Integrity issues
During Wednesday's Reds-Cubs game on ESPN, Orel Hershiser and Steve Phillips brought up an interesting topic -- the integrity of the schedule as the season winds down.
Why? Apparently, circumstances dictated the Houston Astros throw rookies on back-to-back nights against Milwaukee. No big deal, right?
Maybe in June or July it wouldn't be, but the Astros are out of the pennant race and the Brewers are slugging it out with the Cubs for the one bid that will come out of the NL Central.
The first set of circumstances -- Roy Oswalt missed Tuesday's start because his wife gave birth to the couple's second child -- could not be avoided. The second -- veteran Woody Williams' decision to pitch out of the bullpen in favor of letting the Astros' brass look at Juan Gutierrez -- could have.
Williams signed a free-agent contract for 162 games. He should live up to his end of the bargain even as horrible as he has been this season. To be fair, Astros management called their Chicago counterparts to let them know what was happening, but it's tough to believe Jim Hendry and the rest of the Chicago front office was completely happy with the happenings in Houston.
Why? Apparently, circumstances dictated the Houston Astros throw rookies on back-to-back nights against Milwaukee. No big deal, right?
Maybe in June or July it wouldn't be, but the Astros are out of the pennant race and the Brewers are slugging it out with the Cubs for the one bid that will come out of the NL Central.
The first set of circumstances -- Roy Oswalt missed Tuesday's start because his wife gave birth to the couple's second child -- could not be avoided. The second -- veteran Woody Williams' decision to pitch out of the bullpen in favor of letting the Astros' brass look at Juan Gutierrez -- could have.
Williams signed a free-agent contract for 162 games. He should live up to his end of the bargain even as horrible as he has been this season. To be fair, Astros management called their Chicago counterparts to let them know what was happening, but it's tough to believe Jim Hendry and the rest of the Chicago front office was completely happy with the happenings in Houston.
posted by Jason Pugh at
9:30 PM
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