Where do 'Stros go from here?

[liamrock]

I just saw on a fantasy sports website called - talentedmrroto.com that the Stros are going after Alfonso Soriano.

Carlos Beltran's decision to leave the Astros came as a shock to many in the industry, and will now spur Houston to acquire Alfonso Soriano from Texas, according to a National League executive.

I wouldn't be surprised. We need the big bat....I bet Soriano would bat 2nd behind Bidge. I know he strikes out a lot, but he's fast and he's got real power.

Or should they go after Randy Winn from Seattle?

[Gummi Clutch]

Where do "Stros go from here?

Rock Bottom.

[RocketFan007]

Not a big Randy Winn guy, but I think we could do worse. I'd go after Soriano only if he agrees to play CF, otherwise no thanks. I want Chris Burke as the opening day 2B.

[Deuce Rings]

Rebuilding. Next year will likely be a disaster looking at our potential batting order. I mean we really are depending on Lane, Tavares, and Burke to step up big in order to contend. Great.

[ths balla]

pick up soriano, mags, and have lane start

[RocketFan007]

originally posted by ths balla
pick up soriano, mags, and have lane start

I doubt that Drayton will be negotiating with Boras again anytime soon. Ordonez won't be an Astro.

[MykTek]

i wouldn't be surprised if they do somethign stupid now... like trade some our young guys for ppl.....if the soriano rumor is true....there goes Backe and Burke .....

[halfbreed]

Guys lets not get out of hand here...rebuilding? Last year at this time we had no Carlos Beltran and we were talking World Series. We'll be fine as long as Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane step up. It's not exactly what I'd call rebuilding.

[JPM0016]

Originally posted by halfbreed
Guys lets not get out of hand here...rebuilding? Last year at this time we had no Carlos Beltran and we were talking World Series. We'll be fine as long as Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane step up. It's not exactly what I'd call rebuilding.

Opening Day lineup as of right now

Ausmus
Bagwell
Biggio
Everett
Ensberg
Lane
Palmeiro
Burke

Starting rotation as of right now

Oswalt
Pettitte
Backe
Hernandez
Redding/Duckworth?

Bullpen

Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls

It's not a full fledge rebuilding job but this team is going nowhere in 2005.

[Refman]

You could pick up Randy Winn. You won't lose anything in offense from what is currently penciled in, and the defense will be much better.

You could pick up Shawn Estes from the Rockies. Decent third or fourth starter.

You could pick up Soriano.

From what I have read, we have an abundance of prospects at A and AA. I have also heard via radio that the aforementioned guys may be able to be obtained in trade for some of said prospects.

[RocketFan007]

I'm pretty sure that Estes is a free agent. I'd be surprised to see us go after Soriano before Burke gets a shot.

[wood]

Why not Rockies CF Preston Wilson??

[Stack24]

Originally posted by wood
Why not Rockies CF Preston Wilson??

Cause the guy strikes out a hell of a lot....

[leroy420]

I'd be willing to bet a call has been placed to Jeremy Burnitz and to the Devil Rays for Jose Cruz, Jr. If not yet, then soon. Both are locals (Burnitz is from Conroe for those of you that didn't know). I wouldn't mind picking up either. Once Berkman comes back that player or Biggio would come off the bench. I do think that we still need Biggio as an everyday player, or at least as much as he can go. He is still the best leadoff option until Burke gets his feet wet in the majors or until Willy Taveres is ready. We really only need an OF'er for one year as I think Taveres will actually be ready later this season or no later than 06.

I am hoping for Carlton Jimerson to learn a little better how to hit. If he starts hitting for average and strikes out less, he could be a monster. Last season in Round Rock, he hit a home run that was located some 650 feet from home plate. He has great speed and a very good arm. That is one to watch out for in the near future IF he learns some discipline. His major problem is that he always tries to hit the ball 650 ft.

I don't think that trading Backe for Soriano is the answer. I think Backe is going to make a good 3rd starter and could win 12-15 games next season. He is not the mental midget that Redding is. If he picks up another pitch and gets the stamina up that a starter needs, I think he will be a very solid replacement for Wade Miller. Soriano has publicly stated that he doesn't want to play in the OF, even though that is where he belongs. If the Astros were to get him, their defense would actually take a step backwards from Jeff Kent.

Right now, I actually think that the 4th and 5th starter is possibly the biggest issue. Also, the pen needs more help. I don't want to see Tim Redding in and Astros uniform this year unless he becomes the bullpen catcher. Then again, I'd much rather have Stretch Suba. If Carlos has some velocity back then he's probably 4th. The 5th spot is going to be between Munro, Taylor Buckholz and Ezequiel Astacio. I would assume Munro starts the season but is in the pen by the end of May. The winner of the other 2 is the 5th starter and the loser is in AAA and is the first option. Otherwise, a free agent or trade will bring in at least one.

Here's what I see on opening day...

Biggio LF
Everett SS
Bagwell 1B
Lane RF
Ensberg 3B
Curz Jr. CF
Burke 2B
Ausmus C

Palmeiro, Viz, Lamb, Chavez, Luke Scott, Eric Bruntlett

Oswalt
Pettitte
Backe
Hernandez
Munro

Lidge, Gallo, Qualls, Wheeler, Harville, Duckworth or Redding (the loser will be cut)

On June 1st, I see

Burke 2B
Everett SS
Bagwell 1B
Berkman RF
Lane LF
Ensberg 3B
Cruz Jr. CF
Ausmus C

Biggio, Viz, Lamb, Palmeiro, Chavez, Bruntlett

Oswalt
Pettitte
Backe
Hernandez
Buckholz

Lidge, Qualls, Wheeler, Gallo, Harville, Munro

[RocketFan007]

originally posted by leroy420
I'd be willing to bet a call has been placed to Jeremy Burnitz and to the Devil Rays for Jose Cruz, Jr. If not yet, then soon. Both are locals (Burnitz is from Conroe for those of you that didn't know). I wouldn't mind picking up either. Once Berkman comes back that player or Biggio would come off the bench. I do think that we still need Biggio as an everyday player, or at least as much as he can go. He is still the best leadoff option until Burke gets his feet wet in the majors or until Willy Taveres is ready. We really only need an OF'er for one year as I think Taveres will actually be ready later this season or no later than 06.


The Chronicle reported yesterday that the Devil Rays wouldn't trade Cruz unless it was for Lane. The Astros aren't going to do that. I don't want Cruz anyway. Burnitz was bad away from Coors Field last year, .244 13 homers 42 RBI, but if he accepts a cheap one year deal, I'd take him. I'd perfer Randy Winn, who was mentioned in the Chronicle today over either of them.
I personally don't see Jimerson ever making it to the majors, we hit .238 last season at Round Rock, and struck out 163 times. And he hasn't improved at all since we drafted him. I consider shopping him if I were Purpura.

[leroy420]

Originally posted by RocketFan007
originally posted by leroy420
This is all the more reason that Pupura should have picked up the contracts of both Kent and Miller. Had we signed Beltran and needed the money, both of those guys could have been traded for good prospects.

Where exactly did I write what you quoted?

I do think that the Astros do need a better power bat either off the bench once Berkman is ready or to start and have Biggio come off the bench. Randy Winn doesn't have any power.

[bigtexxx]

We REALLY need Lane to have a nice year for us. His production is a big key to our season, in my opinion.

[RocketFan007]

originally posted by leroy420
Where exactly did I write what you quoted?

Sorry, fixed the quote.

[HectikG81]

I'm sick of this Astros organization losing players...

Betya' they'll dismantle and we won't see playoffs for good 5 years...

Well at least Hunsicker is gone.

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by HectikG81

Well at least Hunsicker is gone.

If he was still in charge, perhaps our plan B wouldnt have been to rebuild

[Rule0001]

Originally posted by NJRocket
If he was still in charge, perhaps our plan B wouldnt have been to rebuild

hunsicker would have been any different???

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by Rule0001
hunsicker would have been any different???

different that the moron who carried his notepad for the last several years? yes different then the guy who wasn't capable enough of handling ANY type of negotiation with Boras ? yes different because Hunsicker actually understood the need for a backup plan? yes

[isoman2kx]

hmm

wasn't hunsicker supposed to take a job elsewhere when he resigned or how did that ever pan out?

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by isoman2kx
hmm

wasn't hunsicker supposed to take a job elsewhere when he resigned or how did that ever pan out?

hmm no

[isoman2kx]

but at one point I thought he was even supposed to become the gm of the METS?

eh.... I'll just stop talking..... lol

unless someone else knows :p

[yc324]

Originally posted by liamrock
Or should they go after Randy Winn from Seattle? [/B]

I hear the Mariners have too many outfielders and can do without Randy Winn's contract. So surely we can work out a pretty decent deal with them, right?

And he's GOTTA be a better option than Palmeiro on opening day....

[Stack24]

Forget Winn lets get ICHIRO hehe...

[meh]

The Astros, in my opinion, should basically do nothing more than sign some cheap, young players with some upside. Then they can save some money to go after some people next season.

I think the worst thing the Astros can do is to give a multi-million dollar deal to some guy who doesn't deserve it. Not that there are many of them out there, but you never know.

[Baqui99]

Originally posted by meh
The Astros, in my opinion, should basically do nothing more than sign some cheap, young players with some upside. Then they can save some money to go after some people next season.

I think the worst thing the Astros can do is to give a multi-million dollar deal to some guy who doesn't deserve it. Not that there are many of them out there, but you never know.

Agreed. It's time to start handing the team over to the younger core of players: Jason Lane, Willie Taveras, and Chris Burke. I really don't see what signing guys like Burnitz or Cruz will do for the development of the young guys. Best way to help them grow is to give them a full season under their belt. Ideally, next year's lineup should look something like....

CF. Biggio
2B. Burke
1B. Bagwell
RF. Berkman
LF. Lane
3B. Ensberg
SS. Everett
C. Ausmus

Eventually, Taveras will take over the CF duties in a year or two.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by RocketFan007
I doubt that Drayton will be negotiating with Boras again anytime soon. Ordonez won't be an Astro.

I wouldn't. Frankly, I never would again. Tell all the players on your team, if you want a contract with us, you better find another agent...because we don't negotiate with that guy. Let everyone in MLB know that. See if anyone else follows suit.

I'm completely serious, by the way. Sure you'll miss out on some good players...but no one plays people out more than Boras. That stringing along cost us an offseason. I wouldn't do it again. Fool me once..shame on you. Fool me twice..shame on me.

[Joe Joe]

Originally posted by Baqui99
CF. Biggio
2B. Burke
1B. Bagwell
RF. Berkman
LF. Lane
3B. Ensberg
SS. Everett
C. Ausmus


Biggio's arm is done. Lane and Berkman are both more capable CFs which really scares me. I would hope Burke bats before Biggio.

[leroy420]

Originally posted by NJRocket
different that the moron who carried his notepad for the last several years? yes different then the guy who wasn't capable enough of handling ANY type of negotiation with Boras ? yes different because Hunsicker actually understood the need for a backup plan? yes

Hunsicker is still working as an adviser for the Astros. You don't think that they were using him at all during this?

[Chilly_Pete]

Lets see what some of these prospects can do. And we need to make sure we resign Berkman. In the end I think he will be a more productive hitter for us than Beltran.

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by leroy420
Hunsicker is still working as an adviser for the Astros. You don't think that they were using him at all during this?

nope...not one bit

[rrj_gamz]

Well, without Beltran, we're obviously not as competitive, however, I still like our chances...Now, we do need to get a bat, with out Kent or Beltran, we need someone...

[Austin70]

Who can we get?

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by rrj_gamz
Well, without Beltran, we're obviously not as competitive, however, I still like our chances ...

chances to do what? suck? We basically had the BEST TEAM IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES for the last 1/4 of the season...and now we are going to struggle to play .500 ball.

[Luckyazn]

[ESPN INSIDER] Astros could trade for Soriano



Even though he strikes out alot. Soriano hits for a better avg. than Beltran, about the same HRS and Stolen Base.

Soriano:
2002 Avg. .300 39hrs 102rbi 41sb
2003 Avg. .290 38hrs 91rbi 35sb

[rocketfan83]

Originally posted by Luckyazn
[ESPN INSIDER] Astros could trade for Soriano



Even though he strikes out alot. Soriano hits for a better avg. than Beltran, about the same HRS and Stolen Base.

Soriano:
2002 Avg. .300 39hrs 102rbi 41sb
2003 Avg. .290 38hrs 91rbi 35sb

If the Astros can get Soriano for Backe which has been talked about for a while here. I think we will quickly forget about Beltran

[Groogrux]

Originally posted by Luckyazn
[ESPN INSIDER] Astros could trade for Soriano



Even though he strikes out alot. Soriano hits for a better avg. than Beltran, about the same HRS and Stolen Base.

Soriano:
2002 Avg. .300 39hrs 102rbi 41sb
2003 Avg. .290 38hrs 91rbi 35sb

I thought we didn't have a plan B? You mean, the sky might not be falling?

[Trader_Jorge]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
I thought we didn't have a plan B? You mean, the sky might not be falling?

You call that a plan B? You'd be giving up our third best starter for a player much less talented than Beltran. When Plan A was signing Beltran and keeping Backe/Burke, your Plan B looks like a real turd by comparison.

[Groogrux]

Originally posted by Trader_Jorge
You call that a plan B? You'd be giving up our third best starter for a player much less talented than Beltran. When Plan A was signing Beltran and keeping Backe/Burke, your Plan B looks like a real turd by comparison.

Soriano is not exactly chopped liver. However, common sense tells us that your plan B is never as good as your A plan. Doesn't change the fact that they have one and that the offseason isn't over.

[Refman]

Originally posted by Trader_Jorge
You call that a plan B? You'd be giving up our third best starter for a player much less talented than Beltran. When Plan A was signing Beltran and keeping Backe/Burke, your Plan B looks like a real turd by comparison.
And reading your baseball posts is a lot like watching Pee-Wee Hermann doing calculus...but none of us have mentioned that.

The fact of the matter is that Soriano put up offensive statistics similar to Beltran's. No...he doesn't give you speed in the outfield.

Another FACT is that Beltran would not have been nearly as coveted had he not gotten hot at the right time. Cha-ching.

[rrj_gamz]

The more and more I let things digest, I think we won't be that bad...I know we don't have Kent or Beltran, but we were a descent team before they showed up...Now of course, nothing will compare to last years team, but I really think we'll do ok...

[Hmm]

Originally posted by rrj_gamz
The more and more I let things digest, I think we won't be that bad...I know we don't have Kent or Beltran, but we were a descent team before they showed up...Now of course, nothing will compare to last years team, but I really think we'll do ok...

Did you mean decent or descending?