Brett Myers: A Closer Once More

For the first time since 2007, Brett Myers is once more a closer in the National League. The Houston Astros have formally announced Brett Myers as their new closer for the 2012 season after many delegations. This raises many questions of what will happen with the Astros rotation. In the past two seasons, Myers has started 67 games for the Astros with a record of 21-22, and ERA of 3.79, and 439 2/3 innings. In the National League Myers has the 5th most innings pitched as a starter, so how do the Astros easily move him only into the 9th inning? Well they have many young arms to take his place in the rotation, those arms being: Livan Hernandez, Zach Duke, J.A. Happ, Wandy Rodriguez, Bud Norris, Jordan Lyles, Lucas Harrell, Henry Sosa, and Kyle Weiland. Let's just say they have their fair share of minor league pitchers to choose from if one doesn't work out. So let's just say that the Astros are "set" in their rotation, but how does Myers stack up as a closer? In 2007, Myers went 5-5 with a 2.87 ERA with 21 saves. Not too bad, but compared to last year's closer Mark Melancon, who had 20 saves in the 2011 season, Myers could be a large improvement. But what do the Astros need to do to compete in the only division that has six teams? What do they need to do to win more than 56 games? My guess would be that they need to fix their team batting average of .258 and their team ERA of 4.51. While increasing one, and decreasing the other, there is no reason that the Astros should at least finish above the Cubs(?). Myers will have five weeks of Spring Training to get his arm ready to be a closer once more, I wish him luck in the 2012 season and hope he is a successful closer for the Astros.

Oh Those Crazy Nationals...

Screech!

By "popular demand" my resurgence of my blog is starting with the Washington Nationals and their silly antics in our nation's capital. Since the rebirth of a franchise in Washington D.C., the Nationals have had a goal of finishing at .500, which they did in their inaugural season of 2005, and almost completed this amazing feat at the end of this season, coming up one game short (80-81). Due to a rained out game with the Dodgers that they never made up, the Nats now think because they finished third, they are what we call "contenders." Now don't get me wrong, I never want to see anybody finish with 59 wins in a season, or constantly be in the cellar of a division, but I don't see it happening this season. As stated in previous blogs, the Miami Marlins are a new force not to be reckoned with, the Phillies are still dominant in pitching and are looking to reclaim the NL East for the 6th strait year, and the Braves are still trying to figure out what they did wrong at the end of last season (I purposely left out the Mets because they care more about rhinoplasty than baseball Nice Nose Niese). What exactly are the Nationals up to? For starters, the Nationals have recently signed a 6-year, $100 million contract extension with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The Nationals traded for Gio Gonzalez earlier this off season with the Athletics and make him a dominant pitcher in the rotation. Stephen Strasburg is coming back this season after surgery, and Bryce Harper is said to probably make the team this season. A personal favorite of mine, Tyler Clippard is still on the team, and the Nats added Brad Lidge to their arsenal of bullpen arms. On a side note, the Nationals are trying a new campaign this season called, "Take Back the Park," which is supposed to stop Phillies fans from going to Nationals Park. Good luck with that, because Citizens Bank Park South is certainly a Philly fan favorite. So what are the Nationals going to do this season? I don't know, but what I do know is that the NL East is the division to watch this upcoming 2012 season because there certainly will plenty of surprises.