True, I am just hoping everyone gets a fair shake in Spring Training and may the best man win hopefully. I just really don't like that Wandy basically has the 4th spot even though he has not improved in two years but he may end up being one of the better options we have out of ST. It will be a lot more fun following ST if 8 guys are competing for 2 spots rather than 7 guys competing for 1 spot in the rotation.
No he is not the David Carr of the Astros that honor belongs to Jason Lane. Carr, has atletic ability but sucks it up most of the time. Wandy, has NO athletic ability and sucks it up most of the time. Lane, has power but can't hit.
There's a tipping point for everything. If Wandy really struggles in ST, and Sampson is looking like an ace, I'm sure they'll reconsider. Even then, it is quite possible that the coaches are having Wandy working on specifics in ST, so I wouldn't even put too much weight on his ST performance. On the other hand, if Wandy struggles for 4-5 starts to start the season, I'll be crying foul along with you.
yeah the lane comparison is better, but it still works with wandy. i'm all for giving wandy a shot in the rotation, if he really really earns it. heck his first month last year was excellent. i just have this feeling that a spot in the rotation is his to lose and i don't want it a given that he's already in there.
I definitely wouldn't consider Wandy being a debacle any time he pitches. I seem to be in the minority in some-what defending Wandy, I think he is a serviceable pitcher. Definitely nothing great, I will admit, but not Brandon Duckworth either. If memory serves me right, Wandy pitched his heart out and pretty well when he was thrown into Game 2 of the World Series. I believe he gave up just one solo shot in his appearance. Sure he is inconsistent, but I remember him coming up big a few times down our amazing stretch runs. I mean all else being equal, I rather be debating him competing for the 5th spot, but I say we at least give him a couple of bad starts in the regular season before yanking him. Just my thoughts though.
I've posted this before, but here it is again: The Houston Astros were 11-13 in games started by Wandy in 2006. They were 12-10 in 2005. A .500 record out of your 4/5 starters is what you're looking for.
it's hard to argue with the end result considering his place in the rotation but it's also hard to not think that his 5+ era isn't going to catch up to him eventually.
Don't mean to break up the Wandy talk, (ok I do...) but I am anxious to see if Luke Scott grabs that right field spot and runs with it this Spring.
a pretty nice read from olney http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blo...ryID=2769238&name=olney_buster&CMP=ILC-INHEAD
Yeah, but if we had even decent pitching out of Wandy the record might have been a lot better. With the run support that Wandy got, another pitcher such as Sampson might have been above .500 in those games (not saying that he defintiely would have). I think a pitcher W-L record is one of the least important statistics to me. I like to look at ERA, WHIP, and Batting Average allowed with runners in scoring position as more accurate indicators of how well a pitcher is doing.
I didn't realize anyone was suggesting that Backe even MIGHT be able to contribute at any point this season
I had the same thought. And now he's already throwing and the article sounds like he's *expected* to contribute at some point. Halfway seems like the "optimistic" point.
In retrospect, I'm curious about the decision making with Pettitte. As most of you know, I was fine with the decision to pass on the 2-year deal and in turn make the trade for Jennings. I've got friends that go to church with Andy, and they claim there hasn't been a day in the last year that he hasn't come in complaining about his elbow. That said, while I think Jennings is probably equivalent to Pettitte, it's a net downgrade if Garner is so committed to having a lefty in the rotation that he would stick with Wandy under almost all circumstances. I'd prefer Pettitte and Sampson/Nieve (one of them) to Jennings and Wandy. The 'Stros passed on Andy and gave up one of their most prized prospects (Hirsh) to replace him. Steep price, but in the end, I do think it was best for the club for the long-term. However, if Garner is so in love with the idea of a lefty in the rotation that he's willing to let said left-hander start over better right-handers, then that should've made Pettitte a really high priority. I hope I'm making something out of nothing. But Nieve and Sampson both showed excellent promise last year. In fact, Nieve was the first prized Astros pitching prospect in quite a while to come in and put together an above average rookie season. I'd hate to see one of them put together an excellent spring training and not make the rotation because Garner is so set on a lefty.
The Astros ST jerseys are pretty sweet . I like the black lettering on the red jersey . I would like to see a regular season version of these .
i too think Jennings is overall the same but down the stretch and in the clutch Pettitte is proven. at the begginning of the season i see nieve as #4 and wandy as 5 even though i dislike wandy the most. i think garner wants to test the waters with him and see how it goes. if wandy does bad i expect Sampson to step in as 5th starter and wandy move to the pen as another lefty behind miller. and if sampson does bad then i would guess they would try albers and maybe even Patton since hes a lefty. my rotation Oswalt Jennings Williams Nieve Rodriguez... meh bullpen Lidge-C Wheeler Qualls (also possibility as starter but hes important for double play out of pen) Miller Borkowski-long reliever Sampson-long reliever Albers
i think a lefty in the rotation is overrated unless he's only marginally worse than your next best righty. i'd love to see: oswalt jennings williams albers sampson hopefully those two guys really bring it in spring training.
Garner LOVES having lefties... whether they're starting or relieving. It probably has to do with having first-hand knowledge about how a lefty pitcher affects the opposing team's right-handed lineups. Regardless, we all know that even if Wandy gets the job... he's still at risk of losing his job if his performance suffers. The rotation that starts the season is almost virtually assured of not being the one that ends the season.
My 12 man prediction pitching staff Oswalt Jennings Williams Wandy Rodriguez Nieve Lidge Qualls Wheeler Miller Borkowski Sampson Sauerbeck Sampson should be starting but Garner and Purpura love Wandy. Sleepers are Lincoln Holdzkom and Stephen Randolph.
