Getting on a plane for FL tomorrow night and headed to ST games on Monday (against the Braves) and Tuesday (against the Indians). I can't wait! My first time ever at Spring Training! Was looking forward to seeing Pence in person, but I think they made the right move. Just wish they could've waited until March 28. Anyone else going to be around for those games?
Why is Hidalgo still in camp? Hidalgo - .329 OPS, 5 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI Lane - 1.001 OPS, 12 H, 5 HR, 12 RBI Scott - .922 OPS, 10 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI
I hope you're being sarcastic, because when you come to spring training on a minor league contract try-out basis, all you're gonna get is a small sample size. And besides, Hidalgo's sample-size of suckage is not small.
To be fair, his sample size of awesomeness is not small, either. It's just that his suckage is more recent and therefore trumps his suckage. I think all of us wish we could have the Y2K Hidalgo back.
Bullpen, meet Chris Sampson. Chris Sampson, meet bullpen. Does Mohler, if he pitches well today, have the edge over Nieve? Both have been inconsistent with their location this spring, per Garner. Both could work out of the pen for the first week (#5 starter not needed until the 9th day, or game, can't remember which).
I think Moehler's locked in, now, 'cause I think the Astros will go for the veteran over Nieve given their fairly similar spring performances.
Damn. Just saw we gave up 6 runs in the first. I was really pulling for Sampson to get a starters job too.
Sampson and Moehler got rocked bad tonight. Houston IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sampson 2.1 12 10 6 1 0 1 7.36 Moehler 3.2 8 6 2 1 5 1 4.60
Yep. When a job's wide open, you'd like to see somebody step up. Neither was able to minimize damage & pitch around errors. 8 unearned runs (all with 2 out, I think) & I think the Nats scored something like 12 runs with 2 outs.
Nobody's mentioned Zeke as a possibile 5th starter. Hey I know it's spring training so you can't read too much into the stats........,but 7 IP, 2 H, O R and 7 Ks is nothing to sneeze at. Maybe he's a little more comfortable being in the bigs now and is now starting to "get it". Just throwing another name out there because unless someone steps up bigtime, the 5 hole in the rotation is looking awfully scary.
Not after last night. I think Neive will start the season as the #5 and will have a good season. I'm betting that Moehler and Hidalgo are released soon, with Sampson and Albers going to AAA.
Hildago will certainly be gone. There is no place for him in our AAA outfield. I am betting that Sampson stays in the bigs. Moehler may also be staying, depending if he gets the 11th bully spot or if the Astros keep 12 pitchers.
Purpura on TV earlier this week sounded like Zeke won't make the team because he has no command. He has a 0.00 era this spring and along with Nieve, has the best stuff of any of the 4th/5th starters and bullpen guys. Buy the way, Hidalgo hit a 3 run homer today but he still is having a bad spring. Doubt he makes the team unless Lane is traded which is doubtful since Pupura loves Lane.
