Names that had been mentioned for the pen include Hernandez, Bullinger, and Buchholz. I'm somewhat surprised that all three got sent to the minors in the first major round of cuts.
Yea I'd heard especially good things about Bucholz and Astacio, and I figured with Wagner gone, we'd need some middle inning relief...hmmmm whatever
Bullinger was a longshot from the beginning. I think Gerry had decided Hernandez and Buchholz would start in AAA. That's looking like a NICE rotation: Hernandez, Buchholz, Qualls, Houlton, and Robertson or someone else.
Saarloos is actually projected into middle relief for NO, probably Fernandez as well. I think I saw that Sessions will be in Round Rock, at least to start the season. Rosario isn't going to pitch this year at all (a la Carlos Hernandez). I think that Hun wants to start maximizing innings for the guys that are truly in the running to start the season in Houston. Hernandez, Qualls, Buckholz, et al were pretty much given that they would be in AAA. They don't want Hernandez and Buckholz in the pen because of their respective upsides as starters. We all know what Hernandez is capable of and is probably the first call up in case of injury.
And that relates to a trickle down effect on Round Rock and the A affiliates. I live about 5 miles from Dell Diamond and I am looking foward to another Texas League championship here.
Hernandez and Buchholz were never in consideration to make the big league club. Sitting in the bullpenwould not benefit them at all, they need starter innings. You might have read it somewhere, but it was just a writer pulling names out of the air.
