Hunter Pence is the leadoff hitter, Michael Bourn is moved to the number 8 spot, and Fernando Nieve is called up from Triple-A.

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RyanED	Hunter Pence is the leadoff hitter, Michael Bourn is moved to the number 8 spot, and Fernando Nieve is called up from Triple-A.	Lead	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 30697 (05/16/2008 5:02 PM) Golden Boy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Astros move Pence to leadoff spot, call up Nieve \| Chron.com - Houston Chronicle From Chron.com The Astros called up righthander Fernando Nieve from Triple-A Round Rock today and moved right fielder Hunter Pence into the leadoff spot in the batting order. Pence, batting .286 with a .335 on-base percentage this season, will take the top spot in the order from centerfielder Michael Bourn, who will be moved to the No. 8 hole. Bourn has a .188 batting average in 144 plate appearances in 2008. Nieve, who was 3-3 with a 4.20 ERA for the Astros in 2006, was moved to the minor-league bullpen for the remainder of the 2008 season Tuesday because of breathing problems. He will replace injured reliever Geoff Geary, who left Thursday's game with a strained right groin, on the 40-man roster.
Bance Lerkman		#1	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 909 (05/16/2008 5:06 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That kind of sucks. I love having Pence up after Tejada, Berkman, and Lee. He's usually batting with men on in the 6th spot. It'll be nice to have more men on base for Berkman, but I like knowing Lee is going to get some pitches to hit with Pence batting behind him. Ty Wiggington or Geoff Blum protecting Lee concerns me a little.
Spudder		#2	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3726 (05/16/2008 5:06 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I like it.....first 5 batters should do a lot of damage.....
Spudder		#3	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3727 (05/16/2008 5:08 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post
RyanED		#4	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 30698 (05/16/2008 5:11 PM) Golden Boy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Kudos to Cecil Cooper for making the change. Now this means more at-bats for Hunter Pence, and Michael Bourn will likely hit much better in the number 8 spot because they'll be less pressure on him to produce a much better on-base percentage. More at-bats for Hunter Pence, less at-bats for Michael Bourn is basically what it comes down to for me, and I like the thought of that. I'm eager to see Fernando Nieve pitch. I really don't know what I expect out of him. He had a lot of potential prior to his past injuries, and it's nice to see him back again.
RyanED		#5	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 30699 (05/16/2008 5:14 PM) Golden Boy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Hunter Pence's .335 on-base percentage is more desirable as a leadoff hitter. I love this change so much. Watch the Astros score 10 runs tonight. Maybe not, but I can hope!
Astrogirl		#6	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3442 (05/16/2008 5:15 PM) Bagwell Babe Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I had not heard about this. Interesting! I know fans have been screaming about doing something about Bourn. I guess the 8 spot would be less pressure, so it will be interesting to watch and see if there is any difference.
PatHajovsky		#7	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1305 (05/16/2008 5:15 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'll bet Nieve got NO sleep last night....
Spudder		#8	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3728 (05/16/2008 5:19 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	PatHajovsky wrote: I'll bet Nieve got NO sleep last night.... Are you blogging via Blackberry......you're in Arlington, right?
danocaster		#9	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 177 (05/16/2008 5:41 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I was hoping Nieve would get the call up. I think he'll be solid. I hope this doesn't mess up Pence's approach.
bsb8532		#10	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 687 (05/16/2008 5:46 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm fine with Pence at leadoff but I don't get Bourn in the 8 hole. Why not bat him 9th? At 8, you're going to bunt him over with the pitcher, which negates his best asset....speed. I guess you could try to steal then bunt him to 3rd, but the defense will have an advantage in throwing him out as they will not have to focus on the hitter (pitcher) like they would Matsui, Tejada, or Berkman. They can work him at first and throw pitch outs to gun him down. Plus, with Pence at leadoff and capable of driving in runners, it seems like having Bourn as a 2nd leadoff is all the more valuable.
Flastrohs		#11	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 17468 (05/16/2008 5:53 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nieve's #'s at RR..... 1-3 record 32 innings 39 hits 21 runs/19 earned 10 walks....21 K's....4 homers....1 HBP...2 WP...5.34 ERA....1.53 WHIP Not good.
Bob Hulsey		#12	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3777 (05/16/2008 5:57 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	He will replace injured reliever Geoff Geary, who left Thursday's game with a strained right groin, on the 40-man roster. That's incorrect. Geary, I presume, is going on the DL and Nieve, who is already on the 40-man roster is being called up to replace him on the 25-man roster. If Nieve were not on the 40-man, the Astros would have to release or reassign somebody to make room on the 40-man but that's not necessary because Nieve was already on it. BTW, Astros.com has no mention of the Geary-Nieve move at this point and the Chronicle report has no byline so I would not take this as official without some confirmation. "Astro Fan Since They Were First Called Astros."
leedoc		#13	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 524 (05/17/2008 12:00 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Flastrohs wrote: Nieve's #'s at RR..... 1-3 record 32 innings 39 hits 21 runs/19 earned 10 walks....21 K's....4 homers....1 HBP...2 WP...5.34 ERA....1.53 WHIP Not good. In this case, it's not that simple. He was very good for 4-5 innings, but a sinus problem was keeping him from breathing properly, making him tire out easily. That's why they moved him to the pen. He'll have surgery after the season to fix a deviated septum. Until then, I think he'll develop into the late innings guy I think most of us believed he was all along.
Berkmaniac		#14	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1350 (05/17/2008 7:57 AM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I know that you all saw how excited Hunter was when he made that ridiculous catch! He was smiling from the second he hit the dirt. That is the way the game is meant to be played right there. Way to go Hunter!
TheRedSon		#15	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1039 (05/17/2008 3:04 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm not sure I understand waiting that long to correct a deviated septum if it's causing him this much trouble with endurance. I've had the procedure done before. It's an inpatient surgery and I felt fine after a couple of days. I think he'd be ready to pitch again in a week probably (that's how long they left the splint/stitches in).
Clack		#16	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 14100 (05/17/2008 4:22 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	TheRedSon wrote: I'm not sure I understand waiting that long to correct a deviated septum if it's causing him this much trouble with endurance. I've had the procedure done before. It's an inpatient surgery and I felt fine after a couple of days. I think he'd be ready to pitch again in a week probably (that's how long they left the splint/stitches in). I'm not a medical expert, but I am under the impression that the complication of the procedure can vary from case to case. Craig Hansen, the Red Sox reliever, had surgery performed to correct his sleep problems, and the Red Sox waited until an off-season to do it. The description of Hansen's procedure seemed like it might take some recovery time, since the surgeon had to break his nose and also removed the tonsils in order to increase nighttime breathing. I am guessing that the Astros didn't want to take any chances on complications creating a longer recovery time. Also, maybe they believe it would take some time for the change in sleeping patterns to affect his ability to start.
Bob Hulsey		#17	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 3803 (05/17/2008 5:05 PM) Astros Fan Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	An athlete's head probably takes more punishment than the average Joe. Even the landing off the mound during a follow through probably would hurt a head with recent surgery more than somebody who sits at a computer all day. Perhaps even running hard might. So I wouldn't necessarily compare recovery time between Nieve and one of us. So, if he can go an inning here or an inning there without making his situation worse, why not have him do that and then get his surgery done in the off-season? Makes sense to me. "Astro Fan Since They Were First Called Astros."
TheRedSon		#18	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1041 (05/17/2008 5:24 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That's fine if an inning here and an inning there is all the Astros expect to need from him. If this is the only thing keeping him from being a better starter than Chris Sampson on the other hand... I won't argue that Nieve probably gets a lot more wear and tear on his body in a day than I do (at least now... I had it done in high school though ), but the longest that procedure should keep him off the roster for would be two weeks. One day to get it done, another day or two of fearing food, splint comes out in a week and breathing better than he has his whole life (or at least since whenever it was he broke his nose) in 10 or 11 days (unless he's a real bleeder... In which case his nose would be pretty crusty for a while).
TheRedSon		#19	[-]
Astros Fan Posts: 1042 (05/17/2008 5:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'm not a medical expert, but I am under the impression that the complication of the procedure can vary from case to case. Craig Hansen, the Red Sox reliever, had surgery performed to correct his sleep problems, and the Red Sox waited until an off-season to do it. The description of Hansen's procedure seemed like it might take some recovery time, since the surgeon had to break his nose and also removed the tonsils in order to increase nighttime breathing. I am guessing that the Astros didn't want to take any chances on complications creating a longer recovery time. Also, maybe they believe it would take some time for the change in sleeping patterns to affect his ability to start. Breaking his nose and removing tonsils sounds like two seperate procedures. How long before you can eat solid food after the tonsils come out? Maybe it is different from case to case... I thought it was just a matter of cutting, breaking, resetting and splinting for a week though. Where's a doctor when we have important questions. If the DS is causing sleep problems then it's a wonder he hasn't had it done before. I was under the impression it was preventing him from breathing on the mound rather than at night. I had it done because the Doc said I had an 80% blockage on the left side and 20% on the right. That kind of difficulty turns an athalete into a mouth breather before he starts sweating. Getting the old wisdom teeth removed took me out of action longer...