http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...122&content_id=630270&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp Well...guess that question is answered....
This allows them to not have to rush him back (a luxury that they probably wouldn't be able to do had they not gotten Clemens and Pettite)... believe me, this kid has the stuff to be very very special. All he needs is health. He looked better and better towards the end of winter ball (scouts said his fastball got as high as 95, and he had the same biting sink on his curve)... but the purpose of winter ball was to test his shoulder and make sure its healthy. Now that he passed that test, he needs to goto AAA and just work on his pitching again. This is the same guy who, as a 20 year old, struck out 15 HOUSTON ASTROS in an exhibition game (Bagwell and Biggio multiple times). He's got the type of stuff that he doesn't HAVE to be a power pitcher (think Zito), but the more strength his shoulder gets back, the better. Look for either the middle to end of this year for him to make an appearance (barring injury to somebody else), and for him to crack the rotation as the fifth man next year. I do LOVE the future starting pitching for years to come: Oswalt Miller Redding Hernandez Buckholz (who could be an ace)
So now the question is when will Robertson be traded. Anyone have any ideas what we might be able to get in return?
wow...pretty early for this to happen but you know what i love....i love the idea of having a badass lefty coming out of our pen as a setup man
Well I am glad that question is answered. I was wondering who it was going to be. I like Redding's stuff but I don't remember him being that consistent. Oh well. Good luck to him. What happens to Robertson and Hernandez now? Let's go Astros!!!
Reported on Fox too...they interviewed Redding by phone, he sounds excited. If this doesn't boost his confidence, nothing will. In other news, we're apparently close to signing Dave Veres...guess that's the veteran reliever Hunsicker was talking about.
Doesn't Veres have a ridiculously disgusting hat? Or is that just Steve Kline? I thought Veres never washed his either.
Veres has a nasty splitter that he used to save some games when he was w/ STL. But, he crumples in high pressure situations. He should be decent as a long releiver, or a 6th-7th inning guy. He's probably better than Rickey Stone as well.
And it's not like Pettitte is going anywhere anytime soon, either. So, SP: Oswalt-Pettitte-Clemens-Miller-Redding RP: Dotel-Lidge with 4-5 spots for Robertson, Duckworth, Miceli, Veres, Stone, Saarloos, Gallo, Backe My gut: Robertson, Duckworth, Veres, Miceli, Backe Gallo goes to AAA in waiting if Robertson falters as a lefty specialist. Saarloos goes back to starting in AAA along with Carlos Stone is sent down, released, or traded for utility player. I just don't see much use for him if we have Veres and Miceli.
Agree with everything EXCEPT choosing Robertson over Gallo. Gallo has ALL the tools to be THE lefty specialist, and he proved it by his numbers last year... and he also did quite well in the Arizona Fall Leauge (damn good competition). Robertson, on the other hand, doesn't have the typical reliever stuff... where he's lights out early, and terrible later... especially since he's mostly a junkball pitcher with a funky delivery. I DO feel he has a place in this league as a starter, and thus I'd hope he gets more time in New Orleans to work on his stuff and continue to try and excel pitching every 4th day. Plus, with this rotation, the need for long-relief/situational guys like Robertson go way way way down. And, if we ever do need the situational lefty, I go with the guy who's got proven excellence in doing that... and that's Gallo.
Taylor Buckholz was acquired with Duckworth in the Wagner deal. He's a young kid who will start at either Round Rock or New Orleans this season. Many believe he has the potential to be a #1 or 2 starter in the bigs.
Here's the profile on Buckholz......http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1693861 ESPN claims he will be a middle of the rotation guy. Nothing to get too excited about.
Then again, Petitte's not an "Ace" either, and he's going to help the Astros a lot. Buckholz might not become an Oswalt/Wood/Prior/Beckett, but he could certainly end up a good #2. I think the Astros are going to trade Robertson, since he just doesn't have reliever stuff. We still have Duckworth as the emergency spot starter if needed.
