Post by bstros on Apr 19, 2007 22:15:51 GMT -5
Notes: Wheeler gets extra work
Closer given two-inning stint to remain sharp
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- Officially, Dan Wheeler is the Astros' closer, but that doesn't mean he won't be called upon in non-save situations from time to time.
Take Wednesday, for example. Wheeler pitched the eighth and ninth innings in a game the Astros won by five runs. He entered the game when the Astros were up by four, even though other relievers had warmed up, including Brad Lidge.
Wheeler was called upon mainly because he hadn't pitched in five days and needed the work. Manager Phil Garner figured he'd be a bit rusty in the beginning and wanted to give him two innings as long as Wheeler's pitch count didn't climb too high.
"I didn't want him to pitch 40 pitches," Garner said. "I was going to let him go two innings and let him get his feel and touch back. Wheeler's a control guy. He has to have his feel."
"I felt a little rusty," Wheeler said. "I didn't have my normal location. [Catcher Brad] Ausmus was joking with me about how my pinpoint control was 'excellent' last night. But I was able to manage to get through it."
Garner had Lidge ready in the ninth in case Wheeler exceeded 40 pitches, which he did not. The fact that Lidge was warming up in the 'pen in the ninth frame raised some eyebrows, considering the former closer was demoted to sixth-and seventh-inning duty not long ago.
Garner said he would not hesitate to put Lidge in the ninth inning if there was a need.
"I've said he's out of the closing role," Garner said. "But I have said that I reserve the right, if I use Wheeler or [Chad] Qualls to get through some tough innings and I have to do something and we come back and we're ahead in the game and I used them when we're tied or down, and Lidge is my next option, then I'll be glad to use Lidge."
Sticking with him: Lance Berkman has established himself as one of the best hitters in the league since his first full season in 2001, so it's highly unlikely Garner would consider benching his star player as Berkman tries to snap out of what has been a very slow start to the 2007 season.
Garner asked Berkman before Wednesday's opener in Cincinnati if he wanted a one-game breather, but Berkman quickly squelched that idea, insisting he was still every bit as confident at the plate as he has been in better times. He's also not panicking, and while he's working to find his groove, he's not spending every waking hour in the cage trying to figure out what's wrong.
"Lance works," Garner said. "He doesn't like to be known as a worker, but he'll go back there and do a lot of cage work. In a way, I think he's right. If you're a confident hitter, a lot of times when you go through difficult times, I think it's best not to hit more. It only reinforces bad habits."
Staying the course: The rotation was in shuffle mode for the better part of two weeks, but normalcy has set in now that the Astros are actually playing games instead of sitting in the clubhouse waiting to be rained and snowed out.
Knock on wood, the weather forecast looks favorable for the Astros for the remainder of their four-city trip. They'll have no worries for their three-game weekend set in the retractable-roofed Miller Park in Milwaukee, and Monday's forecast for the make-up game in Philadelphia calls for sunny skies, a 10 percent chance of rain and 73 degrees for the high.
Pittsburgh's outlook looks good, too. There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Tuesday with a high of 64, and Wednesday and Thursday call for a 10 percent chance of rain with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
This probably means the rotation won't budge for the time being. Matt Albers will open the series in Milwaukee, followed by Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt. Chris Sampson will pitch in Philadelphia, and Woody Williams will start the series opener in Pittsburgh.
Useless (but fun) info: Trivia question: what do the Astros have in common with legendary bands The Who and Rush?
Apparently, all three are compiling frequent-flier miles at quite a frenetic pace.
According to the Astros' media relations staff, dating back to April 15, the Astros are in a stretch of traveling to six cities in a nine-day span: Philadelphia, Houston, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The action-packed tour rivals two 2007 traveling concerts -- The Who, who will perform in Lisbon, Madrid, Bilbao, Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle from May 16 to May 25, and Rush, who from June 13-22 will visit Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Charlotte, Raleigh and Virginia Beach.
Coming up: The Astros will travel to Milwaukee, where they will begin a three-game set with the Brewers on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Albers will make his '07 debut, facing Brewers righty Ben Sheets (1-2, 5.85).
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Closer given two-inning stint to remain sharp
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- Officially, Dan Wheeler is the Astros' closer, but that doesn't mean he won't be called upon in non-save situations from time to time.
Take Wednesday, for example. Wheeler pitched the eighth and ninth innings in a game the Astros won by five runs. He entered the game when the Astros were up by four, even though other relievers had warmed up, including Brad Lidge.
Wheeler was called upon mainly because he hadn't pitched in five days and needed the work. Manager Phil Garner figured he'd be a bit rusty in the beginning and wanted to give him two innings as long as Wheeler's pitch count didn't climb too high.
"I didn't want him to pitch 40 pitches," Garner said. "I was going to let him go two innings and let him get his feel and touch back. Wheeler's a control guy. He has to have his feel."
"I felt a little rusty," Wheeler said. "I didn't have my normal location. [Catcher Brad] Ausmus was joking with me about how my pinpoint control was 'excellent' last night. But I was able to manage to get through it."
Garner had Lidge ready in the ninth in case Wheeler exceeded 40 pitches, which he did not. The fact that Lidge was warming up in the 'pen in the ninth frame raised some eyebrows, considering the former closer was demoted to sixth-and seventh-inning duty not long ago.
Garner said he would not hesitate to put Lidge in the ninth inning if there was a need.
"I've said he's out of the closing role," Garner said. "But I have said that I reserve the right, if I use Wheeler or [Chad] Qualls to get through some tough innings and I have to do something and we come back and we're ahead in the game and I used them when we're tied or down, and Lidge is my next option, then I'll be glad to use Lidge."
Sticking with him: Lance Berkman has established himself as one of the best hitters in the league since his first full season in 2001, so it's highly unlikely Garner would consider benching his star player as Berkman tries to snap out of what has been a very slow start to the 2007 season.
Garner asked Berkman before Wednesday's opener in Cincinnati if he wanted a one-game breather, but Berkman quickly squelched that idea, insisting he was still every bit as confident at the plate as he has been in better times. He's also not panicking, and while he's working to find his groove, he's not spending every waking hour in the cage trying to figure out what's wrong.
"Lance works," Garner said. "He doesn't like to be known as a worker, but he'll go back there and do a lot of cage work. In a way, I think he's right. If you're a confident hitter, a lot of times when you go through difficult times, I think it's best not to hit more. It only reinforces bad habits."
Staying the course: The rotation was in shuffle mode for the better part of two weeks, but normalcy has set in now that the Astros are actually playing games instead of sitting in the clubhouse waiting to be rained and snowed out.
Knock on wood, the weather forecast looks favorable for the Astros for the remainder of their four-city trip. They'll have no worries for their three-game weekend set in the retractable-roofed Miller Park in Milwaukee, and Monday's forecast for the make-up game in Philadelphia calls for sunny skies, a 10 percent chance of rain and 73 degrees for the high.
Pittsburgh's outlook looks good, too. There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Tuesday with a high of 64, and Wednesday and Thursday call for a 10 percent chance of rain with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
This probably means the rotation won't budge for the time being. Matt Albers will open the series in Milwaukee, followed by Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt. Chris Sampson will pitch in Philadelphia, and Woody Williams will start the series opener in Pittsburgh.
Useless (but fun) info: Trivia question: what do the Astros have in common with legendary bands The Who and Rush?
Apparently, all three are compiling frequent-flier miles at quite a frenetic pace.
According to the Astros' media relations staff, dating back to April 15, the Astros are in a stretch of traveling to six cities in a nine-day span: Philadelphia, Houston, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The action-packed tour rivals two 2007 traveling concerts -- The Who, who will perform in Lisbon, Madrid, Bilbao, Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle from May 16 to May 25, and Rush, who from June 13-22 will visit Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Charlotte, Raleigh and Virginia Beach.
Coming up: The Astros will travel to Milwaukee, where they will begin a three-game set with the Brewers on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Albers will make his '07 debut, facing Brewers righty Ben Sheets (1-2, 5.85).
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.