FWIW, Lidge-Dotel-Wagner was only a full time trio for 2003, for which this team did not make the playoffs. The only notable thing that team did all year was the 6-pitcher no-hitter in Yankee S tadium. 2003 off-season was trading Wagner (who mouthed off), and in 2004 we ditched Dotel halfway through for Beltran which led to some playoff success and Lights Out Lidge. In the end, the only thing that truly matters is a closer that doesn't walk anybody. As I said before, mostly all teams can protect a 4-1 lead after the 7th inning without much sequalae.
Dotel-Wagner, Lidge-Dotel-Wagner, Qualls-Wheeler-Lidge, Valverde... We had some pretty formidable late inning relief there for awhile. Obviously a bad, rebuliding team can't afford the luxuries of a closer, but it's still sad to see. And as soon as Veras gave up the walk I had a bad feeling. Shoot maybe the team should just go with a closer by committee.
Bad teams, like the Astros, find a way to lose games. Sure, the loss was disheartening, but it shouldn't have been wholly unexpected.
Once Dominguez could not reach that ball, it was doubtful that Gonzalez was going to throw anyone out. The placement was not routine.
While I agree on closers, I would think the Moneyball approach would make spending a little bit to get somwhat decent, bullpen pitchers, even if MLB journeymen, would make sense. Signing some sort-of-proven specialists and middle inning relievers would/should not break the bank like a lot of other positions, and come the trading deadline are always in demand by teams in the playoff hunt if they have been producing. Plus most of the those types of players are typically very professional in how they carry themselves because they never really are the story, and as such could be good role models for the younger players.
That wasn't the point I was making... Anyway, our bullpen was amazing for awhile even after we ditched Wagner and Dotel. Remember when he was "lights out" Lidge? As for your other point, that definitely isn't true. If your closer can't get anybody out, that is also a problem...
both dominguez and gonzalez have been making spectacular play after spectacular play this entire west coast trip. a slow roller placed between them should have been routine, dominguez should have gave way to let marwin pick it up..
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Philip Humber has a 2.89 ERA through three starts for the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> and is winless. Team has scored one run while he's been on mound.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/323561171368169473">April 14, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
