Bullpen vs Rotation.....which one needs more attention?
Up to this point we have heard about the "needs" in the bullpen. Is this addressing a need or testifying to the fact that the rotation is so bad that we will be; once again, abusing the bullpen. I agree that a solid closer is necessary to contend in the MLB. Now; everyone who thinks the Astros will be contending next year stand on your head! The Astros need to be looking at starters not "finishers". If the offense and the starting rotation aren’t improved in 2010; there won’t be much need for a closer because there won’t be that much to close out. I believe Ed Wade is putting the cart before the horse….not that we have much of a cart…or a horse. There are a lot of "ifs" for the Astros but the biggest is not "if" we can close out games. The biggest if is; "If we can score enough runs and if our starters can hold teams down enough for at least 6 innings." The Astros still need a 3rd baseman that’s an offensive threat and they still need a legitimate #2/3 starter. If they don’t address these two things why start the season? (Just a guess but Blum will once again hit around .250 with very low power numbers and complain about lack of fan support….but that’s just a guess.)
Every available asset should be focused on improving the starting rotation right now. I would gladly bank on some improvement in offense from Berkman, Pence and Lee if we had a solid starting 5 that would keep us in games.
Doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Do with that as you will.
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Can I pick "neither"?
By far our biggest problem is the infield. If we want to contend this year, I suppose the rotation needs more work than the bullpen, though.
It all starts with pitching
I can come up with an infield full of all stars but if my pitchers can’t get ground balls and can’t get hitters out who cares.
I agree it needs to be addressed but not at the same level as the rotation.
If we went into the season (which as of today we won’t) with Berkman, Matsui, Blum and Manzella I’d be ok with that…DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING ONLY. I would agree that the offense needs an overhaul but I still believe it all starts on the mound. We proved that in 2005.
I am OK with proceeding with Norris and Paulino in the rotation. It would be nice to get an established starting pitcher, but the prices right now seem too high for the Astros to afford. Penny’s $7.5 million contract (with incentives) and Wolf’s 3 year deal seem to be setting the salary bar pretty high on starting pitchers. The Astros may have some NRI starting pitchers, and a guy like like Kelvim Escobar would be an interesting idea in that vein.

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