Kuzul

Fox Sports and other media outlets have reported that New York Yankee DH Jorge Posada took himself out of the lineup prior to Saturday evening’s (May 14) game against the Boston Red Sox.

Posada was scheduled to hit ninth in the lineup. He was replaced by Andruw Jones about 30 minutes before the first pitch.

Yankee GM Brian Cashman said Posada asked coach Joe Girardi to remove him from the lineup.

Cashman said Posada would address reporters after the game.

Posada is hitting .165 after going 1 for 4 in Friday’s loss to Boston.

He grounded out in his final at-bat with runners on second and third to end the eighth inning, and he has yet to get a hit in 24 at-bats against left-handed pitching.

Be sure to watch the postgame interviews and look for reports on this forum.

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It is being reported in the Houston media that the Houston Astros have officially named right-handed pitcher Brett Myers as their Opening Day starter against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Myers came to the Astros via a one-year deal on January 8, 2010. After the 2009 World Series, he filed for free agency after the Phillies informed him that they would not be pursuing a new contract with him.

He agreed to a two-year extension on his contract on August 1, 2010, with a club option for the 2013 season.

During the 2010 season, Myers was 14-8 (.636) with a 3.14 ERA. He appeared in 33 games while striking out 180 batters and walking 66.

In 2011 Grapefruit League action, he has appeared in four games with a 0-1 record and a 9.00 ERA. He has pitched 13 innings, giving up 13 runs on 21 hits and one home run. He has walked three and struck out seven.

In his Opening Day appearance in Philadelphia, he will be facing his former team and defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

The question all spring training has been who would start for the Astros on Opening Day. The majority of those “in-the-know” or those “with opinions” say that it would be either Myers or Wandy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez most likely will be the Astros’ No. 2 starter with J.A. Harp and Bud Norris vying for the No. 3 and No. 4 spots.

Myers has had controversy in the past, with the 2006 wife-punching incident in Boston, which ended with the case being dismissed.

There have been no further incidents involving Myers, but it would not be surprising to see hostility toward him on Opening Day.

He will surely face an unfriendly crowd in Philadelphia, and as anyone who follows baseball knows, Philadelphia fans can be tough on former players.

Hopefully, he can get past that and come on strong for the Astros. Heaven knows the Astros need all the help they can get this season. Myers can either be part of the solution or part of the problem.

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It has been reported in various news sources that the 2010 Houston Astros first round draft pick, Delino DeShields Jr., was arrested in Athens, Georgia early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence, underage possession of alcohol, and an unspecified traffic violation.

DeShields, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft, was given a $2.15 million signing bonus when he signed with the Astros. The signing bonus was a record for the Astros.

DeShields spent about two hours in jail before posting a $2,500 bond.

He signed with the Astros on Aug. 5 and played 16 games for their rookie level affiliate, the Greeneville Astros, hitting .313 along with six doubles, five stolen bases and 18 strikeouts.

He was expected to start for the Lexington Legends, the Astros’ Class A affiliate in 2011.

DeShields attended Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia during high school.

He is the son of Delino DeShields, who spends 13 years in the majors, playing for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, St Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, and the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros have declined comment, stating the situation is a police matter.

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It has been reported in various overnight news services that Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan has won the high-stakes bidding war for the team.

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Well, the news is all over the airwaves in Houston and it is official.

Pitcher Roy Oswalt has officially accepted the trade to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Oswalt waived his no-trade clause in a deal that will bring left handed pitcher J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar to the Astros.

The Phillies added $1,000,000 to his 2012 buyout option that will bring him $24,000,000 between now and then.

The Astros are sending $11,000,000 to the Phillies to help pay his salary and are paying half his guarantee.

Fans in Houston expressed the opinions in a video clip from the Houston Chronicle.

What do you think? Vote in the poll at the right.

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Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell has been named the new hitting coach for the team.

It was announced late Sunday morning that Bagwell would replace Sean Berry, who was fired earlier in the day.

Berry was a member of the original “Killer B’s” along with Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell.

Berry played for the Kansas City Royals (1990-1991), Montreal Expos (1992-1995), Houston Astros (1996-1998), Milwaukee Brewers (19990-2000), and the Boston Red Sox (2000).

Berry has been on the Astros’ staff for five seasons.

Bagwell previously served as special assistant to the general manager since retiring from the team in 2006.

Berry was offered a chance to remain with the Astros in a developmental role.

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Beau Mills, who is the son of Houston Astros’ manager Brad Mills, has been charged with felonious assault in Akron, Ohio.

The younger Mills was one of three Cleveland minor league players charged as a result of a nightclub incident earlier this month.

Mills, who is a first baseman with the Akron Aeros, along with teammate Jerad Head, pleaded non guilty to the charges.

The third player charged in the assault, Columbus Clippers pitcher Josh Tomlin, did not appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The charges are a result of an altercation in a nightclub which left a man with a fractured rib and a punctured lung.

According to Ohio law, felonious assault is a second-degree felony. A conviction could result in punishment starting with probation and advancing to eight years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines.

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