strosrays Mar 24 2011

[Gizzmonic]

Barmes reaches on E6, Michaels promptly doubles him home, 1-0 Stros, bottom 1st.

[Gizzmonic]

Wallace drives home Michaels with another base hit. 2-0 Astros, 2 away, bottom 1st.

[pots]

ugh, Lee's spring stats seem are very similar in ratio to last year's numbers.  < 300 OBP and ~4 HR per 100 ABs.   Is there any reason to think he can bounce back? 

[BatGirl]

towles solo HR
braves 6
astros 3
end 7

[moriartp]

Not a good outing for Abad. Single, double, groundout, homer to start the 9th. Did come back and get the next two, though.

[austro]

Not a good outing for Abad. Single, double, groundout, homer to start the 9th. Did come back and get the next two, though.

Damn. Triple short of a cycle.

[Limey]

Norris' spring ERA now at 6.75 (just a shade behind Wandy, FWIW).  He might be pitching while looking over his shoulder at Lyles.

I've been unconvinced by Norris for some time, so I hope we don't have to endure another one of the his 5+ ERA efforts in 2011 too.

[jbm]

Going off spring stats, almost everyone should look over their shoulder, but I get the point about Norris.

I only saw the Cards outing where he showed his usual Cards dominance.  My prediction is that he will be like last year: both dominant and crappy.  He's still young enough that the occasional dominance will keep him on this staff, but he hasn't progressed much with either his fastball location or his change.  That reliever option looks more likely to me as time goes by. 

[Mr. Happy]

Norris' spring ERA now at 6.75 (just a shade behind Wandy, FWIW).  He might be pitching while looking over his shoulder at Lyles.

I've been unconvinced by Norris for some time, so I hope we don't have to endure another one of the his 5+ ERA efforts in 2011 too.

I've said this before about Norris, but it bears repeating: to me, he looks like a bullpen guy who should be allowed to throw his heater hard for an inning. FWIW, Brian Wilson was similar as a starter in college and in the minors, but the Giants had the good sense to convert him. No one really cares what I think (just ask Bench or Coach), but I said the same thing about Paulino and Dotel. Neither Norris nor Paulino could consistently go into the sixth inning and crap out alot after five, which murders your bullpen. I notice that the Rox have already converted Paulino to the bully, where I hope that he has success because he's got plus plus stuff in my opinion.

[Ron Brand]

They're gonna make him prove it first, since 200 innings beats 60-75.

[Mr. Happy]

They're gonna make him prove it first, since 200 innings beats 60-75.

RB, I absolutely agree. However, one must factor in the potential damage of overworking a couple of guys so that Norris can prove himself.

[Ron Brand]

Y'know, even if he doesn't make it as a starter this staff in 2012 could be pretty salty. Myers, The Enigma of Wandy, Happ, Lyles and #5 To Be Named is a pretty good staff with a nice age balance and the relievers, with Norris in there adding to Melancon, Villar, Fulchino, Lopez etc. could really be strong.

[Mr. Happy]

Y'know, even if he doesn't make it as a starter this staff in 2012 could be pretty salty. Myers, The Enigma of Wandy, Happ, Lyles and #5 To Be Named is a pretty good staff with a nice age balance and the relievers, with Norris in there adding to Melancon, Villar, Fulchino, Lopez etc. could really be strong.

I think that it what Wade/Smith is hoping for.