Yardbarker: Jason Michaels

Astros Roster Breakdown: The Outfield

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:15:09 -0500

More photos » by Paul Beaty - AP The Astros most important outfielder? Browse more photos » We take a break from the managerial search to look at the Astros' 2009 outfield. The three starters in Lee, Bourn and Pence combined to be the most productive portion of the offense in a number of ways. Each totaled over 600 plate appearances and two of the three hit 25 home runs. While the Astros offense has it...

Dave Clark, Cecil Cooper = Same Guy

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:55:00 -0500

Well, tonight's game showed why I wrote "Coop" in last night's entry when I should have written "Clark." Second verse, same as the first. He pulls Bourn because we're facing a lefty - nevermind that Bourn hits leftys VERY well and puts Jason Michaels in center - might as well put Clank in center. He won't let Chris Johnson, Maysonet or Manzella start, but hey, a pinch hitter? Yeah, let's goooooooooo. Then, in the SECOND inning, he has men on first and s...

Today in Philly Sports History: Michaels Bobbles Fly Ball Over Fence, 2004

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0500

We caught a little of ex-Phils outfielder Jason Michaels when were passing through Houston recently, where he currently plays as a reserve outfielder. Apparently Phillies pitchers remembered the offensive juggernaut he was when he was playing in the red-and-white, and wisely pitched around him--putting him on base in the top of the ninth in one game, from where would eventually score the winning run on a Kaz Matsui single off...well, you guys know who it was off. Still, possibly his most dam...

Bud Norris Doesn't Last 2 Innings And Astros Lose To Arizona

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:35:31 -0500

Let me start by saying that he had the bad luck to have both Angel Hernandez as the HP ump and Quintero catching. AND Bud didn't keep the ball down and the few times he did, Hernandez wouldn't call it a strike. Bud only gave up one hard hit ball, Roberts' double to right in the first (and Jason Michaels is no Hunter Pence with the glove), but even piddly singles that get through holes combined with too many walks and Quintero not blocking balls in the dirt = 5 runs in the first in...

Roundup: Michaels hits 2 bombs, Astros drop Brewers

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:55:00 -0500

Friday's MLB roundup: Jason Michaels homered twice, Bud Norris struck out seven in six effective innings in his Minute Maid Park debut and the Houston Astros beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3.

Bud Norris Beats The Brewers For His Second Win

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:07:02 -0500

My heart sank when I saw the lineup - Erstad at first, Jason Worthless Michaels in center (guess Bourn's groin is still hurting) and all I could think was that Bud had better not let a ball get hit out of the IF. laughing So guess who drove in 5 of the 6 runs? Michaels hit 2 homers and Erstad hit an RBI double. It's what I absolutely LUUUUUV best about baseball - you really truly NEVAH know. In spite of endless mathematical formulas predicting this that and the other, each game is in...

Brian Moehler Pitches Lousy, Jason Michaels Fields Lousy And Astros Lose To Giants Again

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:44:26 -0500

Michael Bourn was out today with a sore groin and when I saw Michaels trotting out to center, I felt my heart sink and I hope HOPED that no balls would be hit to center, but I wasn't exactly holding my breath. And yes, I would LOVE to have someone in the Astros Organization explain to me why he is more valued than Reggie Abercrombie, who actually CAN field well. And I seriously HATE the IBB, unless it is Uncle or the #8 guy with the pitcher up - I am positive that if I went back through t...

Michaels’s Moment

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:49:42 -0500

Jason Michaels hasn’t done much this season, but was involved in all three Houston runs in the second inning. He doubled to drive in two, then scored from second on and infield single. The Astros lead the Giants 3-0 in the top of the third. Update: Poor fielding by the Astros leads to two [...]

Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers, Jul 18, 2009 9:10 PM CDT

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:00:14 -0500

More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Berry: Jason, you really have no business starting a MLB game in CF. Michaels: Yeah, someone should mention that to Coop. (I truly hope Jason Michaels makes me eat crow on this, but I won't be betting on it) Browse more photos » Current Series 4 game series vs Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium --> Astros lead the series 2-0 Thu 07/16 WP: Wandy Rodrig...

Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers, Jul 18, 2009 9:10 PM CDT

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:00:14 -0500

Today in Philly Sports History: Jason Michaels Fights the Law, Law Wins, 2005

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:02:32 -0500

When you look at the career statistics for Jason Michaels in his five or so seasons in the outfield for the Phillies, they're really not terrible--a .291 batting average and an .822 OPS, both higher than those of Jimmy Rollins or Shane Victorino, among others. But his tenure in Philly is likely to be remembered more for two bad gaffes he made than anything he did right. In a game against the Braves in 2004, he bobbled a Charles Thomas fly out over the wall for a home run, and on July 3rd...

Game 1 Recap: Cubs, Astros

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:09:41 -0500

Perfect Season?
W - Zambrano (1-0)
L - Oswalt (0-1) S - Gregg (1)
Photos, Box Score Things to Take from This Game 1. Zambrano is Sharp. Zambrano cruised through six before getting into a bit of trouble in the seventh. He got pulled before he could get himself too far into a jam, Heilman immediately induced a GIDP, but a run then went onto Z's account when Bourn "drove in" a runner from third with a 40 foot chopper up the first base line. For Zambrano it was one measly run, 6 Ks, 3 BB, a bunch of ground balls and a very efficient first six innings, 98 pitches total. 2. Cubs Get to Oswalt Early Soriano and Ramirez led off the first and second innings with solo home runs to left: Soriano's a bomb to deep left-center, Ramirez's a liner into the boxes more down the line. Oswalt settled down and also induced one grounder after another through an efficient seven innings. The Cubs added two more runs with a Theriot sac fly scoring Fontenot in the 6th, and a Hoffpauir single scoring Fontenot in the 9th. 3. Bullpen works as planned Heilman and Cotts got the Cubs out of a seventh-inning jam, allowing Marmol and Gregg to cover the eighth and ninth. The run against Gregg came after Bradley had the ball pop out of his glove on a tough-but-ought-to-be-caught effort at a sinking line drive. Overall, about all one could hope for on Opening Day: The big bats hit a couple homers, the middle infielders got on and got around, the pinch-hitter pinch-hit, Z was Good Z, and set up the bullpen to execute their assignments. The undefeated details follow.
Game Recap Inning 1 - Top

Soriano with a leadoff Homerun that I miss first because I'm learning the game isn't on WGN, my ESPN 2, it's blacked out on my MLB.TV, and only can be found on my FSN station. From there, three groundouts. (Finally seeing a replay, it's on a fastball down the middle, a no-doubt homerun to the deep part of left-center, by that large concrete terrace monstrocity thing in this god-foresaken ballpark)

Inning 1 - Bottom

Z walks Matsui on four straight, and my recap for all of this gets lost when MLB.TV freezes my computer and crashes my browser. 7 year old computer strikes again. So everything from here to the fourth inning is by memory.
After I-Rod flies out, Berkman lines to right, Matsui to second. Right field has weird sun and shadow patterns as the light comes through the closed dome.
Lee filies into a weird double play where Bradley makes a nice play running in and towards the line in right. Matsui broke from second, is standing on third as Bradley flips it in to Lee at first, who tosses it to Theriot at second for an inning-ending double play.

Inning 2 - Top

Ramirez leads off the second with a lined shot home run into the left field bleachers. A fastball that was supposed to be inside but caught the plate.
Fontenot looped a single to right and Soto lined one to left, Theriot inside-outs a grounder between Berkman and the line that he makes a nice play on to get the out with the runners advancing. The rally ends, though, with Zambrano grounding out to Matsu, drawn in, and Soriano also grounding out.

Inning 2 - Bottom

Tejada singles, then with Blum batting, is thrown out when he tries to take second on a ball in the dirt that bounces out just in front of Soto. He's out and throws a tantrum over the call. Blum then softly flies out and Pence, who still is just incredibly ugly and stupid-looking, bounces a one-hopper to Aramis.

Inning 3 - Top

Fukudome called out on an inside fastball. Lee flies out to Lee, just in front of the Waste Management "think green" sign adorning the padding at the left field fence. Bradley walked, but Aramis flied out.
Somewhere around the top of the third, I think it was, the FSN announcers explain thatsome Dodge-Ram sponsored thingy tonight will tell us what Lance Berkman has in his pocket.
- do I really want to know?
- Now, they're talking about cheese sandwhiches and hot dogs found in players pockets when they slid into second, back in the day. Dear god.

Inning 3- Bottom

Bourn singles to left-center and Oswalt sacrifices him to second. Matsui dumps one in front of Fontenot and Bourn reads it well, going to third.
Z gets out of it, striking out Rodriguez swinging and Berkman rolling to second.
And I've now re-entered the heavily summarized version of everything I lost. For the love of god, please, let's do a fundraiser to buy me a decent laptop.

Inning 4 - Top

Fontenot lines a double over Lee's head in left, one-hops the wall.
Soto bounces to Berkman, Fontenot advances on the out.
The FSN field reporter, one Patty Smith (sadly, not Patti Smith, Punk Rock Goddess and my personal hero) is explaining how they've added advertising to the foul poles. They're now the Chic-Fil-A Fowl Pokes. If an astro hitter hits a home run off the pole, it's free crappy southern fast food for everyone!
Theriot flies out to Pence, who makes his typically weird-ass looking thrown in, but Fontenot scores easily. 3-0 Cubs.
Zambrano grounds out, Blum to Berkman.

Inning 4 - Bottom

Lee fouls to Lee.
Tejada looks stupid as he K's swinging.
Blum with a lazy fly to Soriano. Easy inning for Z. 58 pitches through 4, fastball still around 92, 93.

Inning 5 - Top

Soriano lines a single into left. It's so weird hearing them saying "Patty Smith is waiting." I want my Patti Smith!
Fukudome grounds into a 4-6-3, tailor-made, right at Matsui.
Oswalt with 10 groundball outs. Now, more from Patty Smith. (Play "Pissing in a River," Patti!!!!)
Oswalt hangs a slider just a bit, but Lee pops it to Matsui.

Inning 5 - Bottom

Pence and Bourn both look at fastballs on the corner for called strike threes. 4 K 1 BB on the night so far.
Oswalt bounces back to Z, who casually tosses it to first. Easy inning! 72 pitches through 5, nice.

Inning 6 - Top

And we learn what Berkman has in his pockets. Nothing interesting. A FSN announcer uses it as a chance to joke about European Man-bags.
FSN tells me that BP rates Minute Maid Park as neutral, not the band-box it's made out to be. I want to see that with my own eyes. Even so, it's still a crummy park.
1-2 count on Bradley, just does check his swing on a fastball. 2-2 Jammed on the next pitch, pops it out just in front of the plate, Pudge catches it.
Aramis with an easy popup to Berkman.
Fontenot rolls out to Matsui, Oswalt now on a roll, too. 81 pitches through 6.

Inning 6 - Bottom

Matsui K's on a check swing that the home plate ump called himself, not happy about it.
and now Pudge irked at a called strike two on a slider that looked like it backed up over the plate and got way too much of it.
Pudge swings through a 94 MPH fastball that was supposed to be outside corner, tailed back over to inside corner. 1 BB, 7 K for Z so far. Making it look easy.
Z almost gets a called third strike on Berkman, fastball outside corner, but it's a ball. Berkman comes back and works a walk.
Lee immediately grounds into an easy 6-4 force.

Inning 7 - Top

Soto grounds to Blum at third.
Theriot with his patented inside-out swing through the right-side hole for a single.
Z can't advance Theriot, strikes out swinging
Soriano grounds into a 5-3 force, inning over.

Inning 7 - Bottom

Tejada singles up the middle, and Blum walks. Piniella hops out of the dugout and Z leaves. Crowd is booing Z? Jerks.
Heilman in, and Pence immediately hits into a perfect 6-4-3. Tejada to third. Love that for the first relief pitch thrown on the season.
Bourn with a weak chopper that rolls maybe 40 feet for an rbi single. It'll look like a line drive in the box score. 3-1.
Erstad in to "hit" for Oswalt, Cotts in to do the lefty-lefty thing.
Cooper counters with Jason Michaels.
2-0 count to Michaels.
3-1 slider called strike 2, michaels didn't like it.
Michaels with a soft grounder to Theriot. Charges it, bobbles, gets him at first.

Inning 8 - Top

Geoff Geary in for the eighth. Jeffs who spell their names Geoff have always driven me nuts, and here the Astros have two of them.
Fukudome with a weak fly out to Lee.
Lee strikes out swinging at a fastball up and a bit in.
Bradley pops one into shallow right, and Matsui makes a fine over-the-shoulder tumbling catch. Inning over.

Inning 8 - Bottom

Inning begins with FSN showing replay of Bradley jogging to first looking to see if his blooper would fall, and he twists his ankle as it clips the side of the bag. He's still in the game, but I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this.
Marmol in.
Matsui with an easy grounder to Theriot.
Pudge grounds one to Theriot's right, also an easy out.
first pitch to Berkman, he waves through a high 94 mph fastball. Fun to watch.
Nice off-speed curve for strike 2 swinging, fastball low and outside for 3-2 count.
and Berkman walks on a curve inside.
Lee up as the tying run.
Lee pops out to Ramirez in foul territory, up against the stands behind third base. Inning over!

Inning 9 - Top

Ramirez grounds to Tejada.
Fontenot gets jammed, pops one out to shallow left, where Tejada and Lee watch it land between them.
Wild pitch sends Fontenot to second. Pitch slipped, over Pudge's head.
Soto K's looking at a pitch on the corner.
Theriot walks. Really nice night for the LSU combo.
Hoffpauir in to hit for Marmol. Takes a big rip at a fastball, misses, 1-1 count.
Hoff lines a single into right, and Fontenot, running on contact with two outs, beats Pence's throw. It's a bit up the line and Fontenot slides around Pudge. 4-1 Cubs. Theriot to third.
Soriano flies to Pence.

Inning 9 - Bottom

Gathright in to play center, Gregg pitching. Sort of surprised they didn't swing Fukudome to right for Bradley, especially with the ankle.
Tejada grounds a single right back up the middle.
Blum hits a sinking liner into right-center. Bradley has a bead on it, makes a sliding effort to catch it, but the ball pops out of the glove and he sort of stumbles over himself at the end of the slide. Runners at 1st and 3rd. Yep. Should have moved Fuludome to right.
Pence flies to medium-depth center, Tejada scores easily on the sacrifice. 4-2 Cubs.
Michael Bourn flies one to deepish right-center, easy play forGathright. two outs, runner still at first for pinch-hitter Jason Smith.
Smith with a roller to Lee, easy unassisted to the bag. Game over!

Parachat Recap Pregame

Carlos swears a blue streak. He also has a blue cock.
John Kruk is an "emmy-nominated" analyst. Heh.

Inning 1

Cheering on Pie-rats comeback against the Cards
Aramis, Musketeers and Slumdog Millionaire.

Inning 2

How has the recession affected you? (Don't ask.)

Inning 3

V-chipping Carlos.

Inning 4

Crunch and the whore ta culture.
The Sosa for Fontenot trade gets better and better
I ask for lies I can use to insert in my Parachat recap, to conceal the factthat most of the first three innings were wiped out by my cheap computer and stupid mlb.tv. I get few good suggestions.
First post-Election regular-season parachat. Woo.
What will Al Yellon run for?
Remember, the world ends Dec 21, 2012
Would the Olympics be good for Chicago? (No.)

Inning 5

Economics of the Olympics debate continues.
Rotating dicks
Puking out lout/loud.
He's happy.
MVP Polishing.
I'm not clicking on another Carlos-sponsored link, this season.
Z's mph on the fastball.

Inning 6

Bagwell and Thomas for HOF? (No and Yes)
More on Bagwell, Enron/Minute Maid vs. Astrodome
I choose life.
- really, I choose laziness.
Lyle Lovett: no new insightful commentary here. Guess what, he's not the most handsome of men.
- but he's still better than Pence.
Ugly ball-players and other celebrities

Inning 7

who has lost a job?
who has bought a car?
other random catching up from the off-season
Raising girls.
Is this the 10th year or 9th year anniversary for minute maid?
- They're saying it's 10th year anniverary, but it only should be 9, as they're now STARTING season number ten. Tenth anniversary will come on opening day of next year, damnit.
Dick Trickle, Dick Pole make their first appearances
A Professor Ley, who claims to have met an Anita Ley. No Way, Prof. Ley.
Whip jokes about having cancer.
And keeps joking.
What do I self-censor in parachat recaps?
- Clearly, not cancer jokes.
How we're all going to die.
Blue-cock cancer.
Christina Karl and Nate Silver jokes.
High-scoring Spots.
Inning 7 of Parachat, Game 1, quickly vaulting itself into a potential Parachat First Annual End-of-Season Award....
Who killed your people? Heilman, or Cancer?
Gypsy whips.
Indeed.
Jason Michaels: name of a pro wrestler, a serial killer, or a gay pop icon?
Escolar, the orange-oil-shooting-out-your-ass fish.

Inning 8

Who would you rather have, Halladay or Peavy?
- Roy, not even close.
Ass-fondling.
Twisted ankles.
More Big Blue Cocks.

Inning 9

Movies
Steve Phillips as a broadcaster
WBC
Burt Reynolds gives Llamas as gifts.
LeBron James vs. Lyndon Baines Johnson in Center Field.
What's left on D. Lee's contract?
First-game celebration.

Cubs record in games recapped begins the year at 1-0.

AJ: THE OFFICIAL PLAYLIST OF THE NHL PLAYOFFS

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:05:49 -0500

by A.J. from 105.9 The X What started on April 11, 2008, finally came to an end on Wednesday night. The amazing emotional rollercoaster for Penguins fans known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs saw our boys come up one Chris Osgood kick save short of forcing a game seven against the mighty Red Wings. The loss left us dazed and stunned, but far from heart broken. Not only was this one of the most memorable regular season campaigns by any Pittsburgh sports team in recent years, but how great was the ...

Ben Francisco - a treat that will have to wait

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:09:10 -0500

The Tribe breaks camp in six days and plays it's season and home opener in 10 days. As you can see in this photo from the Plain Dealer's Chuck Crow, Jacobs, uh, Progressive Field is every bit is ready as it was last year at this time. I don't really want to talk in this piece about the wisdom of Cleveland hosting a game on March 31, but didn't we learn any lessons last year? Eric Wedge says he plans to have his 25-man roster chosen by next Thursday, when the Tribe leaves Winter Haven forever. My question is whether Ben Francisco will be heading out of Florida with the big club. I would say the answer is going to be no. Francisco is hitting .357 this spring, can move on the basepaths and has shown himself to be able to play good defense at at all three outfield positions. He's proven himself at AAA, had a decent debut in the majors last year and appears ready to go. But there are a couple of things in his way - David Delucci and Jason Michaels. Michaels is having a solid spring, hitting at just about .300 with an uncharacteristic three homers and a slugging percentage in the mid-700s. Delucci is having an awful camp, which follows an injury-decimated season last year. But he still has two years on his contract, for a total of $8 million. And the Tribe has never really gotten the chance to see the guy they gave a three-year pact to last winter. For Francisco to make the team, either Delucci or Michaels would have to go. Delucci, who's hitting in the 100s this spring, was injured most of last year and has been complaining of a sore forearm, is as marketable right now as a seven-year-old minivan. Michaels might be a bit more tempting for a team in need of an outfielder. But he's probably not at the top of anyone's wish list. Francisco and Michaels both hit from the right side, so Francisco would be an obvious fit in the left field platoon plan if Michaels were to disappear. But would the Tribe want Francisco, who would be likely to see only a couple of starts a week as the righty in a platoon situation, to ride so much time on the bench? If the Tribe were to find a taker for one of its veteran outfielders, would they consider Francisco as a full-time left fielder? That would be risky because it would mean the Indians would have youngsters at both corner outfield spots. There's no doubt Francisco deserves a spot on the club, but with Delucci and Michaels unlikely to be going elsewhere I just don't think it can happen. At least not until the platoon in left proves to be inadequate.

VIDEO: Why The Cleveland Indians Have Turned It Around This Season

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:17:23 -0500

So why the big turnaround for the Indians with a roster that remains, in large part, very similar to last season's disappointing 2006 squad? I'm chalking it up to Cleveland leftfielder Jason Michaels enhancing his all-around baseball game this season. After a rocky 2006 defensively, Michaels went that extra yard and learned how to run and catch the ball this season. While that's meant great news for Cleveland this season, sadly the highlights (or lowlights) of 2006 remain online f...