Houston Astros : Woody Williams

by Stros Bro on Mar 28, 2008 10:16 PM CDT

Now that Woody has no more spring training appearances left... should he stay or should he go?

To put it nicely... Woody has been terrible this spring training and ended it in the same fashion today by going 3 innings and giving up 5 earned runs with a walk raising his spring ERA to 11.32.

Woody's response when asked about the game... "That's just the way it goes." The reporters after the game asked if he thought he should make the team in which he responded, "What do you think?" What do I think? I think it's time to hang it up Woody. You were bad last season and you look to have gotten worse. You've had a great career and are a good guy... it's time to call it quits. There's no shame in getting old and not being able to pitch effectively. Be proud... you've had a good career.

Reporters asked Cooper after the game if he had made a decision yet and he basically just responded to all of the questions(referring to Woody making the team and any other changes to the roster) that he wouldn't have any decisions made until tomorrow(presumably after the game).

Poll

Should Woody make the team?

Yes

8 votes

No

45 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | 15 comments

Comments

oody illiams

Going back to FSN's "Ricoh scouting report" last year before he earned his first win, this should be his name until he can get a W again this year. Hopefully he will get the chance. He HAS to make the team because, well...who the hell else is gonna pitch (rhetorical question?) Yes he's old, but streetwise. Yes he throws meatballs, but we will score more runs to compensate for his obese ERA. Yes he is making a lot of money this year, so he deserves a shot in the rotation. Would you rather have Jason Jennings? I vote yes to Woody for these reasons and because we ashamedly owe it to him. Now, can we please bring Freddy Garcia back to Houston?

backstop8 - March 28, 2008 reply

I'd rather have Jennings

there's at least a chance Jennings is a good pitcher this season.

Stros Bro - March 29, 2008 reply

Jennings is $1 million cheaper...

and he'll probably get back to his old self after surgery. I think he'll have a pretty decent year.

And I'm not sure Woody will pitch again. So yeah, I'll take Jennings.

TexSkins - March 29, 2008 reply

Not even the Astros' offense...

...can compensate for Woody's ERA, I'm afraid. The team is averaging about 6 runs a game. He is giving up about as much in 2/3 of a game or less.

entropic soul - March 28, 2008 reply

What's the solution???

Sampson? Really? His spring efforts didn't overwhelmingly impress, but he has shown potential at times. Other than him, who else would you recommend? Surely Oody's spring training ERA is not you're determining factor entropic, since pitchers are regaining arm strength and throw mostly fastballs early in ST. With that being said, I did watch the game tonight and he did get SHELLED once again, but after all it was against the best line-up in baseball.

backstop8 - March 29, 2008 reply

Not just his spring ERA

But it's a moot point now, because he's gone.

entropic soul - March 29, 2008 reply

another roster decision...

is whether Quintero will be kept on the roster or not. I was surprised that Cooper says that the Astros may go with 4 OFers if they keep Q. What's surprising about that is it would mean that Cruz, Jr. isn't on the roster:

From the HC:

Cooper still isn't ready to say Cruz has made the team.

"We may decide to go with four outfielders," he said. "Quintero has played well, and we're trying to see how we could work that out where he could end up on the roster as well. It's a tough decision."

clack - March 29, 2008 reply

Cruz has to make the team

If he doesn't make the team, then the Astros wasted even giving him a shot. He couldn't do much if anything else this spring. He played great. Not putting him on the roster is just another way of saying, we just had you here to spend time with your father.

Stros Bro - March 29, 2008 reply

Question Answered...Cruz makes it

From the same HC article about Woody's release:

General manager Ed Wade said Jose Cruz Jr. has earned the final roster spot in the outfield.

clack - March 29, 2008 reply

I voted

no, but it killed me. I really like Woody, and I can remember DREADING facing him with the Cardinals. And I can see backstop8's point--I'm not convinced Sampson will even stay healthy for a full season, much less do well over the grind of an entire year.

Danyah - March 29, 2008 reply