Let the Healing...Continue

I was never too high on Paulino’s ability. Yeah, he throws hard, but everything I’ve read has said that he doesn’t have much movement on his pitches. I think he’ll definitely get called up sometime this year, but I’m not too optimistic.

As for attitude, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put too much stock into interviews. He was probably just upset when Ortiz talked to him.

even as a guy with poor stuff, his velocity alone should mean he can, if nothing else, get a job as a decent reliever. I should clarify about my earlier statement: I’m not too high on his ability to play as a starter. From BPro’s writeup on him this year (he was the Astros’ 9th-best prospect, which isn’t saying much, I suppose):

Year in Review: The top pitching prospect in the system entering the year, he had a nightmare 2008, facing only four batters before going down with non-stop arm troubles, including a pinched nerve, elbow tightness, and bursitis in his shoulder.

The Good: When healthy, Paulino has the best pure arm in the system, and he’s touched triple digits with his fastball on numerous occasions. He also has a power curveball that he throws at slider velocity which features good break.

The Bad: Paulino is still unrefined. He has control problems, and his fastball, which tends to be flat and up in the zone, can be hittable despite its velocity. He also overthrows the breaking ball, causing it to flatten out. The multiple injuries raise red flags about his long-term durability.

Fun Fact: Paulino was born on the same day as socialite Nicky Hilton—that’s almost hot!

Perfect World Projection: Paulino has the ability to dominate as a reliever, but there are still many questions about his future.

Glass Half Empty: Because he’s so unrefined, his stuff has to come all the way back, or he’ll be in trouble.

Path to the Big Leagues: Paulino was expected to play a role on the big-league squad in 2008 before the injury problems came up, so he’s actually something of a finished product who took a big step backwards.

Timetable: The Astros are confident that Paulino will be 100 percent by spring, but they’ll wait to see how he performs before deciding upon his 2009 role and destination.