[ESPN 790] Wandy sent down, Matt Albers Called Up

[hoopgod13]

as per Charlie Pallilo

seems like a decent move, albers is tearing it up

also i've know him since elementary school...so it's kinda weird

[Hakeem's Dream]

as per Charlie Pallilo

seems like a decent move, albers is tearing it up

also i've know him since elementary school...so it's kinda weird
It's true, here's the email I just got from Round Rock:

"This is the email I just got from Round Rock:

Round Rock Express Baseball Club | Triple-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros
3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78664 | P: (512) 255-2255 | F: (512) 255-1558

For Immediate Release: July 20, 2006

Wandy Rodriguez Joining Express
Left-hander set to join starting rotation on Saturday

ROUND ROCK The Houston Astros announced Thursday evening that left-hander Wandy Rodriguez has been sent to Triple-A Round Rock and will join the teams starting rotation on Saturday, July 22 in Omaha.

Rodriguez, who pitched for the Express in 2004 and 2005, was 9-6 with a 5.22 earned-run average in 16 starts for the Astros. The 27-year-old was 3-4 with a 7.11 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Rodriguez went 11-6 with a 4.48 ERA for the Express in 2004 and was 4-2 with Round Rock in 2005 before joining the Astros. He posted a 10-10 record over 25 games with Houston in 2005, striking out 80 and walking 53 in 128 2/3 innings."

[superden]

My friend told me that we went to the same middle school and high school with him too... nuts.

[WallofYao]

Who exactly is Matt ALbers?

[docgundy]

Is Albers skipping AAA?

[Baqui99]

Good. Wandy's been atrocious lately.

[hoopgod13]

My friend told me that we went to the same middle school and high school with him too... nuts.

when'd u graduate from CHS?

[Aceshigh7]

from Astros.com:

The Astros will have to make another roster move on Saturday, when Backe is officially activated from the DL. That move will not involve Albers, who will be given a fair chance to display his talents on the Major League level. That leaves either Fernando Nieve or Taylor Buchholz as the likely candidates to be sent down.

This is not good news! Both Nieve and Buchholz have stepped up strong here and we need both of them on this team.

[xcrunner51]

why Albers and not Hirsch? Hirsch is doing just as well at a higher level and Albers was sort of a headcase before this breakout year. Hell Hirsch was the Texas League pitcher of the year last season

[rocketfat]

from Astros.com:



This is not good news! Both Nieve and Buchholz have stepped up strong here and we need both of them on this team.


you don't want to have to rely on buchholz right now. he's about as unpredictable and unreliable as wandy in my opinion. that said, if for some mindblowing reason nieve is sent down, after pitching as well as he has out of the pen, and pitching much less than he should be, i will be sick.


as for albers, that's pretty cool, but why the hell are they coddling hirsh?

[Major]

from Astros.com:



This is not good news! Both Nieve and Buchholz have stepped up strong here and we need both of them on this team.

That does seem silly - why not Borkowski? He's redundant with Nieve there if you want a long reliever.

[Major]

why Albers and not Hirsch? Hirsch is doing just as well at a higher level and Albers was sort of a headcase before this breakout year. Hell Hirsch was the Texas League pitcher of the year last season

It was mentioned somewhere else that Hirsh has a sore arm and they are going to be very careful with him the rest of the year, cutting back his innings, etc.

[rocketfat]

why Albers and not Hirsch? Hirsch is doing just as well at a higher level and Albers was sort of a headcase before this breakout year. Hell Hirsch was the Texas League pitcher of the year last season


actually, i found the answer. purp said albers is better suited for relief, and hirsh was pulled from his last start with shoulder problems.

[docgundy]

I found out Hirsh hurt himself, but it's not a major injury.

Yeah I don't get the move. Why didn't we just send down Wandy tomorrow and bring up Backe?

I honestly think a bullpen of
Nieve
Wheeler
Lidge
Qualls
Springer
Miller
Borkowski

is decent.

[docgundy]

What year did Albers graduate from Clements? It says he's 23, has he been spending 5 years in the minors? DId he go to college?

[rocketfat]

I found out Hirsh hurt himself, but it's not a major injury.

Yeah I don't get the move. Why didn't we just send down Wandy tomorrow and bring up Backe?

I honestly think a bullpen of
Nieve
Wheeler
Lidge
Qualls
Springer
Miller
Borkowski

is decent.

replace miller and springer (unless you just want to keep springer for long relief in blowouts), and i'd say it's a great bullpen.

[Hakeem's Dream]

Relax everyone, they had to send him down to make room for Backe. They couldn't have the position empty for 2 days so they brought up this kid who's going right back down on Saturday.

[today]

I'm not sure if MLB teams do this sort of thing, but could they be bringing up Albers to showcase him for a pending trade?

[docgundy]

No he's not going down. Rotoworld says that Nieve is going to get sent down.

[RocketFan007]

Relax everyone, they had to send him down to make room for Backe. They couldn't have the position empty for 2 days so they brought up this kid who's going right back down on Saturday.

Wrong, Albers will stay up and either Nieve or Buchholz will go down.

[rikesh316]

I don't understand this move. Nieve has looked great out the pen this year and is going get replaced by a AA pitcher. Makes no sense. Purpura you suck.

[leroy420]

I found out Hirsh hurt himself, but it's not a major injury.

Yeah I don't get the move. Why didn't we just send down Wandy tomorrow and bring up Backe?


Backe is not on currently on the 40-man roster since he is on the 60-day DL. To simply replace Wandy with Backe means that he would have to be released to waivers. Someone is going to be released, just not Wandy. I would be very suprised if it isn't Zeke Astacio. They are not happy with his progress (the lack there of). Then look for Buchholz to be sent down. Nieve is more suited for the pen and could make the spot start when necessary.

RR is going to have one hell of a pitching staff.

[leroy420]

No he's not going down. Rotoworld says that Nieve is going to get sent down.

Hmmm...Rotoworld or the email Hakeem's Dream got from the Express. Which one do you believe?

[rikesh316]

Backe is not on currently on the 40-man roster since he is on the 60-day DL. To simply replace Wandy with Backe means that he would have to be released to waivers. Someone is going to be released, just not Wandy. I would be very suprised if it isn't Zeke Astacio. They are not happy with his progress (the lack there of). Then look for Buchholz to be sent down. Nieve is more suited for the pen and could make the spot start when necessary.

RR is going to have one hell of a pitching staff.

It won't be Zeke. He has too good of arm to give up on after 1 year. My guess it will be Humberto Quintero who gets cut from 40 man roster. He is not a prospect and they already have Gimenez has a 3rd catcher.

[JaWindex]

Looks like Wandy is Ghandi (or gone-dy?)

[bobrek]

Hmmm...Rotoworld or the email Hakeem's Dream got from the Express. Which one do you believe?

The Round Rock Expres email says absolutely nothing about who will be sent down once Backe is activated.

[RocketInfoMan]

I think there just show caseing talent for a trade :eek:

[Buck Turgidson]

It won't be Zeke. He has too good of arm to give up on after 1 year. My guess it will be Humberto Quintero who gets cut from 40 man roster. He is not a prospect and they already have Gimenez has a 3rd catcher.
Possibly, though I'd look to Gallo or Jimerson first. Q's probably gone this offseason regardless.

Still not 100% sure I understand their thinking behind this. They have the next 3 Mondays off, but will still need a 5th starter each week, I think. Not sure why they'd replace TB in the rotation with either of the other rookies, and not sure why they'd replace Nieve in the pen with Albers. I doubt they'd try to send Bork down 'cause there's no chance he clears waivers.

[hoopgod13]

What year did Albers graduate from Clements? It says he's 23, has he been spending 5 years in the minors? DId he go to college?

he graduated from Clements in '01, but then went to San Jac Community College for a bit

[superden]

when'd u graduate from CHS?

c/o '02

[Rox Addict]

why Albers and not Hirsch? Hirsch is doing just as well at a higher level and Albers was sort of a headcase before this breakout year. Hell Hirsch was the Texas League pitcher of the year last season
Because Timmy the Hut and the rest of the Astros Organization love to LOSE :mad: Okay I feel better now. You can even argue to bring up Sampson. Hell he just came up for one game, pitched a 1-hitter then was sent back down...I just don't get it...........

[msn]

why Albers and not Hirsch?Because Timmy the Hut and the rest of the Astros Organization love to LOSE
Good grief people, Hirsch is hurt (for the 1000th time). He's *hurt*. The whole "we let our guys rot in the minors" argument has been shot down in the first place, and now people are droning on about bringing up a guy--a guy who's not ready--even though he has a SORE SHOULDER.

And we call Timmy P. stupid.

[MykTek]

What year did Albers graduate from Clements? It says he's 23, has he been spending 5 years in the minors? DId he go to college?

ya dumb astros.....he went to rookie ball first yr, then 3 yrs of the low/high A ball teams houston has and AA this yr..

[leroy420]

The Round Rock Expres email says absolutely nothing about who will be sent down once Backe is activated.

Uh...could it be that I was responding to the quote that Nieve was being sent down for Albers instead of Wandy?