I concur. Let's get together to watch one of the Braves' games. 'Member that thing I wasn't doing? I'm not not doing that anymore.
Well, guess what....he's keeping his spot. Astros: Redding pitching to keep his rotation spot News Astros starter Tim Redding is 0-3 with a 10.57 ERA through four outings this season, and his job is likely on the line when he takes the hill on Friday night. The Astros are visiting the Braves. "It would be a lot easier not to put pressure on myself if everybody wasn't asking me if I was putting pressure on myself," Redding told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm just going to go out there like I have the past four starts and try to do the best I can from the first pitch on. There's nothing else I can do. Wherever my physical capabilities take me is as far as I can go." Views If Redding falters again on Friday, the Astros would likely move Brandon Duckworth to the rotation even though he owns a 7.02 ERA. They could also dip down into Triple-A and call up Carlos Hernandez, although that's unlikely because Hernandez is still working to improve his arm strength after missing the entire 2003 season.
I really don't think the Astros management should give signs of pulling Redding out of the rotation. The potential benefits of giving his starts to someone like Duckworth isn't worth the risk of losing a pitcher of Redding's potential. This may suck in the short run, but Redding has too much talent for us to give up on him so soon, especially given his low ERA last year. Of course, if there's something wrong with his arm or other physical problems, then that's different. But otherwise, I would just leave him in until he just can't bring it.
Wow! This is going to be a "make or break" type game for Redding. Psychological, that is. I feel bad for the guy if he doesn't get this win. But if he does, think of the benifit to his confidence! I have to believe that THIS presure is good for him because in reality this "pressure" is NOTHING compared to what he'd face in the play-offs. So, if he can't handle this, then off to Tripple A with you! On a side note...the only way that I'd feel that Redding did his job, after a loss, is if we lose one of those 3-1 games. You know, the classic pitching duels? Then, and only then, can we blame the run support, and not the pitcher. Then Redding will survive for another day.
So far it has been a MAKE game for Redding. He looks great out there today. Low pitch count, and he has made it to the 5th inning.
He is actually pitching the same he has all seaosn tonight. Really good stuff, but catching too much of the plate when ahead of the batters. The only difference is that he's facing a pathetic Braves lineup full of minor leaguers due to injuries. oh, there goes a Kent HR to straightaway center. He's hot as hell. So back to Redding. Hopefully a win tonight will boost his confidence and he'll start actually making out pitches.
He might not look much better, but at least he is not getting bit by a bunch of bloop hits, bad fielding and overall bad luck.
couldn't have said it better myself. although, i agree that despite the positive result tonight, redding wasn't much better and he really needs to continue to work on his location. he should have no false sense of security after tonight's start.
No one from the Astros has even remotely suggested Redding could lose his spot in the retotion. Onlly 610 callers and show hosts have suggested as much, and there's not really a singlebaseball guy on that staff. Delotti (sp?) seems to be the most into baseball, but anyone who knows the sport and has listened to him knows he is an amateur. Rediing has pitches just fine this season but had has a little bad luck. He will be a .500 pitcher this season, and there's not much more you can ask out of your 5th starter.
Redding is a 5th starter. He's pitching well enough, frankly, to finish with an ERA of around 5. That's good enough for his spot in the rotation. Most of the season, he's been unlucky. Yesterday, perhaps, he was a bit lucky. Great pitches, as someone else previously stated, followed by poor ones. Redding has better stuff than either Pettite or Miller. He has more mental breakdowns than both combined. Still, he's a 5th starter who could maybe someday be more.
Great timing. Really I love it when soothesayers come out of their woodworks. My question to you (HAVEN) today is this; will your opinion change of Timothy if he runs off 5 bad games with an ERA of 10.75? Will you still fill comfortable accepting him as your fifth starter? The truth is this - Jimy held out Brandon Duckworth because he was almost fed up with Timothy - so yesterday's game was going to be make or mar him at least at this point of the season. I was rooting for him so much because I am Astros fan first and also I pittied him (second). What boggles my mind the most about Tim is that he has the STUFF but he is almost heartless and lacks the pitching "smarts". Compare him with our ace who many will agree was not as highly rated in the minors as redding and even Robertson. Roy is the epitome of smarts, hearts and guts. All Tim has to do is to stop throwing and start pitching. One of my favorite moments this season (watching the art of pitching) happened in the game against Pirates. Clemens walked and loaded the bases but he was never rattled - he proceeded to walking in the first run because he was determined to follow his plan of "pitching" his "pitches". I would not sell Timothy shot and settle for an ERA around for the season. I expect an ERA of 3.75 or below from him because I know he is good for it but I will not hessitate to yank him for upsurging Carlos or even Burkholtz (sp). Hopefully Timothy has turned the corner. I will not accept him to become our black hole or waterloo.
Roy is also the epitome of a 96 mph fastball and a slow as sin curveball. I'll agree Redding may have been more highly touted, but Robertson? People were begging for the Stros to call up Roy when they did because he was lighting up the league; Robertson had to fight to get the last spot in the rotation. Personally, I'm not much of a Redding fan- I don't even see the tremendous "stuff" he's supposed to have. I remember reports of a mid-90s fastball; I can't really remember a time when Redding got up to 94- he usually sits at 90 or 91. He seems to have 4 or so "decent" pitches, but no great ones, or even pretty good ones. No high powered fastball, no wicked slider, no knee bending breaking ball. Combine that with iffy control, and more demons in his head than you can fathom, and it's not really a surprise that he has really bad outings. Give me Roy or Wade's "stuff" over Redding's "stuff" anyday, never mind the mental makeup of those 2 vs. Timmy. Can you tell I'm waiting for the day if/when Carlos' velocity is back up to par?
Redding hit 96 on a number of occasions yesterday. It's a great riding fastball when he throws it, but all too often he lets up, hitting only 91 or so. When this hapens, the ball tends to flatten out, and will get hammered 95% of the time.
Tim's fast ball has clocked at least 96 mph this season (although it was ball). He threw a 95mph fast ball yeasterday against the Braves for strike at least twice by my count and I believe he threw another 96 mmph for ball also to Wise (not sure exactly). That to me is stuff. After throwing the 95mph fast ball for strike, Jim Deshaise (sp) said if he could spot and locate that pitch properly, he will be fine (not in exact words). He also has a descent change up and not-so-shabby "breaker". So in my books he has the stuff. Carlos Zambrano's stuff ain't all better that his. Timothy has the "live" arm to get it done it bigs.
Redding was consistently ranked in the minor leagues lower than our other pitching prospects. Roy Oswalt easily became our best prospect following his breakout season at AA. The consenses was basically 1. Oswalt, 2. Miller, 3. Hernandez, and 4. Redding. Just to point out something. Both Pettite and Clemens had ERA of about 4. Taking into account the change into a juice park, and switch to the NL, their ERA is still probably doesn't translate to much lower than 3.75, if that. So if Redding can put up a 3.75 ERA, he's not a #5, he's a #2 or a #3 starter material. And probably could be the Ace of a handful of teams.
You lost me here. Zambrano's stuff is absolutely filthy.. When that sinker in sinking, he can be damn near unhittable.
