Astros Sign Brett Myers

I didn’t think ol’ Fast Eddie had much left to spend.

I was worried that we would fail to sign anyone for the rotation. If he can stay healthy, he looks like a steal. I just hope they bump Moehler to long relief insted of Paulino.

I will be pissed if this ends up pushing either Norris or Paulino out of the rotation (particularly Paulino, since I think he has a higher ceiling and is out of options). I’m fine with the move if Moehler and Myers compete for the No. 5 rotation slot. Both guys have extensive bullpen experience and can move into a relief role if they lose the starter role. I consider Paulino to be a strong break out candidate this season, based on his peripherals and bad luck last year; it would be beyond ridiculous if he is put on waivers in spring training (like Nieve last year).

I forgot to mention that it will be interesting to see how Myers fits in the clubhouse. He is volatile and ornery. He isn’t afraid to put the media in their place. He also isn’t afraid to take on a teammate. His persona is quite different from the general laid back approach of most Astros. That could be a bad influence (shades of Chacon) or it could add some needed fire to the team.

At least that is what this article says.

That strikes me as a tad bit high, given the injury risk factor with Myers (he hasn’t pitched more than 100 innnings in any of the past three years). But I don’t think it is “stretching the budget” as McTaggert says. I had figured that Wade had $5 – $6 million left to spend.

Has his reclamation project =)

Any guesses as to who is getting kicked off the 40-man roster?

I echo your concerns, David, about the strikeout rate. I don’t have the skills to play around with Pitchf/x, but the average fastball velocities over at fangraphs show the following:

2005: 91.4 mph
2006: 91.4 mph
2007: 92.1 mph
2008: 90.1 mph
2009: 89.3 mph

That’s quite a decline from his prime years in 2005-2007. Hope Arnsberg can help him find a bit of velocity.

Myers was always an enigma here in Philadelphia, but bottom line is: This is not a bright man, for many, many reasons, and his career self-management is just splattered with poor, dumb choices, not least of which is his switch to the bullpen, where he was admittedly successful, but probably to his long-term detriment. Still, through 2007 he had genuine stretches of dominance, which makes the first part of this all the more aggravating. In short: a ten-cent head.

This signing is yet another example of questionable judgment. Once Amaro cut him loose, in no uncertain terms and mostly because of what I think was his personality, the best he could do was a 1-year deal like this, and hope that a good year he could flip into an extension. But I think the NL Central is just the worst place for him. We bristle that CBP’s reputation as a bandbox is a bit overblown, but the other aspect of this is that this FB pitcher now will see more of Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis. I thought the NL West or AL West would have been a better spot for his re-invention.

All that said, I’m looking forward to a matchup next summer, as this FB righty vs the Phillies’ lineup should result in a good night for us. But the burnt-orange uniform will likely have an eerie power to hypnotize, as usual. But probably not so much against the big boppers of your division the rest of the season. So, I’d say an ok signing, typically Wade-like (crony thirtysomething reliever for about 50% more than he’s probably worth), it will have an upside until about the all-star game, methinks. Unless you folks feel there is a real value in giving the high prospects noted above more minor league seasoning, Chan Ho Park could have been had for cheaper and would have netted about the same results.

with their moves this offseason.

Lyon might or might not be as lucky, Lindstrom might or might not improve, Feliz might or might not hit, Kaz might or might not stay healthy and produce 08ish numbers, Myers might or might not…suck.

wah
 I’m back with eddie now so leave me alone
he knew the phillies did’nt want his injury prone azze anymore
 good luck with the stros!