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Buck Turgidson
10-02-2002, 11:49 AM
He's pissed at how Jimy used him last year and told his agent to get him outta town; Nelson Cruz said pretty much the same thing.

I'm not sure who'd want him, without sending some overpaid flotsam & jetsam the 'Stros way. Hopefully P.T. Barnum was right.

A third player, described as "a veteran who provided numerous clutch hits this year" (Zaun would be my guess) has anonymously complained about "Jimy's communication skills" and may request a trade as well.

I loved Jimy's quote from a couple of days ago, when told of Reeshard's & Nelson's complaints: "I don't fill out the lineup card, the players do with how they perform on the field."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1599585
Groogrux
10-02-2002, 11:59 AM
I hope it's not Blum.
Raven Lunatic
10-02-2002, 12:11 PM
Well, there goes just about any chance we had at getting equal value for Reechard.
OldManBernie
10-02-2002, 12:22 PM
I hope Hunsicker won't go for the Hampton trade... While Hampton could very well resurrect his career in Houston, his contract will prevent the Astros from re-signing Oswalt and Miller... If some team will pick up Hidalgo in exchange for prospects or players with shorter contracts, then I am all for it.
Trader_Jorge
10-02-2002, 12:37 PM
I would be happy if we got nothing for Hidalgo. Getting his salary off the books would be huge for us. Then we could make a run a a top notch 3rd baseman like Kent/Alfonso.
MadMax
10-02-2002, 12:51 PM
Originally posted by Trader_Jorge
I would be happy if we got nothing for Hidalgo. Getting his salary off the books would be huge for us. Then we could make a run a a top notch 3rd baseman like Kent/Alfonso.

you're assuming you could trade him somewhere for players with small contracts...i don't see that happening...anyone we trade him to is going to want us to take their Richard Hidalgo (their overpaid problem player).
bobrek
10-02-2002, 12:56 PM
Originally posted by Rocketman95
I hope it's not Blum.

I thought of Blum as well. I strongly suspect it's not Vizcaino or Merced, simply because they signed contracts for next year late in the season.

Jimy did exhibit strange lineup patterns throughout the year. One game Blum was 4-4 (with a walk), the next 2-3 and the next he sat out even though a right hander was pitching.

I didn't think of Zaun as I did not associate him with numerous clutch hits. Zaun was fairly outspoken against ownership as well as the strike loomed, so he might be out anyway. Unfortunately he was miserable at throwing out runners. It would not bother me to see him go.
OldManBernie
10-02-2002, 01:03 PM
Originally posted by bobrek
I thought of Blum as well. I strongly suspect it's not Vizcaino or Merced, simply because they signed contracts for next year late in the season.

Jimy did exhibit strange lineup patterns throughout the year. One game Blum was 4-4 (with a walk), the next 2-3 and the next he sat out even though a right hander was pitching.

I didn't think of Zaun as I did not associate him with numerous clutch hits. Zaun was fairly outspoken against ownership as well as the strike loomed, so he might be out anyway. Unfortunately he was miserable at throwing out runners. It would not bother me to see him go.

Next year could be the year when John Buck come up anyway... I'm relatively sure he's gone...
Buck Turgidson
10-02-2002, 01:12 PM
Zaun signed a 2-year deal, iirc. He had the worst year of his career & is probably looking to shift blame to someone else. Blum got the most consistent playing time of his career & responded with his best season at the plate. He's hoping to compete for a starting job next year, why piss off management before the offseason?

I don't know about the "numerous clutch hits" description (it is the Chron, remember) but Zaun did win a couple of games (slam against Atl stands out).

I'd be real surprised if Buck wasn't starting in AAA next year and starting for the Astros in '04 when Bradley's contract runs out.

[edit] Zaun is signed for next season. Ausmus has a club/player option for next season, which will almost definitely be exercised.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 01:52 PM
I hope it's Zaun who wants out as well. That guy sucked. He had that clutch HR, but that's it. I can't remember how many times I wanted to jump out a window when I would see Zaun up to bat with the game on the line.

Also, this really shows something about Hidalgo. Blaming Jimy's moves on his suckiness? Is he going to blame Dierker too? Blame Canada as well?

Dicky Hidalgo blows, and is the biggest fraud since Enron. I just find it so funny that Hidalgo wants to make a scapegoat out of Jimmah for Hidalgo's piss-poor play the last 2 years, when Jimmah was there for only 1.

Dicky Hidalgo needs to pin blame on his fat ass first. His fat ass is the only thing bigger than his wallet.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 01:53 PM
The best case scenario would be if the Astros refused to trade Hidalgo, and Hidalgo went on an "Operation Shutdown". That way the Stros wouldn't need to pay his contract. If we are to trade Hidalgo, we would only be able to get a fat contract in return. Basically a Lima for Mlicki type deal.
bobrek
10-02-2002, 02:07 PM
Originally posted by Buck Turgidson
Zaun is signed for next season. Ausmus has a club/player option for next season, which will almost definitely be exercised.

It'll be interesting to see how the Astros approach the Ausmus option. They have a 7 million dollar option while Ausmus has a 5.5 million option. If the Astros don't exercise theirs, Brad can do his. It wouldn't suprise me to see a deal redone in the 6.25 million dollar range.
Refman
10-02-2002, 02:24 PM
Originally posted by OldManBernie
I hope Hunsicker won't go for the Hampton trade... While Hampton could very well resurrect his career in Houston, his contract will prevent the Astros from re-signing Oswalt and Miller... If some team will pick up Hidalgo in exchange for prospects or players with shorter contracts, then I am all for it.
By the time Oswalt and Miller come up for new contract, Bags and Bidge will be gone. This will free up HUGE salary money which will be used to lock them up long term.
Buck Turgidson
10-02-2002, 02:32 PM
Originally posted by bobrek
It'll be interesting to see how the Astros approach the Ausmus option. They have a 7 million dollar option while Ausmus has a 5.5 million option. If the Astros don't exercise theirs, Brad can do his. It wouldn't suprise me to see a deal redone in the 6.25 million dollar range.
I seriously doubt he'd go for it at this stage of his career, but Ausmus would be the absolute ideal backup catcher & mentor for John Buck in '04.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 02:56 PM
Originally posted by Refman
By the time Oswalt and Miller come up for new contract, Bags and Bidge will be gone. This will free up HUGE salary money which will be used to lock them up long term.

Bidge will be gone, but not Bagwell... Remember that the Astros will more than likely try to lock up Miller and Oswalt before they are arbitration eligible (after next year I think), like we did with Berkman last year.

When we re-sign Oswalt and Miller, it won't be a huge deal, financially. They will get 4-5 mill/year for 3-4 years.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 02:58 PM
Originally posted by bobrek
It'll be interesting to see how the Astros approach the Ausmus option. They have a 7 million dollar option while Ausmus has a 5.5 million option. If the Astros don't exercise theirs, Brad can do his. It wouldn't suprise me to see a deal redone in the 6.25 million dollar range.

Ausmus more than likely wouldn't be able to get 5.5 mill/year from another team. The Astros might renegotiate and settle for 6 mill or so, out of good faith. But, I don't think they would have to. I think Ausmus would be foolish to not exercise his option, if the Astros don't exercise his option.
Refman
10-02-2002, 03:18 PM
Originally posted by kidrock8
Ausmus more than likely wouldn't be able to get 5.5 mill/year from another team. The Astros might renegotiate and settle for 6 mill or so, out of good faith. But, I don't think they would have to. I think Ausmus would be foolish to not exercise his option, if the Astros don't exercise his option.
So Ausmus isn't even worth 5.5 but the Astros will give him 6? Gee...sounds like McLane is pinching pennies. :rolleyes:
Oski2005
10-02-2002, 04:25 PM
Good riddance!!! I use to like Hidalgo, but he hasn't even admitted to himself that he has really sucked the last two years.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 04:43 PM
Originally posted by Refman
So Ausmus isn't even worth 5.5 but the Astros will give him 6? Gee...sounds like McLane is pinching pennies. :rolleyes:

It's more than 6.25 million right? THat's my point. The Astros wouldn't want to re-sign him at full price, and would rather re-negotiate.

And it would be a good thing. Ausmus isn't worth what he's making. You try to make everything I say into a Drayton-bashing affair, but this time I wasn't even mentioning Drayton.

I was merely responding to a previous poster hypothesizing that the Astros find a middle ground with the 2 options.

Geez.
Refman
10-02-2002, 05:29 PM
kidrock--

My point is that it is awfully funny to see you throwing around accusations of penny pinching in MANY threads...and then come here and say that McLane will pay Ausmus more than what other teams would be willing to give him. All I seek is consistency.
WiNK
10-02-2002, 07:14 PM
refman -

This time YOU turned the subject from the astros to Drayton.

Hang your head in shame.
Refman
10-02-2002, 07:25 PM
Originally posted by WiNK
refman -

This time YOU turned the subject from the astros to Drayton.

Hang your head in shame.
Dude...seriously. You should know what happens with kidrock EVERY time there's an Astros thread. This time he went the other way with it. Can't you see the irony in it?
WiNK
10-02-2002, 07:47 PM
True but when you see an alcoholic turn down a drink....are you proud for the person or do you decide to give them a reminder of what beer tastes like?

Pointing out irony only opens up another can of Drayton worms.
Refman
10-02-2002, 07:55 PM
Originally posted by WiNK
True but when you see an alcoholic turn down a drink....are you proud for the person or do you decide to give them a reminder of what beer tastes like?

Pointing out irony only opens up another can of Drayton worms.
Good point.
rezdawg
10-02-2002, 08:11 PM
Guys...Hidalgo never made such a request.


http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20021002&content_id=145289&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp
Refman
10-02-2002, 08:15 PM
Originally posted by rezdawg
Guys...Hidalgo never made such a request.


http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20021002&content_id=145289&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp
I will say this...if he did want to be traded...denying having made the request would be the smartest thing to do. It will make it easier to trade him...and the Astros would be more likely to receive full value.
rezdawg
10-02-2002, 08:30 PM
Originally posted by Refman
I will say this...if he did want to be traded...denying having made the request would be the smartest thing to do. It will make it easier to trade him...and the Astros would be more likely to receive full value.

Good point.
Major
10-02-2002, 08:45 PM
From the article, it appears he did "informally" request a trade if he's not going to start for Houston:

Hunsicker confirmed that during his meeting with Hidalgo, the outfielder expressed his frustration with how he was used -- or not used -- this year, but the closest they got to talking trade occurred when Hidalgo said if he was not going to be a regular starter in the future then he would like to go somewhere else.


Probably just a confused Chronicle writer :)
NIKEstrad
10-02-2002, 08:49 PM
I doubt Hidalgo makes it to Astros training, denying allegations of a trade request or not.

If we can get Hampton/Pierre/cash considerations (balance) for Hidalgo and a couple of average prospects, it's a no brainer IMO.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 10:05 PM
Originally posted by Refman
kidrock--

My point is that it is awfully funny to see you throwing around accusations of penny pinching in MANY threads...and then come here and say that McLane will pay Ausmus more than what other teams would be willing to give him. All I seek is consistency.

It's actually, that McLane would be spending less, than he would have to (compared to the team option). There's no way McLane, or anyone should give Ausmus that much money. I will say McLane spends money to keep players. When did I never say that?

What I have said, is that he never spends money to IMPROVE the club.

Your selective memory is quite funny.
kidrock8
10-02-2002, 10:06 PM
Originally posted by Refman
I will say this...if he did want to be traded...denying having made the request would be the smartest thing to do. It will make it easier to trade him...and the Astros would be more likely to receive full value.

The full value of a penny (Hidalgo's trade value)...
Refman
10-02-2002, 10:08 PM
Originally posted by kidrock8
It's actually, that McLane would be spending less, than he would have to (compared to the team option). There's no way McLane, or anyone should give Ausmus that much money. I will say McLane spends money to keep players. When did I never say that?

What I have said, is that he never spends money to IMPROVE the club.

Your selective memory is quite funny.
When you call somebody a cheap, penny pinching Scrooge....you generally shouldn't have to qualify it by saying "except when it comes to resigning our talent." :rolleyes:
Refman
10-02-2002, 10:09 PM
Originally posted by kidrock8
The full value of a penny (Hidalgo's trade value)...
Rather get the whole penny than something less than the whole penny.