As far as personal wealth Drayton can buy and sell Stienbrenner many times over. But of course, for actual revenue from baseball operations , the Yanks blow away the Sto's. I've always like Doggie, watching him gun down runners was always thrilling. But, having that huge contract and not producing has got to be a burr under the Astro's saddle; certainly not the cause of our current ills but and easy point to focus on. I'd like to feel sorry for Doggie; he failed, he's getting traded from a place he felt was his home, but dude, he's got millions and millions of dollars in the bank. He'll be OK.
What a joke. Sorry, but Lane sucks and Weathers is going to serve it up in MM. Just another lame ass, move to keep whitey transaction on behalf of Astros management. I had high hoped for this team at the begining of the season, but now I don't see them making the playoffs. Roger and Company deserve better than an owner like Drayton.
Seriously? What else can an owner do? Hidalgo was sucking ass this year and was making way too much money.
Totally agree, If youre gonna make all that cash....youd better produce......Gonna miss that arm though..... We let the dawgs out!...Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!.....damn that did get old fast...
I completely understand this trade and won't begrudge Drayton for it. However this is a team built for now. If we're really looking to contend this year in the unbelievably competitive NL Central then we need another bat before the all star game. It seems to me me if we can just make it to the playoffs our top three can go toe to toe with anyone elses but I do not believe for a second that Biggio and Bagwell will finally break out of their mind numbing post season slumps. Hell anyone watching the Cubs series can see we are in dire need of someone who can provide a run producing crucial hit that we all were praying for time and again in the playoffs. This team is teetering on the edge here. We can't afford to lose too much ground but if Drayton is unwilling to make one more move we could have no championship and the post Kent/Bagwell/Biggio years could be really ugly. The only solid young bats we have are Berkman and Everett. After losing Hidalgo, if we're pinning our hopes on this one Clemens hope fueled year we have to add a bat. Drayton you got Kent, Pettite and Clemens for discounts and made salary prompted deals anyway. (Wagner and Hidalgo) You've got increased revenues from the attendance surge and All Star game. Biggio, Bagwell, Kent, and Clemens' deals are all about up. Rest on your laurels now and there will be no playoffs.
I also feel sorry for Roger and Andy. At the end of this season, if the Astros can't take off the Chokestros label (advance to the NLCS), I support tearing this team apart...don't let the door hit you on the way out Vets. I'll take being in the NL Central cellar for a year or two if that's what it takes for this team to f-in stop choking.
Even in optimum situations, players with REALLY high contracts put a mild strain on the team's operations. Worse, if that player doesn't produce at the expected level, he becomes a black hole on the team -- sucking quality at-bats and money away the team. Over time, this net loss really adds up.
It looks like former Elkins player Royce Huffman will be called up to fill 5th Outfiled spot. He mainly plays first, but New Orleans had him playing right field tonight for some reason. He hit a three run homerun and is hitting .340. He has the bloodlines since his brother played football for Rice and his other brother Chad was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in baseball. Chad is also a good quaterback at TCU and should play alot this upcoming year.
I thought I heard on 610 that the Astros received Weathers and a SP (that would be placed in AAA). Anyone know if this is true/who it is?
I don't get it. Everyone complains Lane has never had a chance to play everyday. Now people are mad that he will. He can't do worse than Hidalgo did and Lane will be playing in his prime for peanuts. 2nd, Weathers is not a gopher ball pitcher. His 2 main pitches are his slider and sinker. Not exactly pitches that serves up homeruns. 3rd, everyone has been gripping about the bullpen and now we have a vet who can eat up innings when needed. 4th, We finally got rid of Doggie's salary, Now we can sign Berkman to a long term contract. Oswalt and miller can get theirs when Bagwell retires. He's the one that's really eating up the payroll, but nobody says anything about him making 16 million dollars next year. The only downside is that we have the worst outfield in the entire major league. But that will change when Tavaras comes up and plays centerfield next year. We eventually move Berkman to 1st, Lane to left field, and find a bettter right fielder. Seems to me like the Astros are trying to win now and rebuild slowly at the same time, while keeping a good mixture of vets and rookies ready to make an immediate impact. Oh ya, I'm assuming Mike Lamb will now platton with Lane rather than Ensberg. Did i miss anything?
Fire Williams, who sucks as a manager, IMO. There is no reason this team should be behind the Reds and Brewers in the standings. Better yet, how about not settling for a trade and actually bringing in another bat? Journeyman pitchers aren't going to solve our offensive problems.
firing Williams wasn't going to make Hidalgo, Bagwell or anyone else magically hit. The problem isn't the manager, thats a cop out
Jimy can't take the swings for Berkman, Bagwell, Kent, etc. It's not his fault that they're sucking when it counts. Who's to say they're not going to bring in another bat? They found a taker for Hidalgo and got decent return for him. Weathers will help out in our bullpen and the Griffith kid has good AAA numbers this year. Also, Jimy's not the GM.
There is no reason this team should be behind the Reds and Brewers in the standings. Sure there is - you have players like Hidalgo getting 4 RBIs in a month. Better yet, how about not settling for a trade and actually bringing in another bat? Journeyman pitchers aren't going to solve our offensive problems. You realize you can't run 10 players out there right? If you're going to get another bat, you have to get rid of one. Why not get rid of the worst one in your lineup?
