And none of which, speaking of heyward, proves that he is worth the hype. I still don't see how you can act like heywards stats are common, and then turn right around and use the same poor stats but a different set of standards to compare schafer with. It doesn't make sense to me. Maybe it was hgh, maybe not, but to assume that his career has already been written to be that of a below-level or average player in less than a full year of major league at bats is equally ridiculous. Give the guy a chance to prove that his 25 prospect rating was warranted, meaning give him the same leeway you are affording to heyward, that's all I'm saying. I'm just saying also that schafer has a good chance to become a great player, based on his rating and his tools.
Heyward has done it at the ML level at the age of 20, only a season ago. Schafer has done it at AA 3 years ago. That is a huge difference. While neither is a sure thing to be a star, Heyward is far more likely to reach that potential. Schafer's ML numbers aren't as concerning to me as the over 500 plate appearances he has had in the minors after making it to the majors, in which he has posted an OPS less than .600. I'm not saying Schafer is done in baseball, but he doesn't belong in the majors right now, and I put his chances of becoming an every day player very low.
But they weren't a laughingstock on the field. They won at least 79 games 8 times during that stretch and were really only wretched in '75. In 1972 they went 84-69 with arguably the best hitting club they ever had. The ownership situation may have been dodgy during part of that time, but they were at least competitive in most seasons.
ah, I'm going by impressions I was left with as a kid and didn't do any even casual checking of their record during that time. so, mea culpa. There was the sense--or so I remember as a young brat--that the Astros would never really compete as they would just sell off their good players and nobody wanted to come here. Then the whole bankruptcy/credit holding thing. I remember it as pretty dismal.
The amount of young talent in the Astros organization as a whole has gradually been improving, and it just improved a lot more. This is rock bottom for the major league roster, but things should gradually improve over time from here. It's going to be a painful couple of years, but the Astros finally have a clear direction and are truly committed to rebuilding. Also, the Pence trade was a clear, and decisive win for the Astros. The Bourn trade was bad, but not a disaster. Overall, combining the two trades, it averages out to a solid return.
Not saying it was a good time (and I was born in 1968, so most of that period is known to me only via history). It seems to me that the Astros of that time are kind of like the Texans under Kubiak - competitive but not quite good. Since it lasted for 10 years, I know that had to be very frustrating. And, yeah, some of those trades from that time were horrible.
I was just about to graduate college and head back to home. On the heels of the Oilers leaving, that news killed me. I could not imagine losing the 'stros to another city. Ugh.
I thought they were gone, a lot of people did. Barry Klein and the anti-tax anti-everything property rights crew put up a HUGE fight against any sort of public stadium.
yep. it killed me. i think about going to games with the kids and MMP and those playoff runs...so glad that worked out. it honestly sounds ridiculous and silly...but i can't even think about it too much...makes me kinda sick. my connection to that franchise through my now deceased grandparents, my father and now my kids is just ridiculously strong. my 11 year old has been texting me all day excited about seeing the new guys play tonight told this story before, but not sure you were in this thread. we watched a documentary of the 2004 Red Sox team...and they showed graveyards decked out in red sox pennants the day after they won. there was one with a message that said: "Dad, they finally did it. Rest in peace." My 11 year old got real quiet and started to tear up a little. I asked if he was ok and he said, "man, they need to win before you go, because i don't want to have to write that."
To be honest I would have not wanted Heyward, I bet big on him in my fantasy league, so I've seen the disappointment.
I can't believe I agree with Jerome Solomon. We didn't trade old veterans on their last legs...we traded guys in their primes who were contributing on the major league level. For what...prospects who are years away? Prospects who may never pan out? Just because the major league team will not compete doesn't mean the roster should be incompetent while we wait for the "saviors." That's why field box tickets are $11 this week. I wish there was another approach.
wait, Solomon was b****ing? naw... The jury is out on this week's activities until we see what Crane's leadership does with the team going forward.
Solomon is a Boston guy, all you need to know about his thought process. We traded a guy with an .823 ops for the best two prospects in a loaded system. The Bourn trade will have to see because the jury will truly be out on that one.
Look at it this way. We were last. Dead last. Dead last by a good bit. So we need to get better right? So how is that done. 1) Trade some of your depth (bench) for some better starters --We have no depth. Michaels? Downs? Sanchez? Who would trade for any of them? --Pitching depth: same story. Who would bring even a 3rd teir prospect? (that we can spare) 2) ok, go to the farm. --Give up some guys there for some help. Sorry, mortgaged the farm a few years ago. 3) Through the draft. --Well ok, you might get a little better there. But guess what? All the other teams get to draft also. And given how past draftees have worked out, we would be way ahead of the 8 ball to even break even against other clubs drafts. So tell me Mr Solomon, or anyone else for that matter. What other recourse was there?
Its hard to complain about the Pence trade. I would have preferred Brown, but still a great haul. The Bourn trade was a bad one. That doesn't mean it won't work out great, because these guys could outperform projections.
I was for the hold rebuilding thing, but we don't seem to be getting anything good back. The only deal that might turn out decent is the pence deal and is a prospect in A ball.
They got back two top 50 prospects plus two other guys for Pence. Cosart is at AA and is 21 with an electric arm. Singleton is 19 at high A and was the youngest player in the FSL. He is a stud too. I thought they'd be lucky to get back one top 50 guy for Pence and they got two. Pence is in no way a superstar but the return they got was similar to what was gotten for Adrian Gonzalez. I like the return better to be honest.
too optimistic, but nonetheless doable. If the stros can go 27-26 the rest of the way, it will keep us from having our first 100 loss season. Hopefully these new kids can show they belong in the big leagues and win us some games.
