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The Houston Astros are going to have a lot of competition for rotation spots this spring

chinmusic — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:19:48 +0000

The Houston Astros are going to have a lot of pitchers competing for the #4 and #5 spots in the starting rotation for 2012 this spring, and that is a good thing. Here is a look at how the Astros’ starting rotation looks right now:

#1: Brett Myers: 31-year old righty Brett Myers took a step back for the Astros after his excellent year in 2010. Myers pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 7-14 with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 67 games (66 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 21-22 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Myers has now pitched in 307 games (249 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 94-85 with 21 saves, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I look for him to rebound in 2012 as he is a much better pitcher than the one that showed up in 2011.

#2: Wandy Rodriguez: 33-year old lefty Wandy Rodriguez is also a solid pitcher for the Astros. He gives the Astros a chance to win every time he takes the hill. Rodriguez pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 11-11 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has now pitched in 206 games (197 starts) in his first 7 years with the Astros and he is 73-75 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Look for Rodriguez to keep pitching well for the Astros in 2012.

#3: Bud Norris: 26-year old righty Bud Norris stepped up in 2011. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-11 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Norris has now pitched in 69 games (68 starts) in his first three years with the Astros and he is 21-24 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Astros think that Norris has the stuff to be a #1 or #2 starter in the very near future, as he has outstanding stuff.

#4 and #5: J.A. Happ: 29-year old lefty J.A. Happ is going to have to earn a spot in the starting rotation in 2012 this spring. Happ pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 6-15 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He has now pitched in 41 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 11-19 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Happ has now pitched in 88 games (72 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 25-24 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Happ might get his act back together will his job on the line this spring.

Livan Hernandez: 36-year old righty Livan Hernandez recently signed a minor league deal and he will be in the fray this spring for a rotation spot. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 8-13 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 475 games (474 starts) in his first 16 years in the majors and he is 174-176 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Hernandez is a workhorse type who eats a lot of innings, so it’s going to be hard to count him out of this competition.

Zach Duke: 28-year old lefty Zach Duke will also have a decent shot of winning a rotation spot this spring for the Astros. Duke has pitched in 21 games (9 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Duke has now pitched in 181 games (168 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 48-74 with 1 save, a 4.56 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Duke could also win a job in the pen if he loses out in the competition for the starting rotation.

Jordan Lyles: 21-year old righty Jordan Lyles is one of the Astros’ better prospects. He got his first taste of the majors in 2011 with the Astros and he worked in 20 games (15 starts) in which he was 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Lyles also pitched in 12 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. If Lyles is ready, the Astros will have a hard time not giving him a spot in the rotation out of spring training.

Kyle Weiland: 25-year old righty Kyle Weiland came to the Astros in a deal with the Red Sox over the winter. He was roughed up in his first taste of the majors last year. He pitched in 7 games (5 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He also pitched in 24 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 8-10 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Weiland was just nervous in his first taste of the majors, because he does have good stuff.

Henry Sosa: 26-year old righty Henry Sosa had some ups and downs in his first taste of the majors with the Astros last year. He pitched in 10 games (all starts) for the Astros last year and he was 3-5 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Sosa also pitched in 29 games (10 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 10-3 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Sosa will be a longshot to win a job in the Astros’ rotation when the 2012 season starts.

Lucas Harrell: 26-year old righty Lucas Harrell looked good in a late season audition for the Astros in 2011. Harrell pitched in 6 games (2 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He pitched in 9 games (2 starts) overall last year for the White Sox & Astros and he was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Harrell has now pitched in 17 games (5 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C+

The Houston Astros sign Mike Hessman

chinmusic — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:54:01 +0000

The Astros have signed 33-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Mike Hessman to a minor league deal. Hessman played in 48 games in Japan last year and he was 25 for 130 (.192 avg, .637 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 6 homers and 14 RBIs. He last played in the majors back in 2010 with the New York Mets. Hessman has played in 109 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 42 for 223 (.188 avg, .694 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 14 homers and 33 RBIs. He has also whiffed 79 times already in his major league career as he has some pretty big holes in his swing. That being said, Hessman will get a shot to compete for a bench job this spring.

The Houston Astros sign Livan Hernandez

chinmusic — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:26:51 +0000

The Astros have signed 36-year old righty starting pitcher Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 8-13 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 476 games (474 starts) in his first 16 years in the majors and he is 174-176 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Hernandez will enter the battle to be the Astros’ #5 starter in 2012 this spring.

The Houston Astros sign Zach Duke

chinmusic — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:31:24 +0000

The Astros have signed 28-year old lefty starter/reliever Zach Duke to a minor league deal. Duke pitched in 21 games (9 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has now pitched in 181 games (168 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 48-74 with 1 save, a 4.56 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Duke will likely have a good chance of making the Astros’ pitching staff this spring, but he role would be up in the air as he can start or relieve.

The Houston Astros DFA Angel Sanchez

chinmusic — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:35:26 +0000

The Astros have designated 28-year old righty swinging shortstop Angel Sanchez for assignment. Sanchez played in 110 games for the Astros last year and he was 69 for 288 (.240 avg, .590 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 1 homer, 28 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He played in 175 games in his two years with the Astros and he was 139 for 538 (.258 avg, .624 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 1 homer, 53 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Astros need to try to trade Sanchez because there is no way that he will accept an outright assignment to AAA.

UPDATE: (2/1/2012) - Angel Sanchez has cleared waivers and he has accepted a minor league assignment from the Astros, so he will be in spring training with the team.

The Houston Astros sign Jack Cust

chinmusic — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:29:47 +0000

The Astros have signed 33-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jack Cust to a 1-year deal with a club option for 2013. Cust played in 67 games for the Mariners last year and he was 48 for 225 (.213 avg, .673 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers and 23 RBIs. He has now played in 670 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 510 for 2,107 (.242 avg, .813 OPS) with 311 runs scored, 105 homers, 323 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Cust likes to look at a lot of pitches as he has walked 444 times in his major league career so far, but, he also whiffs a lot (819 times in his career so far). Cust should be able to hit with a lot of power for the Astros when he’s in the lineup and I like this pickup for them.

The Houston Astros sign Chris Snyder

chinmusic — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:30:16 +0000

The Astros have signed 30-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Snyder to a 1-year deal with a mutual option for the 2013 season. Snyder played in 34 games for the Pirates last year and he was 26 for 96 (.271 avg, .772 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers and 17 RBIs. He has now played in 630 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 426 for 1,846 (.231 avg, .727 OPS) with 204 runs scored, 70 homers and 273 RBIs. Snyder will likely start for the Astros in 2012 as long as his back holds up.

The Houston Astros are going young again in 2012

chinmusic — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:17:34 +0000

The Houston Astros are making really no attempt to get better so far this winter. Here is a look at the new guys they have brought in for 2012 so far:

In the field: The Astros have brought in a ton of players on minor league deals, but the guys with the best chance to make the team are going to get mentioned here. Shortstop Jed Lowrie will replace Clint Barmes as the Astros’ starting shortstop in 2012 and he has a nice upside. I think he will probably improve the Astros at this position because of his bat. Outfielder Fernando Martinez was a gift from the Mets, who essentially gave up on him. He will get a shot to win the starting LF job for the Astros this spring. Lefty swinging outfielder Travis Buck will have a good shot to win a backup job in the outfield and Craig Tatum will have a decent job of winning the backup catcher job this spring.

On the mound: The Astros acquired righty starting pitcher Kyle Weiland (along with shortstop Jed Lowrie) in the deal with the Red Sox for reliever Mark Melancon. Weiland will have a good shot of winning the #5 job in the Astros’ rotation this spring.

Overall: The Astros don’t want to add any payroll for the 2012 season, so don’t look for any improvement on the field.

The Houston Astros DFA Henry Villar

chinmusic — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:14:49 +0000

The Astros have designated 24-year old righty reliever/starter Henry Villar for assignment. Villar pitched in 42 games (7 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-5 with 2 saves, a 5.45 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He did pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Astros in 2010 and he was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Astros needed Villar’s roster spot for Fernando Martinez.

UPDATE: (1/23/2012) - Henry Villar has cleared waivers and he has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.

The Houston Astros claim Fernando Martinez off waivers from the Mets

chinmusic — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:12:33 +0000

The Houston Astros have claimed 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Fernando Martinez off waivers from the Mets. Martinez played in 11 games for the Mets last year and he was 5 for 22 (.227 avg, .715 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. He also played in 63 games in AAA-ball last year for the Mets and he was 58 for 223 (.260 avg, .746 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 8 homers and 30 RBIs. Martinez has now played in 47 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 24 of 131 (.183 avg, .540 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 2 homers, 12 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Martinez is a bright prospect and the Astros have to be ecstatic to get him for absolutely nothing from the Mets. Look for Martinez to compete for the starting LF job next spring for the Astros.