OrangeWhoopass.com Forums
General Discussion => Talk Zone => Topic started by: S.P. Rodriguez on December 13, 2006, 01:26:12 pm
-
Okay, with the trade the roster now looks a little like this:
Lineup
1B - Berkman
2B - Biggio
SS - Everett
3B - Ensberg
Lf - Lee
CF - Burke
RF - Scott
C - Aumsus
Bench
Lamb
Lane
Bruntlett
Gimenez or Quinterro
and Palmeiro
Starting Rotation:
Oswalt
Jennings
Williams
Rodriguez
Nieve (these last 2 are open spots but using the candidates Purpura listed as the first 2)
Bullpen:
Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls
Miller
Sampson
Borkowski?
Asencio?
I could be wrong but that roster looks complete unless they deal someone else from that list. The only question mark, or one where a candidate hasn't been mentioned (4th/5th starter), is backup catcher. The other change depends on what Clemens does, obviously, but I don't think that's a question of sending down the least effective starter to make room.
Where else can/should they upgrade?
-
From everything I read and hear...Nieve is destined to stay in the bully. His stuff is better suited for that line of work. That would leave Sampson to have first crack at the 5th spot in the rotation.
I'm hoping the team will add both a bat (Huff?) and an arm. Don't really know who's realistic in terms of pitchers to add at this point. Just me, but Suppan sounds like a pipe dream (he'll command too much $$).
-
Quote:
From everything I read and hear...Nieve is destined to stay in the bully. His stuff is better suited for that line of work. That would leave Sampson to have first crack at the 5th spot in the rotation.
That's what it sounded like towards the end of this season, but Purpura apparently thinks differently now.
From the Chron:
Quote:
Purpura said righthander Fernando Nieve, who will be in town next week to have his sore elbow examined, and lefthander Wandy Rodriguez are the front-runners for the final two spots in the rotation, barring a trade. Righthander Chris Sampson is in the mix.
-
Quote:
Quote:
From everything I read and hear...Nieve is destined to stay in the bully. His stuff is better suited for that line of work. That would leave Sampson to have first crack at the 5th spot in the rotation.
That's what it sounded like towards the end of this season, but Purpura apparently thinks differently now.
From the Chron:
Quote:
Purpura said righthander Fernando Nieve, who will be in town next week to have his sore elbow examined, and lefthander Wandy Rodriguez are the front-runners for the final two spots in the rotation, barring a trade. Righthander Chris Sampson is in the mix.
Well that sounds promising. Guy hasn't pitched in months and his elbow still hurts. Doesn't sound good to me.
-
End of last season Wheeler said he was open to starting again, I would think that would be a better choice than starting 2 rookies.
-
Quote:
Okay, with the trade the roster now looks a little like this:
Lineup
1B - Berkman
2B - Biggio
SS - Everett
3B - Ensberg
Lf - Lee
CF - Burke
RF - Scott
C - Aumsus
Bench
Lamb
Lane
Bruntlett
Gimenez or Quinterro
and Palmeiro
Starting Rotation:
Oswalt
Jennings
Williams
Rodriguez
Nieve (these last 2 are open spots but using the candidates Purpura listed as the first 2)
Bullpen:
Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls
Miller
Sampson
Borkowski?
Asencio?
I could be wrong but that roster looks complete unless they deal someone else from that list. The only question mark, or one where a candidate hasn't been mentioned (4th/5th starter), is backup catcher. The other change depends on what Clemens does, obviously, but I don't think that's a question of sending down the least effective starter to make room.
Where else can/should they upgrade?
As noted elsewhere, it is probably more likely to be Wandy & Sampson as 4 & 5 with Nieve in the bullpen. I'm still hoping for Suppan at 3/4 or Zito at 2/3 though. :-)
In the bullpen, don;'t forget Lincoln Holdzkom ... He's a rule 5 so he would have to stick if he is going to be retained. If he shows promise in ST, there may be room for him (at the expense of Bork maybe?) in a 12-man bullpen.
-
Quote:
End of last season Wheeler said he was open to starting again, I would think that would be a better choice than starting 2 rookies.
I remember him saying that, but I don't see it. He's to valuable right where he is, and if Lidge falters he is the closer.
-
Quote:
As noted elsewhere, it is probably more likely to be Wandy & Sampson as 4 & 5 with Nieve in the bullpen. I'm still hoping for Suppan at 3/4 or Zito at 2/3 though. :-)
In the bullpen, don;'t forget Lincoln Holdzkom ... He's a rule 5 so he would have to stick if he is going to be retained. If he shows promise in ST, there may be room for him (at the expense of Bork maybe?) in a 12-man bullpen.
Wandy Rodriquez won last year because he stole the magic crystal that gave him run support that should've been evenly distributed amongst the starters. The punishment for stealing the crystal from the BBGs was a bad case of herpes... but I digress.
What bothered me most was Wandy's lack of getting passed the fourth inning. He'd leave around the fifth inning, but what should've been a comfortable 5-1 or 7-2 lead, was invariably whittled down to 5-4 or 7-6 when he was yanked. The bullpen was remarkable at saving his arse, gave rise to the legend of Borkowski (sp?), but again I digress.
If Wandy wants the #4 or #5 spot, he better do just a tinge better at holding the opposition down because he probably (I'm just guessing here) *WON'T* have the run support to flirt away this season. He has to stay a little more mentally tough out there and not wilt under pressure.
-
Quote:
Quote:
As noted elsewhere, it is probably more likely to be Wandy & Sampson as 4 & 5 with Nieve in the bullpen. I'm still hoping for Suppan at 3/4 or Zito at 2/3 though. :-)
In the bullpen, don;'t forget Lincoln Holdzkom ... He's a rule 5 so he would have to stick if he is going to be retained. If he shows promise in ST, there may be room for him (at the expense of Bork maybe?) in a 12-man bullpen.
Wandy Rodriquez won last year because he stole the magic crystal that gave him run support that should've been evenly distributed amongst the starters. The punishment for stealing the crystal from the BBGs was a bad case of herpes... but I digress.
What bothered me most was Wandy's lack of getting passed the fourth inning. He'd leave around the fifth inning, but what should've been a comfortable 5-1 or 7-2 lead, was invariably whittled down to 5-4 or 7-6 when he was yanked. The bullpen was remarkable at saving his arse, gave rise to the legend of Borkowski (sp?), but again I digress.
If Wandy wants the #4 or #5 spot, he better do just a tinge better at holding the opposition down because he probably (I'm just guessing here) *WON'T* have the run support to flirt away this season. He has to stay a little more mentally tough out there and not wilt under pressure.
His career mlb ERA is 5.58 and he can't be counted on to go more than about 130 innings in a year. I trust Garner to go to Houston in April with the best starting 5 the Astros can field.
-
Quote:
Okay, with the trade the roster now looks a little like this:
Lineup
1B - Berkman
2B - Biggio
SS - Everett
3B - Ensberg
Lf - Lee
CF - Burke
RF - Scott
C - Aumsus
Bench
Lamb
Lane
Bruntlett
Gimenez or Quinterro
and Palmeiro
Starting Rotation:
Oswalt
Jennings
Williams
Rodriguez
Nieve (these last 2 are open spots but using the candidates Purpura listed as the first 2)
Bullpen:
Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls
Miller
Sampson
Borkowski?
Asencio?
I could be wrong but that roster looks complete unless they deal someone else from that list. The only question mark, or one where a candidate hasn't been mentioned (4th/5th starter), is backup catcher. The other change depends on what Clemens does, obviously, but I don't think that's a question of sending down the least effective starter to make room.
Where else can/should they upgrade?
From the "It's about time" file I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Mark McLemore made the 25-man roster out of spring training.