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2012 burning question: Houston Astros

Found March 26, 2012 on The Outside Corner: Yardbarker Blogger Network
PLAYERS: Brett Myers,  Mark Melancon,  Jed Lowrie,  Livan Hernandez,  Ed Wade,  Brandon Lyon
TEAMS: Houston Astros,  Boston Red Sox
Rockies_v_phillies_3907
From last Wednesday's season preview of the Astros... Burning QuestionHow is Brett Myers going to respond for being moved into the closer's role for the first time since 2007? The Astros traded their 2011 closer, Mark Melancon, to the Red Sox in exchange for Jed Lowrie and Kyle Wieland. Lowrie is already the starter at short for the Astros, and Wieland will probably crack their rotation sooner rather than later. So that trade gave the team an opening at the closer's position. Instead of giving the postiion to a live arm youngster who could potentially develop into something, Houston took a unique approach to the position by planting veteran starter Brett Myers into the position. Myers has been a full-time reliever for exactly one season in his career: 2007 with the Phillies, where 48 of his 51 appearances came in relief. He saved 21 games for the Phillies, and had a 4.33 ERA over 68 2/3 innings. He walked 3.54 batters per nine innings (the highest mark of his career...
Original Story: http://bloguin.com/theoutsidecorner/2... Verified_ybn
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Duke and Cust were worth a look for Astros

Via Fox Sports Houston  |  March 27, 2012
The Astros released outfielder Jack Cust and pitcher Zach Duke early Tuesday. It should have come as no surprise. Neither had performed at all as expected during the spring. Since both had to win spots on the roster with nothing guaranteed, their failures spelled their doom. Cust and Duke had once been promising players. Playing ten years mostly in the American League, Cust'...

Astros cut pitcher Duke, veteran hitter Cust

Via AP on Fox  |  March 27, 2012
The Houston Astros released pitcher Zach Duke and veteran hitter Jack Cust on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Duke was an All-Star left-hander for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009. He appeared in four games this spring, giving up 25 hits including five home runs in 14 1/3 innings. After pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, Duke had signed a minor league contract with Houston...

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Via Off The Bench  |  March 27, 2012
2012 will be the very last season that the Houston Astros are a National League team. This time next year (if the Mayans don’t blow up the world) the ‘Stros will be preparing for life with a DH. The only thing though, this year the Astros are basically guaranteed to be the absolute worst team in the NL. Their best player (Carlos Lee) hasn’t actually been good for 2 years...

Astros release LHP Duke, OF Cust

Via Pro Sports Daily  |  March 27, 2012
The Houston Astros released left-handed pitcher Zach Duke and outfielder Jack Cust on Tuesday.Duke, who was on a minor league contract, posted a record of 0-3 with an 11.30 ERA in four games this spring. The 28-year-old went 3-4 with a 4.93 ERA in just over 76 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011.Cust, who signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the Astros with an option...

2012 Organizational Rankings: #29 – Houston

Via Fangraphs  |  March 26, 2012
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Pirates 9, Astros 7(10)

Via AP on Fox  |  March 25, 2012
Jed Lowrie and Chris Snyder each homered, but a Houston Astros split squad lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 in 10 innings Sunday. Lowrie, acquired in a trade with Boston this winter, homered for the second time this spring. Snyder hit his third. Yamaico Navarro had four of Pittsburgh's 20 hits. Pirates starter Brad Lincoln gave up three runs and four hit in four innings....

Johnson homers, Astros fall to Nats

Via Fox Sports Houston  |  March 26, 2012
VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- John Lannan allowed two runs and two hits over five innings and the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros 7-4 Monday. Roger Bernadina homered for the second consecutive day for the Nationals, this one a two-run shot in the fifth inning. He also singled in three at-bats. Washington catcher Wilson Ramos and first baseman Chad Tracy both had two hits...

Astros release Jack Cust and Zach Duke

Via PRO Rumors  |  March 27, 2012
According to Alyson Footer, the Astros Sr. Director of Social Media, the Houston Astros have released outfielder Jack Cust and left handed pitcher Zach Duke. Duke was 3-4 with a 4.93 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 2.2 BB/9 and 3.8 SO/9 in 76.2 innings in 2011 with the Diamondbacks. Cust hit .213/.344/.329 with 3 HR's, 44 BB's and 23 RBI's in 225 AB's with the Mariners in 2011. Image...

Astros rally to top Tigers

Via Fox Sports Houston  |  March 27, 2012
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Astros 14, Tigers 7

Via AP on Fox  |  March 27, 2012
Austin Jackson hit an inside-the-park home run and Brennan Boesch also homered for the Detroit Tigers before the Houston Astros rallied for a 14-7 win Tuesday. Both Detroit homers came off Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez, who gave up five runs in six innings. Brian Bogusevic hit a two-run homer and a double for the Astros. Jose Altuve had three hits and scored three times and Brian...

MLB Preview: Houston Astros

Via Sports Junkie Online  |  March 26, 2012
2011 RecapLast season was, by any measure, a disappointing year for the Astros. The team dealt Hunter Pence to the Phillies, and Michael Bourn was sent to Atlanta as the team stumbled to a franchise-worst 56-106 record. Carlos Lee (.275 BA, 18 HR, 94 RBI) was solid last season, and prospects like left fielder J.D. Martinez (.274 BA, 5 HR, 34 RBI) and first baseman Brett Wallace ...

Season Preview: Houston Astros

Via Reading Between The Seams  |  March 27, 2012
Bad team. The Houston Astros were a bad team in 2011 (56-106) and will be a bad team in 2012. Long gone are the days of playoff contending teams. Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman no longer exist on the Astros’ field. Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt won’t touch the mound. In 2012, there will be no Houston Astros
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