nWo34Life
03-26-2004, 03:06 PM
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2469217
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- If Dave Veres were tired of the game, the righthanded reliever would have felt better this morning. But even if his fastball barely tops 85-mph now, the 37-year-old veteran was fighting back tears after the Astros released him
"Maybe if I didn't enjoy the game or pitching, it might be easier," Veres said as he took off his Astros' uniform, ending his hopes of a second stint in Houston. "Or if I didn't feel good or if my arm was still killing me, then it would be easier. It still feels good, so I wonder what's left."
Veres' release clears up the Astros' bullpen picture, giving knuckleballer Jared Fernandez a strong shot of making the club. At this point, Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge and Dan Miceli are assured spots, barring injury. Ricky Stone and Brandon Duckworth also are in great shape, and Mike Gallo appears to be in line for the situational lefthander's role.
If the Astros go with seven relievers, as they had planned, Fernandez and Brandon Backe are probably fighting for the final bullpen spot.
Veres, who had right shoulder surgery in the off-season, was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA this spring while giving up nine hits and four runs (two earned) with four walks and two strikeouts over eight innings and seven outings.
"Like I told them, this is probably one of the better springs that I ever had," said Veres, who has pitched for the Expos, Rockies, Cardinals and Cubs and owns a 36-35 record with 95 saves and a 3.44 career ERA since debuting with the Astros in 1994. "Two runs in eight innings, or something like that. Numbers wise it looks pretty good, except that I walked four. That's pretty uncharacteristic that I walked guys. That's more of a fluke thing than anything. Numbers wise I looked halfway decent."
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- If Dave Veres were tired of the game, the righthanded reliever would have felt better this morning. But even if his fastball barely tops 85-mph now, the 37-year-old veteran was fighting back tears after the Astros released him
"Maybe if I didn't enjoy the game or pitching, it might be easier," Veres said as he took off his Astros' uniform, ending his hopes of a second stint in Houston. "Or if I didn't feel good or if my arm was still killing me, then it would be easier. It still feels good, so I wonder what's left."
Veres' release clears up the Astros' bullpen picture, giving knuckleballer Jared Fernandez a strong shot of making the club. At this point, Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge and Dan Miceli are assured spots, barring injury. Ricky Stone and Brandon Duckworth also are in great shape, and Mike Gallo appears to be in line for the situational lefthander's role.
If the Astros go with seven relievers, as they had planned, Fernandez and Brandon Backe are probably fighting for the final bullpen spot.
Veres, who had right shoulder surgery in the off-season, was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA this spring while giving up nine hits and four runs (two earned) with four walks and two strikeouts over eight innings and seven outings.
"Like I told them, this is probably one of the better springs that I ever had," said Veres, who has pitched for the Expos, Rockies, Cardinals and Cubs and owns a 36-35 record with 95 saves and a 3.44 career ERA since debuting with the Astros in 1994. "Two runs in eight innings, or something like that. Numbers wise it looks pretty good, except that I walked four. That's pretty uncharacteristic that I walked guys. That's more of a fluke thing than anything. Numbers wise I looked halfway decent."