Major League Baseball

Feliz brings championship experience to Astros

Published Feb. 28, 2010 7:29 p.m. ET

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Pedro Feliz derives as much joy from a sparkling play at third base as he does from a home run, and the Houston Astros need plenty of both from him this season.

The 34-year-old Feliz left Philadelphia after two NL-pennant winning seasons and signed a one-year deal with the Astros. He'll take over the full-time role at third base after Geoff Blum and Jeff Keppinger split time there for Houston last season.

Feliz set a career high with 154 hits in 2009 and batted .266, his highest average since 2004. He also ranked third among NL third basemen in assists (312) and fifth in fielding percentage (.966) in 155 games.

Feliz said Sunday that his adjustment to the Astros has been seamless. His approach to this year is the same as always, with his one goal to simply build on his numbers from the previous season.

``The game's going to be the same,'' Feliz said. ``I'm just going to play it with different people.''

The Astros went 74-88 last season, their second losing record in three years. Feliz is one of more than a dozen new faces on the roster, counting both coaches and players, and he brings valuable postseason experience that the Astros hope rubs off on the younger players.

Feliz started at third base in the past two World Series with Philadelphia, and also appeared in the 2002 Series with San Francisco. He's played in 10 postseason series and 37 playoff games in his career.

``If other players are paying attention, they can just see that this guy has been through the battles, he knows what it takes to get to the finish line,'' Astros general manager Ed Wade said. ``Having been there and having that understanding of what it takes to get there is a big plus, and other players can feed off that.''

The Astros also expect Feliz to fill the leadership gap vacated when shortstop and fellow Dominican Miguel Tejada signed with Baltimore. Tejada became well-respected in the Houston clubhouse over the past two seasons, especially among the Latino players, before signing a free-agent contract with Baltimore.

Feliz has a quiet demeanor, but Wade said he'll set a high standard with his work ethic as Tejada did.

``We're not looking for guys to come in here and necessarily be 'rah-rah' guys,'' Wade said. ``But we're looking for guys who are professional, and approach the game with focus and understand the level of commitment it takes if you want to play at a championship level.''

Feliz said the strength of the Phillies was a belief that no one player was more important than the team goals, the main message he wants to convey to his new teammates.

``It's got to be the whole group of guys, working together and doing our best,'' he said. ``I've been in three World Series, and every time, we seemed like one group, everyone together. Everybody worked as a team and that's the biggest thing for this team here.''

Houston manager Brad Mills is expecting Feliz to produce offensively from the bottom half of the batting order. He has a lifetime .301 average at Minute Maid Park, his highest average at any ballpark where he has at least 25 at-bats. Though he only went 2 for 15 in four games there in 2009, he says he's looking forward to hitting there across a full season.

``I know I've hit there when I've come to visit,'' he said. ``Now, I just have to go back in there, try my best and do it every day.''

The Astros are more interested to see what Feliz can do with his glove, shoring up the defense on the left side of the infield with rookie shortstop Tommy Manzella.

Feliz scooped up grounders with ease on a practice field at the Astros' spring training complex on Sunday. He hit line drives in batting practice later, but said he's always preferred fielding.

``That's the game,'' he said. ``If you don't get any action, you feel like it's boring. It's fun to be more involved. It's fun when you catch ground balls, sometimes you go down and have to backhand the ball. That's a great thing, especially when you can help a pitcher like that. I mean, why not enjoy it?''

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