I can't get a handle on this team, unless Roy O, or Hernandez is pitching, they have very little chance of winning. Reynolds, Milicki, and Redding have been way below par....and the bullpen is awful. The only hope for the season is that Miller gets back and then we have 3 pitchers that will win 70% or better of their games, and if 2 others can go .500 we might have a chance. As long as we don't have to go to our miserable bullpen. Walks, wild pitches......terrible. DaDakota
The pitching has been suspect, especailly the bullpen. The thing I have noticed this year is Biggio. When he gets on base we win, when he doesn't we lose. He is hitting .252 with only 8 walks and 25 strikeouts If he doesn't turn it around soon, we need to find another leadoff hitter.
We all know Biggio thinks so pompously high of himself, but I just hope he starts to perform as well as he thinks of himself,...dinner anyone?...
Gotta question the move to bring in a releiver just pulled off the DL, with only 2 early spring training appearances this year, to pitch in a tight, tied game in the 7th. You could argue you're trying to rest your bullpen, but you had to turn to the others anyway. Even if they were playing better, this is not a WS team. Not that I want them to lose, but if they do make the playoffs, I don;t see them advancing unless they're on a hot streak.
What exactly do you set par at for Dave Mlicki, DaDakota? I don't really think many people expected him to be this good.
DA, Believe me, it was Dierker. The biggest reason behind his firing was his horrible playoff decision-making. We have to give Jimy Williams more of a chance. The astros got off to a somewhat slow start last year and then came on. I think the team can do the same this year as well. Hopefully the astros will be in a playoff race near the end of the season and then we will see what Jimy is made of.
Some numbers on Mlicki: 3 wins, 3 losses, 3.38 ERA, 2.5 K/BB ratio, 1.18 WHIP 3.38 ERA is more than respectable in this age of outrageous offense. Plus, his WHIP are lower than Oswalt's and Hernadez's. You're right about the bullpen. However, I kinda wonder if the bullpen's performance would have been better if it had been used differently. I think last night's melt down was entirely avoidable.
With the exception of the highly questionable decision to bring in Jackson last year instead of Dotel, what other 'horrible' decisions did he make? Basically he started the same team that made the playoffs. The hitters simply didn't hit.
I will concede that Milicki has been ok, but our team is just not playing well. Tonight against the Phillies with the game tied, and Doggy at 2nd and no one out, Ensberg tries to bunt him over, and he bunts it right to the pitcher...out at 3rd...pathetic. This team is too darned nice, particularly the pitchers...when is the last time you saw an Astros pitcher throw a brush back pitch? When will Doggy learn that everyone is throwing him 1st pitch strikes because he always takes the first pitch. When will a .235 hitter who has no wheels any longer be moved out of the leadoff spot? This team is softer then a babies a$$. DaDakota
how about using Chris Truby as a pinch hitter in the most important AB of the season (game 2) when Darryl Ward was sitting right there on the bench?? the Dotel thing was inexcusable...
I beg to differ with regard to Oswalt. He throws plenty of brushback pitches, and he stares down his opponent quite often. I suggest you read this article. http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1379966.html Particularly this exerpt: "A lot of guys say it's cockiness, but I'm not trying to be cocky at all," Oswalt says. "I just try to be real confident in myself on the mound, and some people take that the wrong way. I know Brad says a lot of guys get in the box and say, 'This guy's staring at me.' But I'm not staring. I'm reading them, just as much as they're trying to read me." EDIT: I see that just as I post this, you have started a thread about this article. I will leave it here as it still illustrates my point.
In defense of Chris Truby, and I thought we should've used Ward just because he was the better hitter, he DID draw a walk if the ump isn't a complete and total moron, and calls a pitch 9 inches off the plate a ball.
How about starting Lugo at shortstop in Game 2 after his mental defensive lapses in game 1. Then, he had trouble throwing the ball in Game 2.
I would venture to say that almost every manager would have started Lugo in the exact same situation. You don't abandon your everyday players because they make errors. Vizcaino was certainly no improvement. His FP last years was lower than Lugo's. What mistakes did Dierker make in 1997, 1998, and 1999?
I completely disagree....the whole reason that we heard over and over again for getting Vizcaino was that he had playoff experience. He was supposed to be the veteran presence. After Lugo booted away Game 1, Vizcaino should have started. In the end, in many ways, it's a question of style...like calling out your players immediately following the game to the press before talking to them about it first. Some think that's OK..others don't. You sure won't see Jimy do it, and I think players appreciate knowing he's on their side.
You know what is scary. Milicki is our best pitcher. He just did it again tonight. And he's doing it at Enron too. This is freaking me out.
I dont know if I call Milicki our ace. Didnt he just take a shelling not to long ago? Roy has been by far the teams MVP so far. But Super Dave has been nothing short of ... super this year. Man, makes the Lima deal look like the Bagwell deal of yesteryear.
