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It is time for the Houston Astros to make some changes, and I don’t mean like any major call-ups like George Springer just yet, but a shake-up has to happen–more so in the starting rotation. The Astros starting rotation started the year off nicely, and I had said that their rotation would be better that last year, and I thought I was right…until about two weeks ago.
The Astros starting rotation goes like this: Bud Norris, Lucas Harrell, and three days of peril. They really need to fix that.
It’s evident that Brad Peacock still needs to grind out some issues, and he doesn’t need to do it at the expense of the major league team. Erik Bedard is another pitcher who I am disappointed in so far this season. The Astros have decided to let him use his first few starts as an extended Spring Training, and it has not gone well. He throws a ton of pitches, and can’t get batters out.
It’s extremely frustrating to watch Astros’ games because their pitchers are not economical. Philip Humber is another guy in that rotation that is having a tough go of things right now.
One of the most frustrating things that has come of this horrible rotation–other than the pitch counts–is the fact that the young guys aren’t getting a chance. I’m not talking about calling up young pitchers because they have some youth sitting in the bullpen. I am talking about placing pitchers like Paul Clemens and Jose Cisnero in the rotation. Heck, maybe even Travis Blackley.
It is too early to rush Jarred Cosart, so if any more pitchers from Triple A Oklahoma City get call-ups, it will be Jordan Lyles and Dallas Keuchel. Despite what Houston Astros manager Bo Porter says, the time is coming to make changes to the Astros starting rotation. If not, things could go horribly wrong for this young Astros team.
