have Livan as your fifth and move happ to the pen. innings eater, good lefty to have from pen. sad thing is, it is a solid, if unspectacular starting five. would there be, could there be any offense and a solid bully, and this team could be respectable. unfortunately, there won't.
Assuming no trades... Wandy Myers Norris Lyles Happ If you can convince Livan to hang around at AAA, you have insurance against one of Lyles or Happ not performing or in case of injury. One thing I was thinking about recently in regards to the location of the current AAA team. I wonder if it was easier to get vets to want to stick around knowing they could live in Austin for a couple of months rather than OKC?
I think Weiland has a better shot at the starting rotation than Sosa, Harrell, Happ or even Duke or Hernandez.
Wandy Norris Myers Livan Happ As much as I would like to see Lyles/Weiland/Sosa all in the rotation to start the season, I don't expect to. I could see Weiland and Sosa being sent to the bullpen, and Lyles sent to OKC. Lyles only reached the big league club so quickly because the Astros system is soooo thin. Put him in AAA and let him dominate for a year. Confidence is so important for a pitcher, especially one who depends on pitch-ability rather than power.
6-7 man rotation? Haven't heard that thrown into the ring yet. I think that's an interesting idea, but only if we do so with younger players. Mills wouldn't skip days in the rotation if we had an off day, so starters are used to changing their habits thus far. If you keep Wandy, Myers, Norris on a 5 day rest schedule and allow for players like Sosa, Lyles, and company to get their work in. Or, I would love to see maybe a put Sosa in for the first five and plan on someone else close out the next four and have them someone plant their way into the game the same way they would start. We have a lot of MLB fringe talent, and it would be interesting to see who could take advantage of the opportunity.
Sign kazmir for the 5th spot Wandy Norris Myers Lyles Kazmir Trade deadline hopefully move Wandy and Myers and then you can let Happ in.
I still think Zach Duke has the chance to be a solid pitcher ... better than I like JA Happ's odds. Despite the fact that everyone sees Duke's as a veteran and Happ as a prospect, they are both 28.
That's why I think it may work. Takes some pressure off the younger fringe guys but still gets them facing MLB competition. Plus could help to limit strain on arms, and keeps confidence by giving them a chance.
Wandy and Myers need to be traded by the deadline and let the kids play. Another #1 pick here we come.
