FYI, they've been talking Astros, and McLane will be on during the 5 o'clock show (probably to discuss the trade deadline).
Recap: Trade talks about Brad Lidge -- McLane says shopping him is absolutely not true. He reinforced their support of Lidge since they drafted him. Questions about Purpura relationship -- Good relationship; McLane has never demanded a trade, always an agreement; fully supports Purpura, and gives him much latitude in his operations (reiterated how Purpura is in complete control of minors); Said that on major league level, they talk together (especially major trades) On trade talks for Tejada -- McLane was involved, but too much was being asked for him. On Roy Oswalt -- Visited with Roy about 4 weeks ago and said when agent and Oswalt thought it was a good time, to come to him, and they would talk about a new contract. Agent even contacted McLane about 10 days ago about it. He said Roy and himself has a great relationship (didn't seem too worried), but said he hasn't had a chance to talk to him. Said Tim Purpura has talked to both Oswalt and agent, and McLane will talk to him when the Astros return home. McLane said when they were talking to Orioles about Tejada, McLane asked what it would take, the Orioles first started talking about Oswalt and Berkman. (He laughed at that.) On Roger Clemens -- Astros did NOT talk to the Red Sox about a trade. They did NOT get a phone call about acquiring Roger. McLane has NEVER thought about trading Roger, and said he said they didn't have to because he still thinks they'll win. Also, said he wouldn't trade Roger because of the fans. And finally, he said he wouldn't trade him because they have a great personal relationship, and he's going to be in the organization for 8 years after he retires, and because Roger loves it here and Roger would not want to leave. Clemens has come and said we need to do something about improving the offense, but has NEVER asked to have a player traded, or trade for a player, or trade himself. On the trade deadline -- Looking for "someone who could really, really make a difference for us, and make a difference offensively." Thought Carlos Lee would have made a great difference. Said we were really close to getting Lee, but the only reason we didn't because both teams are in National League Central. Tried hard for Soriano, but they were "asking the moon," so asking price was way beyond what was reasonable. Said they would have way overpaid for Soriano or Tejada. McLane mentioned that Clemens is traveling with the team now (on plan to San Diego), and that Roger believes they are still in it, and that the Astros can still win it all. Last question -- Will he be willing to spend the same $$$ after this season -- McLane said we're third on payroll without the third in revenue, because of Bagwell and Clemens on payroll. So, no, he won't have a payroll that high next season, but assured that Astros will be competitive next season. "We'll never, never, never give up." ~ Drayton McLane
Drayton did make one comment that I just had to laugh at. It was something to the effect of "We still think we are going to win, so that is why we absolutely never considered trading Clemens....or Lidge." What?? They had to at least consider trading Lidge!
yeah, i agree. that pretty much makes you hesitant to believe any other words that came out of his mouth, because you know that isn't true.
I almost ran off the road when he said he thought the pitching was better right now than it was at the same point last year. I know he has to be optimistic on the radio, but come one.
I'm pretty sure he meant on paper... which is a definite possibility IF everybody merely pitched to their average career numbers (let alone above average). Lets just break it down and see what kind of performances the team is having (with the analysis on why they should be better) 2006 vs. 2005 Oswalt = Oswalt Clemens = Clemens Pettite < Pettite (should have been closer to equal) Lidge <<< Lidge (if he was simply average, the team would be better off) Qualls < Qualls (should have been BETTER after that NLCS) Wheeler < Wheeler (he's actually turning it around) Springer > Springer Backe < Backe (his playoff performances are looking flukeish) Wandy > Wandy (not saying much) Buchholz > Zeke (both are still ineffective) Miller/Gallo > Gallo/Franco (hahaha) Borkowski > Bullinger/Burns Nieve > Harville If the formula held true, ie - Clemens, Oswalt, Pettite giving you quality starts almost every time out... and the bullpen holding its own, the overall pitching WOULD have been better, since the only changes in the equation would be the upgrade in quality pitching depth with Nieve, Buchholz, and T. Miller. Springer has also put together a more consistent year. Wandy's still Wandy (bad), but Borkowski has been a pretty good mop-up guy. I know Drayton can talk out of his ass sometimes.. but this is the thinking the club had going into this season. They weren't counting on the big 3 (both the starters and relievers version) to have as dominant a season as they did last year... but they were expecting seasons that would be above the average MLB pitcher. Right now, Pettite, Lidge, and to some extent Qualls, are all pitching vastly below expectations... that's a big part of why this season has turned out the way it has.
Classic damage control move. I wish I was a kid again and could just take words like this at face value. It's still so odd that Oswalt's name was legitimately out there. Maybe I'm a crazy homer, but if the Orioles and Astros are talking Oswalt, it would seem the Orioles would need to put together a package for Roy, not the other way around. I can't believe Baltimore didn't pounce on it. I didn't think the Astros could have botched the trade deadline any more than they did.
The offense is actually a tad bit better than last season, and the pitching has surrendered a full run per game more (and the rotation has seen a bigger slide than the bullpen). Offense: Year R/G Avg OBP Slg OPS ---------------------------------- 2005 4.25 .256 .322 .408 .730 2006 4.53 .256 .331 .404 .734 Pitching Staff: Year R/G Avg OBP Slg OPS ---------------------------------- 2005 3.74 .246 .308 .389 .697 2006 4.80 .266 .326 .445 .771 Rotation: Year R/9 Avg OBP Slg OPS ---------------------------------- 2005 3.74 .248 .304 .392 .696 2006 4.94 .274 .329 .458 .788 Bullpen: Year R/9 Avg OBP Slg OPS ---------------------------------- 2005 3.96 .241 .317 .382 .699 2006 4.44 .250 .319 .401 .727 Unearned Runs per Game ---------------------------------- 2005 .305 (49 per 162 games) 2006 .284 (46 per 162 games)
You can't blame a businessman for saying the right things, it's what they do. You never know if they are true or half true or just the best PR. To a businessman the customer's perception is his reality.
I thought the most interesting comment from McLane was that "player movement is 100% Tim Purpura." There is no one to blame for the team allowing certain players to die in the minors but Purpura. It's hit philosophy not the Astros. He's been in charge of player development for a decade now.
I'd like to say that's worked out pretty well. Six trips to the playoffs, three series wins and the franchise's first ever trip to the World Series. There are probably 25 teams in MLB that would happily trade their last decade for ours.
Care to name ONE player that's legitametly died in the minors because of our system? Frankly, you can see SEVERAL players who ended up dying in the majors after being moved along pretty quickly (Tim Redding, Carlos Hernandez, Wade Miller, Richard Hidalgo).... as well as several players who excelled after moving on pretty quickly (Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Matt Albers ). There's even been some pretty successful "tweeners" in Chris Burke, Brad Lidge and Morgan Ensberg (guys who weren't rushed, but didn't take forever to get up either... Jason Hirsh and Hunter Pence could fit this mold next year). The only player who may have been able to come up sooner was Jason Lane... and he's been given PLENTY of opportunities to show his stuff in the big leagues, at an age where he should still be improving (not regressing... as he did this year). Also, Willy T was rushed up... and he could end up withering away as a major leaguer (or he could end up blossoming). Still, in the end, no player has failed as a result of NOT bringing him up sooner... the whole premise of a younger guy not being able to succeed because he was kept behind for an extra year doesn't make any sense.
As GM, Tim Purpura controls player movement throughout the system, with input from the development people like Ricky Bennett. Before he became GM last season, Purp had Bennett's job, and Hunsicker had final say on player movement. Luke Scott was a 25 year old, coming off his initial half-season in AA ball (1st half he was in the Carolina League), when the Astros acquired him in '04. Was Cleveland letting him "die in the minors"?
