Are we going to be going after Chuck Finley?!?!? We need another vet who can notch a few wins while Roy is on hiatus.
Well, I don't think we know for sure how long Oswalt's gonna be out. However, even if he is, I just read that Finley won't be ready to pitch until the All-Star break anyway, so he won't be an option at this point.
Ron Villone is 3-1 with a 1.23 ERA in New Orleans. I suspect he will be called up if/when Oswalt goes on the DL.
I'm going to either pick up Sidney Ponson or start Damian Moss. This is pretty devastating for my team.
Given who our #5 starter is (Johnson), the Astros regardless of Roy's injury will need to pick up another veteran pitcher who will eat innings, if they want to stay in the pennant race this year. BTW, this is the type of pitcher the Astros were hoping Moehler would be for them this season. If the Astros don't make the trade, the bullpen will be overworked with the likes of Munro and Johnson starting.
This is probably the most likely scenario. Villone was hot and cold last time he was with the club if I remember right. Maybe his time in the minors has prepared him better this time...like Morgan Ensberg.
The thing I don't like about Finley is that we already have a finesse lefty in Robertson. I doubt Finley can get his fastball much past 90 now, if at all. I'm guessing Villone will be brought up-he already knows the guys on the team, and apparently has been pitching lights out in AAA. Another option may be Saarloos....though I think he may have found a niche in the pen. He's pitched VERY well in mid-relief work. Even as a starter, he'd usually be great the first time through the order, then get rocked. I wish we still had Carlos...how nice would it have been to have that big 3 (Roy, Wade, Carlos) with Redding and Robertson holding down the back end. Lane may have changed the complexion of things. If he had been healthy when Hidalgo went down, and had gotten a chance to show his stuff, then we could probably move Hidalgo for a guy like Weaver, but that's risky with Merced and Hunter as the other options, IMO.
Pass? Fail. It's only money. It's only Drayton's money. Johnson is wasting his dimes. Sign Chuckie, protect him from hard hitters (women), and do not permit a no-trade clause. Get his arm and butt ready by ASG. Do it now.
Roy tested his groin over the weekend and said it felt "fine". He is scheduled to start on Saturday...
Mr. Clutch- I wish the Astros could just pick up Ponson or Moss. Roy is now heading to the DL. Rosario is being called up. Rosario hasn't been lights out in New Orleans, but then again, Carlos Hernandez wasn't completely dominating in AA when he got his call up. If Rosario can pull off Carlos-like performance, it would be a HUGE boost for this team when Roy gets back. Villone tomorrow. I'd be THRILLED with 6 good innings. I'm pretty sure Hunsicker is talking to Drayton and other GMs to see if he can find another starter to solidify this staff. Our starting rotation right now is: Miller Redding Robertson Villone Rosario Yikes.
From Yahoo: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=fanball-astrosstrainedgroins&prov=fanball&type=lgns Astros: Strained groin sends Oswalt to DL again by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com Wednesday, June 18, 2003 News The Astros placed their ace, Roy Oswalt, on the disabled list for the second time this season on Tuesday. He strained his groin again during their June 11 no-hitter against the Yankees and had problems with it during a workout Tuesday. “It just hurt, that's all I know,” Oswalt told the Associated Press. “It's the type of injury that doesn't give you a warning. You go out there and throw 20 pitches, and the 21st it's like somebody cut you.” The move is retroactive to the 11th, meaning Oswalt will be eligible to return on June 27.
I'm more worried about Villone than I am Rosario. I hope our staff can hold together. It would be great to see Lidge get a couple of starts, but it's too big of a risk to take. A great reliever is a lot more valuable than a hurt, DL'd starter.
