Why didn't the Comical mention this possibility earlier? They reported it too freaking early because they wanted to have their one "scoop" per DECADE.
I'm surprised to hear that, but if that's true, then certainly he's no loss. I'd just like to see him get more time before giving up on him. He showed so many flashes, albeit with a lot of inconsistency.
I'm not a Chronicle fan. But it may also be that Tal Smith spoke too soon. The Chronicle reports it that the Astros were planning a press conference at the hotel. I'm guessing Tal said more than he should have.
I think they gave up on Buchholz way to early last season. Yes, he was wildly inconsistent, but he had some absolutely great performances. He just needs mlb experience to become more consistent. Wandy on the other hand, was just consistently bad, and Hirsch wasn't much better than Buchholz, yet they kept trotting him out there.
Why the hell does Tal Smith still have anything to do with this team? I've hated him ever since he traded away Cammy and got us a bunch of San Diego's crap in return.
Tal Smith is an incredible baseball mind. That trade was a salary whack, plain and simple. Tal was not (I don't believe) the GM at the time, so if you're not giving him credit for these recent moves you can't blame him for that one, either.
i'm not sure i know what you're talking about. Buchholz was given 19 starts last season. Hirsh was given 9. Buchholz got progressively worse as he got more and more starts.
Very true. We sent Bucholz out there way too many times, three bad starts in a row is a trend and they should have benched him much sooner.
Burke can play CF everyday, with a little better bat. Willy is a better defensive CF, though. Garland is an establish quality starting pitcher. Hirsh has that potential and is the best Astro SP prospect. Hirsh is why the CWS make the trade. Buchholz's off and off consistency issue keeps him being a prospect with loads of potential. Buchholz projects at the high end to be a middle of the order SP and at the low end a middle reliefer. The difference makers in this trade are Garland and Hirsh. Lobe to get Garland. Hate to lose Hirsh. But you got to take experience over potential.
It wasn't Watson's trade even though he was GM. This trade was orchestrated by Tal Smith along with his son, who had just taken over in SD, and marked Tal Smith's big 'return' to the Astros. It was a great deal..... for the Padres. They got an MVP gold glove third baseman and we got a bunch of underachieving scrubs.
Buchholz only had more starts than Hirsch because Buchholz was with the team coming out of spring training and Hirsch was a late callup. The point is, Hirsch didn't do too hot and kept getting consistent starts. Buchholz showed alot of promise on several occasions along with some atrocious starts and was yanked in and out of the rotation several times.
There's always the possibilty that Pettitte has decided to go back to the Yankmes, and nothing the Astros do (barring a completely rediculous contract) can stop it. In that case, we've got Roy O, a 40 year old Woody Williams, and.... players to be named later for the starting rotation. Backe's '08 if we're lucky, Hirsch was a roller coaster ride (albeit with promise) and Wandy is Wandy. If the Astros feel like they have someone who can play center (Burke or maybe Pence?) and don't mind giving up on TB and JH's potential (and as of right now, that's really all it is), then I think this could really solidify the rotation.
I agree Hirsh didn't do too hot, either. But his starts were certainly not more consistent than Buchholz's. Taylor was given a shot last season. He strung together some really poor performances in a row. I don't remember him being yanked in and out of the rotation several times.
