Carlos Lee feels personally responsible for the Astros' slow start - and that's fine by me.
Lee:
"We're struggling right now trying to score runs, and I take full blame, because I've been in big spots in a lot of games and I haven't been able to come up with the big hit...My swing is feeling a lot better and I'm hitting the ball hard and putting good swings on the ball. I'm not doing anything differently or changing my swing. I'm trying to find rhythm. That's the problem right now. I don't know how you lose it like that. It's funny. I came out of Spring Training swinging the bat real well and all of a sudden somebody turned the lights on and turned mine off. I guess it's a matter of finding the spot and not being too far out front or too far back. I need to find the middle spot and get there to help the team."
That's correct, Carlos Lee. Not counting today's game vs Chicago, Lee has had 36 plate appearances. In only five plate appearances has he even seen a three-ball count. He's 0x10 with RISP. In innings 4-9, he's 2x25. I'm okay with him claiming some responsibility.
-
And there's the backhanded slam of Cecil Cooper and Dewey Robinson, courtesy of Chris Sampson:
"I feel even better than I did the first half of last season. With Arnsberg and Mills this year, they understand you can't run guys out there every single day and for multiple innings every single day and they're a lot easier to talk to. They want you to be completely honest with them and let them know how you feel because they don't want to run you out there if you're not feeling right. It's not going to help players, not going to help the team if you're not 100 percent. They do a great job with all of us, using everybody in the bullpen and getting everybody in games and getting them innings and do a great job of mixing it up. It's just a heck of a lot better atmosphere, and it's a lot of fun to play for them."
Bam.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Dewey Robinson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dewey Robinson. Show all posts
Friday, April 16, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Justice: Everybody hated everybody else last year
Just a few key notes from Justice's blog post
It was the worst clubhouse environment I've ever been around and stemmed from the fact that management allowed Cecil Cooper to continue as manager even after it was clear he'd lost the club....
...It was bizarre because management knew there was a problem. It knew the players had lost faith in him, that the atmosphere was terrible. I'm not saying the club could have gotten back into the race, but it had no chance with Cecil Cooper as the manager. Veteran players became very cynical about whether management even wanted to win...
...In Coop's case, strategy was a huge problem and contributed to the bad atmosphere. Also, there was a similar problem between pitching coach Dewey Robinson and the pitchers. I don't know if the Astros are going to be any good in 2010, but simply having a competent manager and pitching coach is going to be a huge step forward.
I'm not sure what prompted Run-DMc and Easy Eddie to keep Cooper around for as long as he did, but I'm guessing it was the fact that they had extended him for 2010 in April. This was an incredibly short-sighted decision. So, knowing that the Astros would be paying Cooper whether he managed or not probably had a lot to do with keeping him around and hoping that he could turn things around. (Remember, Cooper yelled at the players in Spring Training). Cooper will receive $850,000 this year, just to not manage. As with most things Astros, payroll and money had a lot to do with this (non-)decision.
It was the worst clubhouse environment I've ever been around and stemmed from the fact that management allowed Cecil Cooper to continue as manager even after it was clear he'd lost the club....
...It was bizarre because management knew there was a problem. It knew the players had lost faith in him, that the atmosphere was terrible. I'm not saying the club could have gotten back into the race, but it had no chance with Cecil Cooper as the manager. Veteran players became very cynical about whether management even wanted to win...
...In Coop's case, strategy was a huge problem and contributed to the bad atmosphere. Also, there was a similar problem between pitching coach Dewey Robinson and the pitchers. I don't know if the Astros are going to be any good in 2010, but simply having a competent manager and pitching coach is going to be a huge step forward.
I'm not sure what prompted Run-DMc and Easy Eddie to keep Cooper around for as long as he did, but I'm guessing it was the fact that they had extended him for 2010 in April. This was an incredibly short-sighted decision. So, knowing that the Astros would be paying Cooper whether he managed or not probably had a lot to do with keeping him around and hoping that he could turn things around. (Remember, Cooper yelled at the players in Spring Training). Cooper will receive $850,000 this year, just to not manage. As with most things Astros, payroll and money had a lot to do with this (non-)decision.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
It's official: Dewey headed to Tampa Bay
Former pitching coach Dewey Robinson has joined the Rays as minor-league co-pitching coordinator (the other co- is Dick Bosman).
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wade, on Cruz
Alyson Footer has a series of tweets on the reassignment of Jose Cruz from Ed Wade. Here they are, in their entirety:
"I know this is a hot button issue. We felt from an overall standpoint of communication in clubhouse, change was necessary. This was not an indictment on anybody. You get to a time where you say you want change in clubhouse and surroundings. We wanted to do something absolutely respectful to him."
She also points out that former pitching coach Dewey Robinson has accepted a position with the Rays' organization. All coaches who were not retained were offered positions with other organizations.
"I know this is a hot button issue. We felt from an overall standpoint of communication in clubhouse, change was necessary. This was not an indictment on anybody. You get to a time where you say you want change in clubhouse and surroundings. We wanted to do something absolutely respectful to him."
She also points out that former pitching coach Dewey Robinson has accepted a position with the Rays' organization. All coaches who were not retained were offered positions with other organizations.
"It's bad luck to be part of this coaching staff"
First base is going to look really strange as Tal Smith and Ed Wade informed Jose Cruz his services will no longer be needed at first base.
Cruz has been offered a dual role helping the field staff at home and in spring training and then as part of community outreach while the team is on the road during the regular season.
Cruz:
“It was sad because I felt real good as a coach. That's part of the front office's decision. They're making changes, and it's bad luck that I had to be part of this coaching staff. It wasn't just me. All the coaches (save Berry) were let go.”
And in other coaching moves, only hitting coach Sean Berry has been retained from the coaching staff.
Astros' bullpen coach Mark Bailey is now the hitting coach at Class AA Corpus Christi, while bench coach, Ed Romero, will manage Class A Greeneville. Pitching coach Dewey Robinson was offered a position in player development, but he has accepted a job with another organization.
So whomever the new manager is, even if it's Dave Clark, is going to have the opportunity to assemble, top-to-bottom, their full coaching staff. I'm just sad that Cheo won't be at first.
Cruz has been offered a dual role helping the field staff at home and in spring training and then as part of community outreach while the team is on the road during the regular season.
Cruz:
“It was sad because I felt real good as a coach. That's part of the front office's decision. They're making changes, and it's bad luck that I had to be part of this coaching staff. It wasn't just me. All the coaches (save Berry) were let go.”
And in other coaching moves, only hitting coach Sean Berry has been retained from the coaching staff.
Astros' bullpen coach Mark Bailey is now the hitting coach at Class AA Corpus Christi, while bench coach, Ed Romero, will manage Class A Greeneville. Pitching coach Dewey Robinson was offered a position in player development, but he has accepted a job with another organization.
So whomever the new manager is, even if it's Dave Clark, is going to have the opportunity to assemble, top-to-bottom, their full coaching staff. I'm just sad that Cheo won't be at first.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
JJO: Lopez should have thrown the sinker
In an unbelievable blog post by JJO, the sum of whose knowledge could fill the fabled Library of Alexandria thrice over, he says Wilton Lopez should have thrown the pitch he wanted to throw.
Now, remember, following last night's game, Astros County (that's right: 3rd person) pointed out that JJO pretty much hung Lopez out to dry.
Listen to this, as a follow-up, from JJO:
Wilton Lopez had wanted to throw a sinker with the bases loaded, nobody out and the score tied at 1. Dewey Robinson visited the mound and told him to throw a slider.
Not wanting to disobey his boss, Lopez threw a first-pitch slider. Now, to be clear, Robinson didn't tell Lopez to hang the slider. Whatever the case, Lopez's first-pitch slider was crushed over the left field wall for a grand slam that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead in a game they won by three runs, 7-4.
A more established pitcher would have likely gone with his instincts.
There's an old-time baseball word that comes to mind, and that's "Bullcrap."
You're asking a 26-year old pitcher, who was in Double-A 32 days ago, to "trust his instincts" and defy his pitching coach. There's a little anecdote to lead the post about how Roy told Wandy earlier this season to throw what he wanted to throw, despite what fingers Pudge put down. There's a big difference when Wandy, who has been in the Majors for five years now, shakes off his catcher, and when Wilton Lopez, who was making his first career Major League start, goes against his Major League pitching coach.
This now qualifies as the Worst Idea Ever.
Dave Clark:
"He's the one that's out there. He knows what pitch he has a real good feel for that particular night and what's working for him. Again, like we said earlier, this is definitely a work in progress for him. I'm not going to get into an argument on what he should have thrown or what he should not have thrown. The thing is it's his game and he's got to realize that if this is what's working for me tonight and this is my best pitch of the night then that's what I'm going to go with."
Horse**** (this is a family blog, after all). He's making his first career start. The bases are loaded. I don't care if he's facing Moonlight Graham, he's going to be keyed up, and whomever comes out of the dugout and tells him what to throw, he'll throw it. Dewey could have said, "What I want you to do here is throw a fastball about 30 feet in front of the plate," and Lopez probably would have done it. In your first career start, you're not going against anybody to throw "what you want to throw."
It's fine if it's Roy or Wandy. It doesn't fly with a rookie.
Now, remember, following last night's game, Astros County (that's right: 3rd person) pointed out that JJO pretty much hung Lopez out to dry.
Listen to this, as a follow-up, from JJO:
Wilton Lopez had wanted to throw a sinker with the bases loaded, nobody out and the score tied at 1. Dewey Robinson visited the mound and told him to throw a slider.
Not wanting to disobey his boss, Lopez threw a first-pitch slider. Now, to be clear, Robinson didn't tell Lopez to hang the slider. Whatever the case, Lopez's first-pitch slider was crushed over the left field wall for a grand slam that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead in a game they won by three runs, 7-4.
A more established pitcher would have likely gone with his instincts.
There's an old-time baseball word that comes to mind, and that's "Bullcrap."
You're asking a 26-year old pitcher, who was in Double-A 32 days ago, to "trust his instincts" and defy his pitching coach. There's a little anecdote to lead the post about how Roy told Wandy earlier this season to throw what he wanted to throw, despite what fingers Pudge put down. There's a big difference when Wandy, who has been in the Majors for five years now, shakes off his catcher, and when Wilton Lopez, who was making his first career Major League start, goes against his Major League pitching coach.
This now qualifies as the Worst Idea Ever.
Dave Clark:
"He's the one that's out there. He knows what pitch he has a real good feel for that particular night and what's working for him. Again, like we said earlier, this is definitely a work in progress for him. I'm not going to get into an argument on what he should have thrown or what he should not have thrown. The thing is it's his game and he's got to realize that if this is what's working for me tonight and this is my best pitch of the night then that's what I'm going to go with."
Horse**** (this is a family blog, after all). He's making his first career start. The bases are loaded. I don't care if he's facing Moonlight Graham, he's going to be keyed up, and whomever comes out of the dugout and tells him what to throw, he'll throw it. Dewey could have said, "What I want you to do here is throw a fastball about 30 feet in front of the plate," and Lopez probably would have done it. In your first career start, you're not going against anybody to throw "what you want to throw."
It's fine if it's Roy or Wandy. It doesn't fly with a rookie.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A hanging slider, or hanging Lopez out?
Wilton Lopez didn't want to throw the slider.
Lopez, on the AB that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead:
“I had dominated (Feliz) with sinkers. That’s what I had to look for because I was thinking about getting a double play because it doesn’t matter if they score a run, but at least they don’t hit a home run like when the slider stayed up."
JJO might have put Lopez in an awkward situation by letting him continue to talk, and then publishing what he said:
After loading the bases in the fourth inning Tuesday night, Wilton Lopez was willing to trade a run for two outs. He wanted to try for a double play with a sinker. Then, pitching coach Dewey Robinson visited the Citizens Bank Park mound and told him to throw a slider to Pedro Feliz.
Lopez:
“As they say, I’m getting started and I have to pay attention to the pitches they tell me because if I don’t obey and I throw another pitch and they hit me with the pitch they asked for them I’m making a mistake. I’m new at this. I have to keep learning like today’s start. That happened, and I have to work hard for my next outing. Whether it’s starting or in relief I have to prepare.”
So, JJO. Thanks for that. Hopefully Lopez doesn't have to avoid eye contact with Dewey for the rest of the year.
Lopez, on the AB that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead:
“I had dominated (Feliz) with sinkers. That’s what I had to look for because I was thinking about getting a double play because it doesn’t matter if they score a run, but at least they don’t hit a home run like when the slider stayed up."
JJO might have put Lopez in an awkward situation by letting him continue to talk, and then publishing what he said:
After loading the bases in the fourth inning Tuesday night, Wilton Lopez was willing to trade a run for two outs. He wanted to try for a double play with a sinker. Then, pitching coach Dewey Robinson visited the Citizens Bank Park mound and told him to throw a slider to Pedro Feliz.
Lopez:
“As they say, I’m getting started and I have to pay attention to the pitches they tell me because if I don’t obey and I throw another pitch and they hit me with the pitch they asked for them I’m making a mistake. I’m new at this. I have to keep learning like today’s start. That happened, and I have to work hard for my next outing. Whether it’s starting or in relief I have to prepare.”
So, JJO. Thanks for that. Hopefully Lopez doesn't have to avoid eye contact with Dewey for the rest of the year.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Think you're having a tough day?
The Astros' coaching staff is probably worse.
Problem is, nobody knows who's coming back. And Easy Eddie told everyone to go ahead and start looking for jobs, if they want (which is like your landlord saying, "Go ahead and pack up, and you can leave if you want.").
Hitting coach Sean Berry:
"It's a tough time for us, because of the uncertainty. It's a tough time on your families and stuff like that. That's the worst part about this game. This is a pressure cooker up here. That's the unfortunate thing. You work to get to the top and over the years, there's probably been some warranted and some unwarranted decisions that are made, but that's the nature of the business. The problem is there are so few jobs. It's one of the tough things. I grew up with some of these kids that are now men, from Hunter [Pence] to all these guys, really. I would rather stay here the rest of my career, but that's tough to do. There are few situations in baseball where it happens, and those are some of the most successful situations."
1st base/outfielder coach Jose Cruz:
"I'm going to wait just like everybody else and see what happens. I've been here 13 years [as a coach]. This is a tough job, and I'm just happy doing what I'm doing, coaching the outfielders and coaching first base."
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson:
"I guess it's just part of the business. There are rewards for having a job like this. It's very rewarding, but at the same time, you know it can be very temporary, so you just try to take the good with the bad. All I'm trying to do is get my name out there in case I don't come back, so that I do land on my feet. I've got to pay bills. I hope I get a chance to come back, but I also understand the uncertainty of things where the manager should have the right to hire his own pitching coach and hitting coach, because those are very important positions. I'm very thankful to Ed and Tal and Coop for giving me a chance in his position... I'm glad my wife has a full-time job.
Problem is, nobody knows who's coming back. And Easy Eddie told everyone to go ahead and start looking for jobs, if they want (which is like your landlord saying, "Go ahead and pack up, and you can leave if you want.").
Hitting coach Sean Berry:
"It's a tough time for us, because of the uncertainty. It's a tough time on your families and stuff like that. That's the worst part about this game. This is a pressure cooker up here. That's the unfortunate thing. You work to get to the top and over the years, there's probably been some warranted and some unwarranted decisions that are made, but that's the nature of the business. The problem is there are so few jobs. It's one of the tough things. I grew up with some of these kids that are now men, from Hunter [Pence] to all these guys, really. I would rather stay here the rest of my career, but that's tough to do. There are few situations in baseball where it happens, and those are some of the most successful situations."
1st base/outfielder coach Jose Cruz:
"I'm going to wait just like everybody else and see what happens. I've been here 13 years [as a coach]. This is a tough job, and I'm just happy doing what I'm doing, coaching the outfielders and coaching first base."
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson:
"I guess it's just part of the business. There are rewards for having a job like this. It's very rewarding, but at the same time, you know it can be very temporary, so you just try to take the good with the bad. All I'm trying to do is get my name out there in case I don't come back, so that I do land on my feet. I've got to pay bills. I hope I get a chance to come back, but I also understand the uncertainty of things where the manager should have the right to hire his own pitching coach and hitting coach, because those are very important positions. I'm very thankful to Ed and Tal and Coop for giving me a chance in his position... I'm glad my wife has a full-time job.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Call up clues
In JJO's Notes column, we get some updates (which, I suppose, is the purpose of doing it):
Coop, on more call-ups:
“There might be one name or two on Friday and the others will come after they finish (the minor league season). We're not going to bring the whole house. It's going to be limited. I think if we were a younger team, we might see a lot of guys.”
-
Depending on how this stint goes off the DL, Brocail may try to come back next season, or he may retire:
“We'll see how it goes. Hopefully everything is better and I'll finish out the year and see if I'll retire or have another chance to come back. … Well, it's definitely pride. I don't know if it's important because they have guys they have to look at for next year.”
-
Wright, who was not required to throw until his body ran out of electrolytes (unlike his last visit to Wrigley):
"My shoulder feels great. I'm back to pretty much full strength. It's just now getting my arm back to where it was before as far as game shape and everything like that. I'm close to being back to where I was before the injury.”
Coop, on Wright:
“I’m going to do my best to try to stay away from (long relief) this time around for (Wright). That’s what really got him, I think, the last time, a couple three-inning stints.
Let's give him a hand for leaving the park on the team bus, and not an ambulance. But here's an idea, how about we bring up some more of the Round Rock pitchers (Muecke, Daigle) so that Coop won't be forced to rely on one reliever to pitch three innings?
-
Dewey, on what the heck they're doing with Norris:
“He's going to throw a light pen (today) and see how that feels. If that goes OK, he'll throw a little more intensive one on Friday to see where he's at. We don't think at this point he's going to miss a start, but we can juggle some things so he gets two or three extra days because of the off day and keeping Wandy and Roy on five days.”
-
And Alberto Arias and his jacked-up hammy played catch (though not with each other) for the first time since going on the DL.
-
And finally, consider today an audition for Paulino: 2010. What does he need to do? Let's ask Coop:
“Hopefully he’s kind of settled in and he’s got some consistency with his fastball down in the zone. I thought last outing that he had with the relief appearance he was down in the strike zone, really good with his fastball. He actually did throw some pretty good breaking balls. If I could see that on a pretty consistent basis (today) that would be pretty good.”
Coop, on more call-ups:
“There might be one name or two on Friday and the others will come after they finish (the minor league season). We're not going to bring the whole house. It's going to be limited. I think if we were a younger team, we might see a lot of guys.”
-
Depending on how this stint goes off the DL, Brocail may try to come back next season, or he may retire:
“We'll see how it goes. Hopefully everything is better and I'll finish out the year and see if I'll retire or have another chance to come back. … Well, it's definitely pride. I don't know if it's important because they have guys they have to look at for next year.”
-
Wright, who was not required to throw until his body ran out of electrolytes (unlike his last visit to Wrigley):
"My shoulder feels great. I'm back to pretty much full strength. It's just now getting my arm back to where it was before as far as game shape and everything like that. I'm close to being back to where I was before the injury.”
Coop, on Wright:
“I’m going to do my best to try to stay away from (long relief) this time around for (Wright). That’s what really got him, I think, the last time, a couple three-inning stints.
Let's give him a hand for leaving the park on the team bus, and not an ambulance. But here's an idea, how about we bring up some more of the Round Rock pitchers (Muecke, Daigle) so that Coop won't be forced to rely on one reliever to pitch three innings?
-
Dewey, on what the heck they're doing with Norris:
“He's going to throw a light pen (today) and see how that feels. If that goes OK, he'll throw a little more intensive one on Friday to see where he's at. We don't think at this point he's going to miss a start, but we can juggle some things so he gets two or three extra days because of the off day and keeping Wandy and Roy on five days.”
-
And Alberto Arias and his jacked-up hammy played catch (though not with each other) for the first time since going on the DL.
-
And finally, consider today an audition for Paulino: 2010. What does he need to do? Let's ask Coop:
“Hopefully he’s kind of settled in and he’s got some consistency with his fastball down in the zone. I thought last outing that he had with the relief appearance he was down in the strike zone, really good with his fastball. He actually did throw some pretty good breaking balls. If I could see that on a pretty consistent basis (today) that would be pretty good.”
Monday, August 31, 2009
So the Astros do have some sort of plan with Norris
So after throwing a career-high in IPs this season, The Troof will be skipped the next time through the rotation.
Coop:
“Thinking about it and talking to Dewey a little bit, and we're going to talk about it some more, he could get skipped this time too,”
Dewey Robinson:
“Me being the coordinator for years, I always looked at the workload of pitchers from year to year. You try to be very conscious of that and make sure they're healthy and you're not putting them at any risk. (Norris) and Paulino, those are two of our top young arms. You want to make sure you keep them healthy. I believe (Norris) approximately had 80 (pitches). I think the year before was (103). At least last year he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. That was good because that extended his season until October. That being said, at least his season last year was an extension like it is in the major leagues.”
-
Oh, and Paulino is fine after getting drilled in the back of the knee by a line drive Saturday. He'll start the game on Wednesday vs the Cubs.
“It's fine. What's important is that I don't have any discomfort. I'll just prepare the same as usual. I'll try to do my job and throw strikes.”
Coop:
“Thinking about it and talking to Dewey a little bit, and we're going to talk about it some more, he could get skipped this time too,”
Dewey Robinson:
“Me being the coordinator for years, I always looked at the workload of pitchers from year to year. You try to be very conscious of that and make sure they're healthy and you're not putting them at any risk. (Norris) and Paulino, those are two of our top young arms. You want to make sure you keep them healthy. I believe (Norris) approximately had 80 (pitches). I think the year before was (103). At least last year he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. That was good because that extended his season until October. That being said, at least his season last year was an extension like it is in the major leagues.”
-
Oh, and Paulino is fine after getting drilled in the back of the knee by a line drive Saturday. He'll start the game on Wednesday vs the Cubs.
“It's fine. What's important is that I don't have any discomfort. I'll just prepare the same as usual. I'll try to do my job and throw strikes.”
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Bullpen: Once awesome. Now kind of sucks.
At the beginning of the year I, and everybody else, thought the bullpen was the #1 strength of the Astros' team. Not so much, it turns out.
Sampson gave up five runs in two innings over his first two outings in Round Rock this month, giving the Astros reason to wonder if they will call him back when rosters expand Sept 1. Righthander Geoff Geary, another top bullpen arm last season, struggled early and landed in Round Rock, where he held a 1-3 record and 5.06 ERA heading into Monday night.
“Those two scenarios are probably a little bit different,” Cecil Cooper said of Sampson and Geary. “We need Chris to be pitching really good. He's struggled, I think, the two outings he's had (at Round Rock). He's gone one inning the first time and gave up a couple runs. Didn't throw very well, and the last time he didn't throw very well. From listening to the reports, it doesn't sound like the ball is coming out better than when he was here. Geary is throwing better, but not as good as we've seen.”
Sampson's ERA by month:
April: 1.32
May: 2.76
June: 3.86
July: 10.80
Dewey:
“I think it's just a case of getting the sinker working again and pitching at the knees like he did the first half here. He was a very valuable member of our bullpen the first half of the season...
...Chris has been a guy that's always battled injuries coming off, you know, his whole history being an infielder and sitting out for four years and coming back as a pitcher, and each year he's had his ups and downs physically. And last year was the same thing. As a starter he battled injuries and things like that, so it's kind of expected again this year.
Being here now the two years, the workload on a reliever is just incredible, just a 162-game season and these guys are available probably two-thirds of the time. Whether they get in the game or not or get up, it takes its toll. I think if you look at careers of these guys, the guys that have been around for a long time, you see a lot of peaks and valleys over year to year. I think a lot of it can be based on health and the workload they get."
I'll say this again, but there is absolutely no reason for Sampson to be pitching right now. Shut him down, and let him come back in 2010. It's not like the Express are fighting for a playoff spot, so let him rest and see what he has in 2010. If he comes back in 2010 and is leaking runs like a sieve, then that's that. If he comes back and is early 2009 Chris Sampson, then this is on Cecil Cooper for continuing to run him out there. Sampson is still third on the team in appearances, with 49. That's absurd. Only Byrdak (55), and LaHawk (50) have more appearances, and only Fulchino has more IPs for a full-time reliever than Sampson. Still.
Sampson gave up five runs in two innings over his first two outings in Round Rock this month, giving the Astros reason to wonder if they will call him back when rosters expand Sept 1. Righthander Geoff Geary, another top bullpen arm last season, struggled early and landed in Round Rock, where he held a 1-3 record and 5.06 ERA heading into Monday night.
“Those two scenarios are probably a little bit different,” Cecil Cooper said of Sampson and Geary. “We need Chris to be pitching really good. He's struggled, I think, the two outings he's had (at Round Rock). He's gone one inning the first time and gave up a couple runs. Didn't throw very well, and the last time he didn't throw very well. From listening to the reports, it doesn't sound like the ball is coming out better than when he was here. Geary is throwing better, but not as good as we've seen.”
Sampson's ERA by month:
April: 1.32
May: 2.76
June: 3.86
July: 10.80
Dewey:
“I think it's just a case of getting the sinker working again and pitching at the knees like he did the first half here. He was a very valuable member of our bullpen the first half of the season...
...Chris has been a guy that's always battled injuries coming off, you know, his whole history being an infielder and sitting out for four years and coming back as a pitcher, and each year he's had his ups and downs physically. And last year was the same thing. As a starter he battled injuries and things like that, so it's kind of expected again this year.
Being here now the two years, the workload on a reliever is just incredible, just a 162-game season and these guys are available probably two-thirds of the time. Whether they get in the game or not or get up, it takes its toll. I think if you look at careers of these guys, the guys that have been around for a long time, you see a lot of peaks and valleys over year to year. I think a lot of it can be based on health and the workload they get."
I'll say this again, but there is absolutely no reason for Sampson to be pitching right now. Shut him down, and let him come back in 2010. It's not like the Express are fighting for a playoff spot, so let him rest and see what he has in 2010. If he comes back in 2010 and is leaking runs like a sieve, then that's that. If he comes back and is early 2009 Chris Sampson, then this is on Cecil Cooper for continuing to run him out there. Sampson is still third on the team in appearances, with 49. That's absurd. Only Byrdak (55), and LaHawk (50) have more appearances, and only Fulchino has more IPs for a full-time reliever than Sampson. Still.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Dewey on Norris
What the heck happened yesterday (besides the fact that now there are scouting reports on The Troof?)
Dewey Robinson:
“He's not going to sneak up on anybody anymore. They all have video on him and get the reports on what he throws (and) when he throws it. His fastball command has been kind of spotty, and that's where it starts and ends. Today, his ball was what I call leaking. If he was trying to run it in on a lefty, he was leaving it out over the plate.”
Coop:
“It looked like he was trying to throw harder. When you try to throw harder, you don't throw hard. I thought he was muscling up a little bit and got a lot of balls up in the strike zone. He couldn't find his rhythm today at all.”
The Troof:
“I think I overanalyzed them a little bit. Obviously, I know my strengths and need to stick to 'em a little more.”
Dewey Robinson:
“He's not going to sneak up on anybody anymore. They all have video on him and get the reports on what he throws (and) when he throws it. His fastball command has been kind of spotty, and that's where it starts and ends. Today, his ball was what I call leaking. If he was trying to run it in on a lefty, he was leaving it out over the plate.”
Coop:
“It looked like he was trying to throw harder. When you try to throw harder, you don't throw hard. I thought he was muscling up a little bit and got a lot of balls up in the strike zone. He couldn't find his rhythm today at all.”
The Troof:
“I think I overanalyzed them a little bit. Obviously, I know my strengths and need to stick to 'em a little more.”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Norris awaits his turn
Almost on cue, after yesterday's posting about whether or not Norris should be called up, the Chronicle runs an article about young pitchers awaiting their turn with the Big Club.
Oswalt:
“I heard that Norris had good stuff, and hopefully he can put it together and get here to stay. It seems like this organization was turning it around when we had a great minor league system, and everybody started getting up here, and we started winning. That’s why in ’04 and ’05 we went to the playoffs and World Series. You had talent come through your organization to get here and help.”
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson:
“If he’s going to be a starter here, it’s really difficult to do it with two pitches. Adding that third pitch is a key. And with Bud, for me it’s always been about keeping your emotions under control. We saw some of that in spring training, and that just comes with maturity, experience and being in the situation and starting to have confidence in yourself.”
Norris:
“Game management is a key for me, and I’ve talked a lot with Burt about it. He sees little things that sometimes I might not see. You got to wait for when the time is right. Whenever they think the time is right for me, I’ll be more than happy to help.”
Then, this:
Paulino will throw a simulated game today, and he is a candidate to start Saturday against the Detroit Tigers if Backe doesn’t get the nod or Norris doesn’t get a call.
Oswalt:
“I heard that Norris had good stuff, and hopefully he can put it together and get here to stay. It seems like this organization was turning it around when we had a great minor league system, and everybody started getting up here, and we started winning. That’s why in ’04 and ’05 we went to the playoffs and World Series. You had talent come through your organization to get here and help.”
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson:
“If he’s going to be a starter here, it’s really difficult to do it with two pitches. Adding that third pitch is a key. And with Bud, for me it’s always been about keeping your emotions under control. We saw some of that in spring training, and that just comes with maturity, experience and being in the situation and starting to have confidence in yourself.”
Norris:
“Game management is a key for me, and I’ve talked a lot with Burt about it. He sees little things that sometimes I might not see. You got to wait for when the time is right. Whenever they think the time is right for me, I’ll be more than happy to help.”
Then, this:
Paulino will throw a simulated game today, and he is a candidate to start Saturday against the Detroit Tigers if Backe doesn’t get the nod or Norris doesn’t get a call.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Valverde ready to go?
Within this morning's Notes section, we learn that Valverde may be ready to go on some rehab assignments (he can check with Backe on the restaurants that Corpus has to offer):
JV threw a bullpen and went through PFP for the first time since landing on the DL on 4/27.
"I threw all my pitches. I threw my fastball, my split-finger, my sinker, everything. It was 30 pitches. Everything’s good. I’d be ready to pitch right now."
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson, who supervised:
"Today he was free and easy, fielding bunts, covering first, comebackers, all the PFP stuff. He threw a solid bullpen. He looked good on the mound. Now I think it’s just a case of facing hitters and getting comfortable in a game-type setting."
JV threw a bullpen and went through PFP for the first time since landing on the DL on 4/27.
"I threw all my pitches. I threw my fastball, my split-finger, my sinker, everything. It was 30 pitches. Everything’s good. I’d be ready to pitch right now."
Pitching coach Dewey Robinson, who supervised:
"Today he was free and easy, fielding bunts, covering first, comebackers, all the PFP stuff. He threw a solid bullpen. He looked good on the mound. Now I think it’s just a case of facing hitters and getting comfortable in a game-type setting."
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Make room, make room.
I didn't see that coming. Well, I did, kind of. We mentioned on Saturday about sending Wright down to get himself worked out. Which is exactly what happened.
So it looks like, at least for this turn in the rotation, Backe will pitch out of the bullpen, and Paulino's job is safe - for now.
Says Backe:
“Wherever it is, bullpen or starter, it doesn’t matter. I think my teammates know that more than anything”
Says Wright:
"You can kind of see the writing on the wall. I was kind of the last guy on the totem pole in the bullpen. I've been around enough, not at this level, but enough to know what the next move is. It's always disappointing, but I've got to do whatever I can to get back. That's the main focus right now."
-
And Oswalt offered up a glimpse of what took place after getting a chopper to the fingers, and sorta vindicates his bosses...
“(Pitching coach) Dewey (Robinson) came up and said, ‘How you feel?’ I said, ‘It’s kind of numb right now. Let me wait until the sting comes out to decide.’ I went down in the tunnel and threw some balls. I felt like I could go back out there. I told them I wanted to go back out there. It ain’t like they sent me back out there and my arm was hurting. ... I was trying to get through some innings because I knew the bullpen’s been used.”
-
So it looks like, at least for this turn in the rotation, Backe will pitch out of the bullpen, and Paulino's job is safe - for now.
Says Backe:
“Wherever it is, bullpen or starter, it doesn’t matter. I think my teammates know that more than anything”
Says Wright:
"You can kind of see the writing on the wall. I was kind of the last guy on the totem pole in the bullpen. I've been around enough, not at this level, but enough to know what the next move is. It's always disappointing, but I've got to do whatever I can to get back. That's the main focus right now."
-
And Oswalt offered up a glimpse of what took place after getting a chopper to the fingers, and sorta vindicates his bosses...
“(Pitching coach) Dewey (Robinson) came up and said, ‘How you feel?’ I said, ‘It’s kind of numb right now. Let me wait until the sting comes out to decide.’ I went down in the tunnel and threw some balls. I felt like I could go back out there. I told them I wanted to go back out there. It ain’t like they sent me back out there and my arm was hurting. ... I was trying to get through some innings because I knew the bullpen’s been used.”
-
Monday, April 27, 2009
Astros.com profile on Geary
Nice little (or "depressing little") article on Geoff Geary's early season struggles by Alyson Footer sheds some light on just what in the world is happening:
During the off-season, Geary had surgery to repair a hip abductor and an abdominal tear (leading me to wonder if Geary tangled with Leatherface), and may not have been completely healed. Some quotes:
His velocity is slowly climbing back to normal levels, and he hasn't felt thwarted by command issues. He senses the problem is timing, and he also acknowledged that the surgery has probably made him a little tentative in the early-going. Whereas last year he couldn't rely on generating power from his leg as much as his arm, this year, post-surgery, he was able to go back to using his legs more. But now he senses he's dragging his arm, which is messing with his timing.
But it's hard to harp on a guy when he says this about himself:
"It's just going to improve. I can't worry about what I've already done, which is make a fool of myself out there."
Dewey Robinson ain't scurred:
"The two things I look for is how their stuff is. The velocity, the sharpness of their breaking ball, the movement on their fastball -- that's No. 1. No. 2 is their command. If those two are in sync, you're usually going to get pretty good results. To start off the season, his stuff wasn't quite as good as it was last year and his command was a little off. But as we've gone into the season, his stuff has gotten better, and his command's getting better."
During the off-season, Geary had surgery to repair a hip abductor and an abdominal tear (leading me to wonder if Geary tangled with Leatherface), and may not have been completely healed. Some quotes:
His velocity is slowly climbing back to normal levels, and he hasn't felt thwarted by command issues. He senses the problem is timing, and he also acknowledged that the surgery has probably made him a little tentative in the early-going. Whereas last year he couldn't rely on generating power from his leg as much as his arm, this year, post-surgery, he was able to go back to using his legs more. But now he senses he's dragging his arm, which is messing with his timing.
But it's hard to harp on a guy when he says this about himself:
"It's just going to improve. I can't worry about what I've already done, which is make a fool of myself out there."
Dewey Robinson ain't scurred:
"The two things I look for is how their stuff is. The velocity, the sharpness of their breaking ball, the movement on their fastball -- that's No. 1. No. 2 is their command. If those two are in sync, you're usually going to get pretty good results. To start off the season, his stuff wasn't quite as good as it was last year and his command was a little off. But as we've gone into the season, his stuff has gotten better, and his command's getting better."
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