I can’t fault the Astros for giving Cruz Jr. a chance in spring training and then giving him a roster spot based on how good he did during the spring… but he’s been pathetic during the regular season and shouldn’t be on the roster if he keeps this up.

I’m totally on board with Moehler(and pretty much on board about Borkowski). If you don’t trust a pitcher to have him pitch when it matters… there is no point in having him there.. you shouldn’t be paying someone to just be available in mop up roles.. you could let prospect do that.

Good stuff

I don’t agree that you can’t keep both Blum and Loretta on the roster, though. You need two utility infielders and two extra outfielders.The redundancy is required. Without that flexibility, the team can’t withstand short term injuries, suspensions, or position changes in extra innings. Loretta wasn’t “unwanted” by other teams. He just asked for too much money, and then decided he could get more in arbitration with the Astros. The Yankees, Rockies, and Padres were all looking to sign him if he had been cheaper. Loretta’s salary is an impediment to cutting him also…the Astros still have to pay him. I’m not unhappy with either Loretta or Blum (and I wasn’t wild about signing Blum to begin with).

Einerston and Iorg are not ready for the majors. They have to perform better in AA first. But I do think it is time to cut ties with Cruz, Jr….something which Cooper may find hard to do, given his friendship with Cruz, Sr. If nothing else, I would call up Victor Diaz from AAA. He isn’t tearing it up, but he is hitting the best of the Round Rock outfielders. He is only 26 and he has proven that he has power at the major league level (though he K’s too much). I also think the Astros should scour the waiver wires for reserve outfielders, or even seek a minor trade, and perhaps find a better choice for the bench that way. MLBTraderumors.com suggested that the Astros should pick up Jason Botts who was recently waived by the Rangers as a replacement for Cruz, Jr. Since I don’t know much about Botts, I can’t say if that is good or bad advice…but it is the type of search that can be done.

is to have Einerston and Iorg, some of our few position player prospects that might actually project to the major leagues, slowing turning into Jason Lane on our bench.

i agree on some points (re: Moehler, Borkowski, Cruz Jr.), but the big question is, what are our choices? getting Wiggy back will help, just by adding another position player (coulda used one last night), and i can’t imagine Byrdak doesn’t stay up, so one of those two gotta go.

i really wonder what they’re going to do with Cheito. will they give him another start soon? i can’t imagine Coop turning to him in a pressure situation anytime soon. is he going to come around batting only in low-pressure PH spots? i doubt it.

our bench has been atrocious so far this season. we’re batting a pathetic 0.086 in pinch hit situations, with an OPS of 0.305. kinda makes you miss Lamb, Scott, and even OP, huh?

i think (and maybe this is just blind optimism) that a great deal of his struggles can be attributed to complete lack of playing and spotty pinch-hitting chances. when he played regularly in spring training (and yes, i know it’s spring training), he hit really well. it is great to have a switch hitter off the bench, but he needs to learn to be a good option off the bench- and i believe that is probably the toughest role in all of baseball. palmeiro wasn’t a great hitter, but he did occasionally come up with big off the bench clutch hits.

however, all that said – i’d KILL to have cruz gone and lamb back. but i am glad to see him getting more regular playing time in minnesota (even if his numbers currently aren’t up to par).