Astros sign Ex-Mariners' Pitcher Rowland-Smith
So, this is the big free agent pitcher signing for the Astros. If you detect some sarcasm...you're probably right. The price was probably right, though. Rowland-Smith, a 28 year old Aussie pitcher, had one good season in the Mariners' rotation, but pitched poorly last year. What concerns me is that his peripherals aren't good; so, it's hard to blame his bad season on bad luck. He will be under team control for three years.
over 1 year ago
clack
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he got toasted in 2010
HR/9 of 2.06
2010:
Home 4.97 ERA
Away 8. 51 ERA.
With R-S, and the two we’ve just taken in the Rule V we have a competent bunch to fight for the fifth starter’s spot. But this raises more questions about the Paulino move again. How is this an improvement on Paulino in the rotation?
You have to hope that his performance last year was caused by an injury and that he is now past the injury. Because otherwise I can’t see much reason to expect a bounceback. Here is the pattern of his K rate at the ML level:
2007 25.0%
2008 15.2%
2009 13.0%
2010 9.8%
And the BB rate:
2007 8.9%
2008 9.5%
2009 6.7%
2010 8.6%
His groundball rate has falled from the 42% – 45 % range to 37% last year.
Moving Wandy?
Rowland-Smith had a bad year last year. He made Kirk Saarloos look like Tom Glavine. Regardless, His previous two years 08 and 09 were pretty good 5-3, 3.42 ERA, in 12 starts and 5-4, 3.74 ERA, in 15 starts. Hyphen is the third lefty could this mean that Wandy could be moved and have Happ move to the number two spot?
I don’t think the primary idea was to improve on Paulino, but rather replace him while also adding a middle infielder capable of starting. Whether that actually happens is unpredictable.
This is one big “whatever” move. Depth is always good, but if this is their significant pitching acquisition for the offseason then our rotation is in serious trouble. I was never holding out for Cliff Lee or even a Carl Pavano, but is this seriously the best they can do? This is the guy who they think will be the “next Brett Myers”? When I think of the “next Brett Myers” I think of a guy who has shown good ability in the past but most recently struggled. Were Jeff Francis and Justin Duchscherer not in the picture? Chris Young? Brad Penny? Brandon Webb? Hell, even Ian Snell. Those are guys that resemble Brett Myers. When I think of RR I think of Russ Ortiz or Jose Capellan.
Webb was asking for a 'pillow contract'
much like Sheets’ $10m to reestablish his value, much like Carlos Pena’s contract with Cubs.
Hope you guys enjoy the services of RRS.
He’s an awesome guy and it’s impossible to root against him. His 2010 was a huge disappointment and I wouldn’t expect much out of him other than a possible 5th starter. He has an active twitter account is is great as responding to fans.
"Make me a bicycle, clown"
wow wprld series here we come
NOT. we need to make better moves to position us to win i know the team is trying to get sold but why would you make it less crappy and expect sumone to give out 600 to 800 mill for a team that is prob not giong to do good thus not bring much revenue in. i believe the better the product out there meaning more wins equals more fans. just look at yankees and other big teams they win they sell out an get tv deals etc.
I'll live with this
All this signing is doing is giving him a chance for the rotation, a shot to be good. We have many more options for that fifth spot, there is no reason to hate this deal, I do not love it but i will live with it. We have the Aneury Rodriguez with our rule 5 pick, we have Jordan Lyles internally, we know have Ryan Row-land Smith, Hell i still see them grabbing one more low cost low risk player. We will have a battle for that fifth spot and that makes me real happy to see that. The only thing that would make this better, is signing Bill Hall.
it’s not a terrible way to fill a No. 5 rotation slot…get a bunch of cheap options, and hope that the odds are in your favor that at least 1 out of, say, 6 competitors will be decent.
And the non-winners seem like they can all make a good transition to the bullpen….After thinking about it all day, it seems like the 5th starter spot is in better shape than when the Astros were just penciling in Moehler.
It will be interesting when the time comes and we see who prevails during Spring Training. Im liking Aneury Rodriguez he is young and talented, and I can’t wait till Jordan Lyles is MLB ready. He has the talent to be a #2-3 starter, I am not getting my hopes up for him becoming our Ace though i would love for him to be one.
According to his wikipedia page, he is dating David Aardsma’s sister, Amanda Aardsma, an actress and model. Here is her photograph. Rowland-Smith has a lengthier wikipedia page than most players with a similar career. He comes from a sports family:
Rowland-Smith is the son of Australian celebrity trainer Rob Rowland-Smith, known as “The Sandhill Warrior.”19 Rowland-Smith’s older sister, Rhiannon, is a professional surfer.20 He himself is an avid surfer, and spends a lot of his time in the off-season in his native Australia surfing.20 Rowland-Smith’s mother, Julie White, is a retired high school physical education teacher.19 His grandfather was Australia’s minister for sport and recreation.[19
Contract terms?
Anyone know what the contract terms are? Or is he arbitration eligible? How does that work.
Not a bad move. If he can’t hack it as a starter, then he essentially replaces Byrdak in the pen.
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