A few nuggets in this piece previewing the Astros:
Though an oblique injury limited (Wandy Rodriguez) to just 137.1 innings last year, his 3.54 ERA was over a run better than his previous career best. His 8.6 K/9 rate was also his best ever, and he finished strong, compiling a 1.50 ERA over his last six starts.
Tejada's 2008 numbers, which were not all that great to begin with, were even worse at the end of the year; while his batting average increased by .020 after the All-Star break, his OBP actually decreased, his RBI total was cut in half from 44 to 22, he had just three of his 13 home runs and he went without a single stolen base after swiping seven beforehand.
(Felipe Paulino) went 6-9 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 112 innings with Double-A Corpus Christi in 2007, and his fastball can reach triple-digits, though that may help explain why he spent nearly all of last season jumping to and from the DL with shoulder issues. He'll have a chance to strut his stuff in spring training and possibly win a starting spot if everything goes just right, though it's much more likely he'll continue to be seasoned in Triple-A until he proves he can be consistent and stay healthy.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
