Ortiz released!!

by Astrofan on Jul 30, 2009 4:50 PM CDT

According to Footer.

"According to Alyson Footer via Twitter, the Astros released pitcher Russ Ortiz. Ortiz's nine earned run drubbing today was apparently the last straw, as his ERA rose to 5.57. The Astros had signed Ortiz to a minor league deal in January and named him the fifth starter in April."

link from MLBTradeRumors

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/astros-release-russ-ortiz.html

Finally. Dude kept getting hammered. He could have been kept on as a long reliever but he probably wouldn't have agreed to that. Seemed to have a pretty high opinion of himself. Oh well. It was a good idea but didn't really work out the way Ed Wade had planned.

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Why Gervacio though?

His ERA is 5.40 at Round Rock. My impression is that he has been lit up in AAA this year.

by clack on Jul 30, 2009 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

and Gervacio's a reliever, right?

I guess they plan on Norris taking Ortiz’s rotation spot, so they need another reliever. Gervacio hasn’t been doing well, but I don’t think there is much else in AAA, now that Norris is up. Both Bazardo and Paulino are starters, after all.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jul 30, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Aren't we back to

who is on the 40 man roster?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 30, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

If Oswalt misses more thanone start

Astros will need another starter.

If Hampton goes the way of Russ Oritz, they’ll need anaoher starter even when Roy gets back

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 30, 2009 6:17 PM CDT reply actions

If Norris takes Ortiz's spot in the rotation....

will the Astros shut him down when he pitches too many innings? I suggested that I would get concerned about Norris when he gets in the 150 inning range for this season. Will Carroll threw out a rough limit on the order of 140 innings. That could mean he can only give you 3 – 6 more game starts this year. Does Bazardo get called up to take his place in the rotation if he reaches a limit? Or do the Astros just take a chance on ruining Norris’ arm?

by clack on Jul 30, 2009 6:34 PM CDT reply actions

The fact they called him up

is an indication they will push him and hope for the best

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 30, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I have no idea.

I’d hope that the Astros treat him carefully, but Coop has been anything but delicate with pitchers (on a game-to-game basis, anyways; we all know that he’s very trigger-happy when it comes to bringing in relievers, but there lies the problem).

I imagine Bazardo gets called up at some point this season, but there’s no telling when. Maybe they call up Bazardo and put Bud in the relief role and just give him one or two spot starts as the season goes along. Maybe they release Moehler or Hampton (doubtful, Cooper really likes Moehler for some reason, and Hampton seems to have the organization’s support) and give Paulino another shot. Maybe they just throw caution to the wind with Norris.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jul 30, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions

it's not exactly a good sign....

that Cooper is talking about pitching Norris on 3 days rest on Sunday. Norris has never started a game on 3 days rest. He pitched 3 innings on his regular start day, and I suppose the Astros can say that is similar to his off-day bullpen session. But 50 pitches or so in a major league debut are not the same as a bullpen session.

by clack on Jul 30, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions

He'll be fine.

I’m not worried about putting him on a pitch count. It’s time to put up or shut up for the Astros, they need the best pitchers in the game.

Norris isn’t the top pitching prospect in the system anyway – and his future lies in the bullpen. This summer could be his only chance as a starter.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jul 30, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

that doesn't really follow

He might not be the Astros’ best pitching prospect, but he’s one of the very few that the Astros have. Why potentially damage his arm? Because the Astros have a small chance to make the playoffs? I’m all for the Astros trying to make it happen, but not when it can adversely impact their chances in the future.

The worries about Norris’ arm are perhaps overstated, but the Astros really need to monitor his workload carefully.

Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jul 30, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I would rather...

that they deal Norris than risk overworking him too quickly.

by BTastros on Jul 31, 2009 1:25 AM CDT up reply actions

IMO, the Astros ruined Troy Patton’s shoulder in a similar situation…late season call up, working many innings past his career high mark.

by clack on Jul 30, 2009 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

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