Sunday Morning(ish) Astros, etc. Round Up
by Stephen Higdon on Aug 9, 2009 10:45 AM CDT
in Link Dumps
Not too much longer until game time, but here are some links to tide you over:
- JJO has updates on Lance Berkman (likely back during the Marlin's series), Michael Bourn, and Roy Oswalt (should pitch on Tuesday).
- Richard Justice floats Wesley Wright as a starter out there; here's the crux of his argument:
I'm not sure if he has a third pitch, but could he be worse than what the Astros have been running out there?
- The Unofficial Scorer updates us on Mier and Bushue's injuries down on the farm. Mier's bone bruise: not frightening. Bushue's stress fracture in his back: sounds miserable, but not frightening.
- Alyson Footer very succiently sums up my feelings about Bazardo on her blog:
In my opinion, it's important to keep [Norris and Bazardo] separate when talking about the future of this rotation. That said, I'd like to see Bazardo pitch, fully rested, many more times before passing judgment.
- I want to know why David Ortiz's outfit is not getting more coverage than his did he/did he not steroids scandal? On a serious note, whoever is his handler should be fired. If I'm going to try and deny a serious accusation like this, I'm going to make myself look serious.
- According to BtB, the Astros are one of the worst teams in terms of winning and payroll.
- Bill Simmons may have the best job in America and his recent trip to the National Sports Collectors Convention proves my point. If you don't want to wade through the typical 5,000 word Simmons column, just skip to the picture gallery—truly cool stuff.
astros can be second guessed on handling Bazardo.
Why do you bring up a pitcher before he is rested and “available?” Wouldn’t it be wiser to keep a pitcher who is at least rested (Paulino) on the roster until Bazardo can be added after he has gotten the needed rest. I would think that the goal of calling up pitchers is to have “fresh pitchers,” not to decrease the number of rested arms. That’s why starting pitchers normally aren’t added to the roster until just before game time on the day that they start.
Bazardo has stated that his biggest problem when he came to Round Rock was confidence. And, as I recall, Bazardo didn’t pitch very well out of the pen initially in Round Rock, which is consistent with his lack of confidence. So, now, he is put in a position of pitching on short rest, getting hammered by the Brewers, and being booed off the field by Astros’ fans. I’m sure that helps his confidence.
clack - August 9, 2009
Coop's a bona fide genius
Stephen Higdon - August 9, 2009
Wesley Wright
If Justice is suggesting putting Wright in the rotation this season, that doesn’t seem feasible. First, he would have be sent back to AAA in order to be stretched out so he can pitch more than 5 innings. (I recall an interview with Lucas a week or so ago, in which Wright said he would have to be stretched out in order to be used as a starter.) Second, one of the downsides of a Rule 5 pick like Wright is missing AAA, where he could have worked on a third pitch. When Wright was picked up by the Astros, they told him to focus on his fastball and curveball, and forget the others….which made some sense because his only chance of staying on the roster was as a relief pitcher. If the Astros wanted Wright to try out as a starter next year, I suspect that they would need him to work on a third pitch in the off-season.
clack - August 9, 2009
wasn't there some talk (however serious)
about putting trying Wright out as a starter in spring training?
Only_A_Lad - August 9, 2009
I had only seen bloggers/fans advocate it. I don’t recall that the Astros ever gave consideration to it in spring training. (Maybe I missed something, though.) At some point during the season, someone in the front office might have responded positively to a question on the topic from the local media.
clack - August 9, 2009
Big Papi's outfit
I made a comment to the better half. I think it passed as being current. I also pointed out one of the fans in the front wearing a dress with one strap. I called it a “Star Trek” looking outfit and she said what she has said so many times before: That’s in style now.
ol Pete - August 9, 2009
He probably wore it to take attention off the true subject matter
Timothy De Block - August 10, 2009
RJ on the radio yesterday
The only thing that stuck in my memory were some comments about Coop. According to him there are people in the org that hate the guy. Also, when there are no cameras around, his responses to the media are often one word answers.
Oh, and that the ex-Packers head coach is screwing up the college program he’s running now. Nice guy though. Mike Sherman – that’s it.
ol Pete - August 9, 2009
lol @ the shot at the Aggies, RJ is a UT grad though
goingforthecorner - August 9, 2009
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