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[MLB.COM] Astros sign Brian Moehler to a a Minor League contract

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by rikesh316, Jan 19, 2007.

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  1. rikesh316

    rikesh316 Member

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    http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1782741&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

    By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

    HOUSTON -- The Astros announced on Friday that they signed right-hander Brian Moehler to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training.
    Moehler, 35, spent one injury-shortened season with Houston in 2003, making just three starts before undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in May of that year. However, after not pitching in all of 2004, Moehler rebounded in 2005, posting a 6-12 record and a 4.55 ERA over 37 games with the Marlins, including 25 starts.

    Last season, Moehler, who played for Astros manager Phil Garner in Detroit from 2000-02, made 21 starts and appeared in eight games as a reliever, logging 122 innings for Florida. As a reliever, he was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA, compared to a 5-11 mark and 7.29 ERA as a starter.

    General manager Tim Purpura will consider Moehler for a starting spot, but he also envisions the right-hander as a candidate for a long relief role.

    "He's somebody we've watched the last couple years," Purpura said. "He did a nice job in Florida. He pitched good games against us, and you remember those. He's also someone we know pretty well. He's a good competitor. He's not going to wow you with plus velocity, but he knows how to pitch, he's smart, he's a good teammate. He's one pitcher we're looking at to help stabilize the back end of the rotation."

    The front of the rotation is set with Roy Oswalt, Jason Jennings and Woody Williams. The fourth and fifth spots, however, have not been promised to anyone. Fernando Nieve and Wandy Rodriguez are among the top candidates, with Chris Sampson and Matt Albers in the mix, too.

    But Moehler could bring a veteran presence that the back end of the rotation is sorely lacking. His work ethic was also a selling point.

    "Here's a guy who gets every ounce out of his ability as he can," Purpura said. "He's a great role model for younger players. He's been in the game 10 or so years, and goes as hard at it as much as the young players."
     
    #1 rikesh316, Jan 19, 2007
  2. Roxfan73

    Roxfan73 Rookie

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    Good signing - Especially if this means a Wandy-free rotation. Moehler is exactly the kind of pitcher we need for the 4th starter job. He was very solid for the Motor City Kitties.
     
    #2 Roxfan73, Jan 19, 2007
  3. rocketfat

    rocketfat Member

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    how the **** is wandy rodriguez still in the mix for a starting spot???? it's like every offseason this organization forgets how pathetic some of its players are.

    wandy will win the 5th spot, start 10 games, get rocked 8 of them, and be in the minors by june. i wish vegas had odds on this.

    i kind of agree that footer is a terrible writer, although it blows my mind that there is a chick out there who knows that much about baseball.
     
    #3 rocketfat, Jan 20, 2007
  4. No Worries

    No Worries Contributing Member

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    Wandy is LEFT handed. Nothing more , nothing less.
     
    #4 No Worries, Jan 20, 2007
  5. BigM

    BigM Contributing Member

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    actually if we could get wandy's production from his first 10 games last year and then quickly pull him after that, i'd take it.

    i believe that either albers or sampson will easily take his spot in spring training though.
     
    #5 BigM, Jan 20, 2007
  6. right1

    right1 Member

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    Out of Wandy's first 15 starts in 2006, all but three were pretty good. Our high-game winner at the break. He was 5-1 with a 3.02 on May 11.


    IP H R ER HR BB SO GB FB PIT BF GSc DEC REL ERA*
    Apr. 5 FLA W 6-5 5.0 7 4 3 0 4 2 9 5 84 24 37 W(1-0) - 5.40
    Apr. 10 WAS W 5-4 7.0 7 3 3 0 0 3 7 10 98 27 54 - - 4.50
    Apr. 15 @ARI W 10-0 7.0 3 0 0 0 1 6 9 8 103 25 76 W(2-0) - 2.84
    Apr. 21 PIT W 3-2 6.0 5 1 1 1 2 4 5 5 91 22 60 W(3-0) - 2.52
    Apr. 26 LAD W 8-5 7.0 5 2 2 1 2 6 7 10 122 30 63 W(4-0) - 2.53
    May. 1 @MIL L 4-2 6.0 7 2 2 2 1 4 9 7 97 27 53 - - 2.61
    May. 6 @COL L 5-0 6.0 7 5 5 1 2 1 13 5 84 25 37 L(4-1) - 3.27
    May. 11 @LAD W 4-2 6.2 4 1 1 1 4 5 7 6 101 26 63 W(5-1) - 3.02
    May. 22 @WAS W 10-3 6.0 3 3 3 1 5 7 6 5 114 24 56 W(6-2) - 3.88
    Jun. 6 CHC W 4-1 7.0 5 0 0 0 3 1 14 7 107 27 65 W(7-3) - 4.36
    Jun. 11 ATL W 14-4 6.0 7 4 4 3 3 5 10 7 96 27 44 W(8-3) - 4.48
     
    #6 right1, Jan 20, 2007
  7. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Your Tweety Bird dance just cost us a run

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    i was a fan of moehler as a 4th-starter-type a while ago. if he can return to his older form, i'd be happy
     
    #7 kaleidosky, Jan 20, 2007
  8. rrj_gamz

    rrj_gamz Contributing Member

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    Good signing...We'll see how this roster shapes up and make another run...
     
    #8 rrj_gamz, Jan 20, 2007
  9. Rockets111

    Rockets111 Contributing Member

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    Jose de Jesus Ortiz is a whole lot better than Footer. And I agree with what everyone's said about Footer, she's not a great writer at all. But she's a decent reporter.
     
    #9 Rockets111, Jan 20, 2007
  10. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    The guy who may have had a hand in killing the Garland deal by reporting it was almost "done" (when ALL Houston front-office people work hard to make sure that stuff is NOT leaked before its done).

    Ortiz is a hack... Footer works for the Astros... they should be evaluated differently.
     
    #10 Nick, Jan 20, 2007
  11. rikesh316

    rikesh316 Member

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    Footer does not work for the Astros, she works for mlb.com. On all astros.com articles, it says, Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
     
    #11 rikesh316, Jan 20, 2007
  12. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Her name is listed under "Astros front office" if you go to astros.com. She may have the handle of "MLB.com reporter", but she specifically works for astros.com, and doesn't write or report on any other team but the Astros.
     
    #12 Nick, Jan 21, 2007
  13. rikesh316

    rikesh316 Member

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    #13 rikesh316, Jan 21, 2007
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