Filling out the Astros' 25 Man Roster
by Evan Hochschild on Feb 20, 2009 10:37 AM CST
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PrintA lot of the team is set, but there are some worthwhile postional battles going on. Here are the guys that are as close to sure things as you'll find:
1B: Lance Berkman
2B: Kaz Matsui
SS: Miguel Tejada
3B: Geoff Blum/Aaron Boone
LF: Carlos Lee, Jason Michaels
CF: Michael Bourn, Darin Erstad
RF: Hunter Pence
SP: Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler, Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Hampton
RP: Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Doug Brocail, Wesley Wright, Tim Byrdak, Chris Sampson, Geoff Geary
After that, things get a little sticky. Here are the players that seem to have a legitimate chance to make the team out of spring training. I left guys like Brian Bogusevic, Edwin Maysonet , Jason Castro, Tommy Manzella and Sergio Perez out of the discussion because although they're participating in spring training activities, they don't seem to have great chances to make the big leauge team immediately.:
C: Humberto Quintero, JR Towles, Lou Palmisano, Lou Santangelo (Non Roster Invitee), Toby Hall (NRI)
SP: Brandon Backe, Alberto Arias, Fernando Nieve, Felipe Paulino, Russ Ortiz (NRI), Chad Paronto (NRI), Clay Hensley (NRI)
RP: Jose Capellan (NRI), Danny Graves (NRI), Bud Norris (NRI)
IF: Drew Sutton, Tommy Manzella, David Newhan (NRI), Matt Kata (NRI)
OF: Reggie Abercrombie (NRI)
There are roughly 20 "sure things" in my estimation, which leaves room for five more guys to make the team out of spring training. I would assume that two catchers will take up a couple of those spots, leaving everyone else three real opportunities to help fill out a major league roster. A complete forty man roster and non roster ivitees can be found here.
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the chronicle's fanblogger noted something in one of his commments...
Cecil Cooper is reported to have a list of candidates for the No. 5 rotation slot posted on his wall. The list does not include Arias. i wonder why. I hope he isn’t overlooking Arias. If I recall the list is the same as you show for SP: except Arias and Paronta aren’t on it, and Capellan is added to the list. Capellan’s history seems to suggest reliever, but Cooper likes him for the starter competition. Maybe this reflects what Cooper told Nieve: if you want to make the team, it is easier to get in the rotation than the bullpen.
so then
a #5 SP (backe, nieve, paulino)
the 2 catchers (quintero, towles)
and an infielder that can play SS ( manzella, i don’t know who else, newhan, kata?) i think it has to be manzella
either him..
or sutton. i say this because either manzella or sutton can play 2B/SS…i don’t think Kata or Newhan have the range to be a SS..with blum being half the platoon at third, we need another guy to back up Tejada. then again, if something were to happen to lance berkman, either boone or blum would probably have to shift over to first..
by Evan Hochschild on Feb 20, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
from JJO Chat with David Gottfried
"David Gottfried: Tommy Manzella, Edwin Maysonet, Jason Smith, David Newhan, Matt Kata, Drew Sutton. The first three guys can play a real solid SS if needed. The others are primarily 2B, OF, and corner infielders. "
by the way Maysonet has a Jersey number listed on the website. Not that it carries a lot of weight but more than not
Since Backe really has to blow it I would way these are the final guys:
Backe, Quintero, Towles and Maysonet (if not Manzella)
maybe but
from gottfrieds statement he doesn’t think Sutton is a top SS. They need someone to backup Tejada.
probably true
sutton does seem to have the corner OF/2B “build”, i just like his upside and wish he could find a spot on the big league club
by Evan Hochschild on Feb 20, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
Newhan has never played SS
Sutton has played SS in the minors, but you probably wouldn’t want to play the position for an extended period in the majors.
The Astros seem to view Blum as the primary back up at SS (scary?). So, one way might be to use either Sutton or Newhan as the back ups to Blum’s role at 3d base and Matsui at 2d base. Sutton is a switch hitter like Blum, and Newhan is a LHB…so either could back up Blum’s side of the platoon at 3d base.
Personally, my bet is that the Astros will pick up a veteran who can play shortstop before the spring camp is over.
i like your idea
but based on Gottfried statements:
"Who will play SS on Tejadas days off?
12:51 David Gottfried: A combination of Blum and whoever makes the club as our utility infielder. " (from same chat)
Combined with what he said about (Tommy Manzella, Edwin Maysonet, Jason Smith) and the cheapness of these guys, I still think its one of those guys.
The reason I think picking up a veteran is a possibility....
is that Wade said recently that he would still consider signing a utility infielder sometime during the spring camp if a good deal on a free agent came up or someone they want is released.
off topic
have they said how much Blum will be paid this year or Pence. I’m looking for exact numbers.
From Cot's contracts...
recall that Blum is on the 2d year of his contract:
2009 option guaranteed at $1.25M with 250 PAs in 2008 (vested)
2009 performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500 PAs
I have seen any numbers on a new contract for Pence. Cot’s still shows his 2008 contract for $396 thousand.
Two catchers, Backe and ?
HLP’s list has 21 players on it -That leaves four to go, right? (unless Jason Michaels does not make the team)
Two Catchers – Quintero and slight edge to Palmisano
Backe
Someone to back up at shortstop – no clue who – Maysonnet maybe – Can Matsui move over if needed – if so ,then I like David Newhan
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Feb 20, 2009 2:26 PM CST reply actions
Catching
Hey I was wondering why Santangelo is considered a possibility on this blog. Based off most of the information off astros.com its a race between 4 guys for two spots (santangelo not being one of them). Do you think he will be given a fair shot at spring training? He is a very good defensive catcher. His offense has struggled but he is consistent with some shows of power. Yeah he had the PED incident but will that ever be put behind him? I have seen him play a couple times in the minors he is an awesome guy to watch.
correct....from everything i've read,
santangelo is not a front runner, but given the alternatives I slid him in there. quintero and towles are the front runners, it would seem
by Evan Hochschild on Feb 20, 2009 9:03 PM CST up reply actions
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