[Official] Astros Spring Training

Thank you for that colorful insight.

 

Yep, no room in AAA though, with MRod, Pence & Anderson. I misspoke earlier...he has already cleared waivers.

He had a month-plus stretch last year where it looked like he might have figured some things out, like how to make semi-consistent contact. That success was fleeting, and he had a bit of the 'tude last season as well.

Hey, he got to spend a few weeks in the bigs, that's better than 99.9999% of ballplayers do.

 

He reminds me of Barry Bonds with 700 or so less homers in the majors.

 

Its time for my weekly post about Brad Lidge...

Lidge sucks. Still.

 

anyone see the rankings on cnnsi? They got the stros ranked #19 in the bigs and fourth in the division.

 

I am not surprised, the Astros starting pitching sucks beyond Oswalt.

Or at least it is really untested....or in Woody's case....TOO tested.

DD

 

Keep a guy who posted a 3.65 ERA last season on a short leash in this rotation simply because he had a couple of bad spring starts?

First of all, 5 runs in 5.1 innings isn't getting pounded. It's not good, but at the same time, considering at least 2 of the runs came late, it could be attributed partially to running into the fatigue wall. In any event, spring statistics are generally meaningless. The reason it's ever-so-slightly different in Lidge's case is that its coupled with regular season struggles from a season ago, and that gives somewhat of a cause for concern.

On a team whose weakness might be rotation depth, I don't think a 3.65 ERA pitcher from a season ago should be on a tight leash because of two or three bad starts in spring. Moreover, it's far too premature to make predictions on eating his contract.

 

That's higher than some experts had them in 2005.

Asking any kind of national media outlet to understand the depth of a team and to understand it in more specific terms than "Pettitte and Clemens" is expecting too much. Pretty much useless.

 

Pettitte might miss opening day and then some with a bad back? Who saw that coming? Maybe Roger will have to give him some love.

 

interesting moves, possibility that backe will be back sooner? or can he not yet be placed on the 60 day dl?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/4669080.html

 

I don't know the rules about that, but I'm sure Gimenez will go on the 60-day as soon as they need a spot. I guess they're not going to make that move until they need to (i.e. if Brian Moehler makes the team).

 

Just a roster move for Backe, he won't pitch this year.

 

You can't place a player on the 60-day DL unless the 40-man roster is full.

 

buck said the same in one of the other threads, though i've read elsewhere that he could be back in june/july.... conflicting reports and we probably shouldn't expect that he can return and return to form this season. though we can always hope.

 

astros are currently kickin the yankees ass 9-1

 

I also read somewhere that Backe is way ahead of schedule and should pitch after the break.

 

I don't think that is true.

 

It is true. A player can only be placed on the 60 day list if the 40 man roster is full.

 

I didn't know the Astros signed Tim Raines Jr. to a minor league deal.

 

i doubt it he'll be back after the break, if they make the postseason then maybe he'll be back by then.