion that he is the reason Carl Crawford, his former Little League teammate, plays left field instead of center.

Bourn did win the first of his two Gold Gloves for the Houston Astros in 2009, one year before Crawford earned his first.

In fact, Bourn said if he had any influence on Crawford, his friend might have become a basketball player.

“That was a Tampa Bay thing,” Bourn said of Crawford’s move to left field. “That was because of Josh Hamilton.”

Tampa Bay selected Hamilton with the first overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft, then picked Crawford in the second round. Crawford, a three-sport star from Jefferson Davis High School, dropped down because many major league organizations thought he was leaning toward a football scholarship offered by Nebraska.

A year behind Crawford at Nimitz High School, Bourn was most in awe of Crawford as a basketball player.

“He could have played all three,” Bourn recalled. “UCLA pursued him, but he stopped playing (before his senior year). I couldn’t believe it. He tried to tell me to stop, too, and I said, ‘Naw, man.’”

Listed as 5-foot-11, Bourn was more reluctant to give up his hoop dreams in favor of baseball. Drafted a year later by the Astros on the 19th round, he chose instead to go to the University of Houston, where he hoped to play both sports.

Soon Bourn was channeled into baseball. Twelve years and 582 stolen bases later, the former Houston Little Leaguers have achieved baseball success.

Crawford made it to the major leagues with Tampa Bay in 2002 and in December he agreed to a $142 million, seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Bourn, the NL stolen-base champion in each of the last two seasons, was drafted again by Philadelphia in 2003 and made to the majors three years later. He was sent to Houston in the Brad Lidge trade in 2007.

A few times each offseason, Bourn and Crawford get together. They train at the same Houston facility.

Aware that Crawford was approaching free agency, Bourn even suggested the possibility of joining him in the outfield of the hometown Astros.

“Yeah, I said something to him,” Bourn smiled, “but whenever you’ve got the Yankees and Boston involved, it’s kind of hard. He didn’t say he wouldn’t play in Houston, but you know, it’s kind of hard to turn down $142 million.”

With two more seasons left before he is eligible for free agency, the 28-year-old Bourn signed a $4.4 million, one-year contract this offseason to avoid arbitration.

Bourn has 173 stolen bases, almost all of them in the last three years. Crawford is second among active players with 409.

When they get together, they don’t talk much about their thefts.

“We talk about hitting more than anything,” Bourn said. “He tries to give me some tips, and I just ask him about some things he does that help him out. But, it’s hard getting it out of him. He’s one of those people that works, but he’s private with it. He’s been playing for 10 years, and that’s how it is. I respect that.”

 

Published Monday, February 21, 2011 12:21 AM

Associated Press

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — If the 2010 season had started on June 1, the Houston Astros might have been a wild-card factor throughout the summer.

It didn’t and they weren’t. But the Astros, who reassembled Sunday for their first full-squad workout of spring training, finished well enough to feel good all winter.

While using 11 rookies, often with three or more in the starting lineup, the Astros posted the second-best record in the NL Central after June 1. They’ve come back almost intact, having added only veteran infielders Clint Barmes and Bill Hall.

“The young core that they’ve got is full of talent, and the staff is very solid,” said Barmes, acquired in a November trade with Colorado. “There’s no reason we can’t pick up where they left off last year and go out and put ourselves in a good situation.”

They put themselves in a bad situation last spring, enough to remain firmly under the radar while going 59-52 the last two-thirds of the season. Even if no one noticed, the Astros did.

“They did such a good job and had so much success from June on last year. They’ve seen the success they had in that period. Let ‘em build on that,” manager Brad Mills said, “just the knowledge that they’ve done that and knowing they can do it again.”

“I think everyone has the same feeling from the way we played from the All-Star break on,” closer Brandon Lyon said. “It wasn’t one aspect of our team that would win games. We would get timely hits, we’d pitch well, we’d play good defense, I think everyone’s excited from that.

“We need to use this time to get ready to have everybody playing that way again. I think everybody knows what we’re capable of doing.”

Barmes, who moved primarily to second base when Troy Tulowitzki emerged as the Rockies’ second baseman, was brought in to anchor Houston’s young infield at shortstop.

“That’s pretty much what I’ve been my whole career. Even the last few years, I felt like a shortstop playing at second base,” Barmes said. “So I don’t see any big adjustment that needs to be made.”

*

NOTES — Hall was excused for personal reasons. He is expected to arrive in camp Wednesday. … Tommy Manzella, the starting SS at the beginning of last season, will take ground balls at 2B and 3B this spring. … Houston pitchers will throw live batting practice Monday. … The Astros will play an intrasquad game next Sunday and open their exhibition season at Disney World against Atlanta the following day.

---

By Phil Kuchinsky – KETK Sports Reporter

Sunday, February 20, 2011 – 4:04pm

The Houston Astros are looking to build on the youth movement that showed promise during the second half of
2010.

The Astros posted the second-best record in the NL Central after June 1 last season while using 11 rookies, often with three or more in the starting lineup.

They come back almost intact and added shortstop Cliff Barmes in a November trade with Colorado and veteran second baseman Bill Hall.

The Astros had their first full-squad workout of spring training Sunday and will go into the new season trying to start the way they finished in 2010.

Barmes is optimistic given the success of Houston’s young core and its solid pitching staff.

He doesn’t see why the Astros “can’t pick up where they left off last year” and get off to a strong start.
 

by Associated Press

khou.com

Posted on February 20, 2011 at 4:39 PM

Updated today at 10:58 PM

KISSIMMEE, Florida — If the 2010 season had started on June 1, the Houston Astros might have been a wild-card factor throughout the summer.

It didn’t and they weren’t. But the Astros, who reassembled Sunday for their first full-squad workout of spring training, finished well enough to feel good all winter.

While using 11 rookies, often with three or more in the starting lineup, the Astros posted the second-best record in the NL Central after June 1. They’ve come back almost intact, having added only veteran infielders Cliff Barmes and Bill Hall.

“The young core that they’ve got is full of talent, and the staff is very solid,” said Barmes, acquired in a November trade with Colorado. “There’s no reason we can’t pick up where they left off last year and go out and put ourselves in a good situation.”

They put themselves in a bad situation last spring, enough to remain firmly under the radar while going 59-52 the last two-thirds of the season. Even if no one noticed, the Astros did.

“They did such a good job and had so much success from June on last year. They’ve seen the success they had in that period. Let ‘em build on that,” manager Brad Mills said, “just the knowledge that they’ve done that and knowing they can do it again.”

“I think everyone has the same feeling from the way we played from the All-Star break on,” closer Brandon Lyon said. “It wasn’t one aspect of our team that would win games. We would get timely hits, we’d pitch well, we’d play good defense, I think everyone’s excited from that.

“We need to use this time to get ready to have everybody playing that way again. I think everybody knows what we’re capable of doing.”

Barmes, who moved primarily to second base when Troy Tulowitzki emerged as the Rockies’ second baseman, was brought in to anchor Houston’s young infield at shortstop.

“That’s pretty much what I’ve been my whole career. Even the last few years, I felt like a shortstop playing at second base,” Barmes said. “So I don’t see any big adjustment that needs to be made.”

Notes: Hall was excused for personal reasons. He is expected to arrive in camp Wednesday. … Tommy Manzella, the starting SS at the beginning of last season, will take ground balls at 2B and 3B this spring. … Houston pitchers will throw live batting practice Monday. … The Astros will play an intrasquad game next Sunday and open their exhibition season at Disney World against Atlanta the following day.

 

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)—The Houston Astros are looking to build on the youth movement that showed promise during the second half of 2010.

The Astros posted the second-best record in the NL Central after June 1 last season while using 11 rookies, often with three or more in the starting lineup.

They come back almost intact and added shortstop Cliff Barmes in a November trade with Colorado and veteran second baseman Bill Hall(notes).

The Astros had their first full-squad workout of spring training Sunday and will go into the new season trying to start the way they finished in 2010.

Barmes is optimistic given the success of Houston’s young core and its solid pitching staff.

He doesn’t see why the Astros “can’t pick up where they left off last year” and get off to a strong start.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)—The Houston Astros are looking to build on the youth movement that showed promise during the second half of 2010.

The Astros posted the second-best record in the NL Central after June 1 last season while using 11 rookies, often with three or more in the starting lineup.

They come back almost intact and added shortstop Cliff Barmes in a November trade with Colorado and veteran second baseman Bill Hall(notes).

The Astros had their first full-squad workout of spring training Sunday and will go into the new season trying to start the way they finished in 2010.

Barmes is optimistic given the success of Houston’s young core and its solid pitching staff.

He doesn’t see why the Astros “can’t pick up where they left off last year” and get off to a strong start.

PHOENIX — Outfielder Hunter Pence has defeated the Houston Astros in the final salary arbitration case of the offseason, giving players victories in two of three hearings this year.

Pence will make $6.9 million rather than the team’s offer of $5.15 million.

Arbitrators Robert Herzog, Margaret Brogan and Fredric Horowitz made the decision Saturday, a day after hearing arguments.

Pence hit .282 with 25 homers, 91 RBIs and 18 steals last year, when he made $3.5 million. Houston had won its previous four arbitration hearings.

The three cases matched the low since the process started in 1974. Pittsburgh pitcher Ross Ohlendorf won his case this year and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver lost.

The majority of the 119 players who filed for arbitration in mid-January settled.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press