Mark Sheldon covers the Cincinnati Reds and totally took an idea from me to put the Reds up against the other teams in the NL Central. Except I wouldn't have compared the Reds to everyone else. Of course. Problem is, I didn't tell anybody about this idea - so it's hard to get anywhere in a legal venue. But it's still good. Here's what Sheldon said about the Houston rotation.
It's basically Roy Oswalt and the other four, but that's still a handful for a Cincinnati club that was 3-12 vs. Houston last year -- including 0-6 at home. Oswalt alone is 23-1 with a 2.47 ERA lifetime vs. the Reds.
Mike Hampton, Wandy Rodriguez, Brian Moehler and Brandon Backe will form the rest of the Houston rotation. The Astros benefit from having a largely veteran staff but have a real wild card in Hampton -- who has an injury log longer than the average line for the rest room. Rodriguez and Moehler have the ability to be dependable, but it's Oswalt alone who still makes this comparison. Advantage, Astros.
Did you hear that! Advantage, Astros. Eat it!
Interestingly enough, the Reds' rotation (according to Sheldon) is:
Better than Milwaukee, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
Not as good as Chicago or Houston.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
