Astros Major Press Conference at 4:30 (UPDATE: Astros trade 3 for Jason Jennings)

exactly! You really can't have it both ways. If you look into any major league trades when it comes to teams rebuilding and prospects, this is right on par with where it should be. Jennings was actually pitching very well and had a stretch run that was phenominal, even in Coors. I've mentioned this a few times, but someone go look at Colorado's defense. There is no speed there (even their guys are young, they are slow to the ball EVERY time) and balls are dropped even though it really should have been gotten to, but aren't shown up as errors because it's not a blooper reel.

Hirsh is only our "top" pitching prospect because of his seasoning. He's nothing to go gaga about in terms of potential. He could be great if he learns and watches more Maddux tapes, but he's not the pitcher that most of you think he is in terms of being overpowering or having the pitches to get out of major jams. If he developed some nerves of steel and pinpoint his location more, or at least a little more like he did in minors, then he will be ok and maybe pretty good. He does not have the "stuff" to be anyone's ace and is overrated possibly because we kept hearing about him. He depends on tricking hitters with his offspeed stuff, which doesn't work as much in the majors as it does in even AAA.

This move gives us a #2, and a good one, but that's from what I've seen. I've watched a ridiculous amount of games and followed Jennings quite often last year. He's not a bad pitcher and his stuff could be great. Ausmus might just be the perfect catcher for him. This guy has great potential and could use a clean slate out of Coors and that so-called defense in Colorado. That, AND the season is not over yet! This team has made changes and just because they aren't the perennial all stars that people hear day in and day out, doesn't really justify all the complaints because these are quality players we're getting back.

For the record, I didn't agree with the overpaying Carlos Lee thing, but we as fans can't have it both ways. We made changes and it has to be played out. Hunsicker relied on big names that always seemingly burnt us at the end. Prospects will be traded for ML ready players. We got something that we know could be good, and how the prospects play out will be reviewed years later. This is how the business work and in all honesty, for every Kazmir, there's a Redding. For every Oswalt, there's a Buchholtz, Hidalgo, Dotel, etc. I know, some of these players were great at one time, but that's how talent and "potential" runs. And for Willy T's hitting streak and all that, it seems that when teams play WAY IN to negate his speed, he's not exactly hitting it through the holes much. His contact is below-average at best and he has a lot to work on.

 

...which means he will sign with the royals.

 

depends who closes out the rotation in those last 2 spots, that plays a huge role in all this.... and lane can burn in hell. how the guy can still have a shot at making this club is outrageous. i'm giving him until the end of spring training to prove he can be a serviceable hitter, otherwise..... out the door.

 

Did anyone realize what kind of effect this trade might have on Luke Scott. He was best friends/roommates with Willy Taveras throughout his baseball career. He also seemed to play better and was a lot more comfortable playing next to Willy T. Hopefully, he'll still be comfortable this year without his best friend and light up the league once again.

 

Steve Phillips can't help the fact that he is a complete and total moron who to the best of my knowledge has yet to utter a coherent sentence in his entire life.

I think this trade obvioulsy hinges on how well Jennings can perform in MMP. If he can solidify himself as a competitive 2/3 guy with a respectable ERA AND we can resign him without breaking the bank then I think we come away on top.

To all those are a just livid over the fact that we dealt Jason Hirsch, what has he shown you in the past that would lead you to believe he is going to be the second coming of (insert great pitcher here)? The guy didn't show much in the majors other than some potential. I can't say much more than that. His numbers from last season are as follows...hardly what I would call a world beater.

Year Team G GS W L SV CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP BAA
2006 HOU 9 9 3 4 0 0 0 44.2 48 32 30 11 22 29 6.04 1.57 .267

 

Well, Albers has the inside track for #4 after a stellar Arizona Fall League... and thus that leaves #5 (assuming no other deals happen).

Given that no team out there really puts a lot of faith in their #5 pitcher... its not going to be as disasterous as many forsee.

 

IIRC he is a very large guy. 6-4 225ish? I seem to remember reading that he is a poor outfielder at best, with a poor arm - a clasic left fielder. I'm not sure how fast he is but with that size I think he might be kind of slow. At every level he has been awesome, hitting for both average and power.

He has a well publicised hitch in his swing which according to reports had the Astros split on his prospects; some thought he wouldn't be able to adjust to pitchers while some thought no problem. Last year at AA avg = .283, obp= .357, and slugging = .533. The average was significantly off from the year before when he hit somwhere in the range of .330-.350.

He did hit 8 triples and was caught 4 times in 21 attempts so maybe he has speed and they think he can play center? That would shock me but stranger things have happened I guess...

 

Jennings on 790 right now... lets listen to how "excited" he sounds, as it will play a role in his eagerness for an extension here.

 

But if he can be a serviceable hitter...if last season was his own personal journey to hell...then this team improves even more on offense. That's a risk worth taking considering he has no value outside the organization.

 

I honestly doubt that it would have that much of an effect. Actually, we'll never know unless he lights it up again. If Scott doesn't do remotely well, it really SHOULD not be about the lost roommate/friend, but about him just struggling with pitchers figuring him out.

As ML players, you need to continually improve, work on all your weaknesses. I hope he'll do just that.

As for fans b****ing, I can see how it'll happen regardless. However, at least do some more researching aside from simple statistics and ERA at Coors/Away before criticizing those whose job is to look at every angle to begin with. Sometimes you just go with what you believe and this is what the Astros believe. There's more to just Coors as a direct correlation to ERA. Sure, Coors makes it hard, but HRs wasn't really that crazy in Coors the past couple years. When that happens, maybe it's the defenders? Not all balls that could be caught and aren't caught are counted as errors. In fact, not many are. Taking a bad first step and realizing where the ball is going to be a second later makes all the difference in the world. Just try to comprehend the trade before criticizing is all I'm asking. Sure, fans are fans and fans get overemotional, but I do believe we have some of the more intelligent fans MLB/NFL/or NBA. I hate to see the angry mob mentality.

 

Aside from the potential of Scott putting a cutout (a large one) of Purpura on the shooting range for target practice, not much I would guess.

 

I like that we got rid of Willy T. Does that make you happy?

 

i'll agree with this.

 

You make it sound like they sold him to the Red Sox for cash.

 

steve philips makes me want to stuff rusty razorblades in my ears.

 

regardless.... just get used to it, because it aint going anywhere no matter how much you [not you specifically] b**** about it.

 

Bad Trade Bad Trade.

Should have kept Willy T.. One of my favorite players on the Astros =/

 

and I loved Andujar Cedeno. but i wouldn't have argued if he was included in a trade.. good reasoning man

 

haha I was waiting for that response from someone... not the exact one. But yeah, you lose something to gain something. That stuff gets evaluated later.

 

(ESPN) Astros replace Pettite

Yeah you do that. Go ahead and pencil Buccholz and Hirsch into your starting rotation for next season...and see the wins pile up... good for them if it actually happens