The Starting Pitching

Ill start off with the Starting Pitching. Or lack there of.... As of right now the Starting Rotation is
really nothing after Oswalt.
1. Oswalt
2. Backe
3. Wandy
4. Chacon
5. ????

Oswalt is goin to be as good as advertised.
Backe-From what I have seen he has looked good, but hopefully he will be healthy
Wandy-Can he pitch on the road this year? He looks like he is finally controlling his emotions
Chacon-A surprise to me. Pitched better than I expected. It is a low risk/high reward signing. Is he goin to pitch like he did in Colorado?


Now our number 5 starting position is up for grabs.

Case for Sampson-Pitched great in his rookie season last year.
Downfall-Doesn't have the best stuff. Has a bruised leg which might help Woody get in there

Case for Woody- There really isn't much of one for him. He will be lucky to still be in an Astros uni come opening day. Veteran
Downfall- Isn't the pitcher he used to be at all-not even close. Even if he pitches excelent he gets lit up.

Case for a FA signing- There is not many pitchers out there that can be any worse than Woody. Not signin Patterson was probably a good move, but it could have been a low risk/high reward, but the lack of interest from other teams in him kind of makes me wonder if he will ever get back to the pitcher he once was.

Downfall for a FA signing- $$$$ is what it will come down to. Freddy Garcia will be available to pitch in a few months, but he is goin to cost a shit-load being by that time you will see who is the playoff races and who isn't. Claudio Vargas is a signing I wouldn't mind seeing. He has been a decent pitcher for his career and only got cut because there was no room on the Brewers pitching staff for him. But they might have to battle the Mets for him. I don't know why he would want to go to the Mets unless he is fine in the Pen.

I see Woody starting as the number 5 (uhhhhh), but on a short leash because I doubt Drayton will spend the money to get Vargas. If we are still in the race when Garcia is healthy maybe we will make a run at him. He is a former farm hand of us, but he is goin to cost a ton. So it all comes down to Drayton spending money since Timmy P. fucked our farm system up.