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General Randomness

Just some general stuff I've come across when looking through my news sites... This is for those too lazy or too busy to find it themselves =)

First off, Woody is probably done for the season. Not because he's hurt or anything, just because the Astros want to see the kids pitch and (depending on who you ask) asked Woody if he would mind being removed from the rotation and he agreed. Doing so possibly cost him $250k in incentive money that he would have been owed had he compiled 200 innings this year. He only needed 12 1/3 innings to do so and probably would have made 3 more starts(including tonights game). I thought this was kind of an interesting quote from the article.

Because he's signed through '08, it's safe to assume Williams will be back with the Astros next season. But as he spoke on Sunday, it was clear he wasn't taking anything for granted on that front.

"I don't know," Williams said. "It's up to [the Astros]. They hold that. If they want me back I'm going to be back, obviously. If not, then move on somewhere else. There's 29 other teams. If one of these guys takes my job then they deserve it. I don't think the way I pitched, that any one of them can."
Really? Woody was okay this year, but he didn't pitch as well as it seems he thinks he did. Oh well...

Astros could have a new GM soon... really soon. From here.
Club owner Drayton McLane said on Sunday prior to the Astros' series finale with the Pirates that the Astros could introduce a new GM "by next weekend or somewhere around there."
Wow.. that's pretty quick in my opinion, but I guess there's no reason to put it off. The team is going to start doing 2nd interviews next week.

Look for the lineups in the future to look much like the one we seen today... Not sure if Cooper's going to stay as manager next year(I'm actually kind of thinking he won't be now... dunno why though), but he's going to get a good look at the kids in for the rest of the season.
"There's a lot of guys in this room that have been getting playing time that are no longer getting it," Cooper recalled telling the group on Saturday. "Playing time is going to be seriously cut. There will be some casualties."

Because Cooper is curious about Chris Burke and Cody Ransom, they will get the majority of the playing time at shortstop and second base in somewhat of a mix-and-match method. That means Eric Bruntlett and Mark Loretta are the odd men out.
I wonder what this means for Bruntlett? To me he's more of a prospect at 29 than Ransom is at 31. I'd rather see Bruntlett continue to play honestly, especially with Everett coming off the DL now(in case you missed it... Everett is now off the DL and is still hoping to play before the season is over).

Roy taking a leave of absence.
Roy Oswalt will take a temporary leave of absence from the team this week in anticipation of the birth of his second child.

Oswalt and his wife, Nicole, plan to induce labor on Tuesday. Oswalt will likely fly home to Weir, Miss., on Monday, and barring any unforeseen complications, Nicole will likely leave the hospital on Thursday. Oswalt will fly to St. Louis on Friday, and is tentatively slated to start Saturday against the Cardinals.
Congrats to Roy! Speaking of Roy... check this video out about 2:12 in.

Coming up, the Astros face the Brewers at home for 3 games and then head off to St. Louis for their final road trip of the season. Did everyone forget about Braun's display of disrespect the other day? Think he'll get his tomorrow?

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I don't think...
that benching Bruntlett means that he has been discarded from the Astros's plans. It just means that they already know what he can do.  Ransom hasn't been seen by the ML staff, and he really hasn't shown what he can do at the ML level for many years. His age is a downside, but he had a great HR season; Ransom was in the top 20 minor leaguers throughout baseball in home runs last year.  A reserve infielder who can provide pinch hit power off the bench would be interesting.

I'm not quite sure why the Astros will be playing Burke at shortstop on occasion.  My only guess is this: the Astros want to find out if Burke could fill Bruntlett's utility infield role. Does that mean the Astros haven't decided to go with Burke as a starting 2d baseman next year? I don't know.

by clack on Sep 17, 2007 9:02 AM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Maybe they are shopping Burke
I have no idea really, but it is odd to see them using all this strange middle infield combos.

As to Braun.  Interesting question.  I just figure that with Paulino going Tuesday, and Guty going Wednesday, it would have to be up to the "vet" Albers to administer payback.  I don't expect to see it, but would be thrilled if it occured, especially if one of the youngsters did it on their own.

Nice to see Cooper yank Wandy between innings on saturday.  I thoroughly expected to see him bat to lead off the bottom of the third, since Coop left him in to finish the top of the third.  

In my ideal world, Coop said "Dammit, I've seen enough, get the hell out of here."  I doubt it happened that way, but one can hope.  I really think we need a more demanding manager, one who holds people accountable for lousy and uninspired play.

At any rate, soon after in-game demotion of Wandy, the team shook out of an extended hitting slump.

by jbm on Sep 17, 2007 1:27 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cooper
does seem like he's being a hard ass. How many articles have a read this month about him saying something other like "if they don't like, too bad" or "they aren't playing hard enough".. I don't remember Garner hardly ever saying anything like that publicly.
Adam Everett WTFPWNS U!

by entropic soul on Sep 17, 2007 2:24 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If you
Read one of the articles I linked to, you'll read about Cooper saying he was going to bitch at Wandy for showing up the ump the other day...
Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 17, 2007 3:00 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I saw that
That was probably the reason for yanking him.  Not that it is not a good enough reason in itself, and does show that Coop's tolerance has limits, but I still hope he yanked him for pitching way crappier than he is capable of.  Not to pick on wandy or anything, god knows almost everyone has contributed, but management must be more demanding.

btw.  regarding Wandy.  I went from anti-Wandy at the beginning of the year to an unabashed Wandy supporter mid way.  While I am still more impressed with his actual ability than at the beginning of the year and feel he has a legit #3 upside, I also think that the Astros are at a crossroads with him.  Will he make further improvements, or is it time to cut him loose?  

I suspect that lots of people view him as "on the cusp of decency" and would give value in return for him.  Personally, I've grown tired of watching inconsistent guys and hoping they right themselves, ala Morgan, Lidge, and Lane.  

Burke and Wandy are slightly different cases, due to age and experience and the fact that they have never actually been consistently good, but I am
really starting to sour on inconsistency.  It's starting to look like a major red flag to me and I am hoping they start dealing these red flags.

by jbm on Sep 17, 2007 3:33 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lidge...
has out some bad outings, sure, but I would hardly call our best reliever this year inconsistant.
Adam Everett WTFPWNS U!

by entropic soul on Sep 17, 2007 8:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I disagree
It seemed like he has gone from closer to mopup to setup to closer to setup to closer.  Even in his most recent stint as a closer, he has been inconsistent.  The most telling sign to me is that even during his brief dominant periods, his slider is inconsistent, occasionally nasty and occasionally hanging.  Lidge is his slider, and it hasn't been consistently nasty in a long time.

Sure, I think he is still a good pitcher in the grand scheme of things, and would certainly not unload him on the cheap, but when I try to answer the question "Will he be dominant for a long period of time again,"  I pause and pause and pause.  My point is: if I have to pause so much when answering the question, the answer is probably negative, and it is probably time to make other plans, assuming I was in charge of course.  

by jbm on Sep 18, 2007 9:26 AM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think..
Inconsistent is being nice... He's been a bad pitcher this year..  
Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 18, 2007 2:34 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lidge -Bad year
Jennings -- Bad year
Williams- Bad year
Berkman - Bad year
Burke - Bad year
Ensberg - Bad year (for two teams)
Lane - Bad year
Palmeiro - Bad year (but who noticed)
Quintero - Bad year
Rick White - Bad year (after good start)
Everett - Bad Luck Year
Purpura - Bad year (or typical year for him)

 Who have I left out?

Astros September Song

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 18, 2007 4:36 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Um...
Garner
Miller
Bruntlett
Drayton
Whoever the pitching coach is these days...
Road Wandy
Asencio (the other guy in the Jennings trade...)

And every single fan who paid for a single ticket at some point... Very Bad Year for them.

by TexSkins on Sep 18, 2007 5:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

well.
if you get a manager who punishes those who don't play hard enough, then Lee might get benched for not running out ground balls in the infield :)

by TimStros on Sep 17, 2007 2:26 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

More than likely
The manager would get fired for benching the 100 million dollar man.. I don't like it.. but that's life
Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 17, 2007 3:00 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

True Stros Bro
But some one needs to get on Lee's ample backside and make him at least pretend to care on those grounders.
As for Braun - That guy needs to get one in the ribs.  Great talent but no rookie should get away with that.  The Astros staff needs a little more attitude.  
I am officially announcing my candidacy for the position of Astros GM.

by TBurford on Sep 17, 2007 4:51 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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