Astros: Will Chad Qualls Trip To The DL Benefit The Team?

The inevitable has happened for the Houston Astros.

We knew it was coming but it was all about a matter of when.

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What’s that moment that I’m talking about?

Chad Qualls won’t be pitching for awhile.

The Astros confirmed the move yesterday:

#Astros place RHP Chad Qualls on 15-day DL, recall first baseman Jon Singleton from AAA Fresno.
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 26, 2015

All in one swoop, third-baseman Jon Singleton gets called up as reliever Qualls goes to the 15-day disabled list with a nagging neck injury.

He even told the Houston Chronicle’s Jose de Jesus Ortiz this tidbit yesterday:

"“It’s been (hurting) over time,” Qualls said. “I’m hurting myself and hurting the team by going out there, so I finally decided to speak up. I can’t really keep trying to throw through it. So this is the best course of action.”"

He also added:

"“I’m not a big guy to make excuses for myself out there, but I think we need to take care of it so that I can be 100 percent.”"

He mentioned that he was told by the Astros that he will be healed by the 15-day period but he didn’t want to hold anybody up with his healing progress.

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General manager Jeff Luhnow said that his injury is best treated with rest and possibly a cortisone injection.

Qualls is just one of those guys that you applaud his efforts but you could sometimes pull your hair out over some of the blunders he makes sometimes.

But a lot of times it’s situations that are out of his control and he is the unfortunate beneficiary out of an Astros loss.

It just seems to happen more than we like.

But that explains a lot, he had been playing hurt and it was to the point where it was costing the team.

We don’t have to look further than last Wednesday’s closeout series game against the Los Angeles Angels where both teams were tied at the bottom of the 13th inning.

I’m sure you remember this as well and you’re probably cringing as I’m explaining every word of it.

Qualls continued to keep going to the well of his slider that sits around 85 miles per hour and although he got a strike and a ball, Taylor Featherston, the batter, caught hold of one his pitches allowing him to notch a single out to Domingo Santana at right.

This caused Erick Aybar, who was at 3rd base, to get the score and allow the Angels to steal a 2-1 win from the Astros.

It was as if the bottom had fell out all in that one moment in a game that was quite winnable by this team.

But you know what?

I’ve had my concerns about the bullpen as of late as this staff was off to promising start earlier in the season.

But now, when the long-man, or setup, or closing guy comes in, I have my concerns on if we’d be able to hold it together.

The only exceptions would be Pat Neshek and Will Harris who have been consistent contributors throughout the season.