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
3 - Chad Qualls
After six years toeing the rubber for other teams, one of the members of the Astros' rock-solid playoff pens from 2004-2005 returns to provide desperately-needed stability late in games. Wielding a power sinker and a slider, Qualls looks to keep the infielders busy and lock down some of the late leads that the slapdash bullpen couldn't seem to hold in 2013. A history of good health makes the multi-year deal for a third-tier reliever much more palatable. -Ashitaka
vs
14 - Marc Krauss
Krauss has certainly produced numbers in the Minor Leagues (.281/.401/.478 with 10 HR in 314 PA in AAA during 2013) that warrant a good look in the Majors, but several factors have helped him to slip through the cracks, in a way. While he draws walks and also limits strikeouts to a more-than-acceptable level compared to most modern power hitters, he's getting old (26 all year in 2014) and has good, rather than tremendous, power. With Singleton looming on the horizon, early 2014 could be his only chance to garner significant playing time in the Astros organization. -Ashitaka