The Scott Feldman Signing; It Still Boggles My Mind
By Yoni Pollak
Mar 16, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Feldman (46) delivers a pitch during the game against the Washington Nationals at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
I remember that December 6th day pretty clearly. The Texans fired Gary Kubiak. The Rockets announced they’d be shopping Omer Asik. The Astros? Well they signed Scott Feldman. The Astros certainly didn’t win that day and it could cause them to lose in the future.
Three years, 30 million dollars. That’s a nice amount of dough for someone with a career 4.62 ERA. That’s about three runs for every six innings. A quality start! Hurray!
It still boggles my mind to this day that the Astros signed Feldman. His numbers aren’t sparkling. He’s coming off a season with his lowest ERA ever at 3.86. That doesn’t scream ace.
There’s no upside in Feldman either. At 31-years old he isn’t likely in his prime and I can’t imagine he’s the so-called “ace” of this staff in 2015.
So why’d they sign him? Who knows. I guess the “veteran presence” gets you paid these days. A quality start. That’s all I expect from him, and that’s not exactly what I want to be expecting from a $10 million pitcher.
I know Astros fans want them to spend money. But why? Does spending $30 million on Scott Feldman really get you excited? Would spending $14.1 million on Ervin Santana get you excited? No. Spending money on good players that could actually help the team gets you excited.
Scott Feldman doesn’t help the team win. The Astros aren’t winning this year. Will they improve? No doubt. But they won’t be sniffing .500 this season. Jim Crane, Jeff Luhnow, and the Ryan clan can all tell the public they expect to see this team near .500, but it’s not happening.
Aug. 12, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Scott Feldman throws in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Feldman is solid, don’t get me wrong, but in no world is he worth that money. His veteran presence got him paid.
This is a signing I would have preferred in 2016. A year in which the Astros have three very good pitchers at the top of the rotation and could use a solid veteran in the back end of the rotation. That’s where Feldman belongs.
In 2014, I don’t want to see veterans taking up time from young pitchers. We already have Lucas Harrell in the rotation, which by the way is beyond absurd.
Where is Brad Peacock? You know, the guy that had an 8.07 ERA in the first half of 2013, went down to OKC and dominated, and came back to allow just 22 earned runs in 54.1 innings (3.66 ERA). I want to see what we have there.
Where is Michael Foltynewicz? Rudy Owens? Jake Buchanan? I’d rather see them at the back of the rotation. Give those guys a chance over Feldman. Lets see what those guys have. We know what we’re getting from Feldman. Give us a glance at some of the guys that are being hyped up or the guys that have performed in the farm system.
This is the year to give the youngsters a chance. The Astros aren’t winning this year. Give it up, and see what you have down low. Don’t sign a Scott Feldman to eat up innings and have a 4+ ERA. Just don’t. Not now. Not these days.
It still boggles my mind.
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