Wednesday Morning Astros, etc. Round Up
by Stephen Higdon on Sep 2, 2009 9:01 AM CDT
in Link Dumps
Today we'll lead off with what could possibly turn into the greatest pissing contest in the history of pissing contests (I exaggerate, but just a little):
- Last night, Brian McTaggart debuted Roy Oswalt's own personal website via the twitter-sphere (is that a proper term?). In the early morning hours, Jose Valverde's manager/personal assistant/something debuted his own personal website via the twitter-sphere. Jose's kicks the crap out of Roy's on the basis of the most ridiculous intro-video—ever. I really can only hope that this kind of one-up-manship continues all offseason. My money is on Michael Bourn to crush the competition though. He or Hunter Pence (I'm valuing youth in this competition).
- After the Astros threw away an opportunity, or dropped the ball, Cecil Cooper did have these kind words to say about Brian Moehler, who really did pitch better than the boxscore will tell us (I'll also vote yes on the should we bring him back for one more year question...it just needs to be as a 5th/6th starter...not our number three):
"That’s what I told him. I thought he deserved a better fate. I thought he threw the ball well. He hit his spots very well. He kept it down. He moved the ball around. He did a good job, a real good job."
- Greg Lucas pens one of the most balanced and intelligent break downs (no pun intended) of just how screwed we are as a franchise. Thanks for having the stomach for this one, Greg.
- If the inclusion of the Bloone's Farm picture in last night's game thread hadn't tipped you off, here it is concretely: Aaron Boone has made his return to MLB just five months after having open heart surgery.
- The Unofficial Scorer checks in with the things the Astros should be taking a look at in this miserable month of meaningless baseball. Odds are only 15% of what Mr. Levine would like to see get seen.
- Felipe Paulino gets another crack at proving himself as a starting pitcher tonight. This Astros.com piece features a quote from Dewey Robinson that agains credits a pitcher's demotion to Round Rock as helping him to finally put all the pieces together (Ed, are you not paying attention to these things?):
"It looks like his focus and concentration have really upgraded to a different level, and he's really making pitches in the two outings he's had since being recalled [from Triple-A Round Rock]," he said. "I've been encouraged with that. The stuff's been there. At this level, it's not what you're throwing so much as where you're throwing it, and that's going to be the key."
- Recent call-up, Wilton Lopez, gets featured in BtB's New Arms of the Week.
- USA Today checks in with some of the more intelligent guys in baseball to see how life is for them. Some familiar names are mentioned/quoted, but one of the most interesting things I took away from the article was this:
"In some ways, it can take a little pressure off," he says of having an alternative career path. "It doesn't mean you have less desire. But I think it helps you relax."
- Jumping off a discussion of intelligence, and because I think this probably applies to baseball's conventional wisdom: a little something from This Is Indexed.
- I'll be 97.5 The Ticket this afternoon with Fred and Matt at 1:50PM. If the Astros totally blowing it, you can just listen to the three of us rant about it.
- Finally, as a PSA, please, please, please take a few moments out of the procrastination time you're utilizing to read this and take Tango's Fan Scouting Survey.
Valverde's video
They played it at Minute Maid when he came in to close the last game I went to (against the D-backs).
OremLK - September 2, 2009
I love that Valverde video. It’s so over-the-top that it is almost like you are about to watch Tarantino’s “Dusk til Dawn.”
clack - September 2, 2009
In the interest of accuracy….I should give credit to Robert Rodriguez also for Dusk til Dawn. Tarantino was the screenwriter and Rodriguez the director.
clack - September 2, 2009
Maybe if he spent most of his time in the bullpen or something…
But the problem with Moehler is that:
1) He’s not particularly good
2) He doesn’t spend much time on the mound in any particular outing.
So he doesn’t pitch well or eat innings, and I think you have to do one or the other to justify a roster spot, particularly if you’re 37 years-old and at the tail end of your career.
It would be one thing if he were 10 years younger. Then there would be some chance that he’ll get better. But that’s not going to happen.
I’d rather see the Astros give a young pitcher a shot than give Moehler any significant role. As a spot starter/swingman out of the pen, he’s fine, but not as a regular starter.
Only_A_Lad - September 2, 2009
I like Moehler
When he’s on, he’s pretty good, actually. His stuff isn’t good, but his command is impeccable on a good night, which he had quite a few of this year. Him not spending much time on the mound is Cecil Cooper’s fault. Coop loves to mismanage pitchers. This is fixed by getting rid of Cecil Cooper, not getting rid of Moehler.
But yes, he is a #5 pitcher, no doubt about it; and if we have to free up his payroll to get a younger, better starter, I would agree that we should drop him. However, we had an awful lot of payroll tied up this year in unproductive, injured bench veterans, and I’d rather start there than with the guy who HAS shown the capability to be productive on the mound.
OremLK - September 2, 2009
Moehler has been a nice stop gap
Unfortunately that stop gap has had to pitch 130+ innings that past two seasons due to issues with the starting rotation. He’s not the best option for a starter and I’d rather see him coming out of the bullpen, but he’s done adequate job coming out of the bullpen initially and eating innings as a starter, when other starts have faltered or gone on the DL. He has value, it’s just a matter of figuring out if the money needed to keep him here is worth it.
Timothy De Block - September 2, 2009
most likely the Astros won't have any choice in the matter...
Moehler has an option he can pick up, as do the Astros. Certain “triggering events” (I don’t know what they are) would have to occur to allow either party to decline the option.
clack - September 2, 2009
I thought it was simply a mutual option.
In other words, both parties have to agree to the option.
Only_A_Lad - September 2, 2009
it’s a mutual option, but according to Cot’s:
triggering events may allow either club or player to decline 2010 option
I take that to mean that either party can initiate the option, and the other party can decline only if triggering events, whatever they are, has occurred.
clack - September 2, 2009
I'll give a defense of Moehler as 2010 opening day 5th starter
This year, Moehler has been worth 1 win above replacement according to fangraphs, which is the third most value of ANY pitcher on the Astros this year, behind Wandy (2.9 WAR) and Roy (2.9 WAR). On the free agent market (which is what we’d have to look toward if we didn’t bring Moehler back for the rotation), fangraphs estimates that 1 WAR is worth roughly a $4M contract.
His Fielding Independent Pitching the past three years: 4.66, 4.57, 4.63. Also, he gives about 5-and-a-half innings per game he starts. That’s only marginally worse than an “average” starter, defined as a guy who goes out and gives you 6 innings and 3 runs a game (4.50 ERA). He’s been fairly consistent in his production across the last three years, and he’s pretty consistent across games within the season. That’s worth something.
Basically the argument boils down to this: If you don’t give the job to Moehler, who are you going to give it to? The farm is not exactly brimming with young pitchers who are ready for the majors.
AstroAndy - September 2, 2009
yeah, the valverde video is his standard intro at MMP
at least for this year, although they don’t have time to play it in all it’s glory.
lnewcomer - September 2, 2009
interesting timing too
Valverde’s a guy that is very likely to be a free agent next year. Roy is signed to a contract w/ a no-trade clause, but there have been rumblings for a couple years that he might be willing to move. We’ve heard in the past about Scott Boras’s marketing books for his clients, but is this the next step for individual players? I don’t imagine GM’s would be very impressed by them (although that’s just a guess), but maybe it’s to build up support from fans?
Or maybe it’s just regular old marketing.
lnewcomer - September 2, 2009
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