Astros confident young arms can fill void in '08

[KFDM COOP]

Astros confident young arms can fill void in '08

Almost everywhere Ed Wade turned as he tried to upgrade the Astros this winter, other general managers sought his young pitchers after he made it clear Hunter Pence and J.R. Towles were close to untouchables.

Lefthander Troy Patton and righthander Matt Albers were anchors in the five-player package Wade traded to the Baltimore Orioles for four-time All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada. Behind veteran reliever Chad Qualls, rookie righthander Juan Gutierrez was one of the major pieces in the package the Astros sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks for All-Star closer Jose Valverde.

Those two trades stripped the Astros of some of their most promising young pitching prospects. But the Nolan Ryan and Jeff Bagwell Elite Pitchers and Hitters Camp gave Astros manager Cecil Cooper a look at the next wave of pitching prospects who could start showing up at Minute Maid Park as early as this season.

"When you have a trade like we had this winter and as many trades as we've made, you worry about maybe depleting the organization," Ryan said. "And then you come to a camp like this and you see the amount of talent that's at the camp. It reassures you that that's not the case. So I feel very good about where we are."

Most Astros fans know about hard-throwing righthander Felipe Paulino, who made his major league debut last season and could begin this year in the Astros' bullpen or rotation. In time, though, righthanders Brad James, Sammy Gervacio, Sergio Perez, Bud Norris and lefthander Wesley Wright likely will introduce themselves to folks at Minute Maid.

"Paulino is a really talented kid," Ryan said. "Norris is really talented. James has one of the better sinkers I've seen in a long time. So when you look at those kids, you get real excited. I would think Perez is the most improved from when we signed him."

On the rise with sinker

Among that group, there's little debate Paulino is the closest to helping the club in the majors right away. Wright, a lefthander taken off the Los Angeles Dodgers' roster in the Rule 5 draft, must make the 25-man roster out of spring training and stay there or on the disabled list all season or be returned to Los Angeles.

With an amazing sinker and a fastball that can reach the mid-90s, James might have the highest ceiling of the club's pitching prospects. He reached Class AA Corpus Christi last year, and it's possible he could pitch his way to the majors late this season or early next.

"He's got unbelievable stuff," Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett, the farm director, said of James. "When you talk about stuff, you look at his stuff and you can use your imagination. He throws a heavy fastball, and he pitches 91 to 94 (mph).

"There are times that he's thrown harder than that, 95-96. He's got a real good arm. He's still learning how to pitch, but he's got a heavy fastball. He competes. He's got good size, very durable. He's just starting to peak and really turn the corner. He's really opened some eyes ... at the minicamp. He had a taste of Double-A last year. And he's a guy that we'll see here in Houston within the next couple of years."

In terms of pure stuff, Norris is almost up there with James as the franchise's most promising pitchers.

Although Norris is likely headed to high Class A Salem to start the season, his mid-90s fastball might help him sprint through the system if he improves his command.

"He's got a power arm," Bennett said of Norris. "He can run up to 94, 95, 96 mph. He'll pitch at 93, 94 mph. There's a good chance he'll start at high (Class) A, outside chance at Double-A. He's got a lot of upside. He's a guy that could probably move a little quicker through the minors because of his stuff. As far as pure stuff, he's one of the top guys."

Wicked sidearm delivery

Gervacio, who closed at Corpus Christi last season, doesn't possess a mid-90s fastball. His fastball tops out at about 93 mph, but he whips his pitches in a sidearm delivery that had Cooper raving .

Gervacio also has a good slider, a good changeup and the demeanor that major league relievers need. Cooper predicted Gervacio might be a solid option later in the season even though he might not start the season at Class AAA Round Rock.

"There's a good chance he'll probably start at Double-A this year," Bennett said. "He's a guy that we really liked. He might be able to help us at the end of this year, but more than likely he'll be in the bullpen next year."

A seamless transition

Perez, the Astros' second-round pick out of the University of Tampa in 2006, has made big strides since he joined the organization.

He is honing his repertoire, which includes four-seam and two-seam fastballs, a slider and a changeup. As he continues to improve, Perez also would like to show the Astros he can handle an increased workload.

"I think basically it's just getting the innings and experience," Perez said when asked what he'd like to improve. "Racking up those 200 innings is very important. I threw 140 last year. So (it would be good to) just get 160-170 innings just to show them that I'm durable and I can last a whole season. It's experience."