GaryMrMets
10-22-2005, 01:43 AM
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SportsTicker
CHICAGO (Ticker) - Three tidbits you need to know about the key members of the Houston Astros.
Brad Ausmus
1. Hit .275 (55-for-200) after the All-Star break and led all National League catchers with 66 hits in the second half of the regular season.
2. A two-time Gold Glove Award winner, committed just one error in 134 games behind the plate - 118 starts. Has started at least 100 games in each of the last 11 seasons and leads all major league catchers in games played, assists and total chances since 1995.
3. Was teammates with future NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch on high school team that won the 1984 Connecticut state championship.
Lance Berkman
1. Hit 11 home runs in September, tying Richard Hidalgo's franchise record for the month. Became the third Astro in club history to record six straight 20-homer seasons.
2. Since 2001, leads all switch-hitters in home runs, RBI, walks, extra-base hits, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
3. Named the 1997 National Collegiate Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association while playing at Rice.
Mike Lamb
1. Hit .319 (22-for-69) with five homers and 11 RBI in September. Houston went 10-2 during the regular season when he homered and 25-11 when he drove in a run.
2. Hit .385 (5-for-13) with 16 RBI when batting with a runner on third base and less than two outs.
3. Earned All-Big West Conference honors while at Cal State Fullerton as a catcher in 1997, hitting .379 with 10 homers and 70 RBI.
Craig Biggio
1. Is the only player in major league history to hit 600 doubles (604), 250 home runs (260), 2,700 hits (2,795) and steal 400 bases (407).
2. Hit three leadoff homers this season, tying Brady Anderson for the second-most all-time (44). Finished one homer shy of Jeff Kent's franchise record for second basemen.
3. Named a first team All-American in 1987 as a catcher at Seton Hall University. Was college teammates with eventual major leaguers Mo Vaughn and John Valentin.
Adam Everett
1. Set career highs in homers (11), RBI (54), doubles (27), hits (136), walks (26), stolen bases (21) and fielding percentage (.978). He's the third shortstop in team history with 10 home runs and 20 steals.
2. Stole home on June 24 and July 22, becoming the first Astro since Cesar Cedeno in 1977 to steal home twice in the same season.
3. Was a member of the United States' gold-medal winning baseball team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Morgan Ensberg
1. Recovered from a dismal start to hit 36 home runs and drive in 101 runs - both team records for a third baseman. Is just the seventh player in franchise history to hit 30 homers in a single season.
2. Hit .313 (42-for-134) with runners in scoring position, including a .311 mark (33-for-106) with a runner on and two outs.
3. Was teammates with current Astro Jason Lane at Southern California in 1998, helping the Trojans to College World Series title. Ranks behind only Mark McGwire and Geoff Jenkins on the school's all-time home run list.
Chris Burke
1. Ended the longest game in postseason history with a solo homer in the bottom of the 18th inning of Houston's 7-6 win over Atlanta in Game Four of the NL Division Series.
2. During the regular season, started 74 games in left field, one in center field and seven at second base but committed just one error in 173 total chances.
3. Was a two-time All-American and Southeastern Conference Player of the Year while at the University of Tennessee after lettering in baseball and basketball at St. Xavier High School in Kentucky.
Willy Taveras
1. Led all National League rookies in hits (172), runs (82), stolen bases (34). Also led the major leagues with 70 infield hits and 29 bunt singles.
2. Hit .330 at home and .312 against righthanded pitching, but just .252 on the road and .233 vs. lefties.
3. Was the first rookie to start in center field for the Astros since Hidalgo in 1998.
Jason Lane
1. Hit .305 after the All-Star break and finished with 26 home runs - two shy of the club record for a right fielder. 2. Collected 27 RBI in a 39-game stretch from August 7-September 21 as the Astros were fighting to claim the NL wild card.
3. Hit .517 with a tournament record 15 hits in the 1998 College World Series. Was also a pitcher at USC and picked up the win in the CWS championship game.
Jeff Bagwell
1. Missed 115 games after undergoing right shoulder surgery on his right shoulder. Returned to the team in September and went 3-for-10 with three RBI as a pinch hitter.
2. Joins Frank Thomas and Cal Ripken Jr. as the only players since 1972 to hit at least 400 homers while playing their entire career with the same team.
3. He and Biggio are the active leaders for teammate tenure in pro sports with 15 straight seasons in Houston.
Andy Pettitte
1. Went 14-2 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 20 starts of the regular season, leading the majors in wins and ERA in that stretch. Posted a major league-best 2.12 ERA at home and finished second to teammate Roger Clemens with a career-best 2.39 mark.
2. Has played in the postseason in all but one of his 11 seasons in the majors, missing only 2004 due to a left elbow injury. Ranks second in major league history with 14 postseason wins.
3. Is the only pitcher in baseball history to post a winning record in each of his first 11 season
s.
Roy Oswalt
1. Won each of his last three starts in the regular season to finish with a 20-12 record, becoming the only pitcher to win 20 games in each of the last two seasons.
2. His 3.07 career ERA is the best in franchise history among pitchers who have thrown at least 800 innings.
3. Since joining the majors in 2001, ranks fourth in wins (83), fifth in ERA and eighth in winning percentage (.680).
Roger Clemens
1. Led the major leagues with a 1.87 ERA, second only to Nolan Ryan's 1.69 mark in 1981 in team history. Is one of three active pitchers to throw 200 innings and post an ERA below 2.00 in two different seasons. Is the only one since 1912 to have two such season that spanned 16 years.
2. The Astros went just 15-17 in his starts, scoring three runs or less 19 times, including nine shutouts.
3. His son, Koby, was selected by the Astros in the eighth round of the 2005 draft.
Brandon Backe
1. Was 6-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 outings at Minute Maid Park, but 4-6 with a 5.83 ERA in 15 road starts.
2. Ranks first among active pitchers with a .393 slugging percentage and third with a .303 on-base percentage (minimum 25 plate appearances).
3. Was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an infielder in 1998 after earning third-team All-America honors at Galveston, Texas Community College.
Chad Qualls
1. Finished second among major league rookies and seventh overall with 77 appearances, posting a 6-4 record and a 3.28 ERA.
2. Limited opponents to a .249 batting average, including a .218 mark against lefthanded hitters.
3. Did not allow a run in 15 of his last 20 outings in the regular season.
Dan Wheeler
1. Went 2-3 with a 2.21 ERA and three saves with 69 strikeouts in a career-best 73 1/3 innings.
2. Has allowed just one earned run in 15 career postseason innings, good for the best playoff ERA (0.60) among active relievers with a minimum of 12 innings.
3. Allowed less than one baserunner per inning and held opponents to a .204 batting average.
Brad Lidge
1. His blown save in Game Five of the NLCS aside, was virtually automatic with a lead in the ninth inning, notching 42 saves in 46 opportunities in the regular season. Converted a franchise - record 24 straight save chances from June 21-September 28.
2. Recorded at least 100 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons.
3. Named the Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year while at Notre Dame in 1998.
10-21-05 01:31 ET
SportsTicker
CHICAGO (Ticker) - Three tidbits you need to know about the key members of the Houston Astros.
Brad Ausmus
1. Hit .275 (55-for-200) after the All-Star break and led all National League catchers with 66 hits in the second half of the regular season.
2. A two-time Gold Glove Award winner, committed just one error in 134 games behind the plate - 118 starts. Has started at least 100 games in each of the last 11 seasons and leads all major league catchers in games played, assists and total chances since 1995.
3. Was teammates with future NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch on high school team that won the 1984 Connecticut state championship.
Lance Berkman
1. Hit 11 home runs in September, tying Richard Hidalgo's franchise record for the month. Became the third Astro in club history to record six straight 20-homer seasons.
2. Since 2001, leads all switch-hitters in home runs, RBI, walks, extra-base hits, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
3. Named the 1997 National Collegiate Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association while playing at Rice.
Mike Lamb
1. Hit .319 (22-for-69) with five homers and 11 RBI in September. Houston went 10-2 during the regular season when he homered and 25-11 when he drove in a run.
2. Hit .385 (5-for-13) with 16 RBI when batting with a runner on third base and less than two outs.
3. Earned All-Big West Conference honors while at Cal State Fullerton as a catcher in 1997, hitting .379 with 10 homers and 70 RBI.
Craig Biggio
1. Is the only player in major league history to hit 600 doubles (604), 250 home runs (260), 2,700 hits (2,795) and steal 400 bases (407).
2. Hit three leadoff homers this season, tying Brady Anderson for the second-most all-time (44). Finished one homer shy of Jeff Kent's franchise record for second basemen.
3. Named a first team All-American in 1987 as a catcher at Seton Hall University. Was college teammates with eventual major leaguers Mo Vaughn and John Valentin.
Adam Everett
1. Set career highs in homers (11), RBI (54), doubles (27), hits (136), walks (26), stolen bases (21) and fielding percentage (.978). He's the third shortstop in team history with 10 home runs and 20 steals.
2. Stole home on June 24 and July 22, becoming the first Astro since Cesar Cedeno in 1977 to steal home twice in the same season.
3. Was a member of the United States' gold-medal winning baseball team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Morgan Ensberg
1. Recovered from a dismal start to hit 36 home runs and drive in 101 runs - both team records for a third baseman. Is just the seventh player in franchise history to hit 30 homers in a single season.
2. Hit .313 (42-for-134) with runners in scoring position, including a .311 mark (33-for-106) with a runner on and two outs.
3. Was teammates with current Astro Jason Lane at Southern California in 1998, helping the Trojans to College World Series title. Ranks behind only Mark McGwire and Geoff Jenkins on the school's all-time home run list.
Chris Burke
1. Ended the longest game in postseason history with a solo homer in the bottom of the 18th inning of Houston's 7-6 win over Atlanta in Game Four of the NL Division Series.
2. During the regular season, started 74 games in left field, one in center field and seven at second base but committed just one error in 173 total chances.
3. Was a two-time All-American and Southeastern Conference Player of the Year while at the University of Tennessee after lettering in baseball and basketball at St. Xavier High School in Kentucky.
Willy Taveras
1. Led all National League rookies in hits (172), runs (82), stolen bases (34). Also led the major leagues with 70 infield hits and 29 bunt singles.
2. Hit .330 at home and .312 against righthanded pitching, but just .252 on the road and .233 vs. lefties.
3. Was the first rookie to start in center field for the Astros since Hidalgo in 1998.
Jason Lane
1. Hit .305 after the All-Star break and finished with 26 home runs - two shy of the club record for a right fielder. 2. Collected 27 RBI in a 39-game stretch from August 7-September 21 as the Astros were fighting to claim the NL wild card.
3. Hit .517 with a tournament record 15 hits in the 1998 College World Series. Was also a pitcher at USC and picked up the win in the CWS championship game.
Jeff Bagwell
1. Missed 115 games after undergoing right shoulder surgery on his right shoulder. Returned to the team in September and went 3-for-10 with three RBI as a pinch hitter.
2. Joins Frank Thomas and Cal Ripken Jr. as the only players since 1972 to hit at least 400 homers while playing their entire career with the same team.
3. He and Biggio are the active leaders for teammate tenure in pro sports with 15 straight seasons in Houston.
Andy Pettitte
1. Went 14-2 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 20 starts of the regular season, leading the majors in wins and ERA in that stretch. Posted a major league-best 2.12 ERA at home and finished second to teammate Roger Clemens with a career-best 2.39 mark.
2. Has played in the postseason in all but one of his 11 seasons in the majors, missing only 2004 due to a left elbow injury. Ranks second in major league history with 14 postseason wins.
3. Is the only pitcher in baseball history to post a winning record in each of his first 11 season
s.
Roy Oswalt
1. Won each of his last three starts in the regular season to finish with a 20-12 record, becoming the only pitcher to win 20 games in each of the last two seasons.
2. His 3.07 career ERA is the best in franchise history among pitchers who have thrown at least 800 innings.
3. Since joining the majors in 2001, ranks fourth in wins (83), fifth in ERA and eighth in winning percentage (.680).
Roger Clemens
1. Led the major leagues with a 1.87 ERA, second only to Nolan Ryan's 1.69 mark in 1981 in team history. Is one of three active pitchers to throw 200 innings and post an ERA below 2.00 in two different seasons. Is the only one since 1912 to have two such season that spanned 16 years.
2. The Astros went just 15-17 in his starts, scoring three runs or less 19 times, including nine shutouts.
3. His son, Koby, was selected by the Astros in the eighth round of the 2005 draft.
Brandon Backe
1. Was 6-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 outings at Minute Maid Park, but 4-6 with a 5.83 ERA in 15 road starts.
2. Ranks first among active pitchers with a .393 slugging percentage and third with a .303 on-base percentage (minimum 25 plate appearances).
3. Was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an infielder in 1998 after earning third-team All-America honors at Galveston, Texas Community College.
Chad Qualls
1. Finished second among major league rookies and seventh overall with 77 appearances, posting a 6-4 record and a 3.28 ERA.
2. Limited opponents to a .249 batting average, including a .218 mark against lefthanded hitters.
3. Did not allow a run in 15 of his last 20 outings in the regular season.
Dan Wheeler
1. Went 2-3 with a 2.21 ERA and three saves with 69 strikeouts in a career-best 73 1/3 innings.
2. Has allowed just one earned run in 15 career postseason innings, good for the best playoff ERA (0.60) among active relievers with a minimum of 12 innings.
3. Allowed less than one baserunner per inning and held opponents to a .204 batting average.
Brad Lidge
1. His blown save in Game Five of the NLCS aside, was virtually automatic with a lead in the ninth inning, notching 42 saves in 46 opportunities in the regular season. Converted a franchise - record 24 straight save chances from June 21-September 28.
2. Recorded at least 100 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons.
3. Named the Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year while at Notre Dame in 1998.
10-21-05 01:31 ET