Well, that finally happened. Having a guaranteed contract may have just proven too much for Nelson Figueroa, and he was designated for assignment following another rough outing, calling up Sergio Escalona from Oklahoma City.
Figueroa had appeared in eight games for the Astros - the first five out of the rotation - and allowed earned runs in all but one of those appearances. Even in relief, Figueroa allowed 8H/5ER, 3K:3BB in 4IP.
The Astros have ten days to trade him, reassign him to the minors, or just flat-out release him.
Mills:
"Any time a guy does what he did for us last year, he was able to really stabilize that rotation for us last year and threw the ball extremely well. Hopefully, there's some way he can get it back. I don't know exactly what's going to happen with him. That will be his decision."
By calling up Sergio Escalona (whom the Astros acquired from the Phillies for minor-league 2B Albert Cartwright this off-season), Mills has another LHP in the bullpen - giving him another option beyond Fernando Abad, who has also struggled. Abad has allowed 17H/10ER in 12IP, with 8K:6BB.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
