In a certainly unexpected move, the Astros have acquired Cincinnati reliever Enerio Del Rosario for cash considerations. Oswaldo Navarro has been removed from the 40-Man roster to make room for Del Rosario, who will be with the team for tomorrow's game.
Del Rosario will be 25 in October, and pitched in nine games for the Reds this season, for a 2.08 ERA/1.96 WHIP, logging 8.2IP, 13H/2ER, 3K:4BB.
He has spent most of 2010 with the Reds' Triple-A team in Louisville, posting a 3.09 ERA/1.22 WHIP, with 34K:17BB in 64IP - also allowing seven homers.
Del Rosario, a side-arm pitcher with a "nasty sinker," was DFA'ed by the Reds earlier this week to make room for Willie Bloomquist.
Dusty Baker, on Del Rosario, in Spring Training 2010:
"He's impressed me. You wouldn't know it's his first time in big league camp. He fields his position well. I talked to some guys about him and they said he calls infielders off. He's such a great fielder. He keeps the ball down, runs it in on them. There's always a place on a team, sooner or later, for a guy with a good natural sinker."
Del Rosario:
"I threw much better and I feel much better from the side than overhand. I was throwing too straight and the hitters got me pretty good. From the side, I got more sink and more movement."
Double-A Pitching Coach Tom Brown:
"There is not a finer person anywhere than Ernie. He's one of the nicest, hardest-working, best people you'll ever have. As a coach, it's a pleasure to be around guys like that."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
