What do you do with Brad Lidge ?

who are the better players at RR now? the AAAA ones (lifers) and the ones soon to make it up?

 

Sorta early to tell. RHP Matt Albers was Texas League Pitcher of the Year last year in AA. He's supposed to have the stuff but I didn't see it Friday. Looked like he was throwing BP. He's been to the show once or twice but didn't stick.

RHP Miguel Asencio came over in the Hirsh trade so that makes him interesting to me if for no other reason. He made it up with Colorado before but had Tommy John and missed most of season. Been around minors about 10 years.

I've always liked Travis Driskill. He's been here for a few years and I've seen the guy throw some good ball. He's had a cup of coffee with Houston and a couple of other clubs. Just one of those guys I'd like to see do well. He's been around the minors for 8 or 10 years I think.

During spring training, I was pulling for 2B Brooks Conrad. I like his hustle. But I'm not sure he'll ever get a chance with the Stros unless they have a lot of injuries or he starts batting about .600. He's been here since 2004. You start to get a little biased when one has been here as long as he has. He's batting over .300 so far.....but it's early.

OF Josh Anderson looks like a good one to me. He covers some ground and stole over 40 bases last year at Corpus. He's hitting over .300.

Sentimental favorite...C Danny Ardoin from Ville Platte and McNeese. Trivia - Got him in trade with Nats for 2B/SS Wade Robinson of Bastrop and La Tech.

Beer at the ballpark is too expensive but all told, the Express folks do it first class. Hope they can make a run this year as it seems to be more fun when the ballpark is full.

 

yeah albers looked to have a great future. not sure where he stands now. he was the 2nd cons. player for the stros to win tex league pitcher of year behind who else, hirsh.

ardoin got some pretty good playing time a couple years back with jd closser being a bust as far as i remember with the rockies. he (jd) was supposed to be all-world and either stays injured or just cant hit as predicted.

danny played under van horn at a juco before vh went to arkansas.

i dont know anything about this asencio bum then or now.

ive heard of travis driskill like 20 years ago. thats a true AAAA'er if hes still around.

 

Yeah, he's gotta be in his 30s. He had some pretty good games for us last year, saved quite a few. A guy who pays the dues he has makes we wish him the best for one last shot.

BTW, a friend of mine tells me Albers is a head case. He knows the guy's family. Have no idea if that's true, just interesting. Nevertheless, he can throw.

 

Keep us posted, do you think you have another deep run this year?

 

St. Petersburg Times

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Rays will try, for now, to improve their bullpen by using the relievers they have in different roles, with journeyman Gary Glover and rookie Jae Kuk Ryu next in line for more important late-inning work.

Should they decide to look outside for help, deposed Houston closer Brad Lidge could be an interesting option if the Astros make him available.

Lidge, 30, is a former star closer (42 saves in 2005) who has struggled recently and was demoted Monday from the closer's job. He also has fallen out of favor with the Houston fans, which could accelerate his departure given the operating style of owner Drayton McLane, as could his $5.35-million salary.

But if they do, the Rays would be a logical trading partner because they could use Lidge and have several things the Astros need: a frontline centerfielder (Rocco Baldelli?), young starting pitchers (Jason Hammel? Andy Sonnanstine? J.P. Howell?) and/or a future starting catcher (Shawn Riggans?)

But the Astros could be reluctant to deal with the Rays given the presence of Gerry Hunsicker, their former GM, in the Tampa Bay front office as well as the perception that the Rays got the better of them in getting SS Ben Zobrist and RHP prospect Mitch Talbot in a July deal for Aubrey Huff.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/11/Rays/As_Maddon_institutes_.shtml

 

Express win by a run last nite over Omaha. Albers had a much better outing than last Friday. Interesting - Express runner on 2nd, batter is hit by pitch and is awarded first as 3Bman walks in to speak with pitcher and/or catcher. Runner advances to the uncovered third base. Umpires don't realize it, don't make him return to second. Bloop hit scores him with what turned out to be winning run. Seems like AAA umpires wouldn't make that mistake but I guess it does happen at all levels.

 

If timeout wasn't called by an umpire, he can advance as many bases as he wants (at his own risk of course).

 

A hit batsman isn't a dead ball in MLB?

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I beleive it is veiwed the same way as ball four (the batter may look at it a little differently.)