Good for him- I think he is one of the good guys. 3 years, 27 million. http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/articles/20011219/368892.html
I dont understand why the Astros couldnt afford that. I think 3 yrs, 27 mil is a pretty good/reasonable contract for Alou. I am really pissed at the lack of moves that the Astros have made. We seriously need a center fielder with speed that could hopefully lead off. We definitely arent getting that with Ward, Berkman, and Hildago. I think that if we kept Alou that we could have traded Ward for a good center fielder with those qualities.
it's not that the astros could NOT afford it..it's that they don't want to afford it. I agree with the 'stros on this one...here's why 1. The man is 35..he'll be 38 when this contract hits $9million/year. He's simply not worth it. He's shown us here that his body is run down at the end of each season...he simply stops performing in September. He's been very injury-prone. I don't think that gets better with age. 2. He's a fastball hitter...a great fastball hitter...but with age there is nothing that goes quicker than those instincts and reflexes...and when it goes, it goes quickly...leaving a guy like Alou batting near the Mendoza line. Paying him $9 million/year at age 38 again is not the smartest of ideas. 3. The 'stros think they have a reasonable replacement in Ward..a guy they also know they don't have to pay that much for...a guy they've been trying to give regular time to for a long time. I don't think Ward is the replacement the Astros think he is...but I hope they're right and I'm wrong. 4. I had a dream last night the Cubs lost Sosa for the season...so they're not a threat anyway!! (can't believe I dreamed that...too much baseball on the brain, I guess!)
Wow! Me too, but my baseball dreams are usually of Tim Wakefield (clothing optional). Well, I guess they're a little different.
