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12-10-2002, 06:42 AM
Hunsicker would like to shore up Houston bullpen
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- In a perfect world, general manager Gerry Hunsicker would return from the Winter Meetings with a veteran starting pitcher, a left-handed specialist, a right-handed setup man and a speedy, defensively-sound center fielder who can bat leadoff and also hit for average.
However, that perfect world has a few bumpy roads in the form of budget restraints, which will factor into how much Hunsicker will be able to accomplish when the Winter Meetings begin Thursday. He seemingly has found that veteran starting pitcher by re-signing Shane Reynolds to a one-year contract, which means the Astros' GM will likely concentrate on shoring up the bullpen later this week.
As expected, the Astros did not offer salary arbitration to left-hander Pedro Borbon on Saturday. Borbon, who was traded to Houston from Toronto in the midst of the 2002 season, was effective enough in retiring left-handed hitters but not so successful when facing right-handers. Hunsicker hopes to amend that predicament by landing a lefty who is equally as effective against batters from both sides of the plate.
The role of the right-handed setup man to complement Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner will not go to Nelson Cruz, who is expected to be traded this offseason. Lack of playing time in '02 moved Cruz to publicly blast manager Jimy Williams toward the end of the season and Hunsicker later confirmed that the right-hander "would probably be best suited in a different uniform next year."
In a right-handed setup man, Hunsicker is seeking a sound power arm, not just a "bullpen guy." Flash Gordon did an admirable job in this role after arriving in a mid-season trade from Chicago but expressed the desire to pitch somewhere where he could assume a closer's role. Consequently, the Astros did not offer him salary arbitration.
"We have a number of viable candidates for the bullpen," Hunsicker said. "The righty would have to be a legitimate setup guy, a power arm to go along with Dotel."
With regard to that desired speedy center fielder, Hunsicker doesn't expect the 1996 version of Kenny Lofton to just drop in his lap. "What we're really looking for in center field is almost non-existent," he admitted. "There are just not that many players in the game that give you a complete enough package where it makes sense to take the kind of power out of our lineup that we would have to take out to accomodate this person."
The Astros' lineup centers around offensive power, but considering the club already lacks power from its shortstop, third base and catcher positions, taking another offensive force out of the outfield in exchange for better defense is a risk the Astros might be unwilling to take.
It's a debate has been a hot topic among the Astros' braintrust for some time.
"If we change our outfield lineup, what change would make sense to where we improved our team?" Hunsicker said. "Does it make sense to strengthen your defense at the expense of your offense? Have you made your team better, stronger, more competitive?"
As it stands, the Astros' outfield consists of starters Daryle Ward, Lance Berkman and Richard Hidalgo. If the Astros were to make a trade for a defensively-sound center fielder, Berkman could move to left, where he is probably better suited. But right fielder Hidalgo recently completed his second unproductive year at the plate and could have additional problems stemming from being shot in the left forearm during a carjacking incident. If Hidalgo struggles again in '03, that would leave the power burden on the shoulders of three position players: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Berkman.
The Astros have been among the quietest of the 30 teams throughout the hot stove season, but Hunsicker and his troops could be in for a busy weekend at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville as they pursue solid pitching -- sans the high price tag -- while making important personnel decisions in the field.
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- In a perfect world, general manager Gerry Hunsicker would return from the Winter Meetings with a veteran starting pitcher, a left-handed specialist, a right-handed setup man and a speedy, defensively-sound center fielder who can bat leadoff and also hit for average.
However, that perfect world has a few bumpy roads in the form of budget restraints, which will factor into how much Hunsicker will be able to accomplish when the Winter Meetings begin Thursday. He seemingly has found that veteran starting pitcher by re-signing Shane Reynolds to a one-year contract, which means the Astros' GM will likely concentrate on shoring up the bullpen later this week.
As expected, the Astros did not offer salary arbitration to left-hander Pedro Borbon on Saturday. Borbon, who was traded to Houston from Toronto in the midst of the 2002 season, was effective enough in retiring left-handed hitters but not so successful when facing right-handers. Hunsicker hopes to amend that predicament by landing a lefty who is equally as effective against batters from both sides of the plate.
The role of the right-handed setup man to complement Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner will not go to Nelson Cruz, who is expected to be traded this offseason. Lack of playing time in '02 moved Cruz to publicly blast manager Jimy Williams toward the end of the season and Hunsicker later confirmed that the right-hander "would probably be best suited in a different uniform next year."
In a right-handed setup man, Hunsicker is seeking a sound power arm, not just a "bullpen guy." Flash Gordon did an admirable job in this role after arriving in a mid-season trade from Chicago but expressed the desire to pitch somewhere where he could assume a closer's role. Consequently, the Astros did not offer him salary arbitration.
"We have a number of viable candidates for the bullpen," Hunsicker said. "The righty would have to be a legitimate setup guy, a power arm to go along with Dotel."
With regard to that desired speedy center fielder, Hunsicker doesn't expect the 1996 version of Kenny Lofton to just drop in his lap. "What we're really looking for in center field is almost non-existent," he admitted. "There are just not that many players in the game that give you a complete enough package where it makes sense to take the kind of power out of our lineup that we would have to take out to accomodate this person."
The Astros' lineup centers around offensive power, but considering the club already lacks power from its shortstop, third base and catcher positions, taking another offensive force out of the outfield in exchange for better defense is a risk the Astros might be unwilling to take.
It's a debate has been a hot topic among the Astros' braintrust for some time.
"If we change our outfield lineup, what change would make sense to where we improved our team?" Hunsicker said. "Does it make sense to strengthen your defense at the expense of your offense? Have you made your team better, stronger, more competitive?"
As it stands, the Astros' outfield consists of starters Daryle Ward, Lance Berkman and Richard Hidalgo. If the Astros were to make a trade for a defensively-sound center fielder, Berkman could move to left, where he is probably better suited. But right fielder Hidalgo recently completed his second unproductive year at the plate and could have additional problems stemming from being shot in the left forearm during a carjacking incident. If Hidalgo struggles again in '03, that would leave the power burden on the shoulders of three position players: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Berkman.
The Astros have been among the quietest of the 30 teams throughout the hot stove season, but Hunsicker and his troops could be in for a busy weekend at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville as they pursue solid pitching -- sans the high price tag -- while making important personnel decisions in the field.