The Shreveport Times' Larry Wade gets a jump on me by a day and offers up his mid-season grades for the Astros.
Pitching: D
The pitching staff has been solid at times, shaky at others.
Hitting: F
With sluggers like Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence in the lineup, the Astros probably didn't think Jeff Keppinger would be their leading hitter at the All-Star break.
Defense: D
The Astros' defense has been nothing to write home about, either. But with his play in center field, 2009 Gold Glove winner Michael Bourn has been opening eyes. His teammates, at times, have apparently closed theirs.
Managing: D
A manager is only as good as the players on the roster, and the Astros haven't been very good this season. Mills, by all accounts, is a nice guy. But nice guys, as the saying goes, finish last. The Astros aren't in last place, but they're close.
Wade's overall GPA: 0.75
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Larry Wade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Larry Wade. Show all posts
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Larry Wade has some hope
The Shreveport Times' Larry Wade has five reasons not so say, "Screw it. Now I'm a Marlins fan."
And those reasons are:
-Tim Bogar. Boston's first base coach will be the Astros' next manager. He will energize the clubhouse and have instant credibility with his players. Bogar has learned from Red Sox skipper Terry Francona, the guy Astros general manager Ed Wade regrets firing when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies.
-Michael Bourn. In a season of disappointment, Bourn has given the Astros reason to look confidently ahead. He has been the team's most valuable player this season, and he will be an All-Star in 2010.
-Wandy Rodriguez. He's replaced Roy Oswalt as the team's ace. Rodriguez will be a strong Cy Young contender next season because he has finally learned how to pitch. And few pitchers are tougher at home than Rodriguez, who will give the team an advantage each time he takes the mound in Minute Maid Park. He's almost an automatic quality-start.
-Bud Norris. As a rookie this season, Norris had several impressive outings. Remember his two-hit, seven inning shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals in his debut as a starter? Norris is the real deal.
-Jason Castro. The Astros first-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft will be the team's starting catcher when the 2010 season begins. He's excelled at every level in the minors, hitting an impressive .293 for Double-A Corpus Christi this season. Castro will give the Astros an additional bat and solid presence behind the plate next season. And he will only get better.
And those reasons are:
-Tim Bogar. Boston's first base coach will be the Astros' next manager. He will energize the clubhouse and have instant credibility with his players. Bogar has learned from Red Sox skipper Terry Francona, the guy Astros general manager Ed Wade regrets firing when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies.
-Michael Bourn. In a season of disappointment, Bourn has given the Astros reason to look confidently ahead. He has been the team's most valuable player this season, and he will be an All-Star in 2010.
-Wandy Rodriguez. He's replaced Roy Oswalt as the team's ace. Rodriguez will be a strong Cy Young contender next season because he has finally learned how to pitch. And few pitchers are tougher at home than Rodriguez, who will give the team an advantage each time he takes the mound in Minute Maid Park. He's almost an automatic quality-start.
-Bud Norris. As a rookie this season, Norris had several impressive outings. Remember his two-hit, seven inning shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals in his debut as a starter? Norris is the real deal.
-Jason Castro. The Astros first-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft will be the team's starting catcher when the 2010 season begins. He's excelled at every level in the minors, hitting an impressive .293 for Double-A Corpus Christi this season. Castro will give the Astros an additional bat and solid presence behind the plate next season. And he will only get better.
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