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Catching up with some former Astros
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, I thought it might be a good time to take a look at how some of our old friends are doing. A couple of former Astros were in the news this weekend, so let’s start with them.
Hunter Pence (Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports)
The former Astro had a huge game last night as the Giants pummeled the Dodgers 19-3. Hunter went 3 for 5 with a career high seven RBIs. His Grand Slam to straight-away centerfield was his 23rd homer of the season. Pence has put together a solid season in San Francisco, playing in all 149 games, posting a .293/.343/.488 slash line, driving in 89 runs, and scoring 84 times.
When the defending World Series Champs fell out of contention early this summer there was talk that perhaps Pence would be traded. That obviously didn’t happen and more recent rumors have the Giants attempting to re-sign Pence before he becomes a Free Agent this offseason.
Wandy Rodriguez (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of their first winning season in twenty years. While the team is poised for their first playoff appearance in a generation, things haven’t gone quite as well for former Astro Wandy Rodriguez. Yesterday the Pirates announced that Wandy will not pitch again this season.
Forearm tightness forced Rodriguez from the game in the first inning of his June 5th start in Atlanta. Wandy suffered a setback in his recovery during his lone rehab start at AAA and hasn’t pitched since. In twelve starts this season Rodriguez was 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.117 WHIP. The Pirates will have to decide if they want to pick up Wandy’s $13 million option for 2014 or exercise their $2.5 million buyout and allow him to become a Free Agent.
Lance Berkman (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
The Big Puma has missed much of the 2013 season due to leg injuries. Surprise! Since June 26th Berkman has only one hit and two walks in 21 plate appearances. In 71 games for the Rangers, Berkman is hitting .247/.346/.367 (all career lows if you throw out his rookie season that consisted of only 34 games). Sentimental Astros fans wanted to bring Lance back to be the DH in Houston this year. Fortunately, Jeff Luhnow and company knew better.
Jed Lowrie (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)
Unlike Berkman, the often injured Lowrie has been able to stay healthy in 2013. Jed has been a consistent performer in the middle of the diamond for an Oakland A’s team that appears to be headed to the playoffs. Jed has appeared in a career high 142 games, slashing .286/.344/.436 with 43 doubles and 67 RBIs.
Even though Fernando Rodriguez missed the entire season due to an elbow injury, this trade still looks like a winner for both teams. All three players acquired by the Astros (Chris Carter, Brad Peacock, and Max Stassi) have performed well enough to stay in the team’s future plans.
Michael Bourn (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
Bourn was an All-Star for Atlanta last season but the Braves elected not to re-sign the speedy centerfielder. The Cleveland Indians inked Bourn to a 4-year deal in February and, like the Astros, Michael made his American League debut this season. But Bourn’s numbers have slipped a bit since joining the more hitter-friendly junior circuit.
Is Bourn already slowing down at the age of thirty? His stolen base numbers would suggest that he is. Michael led the league by swiping at least 50 bags in each of his three seasons with the Astros. Last year that number fell to 42 and so far this season Bourn has only totaled 22 steals. His success rate has also suffered. Bourn was caught stealing an N.L. high 13 times last season and he has been successful on only 66.7% of his attempts this year. Bourn’s overall numbers on offense have also dipped. His batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging numbers are all the lowest he has posted since 2008.
Roy Oswalt (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
One of the all-time Astros greats, Oswalt’s career appears to be winding down at age 36. For the second straight season Oswalt didn’t find a job until the month of May. Last year’s stint with the Rangers was unimpressive. This year’s comeback attempt with the Rockies has been nothing short of disastrous.
Six appearances have resulted in six losses for the man formerly known as “The Wizard” — and altitude really has nothing to do with it. Only one of Oswalt’s appearances came at Coors Field. Last night in Arizona, Roy lasted only 4 & 2/3 innings in a 6-0 loss. Oswalt has fanned 30 in 25 & 2/3 innings but has allowed 40 hits. Is the writing on the wall for Roy — or can he turn things around and resurrect his career? Only time will tell.
Mark Melancon (USA Today Sports Images)
Melancon has had perhaps the best season among all of the former Astros. Mark has bounced back nicely from a 2012 season that he would like to forget. To say Melancon got out of the gates slowly in Boston would be an understatement. After an early season demotion to AAA, Mark posted a 6.20 ERA in 41 appearances with the Red Sox.
Melancon was traded to Pittsburgh over the winter and has re-established himself as a dependable reliever with the Pirates. Working as a setup man, Melancon earned a trip to this year’s All-Star Game. In the second half of the season Melancon has been filling in for injured closer and fellow All-Star Jason Grilli. Mark has converted 15 of 17 save opportunities and put up some incredible numbers. Melancon’s 1.09 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 65/8 K/BB ratio in 66 1/3 innings could mean he will continue as the Pirates’ closer right into the postseason.