2009 Houston Astros: Spring Training Bullpen Outlook

Pitchers and catchers, anyone? It’s less than a week away.

Stephen King can shave his winter beard (he grows a beard from the last Red Sox game until Spring Training), and we can all return to the normalcy that is the greatest sport of all: baseball. 

As a Houston Astros fan, this year is an exciting and anxious time. There are a lot of questions concerning the team, most having to do with the starting rotation.

However, one thing Houston fans can count on this year, barring injury, is an extremely solid bullpen.

Returning Relievers

The majority of Houston’s relievers from last year are returning this season, which is a plus for the team. Here is the list of relievers as of now:

Jose Valverde (R): 6-3, 3.38 ERA, 44 saves in 74 games for Astros

LaTroy Hawkins (R): 3-1, 3.92 ERA in 57 games for Astros and Yankees

Doug Brocail (R): 7-5, 3.93 ERA in 72 games for Astros

Geoff Geary (R): 2-3, 2.53 ERA in 55 games for Astros

Wesley Wright (L): 4-3, 5.01 ERA in 71 games for Astros

Chris Sampson (R): 6-4, 4.22 ERA in 54 games (11 starts) for Astros

Tim Byrdak (L): 2-1, 3.90 ERA in 59 games for Astros

Expect to see all of these guys in the bullpen on Opening Day.

Possible Relief

There are two young arms in particular who are going to compete for a spot in the rotation but more likely the bullpen. 

Fernando Nieve and Felipe Paulino were both highly touted prospects at one time but have faltered, both due to injury. Astros general manager Ed Wade has said that it is “high noon” for both Paulino and Nieve. 

If Nieve doesn't make the team out of Spring Training, the Astros may lose him to another team since he is out of options. I would expect that Paulino has a better chance of impacting the starting rotation, and Nieve would fit in better in a late inning relief role.

What To Expect

The main strength of the Houston bullpen is two-time NL saves leader Jose Valverde.  Valverde had a rough start to the season last year but bounced back to put together a 44-save season, good for best in the NL. Look for Valverde to have another solid season.

Dough Brocail and LaTroy Hawkins are the most probable relievers to fill the set-up role to get to Valverde. These two veterans performed very well last year.

However, Brocail needs to spread out his appearances more this year so that his arm isn’t burned out by the All-Star Break like last year. Hawkins pitched scoreless innings for a good stretch after being traded to Houston. I don't expect him to have the same success this year. It is possible that Nieve can squeeze in if Hawkins doesn’t pitch well.

Another of the bullpen’s strengths is Chris Sampson. Starting pitcher turned reliever, Sampson had elbow surgery this offseason and is said to be pitching without pain for the first time since being drafted by the Astros. He isn’t 100 percent going into Spring Training, but they are shooting for 100 percent on Opening Day.

Sampson can come in late innings and get ground balls, and he also gives the team an option for long-relief and spot-starting. If Sampson stays healthy, look for him to have a good year.

A lot of people forget about Geoff Geary when they talk about the trade Ed Wade made for Brad Lidge. Not only did the Astros receive Michael Bourn but they also got Geoff Geary.

Geary pitched well for Houston last season when healthy. He was hurt toward the end of the season with a groin problem and was used in a much more limited role. Geary, when healthy, is a very valuable arm in the Houston pen.

The lefty specialist Tim Byrdak and fellow southpaw Wesley Wright had interesting seasons last year.  Wright, a Rule Five draft pick, came out huge in Spring Training and quickly became one of Cecil Cooper's favorite relievers. Wright pitched solidly last season, especially in big situations, i.e., coming in and pitching out of a bases loaded situation.

Last year was Wright’s rookie season, so don’t expect the sophomore numbers to reflect his first year. I think he will be a strong left-handed option for Coop coming out of the pen and should fare well as long as he isn’t forced to pitch more than an inning at a time, as he tended to struggle when he had to last season. 

Tim Byrdak was cut by Detroit during Spring Training, and Houston picked him up. He pitched very well for Houston and only had a few shaky appearances. Expect Cooper to use Byrdak in a left-handed specialist role.

Strengths

Jose Valverde. His intense presence on the mound and his light-hearted demeanor in the clubhouse are major pluses for this team, not to mention he has been one of the best closers in Major League Baseball for the past two years.

Brocail has been around a long time, and he tells it like it is. He is considered a leader in the bullpen.

Wright and Byrdak give Coop two solid left-handed options.

If Chris Sampson is healthy, he can pitch as good as anyone in the Houston pen.  When Sampson is on his game, his is a groundball machine.

Weaknesses

Although he was very successful in a Houston uniform last season, LaTroy Hawkins can be a streaky pitcher. 

I know Brocail is listed under strengths, but his age and health could be an issue. Brocail was used heavily in the first half of last year, so his arm strength could also be an issue.

Chip Bailey, fan blogger for the Houston Chronicle, posted a blog about Houston’s rotation relative to the rest of the NL Central:

Comparing NL Central Bullpens
Astros	Reds	Cardinals	Brewers	Cubs	Pirates
Valverde	Cordero	Perez	Hoffman	Marmol	Capps
Hawkins	Weathers	Franklin	Riske	Smardija	Grabow
Brocail	Rhodes	McClellan	Villaneuva	Cotts	Bautista
Wright	Lincoln	Kinney	Julio	Gregg	Burnett
Sampson	Masset	Motte	Coffey	Gaudin	Yates
Geary	Burton	Thompson	Stetter	Fox	Beam
Byrdak	Bray	Carpenter	Dillard	Vizcaino	Karstens

Things can change from now until Opening Day, but Houston has one of the better relief corps in the NL Central. What do you think?