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More thoughts as countdown goes from weeks to just hours
A handful of thoughts as the months and then weeks have now turned to hours before Houston’s pitchers and catchers report to Kissimmee. Didn’t see Brett Wallace clearing waivers and remaining with the Astros’ organization. Just shows how far the former first rounder has fallen. At this point in the spring — and the Astros…
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Astros’ rotation still building a bridge over troubled water
For the Astros’ rotation, the future is not now. Not today anyway. Not April 1. Perhaps later this year. Perhaps 2015. Unfortunately for the team in 2014, the organization is still building a bridge over troubled water. Perhaps the good news is that the shore — read: the promised land — is coming into sight.…
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Riders of the Pine: The 2014 Astros’ Bench
Let’s see, the Astros have 25 roster spots. Five pitchers in the rotation, seven in the bullpen, and eight positions on the field … let’s see, twelve plus eight, carry the one, add that pesky DH … and now we’re at twenty-one. Yep, there’s little room left for the bench. Four spots for all our…
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Weekend thoughts: Challenges, Porter, payroll and depth
A few weekend thoughts while wondering if the Astros are largely finished with roster significant roster movement before pitchers and catchers report next weekend. Depth may be the biggest obstacle or challenge for the Astros in 2014, especially if they are to get that 100-loss monkey off the back of the organization. While there may…
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Sorting out the Astros’ chaff not as easy as prior seasons
Brett Wallace is gone. Long live another former first rounder who didn’t live up to the billing. For the past few seasons and spring trainings, the Astros have carried a lot of chaff, excess weight and “scrubs”, as some of you have called it. Almost by necessity due to the reconstruction blue print, Houston has…
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Wallace DFA opens the door for Jonathan Singleton
Jonathan Singleton’s chances of opening the season at first base for the Astros got a boost Thursday afternoon. Brett Wallace was designated for assignment to make room for newly-signed pitcher Jerome Williams. That means the Astros have 10 days to trade or release the former first round pick of the Cardinals. The 27-year-old Wallace had…
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Astros’ relievers: Morphing from oxymoron to reality
In looking at the Houston Astros’ bullpen – I decided to pull up the dictionary.com definition of the word “reliever”. Reliever: a person or thing that relieves…..well that is not too helpful. How about the definition of “relieves”. Relieve: to free from anxiety, pain, fear, etc. OK now we are getting somewhere.
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Jerome Williams: What exactly are the Astros getting?
So the Astros have added Jerome Williams to the pitching equation. Not exactly the next coming of Masahiro Tanaka. But not exactly a reprisal of the Russ Ortiz or Mike Hampton 2009 signings either. Not exactly. What exactly are the Astros getting in the pitcher who started 25 games for the Angels last season? Obviously,…
