Yup, and the key to me is that these international players (i.e. Darvish, Tanaka, Cespedes, Puig, Jose Abreu, etc.) are potentially key free agent pickups that are still in their prime. Quite often you only get a chance at a big free agent past their prime, as they have already gone through the arbitration process, and most have already had some sort of extension. So you are essentially paying for their past performance (which wasn't even for your team). Take for example Robbie Cano. I'm a big fan of his, and I think he has one of the smoothest swings in the game today, but even I wouldn't sign him for 7-8 years, as he is either 30 or 31 already. Taking into consideration natural regression as he ages, it will be nearly impossible for him to live up to the contract he is about to sign, and the last 3 years or so he will be 35+. Obviously there are other risks associated with these big international free agents (i.e. they could completely flame out, and never even see the big leagues), but I would gladly take that risk if the trade off is you get their prime years. And once you consider any potentially new revenue streams, and you are already hedging your financial risk.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Houston went 6-30 vs. Texas and Oakland, made $, gets the 1st pick with the largest signing pool...in top 5 market. Reward losing.</p>— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/statuses/382804539503439872">September 25, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wah wah wah man this national whining is pathetic. Where was Peter Gammons when we were forced to play a "home" game in Milwaukee against the Cubs days after the city of Houston had a natural disaster or when MLB and all the owners forced us to move to the AL? National media's talking points for all Houston sports = ignore us until there is a chance to whine and complain about us like spoiled little brats. Usually I expect it and let is go, but this is getting absolutely ridiculous. Later this afternoon we'll have another story from an "expert" explaining that what the Astros are doing is absolutely the right thing to do, but shame on them anyway.
Anyone care to tell Peter Gammons that we are not a top 5 market? IDK about the rest of you, but I don't feel the last 3 seasons have been rewarding.
Yes, they all went on this same diatribe earlier in the season. Wahh! The Astros are getting "rewarded" for losing and that makes me(these baseball writers) FURIOUS! As if they are the first team ever. Give me a break already. Come on Kenny Rosenthal and CBS guys! I think you need to tell us one more time too how the Astros are "cheating the game/system" and aren't doing things right!
Houston may not be a top 5 market right now, but it will be very soon with the tremendous growth and economy of the city.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It is not the Astros' responsibility to worry about who the hell makes the playoffs at their expense.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/382871818677141505">September 25, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I think what we've all learned is that the Astros are the only bad team that have ever influenced a season and they should all be damned</p>— Astros County (@AstrosCounty) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosCounty/statuses/382870004334477314">September 25, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Major League Baseball has never been about fairness. Players cheat and lie, to the point it is woven into the history of the game. Owners cheat and lie to players and fans. Big market teams exploit small market teams. Hell, the A's and Senators were glorified AAA teams for the Yankees. Large market teams have spent 2-4X what small markets spend. All of this has been allowed or still is allowed under the rules and it is the Astros tanking that pisses Gammons off? The Astros were terrible and devoid of talent, that is why they suck. Further the Astros are not the first team to deal talented players. Miami did it last year and in the past. The White Sox were in the middle of a pennant race and gutted their team. Hell, that is what the Cubs are doing right now.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>So, Rangers have won 16 games against an abysmal Astros team. Indians have won 16 against White Sox. Seems fair enough.</p>— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBrownYahoo/statuses/382883989184192512">September 25, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm not for tanking in any sport... but until the league puts rules in place to prevent it, there are far more advantages to being the worst team in baseball than simply being mediocre. What will probably happen is that more small market teams will start emulating this strategy, with the fans suffering the most, and baseball will one day change the rules to prevent tanking. I do hope our front office appears to be as "savvy" when they no longer have the #1 pick and most slot bonus money every year... something tells me its harder to acquire talent when you're a team like Oakland (who is almost always in contention, but still continues to replenish the farm).
I guess Gammons was just referring to just city population (4th), not metro/media market size, to further emphasize his point. I could easily see Houston surpassing DC and Atlanta (areas with less growth potential).
Old man Gammons likes to b**** about the Astros not trying to contend, but this is the fastest way to replenish the farm system with talent and get the largest bonus pools in both the Rule 4 & 5 drafts. As the worst team, we are also afforded the highest bonus pool for the international signing period. Has it been a fun process for the fans? Absolutely not. Most fans have accepted it and understand what the front office is doing. Gammons pitched a fit about this same topic earlier this season and complained that three Al West teams would make the playoffs thanks to playing against a woeful Astros team. I guess since the Sox made the playoffs, he breathe a sigh of relief and get back to bashing the Astros. I don't recall Gammons worrying about non-contending teams a couple of years ago when his Sox were steamrolling a 100 loss Tampa Bay team and a 90 loss Baltimore team when the Sox were making the playoffs every year. The old man never paid much attention to the Astros when they were in contention and now that we're not he speak about it enough. Just go back to typing on your typewriter and leave the Astros alone. Don't worry there will be a seat for you on the bandwagon when they reach contention in the next couple of seasons.
We are the new Pirates. Gammons should save his b****ing for teams that have a chance of being relevant within the next five years.
Funny thing, the division the Astros left has 3 teams in the playoffs, and their new one may (hopefully) only have 1. Buster Olney had a good, very fair article on this subject on Insider, if someone wants to post it.
Good luck finding an executive/scout in baseball that believes the Astros will not be irrelevant in 5 years. You are underestimating the overall depth and quality of the Astros farm system. Couple that with no bad contracts and 3 picks in the top 40 next year, and the Astros are in a good position... Which is exactly why Gammons and Olney are upset.
How many more games do they want us to have won? Just doesn't make sense to me. We were going to suck regardless. Why are they so up in arms that we are winning 50 games instead of 60?? The only thing that would have changed is that we'd get the #2 pick instead of the #1.
