You've been spoiled by the good pitching you've seen here the last three years... Pettite is still a very good pitcher, he's recovered from the bad first couple of months, and can still give you more quality outings than most NL pitchers. Of course he was worse this year.... do you know how good he was last year? Granted, we can't be spending $10 million a year on him, but the club definitely should try to work out a 1 or 2 year deal at $6-7 million per. You guys are tossing over Roger and Andy, but you don't realize how hard it is to find guys who give you quality starts (let alone Cy Young candidates)... name some potential replacements before you start getting rid of them.
I agree Nick, we definately to work something out with Andy. Granted he's a rookie, I thought Hirsh would be able to step in and contribute right away, instead it looks like he might be at best a 4th starter in the rotation next season. If Andy follows Clemens and retires, or just leave through FA, I'm not sure if we'll be able come anywhere near replacing those two.
Who the hell wouldn't want to ride that gravy train for as long as they give you quality starts is my question? We have enough holes on the team already, they don't need to make it bigger by preemptively saying goodbye to Pettite and Clemens. If they wanna come back you do it, as any team out there would love to have them I'm sure.
Getting a good start off Carpenter is huge for SD, but Pettite is really scaring me tonight, doesn't look like he has the good stuff tonite. I hope we can hold on, or better yet pour on more runs.
Great example of not appreciating good pitching. The Pirates haven't had a 15 game winner since 1999!
carpenter has just been really lucky. his true skills just showed when he uncorked the wild pitch. CHOKE!!!
I wouldn't mind a little home town discount. I'm not expecting one from Roger, but Andy might be willing to help us save a few bucks.
Woody Williams might be available, but the pickins will be thin. That's one advantage we want to keep because, despite everything good pitching still gives you hope pretty much regardless though upgrades for the offense is also a key. Got to keep the pitching solid.
Also, you have to consider where the Astros play their home games. I know Minute Maid Park has played pretty fair/average the last 2-3 years, but its still a hitters haven... and its just a testament on how good our pitchers have been at making their pitches/hitting their spots when they're at home. You don't want to sign a guy who's pitched really well in a pitchers park for many years (like any Dodger, Oakland A, Mariner, or Giant)... or any former St. Louis Cardinal for that matter (they're probably all shell-shocked), cause they're going to be mentally intimidated by the short porch. The lineup is doing the little things well tonight.
Does it really bother pitchers that much? If anything I'd say not sign them because their stats might be inflated. I might just be ignorant, but I've never heard an argument for a hitters park having a large impact on a pitcher psychologically.
