“To me this is the first start of many. I think in your first start you tend to be a little more amped up than most. So I think the biggest key for me would be for me to go there and relax and settle in as soon as possible and get into a good rhythm and get into the flow of the game.”
The Astros can handle one or two bad turns through the rotation. The 2001 Seattle Mariners went 116-46 for a .716 winning percentage. I realize bullpens lose games, too, but .716 is unheard of. Winning 100 games results in a .617 winning percentage. See where I'm going? .617 is roughly the percentage of three of your starters winning games. Occasionally your fourth starter wins. Someone is going to lose twice out five games. So Moehler did it Wednesday, let's move on, and give Hampton the ball. He looked good in Spring Training and there's no reason to think he won't look good in the regular season (alright, there are a few reasons to think he won't look good, but still...).
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
