» Roy Oswalt

It’s no secret that a good rotation is the key to a championship, and it pains me to say that the Astros just don’t have a good one this year.

Roy Oswalt is a legitimate ace, but his ERA has been going up and his innings pitched have been going down since 2005. Roy-O will lead the team in wins and ERA, and put up good strike out numbers, but his supporting cast does not look all that impressive.

Wandy Rodriguez is currently listed as the no. 2 starter. He pitches very well at home, posting an ERA under 3 in home games last year, but just can’t seem to put it together on the road. Last year was the young pitcher’s best year in the majors so far, and if he can build and improve upon his results he can complement Roy O nicely. He was also injured for a bit last year, but there seems to be no lingering effects.

Third in the rotation is Brandon Backe. Backe put up horrid numbers last year: a 9-14 recrod with an ERA over 6. You just can’t win games with pitching like that. However, it was the first time he had pitched over 50 innings since 2005, and last year’s 166.2 innings pitched is his most innings pitched in a season to date, with 149.1 pitched in 2005. I think Backe rebounds this year but not to the tune the Astros need him to. I expect around a .500 performance from him, with an ERA in the low 4’s. I sure hope I’m wrong though.

The 4th pitcher made his career pitching in Houston, pitching very well as a young pitcher joining the team in 1996 through his all star season in 1999 where he claimed 22 wins and an impressive 2.90 ERA. I’m talking of course about Mike Hampton. The past few years he has been with Braves and  has been plagued by injuries, but if he is healthy and can regain even 80% of his former Houston self the Astros will benefit immensely. That’s a big if though, and I remain optimistic as a fan, but realistic as a blogger. Hampton will have better numbers than Backe and probably better numbers than Wandy if he pitches the whole season. His upside is immense though, but I fear he is just too old to put together the type of season the Astros need.

For now, Brian Moehler rounds out the fifth spot. He’s 37 and has a high ERA and low strike out rates. Fernando Nieve might get a his first shot at a starting rotation gig if he impressives coaches during Spring Training. I just don’t see Moehler has a good fifth starter, but the Astros don’t seem to have many options.

So, to sum up, the rotation looks extremely questionable after Roy, but an improved Wandy and a possible resurgent Hampton could give Houston a good shot to be in contention until the trade deadline, where they make a move to grab a solid starting pitcher.

Houston has historically been a second half team, so if we can make it to the break with a decent record and pick up a solid pitcher, the Astros could make a slim run at the wildcard.

Wow, what a coincidence…yet another person is pissed off at A-Roid…oh wait I meant A-Rod I swear.

Oswalt feels cheated, hey Oswalt, guess what? So do we! We as fans feel cheated just like you. Seriously we do. We paid to see the games too, we take the time to watch all of this, get over it pal. Sorry it may have cost you another 5 mill on your last contract that A-Rod got those “Timely” hits off of you.

I agree with Oswalt in some respects, but when you bring money into it, and loss thereof it turns into something totally different.

If Roy Oswalt had his choice, any player who was proven or admitted to, using performance-enhancing drugs, the Astros ace player said on Tuesday that the suspected players’ number would be erased from baseball history.

That is if his will is to be followed. Alex Rodriguez will be a part of that list, who on Monday admitted that he used the drugs after failing a drug test last 2003. Considered by many as the best player who ever played today, Rodriguez has 553 home runs, 1,606 RBIs. But Oswalt says Rodriguez is simply one those whose numbers should be stricken from the record.

“A-Rod’s numbers shouldn’t count for anything,” Oswalt said in a phone interview with MLB.com. “I feel like he cheated me out of the game.”
Oswalt said that he feels the same way to all players who have tested positive over the years. Although giving his teammate Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt, and calling the allegations against him “suspicion”. But if proven guilty, Clemens’ number, along with all of his awards should be erased, said Oswalt.
He also said that he is bothered by those players who had tested positive in his era which spread to those players who are “clean”. Oswald entered the big league in 2001, winning 19 games in 2002 and 20 in both 04 and 05. He said everything without the help of PEDs, and that he despises cheaters.
“It does bother me,” Oswalt said. “Especially for the guys that went out there and did it on talent. We’re always going to have a cloud on us, and that’s not fair at all.

“The ones that have come out and admitted it, and are proven guilty, [their numbers] should not count. I’ve been cheated out of the game,” Oswalt continued. “This is my ninth year, and I’ve done nothing to enhance my performance, other than work my butt off to get guys out. These guys [who took PEDs] have all the talent in the world. All-Star talent. And they put times two on it.

“I’m going out there with the ability God gave me. They have that ability, too, and they’re putting something on top of it.”

Rodriguez admitted in an interview last Monday that he took performance enhancing drugs during this three year stay with the Rangers. That statement made Oswald even more furious since the Astros played against him a number of times when Rodriguez was taking the drugs during Interleague Play.
Rodriguez was 3-for-5 vs. Oswalt as a member of the Rangers, with two doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two walks. As a Yankee, Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats versus Oswalt.

“The few times we played them, when he got hits, it could have cost me a game,” Oswalt said. “It could have cost me money in my contract. He cheated me out of the game and I take it personally, because I’ve never done [PEDs], haven’t done it, and they’re cheating me out of the game.”