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Brett Wallace News & Rumors

For Brett Wallace, less thinking equals better hitting
September 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"The way first baseman Brett Wallace figures it, there's a lesson to take away from the 448-foot home run he hit on Saturday to end an 0-for-28 slump. "I was up there trying to do damage," Wallace said. "I was aggressive. I wasn't thinking about it." Wallace's last previous hit had been a July 23 single against the Chicago Cubs' Randy Wells. Though Wallace has been working on what he considers some minor mechanical points in regard to his swing, his main point of emphasis is his mental approach. As in, the less thinking the better. "You want to help the team," Wallace said. "You also know that the more hits you get, the better chance you have of playing. I think we as baseball players can"
Wallace's playing time to drop for near future, Berkman injured
July 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"Brett Wallace has been facing fewer lefthanded pitchers all year to the point where he's been pinch-hit for recently in the late innings with lefties on the mound, and now there appears to be more of a drop in Wallace's playing time. The first baseman was out of the lineup against Cardinals righthander Kyle McClellan on Monday and will be used less frequently as manager Brad Mills tries to get him more favorable matchups in the near future. "We're going to pick a few matchups and try to get him going and get him in gear to hit like he's capable of hitting," Mills said. Wallace, 24, has been at the center of a tug-of-war between the Astros' desire to win every game possible and develop him"
Inquiring fans want to know: Why bench Wallace for Michaels?
July 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"Sorry, Brad, I don't get this one. Maybe you can help me and a passel of fans. Replacing lefty Brett Wallace in the lineup with righty Jason Michaels doesn't make sense to the average fan. For that matter, baseball folk are also a little perplexed. Yes, there is an unwritten baseball rule that you play the veterans down the stretch and you bow to those players who supposedly have "put in their time". But when the season is over before the All-Star break — and, yes, this one is well-done, thank you — it's time to throw the handbook out the window. Don't get me wrong, I'm still solidly and completely in the Brad Mills' camp, but Wallace will be here in 2013. Lee, Michaels and a handful of"
Pence, Wallace, Norris: Astros' Nucleus of the Future?
May 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Astros' Nucleus of the Future is starting to separate itself from the pack. As new ownership and perhaps management prepares to take charge in the next few weeks, a handful of players is itself taking charge as a group to build around. Brett Wallace has stepped in nicely for Lance Berkman, Bud Norris is picking up the Roy Oswalt slack, and Hunter Pence is taking over the role of major run producer for the Astros. Pence is on pace for 21 HR and 129 RBI, Wallace is hitting .331 with a .406 OBP, and Michael Bourn is en route to another 60 stolen bases. All the while, 26-year-old Bud Norris is emerging as a possible staff ace, leading the team in Ks (10.8 per game), ERA (3.42) and WHIP"
Lee's start not a threat to Wallace
March 17
Houston Chronicle
 
"As Fox Sports Houston begins its next-to-last year as the Astros' TV partner, it will reduce its cable broadcast schedule to 130 games, with 24 games, most of them afternoon starts, on KTXH (Ch. 20). FSH aired 152 games last year, with seven on Channel 20. This year, 15 of the 24 games on Channel 20 are day starts. Three Sunday night games and two Saturday games are not on the schedule because they are within the ESPN and Fox exclusivity windows. Three other games — Sept. 6 at Pittsburgh, Sept. 11 at Washington and Sept. 18 at the Cubs — are not scheduled to air. For the first time, all games on FSH and Channel 20 will air in HDTV. Bill Brown will return for his 25th season with the"
Wallace shines against Hamels
March 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Astros made their first significant round of roster cuts Monday, sending 13 players to minor league camp. Pitchers David Carpenter, Cesar Carrillo, Jorge De Leon, Arcenio Leon and second baseman Jimmy Paredes were optioned to minor league camp as dictated by their status on the 40-man roster, which is unchanged. The minor league invitees — pitcher Douglas Arguello, infielders Koby Clemens, Brian Dopirak, Jiovanni Mier and Jose Carlos Thompson, outfielders Jon Gaston and J.D. Martinez and catcher Rene Garcia – were reassigned to minor league camp. The cuts came one day after the Astros finished the bulk of their split-squad games with five in the first two weeks and one in the last two"
Okay, Brett Wallace, you're on the clock … and it's ticking!
March 10
Houston Chronicle
 
"Okay, Brett Wallace, if your plan was to keep everyone on the edge of their seats and make a late spring run to convince management and fans you're ready for the bigs, you've got our attention. You have succeeded, my young friend. Say what you will about Houston management not pushing its minor league prospects into the majors, though. They've provided kids the opportunity on the big league stage in recent years. J.R. Towles has been given the starting catching job twice now. Tommy Manzella got the nod at shortstop before spring training began last year. Jason Castro quickly became the heir apparent at catcher as he progressed through the system last year. Bud Norris got his shot at age"
Wallace seeking balance
September 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"Brett Wallace received a day off Tuesday, and therein lies one of the most difficult balancing jobs the Astros have as they attempt to win games and develop young players in the final three weeks with the playoff races having passed them by. Wallace played against lefthander Chris Narveson on Monday, but he sat Tuesday against lefthander Chris Capuano as Carlos Lee played first and Jason Michaels played left field. Wallace, a lefthanded hitter, has taken eight of his 10 days off when the Astros were facing a lefthanded starter. Brad Mills hinted that Wallace would be seeing some time against lefthanded pitching in the near future."
Lee starts at first for first time in 11 years
August 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"Astros slugger Carlos Lee made his first start at first base in nearly 11 years in Saturday's win over the Pirates. "We've been working on it," said Lee, who has been taking ground balls and making throws for about a month. "The only way to find out is to go out there and do it." While it was not the first time he covered first base this season — he played four innings in an Aug. 8 loss at Milwaukee — Lee's start was his first since Oct. 3, 1999, when he was with the Chicago White Sox. Astros manager Brad Mills said rookie Brett Wallace will continue to get the bulk of the playing time at first base, but he said giving Lee a trial run there will help him see what options he has available"