The Astros are a team in complete shambles right now. Perhaps it is Ed Wade at his best, but no matter how you look at it, there are few bright spots on this team. Michael Bourn is a sparkplug at the top of their order and Carlos Lee is still a sensational hitter, but there really isn’t much of a threat anywhere else in that lineup. Hunter Pence is a decent hitter and Kazuo Matsui usually hurts the Phils, but it stops right there. They are a team that is trying to rebuild, but to be honest, it doesn’t look like they are moving in the right direction. After being named Astros general manager in September of 2007, it was only a few month later that Wade traded five of their top prospects away to acquire the aging Miguel Tejada and it has been a downward spiral ever since.
Their best, and maybe only real trade chips are Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman. Neither guy is getting any younger and both have huge contracts with no-trade clauses which will make it extremely difficult to move either guy and get any worthwhile prospects in return. Oswalt is even coming off of his worst year ever. Laden with injuries in 2009, Oswalt posted a 4.12 E.R.A. and an 8 and 6 record. For some guys that would appear good, but for Roy it was a very down year.
As for their pitching staff, Wandy Rodriguez has turned into a very good pitcher. He posted a 14 and 12 record last season with a shiny 3.02 E.R.A. It is possible that he becomes Houston’s most reliable starter as the season rolls on. The Phillies will not face him this weekend however, as they draw youngster Bud Norris on Friday evening, the often injured and ineffective Felipe Paulino on Saturday and aforementioned Roy Oswalt on Sunday.
The Astros almost have to take one of these games. They have started the season 0 and 3 and it would be pretty impressive of them to start 0 and 6. Not an easy thing to do. It would take a major Philadelphia slump however, for the Phils to drop anymore than one game to Houston this weekend. Philadelphia, who is a team that is pressing to make their fourth consecutive postseason appearance, rolls out J.A. Happ who nearly won the Rookie of the Year Award in ’09 tonight, the very questionable Jamie Moyer who is coming off of a very good Spring Training on Saturday and then the dominating Roy Halladay on Sunday. It will be a struggle for Houston to take one, but they simply can not be such a bad team that they start off the season with six straight losses.
Prediction: Phils take 2 out of 3.
"The Astros are a team in complete shambles right now. Perhaps it is Ed Wade at his best"... this line cracked me up, yet it is so true. Also, who cares about the Astros' problems? The Phillies are looking just about average right now and Ibanez needs to freakin' step it up right now. He is batting under a buck and is scaring the **** outta me.
ReplyDeleteWatching the Phils - Astros game right now in the 2nd inning and the announcer points out that the Astros are the only team in the Majors which *hasn't led at any point this season.* That's phenomenally bad.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry so much about Ibanez...
ReplyDeleteIt is so often than Spring Training and Regular Season are polar opposites.
In the 2009 Spring Training Tim Lincecum had an E.R.A. of over 8.00 (fans were going nuts: "Is this kid done?")
He won the Cy Young Award in 2009.
Ibanez is a good, professional hitter with a good approach at the plate. He even has the ability to correct himself when he's struggling.
As for the Phillies, I'd be more worried about Cole Hamels if anything.
Looks like the Astros are that bad of a team.
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