How Bad Is the Astros' Pitching Staff?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While the Astros may have a decent to pretty good offense, how bad is their pitching going to be?

 

Here are the spring numbers so far for the five guys slated to be starters.

 

Oswalt 9 IP, 4 ER, 4.00 ERA.

Rodriguez 8.1 IP, 5 ER, 5.40 ERA.

Backe 9 IP, 4 ER, 4.00 ERA.

Williams 7.2 IP, 13 ER, 15.26 ERA

Sampson 6 ER, 10.80 ERA

 

While Oswalt will likely be his usual dominating self, Backe is coming off surgery and the numbers for Williams indicate that he could be out of gas. Sampson doesn't appear ready to hold down a spot either.

 

They have another alternative...

 

Chacon 10.30 ERA.

 

While spring numbers don't mean much, these appear to emphasizing what most already knew. The Astros' starting pitching is going to suck.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

and Wandy will still find a way to make the Cubs look silly

[Lockes Eye Scar]

what happened to Patton? did they trade him to Baltimore?

[TruffleShuffle]

i think jason hirsh will be pretty good... oh wait

[Balsa]

Games against Brewers are gonna be ugly.

[Derwood]

what happened to Patton? did they trade him to Baltimore?

 

yes, and he's now hurt

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More about the Astros pitching woes...

 

I found this nuggett at rotoworld.

 

Facing mostly minor leaguers, Chris Sampson surrendered five runs in 4 1/3 innings Sunday in a loss to a Mets split-squad.

 

Olmedo Saenz and Angel Pagan were the best hitters in the lineup. Sampson did start off with four scoreless innings, but he got lit up in the fifth to push his spring ERA back over 10.00.