What are the chances of Pettitte and Clemens coming back to Astros?

it's not just the offensive in the leagues that are different. It's also the pitching staffs. you have to consider that when factoring in ops, etc.

 

I think Clemens is done. He was spotty this year. Petitte had a solid year. If Torre is canned Petitte might opt out and either retire or go free agency. It all depends on how his relationship with the Astros ended last winter. If you want to see AP or Rocket in an Astros uniform next year i'd throw some money at Jorge Posada. He is one of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball and he can handle a staff. That would greatly help one of our weakest positions.

 

J.R. Towles

 

He's good. I'd prefer to just give him the reigns and let him learn the position. In the case of the original question...if you want Petitte then you may want to hire his catcher. Towles has alot of learning to do about calling games.

 

I think Max may share my apathy towards Pettitte.

As far as Towles, pending the decision of a certain 38-year-old Gold Glover, he may have the opportunity to learn game-calling, as well as the more important arts of receiving the ball, mitt placement, using the body to block the ball, etc. (If he indeed does sign, I certainly hope it is only as a backup and mentor to Towles.)

 

Me too. The fact of the matter is that Pettitte is no longer the calibur of pitcher to justify his huge salary.

 

Roger's body is telling him to call it a day. Andy might be worth a 3 or 4 million but it could end up like Woody. I don't think Andy will opt out unless there is a big purge in NY....Torres/ARod/Rivera, etc...

 

3 or 4 million for Andy?

I think some of you guys are so bitter about him going back to NY that you are unable to think rationally.

I completely agree that Roger's time is over now, but Andy is still a very good pitcher.

 

Maybe so. I feel apathetic not because of bitterness or thinking he's no good (Andy was underrated by many of us while in H-town, too), but because I want to see the Astros rebuild young now, rather than throw money at a bunch of late-30-somethings.

 

This is the ideal situation. Ausmus knows coming back to the Astros means starting 1 or 2 games a week and being the mentor to Towles. I think Munson is going to be back as the Mike Lamb of 2008.

 

Roger is done. He's the greatest pitcher of his (or maybe any) generation, but father time has caught up with the man. Pettite is unlikely to come back due to the way he left the club. But I don't understand the dislike of those 2 guys here. Before they joined the team, in the history of the Astros we'd won exactly 0 playoff series. With Andy and Roger, we won 3 and made it to the World Series for the first time ever. And those 2 guys were a huge part of our ability to do that. I'm glad that we had both of them, even if for just a short time.

I wouldn't completely rule out Pettite. If he doesn't exercise his option and becomes a free agent, he'd be the best pitcher on the market. And starting pitching is the commodity that the Stros need most. I don't think it will happen, but he'd be better a much better option than any pitcher on our roster not named Oswalt.

 

i'd actually be ok with andy coming back.

but i think towles surprised me every bit as much behind the plate as he did at the plate.

 

I'd be OK with it, but by "apathetic" I mean I'm not hoping for it and advocating it like I was back in '04. My response is more like, "meh."

Really, now? I didn't get to see. I just caught an inning here or there on the radio, and as luck would have it Drayton or someone else was in the booth everytime I tuned in. So I didn't get to hear much baseball. How'd he look?

 

The answer is, hopefully zero. Overvalued.

 

What a dumb thread topic.

Yeah, and let's re-sign Lane, Ensberg, Biggio, Bagwell, and Ausmus while we are at it!

 

He´s always had a rep as good behind the plate, and he showed it: quiet receiver, good in the dirt, strong enough arm. His footwork on the couple of throws I saw was not good at all, very slow getting rid of the ball.

Would be nice if Roger played again next year, Bonds too, keeps ´em out of Biggio´s HOF class.

 

I think it compares in the sports world to welcoming back your cheating girlfriend or wife, no thanks. I think they screwed us this year and I got a lot of satisfaction seeing them getting beat in the playoffs.

 

It's not that dumb. I think it's within the real of possibility that Pettitte is an Astro next season. I don't think it's all that likely...but I'm not sure if he'll go back to NY next season with his player option if Torre isn't there.

 

A player option of 16 million dollars. You think he has any loyalty to Torre? His loyalty is to the benjamins. He will be pitching for the Yankees next year. But I am sure he will spin it that "God" told him to accept the player option and stay in NY.

 

Yep...put it in the hands of the lord.