Pettitte out for season By The Associated Press (8/18/04 - HOUSTON) — Houston Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte is out for the season as he faces surgery on his troublesome left elbow. RelatedLink More sports from abc13.com The Astros late today announced Pettitte will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn flexor tendon. Pettitte was put on the 15-day disabled list for the third time this season. He'll start rehabilitation the day after surgery and be in a brace for up to six weeks. Pettitte will resume throwing 12-to-to-16 weeks after the procedure. The 32-year-old former All-Star joined the hometown Astros in December, leaving the New York Yankees as a free agent. But Pettitte tore a tendon in his elbow in his Houston debut -- while batting, of all things -- and he hasn't been right all season. The Astros plan to recall right-hander Brandon Backe from Triple-A New Orleans. He'll join the team on Friday in Houston. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Add that to this, and it's getting close to mailing in the season... Slim hopes for Miller Astros righthander Wade Miller, who hasn't pitched since June 25 because of a frayed right rotator cuff, is holding out slim hope of coming off the disabled list this season. At best, however, he admits he likely will only be ready for the final two weeks of the season. Nonetheless, Miller made some progress in his rehab Tuesday by throwing for the first time since he was shut down July 30 for the second time on this DL stint. "It feels a lot better," he said. "Since I had that (cortisone) shot (Aug. 3) it started to feel a lot better. Then with rehabbing it, it has started to feel a lot better." Miller says that another setback would make it impossible for him to pitch again this season. "But I'm definitely not in shutdown mode," he said. "I want to come back this year." Miller hopes to prove to the Astros they should want him as part of the rotation next year. "It's a long shot (Miller will) be pitching this year," said Gerry Hunsicker, who shares Miller's desire that the righthander pitch at the end of the season to prove to himself physically and psychologically that he's healthy heading into the 2005 season. and from the same link... Talks about Kent Industry sources say the A's and Astros have had dialogue regarding a potential trade that would land Jeff Kent in Oakland. As of Tuesday evening, the Astros had not asked Kent if he would waive his no-trade clause, according to a person who would know. Because the non-waiver trading deadline passed July 31, Kent must clear waivers before he can be traded. Because he has a complete no-trade clause, he also must approve any deal. Asked if he had been approached or if he would grant a trade to a contender, Kent politely said he would not answer such a question Tuesday. "I'm here, yeah," he said. "But you want to win, too. I think we're all in the same situation. Some of us have more options than others. There's more to it than wanting to be here or wanting to be on a winning team." The All-Star second baseman could provide a boost for a contender. But he'd be smart to ask that any team acquiring him pick up the $9 million team option for 2005. As a policy, Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker does not comment on trade speculation. "I'm not going to comment on that," he said. So, what's our rotation slogan now? "Roger or Roy and we've got no other ploy"?
Ugh, this pisses me off. The Astros look done anyhow, but by this past Sunday morning, I had to have my fantasy playoff roster set -- no further changes can be made (add/drops) after that. I had just lost Millwood for the season and dropped him, and debated what to do with Pettitte. I had this sick feeling that this was going to happen, but I kept him anyway. I was going to dump him for a backup middle infielder but just couldn't do it. My middle infielder is Jeff Kent. If they trade Kent to the A.L. (this is an NL-only league), I'm totally hosed. To make matters worse, I have Jason Schmidt... that injury better not be serious. As for the Astros, I'm starting to wonder if this has Grant Hill written all over it.
