Charlie Morton - 2 year/$30 mil deal with Devil Rays

Given everything he had said about Houston and the team, I assumed he would be here or be nowhere. I don't blame the Stros for not matching the contract he got in Tampa, and I don't begrudge him for taking it. I hope he kicks the AL's ass, especially the East and minus that one team in the West.

But yeah, this makes me sad. I loved watching him pitch.

 

Wait, what does it mean to be a hardass pitcher? Because the first name that sprung to mind was Oswalt, but you didn't list him.

 

It means whatever you want it to.

Oswalt was an oversight.

 

That doesn't even sound like a lot of money. Don't know why the astros didn't sign him.

 

It's not, relatively, a lot of money for a very good starting pitcher - which Morton is... when healthy. But it *is* a lot of money for an oft-injured starting pitcher who seems to have a fairly standard ceiling, in terms of durability, especially for a team staring down a looming financial bloodbath.

In 2019, I'd rather have Michael Brantly than Charlie Morton.

 

Any list starts with Danny "Doctor Death" Darwin...... he punched a bull in the face that went after his wife. He regularly was a brawler and called Nolan Ryan a K-Mart cowboy to his face.

Second has to be Brandon Backe.... pitched huge in the playoffs and was all around hardass.

I agree with Hampton as well. He was a rough neck.

I will go with Larry Dierker....... anyone that has a season where they win 20 games..... with 20 complete games and over 300 innings pitched is a hardass.

I will be controversial and go with Clemens for the 5 spot. He pitched with a bum shoulder for the Astros .... at 43 years old, had over 200 innings and an era of 1.80 .......... I also saw how he stood up for his teammates and would bury one on a player that needed adjusting.

 

Was Morton a hardass? He always struck me more as the shy/anti-social/awkward type. Darwin, Hampton, Ryan and Clemens would probably be my first 4 picks. Anyone who would willing rub icy hots on his gentlemen prior to taking the mound HAS to be on the list.

Of course, the all-time Astro hardass is Mr. Jeffrey Kent.

 

On the mound he was. No qualms about going inside.

Clemens and his "trainer" and Ryan were no-brainers, so I just kinda left them out on purpose.

JR should be on my list too, plus Darwin, Roy, Hampton, Backe. I'm sure you (or @bobrek more likely) could make a case for a bunch of the old-school guys who I never got to see pitch.

 

Turk Farrell

 

If only Billy Ray "Rojo" Johnson had made it out of Round Rock. That guy would have been an all-time hardass.

 

Morton was a complete hardass with enormous balls... he proved it on the biggest stage.

Verlander should be on there too..... but no one touches Danny Darwin...

 

Can you imagine if Rojo Johnson pitched to Toe Nash?

 

I don't believe you. Turk 182?

 

1962 - 10 wins 20 losses with a 3.00 ERA and an all star appearance

 

Pretty sure..... I’m younger than you.

 

His middle name is...

...

...Alfred.

 

Man I miss him...

 

Not bringing him back and the Carlos Gomez trade are the only two obviously bad Luhnow moves, IMO. He should still be in blue and orange.