Wandy

[David in Jackson]

I'll admit I had virtually no confidence in him to start the season.  He has been the most pleasant surprise on this team.

[Mr. Happy]

I'll admit I had virtually no confidence in him to start the season.  He has been the most pleasant surprise on this team.

I still have relatively little confidence in him and don't see him as a long-term solution, but I have been pleasantly surprised by his effort and results, particularly his control. He's kept us in several ball games. Its just imperative that his location be perfect and down low.

[JimR]

I still have relatively little confidence in him and don't see him as a long-term solution, but I have been pleasantly surprised by his effort and results, particularly his control. He's kept us in several ball games. Its just imperative that his location be perfect and down low.

that is true of everyone not named Oswalt.

[WulawHorn]

is this year's start really much better than last years. Going from memory I thought he did a decent job the first month or so last year and then cratered.

[Lefty]

JD & Footer have mentioned his composure on the mound a couple of times this year.  That was one of my biggest annoyances with Wandy:  something bad would happen - squeezed, blooper, error - and Wandy would huff & walk around the mound, stare down the ump, slow waaaay down, and then generally fall apart.  He's working a lot more quickly, and has kept his head about him.

[MRaup]

I still have relatively little confidence in him and don't see him as a long-term solution, but I have been pleasantly surprised by his effort and results, particularly his control. He's kept us in several ball games. Its just imperative that his location be perfect and down low.

Yeah, I hate those league average guys that figure out ways to be more successful between seasons but have hard luck in the run support department.

[Mr. Happy]

JD & Footer have mentioned his composure on the mound a couple of times this year.  That was one of my biggest annoyances with Wandy:  something bad would happen - squeezed, blooper, error - and Wandy would huff & walk around the mound, stare down the ump, slow waaaay down, and then generally fall apart.  He's working a lot more quickly, and has kept his head about him.

Good observation, and I agree with you. Wandy's been much more professional and workmanlike in his demeanor this season.

[Foghorn]

Good observation, and I agree with you. Wandy's been much more professional and workmanlike in his demeanor this season.

Wallace has done wonders this season.

[mihoba]

Wallace has done wonders this season.

And Garner had confidence in him from the beginning of the spring, naming him the fourth starter early on.

[Mr. Happy]

And Garner had confidence in him from the beginning of the spring, naming him the fourth starter early on.

You and Foghorn are both correct. I had no problems with Jim Hickey at all. However, sometimes you just need some gray hair around the club to calm down jittery pitchers like Wandy.

[Froback]

You and Foghorn are both correct. I had no problems with Jim Hickey at all. However, sometimes you just need some gray hair around the club to calm down jittery pitchers like Wandy.

Perhaps, I am just hopeful he can hold it together well enough this season to earn something good in an offseason trade.

With the prospect of Oswalt and Williams here next year for sure, Jennings (hopefully) returning to for and re-signing, and Albers and Patton potentially being ready next season, not to mention Sampson.  I am looking at Wandy being trade bait for something the team might need next year or to help bolster the farm.  So I am hoping a repeat of Robinson in Wandy.

But then that is just me, who has little confidence in Wandy for the long haul.  In these matters I love being proven wrong...

[das]

With the prospect of Oswalt and Williams here next year for sure, Jennings (hopefully) returning to for and re-signing, and Albers and Patton potentially being ready next season, not to mention Sampson...

You made Brandon Backe cry.

[BudGirl]

You made Barandon Backe cry.

Who cares?  He's a loser anyway.  Now, that Brandon guy will probably kick hiss ass for forgetting him.

[Froback]

Who cares?  He's a loser anyway.  Now, that Brandon guy will probably kick hiss ass for forgetting him.

Yeah, add Brandon to the list.  HUGE apologize to him for the oversight.

Even more reason to think Wandy is good for trade bait, and not much else, after this season.

[das]

Who cares?  He's a loser anyway.  Now, that Brandon guy will probably kick hiss ass for forgetting him.

Thbtt!  Who looks stoopid now!!!!!

Nice man-boobs in your avatar.

[Randy Watson]

I have no idea whether Hickey was anything to write home about.  But a couple of our former pitchers told me that Hooton was worthless as a pitching coach.  Basically, he was just an open the gym, roll the ball out kind of coach.

I hated hearing that considering Hooton might be the best Longhorn pitcher ever (in college, ignoring MLB careers).

Anyone know what Hooton is up to these days?

[pravata]

Anyone know what Hooton is up to these days?

He's the pitching coach in Round Rock.

[JimR]

I have no idea whether Hickey was anything to write home about.  But a couple of our former pitchers told me that Hooton was worthless as a pitching coach.  Basically, he was just an open the gym, roll the ball out kind of coach.

I hated hearing that considering Hooton might be the best Longhorn pitcher ever (in college, ignoring MLB careers).

Anyone know what Hooton is up to these days?

Hooton hated trying to coach college pitchers.

[Randy Watson]

Hooton hated trying to coach college pitchers.

Shane Reynolds, Oswalt, Wagner, and Wade Miller used to hunt at my family's ranch.  They all were sitting around talking about Hooton and how he really didn't do much coaching.  Shane then later told me the coaching/preparation he went through at Atlanta was night and day (although he was pretty much done at that point in his career).

[Mr. Happy]

Shane Reynolds, Oswalt, Wagner, and Wade Miller used to hunt at my family's ranch.  They all were sitting around talking about Hooton and how he really didn't do much coaching.  Shane then later told me the coaching/preparation he went through at Atlanta was night and day (although he was pretty much done at that point in his career).

Ah, the school of Mazzone. Out of all of the books I have on pitching, Mazzone's is my favorite, and its the simplest. Mazzone is a firm believer in throwing the ball a lot.

[Duman]

Ah, the school of Mazzone. Out of all of the books I have on pitching, Mazzone's is my favorite, and its the simplest. Mazzone is a firm believer in throwing the ball a lot.

And folks are acting like the Japanese pitchers came up with this idea.   

[Mr. Happy]

And folks are acting like the Japanese pitchers came up with this idea.   

And who threw complete games just last night? Dice-K and Mazzone-trainee Greg Maddux.

[Amy]

Wallace has done wonders this season.

I think it's also possible that Ausmus has been a good influence on Wandy too.  In the past, he had mostly been paired with Quintero.

[Mr. Happy]

I think it's also possible that Ausmus has been a good influence on Wandy too.  In the past, he had mostly been paired with Quintero.

I agree with you. Bradley seems to make every pitcher better.

[Limey]

I think it's also possible that Ausmus has been a good influence on Wandy too.  In the past, he had mostly been paired with Quintero.

...who loves fastballs because they're easier to catch and give you more time to throw down to the bases.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

...who loves fastballs because they're easier to catch and give you more time to throw down to the bases.

Since you brought it up, from the rare starts he gets, Quinterro hasn't looked bad from my un-educated perspective.  Any of those former catchers in the crowd care to critique his performance so far?

[JimR]

Since you brought it up, from the rare starts he gets, Quinterro hasn't looked bad from my un-educated perspective.  Any of those former catchers in the crowd care to critique his performance so far?

i'm not a catcher, but i have seen him a lot. i think he is very good.

[Andyzipp]

Since you brought it up, from the rare starts he gets, Quinterro hasn't looked bad from my un-educated perspective.  Any of those former catchers in the crowd care to critique his performance so far?

In the limited amount of time I've seen him this season, he seems to have calmed down a lot of the noise (movement) behind the plate that he used to create.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

In the limited amount of time I've seen him this season, he seems to have calmed down a lot of the noise (movement) behind the plate that he used to create.

That's what I noticed as well.  I also thought he's improved his pitch blocking.  Granted, he's not as smooth or quick as Ausmus, some things may not be something one can "learn".    Anyway I recall some in-depth analysis of his catching skills and was wondering if anyon else saw progress.  Thanks for the response, Jim and Andy. 

It looks like the only other area he needs to improve is his  knowledge of NL hitters.  If he can make some progress there, Ausmus' inevitable departure (notice I didn't say imminent) may not be so painful for this pitching staff.