You know the team traded Dotel away at the right time...could it be they're holding on a little too long to Lidge? But then at this point, per Purps words, they're not gonna get s**t for him now so it's pointless. Keep hoping he'll turn it around, and even though it's spring training, he hasn't really shown much at all which is pretty telling. I'd still wait to see what he does when the games count.
i thought that said 11 hits at first and i was going to reply, yeah maybe so. it's getting or already is to the point where ne needs to throw like it's a real game though it is possible he needs the feel of the regular season to get going. lets just hope that's the case.
No surprise, but the Astros release Hidalgo. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...d=1857703&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
It's not like he got smashed around. The bloop hit to right could have been caught if Jimerson had dove and the single through short would have been an out if Everett was in the game. A little perspective.
You want perspective? Ok...how about after having a terrible year last year with a 5.28 era, he comes into spring training and pitches against major and minor leagers and these are his stats...to date: Spring training pitching stats Brad Lidge ERA 12.38 Games 8 IP 8 Hits - 13 ER - 11 K - 7 BB - 4 HR allowed - 2 WP - 1 Those are not just bad numbers those SUCK !!!! Now, I am willing to agree that he might be working on new pitches...he desperatly needs a palm ball, or a change up or curve...something off speed. But he has got to straighten it out, or ship him out of town. DD
I don't mind giving Lidge an opportunity to straighten his stuff out and get back to his old self, but not as the closer. The Astros could be making a huge mistake if they go the route of making him the closer.
is there any doubt that Nieve should have one of the starting spots to start the year. his spring stats are good with an under 3 era today and 4 shut out innings today. he has pitched a whole lot better than Wandy this spring.
heres a Q&A with Brad Lidge http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster Houston closer Brad Lidge notched his 100th career save last season, and has three straight seasons of 100 or more strikeouts, rare for relievers. We e-mailed questions, he answered. 1. If there was no such thing as baseball, what sport would you play and how good would you be? BL: I would play pingpong. I had a table growing up and always played against my dad. I also has a friend in high school who was extremely good, and I improved by playing against him. It seems that everywhere I have been, there has also been a pingpong table. The Notre Dame clubhouse had one, and I bought one for my team in the Florida State League. We also had one at Class AAA New Orleans when I was there. I've taken home a few various pingpong championships over the years. There is one at Roy Oswalt's house, and I won the official title last year, that being the USTTAC (United States Table Tennis Astros Circuit). Although, I did play Dave Borkowski and he beat me. 2. Which closer in baseball has the coolest entrance music? BL: I think right now Trevor Hoffman does. The stadium goes black when he comes in. He's been doing it for so long and in the same place that it's just kind of an unbelievable experience, even for a visiting player. When I was in the big leagues my first two years, Billy Wagner had a really cool song to me ("Enter Sandman" by Metallica), and I remember watching him come in to his song and his video and thinking that being a closer is the coolest thing there is. Russ Springer actually recommended my song for me ("The Game," by Drowning Pool). They were playing some circus music when I would come in the game, but when I first started closing, Russ said "We've got to change this." He went and talked to the scoreboard guy and they said they would try to get me a song. Then they put together the little video thing, and it was pretty awesome. 3. How good of a hitter are you? If the Astros' pitchers had a batting practice-simulated game, who would win -- relievers or starters? BL: I harbor no illusions about my hitting. I haven't had an at-bat in the last three years, so if I got up there I'd probably be swinging for the fence and closing my eyes doing it. But I do carry a 2-for-7 lifetime record with two RBIs, so I can fall back on that a little bit. The starters would win. Roy's a pretty good hitting pitcher, but when you've got Woody Williams, Brandon Backe and Jason Jennings, there are no relievers in baseball that would contend with that. Those are three of the best hitting pitchers in baseball. 4. How did you get No. 54, and if you were ever to play for another team, would you ask for it with your next team? BL: I was always 20 in the minor leagues. When I got to my first big league spring training, I got the number 54. Interestingly, in the minor leagues I was always hurt or on the DL after exactly 20 innings. It was kind of a freakish thing, so when I got the number 54, I thought the bigger number the better -- maybe I can throw a bit longer. I kept that number and then not too long into it, I realized that was Goose Gossage's number. Now, I love it and I would definitely try and keep it wherever I went. 5. You pitch in one of the most noted hitters' parks in the big leagues. How does that affect the decisions you make on the mound? BL: Honestly, in our park, if you hit it good, it's going to go out to right or left field. Center field's really the only place you can give up a ball that's teed-off and it might come down, so I really don't pitch differently in our park. Obviously, at the end of the game when you don't want to give up the lead, you are probably going to throw most of your pitches away. That being said, I got into a trend doing that and had more trouble. When I started going back inside to hitters, I actually had more success last year. So there's no trend, it just depends on what's going on in the season. 6. During the 2005 playoffs, you won admiration of media members by standing at your locker and answering questions after you had rough outings. Why did you do that? BL: There were a couple of things. I remember when I first came up I watched Billy Wagner. He's kind of my role model and I watched him. Obviously, every closer goes through some rough moments, and he had some, and I watched how he handled everybody. He's very direct with his answers and he says what's on his mind, but he answers everyone's questions. He gives them respect because of it and they give him respect because of it, and I just always thought it was the right thing to do. Whether things go right or wrong, people are going to be there to ask you questions about it, and it's part of your responsibility to answer them. Sometimes the questions become repetitive, and you don't want to answer them because they get a little obnoxious, but at the same time, it's part of your responsibility. Plus, I've always thought it was the right thing to do, and it's something I will always do. I love the game and it's amazing, but if you can't answer those questions that night, how are you going to get over it? As a closer, you need to get over things as fast as possible. One of the ways to do that is to answer questions and remembering what you did and trying to learn something from it. Sometimes just answering questions can heal you to a certain point. 7. If you realized the runner at second base was relaying signs to the hitter, how would you feel about it? What would you do? BL: I don't want to say that I would do that for sure. I guess it depends on how obvious they are making it. If it is a really important game, and it is something subtle and a strategy-type thing, then I understand. But I think if they are relaying signs, and it isn't a close game or if it's a different situation, sometimes I think you need to let them know that you don't appreciate it, and maybe throw a brushback pitch. 8. How do the Houston relievers pass the time in the bullpen? BL: We do a variety of things. Those first five innings are anyone's guess, but most of the time we are flicking pumpkin seeds at each other or pouring water on each other. There is no end to the discussions that we have either. We flip a switch around the fifth or sixth inning when guys have a possibility of going in, and everyone starts to stretch and get ready. But in those first five innings, we talk about everything in the world. 9. When you were Little League age, who was your favorite player and which position did you prefer? BL: I was playing outfield at the time and Kirby Puckett was probably my favorite player. Nolan Ryan became my favorite player after I took up pitching. 10. Who is the most unique teammate you have played with? BL: I'd have to say Lance Berkman is the most unique teammate I've ever played with. First of all, I've never played with such a good hitter in my career. And I've never seen anyone who can just wake up and come in to batting practice five minutes before we start and not stretch or anything, and still hit balls over the fence to right or left field. Lance is a unique talent, and I have never seen anyone like him that has anywhere close to that ability who is that laid back in his approach. Lance is truly a guy who reacts when he's up there. He doesn't think; he just lets his natural ability take over, and he has a lot of it.
yeah id always go with a young guy with upside over a veteran with similiar performances in ST. only reason you would take a vet is for leadership and dont need that since Roy O is the ace among others.
To clarify, I'd prefer Nieve over Moehler almost entirely regardless of spring performances; I just figured Moehler had the upper hand in the Astros' book. Hasn't really turned out that way, though, I think.
The Washington Nationals acquired infielder Wade Robinson from the Houston Astros for catcher Danny Ardoin on Monday. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2813171 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6541
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...d=1860032&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have claimed right-handed pitcher Ezequiel Astacio off waivers from the Houston Astros. Astacio was 5-6 with a 6.02 ERA in 28 games, including 14 starts, for the Astros over the past two seasons. He was 8-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 21 games, including 17 starts at Triple-A Round Rock, in 2006. He is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in Spring Training, but was never really in the running for a starting job after failing to establish himself in the Astros' rotation the past two years. The Rangers were looking for more starting pitching depth after Thomas Diamond was lost for the season because of elbow surgery.
yeah..my son looked at me last night and said, "dad..know what we'll be watching this time next week?? mets and cards!!" can't freaking wait
In other unsurprising housecleaning news, Charlton Jimerson was outrighted to Corpus. He's off the 40-man roster, and will go through waivers.
Wow, Woody Williams is getting pounded like a $10 w****. Mark my words: the Astros are going to have to eat that contract. Garner needs to keep both him and Lidge on a short leash.
