That's assuming none of the other players contribute on a major league level. Which is a huge and probably incorrect assumption to make. Even if Appel doesn't pan out, his value is higher than what he got traded for. At least it should've been for the Astros. And Velasquez has already proven he can be an MLB pitcher...probably a mid-rotation starter. I get it. GREAT WE GOT A CLOSER!!! Let's continue to act like everything else from last season will just work out the same if not better! Guys we have other holes to fill that we probably aren't even thinking about now. So let's drain our farm system. That never backfires...
Appel too!! Another awesome draft would be nice. We've given up many high prospects over the last 5 months.
All I know is teams can't play the astros just to keep the games CLOSE ENOUGH to get to our bullpen anymore
True, if we had Giles 8th inning vs KC, prospects wouldn't have mattered. Hope we get opportunity to redeem ourselves.
To the people worrying about how dead our farm is, at this time last year Jacob Nottingham, Brett Phillips, Joseph Musgrove, and Francis Martes were lightly regarded prospects that only the true farm followers had even heard of. Just because some guys aren't big prospects now, doesn't mean they won't be in the future. Plus we have the draft and Luhnow's regime has proven more than capable of finding good prospects even without top picks, or going over slot. On top of that we have plenty of quality prospects still in the system. We aren't in dire straights by any means, if there is somebody we really want we can easily get them.
I'm ok with people being upset it's pretty natural. A lot of people wanted to see the #1 pick play for this team at some point and that's not going to happen. But once you get past the shock and actually evaluate based on performance and not draft position, the trade is probably better today then it was yesterday. Appel has not been good.
With the amount of heat Appel took on this forum I'm surprised so many people are upset about losing him. Yes - it does seem like a lot to give up for a CL but Giles' 5 years of club control make him very valuable. And let's be honest, the one thing we know about Luhnow is that he will continually stock the farm system with talent. Which is the main reason I have a feeling Jonathan Arauz is going to be a Francis Martes level surprise over the next few seasons.
Damn...you make a great point. Wonder if the FO has considered this. Hope they know they only have 4 months before the season starts.
Exactly & I can think of about 10-15 games we lost like this last year especially in September because the bullpen lost the games on top of the Royals
If the Astros have a run of bad luck and get a few injuries to the end of their rotation it's easy to trade for bottom of the rotation pitchers like Obie. We're fine as far as I'm concerned. 1. Keuchel 2. McCullers 3. McHugh 4. Fiers 5. Feldman 6. Feliz
The trade revision reeks. We're not a closer away from anything. Hell you could have moved Feliz, VV, and Appel into relief roles and come out with a closer if you were that hard up for one.
Would you have come out with one who has the lowest ERA in the first 100 innings of a career ever? Would you have come out with one in the first 2 months of a season when you want to contend? Would you be sure to come out with one at all? The trade wasn't made because they believed all the prospects would never amount to anything. They were looking at what Giles has done thus far in his ML career vs. the potential of those other guys doing something in the ML in the future...very much unknowns.
These statements assume the next 5 years are scripted. But things change. Personnel changes. People get hurt, guys become available who weren't, deadline deals happen in contending (and non-contending) years. All the things above may or may not happen...all I care about is putting a great team out now, and positioning the team to be flexible and have high potential in the future. Those things are true. And decisions will need to be made on an ongoing basis
Per MLB someone failed their physical http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/159500108/phillies-get-mark-appel-for-ken-giles
