I, too, think Cooper is leaving him in too long - especially Opening Night and it wasn't surprising that he might have run out of gas in his next start after the way he was used Monday. I've noticed a trend where few pitchers have good games after a high pitch-count start. Even though Roy didn't go 120 pitches (my normal benchmark for a high pitch-count start) it was his first start of the year and he hadn't gone that far in any of the spring games. There aren't many pitchers that can go 120 pitches in one game and then be as solid in their next start. It used to be pitchers were conditioned to go much deeper into games but now we baby them and they just don't have the stamina.

I also don't think Roy is a cold weather pitcher - good thing for him he rarely has to pitch in 50-degree weather. But he is a competitor and he is going to give you the max effort even when he doesn't have his best stuff. I just think Cooper and Robinson don't realize yet when he is losing it. You would think Ausmus would tell them, particularly since he'd know better than anyone and Roy insists on pitching to him.

"Astro Fan Since They Were First Called Astros."