http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2469217 KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- If Dave Veres were tired of the game, the righthanded reliever would have felt better this morning. But even if his fastball barely tops 85-mph now, the 37-year-old veteran was fighting back tears after the Astros released him "Maybe if I didn't enjoy the game or pitching, it might be easier," Veres said as he took off his Astros' uniform, ending his hopes of a second stint in Houston. "Or if I didn't feel good or if my arm was still killing me, then it would be easier. It still feels good, so I wonder what's left." Veres' release clears up the Astros' bullpen picture, giving knuckleballer Jared Fernandez a strong shot of making the club. At this point, Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge and Dan Miceli are assured spots, barring injury. Ricky Stone and Brandon Duckworth also are in great shape, and Mike Gallo appears to be in line for the situational lefthander's role. If the Astros go with seven relievers, as they had planned, Fernandez and Brandon Backe are probably fighting for the final bullpen spot. Veres, who had right shoulder surgery in the off-season, was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA this spring while giving up nine hits and four runs (two earned) with four walks and two strikeouts over eight innings and seven outings. "Like I told them, this is probably one of the better springs that I ever had," said Veres, who has pitched for the Expos, Rockies, Cardinals and Cubs and owns a 36-35 record with 95 saves and a 3.44 career ERA since debuting with the Astros in 1994. "Two runs in eight innings, or something like that. Numbers wise it looks pretty good, except that I walked four. That's pretty uncharacteristic that I walked guys. That's more of a fluke thing than anything. Numbers wise I looked halfway decent."
I do not like this move, nuckleballers usually dont pitch well in the bullpen; for example Tim Wakefield (Game 7 AL Champ).
I hope Backe gets the last bullpen spot. He gives us another power arm and with Duckworth in the pen, we really don't need Fernandez in long relief.
I kinda like the idea of having Jared in the pen (provided he has control of the flutter ball)... just because it gives us a guy who can provide a "different look" Miceli, Stone, Duckworth and Backe are all similiar in that they're right handed sinker-ball pitchers. Gallo is the situational lefty... Dotel and Lidge are the flamethrowers. Backe would be the odd man out of that first group, and Jared would be awesome in neutralizing a team's big bat in a crucial situation (once again... provided he's got control of that pitch). Regardless... he won't be used as often as Wakefield was, but you have to admit... Wake has always put up solid numbers in his career, and its great to have a knuckler like that because he can throw everyday, and throws a pitch that NOBODY has experience in hitting.
