Capellan dominates. The '01 Yankees? Not so much.
That thud you just heard was from me, officially jumping on the Jose Capellan bandwagon.
He's made three official appearances this spring, plus one against Team Venezuela, and hasn't given up a run. He had his longest and most effective outing of the spring on Sunday, allowing four hits and no runs over 4 2/3 innings.
The fifth starter race is basically down to two candidates: Russ Ortiz and Capellan. Ortiz might have a slight edge, based on experience. He's made 282 Major League starts, compared to two for Capellan. Ortiz has 110 Major League wins; Capellan has five.
But if decisions were bases solely on spring results, Capellan would be the hands-down winner. It's impossible to guess how this will turn out three weeks from tonight when the Opening Day rosters have to be set, but if Capellan keeps this up, it's going to be a wild dash to the finish line.
Capellan is an interesting study. As a Braves farmhand in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he had an electric arm but his blazing fastball never translated to a steady gig in the big leagues.
He had Tommy John surgery in 2002 and made it to the Atlanta in 2004, for a brief three games. He was traded to Milwaukee that offseason and appeared in the big leagues for parts of the next three seasons, as a reliever.
He was traded to Detroit, then to Colorado, and then signed on with the Royals in the middle of 2008. And now, he is with the Astros in Kissimmee, where he just may prove, at the age of 28, that he's starting to figure out how to be an effective Major League pitcher.
"Before, he just reared back and threw," said manager Cecil Cooper, who remembers Capellan from his Milwaukee days. "He was more of a thrower than a pitcher. Now, he's a pitcher. He's got more of a feel on his breaking ball, he knows when to put a little more on it, take a little off it."
For pitching coach Dewey Robinson, "it's all about counts and command."
"He's locating, he's doing everything we ask," Robinson said. "He's challenging the hitters early in the count, strike one, giving himself a chance to really be effective. He's changing speeds. He's doing everything he possibly can to win a job."
And, three weeks from decision day, he might do just that.
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So we informed Lance Berkman that the Yankees were 15-12 in Spring Training games in 1998, which, by my estimation, can't be anywhere close to "the worst Spring Training in Yankees history," as relayed to Berkman from his friend Andy Pettitte.
"Maybe he misremembered," Berkman responded.
Maybe so. As ktex pointed out, the 2001 Yankees were abysmal that spring, going 9-20. They ended up in the World Series that year, losing to the Diamondbacks in seven games.
So that prompted me to check the win-loss records from recent Astros Spring Trainings. Their World Series season in 2005 produced a 13-14 mark during Spring Training. In fact, the only non-losing exhibition season the Astros have had in the last five years occurred in '07, when they were 18-11-1. And, they went on to have their worst season since 2000.
So I'm drinking the Berkman Koolaid and agreeing that Spring Training results are overrated. Like Bill Murray said in Meatballs, "It just doesn't matter."
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And now for today's featured photos, from batting practice at Disney:
Our friend the Puma, and his friend, Jeff Francoeur.
Darin Erstad, left, Geoff Blum, right.
Two funny guys: radio announcer Dave Raymond and the Puma.
Hunter Pence, warming up for BP.
Shortstops: Manzella, Tejada, Maysonet
Third base: Johnson, Newhan, Blum.
Thanks for all the nice picts, and welcome to the Capellan bandwagon Ms. Scrunchie! Puma looks darn good with those sideburns too, he should keep them into the regular season if he continues to hit well!
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Lol, I like Berkman's response
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Yeah, Capellan looked really sharp today. I love that he and Ortiz are bringing everything they've got to the competition. That can only be good for the Astros.
There's a difference between a bad Spring Training and an awful one. Today's game, for instance. We led going into the bottom of the eighth and a left-handed specialist gave up three hits - and three runs - all to lefties. That's clearly an anomaly. Today doesn't strike me as a loss to be concerned too much about.
Besides, Byrdak had an AWFUL Spring last year and did pretty well. Question, Alyson: The Cubs may be forced to release Angel Guzman before the end of camp. He's not having a great spring, and he's out of options which would put him on waivers. Any chance the Astros might be interested?
http://houston.mlblogs.com
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If Capellan and Ortiz continue to pitch well, is it possible both could make the rotation? I don't really care what the Astros Spring Training record is but does Cooper actually care? I am trying to understand if he is mad about losing or whether he is just mad because players are making mistakes they shouldn't be making regardless if it is Spring Training.
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General Roster Questions:
Are their any catchers that the Astros are looking at to aid in the roster competition that resembles Disco Demolition Night? Besides those that could be waived, are their any that are blocked at the major league level that might be ready?
Also. are their any other position players out there who are blocked at the major league level from their original position and who could use a change of scenery that the Astros would explore acquiring? The guys that come to mind are Brandon Wood and Mark Teahen. I would rather have one of them platoon or compete with Johnson than the Super Utility Player Power Squad the Astros curently have holding the fort.
Thanks for all of the updates.
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If everyone wants a silver lining, Roy looked pretty good against the Netherlands. Oh and Hawkins too.
The funny thing about all this is, how many ST do we go and say oh ST games don't matter, the record doesn't matter, and yet now its all we are talking about. Well at least out in Astros fandom, not so much the blog responders.
If Coop starts to manage to win games in ST , not that he is nor should he be, and we don't win then there is a reason to be concerned. But, really how many variables go into a losing record in ST. You aren't running you starting pitchers out there for full workloads, everyone is still shaking the rust off, and you have people who will be in the minors playing alot of time. So lets not try to conclude too much from this.
If you want to whine about our lack of sure fire quality starting pitching, or the holes in our lineup, or the number of players who will probably have health issues, then you have a point worth whining about.
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What about the Astros sign…catcher Sidney de Jong? The man hit for 455avg in the 2006 WBC, and 500 this time around. That’s a combined avg around 480. I know we’re talking about 22-23 at bats only, but his numbers are better than all of our catchers combined this ST. And he did so in high pressure games/situation against MLB caliber pitchers…you gotta love that double he hit against Marmol! On top of that, he’s been the Neds’ main catcher in all international events since early 2000, with the exception of this WBC. So he’s played against a lot of high caliber teams (Cuba for instance) many times, and has experience. Maybe we could send him an invitation to Kissimmee…just to take a look at him. I don’t think he’s far behind in term of level.
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Okay we are all waiting for the pudge post..... ;)
The chronicle said we are 'close' to a deal while Astros.com said we are simply in talks. Any more characterization? Are we about to get played by Boras again so Pudge can sign a deal elsewhere?
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AF, I think that thud was your jaw hitting the ground at the Pudge news...well...maybe his offensive production will improve this season and we can look forward to some additional serious pop in the line-up. I fear we shall need it.
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Berkman lose a bet with that hairdo and sideburns? Or maybe he is making a cameo on that 70s show?
Greg
Red Sox Ramblings: http://thevendahhh.mlblogs.com
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Wasn't Berkman trying to get away from the "Fat Elvis" nickname? With those sideburns, he's just asking for that one to pop back up with a vengence.
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I have been hearing for just about all spring training that the Astros would be looking at a couple of open positions. One of them being a #5 starting pitcher and the other a bullpen spot. Are the Astros planning on carrying 13 pitchers and 12 position players? Currently, the bullpen consists of Chris Sampson, Wesley Wright, Tim Byrdak, Geoff Geary, Doug Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde. Whose spot is up for grabs?
Also, is it possible that at the end of Spring Training both Russ Ortiz and Jose Capellano both look impressive and Brain Moehler becomes the odd man out? If that were to happen, would Brian Moehler become a bullpen arm, would the Astros cut ties with Moehler or are the Astros set on keeping Moehler in the rotation?
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With muttonchops like that why do lemmings in the media keep repeating the "Big Puma" name? He was, is, and always will be our beloved Fat Elvis.
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David Newhan at third: Given the fact that David Newhan played third (1/3 of a season for Baltimore when Melvin Mora was on the disabled list and batted over 300) wouldn’t be wise at the price to give him a chance! Last year he played nearly flawless defense in limited tries at both second and in the outfield.
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