Our Favorite Starter for Team USA

by rastronomicals on Mar 9, 2006 11:53 AM CST in Houston Astros News

I've purposely stayed away from all the Clemens-what's-he-gonna-do hype, because basically, it's pointless to speculate what's going on in that crafty seven-time-Cy brain of his. We'll find out what's going on May first.

Or maybe before.

But I couldn't help but find amusement in the disparity in tilt between two dispatches from the Clemens front that have been posted over the last couple days.

First, the ESPN headline reads Report: Clemens will retire after WBC ... maybe, and he's saying,

Right now, I don't see myself playing. I'm not going to start the season with anyone. I made my mind up. And when I do shut it down, I'll be walking away with a smile on my face. There will be no regrets, because I feel like I've done it the right way.

Then, a day later, he's set to visit the Rangers and says that retirement has

been more difficult than I had expected it to be because I do love to compete.
And, you know, just when you sit down and you have a talk with the different clubs and what they need and their needs that they feel they need, you know, I appreciate that they feel that I can still compete. I wouldn't be, again, here at the [Classic] if I didn't feel like I could compete and compete at a high level.

I can't find fault in anything Clemens does. After all, it was the Astros who declined arbitration. And I still believe that he'll either pitch for the Astros or pitch for no-one. And neither outcome would bother me.

But the game he plays sure looks funny from the outside.

****
Oswalt starts for Houston this afternoon against the Mets and Aaron Heilman. I just hope that OBP king Preston Wilson (.714) can keep it going. :)

0 recs | 5 comments

Comments

The Little O

. . . hits the solo shot

Looks like we have a Todd Self sighting as the Mets bat, 2 - 2 in the ninth.

rastronomicals - March 9, 2006 reply

A Nice

Late 2005-type win today as the Astros score one in the eighth and one in the ninth to nip the Mets 3 - 2.

Ezequiel Astacio gets the win and keeps his spring ERA perfect, but it appears that the game was played without Adam Everett, who is going to be flown back to Houston to have an examination done on what appears to be a back sprain of some sort.

Chris Burke played short instead of Everett for the first time this year, but not, we suspect, the last.

rastronomicals - March 9, 2006 reply

More Rocket Equivocations From MLB.com

"I don't see myself starting this season unless something really kicks in to where I get that edge. . . I'm just trying to fade away a little bit. Maybe [I'll be back in] May or June -- I don't know what's going to happen. I've tried to make the call a few times. It's just not working."

and then

"I won't have to look in my mirror. I don't have to look back. I can honestly say that I've done everything I possibly could in this game to make myself better and get better. So I'll miss competing, but I won't miss the game and I won't be that far away from it because I enjoy working with the young kids, the young pitchers."

I guess it's possible he's just hopelessly confused. . .

rastronomicals - March 9, 2006 reply

4th and 5th spots

I signed up.(Im the 'stros fan from Minny)

Who do you think will win the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation? I don't think any of the candidates have done anything this spring to label themselves as the front-runner.

Based on last years performances I would be scared with Zeke and Wandy in the 4th and 5th spots,especially Wandy. Zeke seemed to turn a corner towards the end of the year, his performance against Pedro gives me some hope.

I don't know much about the younger guys but based on this spring Nieve and Bucholz seem to have an advantage on Hirsh, who has been knocked around a bit.

Is Steve Sparks a legit candidate?

jakechap20 - March 10, 2006 reply

4th and 5th

With the Astros taking 12 pitchers I believe we will start with a 6,7,or even 8 man rotation. That being that in the last two spots there will be a battle durring the season. I see Wandy, Zeke, and Taylor making the team and all starting in the first 3 weeks. Depending on how they do Nieve, Hirsh, or Carlos could be called up and down in the first two months. All of them have multiple option years left except Carlos, but no team is going to take a flyer on him.

I believe the Rocket will start for the Stros in June and either Wandy or Buchholz takes the 5 spot for most of the season.

Preston Wilson has taken himself out of the first game this year with a knee irritant. This is a concern that may haunt us Stros fans this year. Hopefully he is fine and will be back soon.

Shamus - March 10, 2006 reply

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