Nick Cafardo's Free Agent Destinations

Nick Cafardo's Sunday column ranks the top free agents and projects a possible destination. We already know that the Astros won't be major players in the free agent market, but Cafardo does see the Astros as a possible destination for:

SP Jon Garland:
He did a terrific job for the Padres eating up innings and lending stability. He could do the same for a number of teams, such as the Nationals, Brewers, Mets, Astros, or Rockies. A return to San Diego also is possible.

We typically discount any rumor that links the Astros to a pitcher, as they're pretty much set there for 2011. Middle infielder? Different story. And Cafardo puts the price tag on Carl Crawford at 6 years/$120m. So don't even look at Carl Crawford. He's the cheerleader you're not allowed to even dream about dating.

Baseless speculation

Hey, remember when the Astros went hard after Jon Garland (which hurt Wittle Andy's feewings, and he pissed off back to NY. Which kind of worked out for him.), and ended up trading for Jason Jennings instead (Which didn't work out. For anyone.)?

Well, any of you Jon Garland To Houston fans who might still be around can rejoice: The Dodgers have declined Garland's 2010 option. He was due to make $10m in 2010, but is now entitled to $2.5m from the Diamondbacks, as they're the ones responsible for his 2009 salary AND the 2010 buyout in the event of a declined option.

Will this affect the Astros' off-season? Doubtful, but still interesting to note, regardless...

Recap for G124 - Diam'nd'ack' @ Astros

The Troof had his first real bad inning in his short tenure with the Astros today in a 7-5 loss to Arizona, snapping a four-game winning streak. Let's do the thing:

Norris: 1IP, 6H/6ER, 1K:3BB, 10/12 first-pitch strikes, 16/32 non-contact strikes (11 called:5 swinging)
Paulino: 4IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB, 7/13 FPS, 18/35 NCS (11c:7s)
Arias: 1IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB, 2/5 FPS, 5/11 NCS (5c)
Fulchino: 1.2IP, 4H/1ER, 1K:1BB, 5/9 FPS, 8/19 NCS (3c:5s)
Byrdak: 0.1IP, 1BB, 1/2 FPS, 2/4 NCS (2c)
Gervacio: 1IP, 3/3 FPS, 4/7 NCS (4c)

This turned into a bullpen game real quick, after The Troof needed 55 pitches to get three outs, allowing nine baserunners in his brief time on the mound. Let's take a look at that first inning:

Oeltjen: 5-pitch groundout to 2B
Roberts: 4-pitch double to CF
Tracy: 6-pitch single to LF
Montero: 4-pitch single to LF (scores Roberts)
Allen: 5-pitch strikeout swinging
Parra: 5-pitch walk (PB by Q gets Tracy to 3B, Montero to 2B)
Romero: 7-pitch walk (Tracy scores)
Ojeda: 4-pitch singles to CF (scores Montero and Parra)
Garland: 1st pitch single to CF (scores Romero)
Oeltjen: 5-pitch groundout to 2B

Mm. 1st time through the order, Norris allowed 5x9 with 2BB. 2nd time? 0x1!

Anyhow, I was really impressed with the bullpen - 8IP, 8H/1ER, 6K:2BB. Give it up to Paulino, who cooled the Diamond-Bs offense off with 4IP, 0ER. Gervacio has lowered his ERA to 1.42, needing 8 pitches to close out the 9th - throwing seven for strikes.

Offensively, the Astros got 13 hits, including seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two homers). Quintero clocked in with a double and a homer. Also recording two hits were Bourn, Tejada, Berkman, and Matsui. Still, the Astros were 3x14 with RISP, while Arizona was 7x15. Six of Arizona's runs came with two outs. Astros pinch-hitters were 1x3, with Maysonet getting a hit and a run.

Pitch Count Hero: Jason Michaels - 26 pitches in 4 PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Lance Berkman - 14 pitches in 5 PAs

Man of the Match: Humberto Quintero. Since the Pudge trade, Q has hits in all three starts, going 4x10 with 2 doubles and a homer.

Goat of the Game: Sorry, Bud Norris. Without that first inning, the Astros win 5-1.