Hello. My Brain is Bleeding.

[Alkie]

So far:

Thru 40 career IP against the National League, Chris Sampson has an ERA of 1.13.   That's career.

In Round Rock, he was 12-3 with an ERA of 2.51. 

In his last 167.2 IP at any level, he has an ERA of 2.31.

He averages more innings pitched than baserunners (WHIP for you fantacrappers).

He keeps the ball on the ground and controls the few situations where someone gets on base.

SOMEONE who claims to know a lot about Major League decisions....WHAT THE FUCK DOES THIS GUY NEED TO DO TO GET RESPECT??

Why isn't he a #2 or #3 starter??  What is it that he does that has almost no one in the org going "we have us a legit, top of the rotation starter here"? 

All he's done is produce at every level and win. 

[Mr. Happy]

I think that he's earning it quickly.

[mihoba]

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THIS GUY NEED TO DO TO GET RESPECT??

He just needs to stay healthy and keep doing it. Maybe because he's not a young 'prospect' so he flies under the radar.

He was one of my sleeper picks the last couple of years in fantacrap.

[Alkie]

I don't know if it's just me, but it's getting to the point where I look forward to his starts.  I don't mean like the way you look forward to ANY Astros baseball, but almost the same way I feel when I check the schedule for the day and see Roy is starting.

What I honestly want to hear is: why isn't he a top guy in the rotation?  Obviously if you just look at his numbers, he stacks up with any #1/#2 in MLB (granted, in very few starts).  But there must be something he does or doesn't do that doesn't get anyone else excited about him.  Why is that?

[matadorph]

I think JD touched on it during the broadcast today.  Sampson doesn't have an arsenal of wicked stuff to throw at hitters so it's still an open question as to how well he will do long term once hitters become familiar with him. Will he be able to consistently avoid trouble the second or third time through the lineup?

[Alkie]

Ok, that's fine, but what % of starters in the majors have numbers like his after the same number of IP or GS?  The league has to "figure everyone out" at some point, but why does Sampson continue to throw up zeroes?

I'm not saying I think he's a HoFer or anything; I'm sure his stats will return to more 'average' levels, but I'm saying THIS team RIGHT now, shouldn't you have this guy starting every time thru the rotation at least until the league DOES figure him out? 

Because no matter how you slice it, this guy is light years better than Wandy could ever hope to be.

[matadorph]

Ok, that's fine, but what % of starters in the majors have numbers like his after the same number of IP or GS?  The league has to "figure everyone out" at some point, but why does Sampson continue to throw up zeroes?

I'm not saying I think he's a HoFer or anything; I'm sure his stats will return to more 'average' levels, but I'm saying THIS team RIGHT now, shouldn't you have this guy starting every time thru the rotation at least until the league DOES figure him out? 

Btw I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just offering a likely rationale. I love this kid's consistency, and if he keeps throwing zeroes on the board, he'll be a regular member of the starting rotation. Slow and easy, however. Let's let him grow some pubes and facial hair before anointing him a staff stud.

[Alkie]

The guy is almost 30!  This isn't some kid we're talking about here. 

[chuck]

I think it's simply reflective of how careful the Astros typically are in bringing players, especially pitchers, along. In ST he definitely had a poor appearance for every two or three stellar ones. That's a nice ratio, sure, but in many cases he was throwing against scrubs.

This team has defensive problems any way you look at it. It's producing offensively at more or less its lowest possible level, particularly because Berkman hasn't done anything yet. But think about the pitching! The Lidge issue aside I love this bullpen. During the games I'm finding that I expect every single guy in the pen not named Brad to go out and shut the door every time out. Typically there's a struggling pitcher or two that seems to be in the pen because the team just doesn't have any better options - Gallo, some would say Miceli - there just doesn't seem to be that weakness this year.

And the starting pitching has been fantastic. I'll be very excited if Wandy and Sampson can go a three or four times through the rotation and keep delivering quality starts. There is no one else in the division who figures to have that kind of pitching.

[loganck]

What's his age have to do with this:

...40 career IP against the National League...That's career

[Alkie]

What's his age have to do with this:

What do you mean? 

The guy was a converted SS, formerly retired.   It's not like he spent a decade getting kicked around in AA (pitching).

[matadorph]

The guy is almost 30!  This isn't some kid we're talking about here. 

i was speaking figuratively

[Alkie]

i was speaking figuratively

Cool.

Really, I'm not trying to fight with folks on this; I was genuinely hoping to hear why the organization isn't touting him as a top-flight pitcher. 

I know he had some less than happy ST stats, but when the game counts, I think it's interesting that he produces.  Consistantly.  (So far).

[loganck]

What would you have them do?  Not skip any more starts for any of the five?  Start skipping Wandy, even though he hasn't been bad?  Skip Williams?

My guess it's just an experience issue.  I don't have anything to base my guess on, other than that he clearly has much less experience than the other starters.  I'd be blown away if people in the ORG weren't excited about what he's done so far.

[matadorph]

I'm with you Alkie. I'm just being cautiously optimistic. Be patient, Sampson's not going anywhere.

[Alkie]

What would you have them do?  Start skipping Wandy, even though he hasn't been bad? 

That is correct.

[matadorph]

And not have a lefty starter?!?!?

[Alkie]

And not have a lefty starter?!?!?

That is correct.

[Astroholic]

That is correct.

I would feel much better with this team if Nieve or Albers was getting a chance to make a start ever 5 days instead of Wandy.  I am hoping that Wandy proves us wrong.  Maybe even becoming the next 14 game winner that will land the stros the next Scott.

[matadorph]

Nieve didn't pitch too well tonight. He needs to get his shit together first.

[Mr. Happy]

Nieve didn't pitch too well tonight. He needs to get his shit together first.

He needs to get to pitch every five days in AAA for awhile.

[Fredia]

I saw Sampson pitch the very first year corpus had a team. I was wondering who he was and what he was doing there. My daugher was so disapointed bout seeing him. Today she called me to rattle my brain to the fact we had got to see him
It was at that marathon game which i am sure holds as the longest still in the franchise of the cchooks

[Tralfaz]

He needs to get to pitch every five days in AAA for awhile.

Nieve got torched by the KC Triple A farm club last night.  His velocity was there, hitting 95 consistantly but his location was all over the place.  5 runs, 3 earned, 4 K's, including a homer on nine hits over 4 innings.   Garner's got the rotation right.

[Astroholic]

Nieve got torched by the KC Triple A farm club last night.  His velocity was there, hitting 95 consistantly but his location was all over the place.  5 runs, 3 earned, 4 K's, including a homer on nine hits over 4 innings.   Garner's got the rotation right.

Thanks for the report. 

[Bench]

I don't know if it's just me, but it's getting to the point where I look forward to his starts.  I don't mean like the way you look forward to ANY Astros baseball, but almost the same way I feel when I check the schedule for the day and see Roy is starting.

What I honestly want to hear is: why isn't he a top guy in the rotation?  Obviously if you just look at his numbers, he stacks up with any #1/#2 in MLB (granted, in very few starts).  But there must be something he does or doesn't do that doesn't get anyone else excited about him.  Why is that?

What do you mean? Last week he was the #5 pitcher in the rotation, this week (in one week!) he's already moved up a slot to the #4 spot behind Woody! He'll be the ace by the end of the month!

[austro]

Nieve didn't pitch too well tonight. He needs to get his shit together first.

He got hit pretty hard, although it seemed to me that he was throwing a lot more breaking stuff than normal. Was there anybody else at the game that can confirm or deny that impression?

[mihoba]

What do you mean? Last week he was the #5 pitcher in the rotation, this week (in one week!) he's already moved up a slot to the #4 spot behind Woody! He'll be the ace by the end of the month!

And considering todays weather in Chicago, Wandy might be skipped in the rotation. Would they try to play Thursday? Both teams are off if todays game is postponed.

[matadorph]

And considering todays weather in Chicago, Wandy might be skipped in the rotation. Would they try to play Thursday? Both teams are off if todays game is postponed.

beat me to it, mihoba. Alkie may just get his wish today.

[pravata]

And considering todays weather in Chicago, Wandy might be skipped in the rotation. Would they try to play Thursday? Both teams are off if todays game is postponed.

Milo said that Sampson's next start will be in 6 days against the Phillies.  He said they're keeping the rotation in order.  So if Wandy is skipped, he's skipped.  Of course Milo also said that if it hadnt been so cold yesterday that Sampson would have pitched another inning.  He missed this, "Tweak" http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?board=19.0 and http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?topic=101588.0

[Tralfaz]

He got hit pretty hard, although it seemed to me that he was throwing a lot more breaking stuff than normal. Was there anybody else at the game that can confirm or deny that impression?

He couldn't locate his fast ball, so the Omaha hitters must have been sitting on the off speed and breaking pitches more and more as the game went on.  The catcher, not Munson, made about 50 trips out to the mound, don't know if there was confusion with the signs or disagreement on pitches, but after one visit, they both glanced back at the dug out with with a look of total confusion.   The fifth inning was brutal.

[JimR]

because he does not have top of the rotation stuff. he is in a MLB rotation way, way before he should have been based on his time as a pitcher. perhaps he'll stick, but there is no guarantee of that. he is a slightly better Kirk Saarloos who must have pinpoint control to have success. your thinly disguised mini-rant2 about Wandy is misplaced. Sampson is in competetion with NL hitters, not with pitchers on his own team.

[MusicMan]

Of course Milo also said that if it hadnt been so cold yesterday that Sampson would have pitched another inning.  He missed this, "Tweak" http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?board=19.0 and http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?topic=101588.0

In fairness, the tweak sounded mild enough that it may not have been an issue in warmer weather.

[ValpoCory]

What do you mean? Last week he was the #5 pitcher in the rotation, this week (in one week!) he's already moved up a slot to the #4 spot behind Woody! He'll be the ace by the end of the month!

At this point, Sampson is still the #5 starter.  Wandy would have pitched after Woody had it not been 3 days rest since his last start on Friday.  If today's game is rained out, look for Garner to reset the rotation and get it back to order.

[Bench]

At this point, Sampson is still the #5 starter.  Wandy would have pitched after Woody had it not been 3 days rest since his last start on Friday.  If today's game is rained out, look for Garner to reset the rotation and get it back to order.

Evidently, I was a lot more subtle than I thought I was.

[ValpoCory]

My bad.  I should have picked up on the sarcasm.