NewsMichaels swinging hot bat in second half
Houston (70-76) at Milwaukee (70-75), 7:05 p.m. CT
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
09/17/09 1:30 AM ET
CINCINNATI -- Jason Michaels got so tired of seeing his subpar batting average displayed on stadium scoreboards around the league that he decided to quit looking and quit worrying and to just start to relax at the plate. That batting average, which for much of the first half of the season was under .200, was sitting at .242 entering Wednesday's game against the Reds. Michaels hit .176 in the first half of the season, but he was hitting .340 (17-for-50) following the All-Star break. "I'm going up there with a good plan and sticking with it and actually trying to have good at-bats," Michaels said. "That's really the one thing. When you don't play as much, you don't get a chance to have repetition and make adjustments quicker. I think you can easily fall into over-adjusting and fall back in the same hole." Considering how few at-bats Michaels has gotten this season, it's been difficult for him to get into a groove at the plate. He's started only 16 games, including 11 in center field. He's 5-for-9 with seven walks in his past 16 pinch-hit plate appearances (prior to Wednesday) and is batting .240 (12-for-50) as a pinch-hitter this year. "Walking is a good at-bat and just as good as a hit," he said. "They want you to get on base. Sometimes you have guys in scoring position, but even if you walk and have [Michael] Bourn up behind you, he has the advantage of playing every day. You just keep it going." Michaels hit .263 in April, .100 in May, .179 in June, .263 in July and .355 in August. "It's so hard because you get caught up in numbers," Michaels said. "You see your number up there and you don't get the at-bats [to improve it]. You try not to let it get to you. It took me a little bit longer this year to say, 'Screw the numbers.' "I'm a Major League hitter and a good Major League hitter, and I know that. I don't care if I'm hitting .150. I'm out there to have good at-bats, even if I get out and give myself a chance to put myself in hitter's counts and I hit the ball hard." Pitching matchupHOU: RHP Bud Norris (5-3, 5.44 ERA)
Norris will start on six days of rest, having not pitched since giving up six hits and one run and striking out seven batters last Friday against Pittsburgh. He's received decisions in all eight of his starts this year, going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA to start his career before losing his next three starts (0-3, 13.11 ERA). He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last two starts, beating the Phillies and Pirates. This will be his second career appearance against the Brewers. He beat them Aug. 7, giving up three hits and two runs in six innings. MIL: LHP Chris Narveson (1-0, 4.67 ERA)
Narveson will make a second consecutive start in place of fellow lefty Manny Parra, who remains sidelined with a stiff neck. Parra underwent an MRI scan Wednesday that yielded no further information, but it's clear that Narveson will be needed for at least one more turn through the rotation. Narveson pitched three good innings in Arizona last weekend but was out of the game before recording an out in the fourth. hE made both of his career appearances against the Astros in 2006, for the Cardinals, including one in which he allowed two runs on two hits in four innings. Tidbits
First baseman Lance Berkman missed the final two games of the Reds series with back spasms. He's listed as day-to-day. ... Infielder Jeff Keppinger had his first career multihomer game on Wednesday against the Reds. ... Closer Jose Valverde is expected to rejoin the team in Milwaukee after missing the Reds series with a sore throat and a fever. ... Bourn notched his 57th stolen base, which is tied with Cesar Cedeno for fifth most by an Astros player in a single season. Tickets
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• Saturday: Astros (Brian Moehler, 8-10, 5.01) at Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 6-10, 4.87), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Astros (Felipe Paulino, 2-9, 6.06) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 12-12, 3.84), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Astros (TBD) vs. Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 14-11, 3.31), 7:05 p.m. CT
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
