TCB's Astros Fan Favorite March Madness Tournament is underway. From now until the end of Spring Training 64 players will spend the next several weeks facing off in a head to head public vote to determine who advances to the next round and who will eventually be crowned the communities favorite Astros player. For more details check out the tournament introductory post.
The rules are simple, determine which player you want to advance to the next round and then vote. Vote subjectively, objectively, using your trusty magic eight ball or any other set of criteria. It's totally up to you how you want to vote! Votes for this round will last exactly 24 hours.
In this match-up
8 - Anthony Bass
It didn't take a lot to acquire Bass this winter and based on his mixed results with the Padres, it seems the Padres were done. He's been hittable; he's had issues with walks at times; and he's struggled to strikeout enough batters at times. But, he's also shown flashes of being a solid starter. He's spent time at the Ron Wolforth Pitching Ranch to work on his mechanical flaws and Astros Pitching Coach has made an appearance this year there as well. He's likely to be a bullpen arm if he makes the team, but there's a chance he sees the rotation before it's all said and done. -Brooks
vs
9 - Brad Peacock
The 5.18 ERA that Peacock posted in 83.1 innings of work for the Astros doesn't look too encouraging, but it also doesn't nearly tell the story of his season. After getting his brains beaten out in April, Peacock was sent to AAA and there worked to polished his long-mothballed slider. Whether it was that, something else or a combination of factors, he was seemingly a changed man when he rejoined the rotation on August 4th, posting a 3.62 ERA, 3.3 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 in his final 54.2 innings in the Majors. It will be a pretty big upset if he's not one of the five men in the Astros' rotation coming out of Spring Training. -Ashitaka