25/40 man reset

[Jacksonian]

With the trade rumors and desires to get better/rid of Burke I thought it might be helpful to see what the 25-man roster might look like if the season started today and the players on the 40-man and NRI's that might make the team.

Catchers
Towles
Ausmus

Infield
1b Berkman
2b Matsui
SS Everett
3b Wigginton
UT Blum
Other options: Burke (who we assume will be dealt but is still on the 40-man), NRI's Kevin Hooper and Tomas Perez

Outfield
LF Lee
CF Bourn
RF Pence
4th and 5th options: Abercrombie, Ramirez, Scott, NRI Cheito

Starting Pitchers (as we sit here today)
Oswalt
Backe
Rodriguez
Williams
Options for 5th: Albers, Gutierrez, Patton, Paulino, Sampson

Relievers
Qualls
Geary
Brocail
Sarfate
Villareal
McLemore
Borkowski
Other options with MLB experience: Albers, Gutierrez, Patton, Paulino, Sampson, NRI Randolph

Looking at this I see no reason that if the Astros package Burke and or Scott for a deal that they couldn't also include guys like Wandy, Borkowski, or any of the young pitchers.  I kept getting stuck on Albers but it is my understanding that a number of teams have an interest in Wandy.  I haven't heard if Wade is willing to deal him though.

Also, I'd like to see more options for the other utility infielders.  If Scott goes I'd like to see more options for 5th outfielder.  The Astros could go to ST with 4 starting rotation spots set.  It appears only Borkowski's spot in the bullpen is up for turnover by the addition of another lefty reliever.  Barring a FA or trade that seems to me to give Randolph some hope.

[austro]

Is Nieve off of the 40-man because of his surgery? Is there any expectation of a contribution from him this year?

[Jacksonian]

Is Nieve off of the 40-man because of his surgery? Is there any expectation of a contribution from him this year?

He's still on the 40-man.  But, I've heard nothing to expect him to be ready come March. 

[pravata]

Cooper on the pitchers,  "The best three at the end of the year were Oswalt, Wandy, Backe, ..."To me, that's where we start from. ..."

"[Chris] Sampson is another name we talk about. We've actually discussed the possibility to move him to the bullpen. That's another option. He was probably the second-best pitcher the first half of the year."
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071204&content_id=2317431&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[kevwun]

I wouldn't be comfortable trading Wandy unless we're getting a solid starter back.  He's our second best starter.  That's not really a good thing, but it is the truth.

[Bench]

When is the Rule V draft?

[dirty steve]

When is the Rule V draft?

i believe it is tomorrow, the last day of the meetings.

[pravata]

When is the Rule V draft?

Never, no such thing.  However the Rule 5 draft is on Thursday, tomorrow.

[Bench]

Never, no such thing.  However the Rule 5 draft is on Thursday, tomorrow.

Dammit. I even erased 5 to put in the V.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I'm stilll holding out hope that the additional utility infielder is Loretta.  He'd come at a premium price, but his versatility makes it worthwhile, IMHO.

[Astroholic]

Never, no such thing.  However the Rule 5 draft is on Thursday, tomorrow.

Never fails.  Happens at least twice a yr (and I don't mean the draft).

[pravata]

Dammit. I even erased 5 to put in the V.

It looks more authoritative in the latin.

[DVauthrin]

I'd add loretta as a potential INF option.   It's sounding more likely he takes the money in arbitration.

[Astroholic]

I'd add loretta as a potential INF option.   It's sounding more likely he takes the money in arbitration.

I hope you are right.  Mark is a damn fine insurance policy.

[Jacksonian]

I hope you are right.  Mark is a damn fine insurance policy.

If your utility guys are Blum and Loretta then the speed on your bench has to come from the outfield.  If Scott stays then he's not it either.  That leaves Abercrombie, who is not guaranteed a 25-man spot.  In essence, the Astros would be faced with the possibility of having a very slow bench.  That's quite a bit opposed to what SmithWade have emphasized.

[Duman]

IMO Patton is a starter or back in AAA.  I don't see him in the pen not getting consistent work.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

If your utility guys are Blum and Loretta then the speed on your bench has to come from the outfield.  If Scott stays then he's not it either.  That leaves Abercrombie, who is not guaranteed a 25-man spot.  In essence, the Astros would be faced with the possibility of having a very slow bench.  That's quite a bit opposed to what SmithWade have emphasized.

Apart from Burke (ugh), do you see anyone within or without who could fill the "speedy utility infielder" role?

[Astroholic]

If your utility guys are Blum and Loretta then the speed on your bench has to come from the outfield.  If Scott stays then he's not it either.  That leaves Abercrombie, who is not guaranteed a 25-man spot.  In essence, the Astros would be faced with the possibility of having a very slow bench.  That's quite a bit opposed to what SmithWade have emphasized.

Good points all, but the starting lineup speed has vastly improved.  Is G. Barker avaliable?

[Jacksonian]

Apart from Burke (ugh), do you see anyone within or without who could fill the "speedy utility infielder" role?

That's why I thought the Astros might be interested in Barmes.

Let's see if the Astros pick a player in the Rule 5 tomorrow.

[Jacksonian]

Good points all, but the starting lineup speed has vastly improved.  Is G. Barker avaliable?

If you need a pinch runner for Lee, who do you go to?  With this bench it's Abercrombie.  Then you've burned your RH power as well.

[DVauthrin]

If you need a pinch runner for Lee, who do you go to?  With this bench it's Abercrombie.  Then you've burned your RH power as well.

Depends on how Cheito does in spring training.  For his career, he hits lefties very well.

[David in Jackson]

I'd add loretta as a potential INF option.   It's sounding more likely he takes the money in arbitration.

I see Blum and Loretta as filling similar roles so I don't see how you carry both.

[DVauthrin]

I see Blum and Loretta as filling similar roles so I don't see how you carry both.

They aren't filling similar roles.  Blum is the LH contact guy off the bench.  Loretta is the RH contact guy and great insurance for matsui who has struggled to stay healthy at times.

[Duman]

The Braves moved Willie Harris off their 25 40 man to make room for some folks they traded for yesterday.  He is a speedy guy with some pop that would be a good 4th OF.  If we can just unload Scott on someone.

[Jacksonian]

Depends on how Cheito does in spring training.  For his career, he hits lefties very well.

Not until Scott is dealt.

[DVauthrin]

Not until Scott is dealt.

of course not, but I'm not expecting luke scott to be an astro in march.   He's going to be appealing to the loser/s of the fukudome sweepstakes and those teams looking at jenkins, etc in the corner outfield market.

[VirtualBob]

They aren't filling similar roles.  Blum is the LH contact guy off the bench.  Loretta is the RH contact guy and great insurance for matsui who has struggled to stay healthy at times.

Plus, Blum *really* shoul dnot be playing SS and Loretta is at least adequate there.  I'd almost rather see Ausmus than Blum in an emergency. 

[pravata]

Plus, Blum *really* shoul dnot be playing SS and Loretta is at least adequate there.  I'd almost rather see Ausmus than Blum in an emergency. 

Loretta can stand out at short and if they hit it to him, he'll catch it.  Matsui might swing around if necessary.

[VirtualBob]

Loretta can stand out at short and if they hit it to him, he'll catch it.  Matsui might swing around if necessary.

He's not that bad ... and certainly better than Blum.

[pravata]

He's not that bad ... and certainly better than Blum.

I don't know about Blum, but Loretta's lack of range contributed significantly to losing 2 games for sure in the short span he was out there last season.

[VirtualBob]

I don't know about Blum, but Loretta's lack of range contributed significantly to losing 2 games for sure in the short span he was out there last season.

OK.  I had not seen that, but accept it.  My sense was (still is?) that he was way better than Burke and way worse than Everett ... not a great choice for every day, but more than adequate for spot starting.  I compare that to having watched Blum at other positions, especially 2B, and concluded that Loretta was substantially better than Blum in terms of range.  Maybe I read too much into the Astros choice to start him so often in AE's absence last summer.

Anyone else have observations on either as backup SS?

[JimR]

OK.  I had not seen that, but accept it.  My sense was (still is?) that he was way better than Burke and way worse than Everett ... not a great choice for every day, but more than adequate for spot starting.  I compare that to having watched Blum at other positions, especially 2B, and concluded that Loretta was substantially better than Blum in terms of range.  Maybe I read too much into the Astros choice to start him so often in AE's absence last summer.

Anyone else have observations on either as backup SS?

i think Loretta is more than adequate.

[MikeyBoy]

OK.  I had not seen that, but accept it.  My sense was (still is?) that he was way better than Burke and way worse than Everett ... not a great choice for every day, but more than adequate for spot starting.  I compare that to having watched Blum at other positions, especially 2B, and concluded that Loretta was substantially better than Blum in terms of range.  Maybe I read too much into the Astros choice to start him so often in AE's absence last summer.

Anyone else have observations on either as backup SS?

I think Blum is much smoother, but he's also played there more. Both have limited range and niether will make anyone forget about AE.

[VirtualBob]

I think Blum is much smoother, but he's also played there more. Both have limited range and niether will make anyone forget about AE.

Fact Check:

Loretta has played 400 games at SS (second only to the 780 he has played at 2B and over 25% of the 1571 total appearances).  He has a .970 fielding percentage and a 3.56 range factor.  I'll leave it to the true stat geeks to bring in more elaborate fielding stats, but I will point out that this compares to AE's .977 and 4.27.

Blum has played 185 games at SS (compared to 201 at 2B and 467 at 3B and less than 20% of his 970 total appearances).  He has a .962 fielding percentage and a 3.15 range factor.

I made my original comments based o observation, but these few stats do seem to be consistent with what I have seen.  Neither is anywhere near Everett caliber, but Loretta is clearly superior to Blum at SS as well as having played there more.

[MikeyBoy]

Fact Check:

Loretta has played 400 games at SS (second only to the 780 he has played at 2B and over 25% of the 1571 total appearances).  He has a .970 fielding percentage and a 3.56 range factor.  I'll leave it to the true stat geeks to bring in more elaborate fielding stats, but I will point out that this compares to AE's .977 and 4.27.

Blum has played 185 games at SS (compared to 201 at 2B and 467 at 3B and less than 20% of his 970 total appearances).  He has a .962 fielding percentage and a 3.15 range factor.

I made my original comments based o observation, but these few stats do seem to be consistent with what I have seen.  Neither is anywhere near Everett caliber, but Loretta is clearly superior to Blum at SS as well as having played there more.

Sorry, my statement should have read but he's also played there more, recently. Prior to 2007, Loretta had not played SS since 2002, except for 6 innings in '03. In that same time ('03-'06) Blum played SS in 560 innings. Look, if you want to take the difference in fielding percentage of .008 and range factor of .41 to support your conclusion, be my guest. Through my observation, Blum is much smoother, that's all. I'm sure their measurable output will likely be pretty close though.

[VirtualBob]

Sorry, my statement should have read but he's also played there more, recently. Prior to 2007, Loretta had not played SS since 2002, except for 6 innings in '03. In that same time ('03-'06) Blum played SS in 560 innings. Look, if you want to take the difference in fielding percentage of .008 and range factor of .41 to support your conclusion, be my guest. Through my observation, Blum is much smoother, that's all. I'm sure their measurable output will likely be pretty close though.

1.  As I said, my conclusions are based on observation.  I was only driven to the fact sheet by your (now corrected) statement that Blum has played more at SS than Loretta.

2.  As to the .008/.41 difference being significant, note that the difference in fielding percentage between Loretta and AE (.007) is less than between Loretta and Blum and while the difference in range (.61) is certainly greater, it seems to indicate that .41 is at least "significant".  Someone with more patience and skill may be able to put all these numbers into more perspective.

3.  Loretta played 72 games last year, 3 in '03 and 18 (not 6) in '02.  Blum played 12 in '07, 49 in '06 and 20 in '05 (meaning that it took him the past three years to surpass Loretta's '07 numbers) and only 14 more in '02-'04 ... 93 for Loretta to 95 for Blum, so I guess you are right ... If (and only if) we define "recent" as stretching back to 2002, then Blum has played there more 'recently".

4.  See #1.  We apparently disagree on our observations.