Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
6:12 pm Wednesday, July 4, 2001

Change may do Powell some good

By By Ed M. Odeven/Special to The Star
July 2, 2001
PHOENIX Perhaps a shakeup will help turn around Jay Powell's shaky season.
The 29-year-old Houston Astros reliever and former West Lauderdale star was acquired by the Colorado Rockies last Wednesday in exchange for left-hander Ron Villone.
Coming back from season-ending shoulder surgery last August, Powell, a former first round pick out of Mississippi State, regained an important role in the Astros bullpen as a middle-inning reliever. He was first among Astros relievers with 35 appearances.
In 36.1 innings pitched for the Astros, Powell (2-2, 3.72 ERA) had allowed 41 hits while walking 19 and striking out 28.
The most telling statistic?
Powell blew five saves.
"I don't feel I've pitched terrible, but I know I'm better than what I've been doing," Powell said the night before being dealt as Houston faced the Arizona Diamondbacks at BankOne Ballpark.
Houston manager Larry Dierker agreed Powell's statistics don't tell the entire story.
"He's throwing as well as he's thrown since he's been here," Dierker said of the right-hander the Astros acquired from the Florida Marlins in 1998. "And he's been unlucky, which is something pitchers go through. He's in a bit of a slump right now, but he's not in a slump because of his arm. His arm is good. His pitches are good. His control is good.
"I usually bring him into the game with men on base because he usually gets the hitter to hit a ground ball and he very seldom walks anybody, (but in) the last four or five outings everybody has hit a ground ball and they've all bounced through the infield."
However, the poised Powell has not backed away from the challenge of pitching his way out of this slump and coming back from the injury that sidelined him in 2000.
"The main thing going into the season was I wanted to be healthy and just see how it goes coming back. That was all answered in the first two or three weeks. Now I feel I can pitch a lot better than I've been pitching. It's just a matter of doing it."
The only difference is Powell will try to bounce back with the perennially pitching-challenged Rockies instead of the Astros.
Ed Odeven is a sports writer with the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, Ariz.

Also on Franklin County Times
Bill would eliminate YO status in cases of murder
Franklin County, Main, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 10, 2025
MONTGOMERY — A local state representative has pre-filed a bill that would prevent someone 16 or older who is charged with murder or capital murder fro...
Strickland takes council seat after Trulove’s withdrawal
Main, News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 10, 2025
RED BAY — Jonathan Strickland has been declared the next Place 3 memberof theRedBayCity Council after incumbent Herbert Trulove withdrew from the Sept...
School threats are no joking matter
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
September 10, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — The saddest thing about the Sept. 3 bomb threat at Phil Campbell High School is the lasting impact the hoax will have on the life of t...
Ambassadors program gives students taste of leadership
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 10, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE --the Ambassadors program at Tharptown Elementary is giving students an introduction to leadership. The program gives elected fifth and s...
Book Lovers Club to host violence awareness program
Columnists, Opinion, Russellville
HERE AND NOW
“We look forward to expanding our knowledge of the issues while engaging members and communities to unite in addressing this pervasive societal epidemic.”
September 10, 2025
The GFWC Book Lovers Study Club will host an awareness session about domestic and sexual violence at 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Russellville First Methodis...
Opinion: SPACECOM headquarters should be in Huntsville
Columnists, Opinion
September 10, 2025
After years of political wrangling, President Trump is bringing Space Command (SPACECOM) headquarters back to its rightful home in Huntsville. This wa...
Space Command could boost region’s economy
News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 10, 2025
FLORENCE—Northwest Alabama officials said the Sept. 3 announcement that the U.S. Space Command will be moved to Huntsville could boost local economies...
RHS volleyball team pushes record to 17-5
High School Sports, News, Russellville Golden Tigers, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
September 10, 2025
The busy week for the Russellville volleyball team was highlighted by a home match against county rival Phil Campbell, the first area match of the sea...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *