Astros agree to deal with Tony Sipp

Well, like I said this guy was a must for us. Now let's go after Kazmir.

 

Sweet! Astros got a closer and a lefty that can be both setup and lefty specialist! Astros just need to get Kazmir and then maybe get greedy and trade for McGee and Boxberger.

 

Awesome news. Really like Sipp.

 

Been a really good offseason so far. Very excited about next year.

 

Beast mode bullpen, should def be division winners and reclaim our rightful place above the Royals

 

What's the obsession with Kazmir? What's the logic in wanting him back (specially at, what I would assume, a pretty high price point)?

 

Great news. Between Giles, Sipp, and Gregerson, the Astros have a high quality bullpen locked up for the next 2-3 years.

 

Are we just going to ignore the majority of the last 2 years of excellence from him?

I think with better managing of his innings, along with the juice of pitching for a contender year-round, he could still be very valuable. He's still a lefty with command/stuff and K ability.

Astros have money to spend... and you can't have enough starting pitching.

 

Sipp and Greg were basically the only reliable guys in the playoffs. Glad to have him back in the fold, that's one less thing to worry about.

 

Check his post-all star splits over the last 2 years.

 

Good stuff. He was very reliable.

 

We all know about that, 2 straight years he has collapsed after about 20 starts. So you don't let him get more than 20 or so starts. 20 starts of excellence has value.

 

Fortunately wins in the first half are worth has much as wins in the 2nd half.

 

Sure, unfortunately, the playoffs happen AFTER the 2nd half.

If we're paying a guy 15 million dollar per year, I shouldnt have to expect a decline in performance as the year wears on.

Do we put a 5 IP limit on him to preserve him? Kazmir was a huge part of why the Astros almost choked getting into the playoffs.

 

You do have to get to the playoffs first though, before you start worrying about how a pitcher will be performing in those games.

Had the Astros had Kazmir for his excellent first-half, there's a high probability they would have built a decent division lead and eventually got above 14 games over .500 (their high water mark last year), and wouldn't have had to claw/scratch their way to the dance.

Additionally, given what we saw from McHugh in game 5, and what the Royals did to the Mets elite starters... Kazmir's game 2 wasn't a terrible start by any means.

 

In this market that's a f**king bargain.