The 25-man roster includes 12 pitchers: Brandon Backe, Dave Borkowski, Doug Brocail, Shawn Chacon, Geoff Geary, Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson, Jose Valverde, Oscar Villarreal, Moehler and Wright.The club will carry 13 position players: catchers Brad Ausmus and J.R. Towles, infielders Lance Berkman, Geoff Blum, Mark Loretta, Miguel Tejada, Wigginton and Perez, and outfielders Michael Bourn, Darin Erstad, Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Cruz Jr.
The only real question marks were whether the Astros would keep 3 catchers, or take the chance of losing Quintero and sending him down. They decided to send him down which means he probably won't be an Astro again. More than likely another club is going to pick him up... Quintero isn't the best offensive catcher in the league, but he's got some pop and he's pretty good behind the plate. In order for Quintero to actually be sent to Round Rock, he will have to clear waivers; which I don't see happening.
Wright made the team... no real surprise there... He had a good spring and if the Astros left him off the 25 man roster, he would have to go back to the Dodgers... that with the fact that he's the only lefty the Astros will have in the bullpen were a strong enough case to keep him on the team.
0 recs | 20 comments
Bummed to see Q not make the 25 man roster
I hope that he is not picked up and ends up at Round Rock. While I love JR, I'm concerned about that hamstring - and worried about who is available if he goes on the DL.
beeleever - March 29, 2008
Me too to an extent
I'm more thinking about next year when Quintero should make the team w/out any issues... I like Quintero's arm(best on the team catcher wise) and he's another energy guy.. Just a fun guy to watch play in my opinion.
Stros Bro - March 29, 2008
Trade him
I would love to have Q on the team and was really pulling for him to make the cut. However, I do understand the need for another versatile infielder with the two injuries.
That said, in reality, he doubtfully will clear waivers and even if he does, he can elect for free agency. Astros have 10 days to trade him, however - which may not be a bad idea - for us or for Q. We could maybe get another arm and he could perhaps have a starting or backup role on a club.
Sure would be a shame to lose him, although that's most likely the case.
exit53 - March 29, 2008
Berkman Questions Cutting Woody
According to the AP article, Berkman questioned whether the Astros should have released Woody Williams.
"Possibly a bit premature," he said. "The game is completely different in the regular season than it is in spring training, especially from a guy like Woody who has been around the block a few times."
I wonder if the Astros' management is getting used to Berkman second guessing their moves?
clack - March 29, 2008
Roy-O did it as well
I don't take much from it.. I mean reporters ask them questions, they answer the questions and then reporters make a whole story on 1 quote...
Stros Bro - March 30, 2008
And I doubt
they would say, "Oh yeah, Woody sucks. Time for him to hang it up." being friends with him and all.
entropic soul - March 30, 2008
Alas, poor Humberto
I will always love Quintero, for this shining moment if nothing else.
Well, I think that's it. MLB has decideded that they hate Macs and I can't really get any of their crap to play on my machine anymore. But I'm better that's the one.
jetking - March 30, 2008
they could always
pull Humberto back if he's claimed on waivers, correct? i'm hoping they don't let him go. our next best catching option is what? i didn't like the idea of a third catcher, but i'd certainly hate to see Q go. hopefully it all works out.
littlevisigoth - March 30, 2008
I think he was DFA'd
At this time of year, he has to go through irrevocable waivers. If he is claimed, they have a certain number of days to arrange a trade or let him go on waivers. If he isn't claimed, Q has the option of signing as a free agent whereever he wants (due to his service time). If he is really pissed about his status with the Astros, he might decide to sign somewhere else if he thinks the liklihood of playing in the majors sometime this year is better. Given that, I don't think the odds are very good that he continues in the Astros organization. (Hopefully, I'm wrong.) I noticed that Munson was DFA'd by the Brewers last week. I wonder if the Astros would consider signing him to a minor league contract (assuming he hasn't accepted a minor league assignment with Milwaukee already)?
clack - March 30, 2008
OK, scratch the Munson idea...
This article says that Eric Munson accepted his minor league assignment with Milwaukee. The Brewers wrote into his contract a financial disincentive to rejecting a minor league assignment.
http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080328&content_id=2464094&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil
Smart work on the Brewers' part...even though it costs a bit more.
clack - March 30, 2008
ahh
all these intricacies of contract rules are still a bit fuzzy to me. when is it that they are allowed to pull a player back from waivers and keep him on their roster?
littlevisigoth - March 31, 2008
I have heard...
the revocable waivers sometimes called "trade-waivers," and I think this procedure is used after the July 31 trade deadline. In any event, the teams have to "designate for assignment" players without options at this point in time, because it is the only way to open a roster spot immediately, and the teams have to meet the deadline for ML rosters. DFA'd players will either be claimed on waivers, assigned to a minor league team, traded, or unconditionally released, depending on what happens in a 10 day period after the designation.
clack - March 31, 2008
Tigers have interest in Q
Story here.
exit53 - March 31, 2008
Ersty.
I'm happy to see Erstad make the roster. As an Angels fan its great to see a team pick him up. He's my favorite player to this day.
How is he working out for the Astros so far?
docescobar07 - March 30, 2008
Damn good spring
Seems okay, but we'll see how he adjust to being a backup player.
Stros Bro - March 30, 2008
Wrong leauge.
Erstad was a better hitter against NL pitchers. In interleage play that is.
docescobar07 - April 1, 2008
As we wait for the Astros opener
to start...if you want to watch a couple of ex-Astros, Lamb and Everett are playing in the Twins-Angels match on ESPN. Everett looks as good as ever in the field, and Lamb already has a clutch RBI in the early going. 2-2 tie so far.
clack - March 31, 2008
Sweet
Thanks for the notice. I'm currently watching the Penguins(don't ask why.. but I'm a huge Pittsburgh Penguins fan as well), but i'll be sure to flip back and forth. I think the Twins will be my AL team to root for this year.
Stros Bro - March 31, 2008
Score 3-2, Twins, bases loaded...
8th inning, 2 outs. Adam Everett came within a foot or so (outside the foul pole) of a grand slam HR. Joe Morgan said that would have been a HR in MMP. Then he strikes out.
clack - March 31, 2008
correction, fly out to LF
clack - March 31, 2008
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