Although Hinch hasn't said that Velasquez will permanently be in the bullpen, it appears that he has lost his rotation spot. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hinch said Velasquez will not start in KC. Will come out of bullpen. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/624321138034786304">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
VV has the arm to make the biggest impact down there A little surprised they are changing his role considering his injury past though. But obviously they know a LOT more than I do about how this would effect him Still don't think the whole story has been told here, cause they aren't going to let McCullers continue to start every 5th day with no limits the rest of the way
I am not sure what Feldman offers over Velasquez. Maybe they think the bullpen is bleeding that badly which it kind of is. But Velasquez has been slightly better than Feldman's career numbers in his 7 starts and quite obviously has the upside edge.
VV is the better pitcher, but he'll be more useful out of the pen than Feldman. Feldman is a quality pitcher, even though people love to give him flak. I'm not sayign he's great, but he's around league average. Had a 3.7 ERA last year I believe. That, and we would rather limit VV's innings than Feldmans.
Yea I agree with this completely No doubt VV has the upside and the future But they need to limit VV and Lance in some way or another, and Feldman is solid Most people think i'm crazy, and I don't think it is their top target now...but I still wouldn't be shocked if we added another rental starter
I don't think this is a permanent move. I have a feeling we're going to make another move to add a reliever, and when that happens, we may see VV move back up into the rotation in a platoon with McCullers. For the short term though, I think it's the right move.
Yes, this has nothing to do with money It's more about limiting the innings of VV than anything. Plus with a lot of days off coming up, if Feldman isn't throwing well he will likely be skipped a time or two This was a very nice move today for us, but not likely at all that what we see now is what we will see in another week
Maybe theyre not trying to tax his arm too hard this year. I think I read somewhere that hes never pitched more than 120 innings or so in a year. This move maybe trying to save his arm for the playoff push and further.
When I first heard the news, it seemed obvious to me this was being done to limit his innings. I wouldn't expect him to come out of the pen and Feldman in the rotation during the playoffs.
Would not be surprised by a rental starter, but I think this gives Astros more ammunition to go after a non-rental starter or a position player.
Not to sound pessimistic but what happens if next time we roll out Feldman, he gives up 5 ER's? Just keep saying aww shucks and stick with him because he's under contract and VV is under an innings watch? Hope I'm wrong and Feldman turns it around but what if he doesn't?
Feldman wouldn't be on this team if he wasn't cashing in as much as he is. Him pitching in in September is just tough to swallow.
Has gone at least 6 innings in 8 of his 11 starts 3 earned or less in 7 of his 11 starts If people want Feldman to be a front of the rotation starter then yea, be disappointed But for a #5, he is solid
If he sucks, you bench him. If he's adequate, he's far more valuable as a starter than a "long reliever" (which by definition is usually taking over a starter who sucks, and likely pitching in an unwinnable game). There's a ton of season left. Astros need as many quality arms healthy and available as possible.
This is clearly about the innings limit for him and McCullers and not performance based. I'm sure McCullers is gonna spend some time in the pen as well before years end.
He is what he is, and for what he's being asked to do and at his salary the hate for him is just silly. As was mentioned, there's a ton of baseball left and the Stros have options going forward and nothing is set in stone. Look at some of the guys the Angels, Royals and Yankees are running out there: Shoemaker, Weaver, Sabathia, Guthrie, Ventura. Feldman would be in the rotation for all 3 of those teams too.
