Astros Continue to Make Moves during the Cold Months

What do the Astros need to address most this off season? Pitching.

Our pitching last year overachieved. They shouldn’t have been that good. But Felipe Paulino and Bud Norris were a breath of fresh air and Brett Myers was brilliant. We traded Roy, so we don’t really have a legitimate ace anymore. (Though some would argue that Myers is our ace. I disagree.) The Astros need to focus on shoring up the starters.
So in a surprising move today, the Astros actually made a trade that changes the look of our starting pitching staff for next year… they traded Felipe Paulino to the Rockies for Clint Barmes.  Ed Wade says that one of his goals this off-season was “adding some offensive punch in the middle infield”. I agree that we need help on our offense, but check out these stats for Clint Barmes in 2010.

Clint Showing How He Feels About the Trade

Average: .235
Runs: 43
Hits: 91
Doubles: 21
Triples: 0
HR: 8
RBI: 50
SLG: .351

Does Barmes appear to have an offensive punch? Will the opposing pitchers be all that worried when he comes to bat?  Heck, Paulino hit .346 last year.  Keppinger and Sanchez had better averages and Geoff Blum (now with Arizona) was better as well. Not to mention that this fills a space that wasn’t empty: middle infielder. Do we honestly think that Jeff Keppinger, Tommy Manzella and Angel Sanchez need help?

I know Paulino’s stats for 2010 appear unimpressive, but they don’t tell the story of how he pitched last season especially in the second half.  I seriously don’t understand this move.  It makes no sense.