OK, team updates -
No surprise, Taylor got sent down – hopefully Burt Hooten can straighten him out.
I expected Fernando Nieve to be recalled, not Chris Sampson, even though he’s been pitching VERY well in AAA as a starter, going 11-3 with a 2.62 ERA. But Phil says Sampson is gonna work out of the bullpen, so I guess this means that Matt Albers will be starting in Taylor’s place, which DOES surprise me. Ah well, as us Stros fans know VERY well, sometimes these AA guys kick heck outta the ML hitters who haven’t seen them before…
At this particular second (6 AM), far as I know, no Soriano, Tejada or any other bat. Has anyone seen Tejada field (shudder)? The pitchers are in for a VERY unpleasant surprise if he replaces Adam.
Mo Ensberg, off the DL, was sent to Round Rock for rehab. I got this BAD feeling the Organization wants to get rid of him – newsflash – Aubrey Huff is NOT better in ANY way. Assuming he even re-signs here. We don’t have another third baseman ready and waiting in the minors.
We are NOT going to any playoffs, let’s be real here. So let’s not go all Kazmir for Zambrano just to show the fans that we’ll do SOMEthing… Or play Arizona and give up 6 ML guys for 1 Richie Sexson – Milwaukee STILL laughing bout THAT one.
I am still uncomfortable about signing a guy in the middle of a FA contract because he can just leave this winter. I’d rather get a rental, but after losing both RJ (at least he was honest about refusing to stay and it not being about money) and that (*$%@! Carlos the Jackal, I think McLane is wary about signing another rental, ESPECIALLY if he thinks he wants to keep him, and he always thinks that these guys will want to stay instead of going for the big bucks and big media. He could, of course, just look at “the bat” like, um, an escort – do the business, then the escort goes his way and you go yours…
So today is the rubber game. We gave Roy four whole runs of support – wonder if we can do the same for Roger – this would mean hitting 4 days in a row, guys, and Lance is still out with his bad groin pull (although he can pinch hit, like he did on Friday.)
Roger Clemens, RHP vs Miguel Batista, RHP
this year: 2-4 in 7 GS: 2 HR, 11 BB, 31 K over 40.1 IP with a 2.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a .238 BAA
- as usual, Roger is pitching great and his teammates are waving foam bats at the other pitchers.
Or should I say – guess Roger just don’t know how to win (like too many of the mainstream sportswriters say…)
vs Ari: 2-1 in 3 GS: 1 HR, 6 BB, 19 K over 20 IP with a 1.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a .164 BAA
-
Miguel Batista, RHP, age 35
- another travelin man we’ve known for years. Has had a long career as both a starter, closer, and reliever.
- He was signed as a 17 year old out of the DR by the Expos.
- Picked up by the Pirates from the in the 1991 rule V draft, pitched 2 innings, then was returned in April 92 and released at the end of 94.
- 12/94, signed as a minor league FA with the Florida Marlins. Pitched in 96 – 11.1 IP over 9 G – 5.56 ERA
- 12/96: picked off waivers by the Cubs. um, sucked – went 0-5 in 6 GS and 5 in relief with a 5.70 ERA
-12/97: Cubs traded him to the Expos for Henry Rodriguez. (remember ooooooooo-henry?) He works as both a reliever and a spot starter, pitching 135 innings both years – a 3.80 ERA in 98 and a 4.88 ERA in 99
- 4/2000: Traded to the Royals after a terrible 9 innings for a minor leaguer. he, um sucked, like just about everybody does with the Royals – threw 57 innings with a 7.74 ERA
- 11/2000: the Diamondbacks, for some reason, signed him to a 3 year FA contract. He started and relieved, won a Ring in the 01 WS – pitched VERY well, and gave the D-bax a good return on their 6 mill over 3 years.
- 12/03: Signed a 3 year FA contract with the Blue Jays. In 04, he mostly started, threw almost 200 innings with a 4.80 ERA (and this IS the YAnkees and Red Sox he pitching against, mind…) and then last year, he was almost exclusively a reliever, saved 31, lost 8, blew 5 over 74 IP.
- 12/05: Traded with Orlando Hudson to the Diamondbacks for Troy Glaus (so Aaron Hill could play second – my, that worked out REAL good, didn’t it…)
career: 66-76 in 173 GS and 211 in relief with 37 saves, 10 CG and 4 SO: 129 HR, 553 BB, 834 K over 1307 IP with a 4.46 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a .269 BAA
this year: 9-4 in 20 GS; 3 CG, 1 SO: 13 HR, 43 BB, 74 K over 126.2 IP – 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a .288 BAA
@ the Box: 1-0 in 1 GS and 2 in relief: 9 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 7 K, 3 ER over 9 IP
vs Hou: 2-3 in 5 GS and 4 in relief: 3HR, 13 BB, 33 K over 35 IP with a 3.60 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a .270 BAA
Tags: Houston Astros, MLB
