hah....was just coming to post this. "I don't know where I'm going to play, but a team is going to win the lotto when I sign," Rodriguez said Sunday night in an interview with The Associated Press. i believe him, and he brings a passion to the game that makes him fun to watch. he's cheap, has a chip on his shoulder, and something to prove. oh, and he's 50 million times better than what we have. it's gonna be really disheartening and upsetting if we dont sign him.
So another past his prime aging player but he's a big marketable name. And he's not a pitcher? Greeaaat.... like the team really needs that Wait Spoiler okay maybe he fits right on in after all...
brad ausmus was "a big marketable name"?? on what planet? and pudge past his prime demolishes ausmus' "prime", if he ever had such a thing.
It would be nice, but I don't see how it really benefits the Astros or Ivan. It's not like we're 1 player away from the World Series. If he wants to win, he should look elsewhere. This upcoming season is going to be ugly. I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. We don't have near enough pitching.
really simple answers: he improves our team, and he can't get playing time with any other team in the league apparently. understand that the nl central is still an awful division, with it's two best teams worse than they were last year (the brewers significantly worse), and throw in that you can pretty much cross out the nl west as a possibility for where the wild card is coming out of. hope. springs. eternal. gimme pudge and a prayer. our lineup would be great. play over our heads the first half of the season like we did in the second half last year. have hampton or somebody else emerge in a big way, and trade for peavy (or another top arm) at the deadline. it's that simple. anything can happen in the mlb folks.
Well, yeah, it technically improves our team. However, I meant that it doesn't do so to the degree that this becomes an "important" transaction. If we had a pitching staff that was solid, and needed a slight boost to our lineup (defensively and offensively) to put us over the top, then it makes sense to get him. I just think priorities should be elsewhere. I don't like the fact this type of move looks like a "consolation prize" leftover from all the Yankee signings, etc. Know what I mean?
cardpire??? is that you??? optimism in an astros thread??? hope springs eternal, indeed. can't wait for the 'stros to get started.
this is the first year i can remember where i'm not excited. signing pudge would change that in a huge way.
If we sign Pudge it would be a relief. Honestly I don't trust Quintero or Towles behind the plate at this time. And Castro of course is still straight outta college.
I'm excited about baseball, but not about the Astros' prospects. If Hampton returns to anything remotely close to '99 form, *that* will be exciting. He was my favorite back in the day.
We shouldn't overpay, but what is left of Pudge is probably lots better than we have had for many years. Ausmus served the Astros the best he could but once he was no longer able to throw runners out, his usefulness was sort of limited to helping attract free-agent pitchers and being a security blanket for pitchers already on staff. Which was kind of expensive at the cost of 3 or 4 out of 27 outs.
I don't think he had a great season...but I think his second half was good, if i remember right. I'm more concerned with the number of starts he can give us, frankly. I think he's smart enough to be effective...
