Post by bstros on Apr 21, 2007 7:38:40 GMT -5
Notes: Lee makes a surprise visit
Astros slugger gets reacquainted with former coaches
By JR Radcliffe / Special to MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- A surprise visitor barged into the Milwaukee Brewers coaches meeting just after 1 p.m. CT on Friday at Miller Park.
"We were all shocked," Brewers manager Ned Yost said with a laugh, referring to the unexpected appearance from Houston slugger Carlos Lee. "Marcus [Hanel, Milwaukee bullpen catcher] told Carlos he was never here this early when he was . He gave his stock answer: 'No Comprendo!'"
Friday marked Lee's first game back at Miller Park since slugging 60 home runs and driving in 195 runs in fewer than 1 2/3 seasons with the Brewers. He was shipped to the Texas Rangers before the trading deadline last year along with Nelson Cruz for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, then signed a six-year, $100 million dollar in the offseason to mash in the heart of Houston's order.
"I don't know," Lee said, when asked what he anticipated as the fan reaction. "I didn't do anything bad. This is a game, but at the same time, it's a business.
"We tried," added Lee, who was offered a four-year, $48 million package from Milwaukee. "I don't blame them, they couldn't offer me the six-year deal that I was looking for. I don't have anything against the city; they've got great fans. I was very happy to play here, but like I said, we couldn't work it out."
Astros manager Phil Garner said Lee's playful nature, which characterized his two All-Star summers with the Brewers, carried over to Houston.
"He's a very even-tempered guy," Garner said. "The thing you learn when you're with a guy for a while is he's got a great feel for the game, much more than I realized. I've watched him play since he first came up with the White Sox, and he knows what to do in game situations.
"One thing that I noticed about a lot of great players I had -- Robin Yount was this way, Paul Molitor was this way -- is that they're very even-tempered. They control their emotions, and Carlos kind of fits in that mold."
Lee singled on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Ben Sheets in the opening frame on Friday, then stole second before being stranded.
Williams hobbled: Right-hander Woody Williams was walking nimbly around the visitor's clubhouse on Friday, one day after being drilled with a Brandon Phillips' line drive in the right shin.
"I got smoked pretty good," Williams said. "Hopefully I'll have no problems going out for my next start."
The veteran hurler stayed in the game after the third-inning incident, but Garner admitted the bruise was a concern, though he wouldn't make a final evaluation on Williams' status to pitch until closer to his next turn.
"It's a concern; he's having a hard time walking," Garner said. "He's one tough dude. My guess is that he's not going to want be pushed back. He'll probably try to fight through it."
Seeing Red: Lance Berkman recorded his 100th career RBI against Cincinnati on Thursday, the only team against which the Astros first baseman has reached the century mark in that department. Berkman has batted a cool .327 against the Reds, and he hits even better against Milwaukee (.341).
"I wish I could tell you [why that was], because then I could try to apply it to the other teams," Berkman said. "One of the things that makes baseball unique is that there are those anomalies that occur and sometimes they don't even make any sense.
"Take for example a nasty pitcher. There's always one guy that nobody's even heard of who's 10-for-10 off of him. Stuff like that happens all the time, and I think that's what makes baseball a great sport."
Berkman drove in the first run of Friday's game with an RBI groundout to second base.
Odds and ends: Right-hander Roy Oswalt was in attendance after leaving the team during Houston's two-day Cincinnati series, tending to personal matters. ... As part of Milwaukee's "Retro Friday" promotion, all fans at Friday's game were given 5-inch bobbleheads in the likeness of Houston hitting coach Cecil Cooper. Cooper was a member of Milwaukee's 1982 World Series team, a squad whose 25th anniversary is being celebrated all season.
Up next: Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (0-1, 2.77) will take a career 2-2 record and 4.24 ERA in seven starts against Milwaukee to the hill on Saturday night when he faces off against fellow southpaw Chris Capuano (2-0, 2.81) at 6:05 p.m. CT.
JR Radcliffe is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Astros slugger gets reacquainted with former coaches
By JR Radcliffe / Special to MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- A surprise visitor barged into the Milwaukee Brewers coaches meeting just after 1 p.m. CT on Friday at Miller Park.
"We were all shocked," Brewers manager Ned Yost said with a laugh, referring to the unexpected appearance from Houston slugger Carlos Lee. "Marcus [Hanel, Milwaukee bullpen catcher] told Carlos he was never here this early when he was . He gave his stock answer: 'No Comprendo!'"
Friday marked Lee's first game back at Miller Park since slugging 60 home runs and driving in 195 runs in fewer than 1 2/3 seasons with the Brewers. He was shipped to the Texas Rangers before the trading deadline last year along with Nelson Cruz for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, then signed a six-year, $100 million dollar in the offseason to mash in the heart of Houston's order.
"I don't know," Lee said, when asked what he anticipated as the fan reaction. "I didn't do anything bad. This is a game, but at the same time, it's a business.
"We tried," added Lee, who was offered a four-year, $48 million package from Milwaukee. "I don't blame them, they couldn't offer me the six-year deal that I was looking for. I don't have anything against the city; they've got great fans. I was very happy to play here, but like I said, we couldn't work it out."
Astros manager Phil Garner said Lee's playful nature, which characterized his two All-Star summers with the Brewers, carried over to Houston.
"He's a very even-tempered guy," Garner said. "The thing you learn when you're with a guy for a while is he's got a great feel for the game, much more than I realized. I've watched him play since he first came up with the White Sox, and he knows what to do in game situations.
"One thing that I noticed about a lot of great players I had -- Robin Yount was this way, Paul Molitor was this way -- is that they're very even-tempered. They control their emotions, and Carlos kind of fits in that mold."
Lee singled on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Ben Sheets in the opening frame on Friday, then stole second before being stranded.
Williams hobbled: Right-hander Woody Williams was walking nimbly around the visitor's clubhouse on Friday, one day after being drilled with a Brandon Phillips' line drive in the right shin.
"I got smoked pretty good," Williams said. "Hopefully I'll have no problems going out for my next start."
The veteran hurler stayed in the game after the third-inning incident, but Garner admitted the bruise was a concern, though he wouldn't make a final evaluation on Williams' status to pitch until closer to his next turn.
"It's a concern; he's having a hard time walking," Garner said. "He's one tough dude. My guess is that he's not going to want be pushed back. He'll probably try to fight through it."
Seeing Red: Lance Berkman recorded his 100th career RBI against Cincinnati on Thursday, the only team against which the Astros first baseman has reached the century mark in that department. Berkman has batted a cool .327 against the Reds, and he hits even better against Milwaukee (.341).
"I wish I could tell you [why that was], because then I could try to apply it to the other teams," Berkman said. "One of the things that makes baseball unique is that there are those anomalies that occur and sometimes they don't even make any sense.
"Take for example a nasty pitcher. There's always one guy that nobody's even heard of who's 10-for-10 off of him. Stuff like that happens all the time, and I think that's what makes baseball a great sport."
Berkman drove in the first run of Friday's game with an RBI groundout to second base.
Odds and ends: Right-hander Roy Oswalt was in attendance after leaving the team during Houston's two-day Cincinnati series, tending to personal matters. ... As part of Milwaukee's "Retro Friday" promotion, all fans at Friday's game were given 5-inch bobbleheads in the likeness of Houston hitting coach Cecil Cooper. Cooper was a member of Milwaukee's 1982 World Series team, a squad whose 25th anniversary is being celebrated all season.
Up next: Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (0-1, 2.77) will take a career 2-2 record and 4.24 ERA in seven starts against Milwaukee to the hill on Saturday night when he faces off against fellow southpaw Chris Capuano (2-0, 2.81) at 6:05 p.m. CT.
JR Radcliffe is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.