Pence out 4-6 weeks with injured wrist

[DOMINATOR]

HOUSTON -- Hunter Pence will be out four to six weeks with a small chip fracture in his right wrist, general manager Tim Purpura announced following the Astros' 10-2 loss to the Dodgers on Monday night. Pence was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Pence, 24, suffered the injury while sliding into second base in Pittsburgh on Sunday. X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam taken on the wrist Monday revealed a much more serious injury.

The Astros have recalled outfielder Jason Lane from Triple-A Round Rock. He will be in uniform in time for Tuesday's game with the Dodgers.

looks like i won't be watching the astros for 4-6 weeks.

[ak47]

darn it, there goes his Rookie of the Year. Ryan Braun of the Brewers is tearin it up.

[codell]

The Jason Lane era has begun.

[Cannonball]

Well, the season's lost. Don't rush it back.

[LonghornFan]

And my XBOX 360 NCAA 2008 gaming just got a jump start.

Just...sick.

[redgoose]

Well, the season's lost. Don't rush it back.

I have now officially crossed you of my list of secretly being Tim Purpura on this board. :D

It's a marathon, not a race. Our team has just under performed to this point and we can still win the division. It's just all Phil Garner's fault. We don't need Petitte and Clemens, we have Woody and Jennings. :)

[leroy420]

Why AAAA player Lane? Why not give Josh Anderson a shot to play some CF? Or Mike Rodriguez?

[couple of d's]

If you arent gonna watch the astros for 4-6 weeks just cuz one player is out, you were never an astros fan in the first place.

[DOMINATOR]

If you arent gonna watch the astros for 4-6 weeks just cuz one player is out, you were never an astros fan in the first place.
you could say that but it sure is boring watching a bunch of has-beens, never-was' and no heart players. i will watch Oswalt when he returns though... since he is my favorite player.

[SWTsig]

If you arent gonna watch the astros for 4-6 weeks just cuz one player is out, you were never an astros fan in the first place.

that's cute.

[coogz]

Let's hope that Purpura tries to at least salvage his job by bringing up some young talent when the rosters expand.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he has the 'I just don't think we're going to be able to contend' conversation with Drayton in a few weeks - let's face it, they haven't had it yet. Would you want to tell him???

[sm0d]

we place lane on waivers and no other team in the majors wants him. then we call him back up instead of giving another player a chance. gotta love timmy.

[biggz]

SI curse strikes again.

[Kerfeld]

Let me get this straight......they called up Jason freakin Lane! What does Lane have on Purpura? I need to know.

[The Cat]

There really wasn't a much better option than Lane. The farm system is that thin. And, he has been playing very well.

That said, as I wrote in the recap (see official site), this is Burke's chance. He was already the road starter at 2B... it's a safe assumption he'll get a lot of home starts at CF as well. While he'll have to play multiple positions, he's likely to be a close to everyday player, which is what he's asked for and what the organization needs to evaluate him. These final two months-plus will determine his future in Houston.

[Kam]

hope chris burke does something.

[TMac640]

There really wasn't a much better option than Lane. The farm system is that thin. And, he has been playing very well.

That said, as I wrote in the recap (see official site), this is Burke's chance. He was already the road starter at 2B... it's a safe assumption he'll get a lot of home starts at CF as well. While he'll have to play multiple positions, he's likely to be a close to everyday player, which is what he's asked for and what the organization needs to evaluate him. These final two months-plus will determine his future in Houston.

I haven't been following any of our players aside from the AAA club. Aside from that, do we really not have anyone in AA or below Cat?

[The Cat]

I haven't been following any of our players aside from the AAA club. Aside from that, do we really not have anyone in AA or below Cat?

Well, there are some potential bats, but none that can reasonably be expected to play in the majors this year. When I said it's that thin, I meant in terms of near ML talent.

http://www.roundrockexpress.com/asp/statistics.asp?stats=t_iba

I know Lane has worn out his welcome, but the only other options are Mike Rodriguez (.714 OPS) and Josh Anderson (.652 OPS). Clearly, those wouldn't work out well. Lane has outperformed both by a mile, so it's hard to get too worked up about this.

[LonghornFan]

If you arent gonna watch the astros for 4-6 weeks just cuz one player is out, you were never an astros fan in the first place.

http://fototime.com/4B5EBB1F60CD546/standard.jpg

[kevwun]

There are some nice hitting prospects in AA and below. JR Towles is a good looking catching prospect in Corpus. He's probably going to be the one that gets here first.

[RocketFan007]

There really wasn't a much better option than Lane. The farm system is that thin. And, he has been playing very well.

I understand that the system is thin and we have very little talent and that the other options (Rodriguez and Anderson) aren't having very good years. But we know Jason Lane isn't a major league player, and we know he's not part of our future. This team isn't going anywhere, so it's not like we lose anything if we bring up someone and they stink it up. Why not bring up someone like Rodriguez who is plus defensively, and makes a lot of contact just to see if he can make a spot on the bench next season.

[MadMax]

honestly, why not jason lane? we have absolutely nothing to lose.

[DaDakota]

honestly, why not jason lane? we have absolutely nothing to lose.


That depends on whether you are playing for this year or next...because Lane is surely NOT a next year player.

DD

[RocketFan007]

honestly, why not jason lane? we have absolutely nothing to lose.

That's the exact argument you use to bring up Rodriguez or Anderson, not Lane.

[No Worries]

I know Lane has worn out his welcome, but the only other options are Mike Rodriguez (.714 OPS) and Josh Anderson (.652 OPS). Clearly, those wouldn't work out well. Lane has outperformed both by a mile, so it's hard to get too worked up about this.
Lane currently has a .909 OPS in Round Rock.

Josh Anderson was at one point a A+ prospect in the lower minors, but appears to have struggle with his bat in AA and AAA. Gotta think that someone else will be taking his spot on the 40 man roster next year.

Let's hope that Lane has found his groove in AAA and that translates into better MLB play than earlier this year.

[MadMax]

That's the exact argument you use to bring up Rodriguez or Anderson, not Lane.

Except that Lane is killing it right now. Maybe he's flipped a switch?

[RocketFan007]

Except that Lane is killing it right now. Maybe he's flipped a switch?

He's always killed it at AAA, that's nothing new. He's 31, he hasn't turned the corner. When he was sent down, every team in major league baseball had a chance to pick him up, and no one did. Yet he'll be your starting CF for the majority of the last 4-6 weeks. Disgusting.

BTW, my father just called and said that he heard Purpura on the radio saying that due to the Pence injury, we'd likely hold on to Lamb and Loretta in order to "finish strong." Anyone else hear this?

[No Worries]

BTW, my father just called and said that he heard Purpura on the radio saying that due to the Pence injury, we'd likely hold on to Lamb and Loretta in order to "finish strong."
Reading in between the lines, there will be no fire sale. Not a bad thing. I suspect that at least three players will be moved in the next week.

[MadMax]

He's always killed it at AAA, that's nothing new. He's 31, he hasn't turned the corner. When he was sent down, every team in major league baseball had a chance to pick him up, and no one did. Yet he'll be your starting CF for the majority of the last 4-6 weeks. Disgusting.

BTW, my father just called and said that he heard Purpura on the radio saying that due to the Pence injury, we'd likely hold on to Lamb and Loretta in order to "finish strong." Anyone else hear this?

1. i don't see better options. and i don't think rushing guys through is necessary helpful.

2. i wouldn't read too much in. remember, purpura's job is to create value. if it's perceived that we're ready for a firesale, our return isn't going to be nearly as high. i don't think those comments will restrict the team from trading away those guys if we're offered something of real value.

[Surfguy]

This is the season where every damn thing goes wrong. I can't remember a season so horrific in all my years of watching the Astros.

[DaDakota]

This is the season where every damn thing goes wrong. I can't remember a season so horrific in all my years of watching the Astros.

Oh man, I do.....

DD

[xiki]

That's the exact argument you use to bring up Rodriguez or Anderson, not Lane.

It's a good move because:

Right now Lane has zero value. The team is going nowhere slow.

If Lane puts it together he could potentially be marketable in an August waiver deal or Hot Stove trade.

If not, JL (is his middle initial 'K'?) retains his zero value.

[The Cat]

He's always killed it at AAA, that's nothing new. He's 31, he hasn't turned the corner. When he was sent down, every team in major league baseball had a chance to pick him up, and no one did. Yet he'll be your starting CF for the majority of the last 4-6 weeks. Disgusting.

BTW, my father just called and said that he heard Purpura on the radio saying that due to the Pence injury, we'd likely hold on to Lamb and Loretta in order to "finish strong." Anyone else hear this?

I was standing there when Purpura used those exact words... unless it's new (and I'm assuming he hasn't gone on the radio today, that they're playing this from last night), he said this before they knew about Pence.

Also, he didn't say they were "likely" to hold on to Lamb and Loretta... just that it was a possibility, and that they had to weigh the future they each may or may not have with the team. Essentially, it sounded like poker... there's no way he'll go out and say they're waving the white flag, because desperate teams don't get the best deals.

[MadMax]

This is the season where every damn thing goes wrong. I can't remember a season so horrific in all my years of watching the Astros.

2000 was awful. coming off three division titles in a row...the excitement of the new park...and the team sucked.

[Groogrux]

2000 was awful. coming off three division titles in a row...the excitement of the new park...and the team sucked.

Yeah, I'd put that one ahead of this one. While it was not founded in reality, I really felt up until the Cubs series that we had a run in us. In 2000, I gave up right after we blew that huge lead in mid-May or so. Something like an eight-run lead in the ninth.

[Uprising]

I'm just worried that Lane might tear it up the rest of the season (a good thing for now) and so Tim will have confidence in him and will want him back next year. Only to see Lane hit .187. :(

[xiki]

I'm just worried that Lane might tear it up the rest of the season (a good thing for now) and so Tim will have confidence in him and will want him back next year. Only to see Lane hit .187. :(

If Tim is back then Lane is the least of your concerns.

If Lane tears it up (uh, huh sure) then he developes tradxe value (uh, huh sure, but maybe?).

[VesceySux]

I'm just worried that Lane might tear it up the rest of the season (a good thing for now) and so Tim will have confidence in him and will want him back next year. Only to see Lane hit .187. :(

LANE: C'mon, baby, I can hit .300 and contribute to the team.
PURPURA: You promised to change the last time I took you back and then just lapsed back into your usual routine again. You just didn't respect me, so I optioned your ass to AAA.
LANE: But, baby, this time is different. I'm now hitting the stuffing off the ball in AAA, so now I'm guaranteed to be successful at the major league level. You know I love you, baby. I'll treat you right.
PURPURA: Well... okay. But don't abuse my trust again.
[Purpura calls up Lane from AAA]
LANE: [Smacks Purpura] Bitch, get me a beer!

[tomato]

What If Purpura Got It Exactly Right?

[Rashmon]

This is the season where every damn thing goes wrong. I can't remember a season so horrific in all my years of watching the Astros.

You must be young...

[MadMax]

Yeah, I'd put that one ahead of this one. While it was not founded in reality, I really felt up until the Cubs series that we had a run in us. In 2000, I gave up right after we blew that huge lead in mid-May or so. Something like an eight-run lead in the ninth.

yeah...i went to a cubs afternoon game very early on at MMP that season. we gave up something like 8 runs in the first inning. 3 homeruns. awful. it was just such a letdown after all the excitement of the new ballpark.

[Surfguy]

You must be young...

Not really... . I've been watching the Astros since '76 or so. I don't remember seasons like you guys apparently do. Hence, this is the most horrific season I can remember. lol

[rrj_gamz]

FOCK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[No Worries]

You must be young...
... and missed the entire 60s and 70s.