Thursday Liftoff Links

by Timothy De Block on Jul 7, 2011 5:00 AM CDT in Link Dumps

While the Roger Clemens trial was getting underway I was putting together these astute links for your viewing pleasure.

All Things Astro

Ultimate Astros " Justice: Good times never seemed so far away
While I tend to rip on Richard Justice from time to time, every once and a while I read an article that I tend to agree with. This is one of those articles.

Astros Notes: Wandy, Bourn, Lee, Pence, Myers: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
MLB Trade Rumors highlights some very interesting information from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi. Ownership approval, the trade deadline and a possible search for a new GM all are tidbits in the article.

Astros 1B Brett Wallace needs to gain more experience against left-handers - Houston Houston Astros | Examiner.com
Interesting tidbits about Brad Mills thought process in regards to Wallace's use against left-handers.

Ultimate Astros " Justice: Red Sox-Astros series a family affair for Chris Johnson and his dad
A really touching story by Richard Justice on the relationship between Ron Johnson and his son Chris. How baseball and the accident Bridget Johnson was in last summer has affected their life and relationship.

Astros prospect, UH product Chris Wallace looking to prove himself at Double-A - Houston Houston Astros | Examiner.com
Stephen Goff continues his trek through the minors this time profiling the red hot Chris Wallace.

Should the Astros trade Hunter Pence? - CBSSports.com
A case for trading Hunter Pence.

The Ups and Downs of the Brett Wallace-Michael Taylor Trade - Beyond the Box Score
Wallace and Taylor were seeing big-time hype going into 2010, and by the end of the season they were running on fumes. Now, both are seeing their stocks rise again as people take notice of their resurgent numbers- but a deeper look at those numbers indicates that the apparent improvement may not be so substantial.

Things Considered Blasphemy

Quiz results: DH debate
The votes are in and the people say get rid of the DH.

Tweet Comment 2 comments | 0 recs |

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The Beyond the Boxscore article and the Houston Examiner article provide quite a contrast in viewing Wallace’s season. The Examiner lauds Wallace’s “respectable stats” and contends that Wallace should play against all LHPs. BtB says:

Wallace is still not hitting for power, as many scouts had worried about, his BABIP is pretty much unsustainable at .372, and he’s been totally ineffective against left-handed pitchers…. If anything, the additional things we know about them now, like Wallace’s clear inability to hit lefties and Taylor’s devolving patience, should be considered additional red flags.

Mills says in the Examiner article that he uses the LHP’s platoon splits to decide whether to start Wallace against the pitcher. If anything, Mills’ approach helps maintain Wallace’s stats at a respectable level, though it may be superficial.

by clack on Jul 7, 2011 6:52 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Wallace is sitting against a lefty today.

Michaels and Sanchez will be in the lineup. Good times.

by MadMartygan on Jul 7, 2011 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

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Cincinnati Red Reporter	26	20	.565	0	Won 1
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