Well, they were both third basemen for the Astros who were neither spectular with the bat or the glove... but they filled a role to help this team win some games. Wiggy can do that.
You know what's funny, is that prior to last season, Jennings was pretty much a career 5 era pitcher. Aside from the fact that it was Colorado, what really made any of the Astros management think one season with an era of 4 was going to make Jennings into our #2 starter?
You toss that out there like its some insignificant/minor detail. In the history of baseball in Colorado (that's 14 year), there has only been ONE starting pitcher who ever had an ERA under 4.00 for a full season... and that's Jennings. Also, guys who sink the ball like Kile and Hampton proved that you can be successful after you leave the mile-high/spacious Coors field. The Astros were not only looking for him to improve from that career 5 ERA... but be one of the only reliable options that they'd know could throw 200 innings in a season. Granted, NONE of that has worked out now in hindsight.
Of course, last year, in addition to Jennings, they had two other starting pitchers with ERAs under 4.25. And this year, they have two with a very real chance at ERAs under 4 (currently at 4.01 and 4.13). Pitching in Colorado has become a lot easier the last several years.
They've also made more of a commitment to make sure they DEVELOP pitchers... pitchers who will get a year or so of pitching in Colorado Springs (at the high altitude), and thus get more accustomed earlier on. Developing a guy like Jeff Francis is a much better plan than paying $125 million for a free agent pitcher who has never pitched in Colorado before (which is what the Rockies were doing throughout the late 90's, early 2000's.)
I really HATE the Jennings trade. Jennings throws cream puffs up there....he stinks. He and Woody need to go away. DD
Very good point. Which brings up an even better one. Humidity. Mile High vs. Houston... That's got to be the biggest change of them all. Jenning's home era is much worse than his road ERA. He's having to adjust all over again. It could explain PART of the problem. No excuse, but it does make it more understandable. I mean it's not like Colorado was giving up on him when they traded him. They traded him because they felt they weren't going to be able to afford him to resign him when he becomes a FA.
Adjust? How? He pitched on the road last year right? I think Jennings is just an average pitcher, he doesn't have the control he needs to be Maddox like. DD
I know it has to have been said before about Randolph, but it's so weird seeing a black man in an Astros uniform. That has no humor or racial connotations with it, just an observation.
Yeah and if you put the hate on hold and start actually thinking. He didn't pitch 17 games on the road last season in Houston, now did he? BTW you realize your arguing that the drastic change in altitude and humidity didn't play any part in his play what so ever. I said it could be PART of problem. If only it effected his conditioning... it played a role. You arguing that it didn't... is blind hate.
really? unbelievable?!?!?! After the season we are having?!?!?! Oh I believe it. Such a sad/crappy/terrible way to lose a game. A DAMN shame.
question for you guys: why did garner intentionally walk cabrera there (a move that i think is an easy call and agree with 100%), yet has passed up the opportunity to walk pujols in similar, if not exact same, situations on probably about 10-20 different occasions???
first off garner is an idiot... second maybe because randolph was pitching instead of lidge/wheeler/qualls
