Houston Astros Media Round Up 4/18: Footer and Stros County on Sutton, JJO on Valverde

A few reactions to the Drew Sutton Trade:
Alyson Footer
Astros County

Jose de JesusOrtiz thinks Coop and Valverde need to communicate better.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 18th, 2009
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Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds Game II Preview

Coop must have run out of ink in his pin.  He is using the same line up tonight as last night.  Here is to hoping Jason Smith doesn’t go 0-4 again tonight. 
 
Guess Coop doesn’t have much of a choice with all the back problems the Stros are having.  “Doctor says I need a back-e-otomy” – Sir Smokes A Lot – Half  Baked
 
You starting 9:
Bourn
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Smith
Rodriguez
 
Game time 6:05 central.
 
Let’s go Wan-Rod!!!!
Post info: By cardsjason on April 18th, 2009
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Felipe Paulino to Start for Houston Sunday

Just heard from Coop Paulino is getting the start Sunday.  Hopefully he can bring that momentum from Round Rock.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 17th, 2009
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Houston Astros Lose to Cincinnati as Jose Valverde Blows His First Save

Houston’s offense was asleep tonight.  They only had 2 hits, both by Miguel Tejada, until the 9th, and their only run was scored off of a Lance Berkman walk.
 
Roy Oswalt deserved the win but didn’t get it.
 
Bourn 0-3, K, BB
Tejada 2-4
Berkman 0-1 3 BB, RBI
Lee 0-4, K, GIDP,  6 hitters left on base
Pence 0-3, BB
Blum 1-4
Rodriguez 1-4, K
Smith 0-4, GIDP
Oswalt 0-1 BB, R
Michaels BB
 
Good grief Carlos Lee.
 
Pitching Line:
Oswal 6 IP, 5 hits, 4K, 3 BB (Roy absolutely earned a win tonight.)
Geary 1 IP, 0 H
LeHawk 1 IP, 1H, (I thought this was a very good inning for LeHawk. He Battled)
Valverde 1 IP, 1H, 1 HR, 2 ER
 
Good News: Roy Oswalt pitched well enough to earn his first win and Geary and LeHawk both pitched well. Defensive props to Hunter Pence for throwing out Willie T at 3rd. 
 
Bad News: OFFENSE!! Carlos Lee left 6 men on base by himself.  That’s your MO Caballo.
 
Valverde blew his first save opp to get the L.
 
Stros (3-7)
Roy (0-2)
Valverde (0-1) Blown Save
 
Tomorrow has Wandy Rodriguez facing Aaron Harang at 6:05 central.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 17th, 2009
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Houston Astros Begin 10 Game Home Stand Against The Reds

If there were ever a deserving gimme Roy O would get one tonight.*  However, this is a different looking Reds team that he has faced in the past but still, I think the odds are in his favor.  So now that I have jinxed Houston for tonight, let’s check out that starting line up.
 
Bourn
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Smith
Oswalt
 
I like this lineup.  I would personally rather have Kepp in there but it will be nice for Smith to get his first start of the season, leaving Erstad as the only bench player without  a start. 
 
Why do I like this lineup? Tejada isn’t the power hitter he once was yet, he still has a nice average to start the season.  Because of his lack of power numbers, no homers this season, it makes since to put him in the two hole so he will see more fastballs in front Lance, hopefully getting on base for Berkman, Lee, and Pence to drive him in.
 
Richard Justice can’t make up his mind, so what’s new? He has some optimistic words for Houston in his latest post.
 
Let’s make it 3 in a row and get Roy his first win tonight.
 
Go Stros.
*(See roy’s record against Cincinnati)
Post info: By cardsjason on April 17th, 2009
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Houston Astros Send Drew Sutton to the Cincinnati Reds

From astros.mlb.com:

“The Astros announced Thursday that they have sent Minor Leaguer Drew Sutton to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade that brought Jeff Keppinger to Houston near the end of Spring Training.

Sutton, 25, will report to the Louisville, the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate. He was hitting .267 (4-for-15) over his first five games with Triple-A Round Rock. The utilityman had a breakout season last year at Double-A, hitting .315 for Corpus Christi with 20 home runs and 20 steals, all while playing a variety of positions.

Sutton was Corpus Christi’s Most Valuable Player and was a Texas League All-Star in 2008. He led the Astros organization in a host of offensive categories, including batting average, hits, runs, walks, doubles and extra-base hits. He was originally drafted by the Astros in the 14th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.”

Sutton? I was really hoping it would be someone else. Bummer.

Hopefully we can hold on to Kepp and get more out of him than just this season.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 16th, 2009
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Houston Astros Defeat Pittsburgh for First Series Win

I was at class today so I didn’t get to watch/score the game so here is the wrap from Stros.com:

Bourn 1-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 R
Tejada 2-4, BB, R
Berkman 1-4, BB, K, 3 RBI, R, 3-run HR
Lee 1-4, RBI
Pence 1-4, BB, RBI, HR, K
Blum 1-5
Rodriguez 1-4, BB, K
Keppinger 1-2, R, BB, 3B
Ortiz 1-2, RBI

Pitching lines:
Ortiz 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Wright .1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER (got the W)
Sampson 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Byrdak 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 0 ER
LeHawk 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, (save)

Good news: Berkman and Pence both went yard for the 2nd and 3rd home runs respectively. Keppinger and Tejada stayed hot and our bullpen didn’t give up any runs. Russ Ortiz also hung in there and kept Houston in the game.

Bad news: Ortiz didn’t quite go 5 innings. Houston left 10 on base.

Wright (1-0)
LeHawk (Save)

Tomorrow has Roy Oswalt taking on his favorite team the Cincinnati Reds for the start of a 10 game home stand for Houston.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 16th, 2009
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Houston Astros Defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1: Hampton Gets Win

Mike Hampton pitched 6 great innings as the Astros defeated the Pirates 4-1. 
 
Houston came out early and scored in the first inning for the first time all season with a sac fly from Lee and Pence.  Houston would score again in the 3rd off of a 2 run double from Carlos Lee.
 
Bourn 0-2, BB, R, ends hit streak
Tejada 3-4, 2B, 2 R
Berkman 2-4, 2B, R, K
Lee 1-3, 3 RBI, 2B, Sac Fly, K
Pence 1-3, RBI
Blum 0-3, BB
Rodriguez 0-4, GIDP
Keppinger 1-4, 2B
Hampton 0-3, K
Erstad 0-1, K

The real story of today’s game is the performance by Mike Hampton.

Pitching line:
Mike Hampton 6 IP, 8K, 1BB, 4 hits, no runs allowed
Geoff Geary 1 IP, 1BB, 2 hits, no runs allowed
LaTroy Hawkins 1 IP, 0 BB, 1 hit, nor runs allowed
Jose Valverde 1 IP, 1K 2 hits, 0BB, HR, 1 earned run.
 
Good News: Tejada, Berkman, Lee went 6-11 today producing 3 RBI.  The best news is however is Mike Hampton who is todays MVP for the game after helping Houston snap their 5 game losing streak.
Bad News: Houston left 6 runners on base. Michael Bourn also went 0-for ending his hitting streak.  However he did get on base in his first at bat with a walk and eventually scored a run.
 
Mike Hampton W (1-1)
Houston (2-6)

Tomorrow is the first game for Russ Ortiz and he will face Jeff Karstens.

 
Game time tomorrow is early, 11:35 a.m. central.
 
Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros V. Pittsburgh Pirates Game 2 Line Up

Didn’t I mention something about Bourn getting moved up in the lineup?

Todays 9:

Bourn
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Keppinger
Hampton

“I like it!” – Barney from the Simpsons.

 

Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros Starting Pitcher Brian Moehler to 15 Day DL, Arias Called Up

From Brian McTaggart @ Chron.com:
 
“Astros pitcher Brian Moehler was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a grade one medial collateral ligament strain in his right knee.
 
Moehler is scheduled to start Sunday, but it’s not known who will take his spot.
“I’m able to ride the bike and can play catch, which is a good thing because my arm isn’t going to get out of shape,” Moehler said. “That’s a plus. I just can’t go out and run right now or anything like that.”
Arias, who had a terrific spring, gave up five walks, two hits and six runs (four earned) in 2 1/3 innings in his only outing for the Express on Saturday. “
 
I figured Arias would be the first pitcher called up but Fulchino got the nod.  Looks like I wasn’t too far off.
 
Any idea who is gonna take the spot start for Moehler?  I guess it is going to be either Fulchino or Arias seeing as Sampson hasn’t thrown enough pitches really to step in and start.
 
Btw, Felipe Paulino has had two stellar outings at AAA Round Rock.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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