Reynolds

The Chron is such a mediocre paper, I sometimes wonder if I should even mention it. Whether it's the city desk, or the editorial page, or the sports page -- it's average on its best days, and well below that on most.

Today's example comes courtesy of the sports page. Now it's true enough that Shane Reynolds, who has been lost for the season with injuries, has been a trooper over the years for the Astros, and is a prime example of a guy whose work ethic has long covered the fact that he has below average velocity for a major league pitcher. And it's always a shame to lose a veteran for the rest of the season because of injury, especially when the pitching staff is so loaded with young guys.

But there's also a story that isn't really told by Joseph Duarte, the author of this column, and that is this: like fellow veterans Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell so far this season, Shane Reynolds was underachieving considering his price tag ($6.5 million this season). His ERA was near 5, he's given up more hits than innings pitched, and in his last 3 starts he lasted 5, 4, and 3 2/3 innings respectively. The Astros are probably lucky that he won't attain incentives that would have guaranteed him $8 million for next season, because those aren't exactly $8 million statistics.

Will the veteran presence be missed? Yes. But it's time to press forward with these young arms the Astros have put together. They aren't doing the team any good pitching at New Orleans or getting mop-up work out of the bullpen on occasion. If Miller, Oswalt, Hernandez, and now Saarloos are the future, then pitch 'em. Reynolds doesn't have their raw talent or potential, and probably wasn't going to be rejoining the team next year in any case.

Duarte could have told THAT part of the story while still being sympathetic to an injured veteran who has been a real workhorse for the Astros for a long time. But then he would probably be writing for a real newspaper.

[Posted at 23:40 CST on 06/14/02] [Link]