We were 12th in ERA in the NL last season are weren't too far away from being the worst. If you rationalize that it can't get much worse than last year, then that combined with what should be a much improved offense should net us a better record this season. We shouldn't have a problem finishing 3rd with hope of threatening for 2nd in the division. I'm not sure I get why some "experts" are picking Cincy ahead of us. They were one of the few teams who's pitching was worse than ours last year. Both among starters and relievers. Neither team addressed the rotation. They added Cordero to the pen and we added Valverde. I think we have the better lineup this year, at least on paper.
Keeping Tomas Perez over Quintero, until Matsui comes back is the only surprise. Astros' Opening Day roster ready to go 25-man squad to include 12 pitchers, 13 position players HOUSTON -- The Astros set their 25-man Opening Day roster after their game on Saturday, cutting two players, while informing four that they had made the club. The Astros reassigned infielder David Newhan to the Minor Leagues and informed catcher Humberto Quintero that he would be designated for assignment after Opening Day rosters were officially filed on Sunday. At that point, Houston will have 10 days to trade him, unconditionally release him or reassign him outright to the Minor Leagues. To reassign him to the Minor Leagues, the Astros will first have to pass Quintero through waivers. The four who made the final cut are outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., infielder Tomas Perez, right-hander Brian Moehler and left-hander Wesley Wright. The 25-man roster includes 12 pitchers: Brandon Backe, Dave Borkowski, Doug Brocail, Shawn Chacon, Geoff Geary, Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson, Jose Valverde, Oscar Villarreal, Moehler and Wright. The club will carry 13 position players: catchers Brad Ausmus and J.R. Towles, infielders Lance Berkman, Geoff Blum, Mark Loretta, Miguel Tejada, Wigginton and Perez, and outfielders Michael Bourn, Darin Erstad, Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Cruz Jr.
Some Spring Stats: Perez - 13-38 (.347 avg.); 5 runs; 3 RBI Cruz - 15-47 (.319 avg.); 12 runs; 10 RBI Wright - 7 IP; 1.29 ERA; 4 K's, 6 BB Moehler - 9.2 IP; 3.72 ERA; 10K's, 0 BB We knew Quintero wasn't going to make the team unless we decided to carry 3 catchers. He hit .429 this spring.
Um... the Reds have three top pitching prospects that are on the cusp of the majors: Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey and Edison Volquez. Cueto and Volquez both looked amazing this spring. I'd say they improved their rotation. Their's is currently better than ours.
The thing is that the projections I've seen for the Red's young arms (meaningless I know) have them at the bottom of the rotation with ERA's in the mid to low 4's with about 9 or 10 wins each which is the same as what they project for our bottom of the rotation guys. I'm not saying the Reds pitching isn't going to be better than ours, but it's not like their going to be good a year after being horrible either. Besides, as Astros fans, we all know that top prospects always pan out at the major league level without any growing pains.
