Yes!!! Miller strikes out Miller!!!! Gritty performance by Wade. Lets hope Miceli, Lidge and Ducky can hold onto this slim lead.
DOUBLE by KENT!!! Biggio and Everett scores. 1 out. Kent on 2nd, Berkman on first. Doggy up to bat!!! 8-3 Good Guys!!!
I would either let Lidge finish the 9th, or let KoKo finish it up. No reason to waste Ducky, even for a "Jimy save".
OK...good. Ducky closes out the great game. Nice 3 game winning streak going on. Also, great to be back in first place.
He's building up his velocity slowly but surely. His fastball is hovering in hte mid-80s right now, but should go back to the 90s eventually with some more work in the minors. Lets not forget Redding has had a bad break just about everytime his turn to pitch came up. Ben Sheets twice who's a major Astro killer, and Matt Morris who is the ace of the Cardinals. Barring Clemens, or Oswalt pitching against in place of Redding in those outtings I think you'd be hardpressed to find to a pitcher on this staff who could pull out those wins. Still I think Redding's ERA is despiciable even given those losses he's received. He's the whipping boy on this pitching staff but atleast it'd be a lot easier to argue in his defense if his ERA would be in the 3.5-4 ERA area instead of 6+.
Yep, I'm not sure he will finish the year on the club...I hate to say it, but he is going through some uncanny bad luck that does'nt seem to ween as of late...
ERA = 10.33 to be exact. I really dont see how Redding is given chance after chance, he continually underachieves in every start. It's not just this year, it's been the same situation since his arrival to the 'Stros, and the same blanket has been used to cover for him... "Oh, Redding has great stuff he just needs to put it together. Well, I'm tired of it. Redding has been up for 3 years now and has performed in great mediocrity in all of them. Carlos Hernandez meanwhile, is down in the minors putting up dazzling numbers compared to Redding's but does not get a call up? Why? Because his velocity is bad? Well, Redding throws 94-96 and STILL gets his ass handed to him, so what would that say about velocity? Also, where is the rule that says you must throw in the mid 90's to be successful? If is velocity eventually "will return", then let it return while he's in the majors, because we cant just keep conceding losses on account of Tim Redding's sucktivity.
that would be idiotic to bring up Hernandez this early. He hadn't pitched in well over a year. You don't just rush him back because your 5th starter is struggling. You take it slow with him, otherwise you may never see the potential he had a few years ago again.
You do realize that Redding was the most consistently good starter the Astros had last year, correct? His ERA was 3.68 which was well below Robertson, (over 5), Miller (~4.10), Villone (~4.10) and any other starter the Astros put out there with the exception of Oswalt. Velocity is a sign of arm strength. Would it make you feel better if the Astros said that they are waiting on Hernandez to develop consistent and good arm strength? Hernandez hasn't pitched int he majors in over a year. Give him some time before expecting him to step in.
Also, let's not forget that despite Redding's struggles so far this season (which are already being exaggerated by some fans), the Astros are still in first place. They aren't struggling to get out of the cellar or anything, they are doing fine. There is no reason to risk any complications with Carlos and his future at this time. Let him take it slow.
