I didn't get a chance to post at the time, but I think this extends Houston's window as well as going for it this year/ Justin gets paid, but not by Houston for the most part. Regardless of future signings, the cap space makes signing more likely AND we have JV. I'm not optimistic Tucker extends though until the owners stop paying these exorbitant FA salaries on long term contracts. They just don't pay off for the most part, but they keep trying to keep up with the Joneses.
JV was great, but there are several things that made a 1 or 3 game difference this year and JV was but one of them.
JV was definitely one of them. Not including what he just did to save the season, he saved the pitching rotation from being even worse than it was becoming, had they not trade for JV
I'm sorry, but that's a trash response. Give the man his respect, or just don't say anything. His last 2 starts this season will be remembered for a long long time if something amazing happens this post season. Javier and Framber's last starts. Not so good.
I did give him his respect. I said he was great! I meant exactly that! The trash response is yours sir for miss-reading the post.
Has been pretty mediocre since we got him prior to the last 2 games, but even a mediocre pitcher was quite a bit better than most of the alternatives we've been throwing out there. Crane forced the issue getting Verlander at the deadline, no way this pitching staff holds up to get us in otherwise, it barely held on with him. Absolutely delivered in the 2 games we most needed him to.
I was a big fan of both the Abreu Trade and the JV trade. Still am. But I can see where both slow starts here disappointed some. I was more diesturbed by participation in the WSC because of our short off season.
Looks like Drew Gilbert just can't stay healthy. Only 62 minor league games last year and now he's missed all of spring training. And when we drafted him he was injured and not readily available anytime soon.
That’s the name of the game, health. What does it mean to have all the talent if the body can’t keep up.
Too often fans get caught in the conundrum of highly touted prospects. For almost every prospect will require a grace period until they figure it out at the next level. Problem is that the learning period can vary substantially, for some folks it’s within a season, for others the light doesn’t click until after a few years. And the stark reality is that most prospects fall well short of the fans expectations. Though that isn’t always the case (as some prospects defy expectations and shine bright); nonetheless, a well established MLB player is more likely to succeed than a minor league prospect. Prospects equal hope and intrigue. Established MLB players are more likely to provide valuable WAR to the team. We as Astros have been on the good and bad in trading established MLB talent for prospects and vise versa. Getting Bagwell and Verlander were some of the highs! Losing out on Kenny Lofton and Joe Morgan were amongst the lows! Of course there are many more, but those where what came to mind. But the sure bet is that MLB talent will likely help you win now and in the immediate future. Prospects are like penny stocks, they may have a lot of shine and glitter, but they may never even make the big leagues; for even that is a success for any baseball player.
I'm still hacked off about that trade. Eddie F'ing Taubensee. Talk about a "couldabeen" in Stros history. Lofton/Biggio/Bagwell at the top of the order would have been slightly good.
