Happy Off-Season Greetings, Astro Fans!
So it’s come down to this. It’s the last day of the 2010 NL baseball season and the Astros are going head-to-head with the Cubs to see who takes 4th place in the NLC and avoids falling one murky step closer to Pittsburgh at the ancient deep bottom of the standings.
It will be nice if “Wonderful Wandy” Rodriguez shows up today, especially since I plan to be there to see him pitch. I always enjoy the games better when our Astros win, but you never know. All these years deep into his career, we fans are still wary that “Woeful Wandy” could show up long enough to spoil the day with a bad inning or two. It’s hard to enjoy the social company of any “Dr. Jekyll” when you have to worry about the next drink turning him into “Mr. Hyde.” And the same is true for good pitchers who lack consistency with their mound temperament and predictable control over and use us of their stuff. All that being said, it’s still hard to give up on a starter who can potentially win 12-15 games a season for you unless these wins come at the expense of a greater tally on losses. Last time I checked, a staff of sub-.500 win pitchers were not the stairway to the pennant.
Going into the next season, I’m concerned that first baseman Brett Wallace isn’t progressing all that well as a major league hitter. There’s still time, but next season is critical. If Wallace doesn’t pull her up to a better level and show that he’s capable of taking instruction where instruction is obviously needed, I’d say his transition will move rapidly from prospect to suspect. Some guys are too proud to ask for or accept help, but that mistake is fatal for young hitters who are having trouble with big league pitching. With six doubles and only two homers to show among his 31 MLB hits in 140 times at bat, Wallace has a lot of getting well ahead of him. His problems at the plate also helps make sense of the plan to play Carlos Lee at first base, more often or full-time, in 2011. Carlos can crunch the ball and we have to find a place for him for the balance of his unmoveable contract – and first place is about the only possibility.
First place is a better spot for Carlos because, God bless him, he’s no outfielder on defense, as it is. For better or worse, I’ve covered Carlos again in my note on two plays we don’t need to see again in 2011.
TWO ASTRO PLAYS WE DON’T WANT TO SEE IN 2011:
(1) Outfield. “There’s a curving drive into left center. Lee jogs in. Bourn speeds over. The ball is still heading toward the line. Lee gives up, but Bourne keeps charging. Bourne dives. And he miraculously catches the ball – just foul of the left field line. And Lee trudges over to help Bourne up, shake his hand, and thank him for a little help. One more time.”
(2) Infield. “Runners on 2nd and 3rd for the Cubs. Two outs in the top of the 9th. Cubs batting, trailing the Astros, 4-3, with Lyon trying to shut the door. Aramis Ramirez batting. – Ramirez slices a sharp two bouncer to Chris Johnson at 3rd. This should do it, but wait. – The ball rolls up Johnson’s left arm and now falls numbly over his right shoulder. There’s still time. All Chris has to do is pick it up and take aim. – He does, but he heaves the ball hard. – It’s sailing over Wallace’s head and bouncing down the right field line. – Two runners are going to score. – Ramirez will get all the way to 3rd on that one – as young Chris Johnson pounds his glove in disgust. – Cubs now lead 5-4 with the door open – and the possibility of defeat for the Astros now snatched again from the jaws of victory.”
In fairness to Carlos Lee, that Bourne play described here never happened, but I kept waiting for it. It just seemed that we are expecting extra range from three players, with Lee in left. The big demand was upon Bourne in center, but other “get back fast” weight fell upon short and third too. – And those extra steps came at the risk of another infielder having the Adam Everett season-ending experience should they suffer the casualty of running into Lee on the way back into shallow left.
If Lee can move to first, I say, give it your strong thought, Astros. Maybe it’s time to give Brian Bogusevic a shot at left and bring Wallace along a little more slowly. Besides, something may open up as a free agent possibility in left that we cannot even see today.
I like Angel Sanchez at short and Jeff Keppinger at second, plus Bourne in center, Pence in right, Johnson at third, and Castro at catcher are pretty much no-brainers for 2011, think. I’m a little hard on Chris Johnson because I do think his fielding needs improvement, but his bat cannot be ignored. He’s earned his job with “put ’em up” runs on that side of the fence. Now it’s time to work on the elimination of “give away” runs on defense.
As for starters, unless something more real comes along, I like Rodriquez, Myers, Happ, Norris, and Figueroa at the gate – with room to reconsider on a strong Paulino winter and spring record. The relief corps looks pretty good, but I would hope we seek out a tighter solution at closer. I don’t think either Lyon or Lindstrom, the guys who filled that spot in 2010, performed well enough to be presumptive owners of the job in 2011.
I really like Wilton Lopez. He deserves a spot somewhere in the pen.
That’s about it for now. The long winter of the hot stove league is about to descend upon us before the sun even sets again in good old Houston – and it’s only October 3rd.
Tags: Assessment, Baseball, Houston Astros
The Pecan Park Eagle 
October 4, 2010 at 5:12 am |
Brian Bogusevic got his shot in left today, and when he came up for his 4th at bat, it was curious to note that the scoreboard failed to put up his record for his first 3 at bats, all swinging strikeouts. Nonetheless, after fouling off several pitches, B Bog completed his dubious Golden Sombrero with yet another swinging K.
On a brighter note, Nelson Figueroa, who pitched 6 shutout innings in what he thought was his last start of the season earlier this week, repeated the feat with another 6 shutout innings in the Astros 4th place clinching victory today.