PopTop
10-22-2002, 12:28 PM
http://houston.astros.mlb.com
Link to a story about the Astros playing in winter or instructional leagues can be found at site above
I've always had a lot of respect and admiration for the Latin players who go home in the offseason and play for their local teams out of a sense of pride or responsibility ... Even Jose Cruz heads to Puerto Rico each fall and winter to coach these days.
But a few Astros planning on playing this offseason bother me ... I don't mind Richard Hidalgo playing down in Venezuela since maybe that will help him stay in better shape ... He really looked lethargic at times this last season.
Depending on his recovery from the broken hand, Julio Lugo will head back to the Domincan Republic and get in a little work ... This could be a very good thing for him, giving him a chance to get some os his timing back before Spring Training.
But I'm not all that enthused about Carlos Hernandez and Octavio Dotel pitching this winter ... Dotel hasn't been a DL liability so far, but I hate to put any extra miles on his shoulder since I feel he's the most crucial cog in Houston's bullpen.
Hernandez, on the other hand both literally and figuratively, has been injury prone in the short time he's been up with the parent club ... I'd really like to see him spend some time just rehabbing and doing some light throwing than head home to Venezuela and try to pitch for them.
Houston's already suffered a couple of injuries in the Arizona Fall League, most notably to Jason Alfaro who primarily played 3B for AA-Round Rick this season ... The thumb injury he reportedly suffered in AZ recently wasn't diagnosed as serious, but he's coming off a pretty decent year for the Express, and appears to be someone who will eventually be on a big league roster sometime in the not-so-distant future.
Link to a story about the Astros playing in winter or instructional leagues can be found at site above
I've always had a lot of respect and admiration for the Latin players who go home in the offseason and play for their local teams out of a sense of pride or responsibility ... Even Jose Cruz heads to Puerto Rico each fall and winter to coach these days.
But a few Astros planning on playing this offseason bother me ... I don't mind Richard Hidalgo playing down in Venezuela since maybe that will help him stay in better shape ... He really looked lethargic at times this last season.
Depending on his recovery from the broken hand, Julio Lugo will head back to the Domincan Republic and get in a little work ... This could be a very good thing for him, giving him a chance to get some os his timing back before Spring Training.
But I'm not all that enthused about Carlos Hernandez and Octavio Dotel pitching this winter ... Dotel hasn't been a DL liability so far, but I hate to put any extra miles on his shoulder since I feel he's the most crucial cog in Houston's bullpen.
Hernandez, on the other hand both literally and figuratively, has been injury prone in the short time he's been up with the parent club ... I'd really like to see him spend some time just rehabbing and doing some light throwing than head home to Venezuela and try to pitch for them.
Houston's already suffered a couple of injuries in the Arizona Fall League, most notably to Jason Alfaro who primarily played 3B for AA-Round Rick this season ... The thumb injury he reportedly suffered in AZ recently wasn't diagnosed as serious, but he's coming off a pretty decent year for the Express, and appears to be someone who will eventually be on a big league roster sometime in the not-so-distant future.