Tagged: pudge
Fantastico!
The Astros very much looked like a team tonight that simply refused to be beaten, which is something we didn’t see a lot of in the club’s 13 games prior to this series. Every time they got knocked down tonight, they got right back up to answer the bell in the next round. We never saw that Ausmus/Oswalt confrontation, but Roy got the faceoff with Manny he was wishing for; Oswalt won the first two battles before Ramirez destroyed a 2-1 fastball in the 6th, when Roy looked gassed. But he ended a jam the previous inning so that Manny came up with no men on, which is the way to do it if you’re gonna have him homer off of you. Every Astros position player had at least one hit tonight, and when the Dodgers intentionally (and adventurously) walked Geoff Blum in the 8th to get to Pudge, he took it as the insult a veteran of his stature should and promptly made them pay with what proved to be the game-winning RBI. LaTroy Hawkins did a fine job as the pinch closer with Jose Valverde banged up from the previous night, and Manny was left stranded in the on deck circle as the game ended. Still no W for Roy, but this is the first of his four starts that Houston has won, so that’s progress. Wandy goes for the sweep tomorrow.
I did some research earlier in the evening while waiting for the game to start. Besides their three ex-Astros, the Dodgers have one more Houston connection in first baseman James Loney – a fellow Houston native and four years my junior (dang). Loney won the 2008 Houston Area MLB Player of the Year award at this past January’s 24th Annual Houston Baseball Awards Banquet. I only just recently (and very embarassingly) learned that Carl Crawford and Michael Bourn are Houston natives, too. This got me to wondering who else had won this award in the past, but I had surprising difficulty locating this information anywhere online. So I spent an hour or so digging through 24 years of archives over at Chron.com and came up with a definitive list:
Greater Houston Area MLB Player of the Year
- 2008: James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2007: Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
- 2006: Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- 2005: Adam Dunn, Cincinatti Reds
- 2004: Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- 2003: Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees
- 2002: Kip Wells, Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2001: Roger Clemens, New York Yankees
- 2000: Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees
- 1999: Mike Jackson, Cleveland Indians
- 1998: Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays
- 1997: Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays
- 1996: Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees
- 1995: Jay Buhner, Seattle Mariners
- 1994: Chuck Knoblauch, Minnesota Twins
- 1993: Jay Buhner, Seattle Mariners
- 1992: Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
- 1991: Chuck Knoblauch, Minnesota Twins
- 1990: Doug Drabek, Pittsburgh Pirates
- 1989: Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers
- 1988: Greg Swindell, Cleveland Indians
There was no such award given at the inaugural Houston Baseball Awards Dinner for 1985, and Roger Clemens was “honored” at the ’86 and ’87 dinners, but I don’t think the award formally existed until ’88. Interesting to note that with the exceptions of Knoblauch, Buhner and Wells, all of the others before the last five years played for the Astros at some point. I wouldn’t object to Crawford, Beckett and Dunn following suit.
Let’s Add Pudge ’09: YES WE DID
NOW it’s official: Pudge Rodriguez is an Astro. And I am very happy. I made no secret around here of my desire that the Astros sign Pudge; I think it makes all kinds of sense from the team’s standpoint, once the price was finally right. I already covered my thoughts on that, so I won’t bother repeating myself. What I haven’t talked as much about is my personal standpoint as a fan.
Growing up in Houston, the Astros were always far and away my favorite team, but I also kinda liked Texas’ other team, the Rangers. Nolan Ryan was my favorite player back then, and I liked Texas more after he joined them in 1989. Two years later, in 1991, the Rangers brought up a young catching prospect that started turning heads, much like Craig Biggio had done for Houston in ’88. That young catcher was Ivan Rodriguez. I’ve always been partial to catchers, because that’s where my granddad played, so this Ivan Rodriguez quickly became a favorite of mine. I was 11 years old.
The Rangers finally made the postseason in 1996, and I cheered them on a year before I finally got to cheer my Astros in October ’97. I cheered for Ivan (eventually “Pudge”) and the Rangers again in ’98 and ’99, when both Texas teams played in October. Pudge departed Texas as a free agent following the 2002 season, but I got to cheer him again in the postseason with the 2003 champion Florida Marlins. I cheered for Detroit in the ’06 Series because of Pudge’s presence, too.
I know he’s old now, at least in baseball years. I know he’s not the MVP he used to be. I know he’s a prime suspect for past steroids use, and I don’t like that; it’s tarnished his legacy for me and everyone else. But I’m 29 now, and he’s one of the few guys still playing that I cheered as a kid. The Astros’ old guard is officially gone this year, with Brad Ausmus out in L.A. to finish his career close to home. Biggio and Jeff Bagwell are both retired. So are Ryan, Mike Scott and all the Houston stars from the era before that, and three of those childhood heroes – Darryl Kile, Ken Caminiti & Dave Smith – have already passed on. I love Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt, but there’s something special about the guys you grew up watching that can never be replaced. Pudge brings some of that back with him. So really, no matter what kind of year he has… no matter what kind of year Houston has… and even if this is the only season he ever plays in an Astros uniform… it’s a Good Year from the very start. It’s all the things that make us love baseball, more than winning and losing, and that’s what matters the most anyway.
I’m also excited about Russ Ortiz pitching again today; I still want to see him succeed. I’m also excited that Jake Peavy is tapped to lead Team USA against Dice-K and Japan on Sunday, because I love Jake Peavy, but I selfishly want our boy Roy on the hill for the championship game.
It’s the first official day of spring, and it’s Friday. All the losses and frustrations don’t matter. It’s a Good Day.
EDIT: So it’ll be Oswalt for Team USA on Sunday, not Jake Peavy as originally reported. Oh well – Oswalt versus Matsuzaka will be one heck of a pitching matchup. And also, ASTROS WIN! Ortiz looked brilliant, Berkman homered, every Astros regular reached base at least one, and the winless streak is gone. It’s still a Good Day.
photo credit: https://www.beckett.com/images/pgitems/1072320101.jpg
Good grief
I’ll be among the first to say that spring training wins and losses don’t matter, but bad baseball is bad baseball, and I can’t blame Cecil Cooper if he’s mad. I was getting mad listening to Houston’s game today against the Mets, and hardly anything ever makes me mad. It’s never a good thing when your team has almost as many errors (four) as it does hits (five). It’s never a good thing when you’re halfway through the game, down 8-0 and wondering if any team has ever been no-hit in spring training. The team hasn’t scored more than two runs in a game in over a week, Wandy Rodriguez was awful today, and whether it matters or not, 1-16-3 stinks by any measure.
How in the world does the best defensive team in the National League last year keep playing so sloppily, day after day this spring? I tried to console myself by looking up the worst spring training records in history, and the worst I could rummage up was the 1985 Pittsburgh Pirates, who went 6-18 (.250). I looked up their regular season then, hoping for validation from a positive turnaround.
They went 57-104 and finished last in both leagues.
Done venting.
Forgive me that, please, as I’m an optimist by nature. I get far more fed up with the folks constantly spewing negativity about our team and others than I do with a poorly performing team itself. But “even narcissists and rappers need to get things off their chest,” says a musician fellow I know, and he’s correct in that.
Bright spots: Chris Johnson went 2-for-3 a day after his chances of breaking camp with the club increased. Tim Byrdak redeemed himself from his last outing with a scoreless inning today. As weak as the offense has been lately, we’ve seen five scoreless outings from Houston starters over the same stretch (Jose Capellan, Brian Moehler, Mike Hampton twice, and Roy Oswalt for Team USA), so the rotation actually seems to be shaping up.
And Pudge Rodriguez was in camp for the first half of his physical today, with the second half scheduled for tomorrow. Still no official word from the club on the signing, but that’s as solid a proof as we’ve yet seen.
One other bit of speculation: Ed Wade received a phone call about an available 3B soon after Aaron Boone’s announcement yesterday. I’m with Ed on this one, about waiting to see who’s available near the end of camp and how your own guys pan out. Many have speculated about who the mystery 3B is, with almost nothing to go on, so it’s anyone’s guess. But a couple of sources suggested that Mark Loretta might get released by Los Angeles… not having followed Dodgers camp, I can’t imagine why, but there it was. I’m still not convinced that Houston needs to make a move, and certainly not just any move, but if Loretta DOES indeed get cut, I hope Wade will snatch him up without a second thought. I’d love to have him back.
Ah, St. Patrick’s Day
March 17 brings another grand baseball tradition, where all the players look like this:
I’ve always liked the green jerseys, so I think it’s great fun. I’ll probably buy one of these eventually.
Astros return to daytime action shortly against Detroit, which makes me happy at work. I’ll refrain from another Pudge entry here until the signing is official. But I will say I’m doubly pulling for Team USA tonight in the WBC, because 1. I’m American and I want our boys to win, and 2. I want Pudge free to finalize his deal and get in camp with our pitchers.
It’s a good day.
photo credit: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dOGfSse2r7Qo/610x.jpg
Keep the cart behind the horse
Keeping in mind the Braves’ struggles with reported “done deals” like Rafael Furcal and Ken Griffey, Jr. this winter…
Pudge, Astros in serious talks
Astros close to signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez
Rodriguez is nearing an agreement with Astros
Source: Rodriguez, Astros agree
YES.
LET’S ADD PUDGE ’09.
EDIT: And Alyson Footer confirms “Pudge is on his way.” Given Coop’s comments in recent days, I’ll be surprised if we don’t hear that Brandon Backe is released soon after the I-Rod deal is finalized. Cutting Backe before April 2 frees up most of his $1.55 million salary, which is why adding $1.5 million for Pudge is suddenly “not an issue anymore.”
image credit: http://images.chron.com/photos/2009/03/13/15756363/342xSectionMain.jpg
More Pudge, because there’s not much else to say
Marlins and Pudge reunion is a longshot
Mets like Pudge, but don’t have room
Which leaves – again – the Astros. The Twins’ news on Joe Mauer was not bad enough to warrant a replacement move. It seems the only thing keeping Houston from Pudge and Pudge from Houston is Ed Wade picking up the phone. Or, more likely, Drayton McLane letting Ed Wade pick up the phone.
Drayton? Ed? Can you hear us? Your club is off today. We the fans could really use something to get excited about! 1-11-1, even in spring training, is not it.
Optimism makes a comeback
So Houston lost last night… again. But at least it took a little longer than usual. Humberto Quintero did his best Pudge-vs-Panama impersonation, going 2-for-3 with a homer. Hunter Pence did too, 3-for-4 with a homer of his own. Jose Capellan still hasn’t surrendered a run all spring. Carlos Lee is back in camp today. Zachary Levine has a number of quotes today from a team suffering through a woeful spring… that just happens to be the 1986 Houston Astros. Fellow MLBlogger roundrock15 reminds us that two of the three worst Grapefruit League teams last year happened to end up facing off in the NLCS. And our car works again.
Cecil Cooper says that Michael Bourn has played his way back to the top of the lineup, hitting #2 behind Kaz Matsui. This is good news for Houston’s offense – we haven’t really had a pair of productive speedsters leading off for a long while now, and that can go a long way towards unsettling opposing pitchers and manufacturing more runs. Bourn’s .240 batting average this spring isn’t particularly grand, but his .367 OBP is MUCH, MUCH improved and would easily be a career high for him (or Hunter Pence, for that matter). He’s getting on base, bunting, running, and generally doing everything a good #2 hitter should do. I’d still like to see a higher BA, but if he keeps it all going, he may just win back my confidence yet.
Let’s Add Pudge ’09 – He’s talking about the Marlins again, but he wants to start. Florida wants him to be backup, as do likely the Met$. Houston really is the best fit for him in that regard. Everyone talks about his .219 average after joining the Yankee$ last year, but that was in a reserve role; he hit .295 as Detroit’s starter. And note this: that Sun-Sentinel article says Florida would “only sign Rodriguez to a six-figure base salary plus incentives.” Really? Really? I’ve expected all along it would take at least $1.5 million, more likely $2-3 to land him, in which case I hoped-but-didn’t-expect the Astros could afford him. Admittedly, I feel strongly that Scott Boras is a plague on the game of baseball and I wish he could be banned, but… this is just for one year. For one player. Boras will probably never sell anything this cheap again. I know that Ed Wade is waiting to see what veteran catchers might be available closer to the end of spring training, but… are they really going to come that much cheaper? If Pudge’s asking price is truly that low, almost I might actually be upset with Astros management should they not at least make an offer. C’mon, Ed… pick up the phone!
Houston returns to afternoon weekday play today for the first time since Thursday. Would like to see good things from Brian Moehler today (and a win!), but mostly – welcome back, fellas! I’ve missed you at work.
EDIT: The Astros broadcast team reports Coop’s first cuts of the spring today – pitchers Brad James & Sergio Perez, and catchers Jason Castro & Brian Esposito, are headed to minor league camp. None too surprising, though Castro is the most notable. I hope to hear him tearing it up over there soon.
Woe unto thee, Houston
It seemed like things were unravelling around Astros camp this weekend – three embarassing losses, four injuries, bad pitching, bad hitting, bad defense, one closed-door tongue-lashing from Coop, and our car broke down. Houston is officially worst in BOTH the Grapefruit & Cactus Leagues right now. No, it’s NOT time for Astros fans to panic, because there have still been bright spots in the clouds. Most of these losses have fallen on the shoulders of minor league players and pitchers. But when everyone else is looking at their youngsters right now too… it just gets discouraging.
At least Team USA looked great over the weekend, even if our Roy didn’t do so well himself. I caught about half of yesterday’s Dominican Republic vs. Panama game on TV after our car left us stranded, and the WBC is just as much fun as ever (at least to me). Panama is done, so Carlos Lee should be back in Kissimmee soon, but that was pretty much expected. Miguel Tejada, Oswalt and LaTroy Hawkins are likely to be gone a few weeks more yet. Unless lighting strikes the Netherlands twice.
Of the aforementioned injuries, Brandon Backe’s hurts the worst. Or hurts him the worst, rather. It seems he’s already lost ground to Russ Ortiz, Jose Capellan and Bud Norris in the battle for the #5 spot; losing time likely only hurts his chances more. Clay Hensley’s eye-catching 23.63 ERA has probably signed his ticket to minor league camp.
And for Let’s Add Pudge ’09 – I’m still behind it. No new news on that front. But Alyson Footer put words to my thoughts after Pudge’s Puerto Rican explosion on Saturday – as fun as it was to watch, I almost wish he hadn’t done quite SO well. If he’s available in a Backe-like $1.5 million range, I think we’ve got a shot at him. But if he keeps hitting even half as well as this, his price easily jumps over $2-3 million again, and he’s probably Met$-or-bust. Let him hit those homers after he’s signed, thanks.
Let’s Add Pudge ’09 – Part Deux
4-for-4 with a walk, two homers, three runs and four RBIs. We haven’t had a guy – ANY guy – do anything that well all spring. And the best hitter we have had so far this spring just broke his toe. Carlos Lee is in PR with Pudge right now; send him over as team liasion. Let’s Add Pudge ’09!
Photo credit: http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2009/03/07/q6ff4hEL.jpg
Let’s Add Pudge ’09
The Astros play Atlanta tonight, so I probably won’t be able to post post-game as usual, or likely again until Monday – real life with real wife, dontcha know. But I’m reviving a dead issue, because it doesn’t truly seem to be quite dead yet…
I want the Astros to sign Pudge Rodriguez. I recognize the caveats, and those are still valid… except maybe the one about money. That seems to be changing. No, Astros GM Ed Wade has not backed off his earlier “We are not signing Pudge” statement. Not publicly, anyway… not yet. But Pudge has not yet backed off the Astros, either. In that same interview, he said contractually he’d “be OK with anything, to be honest.” Which means even the once-rumored bargain price of $3 mil for one year seems to have fallen.
Brian McTaggart interviewed manager Cecil Cooper on Wednesday and asked about the catching competition, where Houston’s six existing candidates “continue to shine.” Uhhhhhhhhh… okay. Coop praised them “receiving and throwing,” and I’m sure that’s true. But he didn’t say a thing about their offense. Now, don’t get me wrong – Brad Ausmus is probably my all-time favorite Astro, and he was never noted for his offense (save for a couple of clutch homers). But a club needs some kind of offense from the position. Ausmus was at least a career .250 hitter; six catchers totalling three hits over nine games, as we’ve seen so far, doesn’t even measure up to that lofty standard.
Even with his much-maligned “declining skills,” Pudge would be an offensive upgrade over any and all of the guys now in camp. Actually, he’d be the best offensive option we’ve seen at the position since one Craig Biggio was an All-Star there back in 1991. Ex-teammate Mike Lowell says Pudge is “still very good” defensively, too. Wade talked after Toby Hall went down about needing “someone that can go out there three or four days a week and catch” – it doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out that if someone is catching four days a week, he’s not the “backup” to the guy catching three. Which means our GM isn’t entirely enamored of Humberto Quintero as a regular starter, either.
If the Astros are still so concerned about money, give some of the younger and/or cheaper guys in camp a chance – but ones that have shown promise. Which, so far, the catchers haven’t. I’ll confess up front that I know very little about how major league contracts work and how they’re “guaranteed,” but Alyson Footer responded to a question about Brandon Backe by saying Houston “could release him by a certain date late in Spring Training and only be responsible for a portion of his salary.” So cut his $1.55 million salary and give Russ Ortiz or Bud Norris or Jose Capellan or Clay Hensley a chance, for the $400k minimum. Cut Jason Michaels’ $750k and give Reggie Abercrombie a shot (or Brian Bogusevic later in the year, if Abercrombie doesn’t work out). Even cut Aaron Boone (or Geoff Blum) and give Chris Johnson the starting role. Those moves alone should free up more than enough to sign Pudge. Plus, have you heard how much other Astros fans want him? It wouldn’t be Roger-Clemens or Randy-Johnson-like epic, but bringing in Pudge will help attendance. And if he does well this year, the economy rebounds and his price tag goes back up – so what? Jason Castro is waiting in the wings for 2010. Let Pudge sign with the Met$ then.
Honestly? I still expect New York and Florida, in that order, are more likely destinations. Maybe Lou Palmisano will find his stroke, or J.R. Towles will live up to his 2007 promise. Maybe Pudge will be outed in the steroids shakedown, and his presence would be a PR hit (but haven’t we already learned with Tejada how to handle that?). Maybe another Toby Hall-type will become available later in the spring. Maybe if Pudge is signed, he’ll flop with the bat and turn out to be a bust. But it’s only for a year. Give him a shot. Give our fans something to get excited about. Let’s Add Pudge ’09!
Photo credit: http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090302&content_id=3908304&vkey=wbc&team=min
Cockroaches & Baseball 
