Astros agree to terms with Brocail

[Crusher_Joe]

Dunno if I'm Cabrera-ing this from NYCU.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071126&content_id=2309344&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou&partnered=rss_hou

[Greg]

Good.

[MusicMan]

Nice to add a veteran presence in the pen.

[Reuben]

bullpen's starting to get a little crowded...

[Waldo]

Good.  Maybe he'll actually throw a pitch in a Houston uni this time.

Is he the only DLed player to get tossed from a game?

[Craig]

Good.  Maybe he'll actually throw a pitch in a Houston uni this time.

Is he the only DLed player to get tossed from a game?

Gagne did it a couple of years ago too.

[Froback]

Just running through names in my head for the BP, obviously nothing is guaranteed:

Qualls (probably best of remaining last year's pen)
Villiareal (acquire via trade from Atl)
Brocail (just signed, based on this thread)
Geary (acquired via trade from Phi)
Sarfate (did well for Houston, erratic for Mil)
----------------
Nieve (DLed last year, out of options, I think)
Albers (Not sure options status, rotation looks like might push him to BP)
Sampson (Not sure options status, was on yo-yo last year, but might fill Moehler role)
Borkowski (did pitch in 64 games last year)
McLemore (Lefty option)
Paulino (late season call-up 07)
Gutierrez (late season call-up 07)

Not sure if I missed someone, but I think I addressed all who are on 40-man who are potentials to make bullpen.  I didn't include Patton cause I think he is a starter either in Hou or in RR.

The line is where I cut-off the probables to the maybes.  With a 12 man staff, that leaves 2 spots left outside of my probables and barring trading some of them away.

[VirtualBob]

Good.

For what?  I didn't think anything could make me a Brian Moehler fan, but even he is likely to be less worse than Brocail.  Isn't Brocail older than Jim R???

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

While it'd be really surprising if he put up similar numbers, I could see Brocail as bringing a Springer-esque presence to an otherwise very young pen.  Good character pickup.

SmithWade seems to be focusing on filling very specific holes so far this off-season.  We may not know who the 2B or no. 2 starter is, but the roster will be very complete otherwise.  It stands in contrast to the overlapping, sporadic roster management we had last year, where depth at certain positions meant that some players (Lamb, Bruntlett) got buried unnecessarily, while there were gaping wounds elsewhere (7th inning, starting pitching).

The hits keep coming...

[Bob Sakamano]

For what?  I didn't think anything could make me a Brian Moehler fan, but even he is likely to be less worse than Brocail.  Isn't Brocail older than Jim R???

I know he's 40 and could fall off the cliff at any point, but Brocail is coming off a season where he went 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 76 innings. That's far superior to Moehler. And before anyone mentions Petco as the reason, he was actually much better on the road.

Not to say I expect the same kind of production here, but he has the potential to be solid.

[I'm Richies Dad]

My guess is that Borkowski moves on.  I can't imagine there would be any compensation, but Brocail was not type B was he?

[Froback]

My guess is that Borkowski moves on.  I can't imagine there would be any compensation, but Brocail was not type B was he?

Yes, Brocail was a type B FA.  He was 45th of all NL Relief pitchers (57 were A or B).

[MusicMan]

For what?  I didn't think anything could make me a Brian Moehler fan, but even he is likely to be less worse than Brocail.  Isn't Brocail older than Jim R???

[redacted - hadn't had my coffee yet]

There's no comparison between Brocail and Moehler.

[Jacksonian]

Yes, Brocail was a type B FA.  He was 45th of all NL Relief pitchers (57 were A or B).

Which means that even if Brocail were offered arbitration the Astros will not lose a draft pick.

[Mr. Happy]

For what?  I didn't think anything could make me a Brian Moehler fan, but even he is likely to be less worse than Brocail.  Isn't Brocail older than Jim R???

You're confusing Brocail with Christy Matthewson.

[JimR]

You're confusing Brocail with Christy Matthewson.

nope. i coached Christy in LL.

[Froback]

Which means that even if Brocail were offered arbitration the Astros will not lose a draft pick.

That is correct, SD would get some extra late sandwich round pick, but it doesn't actually cost the Astros anything (other than their pick comes one later in the 3rd? round).

[Arky Vaughan]

nope. i coached Christy in LL.

What was it like to pitch from 50 feet, Jim?

[Jacksonian]

That is correct, SD would get some extra late sandwich round pick, but it doesn't actually cost the Astros anything (other than their pick comes one later in the 3rd? round).

SD would receive a supplemental 1st round pick.

[Fredia]

Dunno if I'm Cabrera-ing this from NYCU.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071126&content_id=2309344&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou&partnered=rss_hou

so i can now get the autograph out i got from him at fan fest. wow what goes around comes around

[jbm]

Just running through names in my head for the BP, obviously nothing is guaranteed:

Qualls (probably best of remaining last year's pen)
Villiareal (acquire via trade from Atl)
Brocail (just signed, based on this thread)
Geary (acquired via trade from Phi)
Sarfate (did well for Houston, erratic for Mil)
----------------
Nieve (DLed last year, out of options, I think)
Albers (Not sure options status, rotation looks like might push him to BP)
Sampson (Not sure options status, was on yo-yo last year, but might fill Moehler role)
Borkowski (did pitch in 64 games last year)
McLemore (Lefty option)
Paulino (late season call-up 07)
Gutierrez (late season call-up 07)

Not sure if I missed someone, but I think I addressed all who are on 40-man who are potentials to make bullpen.  I didn't include Patton cause I think he is a starter either in Hou or in RR.

The line is where I cut-off the probables to the maybes.  With a 12 man staff, that leaves 2 spots left outside of my probables and barring trading some of them away.

If the present list of starters includes Oswalt, Rodriguez, Backe and Williams, one one starter spot would be available (assuming no acquisitions).  It would seem that out of Albers, Sampson, Guttierez, Paulino, Patton, and Nieve, only three would make a 12 man staff, or two realistically since at least one lefty will be in the bullpen, or only one on an 11 man staff.  I wonder if some of those guys might be dealt.

[Limey]

If the present list of starters includes Oswalt, Rodriguez, Backe and Williams, one one starter spot would be available (assuming no acquisitions).  It would seem that out of Albers, Sampson, Guttierez, Paulino, Patton, and Nieve...

You forgot Rajah.

[Jacksonian]

If the present list of starters includes Oswalt, Rodriguez, Backe and Williams, one one starter spot would be available (assuming no acquisitions).  It would seem that out of Albers, Sampson, Guttierez, Paulino, Patton, and Nieve, only three would make a 12 man staff, or two realistically since at least one lefty will be in the bullpen, or only one on an 11 man staff.  I wonder if some of those guys might be dealt.

I wouldn't presume Wandy has a lock on a starter spot.

[Noe]

If the present list of starters includes Oswalt, Rodriguez, Backe and Williams, one one starter spot would be available (assuming no acquisitions).  It would seem that out of Albers, Sampson, Guttierez, Paulino, Patton, and Nieve, only three would make a 12 man staff, or two realistically since at least one lefty will be in the bullpen, or only one on an 11 man staff.  I wonder if some of those guys might be dealt.

Sampson's work last year as a starter was somewhat telling.  Mainly, he doesn't have the sort of stamina to go into the 150+ IPs for a season.  He lost a lot of his ability to keep his sinker sharp for about a month and a half to two months at the end of the season.  His first two months were excellent and then he faded.  So his arsenal of sinkers and sliders seem more of a match for a long reliever role on the team and nothing else (occasional spot starter).  I'd take Nieve and Guiterrez out of the mix for now as well, both are long shots for a major league gig right now.  Patton, Sampson and Paulino seem more realistic in terms of guys who can make the team next year, with Patton perhaps having an outside chance at a fifth starter role.  Albers?  He's likely a tradeable commodity, IMHO.  If Albers is not traded, then Paulino and/or Patton would go to AAA and Albers gets a shot at the bullpen or possibly a fifth starters job.

[jbm]

Sampson's work last year as a starter was somewhat telling.  Mainly, he doesn't have the sort of stamina to go into the 150+ IPs for a season.  He lost a lot of his ability to keep his sinker sharp for about a month and a half to two months at the end of the season.  His first two months were excellent and then he faded.  So his arsenal of sinkers and sliders seem more of a match for a long reliever role on the team and nothing else (occasional spot starter).  I'd take Nieve and Guiterrez out of the mix for now as well, both are long shots for a major league gig right now.  Patton, Sampson and Paulino seem more realistic in terms of guys who can make the team next year, with Patton perhaps having an outside chance at a fifth starter role.  Albers?  He's likely a tradeable commodity, IMHO.  If Albers is not traded, then Paulino and/or Patton would go to AAA and Albers gets a shot at the bullpen or possibly a fifth starters job.

It will be interesting imo.  I tend to agree about Sampson, or at least the Sampson we saw last year, but he might add a pitch, or simply improve with more experience.  I personally like Albers a lot and still have hope for him, but I can see the club feeling that his inconsistency might be a permanent trait.  I guess the same conclusion could be made about Wandy, as per Jacksonian's observation.  After adding Guttierrez, Nieve and Paulino, the Astros have a glut of question marks.

I wrongly assumed that the bullpen would hold a lot of these question marks.  Recent acquisitions seem to counter that assumption.  It makes sense, just not what I expected.

[JimR]

Sampson's work last year as a starter was somewhat telling.  Mainly, he doesn't have the sort of stamina to go into the 150+ IPs for a season.  He lost a lot of his ability to keep his sinker sharp for about a month and a half to two months at the end of the season.  His first two months were excellent and then he faded.  So his arsenal of sinkers and sliders seem more of a match for a long reliever role on the team and nothing else (occasional spot starter).  I'd take Nieve and Guiterrez out of the mix for now as well, both are long shots for a major league gig right now.  Patton, Sampson and Paulino seem more realistic in terms of guys who can make the team next year, with Patton perhaps having an outside chance at a fifth starter role.  Albers?  He's likely a tradeable commodity, IMHO.  If Albers is not traded, then Paulino and/or Patton would go to AAA and Albers gets a shot at the bullpen or possibly a fifth starters job.

or the stuff. i agree with your assessment of his role.

[Mr. Happy]

nope. i coached Christy in LL.

Where pitchig counts were irrelevant,

[juliogotay]

Sampson's work last year as a starter was somewhat telling.  Mainly, he doesn't have the sort of stamina to go into the 150+ IPs for a season.  He lost a lot of his ability to keep his sinker sharp for about a month and a half to two months at the end of the season.  His first two months were excellent and then he faded.  So his arsenal of sinkers and sliders seem more of a match for a long reliever role on the team and nothing else (occasional spot starter).  I'd take Nieve and Guiterrez out of the mix for now as well, both are long shots for a major league gig right now.  Patton, Sampson and Paulino seem more realistic in terms of guys who can make the team next year, with Patton perhaps having an outside chance at a fifth starter role.  Albers?  He's likely a tradeable commodity, IMHO.  If Albers is not traded, then Paulino and/or Patton would go to AAA and Albers gets a shot at the bullpen or possibly a fifth starters job.

Wasn't Sampson's mid-season slide due to a bum elbow? I thought he was very good when healthy. Then he came back and pitched again before being shut down.

[pravata]

one-year, $2.5 million contract. The club holds an option for 2009
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