Starting Pitching?

by pel on Dec 7, 2007 12:07 AM CST

Winter meetings are over and no moves were made on the starting pitching side.

Is anybody else worried about our starting pitching? Since we're keeping Everett and using Matsui along with Bourn, it looks like the strategy is classic National League speed + defense.

Well, for that to work, the pitching needs to be rock solid. Besides the question mark at closer, what about our starters?

We have plenty of candidates for the 3, 4, and 5 slots, but what about #2 to slug it out with Oz?

Surely that isn't Woody...

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Right now...

the #2 has to be Wandy. I can't see anyone else putting up the innings that he can.

Throwing Woody into the mix, you have a bunch of guys fighting for the final spots. Sampson, Albers, Patton, Backe. Who am I forgetting? What's the status on Nieve?

So... you've got Roy, Wandy, Backe, Woody and... right now, it'd probably be Albers. That puts Sampson in the pen. Nieve and Patton probably start in Round Rock unless they're 110% healthy.

Not bad, not great. After a definate #1 starter, it's an average rotation with the chance to become pretty good. We'll see if Wandy puts everything together and becomes a true 32 guy. This is year 2 after the Tommy John surgery for Backe, so we'll see if he's the Backe of old. This is also the make or break year for both Albers and Sampson.

If nothing else, it'll be an interesting year. Oh, and then there's Roy.

by TexSkins on Dec 7, 2007 3:04 AM CST reply actions

That should read...

"true #2 guy".

by TexSkins on Dec 7, 2007 3:05 AM CST up reply actions

#2 Starter

Pel, what the Astros have are a bunch of number 5 guys unless one of the guys Texskins mentioned steps up and proves otherwise. If Backe is healthy and we can convince him it is late season for every start, if Albers gets consistent, if Sampson can hold his early season form from this past year any of them can do it. That is a lot of ifs though. At this point I think Wandy is the number 2 by default and we see what happens.

It's the next generation of Astros. Let's see if they can play like the men they are replacing.

by TBurford on Dec 7, 2007 8:11 AM CST reply actions

Sure, I'm worried about the rotation.

But the Astros are in the same boat as 80% - 90% of teams, in terms of concerns about a No. 2 pitcher. That is what makes trading for one hard.

The Astros could take a risk on one of the previously injured free agents. Jennings and Lieber are the best bets, IMO. Lieber didn't injure his arm (it was his foot), so he should be able to come back well...and he has been surprisingly effective, particularly when you consider the ballpark where he pitches. Jennings' elbow surgery was not TJ, which means he should be ready by spring training.

Another idea, which I alluded to in another thread, is to trade for a guy like Aaron Heilman. He is great set up reliever who wants to start. He was a good starter when he came up as a rookie, but the Mets only like him as a late inning reliever. My point is that, with the high cost of starting pitchers, they may need to think about players who could become a No. 2 if given the chance. I don't know what it would take to get Heilman...perhaps a reliever plus one of the young starters.

by clack on Dec 7, 2007 9:01 AM CST reply actions

Wade Doesn't Trade Relievers

He trades for them. I am ok with Heilman and if they want to give Jennings a chance and can get him cheap that might not be a bad move. His surgery is the same Pettite had and Andy came back ok.
Instead of getting someone else I would like to see them give all the guys a shot and see who wins a place in the rotation. Tell them Roy and Wandy will be in the rotation - to hell with Woody that was dumb to start with - and let Sampson, Albers, Patton, Paulino, Backe and whoever else fight it out for the final three spots. Best Pitchers Win!

It's the next generation of Astros. Let's see if they can play like the men they are replacing.

by TBurford on Dec 7, 2007 9:59 AM CST up reply actions

Rotation

This is what i want, for opening day, if it doesnt work then change it.
Roy
Wandy
Sampson
Woody
Backe

Round Rock
Paulino
Patton
neive
albers

i just love sampson

by Big Puma 17 on Dec 7, 2007 10:15 AM CST reply actions

I'm gonna throw something out there

...and feel free to throw it right back:

Mark Prior

He'd be like an injured, whiny Roger Clemens coming in after the start of the season.

I haven't decided if I'm serious or not just yet. It'll be curious to see what sort of package it takes to get him, but there's a decent chance that the Cubs or some other fortune teller gets some good, cheap pitching for the better part of a year.

by alamosweet on Dec 7, 2007 1:23 PM CST reply actions

this is me

throwing it back. not interested.

by littlevisigoth on Dec 7, 2007 4:59 PM CST up reply actions

I would take a chance on Prior

for the right price. BUT I don't think there is anyway that the Cubs trade him in the division. Of course the fact that the Astros stunk last season and might not look like a threat even with Prior could help. I guess being a crummy team for a year could have some benefits.

It's the next generation of Astros. Let's see if they can play like the men they are replacing.

by TBurford on Dec 7, 2007 2:11 PM CST reply actions

I agree

I'm sure that the Cubs would be reluctant to trade him within the division, because if he then went on to do well and make them look bad, it would sting them doubly.

Of the injury risk pitchers out there, though, he seems to have the highest potential to light things up for at least a season.

by alamosweet on Dec 7, 2007 3:34 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe I'm pollyannish

It seems to me between Oswalt, Backe, Rodriguez, Albers, Sampson, Williams, Patton & whoever else we saw in September, the Astros could piece together a solid pitching staff. They're unproven, but not really. Rodriguez, Albers, and Sampson had many fine moments in 2007 and should improve in 2008. Backe has that fiery spirit and looked fine in his brief comeback. Patton was encouraging in September. Woody Williams had that horrendous first half but showed some spark in the second half (maybe he'll surprise us in 2008 - maybe).

It'd be nice to add a nice starter (say Mike James from Braves if he's still available - I can't keep up).

I'd rather get Joe Nathan from Minnesota as a closer.

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Dec 7, 2007 2:54 PM CST reply actions

well..

if we have so many starters that should be good this year and we just need a closer why don't we make Roy our closer and be done with it :) (yes i'm totally joking)

by TimStros on Dec 7, 2007 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

What to say...

we don't do what the Yanks and Sawk did and take one of our young starters (since we have so many of them) and try to get them in the back of the bullpen, a la Joba and Papelbon.

Just a thought...

by TexSkins on Dec 7, 2007 5:30 PM CST reply actions

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