Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.
Depending on when this gets posted, Jose Lima’s 2nd “last chance” of the year happens tonight or happened yesterday. Watching the Astros so far this season, I get the feeling that El Burro’s “last chances” are going to resemble KISS farewell concerts. Like KISS, he’s flamboyant, he had limited success over an even more limited period of time, and none of them can sing.
Bashing Lima is easy. Like revolting peasants in a Mel Brooks film, he stinks on ice. He has for more than a couple of months now. But like shooting monkeys in a barrel, it can only entertain someone of normal sanity for so long. As a fan, I hope he improves tonight and every 5th day from here on out. The realist in my mind tells me dumping him, outright if need be, is the only answer left.
What’s more puzzling than Jose Lima’s continued employment in the ‘Stros’ rotation is the use of the hurlers on the 25-man roster. In Sunday’s game the Astros used 60% of its staring rotation in the 11-3 blow out loss. By the time they were on an auto-gyro for New York, no one knew who, beyond a spectacularly ineffective Scott Elarton, would be starting. Turns out it would be the “as of Sunday” relievers, Dotel and Lima.
Just as puzzling is the continued refusal to start Kent Bottenfield. There’s little hope that Butterfield is going to set the world on fire if returned to the rotation, but he couldn’t possibly pitch any worse than Lima or Shane Reynolds have to date. Oddly enough, this simplest solution wouldn’t cost the Astros a plugged nickel. He’s already on the roster.
It’s past time to see if Tony McKnight’s 2000 was for real. It’s past time to see if Butterfield will be an improvement. It’s past time to freakin’ rush a prospect or three. Mostly, It’s past time for Drayton McLane and Gerry Hunsicker to cut bait with Lima. If you can’t find a stupid franchise who needs pitching (read: Texas Rangers) and will give you anything equal to or better than a 20% off coupon for oven cleaner for El Burro, then outright him. Eat the salary and let him try to ply his El Mariachi (without aim) act in another city.
Around The Leagues…
Just in! Jim Bowden Smokes Crack! I know this is old news, but after tearing up the International League, Deion Sanders has been called up. Bowden gushed, “It’s a lot easier now to disable Junior when you have Deion Sanders to replace him.” Newsflash: despite his stirring 2 for 2 performance and homerun after his call-up, the faith he found while driving his car off the PCH, or his legendary cocaine connections, Prime Time is at best an average Major League outfielder and at worst Gerald Young with more gold.
I’m no huge fan of Ken Griffey, Jr. I think he’s the most arrogant player MLB has seen in 25 years. But the thing you have to admire about Junior is the fact that he has produced at the highest levels for several years. The best thing you could ever say about Sanders’ baseball career is “he’s no Bo Jackson.”
It’s just a hunch, but if Griffey is as jealous of the coverage of Cards’ Jim Edmonds as he’s portrayed to be, how well is it going to sit with him that the GM of the team he’s tied to for the next 6 years thinks he’s replaceable by a career .267 hitter.
Now pitching for your Houston Astros… Speaking of the Reds and their retreads, 1990 World Series MVP Jose Rijo is itching to make a comeback. Apparently Rijo has been attending the motivation seminars given by Jim Palmer. Rijo, who hasn’t appeared in the bigs since 1995, has been, “working out, staying in shape and throwing” on his farm for the last 3 years. I bailed some hay and played baseball in a field…can I be a major league pitcher when I turn 37 too?
No word on when Rijo’s first turn in the Astros’ rotation will be.
Astro of the Week
Slim Pickens this week. That’ll happen when a team loses 5 of 6 games in a 7-day span. However, the Astros do possess at least one professional hitter and this week, he defeats yackball, and gets the award. Pop Quiz: Moises Alou can fall ___________ and keep hitting.
a) out of bed
b) off of a treadmill
c) onto his child
d) all of the above
Alou smacked the ball around like Bobby Cox in couples counseling this week to the tune of 11 for 24 (.458) with 4 doubles and 6 RBI. Honorable mention to Richard Hidalgo (.400, 2 dongs) and Wade Miller (1-0, 1.29).
DisAstro of the Week
Every pitcher not named Wade Miller. This week, Astros pitching, minus WaMi allowed 48 runs in 46 innings pitched for a whopping 9.39 era. Craptacular indeed. Dishonorable mention to Chris Truby for his 7 strike out 0 walk performance this past week.