Author Topic: I know it's spring . . . (Read 6584 times)

toddthebod · « **on:** March 27, 2008, 01:42:47 pm »

and spring stats don't count for a lot, but . . . Cruz and Erstad (probably the two biggest question marks on the bench going into the season) are having great springs.

I really like a bench of Cruz, Erstad, Loretta, Blum, and Ausmus. Really solid.

MusicMan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:53:18 pm »

I'm not seeing it. The bench isn't the concern that the pitching is, but it's not good.

Basically, the 8 starting hitters are the only strength of the team as the season starts.

JimR · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:55:52 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on March 27, 2008, 01:53:18 pm

I'm not seeing it. The bench isn't the concern that the pitching is, but it's not good.

Basically, the 8 starting hitters are the only strength of the team as the season starts.

i disagree.

Bench · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:56:29 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on March 27, 2008, 01:53:18 pm

I'm not seeing it. The bench isn't the concern that the pitching is, but it's not good.

Basically, the 8 starting hitters are the only strength of the team as the season starts.

I think the bullpen is pretty good, but that's about all I have to add.

jonbloozy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:56:37 pm »

Quote from: toddthebod on March 27, 2008, 01:42:47 pm

I really like a bench of Cruz, Erstad, Loretta, Blum, and Ausmus. Really solid.

I agree. If only the bench was all we had to worry about . . .

Colt 45 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:58:29 pm »

Pitching wise, this club is in deep shit.

MusicMan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2008, 01:58:32 pm »

I would rank them strongest to weakest, assuming everyone performs to expectation:

1. Hitting (starting 8 )
2. Bullpen
3. Defense (if Tejada can be average at SS)
4. Bench
5. Starting pitching

I think it will definitely be a more AL-style, 7-6 game team that what we are accustomed to, so that may force me to reevaluate things as a whole.

JimR · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:00:26 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on March 27, 2008, 01:58:32 pm

I would rank them strongest to weakest, assuming everyone performs to expectation:

1. Hitting (starting
2. Bullpen
3. Defense (if Tejada can be average at SS)
4. Bench
5. Starting pitching

I think it will definitely be a more AL-style, 7-6 game team that what we are accustomed to, so that may force me to reevaluate things as a whole.

1. hitting
2. pen
3. bench
4. defense

10.starting pitching

MusicMan · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:01:29 pm »

Probably more accurate.

The defense reports I'm hearing greatly concern me, but I'm withholding judgement until I can actually see a game.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:12:33 pm »

Quote from: JimR on March 27, 2008, 02:00:26 pm

1. hitting
2. pen
3. bench
4. defense

10.staring pitching

I think that's too kind.

Phil_in_CS · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:48:17 pm »

And its a good thing the pen is ok, since they are going to get a lot of work this year.

Fredia · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:52:03 pm »

think maybe it it time to scrafice a kfc bucket or some such ralley.. when ur pitchers cant get the innings in and you burn your pen where do you go from there

Houston · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2008, 02:58:43 pm »

Quote from: Fredia on March 27, 2008, 02:52:03 pm

think maybe it it time to scrafice a kfc bucket or some such ralley.. when ur pitchers cant get the innings in and you burn your pen where do you go from there

Disneyland?

Phil_in_CS · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:10:10 pm »

Quote from: Fredia on March 27, 2008, 02:52:03 pm

think maybe it it time to scrafice a kfc bucket or some such ralley.. when ur pitchers cant get the innings in and you burn your pen where do you go from there

Frequent pitching changes allow more time for beer and talking to friends during the game, so its not all bad.

David in Jackson · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:18:31 pm »

Quote from: toddthebod on March 27, 2008, 01:42:47 pm

and spring stats don't count for a lot, but . . . Cruz and Erstad (probably the two biggest question marks on the bench going into the season) are having great springs.

I really like a bench of Cruz, Erstad, Loretta, Blum, and Ausmus. Really solid.

I like the bench for the short-term, but I'm concerned about its age. I think it very possible no one on that list will be in the major leagues in two years (maybe excepting Blum). There are no good young players waiting in the wings to eventually take on a full-time job.

tophfar · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:27:56 pm »

Quote from: Houston on March 27, 2008, 02:58:43 pm

Disneyland?

I think you mean Tijuana.

Astroholic · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:29:00 pm »

Quote from: David in Jackson on March 27, 2008, 03:18:31 pm

I like the bench for the short-term, but I'm concerned about its age. I think it very possible no one on that list will be in the major leagues in two years (maybe excepting Blum). There are no good young players waiting in the wings to eventually take on a full-time job.

I might have the spring fever, but I think the rotation will be fine. I think Backe and Wandy will both have breakout years. I am concerned about 4/5, but Sampson looks like he could be a solid four. Woody is done.

Of course pitching relys on defense, which I am really concerned with, not that it matters what I think.

toddthebod · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:31:31 pm »

Quote from: David in Jackson on March 27, 2008, 03:18:31 pm

I like the bench for the short-term, but I'm concerned about its age. I think it very possible no one on that list will be in the major leagues in two years (maybe excepting Blum). There are no good young players waiting in the wings to eventually take on a full-time job.

Why is that a problem? I think that this year demonstrates that you can build a bench through free agency that is relatively inexpensive and that can be productive.

If this is the route the Astros need to go down until they build back their minor league system, so be it.

toddthebod · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:32:25 pm »

Quote from: Astroholic on March 27, 2008, 03:29:00 pm

I might have the spring fever, but I think the rotation will be fine. I think Backe and Wandy will both have breakout years. I am concerned about 4/5, but Sampson looks like he could be a solid four. Woody is done.

Of course pitching relys on defense, which I am really concerned with, not that it matters what I think.

Of course, Backe has to be able to pitch more than 5 innings. And it looks like it's going to take him some time to build up that strength. He totally collapsed in the 6th today.

chuck · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:35:14 pm »

Maybe I'm crazy but I think that the starting pitching is better than the pen.

That said, Geary and Wright are two guys a lot of you probably haven't seen too much of that have looked really good to me. Unlike anyone else in the pen they really work to get ahead of hitters and pitch ahead in the count. Everyone else continually pitches behind in the count or (Valverde) gets ahead and just can't close the deal.

chuck · « **Reply #20 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:38:34 pm »

By the way, I agree with Todd regarding the bench. Erstad is going to be a great bench player because he's so versatile in the field and so smart at the plate. Ideally I'd like to have more power, but the team's bench has a lot of guys who can play a lot of positions defensively and who look to make contact at the plate.

JimR · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2008, 03:45:03 pm »

Quote from: chuck on March 27, 2008, 03:35:14 pm

Maybe I'm crazy but I think that the starting pitching is better than the pen.

That said, Geary and Wright are two guys a lot of you probably haven't seen too much of that have looked really good to me. Unlike anyone else in the pen they really work to get ahead of hitters and pitch ahead in the count. Everyone else continually pitches behind in the count or (Valverde) gets ahead and just can't close the deal.

good grief, man, do you ever see anything you like?

chuck · « **Reply #22 on:** March 27, 2008, 04:24:14 pm »

Quote from: JimR on March 27, 2008, 03:45:03 pm

good grief, man, do you ever see anything you like?

Geary and Wright out of the pen. I love Gervacio, though he's a couple of years away. I like Chacon. Paulino, though he's hurt. I like Tejada, too, by the way. I think he's going to be a real net positive for the team. It may not sound like it, but I do think that.

Arky Vaughan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 27, 2008, 05:53:33 pm »

Quote from: toddthebod on March 27, 2008, 01:42:47 pm

and spring stats don't count for a lot, but . . . Cruz and Erstad (probably the two biggest question marks on the bench going into the season) are having great springs.

I really like a bench of Cruz, Erstad, Loretta, Blum, and Ausmus. Really solid.

That's a very old bench, probably among the oldest in the majors. Not that there's anything wrong with having some vets on the bench, but some youth and speed would be nice too.

Arky Vaughan · « **Reply #24 on:** March 27, 2008, 05:54:10 pm »

Quote from: JimR on March 27, 2008, 02:00:26 pm

1. hitting
2. pen
3. bench
4. defense

10.starting pitching

Fully concur.

Arky Vaughan · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2008, 05:56:09 pm »

Quote from: Astroholic on March 27, 2008, 03:29:00 pm

I might have the spring fever, but I think the rotation will be fine. I think Backe and Wandy will both have breakout years. I am concerned about 4/5, but Sampson looks like he could be a solid four. Woody is done.

Of course pitching relys on defense, which I am really concerned with, not that it matters what I think.

This is somewhat like having an optimistic attitude toward the Iraqi security forces.

Astroholic · « **Reply #26 on:** March 27, 2008, 07:38:41 pm »

Quote from: Arky Vaughan on March 27, 2008, 05:56:09 pm

This is somewhat like having an optimistic attitude toward the Iraqi security forces.

I don't think they are that bad. I have no idea how good/bad the iraq security forces are as I have never been there.

JimR · « **Reply #27 on:** March 27, 2008, 08:32:22 pm »

Sampson is no 4 for anyone

Amy · « **Reply #28 on:** March 27, 2008, 09:24:33 pm »

Quote from: Fredia on March 27, 2008, 02:52:03 pm

think maybe it it time to scrafice a kfc bucket or some such ralley.. when ur pitchers cant get the innings in and you burn your pen where do you go from there

Can Ausmus throw a knuckleball?

Bench · « **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2008, 10:19:00 pm »

Quote from: Amy on March 27, 2008, 09:24:33 pm

Can Ausmus throw a knuckleball?

Only from shortstop.

JackAstro · « **Reply #30 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:39:34 pm »

Oh man, why won't the fucking season start already? I NEED REAL BASEBALL.

Arky Vaughan · « **Reply #31 on:** March 28, 2008, 12:48:34 am »

Quote from: Astroholic on March 27, 2008, 07:38:41 pm

I don't think they are that bad. I have no idea how good/bad the iraq security forces are as I have never been there.

There's a difference between how good they are and how good they might be. I just don't think you can pencil in Backe and Wandy as being particularly suitable at 2 and 3. Could they step up and do so? Sure. But it's extremely optimistic to count on it.

Oswalt could obviously be anybody's 1. For most teams, 5 is always a toss-up. But that leaves 2, 3 and 4 as very big question marks for the Astros. They've got one ace and a whole bunch of others who really should be competing for the last one or two spots in a rotation as opposed to filling it out behind the ace.

On the bright side, the rotation probably isn't any worse than it was last year.

Towlie · « **Reply #32 on:** March 28, 2008, 05:14:32 am »

wasnt our main problem last year offense and a weak pen on the end?

Our starting pitching wasn't that horrible last year and I would look at it and think it isnt any worse. We should be ok...guys. All we have to hope for is that our 1-3 can get get 200+, 180+, and 170+ innings with a respectable era (which is like at most 4.50?). hopefully Woody is gone too.