NOTES, QUOTES

Posted on 2010 under Astros | Comments are off

6 Mar

--RHP Brandon Lyon began throwing light sessions from the mound in early March without discomfort, giving the Astros reason to believe the race for the closer spot will be under way soon. Lyon entered camp behind schedule after having a cyst in his right shoulder drained in the offseason. "It's felt good," Lyon said. "I'm not 100 percent yet, but I feel I'm getting my strength back." --CF Michael Bourn may have had a breakout 2009, but he's the first to say plenty of work remains. Bourn, who is coming off a Gold Glove season that also saw him lead the National League in stolen bases (61), wants to improve on his bunting and cut down on his strikeouts. "I like to be aggressive," said Bourn, who led the Astros with 140 strikeouts in 2009. "When I'm passive is when I tend to strike out, I feel." --RHP Felipe Paulino, who is competing with veteran Brian Moehler for the No. 5 spot, will be given every opportunity to make the rotation. And the Astros expect the power pitcher to respond. "With the tools he's got, we want him to go out there and grab the bull by the horns," manager Brad Mills said. --2B Kaz Matsui needs a solid spring training if he is to keep his starting spot. Astros brass as well as manager Brad Mills have made it clear they will not hesitate to replace Matsui with Jeff Keppinger or Geoff Blum if he struggles or is unable to stay healthy. That said, Astros GM Ed Wade is convinced the team is at its best with a healthy Matsui in the starting lineup. --LF Carlos Lee missed the first two games of the spring while at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where he had 11 entries. Lee, an avid cattle rancher with properties in Texas and his native Panama, cleared the trip with manager Brad Mills at the beginning of spring training. --RHP Bud Norris, the projected No. 4 starter, had his contract renewed at $401,000 by the Astros after failing to agree to terms before the March 3 deadline. Earlier in the week, INF Edwin Maysonet and LHP Wesley Wright agreed to deals worth up to $400,000 and $444,500, respectively. BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Home runs, including a three-run blast, hit in an inning by OF Hunter Pence in the March 4 Grapefruit League opener, which the Astros won 15-5 over the Nationals. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel like any given day, if I'm on my game, you can throw an All-Star hitting lineup out there and I can shut them down." -- RHP Roy Oswalt.