Post by bstros on Apr 16, 2007 9:37:22 GMT -5
Rain, rain won't go away
Storm forces postponement of Philly series finale; makeup on Monday
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
PHILADELPHIA — As expected, the Astros' series finale against the the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed Sunday afternoon because of a powerful storm that hit the area.
The game will be made up next Monday. Because their charter was flying up to pick them up from Ontario, Calif., the Astros didn't leave Philadelphia until Sunday evening.
Lefthander Wandy Rodriguez, who has been pushed back from two scheduled starts because of inclement weather, will start tonight against the Florida Marlins in the first of a two-game set at Minute Maid Park.
"It doesn't negatively affect us," manager Phil Garner said of the day off. "We're certainly in good shape. We will take a hard look at what we want to do with our pitching."
Righthander Chris Sampson was initially scheduled to start Tuesday night on six days of rest, but he will be pushed back to Wednesday in Cincinnati because of a tender left calf. Despite throwing 120 pitches in five innings on Friday at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies, Astros ace Roy Oswalt has agreed to go on short rest Tuesday in the series finale against the Marlins.
Oswalt pitched on an extra day of rest Friday, and now he'll pitch on three days' rest instead of the usual four before starts.
"I think it evens it out a little bit," Garner said. "Roy did sort of volunteer on this. I think Sampson's going to be 100 percent (by Wednesday)."
The Astros were postponed for the second time in five days. They were snowed out Wednesday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Rodriguez (0-1, 3.86 ERA) hasn't pitched since losing to St. Louis on April 6.
Roster move coming
With righthander Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list, the Astros will make a roster move and call up a pitcher from the minors, who likely should arrive for today's game.
Because the finale against the Phillies was postponed, the Astros won't need another starter to take over for Jennings until Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
For that reason, they have the luxury of calling up a reliever from the minors until then before calling up a starter from the minors or shifting Brian Moehler from the bullpen to the rotation and keeping the reliever who came up.
Matt Albers and Fernando Nieve are the top two starting candidates from Class AAA Round Rock, but Nieve has struggled badly since he was demoted. Lefthanders Stephen Randolph and Mark McLemore and righthanders Miguel Asencio and Paul Estrada are the top bullpen candidates at Round Rock.
The Phillies and Astros were scheduled to honor Jackie Robinson on Sunday on the 60th anniversary of the Hall of Famer breaking baseball's color barrier. Both teams were set to wear Robinson's No. 42.
There's a chance the clubs will honor Robinson on the makeup date.
After Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. received permission from commissioner Bud Selig to honor Robinson by wearing No. 42, Selig offered the privilege to all the players. Carlos Lee jumped at the opportunity when general manager Tim Purpura offered. Then Selig opened it up to managers and coaches after Willie Randolph, one of only two black managers in the majors, sought permission.
Honoring Robinson
Soon thereafter, Astros bench coach Cecil Cooper received permission to wear No. 42. It didn't take long before the Astros decided the whole team would wear the number.
"When Philadelphia decided to do it as a team, we decided to do it as a team," Purpura said. "I wanted everybody to do it together. It's an evolving situation and a very positive situation."
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
Storm forces postponement of Philly series finale; makeup on Monday
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
PHILADELPHIA — As expected, the Astros' series finale against the the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed Sunday afternoon because of a powerful storm that hit the area.
The game will be made up next Monday. Because their charter was flying up to pick them up from Ontario, Calif., the Astros didn't leave Philadelphia until Sunday evening.
Lefthander Wandy Rodriguez, who has been pushed back from two scheduled starts because of inclement weather, will start tonight against the Florida Marlins in the first of a two-game set at Minute Maid Park.
"It doesn't negatively affect us," manager Phil Garner said of the day off. "We're certainly in good shape. We will take a hard look at what we want to do with our pitching."
Righthander Chris Sampson was initially scheduled to start Tuesday night on six days of rest, but he will be pushed back to Wednesday in Cincinnati because of a tender left calf. Despite throwing 120 pitches in five innings on Friday at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies, Astros ace Roy Oswalt has agreed to go on short rest Tuesday in the series finale against the Marlins.
Oswalt pitched on an extra day of rest Friday, and now he'll pitch on three days' rest instead of the usual four before starts.
"I think it evens it out a little bit," Garner said. "Roy did sort of volunteer on this. I think Sampson's going to be 100 percent (by Wednesday)."
The Astros were postponed for the second time in five days. They were snowed out Wednesday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Rodriguez (0-1, 3.86 ERA) hasn't pitched since losing to St. Louis on April 6.
Roster move coming
With righthander Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list, the Astros will make a roster move and call up a pitcher from the minors, who likely should arrive for today's game.
Because the finale against the Phillies was postponed, the Astros won't need another starter to take over for Jennings until Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
For that reason, they have the luxury of calling up a reliever from the minors until then before calling up a starter from the minors or shifting Brian Moehler from the bullpen to the rotation and keeping the reliever who came up.
Matt Albers and Fernando Nieve are the top two starting candidates from Class AAA Round Rock, but Nieve has struggled badly since he was demoted. Lefthanders Stephen Randolph and Mark McLemore and righthanders Miguel Asencio and Paul Estrada are the top bullpen candidates at Round Rock.
The Phillies and Astros were scheduled to honor Jackie Robinson on Sunday on the 60th anniversary of the Hall of Famer breaking baseball's color barrier. Both teams were set to wear Robinson's No. 42.
There's a chance the clubs will honor Robinson on the makeup date.
After Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. received permission from commissioner Bud Selig to honor Robinson by wearing No. 42, Selig offered the privilege to all the players. Carlos Lee jumped at the opportunity when general manager Tim Purpura offered. Then Selig opened it up to managers and coaches after Willie Randolph, one of only two black managers in the majors, sought permission.
Honoring Robinson
Soon thereafter, Astros bench coach Cecil Cooper received permission to wear No. 42. It didn't take long before the Astros decided the whole team would wear the number.
"When Philadelphia decided to do it as a team, we decided to do it as a team," Purpura said. "I wanted everybody to do it together. It's an evolving situation and a very positive situation."
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
