Here are his last 7 starts: 5.1 IP ---- 5 ER 3.0 IP ---- 8 ER 5.0 IP ---- 6 ER 6.1 IP ---- 6 ER 6.0 IP ---- 3 ER 4.0 IP ---- 8 ER 3.1 IP ---- 8 ER The guy has completely run out of gas. He has destroyed my fantasy team in the process.
And you wonder why people have a problem with you. You have no clue who our CF is, much less how good he is.
The Astros won games this year because of "star" power. Berkman, Oswalt, Miller, Wagner and Dotel were all great. Biggio, Vizcaino, Blum, and Merced were all serviceable. But it seems the only "good" player Houston had this year was Bagwell (if you don't count middle relievers). It seems our players were either elite... or mediocre. Still, all things considered, they didn't have a bad season. If Miller's healthy next year, Munro's as good as he looks, and they can find another outfielder (or if Lane works out), then they could win the Division again. Positions that could stand to be upgraded: 3b, 2b, ss, C, OF. Perhaps another SP, but I'd leave that alone with so many young guys showing promise. I'd also leave the OF alone, ultimately, unless we can trade Hidalgo. I can't help but think that Lane, Hidalgo, or Ward will work out (at least one of them). So, I think the infield is what must be improved. So they have lots of options. And an upgrade at any one of those positions wouldn't be that expensive. So, I think the winter forecast looks cheery - easy to upgrade without being a bad team to begin with.
3b, 2b, ss, C, OF. Perhaps another SP, but I'd leave that alone with so many young guys showing promise. I'd also leave the OF alone, ultimately, unless we can trade Hidalgo. I can't help but think that Lane, Hidalgo, or Ward will work out (at least one of them). So, I think the infield is what must be improved. Say what you want about Blum, Viz, Ausmus, and Merced being mediocre, but this team is second in the league in runs scored, and far more consistent offensively than any of the previous years. We may not have the name players, but we score just as well as anyone out of Arizona, which may have even fewer name players. Where we don't rank so well is team defense (outfield, primarily) and pitching. That tells me we need to improve our outfielders, back-end starters (Munro and Saarloos are both sketchy and don't go many innings), and middle-relief bullpen.
Crap. This is like deja vu...the guy goes out to start and gets injured. I couldn't see the game, and I have no idea if the injury he got was serious or not. Does anyone know how serious a strained intercostal muscle is for a pitcher? It sucks that he has been injured so much over his career. If he had stayed relatively healthy, he could have been developing as a pitcher all this time, and chances are he could be one kick ass pitcher right now.
The Astros have a load of pitching and a legitimate MVP level player in Lance Berkman, but there is a definite talent deficit throughout most of the everyday players. You could get by with a weak hitting third baseman, or a defensive liability in the outfield if you had somebody producing like Moises Alou, or Carl Everett, or the long, lost Richard Hidalgo to protect Bagwell and Berkman. This is no longer the case. Darryl Ward had a full season to produce and he is just not up to it, especially with the decline of the rest of Astros line-up. Craig Biggio is still game, but the clock is ticking and his range at second is not getting any better. Brad Ausmus is solid, as is as the Astros bench, but the club needs to plug a lot of holes. The Astros are going to have to dangle some of the pitching prospects to acquire better players if Ebenezer Mclane keeps the Astros on the free agency sideline yet again.
It's a "rib-cage" muscle pull. That's all it is. Sucks especially if you're a pitcher but nothing serious. You're right about Lidge though. Has a world of talent and I've been waiting for him to finally get to the bigs when we first drafted him out of ND. I was really looking forward to seeing him get some starts in.....
It is especially frutrating that Lidge got hurt while he was hitting. This is similar to Hernandez hurting his shoulder last year diving into 2nd base.
The FA crop sucks this year. Other than Rolen & Kent, either of which would look great at 3rd next year, there's nobody worth a damn. I'd re-sign Gordon (assuming he doesn't have delusions of getting "closer" money or opportunities elsewhere), Borbon & Loretta. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/m_n_h_bumbaco/03agency.html
Gordon has already indicated he still wants to close, just like Mike Williams did. I'm all for them resinging Loretta, even if he was hitting .275 with them. Borbon - if they sign him fine, if not, fine.
My opinion on the biggest needs for the Astros: 1) A new 3rd baseman, preferably a run-producer. I see no reason for us to keep 3 utility infielders (blum, vizcaino, loretta) if we sign another infielder to play 3rd and Lugo comes back strong. Loretta is most likely out of the mix under this scenario. 2) A centerfielder with speed. This would allow us to put either Ward/Hidalgo/Lane in right field and Berkman in left. Brian Hunter has been decent this season, but he's getting old and isn't starter material for a division-winner. 3) a 3rd starting pitcher -- Oswalt and Miller are great. Hernandez, Reynolds, Mlicki are uncertainties. Saarloos and Munroe are both still untested over a full season. Dump salary -- if there is any possible way to get rid of Hidalgo, Mlicki, or Reynolds I say we do it. Next on that list is Biggio and Wagner, but I can't see Drayton doing that to guys who have been Astros their entire career.
Mlicki and Reynolds are already gone. They are both free agents. I suspect they may try and resign Reynolds IF he proves to be healthy and IF he takes a huge paycut.
Good point, I went to AstrosDaily.com and checked out who is free agent eligible. Here is the list: Ausmus Borbon Brocail (talk about a waste of $$) Gordon Loretta Mlicki Reynolds up for salary arbitration Blum Nelson Cruz Dotel (this will cost some big $$) Ward and all players eligible for free agency We could really free up some cash by letting Reynolds ($7.66mm), Mlicki ($6.2mm), and Brocail ($750k) leave, but we'll also use up money with Dotel's new contract. We'll also be receiving another $4mm or so from the new revenue sharing agreement. One thing I don't understand is whether or not Lugo or Wade Miller will be arbitration eligible. What is the minimum service requirement (years) form them to qualify?
