Houston Astros : Spring Training Week 2

by Stros Bro on Mar 10, 2008 12:06 AM CDT in News Comment 8 comments

The Astros finished off week #2 of spring training by getting shut out by the Mets. Don't be alarmed too much by this though... Only 2 of the starters in this game(Pence and Wigginton) are destined for the Astros starting lineup. Unfortunately, Pence and Wigginton were a combined 0-6 on the day.

The Astros have a record of 4-8 on this spring training.

Astros next game will be against the Blue Jays as they send Roy Oswalt against Roy Halladay on Monday at 12:05 CST. If this was a regular season game, it would definitely be a good game to watch.

Annoying injuries appear to be the big story for the Astros. Bourn is having issues with back spasms, Matsui is having issues with... well, lets just leave it at issues. Towles pulled his hammy and is going to miss some time. Berkman already missed some time earlier in spring training. Backe hurt his foot earlier. Hopefully this string of injuries will stop soon... And oddly enough, it seems the injuries are only happening to those slated to be starters(or maybe, we're only hearing about them because they are indeed starters).

I'm so ready for the regular season... I'm tired of meaningless games and tired of them not being aired on the tube. I WANT SOME MEANINGFUL GAMES!

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PS

Sorry I didn't get a game thread up today... I was too busy watching Hockey and completely forgot about coming here to get one up. Sorry :(

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Mar 10, 2008 12:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Loretta trade possibility?

MLBTradeRumors.com is reporting, via the Baltimore Sun, that the the Orioles may seek to acquire Mark Loretta from the Astros. I don't know whom they would give up in return. Loretta is the primary back up at shortstop and 2d base and is also the best pinch hitter on the bench, as it is configured now. Kaz Matsui has issues, as mentioned in the lead to the thread, and has a history of injuries. I see some downside to trading Loretta.

by clack on Mar 10, 2008 6:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Loretta for a legit prospect or two

wouldn't put me off too much. They signed Geoff Blum to pretty much replace Lorretta, assuming he'd reject arbitration (or at least that's how it appeared). We'd need another infielder to keep on the 25-man, and I'm not sure who that would be: Perez? Newhan? I'm sure they want Manzella to play every day. It certainly would be a blow to the bench, but if they thought it might make the future a little brighter for 2009 or even after that, I'm okay with that. A lot of us would have been happy getting a sandwich pick for him.

by littlevisigoth on Mar 10, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perez and Newhan...

are both 34 years old. Newhan has looked decent this spring, but he has never played shortstop. Tomaz Perez can play shortstop, but he is an abysmal hitter, much worse than Everett.

I would exchange Loretta for returning either Costanza or Sarfate to the Astros, but I doubt that the Orioles would go for that. In fact, it's hard to see why a team like the Orioles would give up any kind of prospect for a 36 year old shortstop.

by clack on Mar 10, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i know nothing

about the O's situation. are they desperate for a starting caliber infielder? do they have an embarassment of riches in prospects by dealing Bedard and every other decent player they had? (they did deal him, right?)

my only point was that they could live without Lorretta, especially if they realize that 2009 is probably a better year to be thinking about really competing for the playoffs (i'm sure that's not Drayton's thinking, but maybe Wade is more of a realist). they don't have a no-brainer back-up plan for him, but i doubt he'd be as significant of a player as he was last year, since all of the infield positions are a bit more solidified (if somebody gets hurt for an extended period of time, that's a different story).

by littlevisigoth on Mar 10, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some thought...

that the O's interest in Loretta might be based on an impending trade of Brian Roberts to the Cubs. The O's are low on infielders after trading Tejada and suffering a recent injury to their utility guy, Bynum. I doubt that the O's are desperate for Loretta; they probably get an infielder back in any trade for Roberts.

by clack on Mar 10, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially if Roberts goes to the Cubs...

I've heard that rumor a lot.

And the Cubs only have like 8 or 9 utility guys on the roster.

by TexSkins on Mar 10, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spring Game...

The Astros hitting was poor in the 3-0 shutout by the Mets, but the pitching was a bright spot. Cassel and R. Hernandez both had good outings, with each going 3 IP and giving up 1 ER. Relievers Ryan Houston and Paronta had scoreless innings. Wigginton allowed an unearned run to score with an error.

by clack on Mar 10, 2008 7:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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