Post by bstros on Apr 18, 2007 7:55:17 GMT -5
Notes: Albers pitches in
Right-hander called up, scheduled to start Friday
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Matt Albers knew something was up when he was told on Monday that he was only going to throw a few innings during the Triple-A Round Rock Express' series finale in Iowa.
Realizing that Jason Jennings was headed for the disabled list, Albers, along with every other Express pitcher, knew a roster move was on the way. Hopeful that he'd be selected to replace Jennings on the 25-man roster, Albers tried not to think too much about his chances.
"I never want to jinx anything until you're officially here, but obviously we heard Jennings had gone down and obviously, somebody was going to go up," Albers said.
Albers was told after the game that he was called up, and because the Express played a noon game, he had plenty of time to catch a 5 p.m. flight from Des Moines, Iowa, to Houston. He will travel with the team on the upcoming road trip and start Friday's game in Milwaukee.
Albers was in the running for the fifth starter spot until the final day of the exhibition season. Of all of the players who were cut that day, Albers took the news the best, understanding that his time would come, eventually.
That time arrived a little sooner than he expected, but he's not complaining.
"You just want to make the best of the opportunity," Albers said. "When the opportunity comes up, you want to show them you've been ready, been focused and throwing the ball well. That's what I've been trying to do."
Albers made three starts for the Express, going 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA. He yielded four runs in his final start, but attributed that more to a burst of hitter-friendly winds.
"I threw strikes," he said. "The last two outings, I felt good about locating pitches."
Sunglasses at night? Morgan Ensberg created a bit of a stir among the most observant of Astros fans when he wore what looked like sunglasses during a night game in Philadelphia last Friday.
The glasses were actually not shades -- they were lightweight, slightly tinted glasses designed to block out the wind, thus protecting his contacts.
Close up, the lenses have a yellowish-greenish hue. But Ensberg's eyes are visible, and the lenses do not protect from the sun.
"They're the lightest lenses I can find," Ensberg said. "If you see them in the daylight, they're actually very clear. You can see my eyes. On TV, or when the sun goes down, they look more like sunglasses. All I was trying to do is find clear glasses so they wouldn't mess up my contacts. I'd wear ski goggles if I could. That's the only thing I have to protect the contacts."
Momento: Following Monday's game, Garner and bench coach Cecil Cooper dropped by the umpire's locker room to present Bruce Froemming with the lineup card from that night's game, signed by Garner.
Froemming set a Major League record Monday, becoming the longest tenured umpire in history with 37 consecutive years of service.
"I hope it's a nice momento for him," Garner said.
Backe to face hitters: Brandon Backe will start throwing batting practice to hitters next week, the next step toward making a comeback from Tommy John surgery.
"I'll do that two or three times, and then start simulated games," Backe said.
When that phase is complete, Backe, barring any setbacks, will then begin an extended Minor League rehabilitation assignment.
Moment of silence: Commissioner Bud Selig asked for all teams to observe a moment of silence on Tuesday for the victims of the campus shooting at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and the Astros obliged with a 10-second break just before the national anthem.
Garner, a father of three college graduates, expressed sympathy for the parents of the victims who lost their lives at Virginia Tech.
"It's terrible," he said. "I'm not that far removed from having kids in college and not that far removed from the bonfire incident at [Texas] A&M [in 1999]. I know how that really tears at your heart. Even though you may not have anybody involved, it's traumatic for your kids. You know what pain the parents are going through and everybody else. It's awful, terrible."
Astros honor Robinson: The Astros honored Jackie Robinson on Tuesday with a pregame ceremony that paid tribute to the first African-American player in modern baseball history.
Robinson's daughter, Sharon, was in Houston for the celebration, and she also made several visits around town, speaking to the Jones High School baseball team and also visiting with local kids from Houston's Reviving Baseball in Inner City (RBI) teams.
On the field, club owner Drayton McLane welcomed 42 youngsters from the RBI program, all of whom wore shirts bearing Robinson's uniform No. 42.
McLane also announced the new Jackie Robinson Foundation "Team 42" Scholarship. The four-year grant will pay $10,000 annually to a local youth who will also become a part of the foundation's education and leadership development program, which includes attendance at workshops, assignment of a professional mentor and placement into summer internships and permanent employment.
Remembering Ruhle: In ceremonies prior to Thursday night's game in Cincinnati, the Reds will unveil a jersey above the home bullpen in memory of former pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who died January 20 of complications from a donor stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Ruhle pitched for the Astros from 1978-84 and later resurfaced as the club's pitching coach from 1997-2000. The fact that he is being honored when the Astros are visiting Great American Ball Park is not a coincidence.
"It had everything to do with the Astros being in town, so that many other friends of his could attend," said Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky.
Coming up: The Astros ended a short two-game home stint and will head back on the road Wednesday, to begin another short two-game series with the Reds. Right-hander Chris Sampson (1-0, 0.00) will face Reds righty Aaron Harang (2-0, 5.40).
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Right-hander called up, scheduled to start Friday
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Matt Albers knew something was up when he was told on Monday that he was only going to throw a few innings during the Triple-A Round Rock Express' series finale in Iowa.
Realizing that Jason Jennings was headed for the disabled list, Albers, along with every other Express pitcher, knew a roster move was on the way. Hopeful that he'd be selected to replace Jennings on the 25-man roster, Albers tried not to think too much about his chances.
"I never want to jinx anything until you're officially here, but obviously we heard Jennings had gone down and obviously, somebody was going to go up," Albers said.
Albers was told after the game that he was called up, and because the Express played a noon game, he had plenty of time to catch a 5 p.m. flight from Des Moines, Iowa, to Houston. He will travel with the team on the upcoming road trip and start Friday's game in Milwaukee.
Albers was in the running for the fifth starter spot until the final day of the exhibition season. Of all of the players who were cut that day, Albers took the news the best, understanding that his time would come, eventually.
That time arrived a little sooner than he expected, but he's not complaining.
"You just want to make the best of the opportunity," Albers said. "When the opportunity comes up, you want to show them you've been ready, been focused and throwing the ball well. That's what I've been trying to do."
Albers made three starts for the Express, going 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA. He yielded four runs in his final start, but attributed that more to a burst of hitter-friendly winds.
"I threw strikes," he said. "The last two outings, I felt good about locating pitches."
Sunglasses at night? Morgan Ensberg created a bit of a stir among the most observant of Astros fans when he wore what looked like sunglasses during a night game in Philadelphia last Friday.
The glasses were actually not shades -- they were lightweight, slightly tinted glasses designed to block out the wind, thus protecting his contacts.
Close up, the lenses have a yellowish-greenish hue. But Ensberg's eyes are visible, and the lenses do not protect from the sun.
"They're the lightest lenses I can find," Ensberg said. "If you see them in the daylight, they're actually very clear. You can see my eyes. On TV, or when the sun goes down, they look more like sunglasses. All I was trying to do is find clear glasses so they wouldn't mess up my contacts. I'd wear ski goggles if I could. That's the only thing I have to protect the contacts."
Momento: Following Monday's game, Garner and bench coach Cecil Cooper dropped by the umpire's locker room to present Bruce Froemming with the lineup card from that night's game, signed by Garner.
Froemming set a Major League record Monday, becoming the longest tenured umpire in history with 37 consecutive years of service.
"I hope it's a nice momento for him," Garner said.
Backe to face hitters: Brandon Backe will start throwing batting practice to hitters next week, the next step toward making a comeback from Tommy John surgery.
"I'll do that two or three times, and then start simulated games," Backe said.
When that phase is complete, Backe, barring any setbacks, will then begin an extended Minor League rehabilitation assignment.
Moment of silence: Commissioner Bud Selig asked for all teams to observe a moment of silence on Tuesday for the victims of the campus shooting at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and the Astros obliged with a 10-second break just before the national anthem.
Garner, a father of three college graduates, expressed sympathy for the parents of the victims who lost their lives at Virginia Tech.
"It's terrible," he said. "I'm not that far removed from having kids in college and not that far removed from the bonfire incident at [Texas] A&M [in 1999]. I know how that really tears at your heart. Even though you may not have anybody involved, it's traumatic for your kids. You know what pain the parents are going through and everybody else. It's awful, terrible."
Astros honor Robinson: The Astros honored Jackie Robinson on Tuesday with a pregame ceremony that paid tribute to the first African-American player in modern baseball history.
Robinson's daughter, Sharon, was in Houston for the celebration, and she also made several visits around town, speaking to the Jones High School baseball team and also visiting with local kids from Houston's Reviving Baseball in Inner City (RBI) teams.
On the field, club owner Drayton McLane welcomed 42 youngsters from the RBI program, all of whom wore shirts bearing Robinson's uniform No. 42.
McLane also announced the new Jackie Robinson Foundation "Team 42" Scholarship. The four-year grant will pay $10,000 annually to a local youth who will also become a part of the foundation's education and leadership development program, which includes attendance at workshops, assignment of a professional mentor and placement into summer internships and permanent employment.
Remembering Ruhle: In ceremonies prior to Thursday night's game in Cincinnati, the Reds will unveil a jersey above the home bullpen in memory of former pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who died January 20 of complications from a donor stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Ruhle pitched for the Astros from 1978-84 and later resurfaced as the club's pitching coach from 1997-2000. The fact that he is being honored when the Astros are visiting Great American Ball Park is not a coincidence.
"It had everything to do with the Astros being in town, so that many other friends of his could attend," said Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky.
Coming up: The Astros ended a short two-game home stint and will head back on the road Wednesday, to begin another short two-game series with the Reds. Right-hander Chris Sampson (1-0, 0.00) will face Reds righty Aaron Harang (2-0, 5.40).
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.