How would we get the better end of the deal if Huff sucks the rest of the season, we don't make the playoffs, and don't re-sign him (which are all likely)? We would have given up two prospects, one at a position we desperately need help at, for pretty much nothing.
Actually, I'd say only one of those is likely. One is unlikely and the other is a toss-up. I'll let you guess which is which. Who?
Zobrist was probably our second best offensive prospect behind Pence. He was great in AA and played pretty well in AAA. Everett is great defensively, but offensively he's a huge liability. Giving up a player that could've replaced Everett in a couple seasons for pretty much nothing would not be a good deal for us.
he never made the leap to austin. look, you have to give to get. teams aren't in the habit of giving players away. even if zobrist turns into the next robin yount, it was worth the gamble. huff was/is exactly what this team needed. wants he settles down, and starts hitting, no one will remember ben zobrist.
on the day of the trade, the GM of the D-Rays projected Zobrist as being not an everyday player. it's like clock-work though. if they don't make a trade...b**** about it. if they do make a trade...find a reason to b**** about it.
From Baseball America, Astros top prospects in 2006: 1. Jason Hirsh, rhp 2. Troy Patton, lhp 3. Fernando Nieve, rhp 4. Jimmy Barthmaier, rhp 5. Eli Iorg, of 6. Hunter Pence, of 7. Felipe Paulino del Guidice, rhp 8. Juan Gutierrez, rhp 9. Brian Bogusevic, lhp 10. Josh Flores, of What two names are missing? For pretty much nothing? I understand completely that Huff hasn't batted all that well since the trade, but let's not act like this is some scrub who's never done anything in the league.
I agree, it was the right thing to do at the time and hindsight is 20/20. I'm just saying we could definately end up with the short end up of the stick on the deal.
That list was done almost a year ago. Iiorg's power numbers aren't bad, but he's batting .249 for Lexington with a .301 OBP. Flores is batting .258, also in low A. Compare those numbers to Zobrist who was playing AA and was hitting .327 with a .434. OBP. So who's the better prospect? It will be pretty much nothing if we don't re-sign him, which is a good possibility if he continues to play the way he has.
This list is a joke. AzCKR already pointed out how a couple of players might be a little too high and I'll add that Bogusevic has been a disaster. Struggling in A ball and has horrendous mechanics. No where near a top 10 prospect.
OK, well if Zorbist was our #2 hitting prospect behind Pence, how do you explain the D-Rays saying he wouldn't be an everyday player and more of a utility player? And where was all this b****ing when the trade was made?
Well, in general we really don't have any good hitting prospects outside of Pence. Pretty much all our good prospects are pitchers, and we have a ton of them. Even if the D-Rays projected him as a utility player, I think the stats he has put up in the minors show that at the very least he has the chance to decent everday shortstop. At the time we made the deal I was a little upset we had to give up a prospect who could replace Everett. We definately needed Huff also, especially with Ensberg going down. Right now though, it looks like we could've just called up Luke Scott, put Lamb at at 3rd until Mo came back and we wouldn't have been any worse off.
The question should not just be Zobrist/Talbot v. Huff, but Zobrist v. Everett. I watched the Rays' game last night, and sure it was just one game, but Zobrist fielded his position just fine in several opportunities. He did not get a hit, but that is no major concern considering his opposition was Justin Verlander & Co. He did not look lost or overmatched, though, even against Verlander. There is no one anywhere (other than maybe Morgan Ensberg) who would argue that Zobrist would not be a significant offensive upgrade over Adam Everett. If Zobrist proves with Tampa Bay that he is a decent defensive SS, then the Astros were at fault for the past several months for not booting Everett and plugging Zobrist in at SS.
You can't compare Zobrist to those guys... Zobrist is already 25 years old compared to Flores and Iorg who played just started their career last year.
Zobrist's age is mitigated by the fact that he played in a much better league and put up much better numbers. Could Iorg and Flores improve and become better than Zobrist? Sure, but I would put my money on the guy who dominated AA over two guys who can't hit in low A.
He also advanced at a very slow pace where as Iorg and Flores are both projected to advance faster. I would rather put money on two guys that are on or above the curve than a guy who is below the curve.
No, he thinks the trade *could* turn out to be a bad idea. Which is true of every trade ever made in any sport.
At the time it was a smart trade and one we needed to do. Right now it doesn't look like such a great move. If Huff continues to sucks and we don't re-sign him, and Zobrist continues to improve, then yes it was a bad idea.
