Your 2007 Houston Astros!
The baseball season started April 2nd, and I didn't blog it! I know, I know ... you're all crushed. :) But let's talk about it now!
In December I was already disappointed in my beloved Astros. Why? Well, because of a nasty little trade.
Andy Petitte, our premier pitcher last year, wanted $15 million to play something like 3 more years in Houston. Our club house in Houston said the offer is $14M, take it or leave it. Those stupid-heads in pin stripes (Yankees) gave him what he wanted, and thus, our marquee pitcher moved back to New York, possibly taking Roger Clemens with him. We don't know yet.
So now Houston had a hole. We have no marquee pitcher. Well we do, Oswalt is AMAZING. But he's only one dude. You need 3 really awesome pitchers and 4 really great back ups in order to make a go of the post season. And right now, well we're not there.
So Houston decides they want Jason Jennings. Who? I know I don't know him either. We go him from the Rockies, and I've got nothing against him. Except what we traded to get him (and other pitcher, coincidentally, Miquel Ascencio).
We gave up two pitchers, Taylor Buchholz (not crying - 5.89 ERA he was good but ehh) and Jason Hirsh (supposedly will be really good eventually) and our outfielder ... Willy Taveras.
The Astros must have been on drugs. Because getting rid of Willy T is never, ever a good idea. The man steals bases like it's his job (it is) and he loves it. He's fast, he's a great defensive player. Last season there at the end he and his magic glove are the reasons we even had a shot at the post season.
Now Jennings ERA is 3.78, which is really good I guess (Pettite's was 4.20 last year) but Willy T?? You can't trade Willy T! Did they even ask Craig (Biggio) what he thought about this? Because clearly someone made an error.
But that was in December. Now it's post spring training and we've started the season. What's happened now? Well something that probably should have happened this time last year. Lidge's been removed from the closer spot. He's now middle relief and Wheeler (he does okay, but on his best day he's not as good as Lidge at his best) is our closer. We'll see how it goes. But Lidge is mad. Maybe Garner did it motivate him. Maybe he thinks Lidge will start throwing outside the box if he has to do it to get his top spot back. I don't know. Lewis says the problem with Lidge isn't his "stuff" (read: pitches) it's where he throws it. If you throw a fast ball in a really good spot, the batter's gonna figure it out and wham it out of the park.
Just like Puljos did. And that ball is still flying. :)
Either way ... welcome 2007 Astros. I'll follow you through this year too ... maybe this is our year!
In December I was already disappointed in my beloved Astros. Why? Well, because of a nasty little trade.
Andy Petitte, our premier pitcher last year, wanted $15 million to play something like 3 more years in Houston. Our club house in Houston said the offer is $14M, take it or leave it. Those stupid-heads in pin stripes (Yankees) gave him what he wanted, and thus, our marquee pitcher moved back to New York, possibly taking Roger Clemens with him. We don't know yet.
So now Houston had a hole. We have no marquee pitcher. Well we do, Oswalt is AMAZING. But he's only one dude. You need 3 really awesome pitchers and 4 really great back ups in order to make a go of the post season. And right now, well we're not there.
So Houston decides they want Jason Jennings. Who? I know I don't know him either. We go him from the Rockies, and I've got nothing against him. Except what we traded to get him (and other pitcher, coincidentally, Miquel Ascencio).
We gave up two pitchers, Taylor Buchholz (not crying - 5.89 ERA he was good but ehh) and Jason Hirsh (supposedly will be really good eventually) and our outfielder ... Willy Taveras.
The Astros must have been on drugs. Because getting rid of Willy T is never, ever a good idea. The man steals bases like it's his job (it is) and he loves it. He's fast, he's a great defensive player. Last season there at the end he and his magic glove are the reasons we even had a shot at the post season.
Now Jennings ERA is 3.78, which is really good I guess (Pettite's was 4.20 last year) but Willy T?? You can't trade Willy T! Did they even ask Craig (Biggio) what he thought about this? Because clearly someone made an error.
But that was in December. Now it's post spring training and we've started the season. What's happened now? Well something that probably should have happened this time last year. Lidge's been removed from the closer spot. He's now middle relief and Wheeler (he does okay, but on his best day he's not as good as Lidge at his best) is our closer. We'll see how it goes. But Lidge is mad. Maybe Garner did it motivate him. Maybe he thinks Lidge will start throwing outside the box if he has to do it to get his top spot back. I don't know. Lewis says the problem with Lidge isn't his "stuff" (read: pitches) it's where he throws it. If you throw a fast ball in a really good spot, the batter's gonna figure it out and wham it out of the park.
Just like Puljos did. And that ball is still flying. :)
Either way ... welcome 2007 Astros. I'll follow you through this year too ... maybe this is our year!
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