I don't know about how others feel, but I am still way too uncomfortable w/ the Astros starting staff preseason. Shawn Chacon will help a little and I'm glad they signed him, but he's a number 4 pitcher on most staffs. I heard they were looking at Bartolo Colon, but the reporter on mlb.com says that's not really true. Anybody besides me think Kyle Lohse is looking pretty good right now....at the right price?
I still wish they had done a deal for a frontline starter instead of Tejada or even the Bourn deal. I'd rather they take the chance w/ Lidge even and have had them keep him. If they could take some of what they traded away and tried to get Haren or even a guy like Joe Blanton, the 'Stros would be in much better shape. They should have done that and then made offensive moves after the pitching was set.
Not good, obviously. But I am optimistic about Backe. He finally got the surgery, and I think he can be a #3 guy if he stays healthy throughout the whole season. Not to mention, he tends to step it up in the playoffs.
After that though, we have a big clump of #4 and #5 pitchers. Most of whom have very little upside. I'd like to think Woody is going to pitch better than he did last year (which shouldn't be hard), but he's on the downside of his career. Wandy is an anomaly and has shown some improvement over the last few years, but he hasn't managed to become more consistent. Sampson is the kind of guy you can get by with as a #4, but he's never going to give you much more than that.
Paulino intrigues me. Anybody who can throw a 102 mph fastball has to have some upside, but still, I don't think he has that "ace" potential like Patton had.
I think we've just gotta grit it and bear it though. There's nobody out there on the FA market who is going to improve our staff. We'll just be overpaying for mediocrity if we make a move. If all the other pieces fall in place though, I'd expect a trade around the all-star break to bring in that bonafide #2 pitcher. Until then though, we're riding our offense.
I think Roy is gonna give us the advantage for the win in almost every game he throws.
then woody(if he stay healthy being as old as he is) chacon and wandy will give us pretty legit shot at every game they throw
with excepttions of course
but i really think ethier sampson or paulino or someone randoms will have a very very successful season
my guess is paulino
Well there is a bright side to the Astros pitching this year. We can all make lots of money betting on the OVER for the Astros games, as painful as that may be.
I'm with ya for the most part ultimate. 2 arms is all I see and one of them(Valverde) is prone to injury. The Lidge loss is addition by subtraction to me, it's evident that the rest of the division has figured him out these last 2 years. I won't miss his 5-10 or more blown saves this year. As to the starters, yes, Oswalt is the best rightie in the game . After him, we are dpending on a very talented but oft injured pitcher who has had 2 major surgeries on his arm and shoulder; a CAREER 5+ era leftie, (tired of hearing about his potential and how great his 2nd half was last year); and a long in the tooth guy coming off of what 15 or so losses last year???? Oh and Shawn Chacon, yeah, another former Rockie, how'd it work out with ex-Rockie pitching last year??? Like the ole saying goes, chicks like the long ball, and that's what sells tickets. Looks to me like Texas Rangers NL style for us this year. Plenty of O, 1 great starter, and a last place finish.
Chacon's actually been the most (pleasant) surprise for me of the Astros season so far. I was willing to give him a chance when you made that post about a month ago, and I've enjoyed his starts. He should have two wins already, but the low-scoring offenses on those days and our horrible bullpen blew it both times.
